Chapter 38: Divine Martial Gate
At dusk, inside the Blood Garment Tower.
The setting sun bled crimson as Lü Yang slowly channeled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his dantian, converting it into true qi that flowed through his limbs and bones.
Qi coursed through his meridians like a dragon returning to the sea.
"Soon. Once I master the final Flying Fish Transformation and merge all nine transformations, I'll fully refine the Third-Grade True Qi—'True Dragon Fiend'—from the 《Nine Transformations Dragon Art》."
"By the time I cultivate 'True Dragon Fiend,' the Righteous-Demonic War will be upon us. Perfect timing—I'll be at my strongest to seize the Foundation Establishment opportunity at Skeleton Mountain... Only a Foundation Establishment opportunity is worth risking my life for. Everything else is illusory..."
Having completed his cultivation for the day, Lü Yang stepped out of the meditation chamber.
Outside, a woman with striking beauty and sharp brows had been waiting for some time. The moment she saw Lü Yang, she approached and handed him a jade slip.
"Daoist Brother, today's movements of the corpse tide have been recorded here."
Lü Yang accepted the slip with a faint smile. "Thank you, Daoist Sister Yun."
This woman was none other than Yun Miaoqing.
Originally a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, Lü Yang had purchased her despite already mastering the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Formula—mostly out of sentimentality for their past-life connection.
Truthfully, he had done so because they had engaged in dual cultivation in a previous life. As long as it didn't inconvenience him, he didn't mind doing a good deed—helping Yun Miaoqing was better than letting her fall into the hands of other Saint Sect disciples, who would drain her as a cultivation furnace.
Yet, this decision had unexpectedly rewarded him.
Perhaps because he hadn't engaged in dual cultivation with her in this life and instead treated her with respect, focusing solely on rigorous cultivation, Yun Miaoqing had developed deep affection for him.
"Daoist Brother, you're a good person. Why stay in this demonic sect?"
Yun Miaoqing stepped closer, lowering her voice. "With the corpse tide erupting, why not fake your death and come with me to the Sword Pavilion? Embrace the righteous path..."
As she spoke, her eyes shimmered with emotion.
At her most desperate and powerless moment, this man had rescued her from suffering—not only refraining from taking advantage of her but also providing her shelter.
Though born of a demonic sect, he was a true gentleman.
Moreover, over the past decade, she had witnessed his growth firsthand—his high cultivation, formidable talent, and, most importantly, his striking handsomeness.
If he could join the Sword Pavilion, perhaps they could...
Her cheeks flushed faintly as her thoughts wandered.
Her demeanor reminded Lü Yang of her past-life self, who had once defiantly called him a demon. The contrast amused him.
Of course, he had no interest in romantic entanglements.
What truly mattered was Yun Miaoqing's apparent high status in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion—she claimed that with her recommendation, the sect would surely accept him.
"Cultivation in the Saint Sect is like treading on thin ice. If possible, I'd prefer a sect with better traditions..."
Yun Miaoqing might just be the key to his future defection to the righteous path.
"How are Senior Sister Feixia and the others?"
"Those demonic cultivators... Just a few days ago, they crushed the corpse tide at Jueyin Ridge. A mysterious expert intervened but was repelled, and they pursued him afterward."
Yun Miaoqing handed him another jade slip.
Lü Yang scanned it with his divine sense, instantly absorbing the events of that day.
"So that's it... It seems the premature eruption of the corpse tide was indeed orchestrated—by Divine Martial Gate disciples? And the treasure they used to accelerate the tide..."
His eyes widened as he abruptly stood up.
"The Mysterious Female Taiyin Treasure Jade!?"
Indeed, the intelligence clearly indicated that the masterminds behind the corpse tide—Divine Martial Gate disciples—possessed a thumb-sized Mysterious Female Taiyin Treasure Jade!
"If I can obtain this treasure, I'll immediately master the Profound Yin Form-Capturing Grand Art. Given time, even the 《Taiyin Molting Corpse Dissolution True Method》 wouldn't be out of reach. Considering the rarity of this jade, this might be my only chance in this lifetime. If I pass it up, I may never get another opportunity."
"But... If not in this life, then the next. Missing it is missing it!"
Lü Yang's expression darkened as he sat back down. Despite stumbling upon the treasure he had long coveted, he felt no joy—only bone-chilling wariness.
"What I desire conveniently appears before me... Since when does luck favor me so? I'm no Chosen One like Xiao Shiye."
Moreover, even Xiao Shiye's luck had been bestowed upon him by someone else!
"Could this be Daoist Hong Yun's doing again?"
The thought that a Foundation Establishment True Person might be manipulating karma behind the scenes solidified his resolve.
"I won't go out!"
The situation at Skeleton Mountain was too unpredictable. Staying within the market city and controlling the formation was safest—as long as no Foundation Establishment expert intervened, he was untouchable.
"Besides, staying put doesn't mean I can't get the treasure."
There was still Fairy Feixia and her group.
According to the intelligence, they had pursued the culprits. If they seized the treasure and returned to the market, his opportunity would arise.
With that in mind, Lü Yang found himself sincerely cheering for Fairy Feixia...
......
Time flew.
Another day, inside the Blood Garment Tower.
While meditating, Lü Yang suddenly sensed something and soared out on a streak of light, gazing toward the outskirts of the market.
Boom!
In the distant sky, thunderous explosions erupted like rolling peals, accompanied by expanding clouds of destruction, rapidly approaching from the horizon. It was a chase—Fairy Feixia's distinctive rainbow-hued escape light leading the way.
"One missing?"
Lü Yang raised an eyebrow. The Skeleton Mountain market had four late-stage Qi Refining cultivators—himself, Fairy Feixia, Lu Yuanchun, and an unnamed senior brother.
Yet now, he only saw Fairy Feixia and Lu Yuanchun.
"Activate the formation."
Calmly, Lü Yang issued the order. Saint Sect disciples within the market swiftly mobilized, their formation flags fluttering as a majestic barrier rose in an instant.
The Hundred Bones True Formation!
A seventh-grade formation—the pinnacle of Qi Refining-tier arrays. With Lü Yang at its helm, even a peak Qi Refining cultivator could be challenged.
But in the next moment—
A sudden anomaly!
Lu Yuanchun abruptly produced a token, forming hand seals to forcibly open a gap in the sealed formation!
"Now!"
Almost simultaneously, an ecstatic shout rang out beyond the market. Several streaks of spiritual light shot forth, transforming into formation flags that anchored themselves around the gap Lu Yuanchun had created—locking it open so Lü Yang couldn't reseal it!
"Divine Martial Gate..."
Lü Yang frowned, immediately recognizing the attackers. Clearly, Divine Martial Gate had lain in ambush outside the market, waiting for this very opportunity.
With the formation forcibly breached, Divine Martial Gate could storm the market!
As for the culprit—Lu Yuanchun—he merely cast an indifferent glance at the market before darting away in the opposite direction.
He knew exactly what he had done. And he didn't care.
In fact, he had planned this—sacrificing the market as a decoy to ensure his own escape. To Divine Martial Gate, annihilating Skeleton Mountain's market was far more tempting than chasing him down.
As for his fellow Saint Sect disciples inside?
Tough luck!