Chapter 288: Tenth Life, Entering the Sword Pavilion!
Chapter 288: The Tenth Life—Entering the Sword Pavilion!
After a long while, Lü Yang finally calmed his turbulent emotions.
To be honest, hearing Ang Xiao's furious and shocked voice at the end had been immensely satisfying. It felt like all the pent-up frustration from before had been completely vented.
"But it's not over yet!"
"Ang Xiao, was it? Just you wait. Once I reach late-stage Golden Core, the first place I'll go is the Netherworld. I'll remember this grudge for the rest of my life!"
Lü Yang cursed for a while longer before finally settling down and surveying his surroundings.
For Lü Yang, this was an extremely peculiar experience. The sky was a swirling chaos, the earth a void of silence, and he stood alone at the very center of this world.
The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes turned its pages slowly.
This was the "standby state" before each restart of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes. Previously, it had flashed by too quickly to leave much of an impression. But this time was clearly different—the "standby" duration had significantly lengthened. In Lü Yang's palm, the trace of Metal Essence obtained from Suo Huan shimmered faintly, gradually merging into the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes before transforming into lines of text that appeared before him:
[Calculating Suo Huan's experiences...]
[As the chosen son of the Huanxu Realm, you were entrusted with a critical mission to resist invaders from an unknown world. You vowed to fulfill your duty.]
[You fought valiantly, employing countless strategies.]
[Your growth was rapid, swiftly reaching the pinnacle of cultivation in the Huanxu Realm. Gathering the strength of the masses, you finally defeated the unknown invaders.]
[Flushed with triumph, you prepared to retire with your beloved companions.]
[Then, a True Lord descended.]
[The Huanxu Realm perished. You were powerless to resist, unable to even recall how you escaped. Your heart was filled with unbearable agony.]
[Finally, arriving in the overseas regions of the unknown world, you rallied your spirits and discovered the "Blessed Land of the Numinous Ruins" and the Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture, entrusted to you before the Huanxu Realm's destruction. Though you vaguely sensed something amiss with the latter, you quickly dismissed it as overthinking.]
[You found a new purpose.]
[You sought to restore the Huanxu Realm—a grand, elusive goal, yet you remained steadfast, willing to dedicate your entire life to it.]
[You still held onto "hope."]
[...]
Line after line of text appeared, chronicling Suo Huan's six hundred years overseas—his emotional journey, his determination in seeking Metal Essence...
And, ultimately, his despair.
Finally, accompanied by a brilliant golden radiance, a new talent emerged on the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes' panel. Lü Yang immediately focused his gaze:
[You have obtained the Golden Talent: Puppet on Strings]
[Puppet on Strings: By seizing another's Fate's Breath and bearing their karma, you can conceal yourself beneath their guise, manipulating them like a puppet. No one can trace your origins.]
"This kind of talent?"
Lü Yang stared at the panel in surprise. Honestly, he had expected something like "Lone Star of Calamity" or "Losses Are Blessings."
"But it makes sense."
Looking back at Suo Huan's life, his fate had been sealed the moment the Huanxu Realm was captured by the four great sects and turned into a battlefield for plundering the Dao. First deceived by Ang Xiao, then devoured by the Saint Sect, Dao Court, and Pure Land. Even his vision of ascending and rebuilding the Huanxu Realm was, in essence, an illusion planted by Ang Xiao—a tragedy of the highest order.
Puppet on Strings—truly fitting.
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Suo Huan. In this life, I'll guide you... though considering my current weakness, it might take a few lifetimes."
After calming down, Lü Yang seriously considered the situation. Even if he restarted, snatching someone from under the nose of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator like Ang Xiao would still be a challenge. Recalling his overseas experiences, the more likely outcome was that he, too, would be reduced to a fool by the Knowledge-Perception Obstruction.
"Prosperity must come first."
"Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, why don't you scout the path for me in this life, aiding my pursuit of Metal Essence? Once I become a True Lord, I'll find a way to guide you!"
Lü Yang quickly convinced himself.
Soon after, the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes turned to the next page, and the golden talent [Innate Celestial Spirit], obtained from Chongguang, took effect.
[Please select your birthplace.]
Lü Yang focused his gaze and saw five options appear on the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes' interface: Jiangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and Overseas.
He already had a plan.
