Chapter 317
Chapter 317
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Ten Thousand Men Pit]
Chapter Title: Jiangnan, Ten Thousand Men Pit
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Jiangnan, Ten Thousand Men Pit.
As the Primal Saint Sect's [spectacle] embedded in Jiangnan territory, the so-called Ten Thousand Men Pit was no small affair. It encompassed a region spanning thousands of li in every direction.
Its scale was in no way inferior to the [Celebration Kingdom].
The reason it was named Ten Thousand Men Pit was that the entire territory was a massive abyss-like chasm, with thick layers of yin-sha qi stacked one atop another.
The whole Ten Thousand Men Pit consisted of ten levels, each level's yin-sha more potent than the one above, nurturing countless venomous insects and ferocious beasts. Bolstered by the yin-sha within the pit, they could corrupt spiritual energy, their might increased by thirty percent compared to outside. Moreover, the yin-sha shrouded them, making detection by divine sense exceedingly difficult.
Such a treacherous land was quintessentially Primal Saint Sect in style.
Unlike the Dao Court's [Celebration Kingdom], the Primal Saint Sect had no intention of seizing Jiangnan. They simply wanted to disgust everyone, transforming the place into a dead zone.
That being said, it didn't mean the area was devoid of people.
Quite the opposite—the deepest bottom layer of the Ten Thousand Men Pit actually gathered a great many cultivators. Besides those from the Primal Saint Sect, there were sects great and small from Jiangbei, and even loose cultivators flocking in droves.
These cultivators had even jointly established a market town.
The reason was simple: resources.
"Jiangnan is prosperous, after all. Under Sword Pavilion rule, the hundred arts of cultivation flourish beyond compare—ideal for reselling and speculation. It's an outrageously lucrative trade."
Amid a flash of array radiance, Lu Yang stepped forth.
Of course, this was not his true body. His true body remained within Yun Miaoqing even now. What had come all this way was merely his immortal fetus avatar.
After passing the intelligence of "Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's Perfected Being Demon-Quelling is about to assault Ten Thousand Men Pit" to Chongguang, Lu Yang had gained entry to the pit. Unexpectedly, however, Ten Thousand Men Pit showed no signs of entering a state of war readiness due to his tip-off, as if utterly unaware.
"Interesting."
Lu Yang wandered the market streets without haste to seek his primary objective this trip, [Shen Metal Qi]. Instead, he spread his divine sense to survey the surroundings.
Soon, voices came flooding in.
As anticipated, the topic appearing with the greatest frequency and most discussion was the [Heaven of Non-existence], which had been expanding relentlessly of late, gradually showing signs of dominating all under heaven.
Its temptations were simply too staggering, after all.
Breaking tribulations to advance: succeed and gain a divine ability; fail and no death—just lose some merit and fortune, recoverable after a few months of recuperation.
Even more crucially—
"That first trial is far too enticing!"
"Primal Saint Sect's Heaven Mending Peak [Heaven-Earth Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Grand Array]—the fully upgraded version, no less. The taste of over a hundred [heavenly maidens]..."
"My grand-martial uncle has fallen completely obsessed of late."
"Aye, my Perfected Being's the same. Not even thinking of breaking through—just going in to sample Primal Saint Sect's delights. Shame I haven't reached Foundation Establishment yet."
Lu Yang's expression turned peculiar. Evidently, for those with no further prospects on the Dao path and insufficient resolve, the [Heaven-Earth Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Grand Array] struck straight at their Achilles' heel. Unable to endure the ordeal, over time some even preferred remaining trapped within rather than emerging.
Naturally, such Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings were a rarity.
Most were loose cultivators.
As for Perfected Beings with truly steadfast Dao-hearts, even if they couldn't overcome the [Heaven-Earth Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Grand Array], they wouldn't succumb. Instead, they'd rack their brains for countermeasures.
Owing to this, Lu Yang noted a marked surge in dual cultivation techniques available.
"Truly, demand breeds supply."
Lu Yang sighed inwardly, yet doubt stirred: 'Are the various True Lords truly content to let [Heaven of Non-existence] expand unchecked, without a care?'
Soon enough, he overheard another exchange.
"That said, don't get too complacent about that [Heaven of Non-existence]. My elder kin says it might well be a revival contingency from an innate Perfected Being."
"Innate Perfected Being?"
"The one from five thousand years ago... In any case, several Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings have received warnings: don't break too many tribulations in [Heaven of Non-existence]."
