Chapter 47: The Hidden Dragon Remains in the Abyss

Perhaps he was a startled bird fearing the bow, or perhaps worrying unnecessarily like the man of Qi—but regardless, Lü Yang now regarded all factions with Foundation Establishment backgrounds with wariness.

Especially those that could take notice of him.

'Unlike before, I have divine talisman protection this lifetime. The Mending Heaven Peak Master can't scheme against me. The Divine Martial Gate, as a righteous sect, shouldn't betray its own... So that leaves the Foundation Establishment True Person still hiding in the shadows plotting around Skeleton Mountain—it might well be the one behind the Three Rivers Association!'

The more Lü Yang thought about it, the more suspicious the Three Rivers Association seemed, though his expression remained unchanged:

"So that's how it is. Does Second Senior Brother wish to see me?"

"Indeed." Fairy Feixia ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nodded. "Second Senior Brother has come to Skeleton Mountain and lacks capable assistants. He hopes you can lend your strength."

Assistants? More like cannon fodder!

Lü Yang decisively shook his head: "Though I know a bit about formations, that conversely means my strength plummets without them. How could I possibly live up to Second Senior Brother's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expectations?"

"Please ask Second Senior Brother to find someone more suitable."

Lü Yang spoke with full confidence.

Though he'd joined the Three Rivers Association and signed a magical contract, he wasn't their slave. He still had autonomy—who could force him?

Fairy Feixia clearly thought the same, merely acting as messenger.

Now that the message was delivered, her demeanor gradually turned coquettish. Rosy hues bloomed on her fair cheeks as her glances overflowed with charm.

"Junior Brother, this humble one has encountered some difficulties with formations recently... Might Junior Brother offer guidance..."

"Nothing would please me more."

Lü Yang's spirits immediately lifted......

............

Over the next three months, Lü Yang's pace of life slowed considerably.

Each day was spent either discussing the Dao with Fairy Feixia or studying the Hundred Bones True Formation outside. Sometimes when inspiration struck, he'd do both simultaneously.

Yet while he enjoyed peaceful days, chaos reigned beyond the market at Skeleton Mountain.

Not only were the Divine Martial Gate and Primordial Saint Sect involved, but their subordinate sects and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even some astonishingly skilled rogue cultivators had been drawn in.

When the three factions met, clashes were inevitable.

Several ruins of the ancient Witch Ghost Path were excavated during this time, further confirming the existence of the Witch Ghost Secret Realm.

It was then that Fairy Feixia brought Lü Yang news—Zhao Xuhe had been seizing opportunities outside the market under Lü Yang's name.

"Who knew my reputation would prove so useful..."

Lü Yang was somewhat surprised. Zhao Xuhe had repeatedly found himself in peril during disputes over opportunities, only escaping danger by invoking Lü Yang's name.

Clearly, Ouyang Haoze's death had left many wary of Lü Yang.

Of course, Zhao Xuhe's cleverness played a part—knowing his limits, he'd avoided provoking truly formidable figures, allowing him to borrow Lü Yang's intimidating aura.

"Junior Brother, will you truly ignore this?"

Fairy Feixia's delicate face darkened with cold fury: "That man uses your name, entangling you in karma. In my opinion, we should kill him first!"

"Let him be."

Lü Yang shook his head. Zhao Xuhe hadn't returned to the market, wholly focused on searching Skeleton Mountain for Witch Ghost Path relics and that secret realm.

To kill him, Lü Yang would have to leave the market.

And how could that ever happen?

"Let him go. He mortgaged contribution points with me, and I agreed he could use my name. There's nothing more to say."

After seeing Fairy Feixia off, Lü Yang's expression gradually cooled.

"Heh!"

"How interesting. Over these months, everything I've heard and seen seems to urge me to leave the market."

A term surfaced unbidden in Lü Yang's mind: tribulation!

For a mere Qi Refining cultivator like himself to be targeted by a Foundation Establishment True Person—his karma deduced, schemes laid—if this wasn't tribulation, what was?

"Karma... damnable thing!"

"Regardless, facing tribulation, I mustn't act rashly. Only by sealing my cave and quietly reciting the Yellow Court Scriptures can I hope to evade calamity..."

First the Three Rivers Association applying external pressure.

Now Zhao Xuhe creating internal entanglements.

"However you bait me, I won't bite. The hidden dragon remains in the abyss—what can your arrogance do to me?"

With this realization, Lü Yang felt his mind clear. Restless thoughts settled back into tranquility, leaving him relaxed as if another layer of karma had lifted.

............

Time flowed onward—another month passed.

A thousand miles east of Skeleton Mountain Market.

A fleeing streak of light burned vital blood in desperation, pursued by seven or eight similar streaks.

"Zhao Xuhe! There's nowhere to run!"

The pursuers wore armor and wielded weapons, their vital energy soaring skyward—clearly Divine Martial Gate disciples, mostly at late Qi Refining stage without any perfected experts.

Otherwise, Zhao Xuhe could never have escaped this far.

Yet even so, he'd reached his limits. Only desperate hope kept him conscious.

"I can still be saved!"

"I already sent a missive to Lü Yang. If I can just... just reach that place... get near the market, Lü Yang will surely save me!"

Zhao Xuhe fled for his life, desperately convincing himself.

"The Heavenly Secrets Stealing Technique still bears my restriction! Unless he wants to wait eighty years until he's decrepit, he must come save me if he hopes to reach Foundation Establishment!"

"He'll come!"

"He must!"

Then, to Zhao Xuhe's exhilaration, a radiant streak of light finally rose from the market's direction—having noticed his mortal peril.

"He's coming! I knew he wouldn't abandon me!"

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe's spirits soared. His pursuers slowed, seemingly waiting for something too.

But as time passed, something felt wrong.

Though the radiant streak kept approaching, it never arrived.

Finally, Zhao Xuhe could run no more. The Divine Martial Gate disciples reluctantly surrounded him, and battle ensued.

The fighting lasted half a day.

By the end, the pursuers hardly dared strike forcefully, fearing they might kill Zhao Xuhe outright. They kept glancing toward the approaching light.

Wait... was it getting farther away?

At last, Zhao Xuhe completely broke.

"No! Why!?"

He vomited a mouthful of heart's blood, then collapsed to his knees—utterly spent, his life force rapidly dispersing.

One thought remained as death took him:

Had Lü Yang truly abandoned the Heavenly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Secrets Stealing Technique?

"Why didn't you save me!?"

Little did he know, this same question plagued the architect of this pursuit.

Hidden nearby, Divine Martial Gate Elder Ouyang Feng gazed helplessly toward Skeleton Mountain Market, frustration and resignation in his eyes.

"Why didn't he save him?"

"Only a fool would!"

Retracting the fleeing light illusion, Lü Yang glanced at what must have been Zhao Xuhe's umpteenth plea for help before tossing it aside: "Did he really think he could blackmail me with that technique?"

"Eighty years? I can wait!"

"When the restriction naturally disperses, the technique will still be mine! If not this lifetime, then the next..."

Lü Yang couldn't help reflecting on Zhao Xuhe's misfortune—had he actually reached the market, Lü Yang wouldn't have hesitated to aid him.

But outside? They simply lacked affinity.

"Senior Brother Zhao, go in peace. Having died for the Saint Sect, I'll surely petition the Mending Heaven Peak Master to grant you a glorious burial."

"As for your debt—consider it forgiven this lifetime. I'll collect in the next!"