"In this life, I can't cultivate [City Wall Earth] anymore. That thing is too troublesome, too conspicuous, and too easily noticed by True Lords."
Aside from the Nine Transforming Dragon Art corresponding to [City Wall Earth], the only complete third-grade true technique Lü Yang possessed was the Mending Heaven True Scripture. This technique corresponded to multiple Fruit Positions. The Mending Heaven Peak Master used it to seek [Pomegranate Wood], which Lü Yang saw as a viable path.
"After all, the Mending Heaven Peak Master has already scouted the way for me."
"Given his connections as one of the four peak masters, his information is reliable. If he chose [Pomegranate Wood], he must have done his research beforehand."
Still, the Saint Sect was too dangerous.
"That damned Saint Sect is full of pitfalls. Since I'm restarting cultivation in this life and won't inherit my previous cultivation base, staying there carries too many risks."
The best option was to go somewhere beyond the Saint Sect's reach.
With that in mind, Lü Yang's gaze settled on one location.
"Jiangnan—the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion!"
"If I can establish myself as an Innate Celestial Spirit in this life, joining the Sword Pavilion should be a certainty. After all, the Sword Pavilion values origins above all else."
Strictly speaking, the identity of a Celestial Spirit was highly regarded in all four great sects. Celestial Spirits were favored by heaven and earth, born with Foundation Establishment cultivation, and could not be killed without inviting heavenly retribution—as seen with True Person Blood Demon. At worst, in the Saint Sect, there was a risk of being exploited as "talent."
But the Sword Pavilion would undoubtedly welcome a Celestial Spirit.
With that thought, Lü Yang clapped his hands and made his decision: "In this life, I'll join the Sword Pavilion as a Celestial Spirit and seek the [Pomegranate Wood] Fruit Position!"
"Though I've been a demon for nine lifetimes, I know in my heart that I'm a good person. I've long yearned for the righteous path!"
Soon, text appeared before Lü Yang's eyes once more:
[Facing a late-stage Golden Core Great True Lord, you, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, accomplished what even True Lords could not. Your furious curses before death were utterly cathartic.]
[Remaining pages in the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes: 91]
[Restarting a life, you may select one of the following rewards from your previous life:
1: Treasure.
2: Cultivation.
3: Lifespan.
4: Abandon all rewards and randomly awaken a talent based on your past life experiences.]
"I choose treasure—the [Heavenly Dao Myriad Forms Dharma Body]!"
This was something Lü Yang had discovered only after restarting: the Dharma Body was profound, functioning both as a Divine Ability and a Spirit Treasure—no need for an Immortal Embryo Avatar as a medium!
Without hesitation, he exchanged for it.
In the next moment, the green-faced, fanged, three-headed, six-armed [Heavenly Dao Myriad Forms Dharma Body] materialized, two of its hands gripping a treasured sword and a banner.
[Tribulation Wave]!
[Myriad Spirits Banner]!
The Dharma Body's [Myriad Forms] ability could refine external objects. Lü Yang had long since fused these two most valuable possessions into it, and now they had indeed accompanied him here!
"Excellent, excellent."
Satisfied, Lü Yang nodded. After all, if he was planning to join the Sword Pavilion, how could he go without a fine Dharma Sword?
Moreover, when it came to sword techniques and secret arts, the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion was the true master, boasting the number one combat methods among the four sects—and for good reason. Aside from seeking Metal Essence, another goal of joining the Sword Pavilion was to elevate [Tribulation Wave] to the level of a True Treasure. Achieving either would be a tremendous gain.
"And there's also [Clarity]!"
Lü Yang had learned his lesson with these True Lords—every single one had to be guarded against. Thus, a Spirit Treasure that could maintain his clarity of mind was absolutely essential.
Taking a deep breath, Lü Yang steeled himself.
"Begin—the Tenth Life!"
This life was dedicated to seeking Metal Essence!
In the next instant, the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes blazed with light before Lü Yang's eyes, and the void-like world of the standby state gradually brightened.
As if opening its eyes.
Soon, Lü Yang's vision filled with a brand-new scene—a pair of stunningly beautiful sisters, nearly identical in appearance but contrasting sharply in demeanor: one cold, the other warm.
"Big sister, this sword is so huge!"
Lü Yang froze.
Though many lifetimes had passed, he recognized the pair immediately: "The Sword Pavilion's Yun Miaozhen... and Yun Miaoqing?"