Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Saint Sect is Full of Talent
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Lu Yang didn't pay much mind to Wang Song. At most, he felt a flicker of emotion that his friend from several past lives, the old man of the Scripture Repository Pavilion, Wang Bairong, actually had descendants.
*Perhaps I'll look after them in a future life if the opportunity arises,* he thought. Right now, he had more important things to do.
Summoning an escape light, Lu Yang left his cave residence. At the same time, he took out the Dao-Enlightening Jade Slip and began to comprehend the *Sage's Theft*.
An ancient saying goes: As long as sages do not die, great thieves will not cease.
This doesn't mean that sages are thieves. Rather, it means that when sages create laws and regulations for the world, although they standardize the world's conduct, they also provide convenience for great thieves.
However, this was the orthodox path's interpretation. The understanding within *Sage's Theft* was entirely different:
*Sage's Theft* states: Sages use their own rules to profit themselves, treating those who do not comply as bandits. The so-called sages are the great thieves who steal from the world.
Therefore, to master this body-refining technique, one must establish a cultivation method for the world. When everyone in the world follows this cultivation method, the cultivator can then steal the destiny of the world's people to nourish themselves. This is the true meaning of the technique: "The sage is the great thief, and the great thief is the Great Dao."
With the mortal world's essence, forge a sage's golden body.
Once the golden body is forged, the physique's resilience is like "the law of a sage, unchanging for ten thousand generations." It could even rank among the top ten of the Primal Saint Sect's many body-refining techniques.
Reading this, Lu Yang was simply astounded.
"Turning everyone in the world into cultivation resources... The Primal Saint Sect is still the same old sect. Every time I start to feel a bit good about it, it always manages to open my eyes in a big way."
To be honest, ever since meeting Ming Chan, Yun Miaozhen, and the others, Lu Yang's opinion of the orthodox path had plummeted.
Admittedly, orthodox sects like the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion were very good to their own people, meeting the standards of the orthodox path in all aspects, but this was limited only to "their own people."
What did it mean to be "their own people"?
The orthodox path spoke of karma, of past and present lives. If you accumulated good fortune and merit in your past life, then you were one of their own and could receive their favor.
Conversely, if you had committed evil and created negative karma in your past life, even if you were innocent in this one, you could not enter the orthodox path. You would even be killed directly by them under the pretense of "it's for your own good," "to cleanse your karma," or "you'll have your chance in the next life." That madwoman Yun Miaozhen was a prime example.
With this comparison, Lu Yang discovered the dividing line between the orthodox and demonic paths.
To the Primal Saint Sect, all disciples were talent. Thus, they accepted disciples without any reservations, teaching all regardless of their background. Past lives and merit were completely irrelevant.
The orthodox path, on the other hand, emphasized "carrying out Heaven's will."
Reincarnation, karma, destiny... the orthodox path placed extreme importance on merit, karma, and past lives in these matters. They often recruited disciples based on these factors.
Both had their good and bad points; the only difference was which one was more human.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang felt utterly helpless. "Not a single normal sect. What is wrong with this world... The system must be broken!"
While lost in thought, Lu Yang had already arrived deep within the Sea of Clouds.
Soon, a majestic and vast black mountain range came into view. It was none other than Yin Shan, the headquarters of the Three Rivers Association.
Just then, a loud laugh suddenly rang out:
"Junior Brother Lu, you've finally come out of seclusion!"
The next second, a figure identical to how he looked thirty years ago appeared outside Yin Shan. Seeing him, Lu Yang smiled slightly and cupped his hands in a salute:
"Greetings, Senior Brother Luo."
"There's no need for such formalities between us."
Luo Wuya laughed and patted Lu Yang's shoulder. He had always held Lu Yang in high regard; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to send him the *Sage's Theft* technique.
He had also guessed a part of the reason for Lu Yang's visit.
"Junior Brother, you've come because of *Sage's Theft*, haven't you?"
Lu Yang nodded. "This technique is indeed profound and unfathomable, but its scope is extremely wide and it's incredibly time-consuming. I'm afraid it cannot be mastered overnight."
"Hahaha," Luo Wuya laughed heartily. "Junior Brother, surely you're not actually thinking of leaving the Primal Saint Sect to cultivate this technique from scratch in the mortal world? The sect is vast and abundant in resources, teeming with talent. Why go to such trouble? The sect has long had a well-established method for cultivating *Sage's Theft*."
