Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Xiao Shiye
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Nearly three months later, in the Earth Fire Forging Chamber.
Lu Yang trembled as he slowly stood up.
No... "floating" might be a more fitting word than "standing," for in that moment, he had no flesh, muscle, or bone—only a crimson, blood-red shadow!
"I've succeeded!"
The blood shadow had no face. Amidst a shimmering glow, it vibrated, emitting a slightly distorted voice: "Eighty-one days... I've finally forged it!"
The next moment, the blood shadow began to contract. The skin that had been shed from the floor flew up on its own and was "worn" by the shadow. Pale flesh was gradually suffused with the color of blood, and the shriveled skin slowly plumped up. Before long, a perfectly intact Lu Yang appeared in the forging chamber.
At first glance, he looked no different from an ordinary person.
In fact, compared to three months ago, Lu Yang's aura was now even more immense. His vast True Qi had faintly condensed into a Qi Seed.
Seventh level of Qi Refining! Late stage!
Perhaps the process of cultivating the divine ability was so agonizing, such an unimaginable trial for his essence, qi, and spirit, that it had caused him to unexpectedly break through his cultivation bottleneck.
Even more fortunately, this happened before he had officially mastered the divine ability.
If it had happened after mastering the ability, the breakthrough would have been useless. Like now, for instance—his cultivation was now permanently fixed at the seventh level of Qi Refining.
"But this is enough."
Lu Yang murmured to himself. Possessing the Book of a Hundred Lives, he was never one to be fixated on the achievements of a single lifetime. His true goal was to apply what he learned to the next.
"Let's test its power!"
With a single thought, a magnificent Sword Pellet materialized between Lu Yang's brows. His figure then transformed into a streak of blood-red light, merging with the pellet.
"BOOM!"
Outside Ten Thousand Treasures Peak, the ground shook violently, sending the bustling crowd stumbling. Several people fell right to the ground.
"What's happening?"
"An earthquake... Impossible! With the Perfected Beings suppressing the earth's veins, how could there be an earthquake?"
The disciples exchanged bewildered glances. One with a higher cultivation suddenly sensed something and subconsciously looked in a certain direction, his eyes gradually filling with astonishment.
"Look!"
"That's..."
Everyone's gaze followed the voice.
Then, they all saw a rainbow-like streak of light, bright enough to pierce the sun, shoot out from a forging chamber. In the blink of an eye, it soared into the heavens, churning the sea of clouds in its wake.
Clang! Clang!
The crisp cry of a sword echoed through the nine heavens. An intense red light dyed Ten Thousand Treasures Peak the color of blood, stirring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into a monstrous tidal wave!
Caught in such a tide of spiritual energy, most disciples found it difficult to even breathe, almost suffocating!
"Such power... is that the late stage of Qi Refining?"
A disciple's face filled with envy. "He must have already formed a Qi Seed. All that's left is the final nurturing step to reach completion. Foundation Establishment is just around the corner..."
"I wonder which Senior Brother broke through?"
"I've seen late-stage Qi Refining Senior Brothers before, but none had such spiritual pressure. That rainbow-like sword light must be an extraordinary magic treasure..."
Meanwhile, above the sea of clouds.
Lu Yang, now a blood shadow merged with the sword light, extended his spiritual sense in all directions. Everything within a radius of over ten li was revealed in perfect detail, as clear as the lines on his palm.
"Late-stage Qi Refining. True Qi sinks into the dantian, forms a Qi Seed, and triggers a transformation of essence, qi, and spirit. If I still had a body, my physique would have undergone a qualitative leap, becoming impervious to blades and spears. My True Qi would have multiplied dozens of times. A pity that only my spiritual sense remains now..."
As Lu Yang was lost in thought, his brows suddenly shot up.
"Who's there?"
Before Lu Yang's words had even faded, his sword followed his will. The blood-red, rainbow-like sword light instantly tore through the sea of clouds, revealing a young, handsome figure.
"Senior Brother, don't attack! Don't attack!"
