Chapter 349: From Now On, I Am Hong Yun!
[Settling accounts for "Hong Yun."]
[You are a naturally blessed individual favored by heaven and earth. Cultivation comes as easily to you as eating and drinking, presenting no difficulty whatsoever.]
"...It actually worked."
Lü Yang exhaled in relief as he watched Hong Yun, now completely ensnared by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]. The Golden Core reincarnator had truly fallen victim to his ambush.
'Throughout history, I must be the first to pull this off.'
Reincarnated True Lords cleanse all traces through the [Netherworld's] cycle of rebirth while obscuring their karma, making them theoretically untraceable. Yet they had the misfortune of encountering an anomaly like Lü Yang—someone who didn't bother divining their whereabouts but instead tailed them through reincarnation to launch a sneak attack. Even [Ang Xiao] couldn't replicate such a feat, as no one else could maintain consciousness in a divided soul during rebirth.
'This has truly been a feast for the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes.'
Lü Yang stared intently at Hong Yun's soul before him, its golden radiance flowing like liquid as the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] devoured it voraciously.
At first glance, the golden light seemed ordinary.
Yet when Lü Yang focused on it, an irrepressible craving surged within him. He swallowed hard:
'Metal Essence! A True Lord's Metal Essence!'
'Unlike those at Foundation Establishment Perfection, a True Lord's Metal Essence is fully fused with their soul—intertwined with their very life. The Metal Essence is the soul, and the soul is the Metal Essence!'
The longer he observed that golden light, the more he sensed its profundity. It embodied Hong Yun's lifelong cultivation—merely inhaling its aura would flood one's mind with insights, reflections of Hong Yun's cultivation depth and his comprehension of heaven, earth, and the Great Dao.
'...No, resist!'
The next moment, Lü Yang forcibly suppressed all emotion, stepping back with wariness flashing in his eyes: 'What a sinister thing!'
Metal Essence wasn't for just anyone to consume.
Especially a Golden Core True Lord's Metal Essence—the quintessence of their soul. While devouring it could enhance one's cultivation depth, it would also gradually assimilate the consumer.
In the end, who could say whether you refined the Metal Essence...
...or the Metal Essence refined you?
'This is no treasure for those beneath the Golden Core realm.'
'Only a Golden Core True Lord with superior cultivation could safely consume such Metal Essence—someone like True Lord Qingcheng Feixue from my previous life.'
'But fortunately...'
Lü Yang's gaze steadied. No matter how potent a True Lord's Metal Essence was, it stood no chance against the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]. The two were incomparable.
"Boom!"
Finally, as a radiant light erupted, Hong Yun's densely packed life trajectory materialized across the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes'] interface.
Meanwhile, Hong Yun's soul hovered emptily in the air—devoid of all thought and consciousness, leaving only a hollow shell. Not daring to delay, Lü Yang swept it into the Myriad Spirits Banner with a flick before vanishing into the void.
Simultaneously, he began reviewing Hong Yun's experiences.
'Hong Yun, Hong Yun... No wonder he bore this name. The first half of this True Lord's life could only be described as [Boundless Fortune Aligning with Heaven]!'
A naturally blessed individual favored by heaven and earth.
'In some ways, he resembled the Innate True Person—both enjoyed heaven's favor. Yet Hong Yun was even luckier.'
'Because he caught the last train to pursue Golden Core.'
Compared to the era of Mu Changsheng, the Innate True Person, the world during Hong Yun's Golden Core pursuit hadn't yet rigidified completely, leaving room for ascension.
'Yet contrasted with his early years, Hong Yun's later life was disastrous—first ambushed by [Ang Xiao], losing vast memories, then Uncle Chongguang's sudden rise threatening his fruit position, dying at True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's hands in his previous life, and now being slain by me in this one...'
Why such misfortune?
'The turning point was the millennium calamity five thousand years ago!'
Understanding dawned in Lü Yang's eyes: 'During that calamitous war across realms, Hong Yun reaped benefits but didn't integrate them into his fruit position.'
'Instead, he absorbed them into his dongtian!'
This explained Hong Yun's subsequent misfortunes—why his luck vanished, leaving him thwarted at every turn.
—He had deceived heaven!
'Favored by heaven and earth, your innate Fate's Breath and merit far surpassed ordinary mortals. One could say heaven's support contributed at least a third to your becoming a True Lord. Yet upon achieving prominence, you turned your back, withholding even a tenth of your gains from the very heaven that nurtured you—no wonder heaven turned against you!'
'Still...this wasn't entirely Hong Yun's fault.'
Normally, heaven's constraints on True Lords were minimal. Even if Hong Yun reneged, heaven couldn't drastically diminish his Fate's Breath and merit.
The problem was [Ang Xiao]'s interference.
Through [Ang Xiao]'s schemes, Hong Yun was killed, granting heaven the opportunity to settle accounts with this "traitor." The outcome spoke for itself.
'So remember—to sit securely, one must know what one sits upon!'
Sit wrongly, or covet another's seat while occupying your own, and you'll please neither side. Any glory will be fleeting.
After this reflection, Lü Yang turned his attention back to Hong Yun's soul.
The [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] didn't require consuming all Metal Essence to settle accounts. Having taken its fill, it left the remnants for Lü Yang.
Once more, fervor ignited in Lü Yang's eyes:
'What a treasure! After being thoroughly cleansed by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], Hong Yun's consciousness has completely dispersed, leaving only his soul and Metal Essence.'
By wearing this hollow shell, who could discern his true identity?
With a thought, Lü Yang draped Hong Yun's exterior over his immortal spirit's true form. Henceforth, he could even impersonate a True Lord!
'From now on, I am Hong Yun!'
With Hong Yun's life experiences settled by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], he needn't fear exposure. No interrogation could trip him up.
Let's not forget—Hong Ju still lived!
This Foundation Establishment Perfection Grand True Person existed solely by relying on Hong Yun's Metal Essence. Now that Hong Yun had been refined, Lü Yang could exploit this to manipulate Hong Ju!
'And that [Fate-Linked Karma Rewriting Talisman Book]...'
Lü Yang had long coveted this [Overturned Lamp Flame] fruit position treasure.
'Moreover, with Hong Ju as my inside agent in the Saint Sect, I'll have channels to acquire the [Xin Metal] left behind by Uncle Chongguang.'
These schemes required meticulous planning.
But first, another monumental harvest awaited inventory.
"...Talent!"
Shifting his gaze to the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes'] interface, Lü Yang watched as the data finalized, transforming into golden text:
[You have obtained the golden talent·Sign of Fortune Drawing!]
[Sign of Fortune Drawing: Select an action to undertake, then draw a fortune slip. The drawn result grants corresponding luck enhancement, foretelling the action's likelihood of success.]
[Great Auspicious: Heaven's favor ensures certain success.]
[Minor Auspicious: Luck's blessing brings modest gains.]
[Terminal Auspicious: Fortune and misfortune intertwine—outcome depends on effort.]
[Minor Ominous: Ill-starred endeavors yield little.]
[Great Ominous: Calamity looms—certain death!]
"Such a talent..."
Lü Yang stared blankly at the panel's contents before quickly realizing—from Hong Yun's memories—why this talent manifested.
"Probably because he'd been so wretchedly unlucky these past five millennia, failing at everything, that he wished to divine outcomes before acting..."