Chapter 89: Xiao Shiye
"If I can truly refine a guardian deity that mimics Foundation Establishment, it would greatly aid my breakthrough—boosting my chances by at least thirty percent!"
Lü Yang sat cross-legged in contemplation:
"Not only that, but more importantly, the guardian deity bears complete karma. At critical moments, I can sever ties with it, dumping all the Witch Ghost Path's karmic burdens onto its shoulders."
"Though this means the stolen heavenly fortune and cultivation from [Saint's Theft] couldn't be used for my own Foundation Establishment—they'd have to be invested in the guardian deity—with such a protector, combined with third-grade true qi, [Corpse Dissolution Immortal], [Saint's Theft], and [Silkworm Secret of Severing Thoughts to See the True Self], I'd still have seventy percent odds of success!"
Add the Ascension Token, and it becomes eighty percent!
"Moreover, according to Ancestor Nether Whisper, the more preparations made before Foundation Establishment, the higher the success rate—and the greater the rewards after breaking through."
"This relates to cultivation within the Foundation Establishment realm."
"Foundation Establishment is essentially gambling with one's life. There are even True Persons who attempt breakthroughs with only thirty to forty percent odds, relying on sheer luck to succeed."
"Yet such desperate breakthroughs aren't without cost. The fewer preparations made beforehand, the lower the success rate—meaning deeper Dao injuries sustained during the process. These wounds become entrenched after Foundation Establishment, hindering further progress until healed."
"Early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation is fundamentally a recovery period."
"Conversely, with ample preparation—seventy to eighty percent odds—the recovery time shortens dramatically."
"With one hundred percent certainty before breaking through, one achieves perfected early-stage Foundation Establishment immediately, poised to advance to mid-stage."
"In the cultivation world, this method is called 'Perfect Foundation Establishment.' Generally, only the direct disciples of True Lords can hope to attempt it..."
This made sense.
After multiple lifetimes of arduous cultivation, Lü Yang's best-case scenario only gave him eighty percent odds for Foundation Establishment—the remaining twenty percent still eluded him.
This wasn't a gap in talent but purely a matter of background. The resources required for 'Perfect Foundation Establishment' were terrifyingly excessive—far beyond ordinary means. Only the direct disciples of Golden Core True Lords could mobilize such wealth.
Nevertheless, Lü Yang had no intention of pursuing so-called 'Perfect Foundation Establishment.'
"Though 'Perfect Foundation Establishment' sounds impressive, it merely saves cultivation time. There's no need for me to obsess over it."
"Eighty percent odds are enough to gamble!"
"Break through first!"
As the saying goes, "Only by standing high can one see far." Many matters required Foundation Establishment status to even participate. The benefits of breaking through first were undeniable.
Having resolved himself, Lü Yang stopped dwelling on it.
"By my calculations, Yu Suzhen's task should be nearly complete. If that old bastard from Mending Heaven Peak truly intends to act, she's likely succeeded already."
Lü Yang formed a hand seal, once more divining Yu Suzhen's recent circumstances.
...........
Primordial Saint Sect, Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.
Within a secret realm, inside an ancient bronze hall, Yu Suzhen hovered mid-air. Her scant robes failed to conceal the crimson flush spreading across her skin.
Opposite her, Xiao Shiye's eyes burned red, his face twisted in struggle. His bull-like frame radiated intense yang energy, forming a stark contrast with Yu Suzhen's overflowing yin forces. The convergence of yin and yang was unmistakable.
"Shameless scoundrel!"
The next moment, Yu Suzhen's icy voice rang out as she shattered the bronze coffin at the secret realm's core, her face alight with visible fury.
Xiao Shiye trembled in fear.
Yet beneath his terror, an alien sensation blossomed in response to Yu Suzhen's resistance, further eroding his self-control.
This all began with a treasure hunt.
Blessed by overwhelming fortune, Xiao Shiye had been first to reach the secret realm's core—only for Yu Suzhen to arrive moments later and seize his opportunity by force.