"Think on it—if you break tribulations under the banner of 'innate Perfected Being,' who emerges in the end: you, or him?"
"Worst case, you'll end up as his vessel for rebirth! The machinations of those great Perfected Beings are devious beyond imagining."
"But brother, how does one define 'too many' tribulations? How many constitutes excess?"
"I'd wager one or two is no issue."
"Three or four, though—that's high risk. Even if that innate Perfected Being claims five tribulations promote one to True Lord."
"Who can say for sure?"
"Were it me, I'd inflate it by a tribulation or two. Five on the surface, but three suffices for 'success'—a trap laid for the honest fools."
"Hiss... Might I ask your sect, brother?"
"Not much to boast of—Primal Saint Sect disciple."
"Ah, that explains it."
Conversations of this sort proliferated throughout the market, narrowing Lu Yang's eyes. He knew this was deliberate dissemination.
'The world is vast indeed—one mustn't underestimate anyone. What I can deduce, others can as well. Thus, nearly every Foundation Establishment Perfected Being will grow wary of [Heaven of Non-existence]. Should that innate Perfected Being seek revival by such means, it's a distant prospect at best.'
'Is this the reason the True Lords remain unperturbed?'
'Likely so. Forget that the innate Perfected Being isn't a True Lord yet—even if he were, so what? Across east, south, west, and north, a single True Lord can scarcely make waves.'
In this era, loose cultivators truly trod a grueling path.
Foundation Establishment was one thing, but True Lord? Not a glimmer of hope. Suo Huan and the innate Perfected Being were prime examples: without patrons above, how could one advance?
'That said... did the innate Perfected Being fail to foresee this?'
Lu Yang harbored doubts. That innate Perfected Being had been done in by True Lords back in the day; he ought to have a rough gauge of their tactics.
'Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings form a vast cohort, after all. Who knows if greed might drive some to brave five tribulations heedless of warnings? True Lords can't micromanage every last one under heaven. If the innate Perfected Being plays his cards right, gaps will emerge.'
'Moreover, the True Lords aren't of one mind.'
'For instance, should Mu Changsheng compromise slightly—accept some restrictive measures—at minimum, the Primal Saint Sect would eagerly embrace a True Lord.'
'This is... a contest!'
Enlightenment dawned on Lu Yang: 'The innate Perfected Being Mu Changsheng is wagering against the True Lords of the world, daring all to carve a Golden Core great path!'
Lost in thought, Lu Yang came to a halt before a certain edifice.
The place was called [Secret Pavilion Street].
As the name implied, it was the market's dimly lit underbelly—a haven for "fencing" illicit goods, open only to Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings.
Yet to carve out an entire street for such dealings within the market bespoke Primal Saint Sect backing. Per Lu Yang's intelligence, it was an early Foundation Establishment Prfected Being from the Primal Saint Sect named Qi He—over five centuries old, in the twilight of his second life.
"Bang!"
Lu Yang proceeded without hesitation to the rearmost shop on [Secret Pavilion Street] and shoved the door open. In an instant, a mass of inky light descended upon him.
Yet Lu Yang's demeanor remained unruffled.
[Stubborn Gold Duke] whirred to life, golden luster sheathing him like armor. The black light splashed harmlessly, leaving not a trace.
Moments later, in the shop's depths, Lu Yang spied an elderly Daoist.
The man was hoary-headed and ashen-faced, his features etched deep with decrepitude. Divine abilities still clung to him, but he was plainly ravaged by the [debilitating wind].
No sooner had Lu Yang entered than he produced a token and slapped it onto the counter.
"I want intelligence on Ten Thousand Men Pit environs—anything tied to Heavenly Gang or Earthly Fiends."
This Qi He Perfected Being was Chongguang's mole in Ten Thousand Men Pit, tasked day-to-day with gathering Jiangnan and pit intelligence for relay back to the Primal Saint Sect.
Such was the accord between Lu Yang and Chongguang.
He fed Chongguang Sword Pavilion's movements; in return, Chongguang shared Ten Thousand Men Pit intelligence, letting him hunt [Shen Metal Qi].
'Secure [Shen Metal Qi], and I'm gone!'
To him, Xuanling Realm, Ten Thousand Men Pit, righteous-demon war—all paled beside the cultivation progress of his immortal spirit true body this lifetime. That was paramount!