Chapter 94: Reconciliation
"My apologies, Senior. I am not a disciple of the Saint Sect."
Facing True Person Chongguang's inquiry, Lü Yang shook his head and said, "I am merely a wandering cultivator fortunate enough to have obtained the inheritance of the ancient Witch Ghost Path."
"...Oh?"
True Person Chongguang's brows immediately furrowed upon hearing this, his previously amiable expression gradually shifting.
Yet in the next moment, Lü Yang pivoted his words:
"However, I would be most willing to join the Saint Sect. The Witch Ghost Path inheritance in my possession could also be shared with the sect—consider it Lü's greeting gift."
At these words, True Person Chongguang's expression instantly relaxed:
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist, why stand on ceremony?"
It seems this True Person had made many enemies within the Saint Sect in his past life, to the extent that even after reincarnation, he wished to sever ties with his former self and avoid bearing its karmic burdens.
With this thought, True Person Chongguang settled inwardly. After all, such cases of True Persons cutting ties with past lives and pretending to be newcomers were not uncommon in the Saint Sect—hardly remarkable. He laughed heartily: "Since Fellow Daoist wishes to join our sect, we naturally welcome you. What are your intentions?"
"I wish to garrison the Northern Frontier."
Lü Yang answered without hesitation: "As a newcomer to the Saint Sect, I am willing to station myself at Skeleton Mountain, holding the northern line against the Divine Martial Gate. Once matters are settled, I shall return to the sect to report."
"...Excellent!"
True Person Chongguang nodded approvingly, his gaze toward Lü Yang growing increasingly appreciative: "In that case, we shall proceed according to your wishes."
Truth be told, he cared little about Lü Yang's actual identity.
Though privately convinced Lü Yang was ninety percent likely a reincarnated True Person of the Saint Sect, it ultimately mattered not. What counted was the value Lü Yang demonstrated.
His usefulness to the Saint Sect.
So long as he proved valuable, many matters could be overlooked with a willful blindness.
Lü Yang's proactive proposal to "garrison the Northern Frontier" was precisely such a demonstration of worth—this attitude being what truly satisfied True Person Chongguang.
'No doubt about it—definitely a reincarnated True Person of our sect...'
Meanwhile, seeing True Person Chongguang readily agree, Lü Yang also sighed in relief... Given his current cultivation level, returning to the Saint Sect would be perilous.
Though both True Person Chongguang and the Mending Heaven Peak Lord believed him to be a reincarnated True Person, Lü Yang knew full well this fabricated identity wouldn't withstand scrutiny. Should a Golden Core True Lord within the sect take notice with but a glance, exposure would be inevitable—leaving restarting as his only option.
Thus, this outcome suited all parties.
Just then, the void beside True Person Chongguang split open, revealing a black-robed man stepping forth—none other than Lü Yang's acquaintance, True Person Yinshan.
"Yinshan?" True Person Chongguang asked in surprise. "What brings you here?"
"Forgive my intrusion, Senior Brother."
True Person Yinshan first glanced at Lü Yang before cupping his hands: "Fellow Daoist, I am Yinshan. I come with an impertinent request."
"These eight hundred li of Skeleton Mountain were refined by the Witch Ghost Path in ancient times, making its spiritual veins exceptionally unique—intertwined with their secret realm and nourished by countless witch ghosts for millennia. It should have birthed a [Heavenly Corpse Sha]. This treasure resides in an earthly fiend position, categorized as [Order], and concerns my cultivation progress. I humbly ask Fellow Daoist to part with it."
At these words, True Person Chongguang's expression shifted subtly.
Lü Yang paused momentarily before realizing—this was the very treasure True Person Yinshan had schemed relentlessly to obtain from the secret realm in his previous life.
Something vital to a Foundation Establishment True Person's cultivation?
Sensing Skeleton Mountain's spiritual veins, Lü Yang indeed detected an extremely yin, supremely soft, turbid and unfathomable netherworld qi deep within.
This was the [Heavenly Corpse Sha]?
The Witch Ghost Path inheritance briefly outlined Foundation Establishment True Persons' cultivation, though its vastness had prevented Lü Yang from studying it thoroughly thus far.
Mentally noting this treasure, Lü Yang smiled: "A simple matter. I can readily gift it to Fellow Daoist. However, it lies deep within the spiritual veins and cannot be extracted rashly—requiring gradual refinement... Approximately thirty years to fully extract one portion."
"No matter." True Person Yinshan visibly relaxed.
A mere thirty years—the blink of an eye. So long as he could leverage the [Heavenly Corpse Sha] to breakthrough to mid Foundation Establishment, this duration meant nothing.
"Excellent!"