The legacy left by the realm's creator contained a trap: after receiving the inheritance, only the harmonization of yin and yang could prevent immediate death from imbalance. With only Xiao Shiye and Yu Suzhen present in the core chamber, the inevitable transpired.
At this thought, Xiao Shiye subconsciously rose to his feet.
"Don't come any closer!"
Yu Suzhen's cry came instantly—yet her hazy eyes and flushed skin robbed her words of all conviction.
They only excited Xiao Shiye further.
As the distance between them vanished and yin-yang forces fully merged, a jade-white arm encircled Xiao Shiye's neck.
Fragrance filled his senses.
Yu Suzhen's weak voice, laced with resignation, echoed in his ear: "If you dare touch me, brat, I will take your life someday!"
This instantly provoked Xiao Shiye's defiance.
He'd heard of Yu Suzhen—the renowned Suzhen Immortal Maiden, whose exceptional talent had propelled her beyond most disciples to late-stage Qi Refining at a young age.
He was merely a nameless mid-stage Qi Refiner.
From the moment they entered the secret realm, Yu Suzhen had maintained this aloof demeanor, never deigning to acknowledge him—even stealing his opportunity.
This was beyond endurance!
"I'll touch you if I want. What will you do about it?"
Eyes burning crimson, Xiao Shiye cast aside his trepidation and restraint in a surge of anger, seizing her and mounting without hesitation.
Yin and yang intertwined without cease.
Days later, when Yu Suzhen awoke, another struggle ensued—yet she ultimately spared him, even saving his life.
Thus began their inextricable bond.
Thereafter, Xiao Shiye couldn't forget Yu Suzhen.
Especially when glimpsing that cold immortal maiden before crowds, he couldn't help recalling the hidden passion beneath her icy exterior.
With his 'little head' overriding the 'big one,' Xiao Shiye's choice was inevitable: he would grow stronger! Strong enough to stand before Yu Suzhen openly and become her Dao partner!
Driven by this ambition, Xiao Shiye came to the sect's Merit Pool.
Having hit rock bottom, every direction led upward.
Time to gamble!
Invisible to mortals, Xiao Shiye's towering fortune burned wildly—yet it stirred the Merit Pool's response.
"This time I'll hit the jackpot!"
"I've dumped all my Contribution Points this year—at least give me gold!"
"If not gold, purple as consolation..."
Under the feverish gazes of watching disciples, the Merit Pool revealed its prize—and a rainbow radiance erupted!
"Grand prize! Grand prize!"
Instantly, the crowd erupted.
Nearly every eye locked onto Xiao Shiye within the colorful light, their gazes brimming with undisguised envy, rage, and murderous intent.
Who the hell is this bastard?
Ignoring them, Xiao Shiye excitedly accepted the colorful Merit Fish nuzzling his palm.
With this, his fortunes would turn!
That aloof Suzhen Immortal Maiden would surely regard him differently now!
Sensing the covetous stares, Xiao Shiye didn't hesitate—he devoured the fish whole, slaughtering and refining it on the spot.
The next moment, all sounds ceased.
"........."
Every enraged, jealous, greedy sect disciple—including Xiao Shiye—ceased thinking. Time itself seemed to halt.
A figure embodying all the world's colors materialized silently.
Daoist Hong Yun.
"This bait yielded fine results."
Daoist Hong Yun nodded approvingly at Xiao Shiye. The colorful Merit Fish's fortune would alleviate his urgent needs.
He prepared to reclaim Xiao Shiye and extract that fortune.
Then he froze.
His divine sense probing Xiao Shiye's body found only emptiness—all true qi and vitality had vanished.
Xiao Shiye was dead.
...Where's my fish? That huge fish I caught!
Daoist Hong Yun's smile stiffened, his face darkening visibly with shock and fury as he glared at the corpse.
A moment later, after calculating with pinched fingers, he laughed in rage:
"How audacious!!!"