Chapter 301: The Deal with Chong Guang
Hidden Sword Manor, within the tower.
Lü Yang sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, radiant light swirling around him before finally imprinting onto his skin as intricate golden patterns.
Innate Divine Ability — [Stubborn Gold Duke]!
This wasn't obtained through refining Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, but rather borrowed in advance through the Law Holding capability of [Wave of Tribulations], simulating his future cultivation path.
"[Shen Metal] represents unyielding metal that requires tempering by fire to become swords and halberds. This qi resides in the Earthly Fiend position and, like [Geng Metal], belongs to the Yang Attribute. Its radiance is supremely sharp and nearly indestructible. Once infused into one's Physical Form, it becomes impervious to blades, axes, even heavenly thunder strikes—hence the name [Stubborn Gold Duke]."
Boom!
The next instant, as the innate divine ability took effect, Lü Yang's qi surged violently, shattering the shackles of early-stage Foundation Establishment and propelling him directly into mid-stage Foundation Establishment!
"Finally, some achievement."
Lü Yang opened his eyes with satisfaction. After three years, his immortal cultivation body had finally reached perfection in the early stage, with Law Holding capabilities rivaling mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
Looking back, these three years had been utterly inhuman.
'After leaving Sweet Pear Tree Dao, I immediately destroyed my avatar and buried all the Geng Metal spiritual materials I'd collected—didn't dare take them, fearing they might implicate my true form...'
Lü Yang had decisively abandoned all gains from the Ganhai Li Clan, spending three years painstakingly recollecting Geng Metal spiritual materials. Only recently had he completed the final nurturing step for his immortal cultivation body's early Foundation Establishment phase, while also confirming something that greatly relieved him:
'That [Ang Xiao] probably isn't free either.'
If his deduction was correct, Ang Xiao was eighty percent confined to the Netherworld!
'In my previous life, the reason he could roam around like a ghost was mainly because he'd refined the Dao Calamity formed when Uncle Chongguang failed in seeking metal.'
Just like Lü Yang now—having an avatar naturally allowed him to act freely in the world.
But at this point in time, Ang Xiao clearly lacked such means, so his perception of the mortal realm was limited—definitely not omniscient or omnipotent.
Otherwise, why would True Lord Qingcheng Feixue from his previous life dare to challenge him?
Beyond Qingcheng Feixue's extraordinary courage and strength, another factor was that [Ang Xiao] faced severe restrictions in the Netherworld.
Additionally, another matter exceeded Lü Yang's expectations:
The Jiangnan mass grave.
'In my previous life at the Saint Sect, less than a month after restarting, the Sword Pavilion attacked the Jiangnan mass grave, causing Substitute Death Yin Puppet prices to skyrocket.'
'Yet in this life, perhaps because I warned Uncle Chongguang in advance, the Saint Sect strengthened defenses at the Jiangnan mass grave. The Sword Pavilion delayed action, possibly due to other considerations, resulting in three full years passing without conflict.'
This was fortunate.
If war had broken out too early, he'd have struggled to benefit. Now, having restored mid-stage Foundation Establishment, he finally had some qualifications to participate.
With this thought, Lü Yang finally retrieved a flying message spirit missive.
This formed a pair with the one he'd sent to the Saint Sect—the two could sense each other, allowing direct communication through written exchanges.
'Over these three years, Uncle Chongguang has tried contacting me multiple times.'
'He seems quite curious about me.'
Lü Yang hadn't responded immediately, waiting three years—partly because his cultivation was incomplete, but also deliberately stringing him along.
What comes easily isn't treasured.
Only by playing hard to get could he maintain the upper hand.
Despite this reasoning, Lü Yang didn't activate the spirit missive immediately. Instead, he focused his divine sense on a mortal city thousands of miles away.
Locating a random Qi Refining rogue cultivator in the city.
He then delivered the spirit missive to this rogue cultivator and activated [Puppet on Strings] to control him, creating a layer of karmic firewall.
