At dusk, inside the Blood-Robed Pavilion. The setting sun was like blood. As another cycle of cultivation came to an end, Lu Yang slowly refined the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his Dantian, then transformed it into True Qi that flowed to his four limbs and hundred bones.
The qi traveled through his meridians, like a dragon returning to the great sea.
"Soon. As long as I cultivate the final Flying Fish Transformation and then merge the nine transformations into one, I'll be able to completely forge the third-grade True Qi of the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, the True Dragon Killing Qi."
"Once I've cultivated the True Dragon Killing Qi, it will be about time for the great war between the righteous and demonic paths to begin. It will be a perfect transition, allowing me to contend for the Foundation Establishment opportunity at Skull Mountain in my strongest state... Only a Foundation Establishment opportunity is worth me taking risks and fighting with my life for. Everything else is illusory."
Finishing his cultivation for the day, Lu Yang walked out of the Cultivation Chamber. And outside the Cultivation Chamber, a woman with a proud figure and sharp features had long been waiting. Upon seeing Lu Yang, she immediately stepped forward and handed him a jade slip.
"Brother Daoist, the report on the corpse tide's movements for today has arrived."
Lu Yang took the jade slip and smiled slightly.
"Many thanks, Daoist Yun."
This woman was none other than Yun Miaoqing. She was originally a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion. Although Lu Yang had already learned the Divine Firmament Sword-Riding True Art, he still bought her out of consideration for their karmic connection in his past life.
Honestly speaking, his original intention was that since the two of them had truly formed a bond in a past life, he didn't mind doing a good deed and helping Yun Miaoqing out, as long as it didn't hinder him.
Following him was certainly better than being bought by other Saint Sect disciples, only to have her cultivation plundered and be left as human dregs. However, he didn't expect this decision to bring him an unexpected, pleasant surprise.
Perhaps it was because in this life, he hadn't cultivated with Yun Miaoqing, but had instead treated her with the respect due to a guest and focused only on his ascetic cultivation, that Yun Miaoqing's favorable impression of him had actually greatly increased.
"Brother Daoist, you are a good person. Why must you stay in the Primordial Saint Demonic Sect?"
Yun Miaoqing walked to Lu Yang's side and said in a low voice, "Right now, with the corpse tide erupting, why don't you fake your death, Senior Brother, and follow me to the Sword Pavilion to convert to the righteous path..." As she spoke, Yun Miaoqing looked at Lu Yang, her beautiful eyes holding a hidden affection.
At her most desperate and helpless moment, it was the person before her who had saved her from a sea of suffering. Not only had he not harmed a hair on her head, but he had also given her a place to stay. Although he came from a Demonic Sect, he was a humble gentleman.
Not to mention, over the past ten years, she had personally watched him grow step by step to this point. His cultivation level was high, his talent was strong, and most importantly, he was very handsome. If he could enter the Sword Pavilion, perhaps he and she...
As her thoughts wandered, a blush suddenly appeared on Yun Miaoqing's pretty face, for reasons unknown. This demeanor couldn't help but make Lu Yang recall how in previous lives, she would face him with an unyielding expression and call him a Demon. For a moment, he found it quite interesting.
Of course, he had no interest in romance. What he truly valued was that Yun Miaoqing's status in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion seemed to be quite high; she actually claimed that as long as she recommended him, the Sword Pavilion would definitely accept him.
"Cultivating in the Saint Sect is like walking on thin ice. If possible, I would still prefer to go to a sect with a better reputation..."
Yun Miaoqing was perhaps his future stepping stone to defect to the righteous path.
"How are Senior Sister Feixia and the others?"
"Those demonic cultivators broke through the corpse tide at Absolute Yin Ridge a few days ago. A mysterious expert also made a move, but was repelled by them, and they then gave chase."
Yun Miaoqing handed over another jade slip. Lu Yang took the jade slip and swept it with his spiritual sense. The various scenes from the day of the incident immediately appeared in his mind.
"So that's how it is... It seems there really is a mastermind behind the early eruption of the corpse tide. Disciples of the Divine Martial Sect? And the wondrous treasure they used to catalyze the corpse tide..."
Reading to this point, Lu Yang was suddenly stunned, and then he abruptly stood up.
"Profound Feminine Supreme Yin Treasured Jade!?"
