Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose
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For the next month, Lu Yang remained at the Primal Saint Sect.
As time passed, he simply stayed overnight at Heaven Mending Peak, either discussing the Dao with Lady Ruo Xiang or listening to Chen Shuqian play the flute. His days were filled with refined elegance.
Of course, these were mere embellishments.
Lu Yang's body was like tempered steel, his Dao heart like forged iron. A touch of maternal affection from mother and daughter couldn't sway his resolve. Most of the time, he immersed himself in studying the Dao book in his hands.
"Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose. What a book this is—Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose!"
The True Lord who authored this Dao book was known as Soaring Empyrean Sun-Obscuring True Lord. He had formed his Golden Core, embodying Great Forest Wood, yet he was the most embarrassing True Lord in the Primal Saint Sect's history.
Because he was a good person.
This was no exaggeration. At least during his tenure, he never committed any malicious acts. He even maintained private ties with the Sword Pavilion, Dao Court, and Pure Lands, his connections spanning the world.
"It's unbelievable, but not incomprehensible. After all, which True Lord with nothing better to do would write something like Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose, teaching others how to vie for Golden Core positions? Are they not afraid of competition for their own seat in reincarnation? Doing something like that makes being a good person believable enough."
At least, Lu Yang would never do such a thing.
Hongyun Daoist was a prime example. A lofty True Lord in his past life, reincarnated only to be utterly suppressed by his junior, True Person Chongguang. What utter humiliation.
Shaking his head, Lu Yang cast aside distracting thoughts and refocused his mind.
Over the past month, this Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose had been immensely helpful, practically outlining the exact method for establishing his foundation and claiming a Golden Core position.
"A skyscraper rises from the ground."
"To claim a Golden Core position, the foundation must be solidified in the early Foundation Establishment stage. Otherwise, once a mistake is made, there's no turning back by mid-Foundation Establishment."
From a True Lord's perspective, Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose described his views on the heavenly fruit positions and the corresponding Ten Heavenly Gangs and Twelve Earthly Fiends. It even assigned attributes to them, categorizing them by the Five Elements, making their images clearer and more distinct.
"In this life, what I seek is City Head Soil."
What was City Head Soil?
"The Heavenly Gang position draws from Zhuyong and Tuwei; the Earthly Fiend position from Sheti'ge and Danyan. Uniting the four essences forges the Great Dao, enabling the pursuit of City Head Soil."
This was common knowledge, yet profoundly obscure.
In Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose, it was explained far more simply:
"In the Heavenly Gang positions, Zhuyong is Yang Earth, Tuwei is Yin Earth. In the Earthly Fiend positions, Sheti'ge is Yang Wood, Danyan is Yin Wood."
"The convergence of Yin-Yang Earth and Wood forms City Head Soil."
Holding the Dao book, Lu Yang now had ideas for the first Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend essence he needed. "I require a strand of Heavenly Gang qi aligned with Zhuyong."
Zhuyong belonged to Earth, occupying the Yang position, also known as "Wu."
This Heavenly Gang qi was mist in the heavens, mountain on earth. In the primordial chaos before separation, it embraced the One and held the center. After heaven and earth divided, it bore all things thickly—a the truest essence of the earthly way.
It sounded simple, but held profound mysteries.
The Ten Heavenly Gangs and Twelve Earthly Fiends were not distinct; even the same Wu Earth qi would vary when converging with different Earthly Fiends.
"For me, the chosen Wu Earth qi must harmonize with Sheti'ge or Danyan, or it will stray from the City Head Soil image."
"Yet there are hidden taboos unknown to most."
"Wu Earth qi converging with Sheti'ge births the innate divine ability known as Mountain-Embracing."
"Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose calls it supreme Yang Earth-Wood, with the power to balance primal qi and suppress heaven and earth."
"But Wu Earth qi with Danyan is deemed a path to self-destruction. Yin Wood overcomes Yang Earth—refine it, and await explosive death."
