Chapter 456
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Restart at the First Anchor
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In the boundless darkness, Lu Yang's consciousness floated on the surface of the abyss.
"Another reboot."
Lu Yang sighed, beginning to reflect on the failures of his previous life.
"Cultivation attainment... This hurdle is even more exaggerated than I imagined."
Seeking gold allowed no shortcuts!
"If Heaven hadn't meddled back then, and I'd cultivated step by step with my immortal spirit body, I might have reached the standard for gold with [Pomegranate Wood] attainment."
But due to Heaven's interference, he was forced to abandon his [Pomegranate Wood] cultivation and seek other paths. In the end, his attempt at gold relied entirely on insights from the upper chapter of the immortal spirit, which led to a deviation. Otherwise, with his state at the time, he had a real shot at proving the fruit position.
"The key lies in divine abilities."
"Natal divine abilities, innate divine abilities—every single one must be forged by one's own hand. Borrowing external power might seem mighty, but the foundation is hollow and unstable."
By comparison, outer dao fruit positions had no such stringent requirements.
[Linglong Heart], [Containing True Qi], [Meeting Origin Merit], [Bearing Heaven's Pattern], [One with the World]. None of them had been cultivated methodically by Lu Yang.
All were rushed.
Yet if he'd sought [Seven Radiance Heavens], success would have been all but guaranteed. This showed that the rigid requirements for attainment were unique to this world's native fruit positions.
"But that might also be one reason outer dao fruits fall short of native ones. Fewer restrictions, but probably less potential in the unseen ways."
As Lu Yang pondered, the [Book of a Hundred Lives] stirred.
[Would you enable 'Golden Talent · Natural Immortal Spirit'?]
"...No!"
Lu Yang cursed at the sight. Junk talent—you screwed me over last life. If I hadn't been clever, I'd have rebooted ages ago!
The [Book of a Hundred Lives] ignored his complaints, of course. New text rapidly appeared:
[Please select reboot anchor point.]
"First anchor."
Lu Yang sighed. At the second anchor, he'd already laid the corresponding foundation for [City Head Earth], but it had been too hasty, turning it into a dead end now.
He'd been too young then, unaware of just how vicious this place truly was. He'd even toyed with the idea of snatching chestnuts from the fire of the Pure Lands to prove [City Head Earth]. Now it all seemed like bullshit—a mere [City Head Earth] that could draw a World Honored One to act personally!
"Shameless."
Lu Yang shook his head. With his confirmation, the darkness before him began to ripple, like the turning of a page in a book. Fine white light surged forth.
Like sunlight piercing the night.
Or like simply opening his eyes again. When Lu Yang came back to himself, the scene before him was one he'd nearly forgotten.
[Your attempt at 'Pomegranate Wood' failed unexpectedly, leaving a certain Dao Lord who'd placed faith in you utterly stunned. He pondered for ten days, unable to fathom why you'd proceed without assurance or sufficient attainment, forcing him to abandon his plan to communicate with you.]
[Current remaining pages in Book of a Hundred Lives: 90]
[Rebooting a life. Select one from the following gains of the previous life:
1: Treasure.
2: Cultivation.
3: Lifespan.
4: Forfeit all gains; randomly awaken one talent based on previous life's experiences.]
"Those called, step forward."
Familiar voice, familiar scene. Senior Brother Liu Xin's voice on stage, once chilling to Lu Yang, now plunged him into a daze.
'How many years has it been?'
Lu Yang glanced at his hands. The drastic drop in his stature felt like tumbling from a mountaintop back to the ground, leaving him momentarily disoriented.
After all, at the first anchor, he hadn't even established foundation—merely mastered a few great divine abilities. This long-lost weakness actually rekindled some of his original intent. No need to brood over heaven and earth's secrets or the Dao Lords' schemes; he could focus on the petty struggles right before him.
'Ignorance is bliss.'
With that thought, Lu Yang gathered his mind. When Liu Xin called his name, he strode up onstage briskly. Then came that familiar pronouncement:
"Harmonious Union Hall!"
Lu Yang was well-practiced in this routine by now.
So as he went through the motions, he sighed inwardly:
'With each reboot, my heart grows colder and more ruthless.'
In the past, he might have harbored thoughts of revenge against Liu Xin.
But now? He couldn't care less. Revenge for what? He'd revive next life anyway. Just a consumable at best.
Not even a person.
'When did I become like this? If I keep going, will I turn into the kind of person I despise?'
In that instant, Lu Yang jolted awake.
Absolutely not!
He cultivated immortality for lifespan, for freedom, for mastery over his fate. If he stopped being himself, what was the point?
'I must find a way to ease this mindset!'
Half an hour later.
In Yu Suzhen's cave abode, Lu Yang pushed aside the jade-like white body beside him and exhaled deeply, feeling his chilled soul warm considerably.
'I was worrying over nothing.'
Lu Yang shook his head, unable to suppress a sigh:
'The world is so beautiful, yet I'm so irascible. That's no good, no good... Yep, I'm still me—no change at all!'
After his fierce clash with Yu Suzhen, Lu Yang deeply realized that cultivation needed balance—tight and loose. Life required spice. His taut nerves relaxed, and only then did he leisurely glance at the [Book of a Hundred Lives], decisively selecting the [Treasure] option.
[Dry Heaven Total Grasp of Myriad Phenomena]!
This dharma body contained all of Lu Yang's gains from his last life, now brought over in full. As for cultivation? It mattered little now.
'If I want, I can restore peak Foundation Establishment anytime.'
Just reconnect to [Mysterious Capital Blessed Land] and draw from [Seven Radiance Heavens] once more. But it was pointless. What he sought this life was the future!
'Outer dao fruits are fine, but not for me.'
Lu Yang suspected proving [Seven Radiance Heavens] would bar him from native fruit positions forever—short-term gain, endless trouble.
Of course, that didn't mean [Seven Radiance Heavens] was useless.
'The best use is false possession!'
False possession of an outer dao fruit!
'As long as I use my genius to rework the [Hall of Yama], enabling false possession of outer dao fruits, my last life wasn't wasted.'
False possession of gold was already a cut below true, and faking an outer dao fruit? Even if successful, it'd be the weakest Golden Core in history—outmatched by outer dao True Lords. But a weak Golden Core was still a Golden Core! Perfect for bullying scrubs and stomping Foundation Establishment!
Just like false Foundation Establishment back in the day.
False possession of an outer dao would give Lu Yang a qualitative edge among Foundation Establishment cultivators, aiding his pursuit of a native heaven-earth fruit position.
And he had a plan for which one.
'From an attainment perspective, [Covered Lamp Fire] and [Wall Soil] are ideal, but at this point in time, they're death traps.'
Proving them meant courting death.
Plus, starting from scratch to gather heavenly gang and earthly fiend stars was a hassle.
'[Pomegranate Wood] too.'
With last life's experience, success odds were high this time, but Lu Yang no longer settled for a mere common fruit.
'After all, with false outer dao possession this life, my advantages are near limitless—like a True Lord scrapping with Foundation Establishment for opportunities. Under those conditions, [Pomegranate Wood] isn't impossible, but the prospects aren't grand enough. To prove, I must prove the best!'
Lu Yang aimed for [Soaring Empyrean].
If proving, then a supreme fruit position!
Of course, he knew his limits—[City Head Earth] and [Sword Edge Gold] were out of reach, [Great Forest Wood] taken by Soaring Empyrean.
So his target was—'[Heavenly Fire]!'