Chapter 20: Xiao Shiye
Nearly three months later, inside the Earthfire Furnace Room.
Lü Yang trembled as he slowly rose to his feet.
No... "Rose" wasn't quite accurate—"floated" would be more appropriate, because at this moment, he had no flesh, skin, bones, or tendons. Instead, he was a crimson blood shadow!
"I've succeeded!"
The blood shadow had no face, only swirling radiance that vibrated as it emitted a slightly distorted voice: "Eighty-one days... I've finally refined it!"
In the next instant, the blood shadow gradually condensed. The peeled-off skin on the ground flew through the air toward it, "worn" by the blood shadow. Pale skin gradually filled with color, and withered flesh slowly plumped up. Before long, Lü Yang stood whole and unharmed within the furnace room.
At first glance, he appeared no different from an ordinary person.
In fact, compared to three months ago, Lü Yang's aura was now even more formidable. His vast true qi faintly coalesced into a qi seed.
Qi Refining, seventh layer—late stage!
Perhaps the process of cultivating the divine ability had been so agonizing—an unimaginable trial for his essence, qi, and spirit—that it had unexpectedly allowed him to break through his cultivation bottleneck.
Even more fortunate, this breakthrough had occurred before he fully mastered the divine ability.
Had it happened afterward, breaking through would have been meaningless. As it stood now, his cultivation was permanently fixed at Qi Refining, seventh layer.
"But it's enough..."
Lü Yang murmured softly. With the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], he was never constrained by achievements in a single lifetime. His true goal lay in how to leverage them for the next.
"Let's test its power!"
The thought barely formed when a dazzling sword pill emerged between his brows. His figure then transformed into a streak of blood light, merging with the sword pill.
Boom!
Outside Myriad Treasures Peak, the ground trembled violently. The bustling crowd staggered, several people tumbling to the ground.
"What's happening?"
"Earth dragon shifting... Impossible! With True Persons suppressing the spiritual veins, how could there be earth dragon shifting?"
The disciples exchanged bewildered glances. Those with higher cultivation suddenly sensed something and instinctively turned toward a certain direction, their eyes widening in astonishment.
"Look!"
"That's..."
Following their gazes, everyone witnessed a radiant rainbow shooting out from a furnace room, soaring into the sky in the blink of an eye. Where it passed, the sea of clouds churned violently.
Clang! Clang!
Clear sword chimes resounded through the heavens. Intense crimson light dyed Myriad Treasures Peak blood-red, stirring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into towering waves!
Amid such a surge of spiritual energy, most disciples found it nearly impossible to breathe, let alone circulate their qi.
"Such grandeur... Is this Qi Refining, late stage?"
One disciple's face filled with envy. "He's already condensed a qi seed. Once it's fully nurtured, he'll reach perfection, and Foundation Establishment will be within reach..."
"Which senior brother has broken through?"
"I've seen senior brothers at Qi Refining, late stage before, but none had such spiritual pressure. That rainbow-like sword light must be an extraordinary treasure..."
Meanwhile, above the sea of clouds.
Lü Yang's form had merged with the sword light, his spiritual sense expanding in all directions. Everything within a radius of over ten miles was as clear to him as lines on his palm.
"Qi Refining, late stage—true qi sinks into the dantian, forming a qi seed, triggering a transformation of essence, qi, and spirit. If I still had a physical body, my physique would have undergone a qualitative leap, becoming impervious to blades and spears as a matter of course. My true qi would have multiplied dozens of times over. But now, all I have left is spiritual sense..."
Just as Lü Yang was reflecting, his eyebrows suddenly lifted.
"Who's there?"
Before his words fully left his mouth, his sword responded to his will. The crimson rainbow-like sword light tore through the sea of clouds, revealing a young, handsome figure.
"Senior brother, don't attack! Don't attack!"
The man shouted loudly, but Lü Yang paid no heed. The sword light surged forward. Seeing this, the man hastily produced a small flag and planted it in the air.
In the next instant, the flag unfurled, transforming into a pair of banner gates.
The man ducked into one gate. As Lü Yang's pursuing sword light followed, he emerged from the other gate, then beckoned with his hand.
The gates vanished, reverting to a small flag.
Lü Yang raised an eyebrow, realizing that his sword light had been trapped in some inexplicable space, allowing the other party to evade it.
"Interesting..."
Lü Yang grinned. The sword pill between his brows trembled violently, like muffled thunder rolling through the sky. In an instant, it split into dozens—if not hundreds—of sword lights, fanning out like a peacock's tail.
At this sight, the young man, who had been feeling somewhat smug, paled dramatically. He hurriedly raised the small flag treasure again to protect himself, shouting, "Senior brother, I am Xiao Shiye! I came only to make your acquaintance—no ill intent! Please retract your divine ability..."
"Xiao Shiye?"
Lü Yang froze momentarily. The sword lights, poised to erupt, abruptly halted mid-air, illuminating a face dripping with cold sweat.
That prearranged plant?
Immediately, Lü Yang withdrew the sword lights, resuming human form as he landed before Xiao Shiye. With a hearty laugh, he said, "Junior brother, don't misunderstand! That was just playful teasing!"
Xiao Shiye wiped the sweat from his forehead, inwardly scoffing at Lü Yang's claim that it had been mere play—he was certain Lü Yang had been serious. Outwardly, however, he flashed an equally bright smile, ingratiatingly saying, "Senior brother's divine abilities are vast, your magic power boundless. Xiao admires you deeply. Please accept this humble gift without refusal."
With that, he casually handed over the small flag.
"How could I possibly..."
Lü Yang shook his head even as he accepted the flag. Only then did he notice two characters embroidered in gold thread on its surface: "Void Escape."
"This treasure is called the Void Escape Flag."
Xiao Shiye eagerly explained, "I bought it at an antique shop before joining the sect. At first, it showed no extraordinary properties, but after entering, I discovered it was a miraculous treasure."
"The flag has two sides. When activated, it forms gates of life and death."
"Within the same realm, entering through the gate of death and exiting through the gate of life ensures survival no matter the danger—untouched by calamity."
Lü Yang's face twitched uncontrollably.
Such a wondrous magical treasure... and Xiao Shiye had casually purchased it from a mortal antique shop before even beginning cultivation in the Saint Sect?
At this thought, Lü Yang's mind stirred. He concentrated his spiritual sense into his eyes.
Upon reaching Qi Refining, late stage, his enhanced spiritual sense granted him many marvelous applications. The technique he now employed was called the "Qi-Observing Art."
But looking was a mistake.
The moment he did, Lü Yang nearly gaped.
In his vision, Xiao Shiye's entire body—his crane-feather cloak, boots, robes, headpiece, even his belt—radiated treasure light!
In terms of quality, none seemed inferior to his own sword pill!
Even with Lü Yang's current temperament, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of imbalance.
After all, the treasure he had painstakingly refined over months at great cost was something Xiao Shiye seemed to stumble upon effortlessly, as if they grew on trees. It was enough to make anyone jealous.
"This man's fortune is immense..."
If Lü Yang had previously suspected Xiao Shiye's Merit Pool jackpot was due to behind-the-scenes manipulation, he now reconsidered.
Could it genuinely have been luck?
As this thought took hold, Lü Yang's expression grew increasingly peculiar.
With fortune so high, simply following him would likely lead to numerous opportunities. And his cultivation wasn't even that advanced—making him exceptionally easy to exploit...
This Xiao Shiye... seemed like quite the asset!