In other words, not all Heavenly Gangs and Earthly Fiends could be refined; some were suicidal.
"Damn it, all these pitfalls!"
Lu Yang closed the pill scripture and couldn't help cursing. Without a True Lord's guidance and systematic theory, who would think of all this?
For rogue cultivators, stumbling upon a Heavenly Gang or Earthly Fiend essence was heavenly luck—they'd seize and refine it instantly.
Who cared about taboos?
"No wonder late Foundation Establishment earns the title of Great True Person. Those who reach it either have heaven-defying luck or a superior Dao lineage."
The former relied on mechanics, the latter on superior methods.
"Enough."
Theory was no substitute for action. Lu Yang sighed, pushed aside Lady Ruo Xiang beside him, changed clothes, and left the seclusion chamber.
Thirty days passed, and all was prepared.
With Dragon-Subduing Arhat executed and Heaven Mending Peak Master dead, he could finally relax and follow the guidance of his qi fortune to seek his opportunity.
But at that moment, Lu Yang's brows suddenly lifted.
He looked upward and smiled faintly. "Which Dao friend is this? Visiting late at night—why skulk in shadows? Better to show yourself."
As his words fell, the night breeze stirred.
Seeing Lu Yang's calm expression and gaze locked directly on him, the visitor confirmed Lu Yang had truly detected him, not just bluffed.
"Hahaha, worthy of Yuantu!"
The next instant, laughter rang out as an array descended from nowhere, enveloping Lu Yang and the visitor, severing external interference.
The maneuver was seamless.
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes. No nonsense—he'd cut off information transmission. Clearly an old hand, possibly not his first time.
Then a figure emerged gracefully.
The man wore a black Daoist robe, had a handsome face, moved with poise, and wore a kindly smile. "Wu Cang, at your service, Dao Friend Yuantu."
"So it's Dao Friend Wu Cang."
Lu Yang cupped his hands, his mind swiftly recalling the man's details.
A joiner with prior arts—a rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator who, upon reincarnation, joined the Primal Saint Sect, broke through to mid-Foundation Establishment, and laundered his black history into a sect True Person.
"May I ask what brings Dao Friend Wu Cang to me?"
As Lu Yang spoke, Wu Cang smiled. "To be frank, I've heard you obtained a True Lord manuscript from Sacred Fire Cliff?"
".Indeed."
Lu Yang understood his intent and smiled. "Does Dao Friend wish to borrow it? No issue. What do you offer in exchange?"
"That's the problem."
Wu Cang's smile held. "I'm short on funds lately, with nothing to offer. But I do want to borrow the manuscript. Would Dao Friend extend credit?"
At those words, Lu Yang's smile faded.
Fellow Primal Saint Sect True Person, and you're pulling this crap? Credit? Deadbeat!
His gaze turned indifferent, his voice carrying chill. "It seems Dao Friend has no intention of trading fairly?"
Wu Cang sneered.
He knew Yuantu was tough, but only in karmic calculations. Coming unannounced left no time for that.
What could he do?
"Blame your own greed. Early Foundation Establishment, claiming Heaven Mending Peak, daring to borrow a True Lord manuscript. Today, I'll teach you a lesson."
With that, Wu Cang stepped forward.
"The wise adapt to circumstances. Hand over the manuscript, and I'll leave."
In an instant, mid-Foundation Establishment aura crashed down like a mountain. "Or do you prefer a taste of suffering first?"
Wu Cang expected compromise.
But upon releasing his aura, Lu Yang laughed. "If I'm not mistaken, Dao Friend has refined only one innate divine ability."
He then scrutinized Wu Cang closely.
The intense, greedy stare made Wu Cang frown instinctively. "What do you mean?"
"It means Dao Friend's cultivation is impressive."
Lu Yang's hand hung loose, Avici Sword in grasp.
"True Lord manuscripts are priceless. Since Dao Friend wants it, exchange it for that cultivation of yours!"
(End of chapter)