Lu Yang cupped his hands. "Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."
"Come with me."
Luo Wuya led Lu Yang into a grand hall within Yin Shan. In the center of the hall stood a massive crystal sphere.
"This place is called the 'Technique Refining Mystic Realm'."
Seeing Lu Yang's confused expression, Luo Wuya pointed at the crystal sphere and explained, "Don't be fooled by its size. This is actually a creation of a Dao Lord!"
"A Dao Lord...!?"
Lu Yang's heart trembled. Foundation Establishment cultivators were called Perfected Beings, Golden Core cultivators were True Lords, and only Nascent Soul cultivators earned the revered title of Dao Lord. This object was actually refined by such an existence?
"Within the 'Technique Refining Mystic Realm' are one hundred and forty million living people. Each one possesses powerful vital energy and a pure soul, equivalent to more than ten ordinary mortals from the outside world. Whether for refining treasures or cultivating techniques, they are top-grade materials. It's perfectly suited for you to cultivate *Sage's Theft*, Junior Brother."
Hearing this, Lu Yang sucked in a cold breath. "One hundred and forty million... 'talents'."
It seemed that after breaking through to the peak of Qi Refining and joining the Three Rivers Association, a Foundation Establishment faction, he was finally qualified to learn some of the Primal Saint Sect's true secrets.
Just then, the mystic realm suddenly flared with brilliant light.
The next second, a young man in a black robe walked out from it, his face a mask of fury. "Damn it, a bunch of unruly peasants... I failed again!"
After speaking, the young man glanced at Luo Wuya but said nothing more and left directly.
Lu Yang naturally didn't speak either. He waited until the young man was far away before looking at Luo Wuya, only to see a hint of schadenfreude on his face.
"That's another one of the sect's true disciples, the only son of Perfected Being Chongguang, named Chongming. Pay him no mind. He just failed at cultivating *Sage's Theft* again."
"I won't hide it from you, Junior Brother. *Sage's Theft* is not that easy to practice."
At this point, Luo Wuya's expression turned serious again. "Don't underestimate the people in this mystic realm. Although they are talent, they are not idiots."
"As you know, Junior Brother, *Sage's Theft* requires you to create a cultivation method out of thin air for the world's people before you can cultivate it yourself. The more brilliant the method you create, the greater the returns upon success. However, we are not Dao Lords. The techniques we create are mostly shallow and their flaws are easily seen through."
"This is where the failures in cultivating *Sage's Theft* come from."
"In the past, there have even been cases of disciples cultivating *Sage's Theft* who were discovered, feigned compliance with the living people, and were ultimately killed in a counterattack, becoming a laughingstock in the sect."
"So, you must think carefully about how you wish to cultivate this technique, Junior Brother."
After speaking, Luo Wuya took out another jade slip and handed it to Lu Yang. "I also cultivated this technique back in the day and have some shallow experience with it."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
"It's all for the Three Rivers Association. I'm waiting for you to emerge from seclusion after mastering it. If you truly succeed in cultivating *Sage's Theft*, you will be considered quite formidable among the true disciples."
Lu Yang's eyebrows rose at this, catching Luo Wuya's underlying meaning.
Only after mastering *Sage's Theft* would he be considered formidable.
*So... I'm still not considered strong enough as I am now?*
Lu Yang remained impassive, still giving a respectful bow before walking up to the 'Technique Refining Mystic Realm'. He swept his spiritual sense over it, and a flood of information poured into his mind.
As expected of a Dao Lord's creation, this mystic realm could actually be "configured"!
Culture, history, geography, and architecture could all be shaped according to his will. This world-altering power, born from a single thought, filled Lu Yang with both reverence and immense caution.
Because a thought lingered in his mind, one he couldn't shake.
The mystic realm was a Dao Lord's creation. If a Dao Lord could do such terrifying things within the mystic realm, then in the real world... did they possess the same level of power?
The living people in the mystic realm were talent to him.
Then what were the cultivators of the Primal Saint Sect to a Dao Lord?
Lu Yang didn't dare to think further. He could only let out a helpless sigh. "Damn it, the Primal Saint Sect is full of talent everywhere!"