'Although Uncle Chongguang has relatively high moral standards by Saint Sect measures—emphasis on relatively—he still answers to True Lords! Who knows if he's waiting for me to contact him so True Lord Feixue can instantly capture and refine me...'
Here, Lü Yang had to admit [Puppet on Strings] was truly invaluable.
Not for its [Hypnosis] effect—which essentially just bullied weaker cultivators—but because it severed karma.
No one could trace the puppet strings back to Lü Yang as the puppeteer, allowing him to remain safely hidden.
Otherwise, when he encountered [Ang Xiao] three years ago, he'd have been forced to restart immediately.
'Gotta love cheat abilities!'
Lü Yang sighed, then manipulated the Qi Refining rogue cultivator through the [Puppet on Strings] firewall to activate the spirit missive.
Almost simultaneously—
Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds, Sacred Fire Cliff.
Chongguang, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes upon sensing movement from the three-year-dormant spirit missive, his gaze revealing keen interest.
Finally lost patience?
With a sweep of his sleeve, he accepted Lü Yang's communication request while immediately attempting to trace the karmic connection between the spirit missives!
Naturally, he found nothing.
Then a message appeared before him:
[I know a secret concerning both "Overturned Lamp Flame" cultivation and the late "Heaven's Fortune Bright Light True Lord." Interested?]
Chongguang's eyebrows rose.
This phrasing alone confirmed the sender wasn't ordinary—few knew the honorific title [Heaven's Fortune Bright Light True Lord].
After contemplation, he wrote four characters:
[What secret?]
The reply came swiftly:
[I want a superior-grade spirit treasure!]
Chongguang's expression turned peculiar as he rubbed his chin amusedly. Demanding payment upfront—could this truly be a Saint Sect True Person?
[I naturally possess superior-grade spirit treasures. But how shall I deliver it?]
[That's your problem to solve. Though my secret involves a fragment of a Dongtian left behind after the "Heaven's Fortune Bright Light True Lord's" fall...]
"..."
Chongguang's expression darkened further. The next instant, an elegant figure materialized in the great hall, summoning the spirit missive into her hand.
"Troubling the True Lord."
Only then did Chongguang smile. The one now holding the spirit missive was none other than True Lord Qingcheng Feixue, who had emerged from seclusion immediately upon receiving his message!
Without bothering with karmic divination, Qingcheng Feixue violently traced the connection between the two spirit missives, instantly pinpointing a location in Jiangnan. With a grasping motion—crack!—space shattered as a figure was hauled across the void!
Yet upon seeing the captive, both let out surprised exclamations.
The figure seized wasn't Lü Yang, but the random Qi Refining rogue cultivator he'd selected and controlled via [Puppet on Strings].
'Sure enough, they pulled dirty tricks... savages!'
Lü Yang's distant true form in Jiangnan shook his head resignedly, utterly unsurprised. Caution preserved longevity—these Saint Sect barbarians had no martial honor!
Especially Chongguang—absurd!
Just negotiating a deal and he immediately calls in True Lord Qingcheng Feixue? Had Lü Yang not prepared, he'd be restarting already!
"It seems... the fellow Daoist prefers face-to-face discussion?"
Lü Yang smiled at Chongguang through the [Puppet on Strings]. But instantly, an overwhelming force enveloped the rogue cultivator.
Without hesitation—soul search!
Yet Lü Yang remained unperturbed. The rogue cultivator's memories contained no traces of him—the search would yield nothing.
After an extended period, the pressure dissipated.
True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's luminous eyes burned with intense curiosity, clearly wishing she could dissect Lü Yang on the spot.
Seeing this, Lü Yang spread his hands: "Ready to negotiate now?"
Chongguang finally laughed, then gave Lü Yang a profound look: "Fascinating... it appears the fellow Daoist is indeed a Saint Sect True Person."
And judging by this Style, likely no ordinary one at that!