Chapter 66: Digging Pits
Chapter 66: Digging a Pit
At Haoran Academy, Lü Yang had barely departed when Ji Xiongying arrived in stealth.
"Bookworm, have you met that immortal?"
The moment he stepped inside, Ji Xiongying was inwardly startled. The Wang Boyuan who had been full of vigor mere months ago now appeared utterly disheveled.
"What happened to you?"
"...Nothing." Wang Boyuan took another swig of wine and smiled. "If you're referring to the one who crossed blades with you, then yes, I've met him."
"He showed considerable interest in my 'Fortune Observation Technique.' Quite an honor."
"Enough nonsense!" Ji Xiongying sneered, tossing the ancient tome he'd obtained through his 'fortuitous encounter' directly before Wang Boyuan. "He can fulfill our grand ambition!"
"Immortals exist in this world—ageless, deathless. Kill them, consume their flesh, and gain eternal life!" Ji Xiongying proclaimed loudly. "Aren't you devoted to establishing peace for ten thousand generations? Slay that immortal, share his flesh between us, and we shall live forever! Then you can create a peaceful world that endures through the ages!"
"A peaceful world..."
Wang Boyuan murmured softly but showed none of the excitement Ji Xiongying had anticipated. He merely shook his head before calmly stating, "Then let us try."
"Good! It's settled!"
Ji Xiongying sensed something amiss in Wang Boyuan's demeanor—as if he harbored hidden thoughts—but couldn't be bothered to pry. As long as Wang Boyuan agreed to act, that was enough.
............
Meanwhile, in Tianjing City.
Lü Yang had regained his composure, for he had suddenly realized one crucial fact: If this truly were a Foundation Establishment True Person, there would be no need for such convoluted methods.
This situation differed entirely from Skeleton Mountain.
At Skeleton Mountain, True Person Yinshan lurking in the shadows hadn't intended to kill him—merely using him as bait. This time, however, someone clearly wanted him dead.
The reason they hadn't struck yet was likely because his true body remained hidden within layers of protective formations, while only an external incarnation ventured forth to scout.
This implied the mastermind's cultivation hadn't reached Foundation Establishment. A True Person would have no reason to hesitate—a single palm strike would suffice to end him. Considering this angle, while the opponent could manipulate karma, their strength likely only reached the peak of Qi Refining.
'How peculiar...'
Capable of influencing karma yet not Foundation Establishment?
Calculating karma and manipulating karma differed by only a single character, yet the gulf between them was worlds apart—the very dividing line between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining.
Calculating karma granted limited foresight.
Manipulating karma allowed one to steer events according to their will. By all logic, only a Foundation Establishment True Person could achieve such a feat.
Thus, 'manipulating karma without being Foundation Establishment' should be impossible.
Unless...
"A reincarnated Foundation cultivator?"
Frowning, Lü Yang eliminated every impossible conjecture until the sole remaining answer surfaced: "Could there be a reincarnated Foundation Establishment expert within this secret realm?"
Yes—the tribulation of Saint's Theft!
The thought struck him as absurd. What kind of tribulation was this? His mastery of Saint's Theft had attracted the attention of a reincarnated Foundation Establishment cultivator?
Surely not!
By the heavens above, this humble Daoist has always been amicable—how could I possibly provoke a Foundation Establishment expert...
'...Ah.'
The next instant, Lü Yang's eyes widened.
'Yun Miaozhen? Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion?'
Only two Foundation Establishment experts in this lifetime bore grudges against him: the Mending Heaven Peak Master, who remained in his prime and certainly hadn't reached the point of reincarnation...
And the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion.
Given the Pavilion's stature, a reincarnated Foundation expert among their ranks wouldn't be unusual. With existing enmity between them, the tribulation of Saint's Theft had drawn this foe to him?
Could it truly be so outrageous?
At this realization, Lü Yang broke into a cold sweat, nearly fleeing the secret realm on the spot to report to True Person Yinshan that villains lurked within...
Yet he resisted the impulse to leave. A sudden thought struck him—the final step of the Corpse Dissolution True Method he'd deduced for his cultivation, 'Death Before Transformation,' precisely required the soul of a reincarnated Foundation expert to perfect.
Moreover, his Saint's Theft remained incomplete.
Reporting now would prompt True Person Yinshan to purge the realm. Not only would he lose the Foundation soul, but Saint's Theft would certainly fail.
'Though a tribulation, this is also an opportunity...!'
As the saying goes: misfortune and fortune intertwine!
Every cause bears fruit; every debt demands repayment. If he could overcome this tribulation through his own strength, it would transform into a heaven-sent opportunity!
And he wasn't without chances of success.
Previously, the enemy lurked in shadows while he stood exposed, ignorant and thus facing certain death... Now that he knew the truth, the situation had changed!
He could turn the tables!
'Since that reincarnated Foundation expert schemes against me in secret, this so-called Martial Path of Heaven and Man must also be his creation. I knew something felt off...'
'...He seeks to lure me out!'
'With only an incarnation deployed, he remains unsatisfied... Hence Ji Xiongying's sudden appearance and our battle.'
'Undoubtedly, he has further plans—likely aiming to destroy this incarnation, baiting my true self to emerge from seclusion beyond the protective formations... Yet Ji Xiongying cannot defeat this incarnation alone. To kill me... he must unite with other Heaven and Man realm experts!'
Understood! All became clear!
Outwardly composed, Lü Yang had pieced together roughly seventy to eighty percent of the Yun Family Patriarch's scheme, his comprehension of karma deepening subtly.
'This is Foundation Establishment...'
Foundation experts rarely fought to the death, preferring to maneuver through karma. Whoever could calculate the other's karma gained overwhelming advantage!
'If he seeks my death, I shall grant it!'
After prolonged contemplation, Lü Yang devised a countermeasure. He had already intended to battle the Martial Path experts—not to establish a fifth step, but to steer the Martial Path back on course.
The Yun Family Patriarch's assessment proved accurate: given Lü Yang's current cultivation and insight, even with the Bright Dao Jade Slip's aid, creating a fifth step remained impossible.
Yet resolving this predicament didn't require inventing a new realm... Merely making others believe he had would suffice.
After all, the essence of 《Saint's Theft》 lay in theft.
To deceive the world and steal fame demanded no genuine substance.
'First, I need a new identity.'
To convince all that he'd established a new realm required credibility—thus an appropriately lofty origin became essential.
'My true name... Let it be Shakra!'
'I have lived over a thousand years as this world's sole immortal, having reached its limits, now seeking methods to break through.'
'My interactions and battles with Martial Path experts stem from my belief that when one's cultivation touches the world's apex, further progress demands combat—life-and-death struggles where transcendence emerges, shattering heaven and earth's constraints!'
'This realm, I name... Shattering the Void!'
'Upon Shattering the Void, one ascends effortlessly. Thus none can describe this realm's mysteries—for none who reach it ever return to testify...'
The unknown bred both fear and hope.
'I needn't elaborate this realm's details. A grand battle and public demonstration will suffice—the audience's imagination will fill the gaps...'
This was a monumental trap!
The Martial Path's fourth step marked the end—Foundation Establishment remained unattainable. Yet human ambition knew no bounds; Martial Path experts craved a tangible goal.
And Lü Yang would provide it!
All he required was a sufficiently spectacular performance before all witnesses, rendering 'Shattering the Void' ethereal yet believable.
Unbelieved, truth becomes falsehood.
Believed, falsehood becomes truth!