Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Without Foundation Establishment, One is Ultimately a Pawn
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For Lu Yang, this was an unprecedented experience.
He was "ascending."
In some profound and mysterious realm, his position was constantly climbing "higher," and everything in the mortal world seemed to grow increasingly insignificant to him.
'Is this the perspective of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?'
'Is this ascension!?'
Lu Yang had an epiphany. No wonder most Foundation Establishment cultivators were elusive and transcendent; perhaps this "height" was one of the reasons.
At the same time, he recalled his battle with Yun Miaoqing. The "Supreme Yi Golden Flower" she had used at the end had given him a similar feeling, though not as "high" as this. Thinking back, a Great Divine Ability was perhaps a simulation of Foundation Establishment.
No wonder it was said that mastering a Great Divine Ability could increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment.
It was like the difference between climbing a mountain from the foot and from halfway up. With different starting lines, the difficulty of reaching the summit was naturally different.
The next second, Lu Yang's mind suddenly trembled violently.
Immediately after, he seemed to have landed in a place where he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. It felt both all-encompassing and yet empty and desolate, a realm where his spiritual sense could not expand.
Soon, however, the situation changed.
"Beasts! You pack of beasts!"
Following a furious roar, a burst of colorful light erupted in the mysterious realm. Surrounding this light, pillars of black qi that reached the heavens sealed off all directions.
Both the colorful light and the black qi felt as heavy as mountains to Lu Yang. However, from the looks of it, the colorful light was firmly pinned in place by the black qi. As time passed, large swathes of the colorful light were even being corroded by the black qi, and the once-powerful roar grew weaker and weaker.
'Is this... a battle between Foundation Establishment cultivators?'
Lu Yang was filled with shock and uncertainty. He understood that he was just hitching a ride with Perfected Being Yin Shan and couldn't truly witness this great battle between Perfected Beings.
But relying on the experience from his previous lives, he still made a judgment.
'That colorful light is probably the Perfected Being from the Divine Martial Sect... I see! This is another scheme! Only this time, the bait is the entire Skull Mountain!'
Thinking of this, Lu Yang suddenly felt enlightened.
Because everything before him solved a puzzle that had always baffled him.
It was obvious that Perfected Being Yin Shan was fishing at Skull Mountain for the Shaman Ghost Mystic Realm, and from his words, it was likely related to his own cultivation.
But from beginning to end, Perfected Being Yin Shan was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator at Skull Mountain.
Where were the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Martial Sect?
At first, Lu Yang thought Perfected Being Yin Shan's methods were so brilliant that he could set up his scheme without the Divine Martial Sect's cultivators noticing. But now, it seemed that was not the case.
It was even the exact opposite.
'This Perfected Being probably didn't hide it at all. He openly manipulated causality for the sole purpose of luring out the Divine Martial Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators!'
Perfected Being Yin Shan was at Skull Mountain, using himself as bait to fish.
And the Primal Saint Sect was using the entire Northern Frontier, with Perfected Being Yin Shan as bait, to fish! Now, the fish had taken the bait, and all the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Martial Sect were trapped!
*Rumble!*
In an instant, the entire world shook. A Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Divine Martial Sect shouted, "Demon Sect, do you truly intend to wipe out my Divine Martial Sect's lineage this time?"
"What else?"
A Perfected Being from the Primal Saint Sect sneered, "Let me guess, are you still pinning your hopes on that bunch of lunatics from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion? Let me tell you, they're not coming!"
"As early as ten years ago, during the battle at the Ten Thousand Men Pit in Jiangnan, our sect's Supreme One reached an agreement with the Sword Pavilion's Sect Master. The Northern Frontier belongs to our sect, and the Southern Frontier goes to the Sword Pavilion. So today, our Primal Saint Sect will destroy your Divine Martial Sect, and in the future, the Sword Pavilion will destroy the Myriad Poisons Cult of the Miao Frontier. It's an even trade, no one loses out."
"What... Impossible! Chongguang, you're lying to me!"
Facing the furious accusation from the Divine Martial Sect cultivator, Perfected Being Chongguang chuckled. "Fine, believe I'm lying. In any case, after today, there will be no more Divine Martial Sect!"
"Kill them!"
In an instant, the colorful light flared, finally transforming into five brilliant streams of qi. But instead of attacking together, they scattered, fleeing swiftly in all directions.
"Scatter! Escape! Try to get back to the sect—"
"Escape? Wishful thinking!"
It was Perfected Being Chongguang again. This Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Primal Saint Sect appeared particularly domineering at this moment, laughing heartily. "Above the heavens or below, there's nowhere for you to run!"