That's right.
The intelligence clearly showed that the masterminds behind the corpse tide eruption, the disciples of the Divine Martial Sect, possessed a thumb-sized Profound Feminine Supreme Yin Treasured Jade.
"If I can obtain this treasured jade, I can immediately master the Profound Yin Form-Seizing Great Art. Given time, even the Supreme Yin Corpse-Shedding Form Transformation True Art wouldn't be a dream. Considering the rarity of the treasured jade, this is probably the only chance in my life. Once I give up, it's very likely I will have missed it forever."
"However... if not in this life, there's always the next. If I miss it, then I miss it!"
Lu Yang's expression was grim as he sat back down. Despite having unexpectedly discovered the Supreme Yin Treasured Jade he had dreamed of, he did not feel the slightest bit of joy. He only felt a bone-chilling cold, and his heart was filled with vigilance.
"Whatever I want is delivered right to my door... How could there be such a fortunate thing in this world? After all, I'm not a Son of Heaven like that Xiao Shiye."
What's more, even Xiao Shiye's luck was granted to him by someone else!
"It couldn't be that Daoist Hongyun again, could it?"
At the thought that this might all be a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master manipulating karma and plotting in the shadows again, Lu Yang immediately made up his mind.
"I'm just not going out!"
The current situation at Skull Mountain was treacherous. It was safest to remain in the market and preside over the formation. As long as a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master did not intervene, he would be as steady as Mount Tai.
"Besides, just because I don't go out doesn't mean I have no chance of getting the treasured jade."
Aren't Fairy Feixia and the others still out there? After all, the intelligence report said they had given chase. As long as they could seize the treasured jade and escape back to the market, then his chance would come.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but cheer for Fairy Feixia from the bottom of his heart. Time flew by. Another day passed, inside the Blood-Robed Pavilion.
Lu Yang was meditating and refining his qi when he suddenly felt something. He rode a streak of escaping light out of the pavilion, gazing far into the distance toward the outskirts of the market.
Rumble!
In the distant sky, a series of thunderous explosions, accompanied by billowing clouds of smoke, rapidly approached the market from the horizon. It was clearly a high-speed chase. Fleeing at the very front was Fairy Feixia, her extremely distinct, rainbow-colored escaping light leading the way.
"One is missing?"
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow. Including himself, Skull Mountain Market had a total of four cultivators in the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm: Fairy Feixia, Lu Yuanchun, and an unnamed senior brother. Yet at this moment, Lu Yang could only see the figures of Fairy Feixia and Lu Yuanchun.
"Activate the formation."
Unhurried, Lu Yang gave the command. The Saint Sect disciples within the market immediately spread out into position. Formation flags flew, and in an instant, a magnificent grand formation was raised.
The Hundred Skeletons Returning to True Grand Formation! This formation was seventh-grade, a top-tier formation at the Qi Refining level. With Lu Yang presiding over it, he could even fight a cultivator at the Perfection stage of the Qi Refining Realm.
However, in the next second, a sudden change occurred! Lu Yuanchun was seen suddenly taking out a token. He formed a hand seal to activate it, unexpectedly opening the grand formation that was supposed to be closed, revealing a gap.
"Now!"
Almost at the same time, an extremely excited shout rang out from outside the market. Then, several streaks of spiritual light flew out, transforming into formation flags that positioned themselves in the four cardinal directions.
Immediately after, a miniature formation appeared in the opening Lu Yuanchun had created, fixing it in place to the extent that even Lu Yang could not close it!
"The Divine Martial Sect..."
Lu Yang frowned slightly, immediately recognizing the attackers. Evidently, the Divine Martial Sect had been lying in ambush outside the market for a long time, just waiting for such an opportunity. Now that the formation was forcibly held open, the Divine Martial Sect could use this chance to charge into the market!
And the culprit who caused all this, Lu Yuanchun, merely gave the market a cold glance before riding his escaping light away in the opposite direction! He clearly understood what he had done, but he simply didn't care. In fact, he had done it deliberately, treating the market as a sacrificial pawn so that he could escape with his life.
After all, for the Divine Martial Sect, seizing this golden opportunity to annihilate the Skull Mountain Market was a far better prospect than continuing to chase him. As for his fellow Saint Sect disciples inside the market? It was just their bad luck!
(End of Chapter)