Chapter 360: Ancestor Reborn, Avatar Foundation Establishment!
Chapter 360: Ancestor Reborn, Avatar's Foundation Establishment!
Northern Jiangbei, a remote mountain forest.
After intercepting the treasures at Skeleton Mountain, Lü Yang flew all the way here, using [Tribulation Wave] to cleanse his karma before carving out a cave dwelling in the mountains.
Next came the crafting of the immortal embryo.
The quality of the [Divine Martial Dragon-Binding Axe] naturally couldn't compare to the [Abi Sword], but it was still a superior spiritual treasure—more than sufficient as material for an immortal embryo.
Moreover, Ancestor Nether Whisper had made some improvements to this secret method.
The crafting requirements were lowered while efficiency was increased. In the end, the finished immortal embryo wasn't much different from Lü Yang's avatar.
Soon, another three years passed.
Within the cave dwelling, under the burning Six Ding Divine Fire, Ancestor Nether Whisper's immortal embryo had taken shape—a dashing young man brimming with vigor.
"Ancestor, please enter the vessel!"
Lü Yang formed a hand seal and summoned the Myriad Spirits Banner. Ancestor Nether Whisper's spectral form manifested within it, his expression complex—clearly never expecting to see this day.
In the next moment, as vast primordial qi dispersed, Ancestor Nether Whisper's soul materialized. With a flash, it descended into the immortal embryo below. Soon, the embryo opened its eyes, its aura fluctuating—only at the peak of Qi Refining for now, clearly requiring time to rebuild its Foundation Establishment.
Fortunately, Lü Yang had looted the Divine Martial Gate's treasures and wasn't lacking in Foundation Establishment spiritual materials.
'Though this doesn't really count as stealing.'
'After all, the Divine Martial Gate was a righteous sect. Now that they've been exterminated, if their resources fell into the hands of demonic sects, wouldn't that be equivalent to aiding the enemy?'
'So taking all the Divine Martial Gate's treasures was a necessary evil.'
'Only this way could the Divine Martial Gate preserve its dignity in death. I'm sure their departed souls would approve of my actions.'
—He was really getting into the Sword Pavilion's mindset.
Lü Yang had always believed in lifelong learning and wholehearted dedication to one's role. Now that he was a Sword Pavilion disciple, he needed to fully immerse himself in its culture.
Otherwise, what if someone noticed something amiss?
After Ancestor Nether Whisper entered meditation, Lü Yang sealed the cave dwelling and retrieved a mysterious pearl from his robes. Inside it, a scene of endless frost and snow unfolded.
At its center sat Fulong Arhat, hugging his knees and shivering violently.
"Senior! Senior!"
Before Lü Yang could speak, Fulong Arhat's voice urgently rang out: "This humble monk has reconsidered! Please, senior, withdraw your divine power!"
'Reconsidered? Pity.'
Lü Yang's expression remained cold. Without acknowledging Fulong Arhat's plea, he simply crushed the pearl imprisoning the arhat with one hand!
Crack!
Instantly, colorful lights dissipated as Fulong Arhat's voice was drowned by the harsh frost—his physical form and soul scattering within the blink of an eye.
'If possible, his path would have been ideal. But that so-called Buddhist Son Guang Ming... sounds downright sinister! Best not to get involved—too risky. Better to have Hong Ju make a trip to the [Palace of Su Heng] for me. There's still hope of obtaining [Xin Metal].'
Lü Yang remained pragmatic.
Among the Four Great Powers, only the Pure Land truly intimidated him. Avoiding entanglement was best—no action meant no mistakes!
"Speaking of which, harvesting the Divine Martial Gate's fortune was perfect timing!"
Lü Yang performed a quick calculation, then smiled with satisfaction.
"[Sign of Fortune Drawing], draw for me!"
A surge of immense fortune manifested before him, soon coalescing into lines of text:
[Event: Avatar's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.]
[Minor Auspicious: Foundation Establishment poses no difficulty for you. Despite minor setbacks, you succeed smoothly.]
[Minor Ominous: Someone schemes against you in secret, causing your breakthrough to fail and leading to your demise once more.]