*BOOM!*
With a tremendous bang, Lu Yang's senses were completely cut off. He fell unconscious, and an unknown amount of time passed before he slowly regained his wits, feeling as if he were in a dream.
"Awake?"
A voice came from beside his ear. Lu Yang's pupils contracted as he became fully awake. Glancing around, he realized he was back in the forests of Skull Mountain.
And beside him, Perfected Being Yin Shan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a faint, enigmatic smile.
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
Without a second thought, Lu Yang immediately performed a grand salute.
"Rise."
Perfected Being Yin Shan raised a hand and chuckled lightly. "You've rendered great service by helping me obtain the Shaman Ghost Mystic Realm, so I'll give you a bit of advice on a few matters."
"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother," Lu Yang said respectfully.
"First, I previously forced an increase in your fortune and helped you seize the fortune of others. Although it allowed you to advance by leaps and bounds in a short time, the future consequences are severe."
Perfected Being Yin Shan deliberately paused after speaking. Seeing that Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged, a picture of composure, he nodded slightly and continued, "Therefore, according to my calculations, your luck will be extremely poor for the next thirty years. It's best you don't cultivate or go out, otherwise, you risk death."
"I will heed your teachings."
Lu Yang dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. After all, though he had lost thirty years of luck, Perfected Being Yin Shan had gained an entire Shaman Ghost Mystic Realm.
Without Foundation Establishment, one is ultimately a pawn... How could a pawn dare to be dissatisfied?
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to be willing to use you is a blessing in itself!
The fact that Perfected Being Yin Shan was even willing to remind him was already a show of consideration for his membership in the Three Rivers Association, making him a subordinate of sorts.
Seeing Lu Yang being so "sensible," Perfected Being Yin Shan was also quite pleased. He smiled and said, "In any case, you helped me succeed, which counts as a great contribution."
"I preside over the Three Rivers Association, and I always reward merit."
"I see you've already broken through to the tenth level of Qi Refining. The next step is none other than Foundation Establishment... How about this? I'll bestow upon you a Foundation Establishment treasure. What do you think?"
At these words, Lu Yang's eyes widened instantly.
A Foundation Establishment treasure!?
'That's right... In the life before last, Zhao Xuhe most likely obtained his first Foundation Establishment treasure this way. It's just that now, I've taken his place.'
No wonder he had been stationed at the marketplace for so long, sending people out to gather information every day, yet never saw even a shadow of a Foundation Establishment treasure. Thinking about it now, that must have just been a rumor deliberately spread by the Zhao Xuhe of the life before last to deceive interested parties and obscure their view.
Lu Yang's thoughts raced, filled with both excitement and desire.
In the end, however, his expression gradually calmed. He closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment before shaking his head. "Senior Brother, may I request a different reward?"
"...Oh?"
This time, Perfected Being Yin Shan was genuinely surprised. "Are you sure? This 'Ascension Token' in my possession can increase the probability of Foundation Establishment by at least ten percent."
"I'm sure."
Lu Yang nodded. A Foundation Establishment treasure was very precious, but he knew very well that with his fortune damaged for the next thirty years, he wouldn't be able to protect this treasure!
For him now, a Foundation Establishment treasure was not an opportunity but the root of disaster, very likely to lead to his untimely death. This could be seen from Zhao Xuhe's fate in the life before last. Therefore, with great willpower, Lu Yang forcefully suppressed the greed in his heart.
'For me, there's no need to rush.'
'I've only just reached the peak of Qi Refining. There's still plenty of room to grow, like with Great Divine Abilities... I can always come back for a Foundation Establishment treasure in a few more lives.'
Lu Yang's affirmation made Perfected Being Yin Shan fall silent.
To be honest, he hadn't initially planned to pay Lu Yang much mind. It was mainly because he saw him break through two realms, understood how to assess situations, and was a member of the Three Rivers Association that he developed some inclination to nurture him.
After a moment, he spoke again, "What reward do you want instead?"
Lu Yang answered without hesitation, "I want a treasure that can enhance my comprehension."
After all, for the Great Divine Ability in his possession, the 'Grand Yin Corpse Liberation and Form Shedding True Art', he was still missing the 'Supreme Tenuosity Imperial Edict Treasure Register', and this particular part heavily relied on comprehension.
If he couldn't grasp it, he just couldn't.
So, without a treasure to enhance his comprehension, Lu Yang estimated that mastering this divine ability would likely be impossible, even in a few more lifetimes.