The man shouted loudly, but Lu Yang paid him no mind, the sword light lunging forward. Seeing this, the man hurriedly took out a small flag and held it up in the air.
The next second, the banner unfurled, transforming into a pair of flag gates.
The man dodged into one of the gates. Only after a sliver of Lu Yang's sword light had chased him inside did he emerge from the other gate. Then, with a wave of his hand...
The gates vanished, reverting to a small flag.
Lu Yang's brows rose in surprise. He realized that the sliver of sword light he had sent out was now trapped in some unknown space, successfully evaded by the man.
"Interesting."
Lu Yang grinned. The Sword Pellet between his brows trembled violently, like muffled thunder rolling through the sky. In an instant, it fanned out like a peacock's tail, splitting into dozens, even hundreds, of sword lights.
Seeing this, the young man, who had been feeling rather smug, turned pale. He quickly raised the small flag artifact to protect himself again and shouted, "Senior Brother, this humble one is Xiao Shiye! I only came to make your acquaintance, with no ill intent! I implore you to withdraw your divine ability!"
"Xiao Shiye?"
Lu Yang froze at the name. The sword lights, which were on the verge of erupting, came to an abrupt halt in mid-air, their glow illuminating a face beaded with cold sweat.
The inside man?
The next second, Lu Yang withdrew the sword lights and transformed back into his human form, landing before Xiao Shiye with a hearty laugh. "Junior Brother, don't misunderstand! I was merely jesting!"
Hearing this, Xiao Shiye wiped the sweat from his brow. He cursed inwardly, knowing full well Lu Yang had just been playing for keeps. On the surface, however, he beamed just as brightly and said eagerly, "Senior Brother's divine abilities are vast, your power boundless! I, Xiao, am in awe. A humble gift, please don't refuse it, Senior Brother."
With that, he smoothly offered the small flag in his hand.
"How could I possibly accept..."
Lu Yang shook his head even as he took the flag. Only then did he see two characters on its surface, "Void Evasion," embroidered in golden thread.
"This treasure is called the Void Evasion Flag."
Xiao Shiye took the initiative to explain, "I bought it at an antique shop before joining the sect. At first, it showed no special properties, but after I began my training, I discovered it was a wondrous treasure."
"The flag has two sides. When activated, it can transform into two gates: one of life, one of death."
"Among those of the same realm, as long as you enter through the death gate and exit through the life gate, you can find a path to survival no matter how great the danger. Calamity will not touch you."
Lu Yang couldn't help but feel his face twitch.
Such a marvelous magic treasure... and this Xiao Shiye had just casually bought it from a mortal antique shop before he even started cultivating in the Primal Saint Sect?
At this thought, an idea struck Lu Yang, and he focused his spiritual sense into his eyes.
In the late stage of Qi Refining, the great increase in spiritual sense naturally came with many wonderful uses. What Lu Yang was using now was a marvelous technique called the Aura Gazing Art.
He shouldn't have looked. The moment he did, Lu Yang's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
Because in his vision, Xiao Shiye's entire body—his crane-feather cloak, his boots, his robes, his coronet, even the sash tying his waist—was radiating the light of treasures!
In terms of quality, none of them seemed inferior to his Sword Pellet!
Even with Lu Yang's current disposition, he couldn't help but feel a pang of injustice.
After all, he had spent months and a fortune to forge his magic treasure, yet for Xiao Shiye, such items seemed as common and cheap as dirt. It was enough to make anyone's eyes turn red with envy.
"This man's fortune is immense..."
If Lu Yang had previously suspected that Xiao Shiye's winning the grand prize from the Merit Pool was due to some behind-the-scenes manipulation, now he was changing his mind.
Could it be that he's really just that lucky?
Thinking of this, Lu Yang's expression gradually turned peculiar.
With such incredible luck, one could surely stumble upon many opportunities just by following him. And what's more, his cultivation wasn't even high, making him an incredibly easy target to rob...
This Xiao Shiye... what a find