[Terminal Auspicious: You fall victim to a conspirator's plot, but through perseverance and luck, you endure and ultimately establish your Dao Foundation.]
"...Someone scheming against me?"
Frowning at the drawn fortune, Lü Yang muttered, "Strange. I've always been amicable in the Sword Pavilion. Who would target me?"
Fortunately, the Divine Martial Gate's fortune was plentiful enough to grant him a [Minor Auspicious] draw.
In the next moment, Lü Yang grasped the [Minor Auspicious] fortune and activated [Puppet on Strings], casting his gaze toward his avatar's location.
Southern Jiangnan, Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, Ji Tian Cliff.
Clang! Clang!
As a clear sword cry pierced the heavens, many Sword Pavilion True Persons in seclusion were startled awake, turning their attention toward the source of the sound.
"Is that... the newly advanced Sword Seed?"
"He's reached Foundation Establishment already?"
"So quickly? Even for a reincarnated Foundation Establishment cultivator who offered incense at the Hall of Reception, such swift progress suggests profound roots from a past life."
The commotion naturally caught Dangmo True Person's attention, eliciting a flicker of joy in his eyes—soon replaced by resignation. Joy at Lü Yang's return to Foundation Establishment, resignation because cultivating the [Sword Lord's Secret Chapter on Discussing Mysteries] meant his Dao path was effectively hopeless.
'Unless... I can achieve it.'
At this thought, Dangmo True Person's eyes flashed with struggle as he opened his storage pouch, gazing at the densely packed heads inside.
None were dead.
Yet the sword was an instrument of slaughter. How could one prove the Sword Dao without killing?
"..."
Dangmo True Person lowered his eyelids, staring fixedly at the countless lifelike heads in his storage pouch—a profoundly eerie sight.
Meanwhile, inside the cave dwelling.
Lü Yang sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed on a piece of jade before him, his expression slightly darkened. This was the Foundation Establishment spiritual material provided by Dangmo True Person.
During Foundation Establishment, resonating with it was said to increase success chances by ten percent.
In reality, however, this material didn't aid his breakthrough—it actively hindered it. Without the fortune's blessing, failure might have been inevitable!
'Who wants to harm me?'
As Lü Yang pondered, he extended a finger. Sword qi coiled around its tip before erupting with a thunderous boom.
First realm of the Sword Dao: Sword Qi Thunder Sound!
"At this level, the sword qi isn't remarkable—just equivalent to a powerful Foundation Establishment Dao technique. But advancing further changes everything..."
Second realm of the Sword Dao: Sword Heart Clarity!
This realm corresponded to Foundation Establishment. Achieving Sword Heart Clarity meant wielding an extra divine ability without rank constraints compared to other Foundation Establishment True Persons!
With this in mind, Lü Yang suddenly slapped his palm downward.
A rectangular sword box—about half his height, made of dark gold and appearing ancient yet sturdy—rose beside him.
Then—
As Lü Yang channeled his magic power, the sword box burst open. Two dazzling sword lights surged out, instantly fusing with him.
'[Sword Divine Ability]!'
Just as he anticipated, upon reaching Foundation Establishment, the two Void Divine Abilities from the [Heaven of Non-Existence] had been fully converted into Sword Divine Abilities by the sword box.
'Pity that after Uncle Chongguang left, the [Heaven of Non-Existence] sealed itself off. No more trials to obtain Void Divine Abilities.'
This regret, however, was unique to Lü Yang.
Others' Void Divine Abilities lacked rank constraints.
Only he could leverage the embryonic fruit position within the Myriad Spirits Banner to imbue rank, transforming them into Sword Divine Abilities. Otherwise, it would've been futile.
'Regardless, I've succeeded.'
With a thought, Lü Yang manifested his two Sword Divine Abilities, plus the innate divine ability corresponding to his transformed [Changheng Observant Golden Sword Foundation].
'Three divine abilities! Mid-stage Foundation Establishment perfected!'
'With [Law Holding] added, I'm a genuine late-stage Foundation Establishment sword cultivator! In this regard, my avatar has surpassed my original body!'