True Person Chongguang beamed, privately transmitting: "Many thanks for aiding Yinshan, Fellow Daoist. Regarding Mending Heaven Peak—you need not concern yourself henceforth."
The implication being his mediation in reconciling that conflict.
Though Lü Yang estimated needing no more than thirty to fifty years before Mending Heaven Peak Lord's threat became irrelevant—by the time the Peak Lord recovered, Lü Yang would have long since established his foundation.
Still, he couldn't refuse this goodwill gesture, promptly cupping his hands in gratitude.
For now, all departed satisfied.
After extensive discussion, True Person Chongguang departed with the Mending Heaven Peak Lord, while Lü Yang returned to his loyal Skeleton Mountain market city.
"How familiar..."
Transforming into a streak of light, Lü Yang directly claimed the Blood Garment Tower from his previous life as his secluded cultivation site. His vast spiritual sense instantly swept through the entire market.
At its touch, the entire city erupted in fervor.
"We pay respects to the True Person!"
Countless voices rang out reverently and fanatically. Among them, Lü Yang even spotted a woman of breathtaking beauty.
'She's here already? So early?'
Lü Yang's expression turned peculiar, for the woman standing out like a crane among chickens was none other than Fairy Feixia—with whom he'd shared profound ties in his past life.
Her demeanor remained frostily aloof, as though sparing no one a second glance.
Yet Lü Yang knew that beneath that icy exterior lay warmth awaiting only the right touch to melt through.
"......"
Withdrawing his gaze, Lü Yang harbored no intentions of rekindling old flames. Their previous relationship had been mutually beneficial, ending amicably when purposes were served.
This lifetime held far greater priorities.
Dismissing the crowd with a wave, Lü Yang selected a quiet chamber. A shake of the Myriad Spirits Banner summoned his guardian deity Su Nu once more.
"This servant greets Master."
"Kneel."
At his command, Su Nu immediately prostrated herself, her curvaceous form pressing fully against the floor, taut robes tracing mesmerizing contours.
Yet Lü Yang paid no heed to the mountainous scenery before him, focusing intently on studying Su Nu's dharma body. Since her creation, this guardian deity had been immediately thrust into battle, leaving many mysteries unexplored—demanding thorough investigation.
"Guardian deities can bear karmic burdens."
With this thought, Lü Yang gathered all residual consciousness fragments of Ancestor Nether Whisper and the Witch Ghost Path inheritance, packaging them before transferring everything to Su Nu.
Then he looked skyward.
Originally, accepting this inheritance had entangled him with the Witch Ghost Path—even implicating that distant Golden Core True Lord. Now, that karma had shifted.
Landed squarely upon Su Nu.
"Truthfully, the Witch Ghost Path's karmic burden isn't as dreadful as I imagined. Otherwise, that True Lord from the Sword Pavilion would have long since crushed me with a single palm..."
Lü Yang pondered: "Come to think of it, the Witch Ghost Path was merely a Foundation Establishment lineage. What truly gave that True Lord pause was solely Ancestor Nether Whisper himself. With the Ancestor gone—a minor figure like myself, and Su Nu's severed cultivation path—how could we possibly draw a True Lord's attention?"
At worst, it might attract retaliation from that sword qi.
Yet this lifetime, the sword qi had already dissipated. Even if carrying Witch Ghost Path karma might provoke future sword qi retribution, that would be next lifetime's concern.
Moreover, he already had a countermeasure.
"Once the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes is activated... selections upon restarting—be it cultivation, talents, or treasures—leave absolutely no karmic traces!"
Lü Yang had verified this personally. Cultivation obtained through the Book remained utterly disconnected from causality—no matter who attempted divination, all trails terminated at his restart date. No causes, no effects, completely untraceable. All past-life karma would be cleansed by the Book upon restarting.
Naturally, this applied only to selected aspects.
Cultivation, treasures, talents.
Take the 《Nine Transforming Dragon Art》—while none could deduce the origin of selected cultivation levels, the technique itself remained exposed.
The result being near-immediate detection by the Mending Heaven Peak Lord upon restarting.
"If I achieve Foundation Establishment this lifetime, so be it. If not... next lifetime I'll select treasures!"
With this resolution, Lü Yang examined the Myriad Spirits Banner in hand. He intended to transfer Su Nu—even all Witch Ghost Path specters—onto the banner.
Since it was named the Myriad Spirits Banner, its true spirits should inherently belong to the treasure.
Thus, he might simultaneously leverage the Book's power to sever Witch Ghost Path ties while retaining benefits like the [Yama Palace] method.
"First, test its feasibility."
"Should it fail, I'll simply remain within the Saint Sect after restarting. Surely that sword qi couldn't possibly slash into the sect's sky-reaching sea of clouds?"