Chapter 353
Chapter 353
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: Unknown
Chapter Title: Sword Pavilion Welcoming Hall
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Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, Welcoming Hall.
Lu Yang held three long incense sticks, wisps of green smoke swirling around him. In an instant, thunderous voices of ten thousand interrogations boomed in his ears:
"Have you colluded with the demonic path?"
"Do you harbor ill intentions?"
"Have you awakened your past life?"
Three sticks of incense, three questions. Beneath the coiling green smoke, this clone of Lu Yang had no space to lie. He involuntarily opened his mouth.
"None!"
His voice rang out righteous and forthright.
After all, as a clone, he was pristine and innocent. He harbored no ill intentions and had not awakened any past life. As for colluding with the demonic path, that was the main body's affair.
What did it have to do with the clone?
The next moment, the clone snapped awake. He realized everything had been an illusion. Only the three burning incense sticks remained firmly gripped in his hands.
Lu Yang could sense these three incense sticks were no mundane objects. He held them steady only because he had passed the test of those three questions. Had he failed, the incense would have ignited his body and soul in an instant, burning him to a puff of ash.
With that in mind, Lu Yang stepped straight into the Welcoming Hall.
He had feigned ignorance before Perfected Being Demon-Quelling, but through the Yun family ancestor, he had long scouted the Sword Pavilion inside and out.
*The Welcoming Hall is especially crucial!*
It tested not just roots and origins but also determined one's inheritance. The better the performance here, the stronger the inheritance obtained!
*As expected of the Sword Pavilion—truly a match for the Primal Saint Sect.*
In the Primal Saint Sect, profound techniques required contribution points, meaning slaving away like an ox or horse for others. Either defy the heavens or become cannon fodder.
The Sword Pavilion was no better.
The Welcoming Hall judged solely by roots and background. No need to slave away was the upside; insufficient roots sealed one's fate for life—no defying the heavens possible.
One a beast sect, the other a sword sect.
North and south each had their strengths, and not without reason.
Once inside the Welcoming Hall, Lu Yang unexpectedly spotted several youths—boys and girls with youthful faces like his clone, though faintly illusory.
*The Welcoming Hall isn't singular.*
Lu Yang realized these youths were undergoing tests in other Welcoming Halls, their images synced here.
Sure enough, several noticed him.
They glanced at Lu Yang once, then indifferently withdrew their gazes. They gripped their incense firm, gritted their teeth, and pressed onward into the Welcoming Hall.
"I can definitely get in!"
One ordinary-looking youth had a resolute expression, eyes blazing. He muttered incantations.
"Within a hundred steps of the divine altar: outer sect disciple. Within thirty steps: inner sect disciple. Within ten steps: true transmission disciple. Offering incense to the ancestor: innate sword seed!"
With that, he strode forward.
*Dong!*
No visible anomaly, yet the youth shuddered violently. Each step was excruciating. He halted at eighty steps.
"Eighty steps? No!"
The youth ground his teeth. Eighty steps meant outer sect, seventh-grade or lower techniques, Qi Refining ceiling for life. How could he accept it?
"I'll risk it all!"
The next instant, he hardened his resolve and took another step. Cracks erupted across his body.
In a blink, he was a blood-soaked mess.
*Thud!*
He collapsed unconscious.
The gory sight terrified the others. From then on, entrants dared not force it. Unable to proceed? Give up decisively.
Their fates were set from that moment.
*Immortal cultivation in the Sword Pavilion isn't easy,* Lu Yang sighed inwardly.
Good thing he had cheats.
*[Luck-Appraisal Lottery Draw], draw for me!*
The fortune his clone had amassed over eight bitter years erupted now, condensing into a gleaming golden lottery sign.
[Event: Enter the Welcoming Hall, offer incense to the ancestor]
[Minor Auspicious: Your roots are solid. You reach nine steps from the altar, true transmission rank.]
[Least Auspicious: Your roots are solid, but as a soul clone, foundation shallow. Only unyielding Dao heart gets you within three steps.]
[Great Auspicious: Fortune surges, roots profound. The mere Welcoming Hall is flat ground—you offer incense at the altar without hindrance.]
*Has to be [Great Auspicious]!*
The next instant, Lu Yang felt heaven and earth conspiring with him—a wondrous surge. He strode steadily toward the altar.
Hundred steps. Thirty steps. Ten steps. Three steps!
*Boom!*
Sword Pavilion inside and out, every Welcoming Hall blazed with light. It startled Perfected Being Demon-Quelling outside. Surprise flickered in his eyes.
To him, Lu Yang's past life was Foundation Establishment Perfected Being—a late-stage consummation who slew Heaven Mending Peak Master. Within ten steps for true transmission? Expected. But within three? Exceptional. Profound grasp of Sword Pavilion Dao!
*Another sword seed, perhaps?*
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's brows rose, joy surfacing. Eight years since the world's True Lords secluded. Chaos born thereof was fading.
*Jiangbei Demonic Sect birthed two Foundation Establishment consummations, holding the balance.*
*Jiangxi Pure Land serene as ever—rumors of a Buddha child incarnate.*
*Jiangdong Court hit hardest: Emperor, Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Guardian all secluded. Crown Prince's regency barely stabilizes court.*
Great contention loomed!
*I must contend too. Grooming a Sword Pavilion heir beforehand? No harm.*
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling pondered deeply.
Meanwhile, in the Welcoming Hall, Lu Yang reached the altar. He placed the three incense sticks steadily within.
Green smoke exploded!
Lu Yang's vision blackened. Smoke filled mouth and nose. Countless characters flooded his mind, forming a technique:
*Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter*!
*This is...*
Fully absorbing the mind's info, Lu Yang's main body in Hidden Sword Villa bulged his eyes.
*A first-grade true technique!?*
Before reaction, anomaly struck.
"Damn!"
Eyes bloodshot, Lu Yang peered via *[Marionette Control]* at his clone. Eight years' hoarded fortune—through precepts and toil, ripe for breakthrough—was wholly snatched by altar smoke. It circled the altar, then sluggishly returned...
But not his fortune.
*Sword Pavilion fortune*!
*Meaning, my hard-earned fortune's just usage rights now? Ownership Sword Pavilion's—reclaimable anytime?*
No different from selling his soul!
Worse still...
*This fortune tastes wrong—not mine!*
Someone else's! Just bundled in Sword Pavilion fortune!
Dazed, Lu Yang glimpsed myriad karmic knots, endless evil debts piling onto him with the fortune!
His pure fortune?
Gifted to some Sword Pavilion Perfected Being?
Rage shook Lu Yang's hands.
No wonder Sword Pavilion prized deep-rooted disciples. Perfect fall guys—who wouldn't love?
*Sword slaves!!!*