For Lu Yang, this was an unprecedented experience. He was "ascending." In a certain profound and mysterious realm, his position was continuously ascending towards a "higher place."
Everything in the mortal world grew increasingly insignificant to him. 'So this is the perspective of a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master.' 'Is this ascension?!'
Lu Yang came to an understanding. No wonder most Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters were as elusive as divine dragons, showing their heads but never their tails, transcending the mundane. Perhaps this "height" was one of the reasons.
At the same time, he also recalled the "Supreme Taiyi Golden Flower" Yun Miaozhen had used at the end of their fight. That Great Divine Ability had given him a similar feeling to what he was experiencing now, but it was not as "high."
Thinking about it now, perhaps a Great Divine Ability was a kind of simulation of Foundation Establishment. No wonder it was said that mastering a Great Divine Ability could increase one's chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. It was like the difference between "climbing a mountain from the foot" and "climbing from the mountainside."
With different starting lines, the difficulty of reaching the summit was naturally different. The next second, Lu Yang's mind suddenly trembled violently. Immediately after, he felt as if he had landed in a realm so dark he could not see his hand in front of his face.
It seemed to encompass everything, yet was also empty and silent. His spiritual sense had difficulty expanding. However, the situation soon changed.
"Beasts. You group of beasts!"
Following a furious roar, a burst of colorful light suddenly erupted in the mysterious realm. Surrounding the colorful light, pillars of heaven-reaching black qi sealed off all directions. Whether it was the colorful light or the black qi, both felt as heavy as mountains to Lu Yang.
But from the looks of it, the colorful light was clearly pinned in place by the black qi. As time passed, large patches of the colorful light were even being corroded by the black qi, and the originally vigorous roar was growing weaker. 'Is this... a battle of Foundation Establishment?'
Lu Yang was filled with shock and uncertainty. He also understood that he was just hitching a ride with Daoist Master Yinshan and could not truly witness this great battle between Daoist Masters. However, relying on the experience of his previous lives, he still made a judgment.
'That colorful light is probably the Daoist Master from the Divine Martial Sect... I get it! This is another trap!
It is just that this time, the bait is the entire Skull Mountain!' At this thought, Lu Yang suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment. Because everything before him solved a puzzle that had always perplexed him.
It was obvious that Daoist Master Yinshan was fishing on Skull Mountain for the Witch Ghost Secret Realm. And judging from his words, this was very likely related to his cultivation. But from beginning to end, Skull Mountain only had one Foundation Establishment cultivator, Daoist Master Yinshan.
What about the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Martial Sect? At first, Lu Yang thought Daoist Master Yinshan's methods were so brilliant that he could set up his scheme without the Divine Martial Sect's Daoist Masters noticing. But now, it seemed that was not the case.
In fact, it was the complete opposite. 'This Daoist Master probably did not hide it at all. Instead, he openly manipulated karma, for the sole purpose of luring out the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Martial Sect!'
Daoist Master Yinshan was on Skull Mountain, using himself as bait. And the Saint Sect was using the entire Northern Frontier, with Daoist Master Yinshan as bait! Now, the fish had taken the hook.
All the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Divine Martial Sect had already fallen into the trap!
Rummmble!
In an instant, the entire heaven and earth trembled. A Foundation Establishment Daoist Master from the Divine Martial Sect shouted, "Demonic Sect, do you truly intend to destroy the Dao lineage of my Divine Martial Sect this time?"
"What do you think?"
A Daoist Master from the Saint Sect sneered, "Let me guess, you are not still pinning your hopes on that bunch of lunatics from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, are you? Let me tell you, they are not coming!"
"As early as ten years ago, during the battle at the Mass Graves South of the River, the supreme one of our Sect reached an agreement with the Sword Pavilion Sect Master. The Northern Frontier belongs to our Sect, and the Southern Frontier goes to the Sword Pavilion. So today, my Saint Sect will destroy your Divine Martial Sect, and in the future, the Sword Pavilion will destroy the Myriad Poisons Cult of the Southern Frontier. It is an even trade, no one loses out."
"What... Impossible! Chongguang, you are lying to me!"
Faced with the angry rebuke from the Divine Martial Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivator, Daoist Master Chongguang let out a mocking laugh, "Just assume I am lying to you. In any case, after today, there will be no more Divine Martial Sect!"
"Then kill us!"
In an instant, the colorful light surged, finally transforming into five brilliant auras. However, they did not attack together, but scattered and fled rapidly in all directions.
"Everyone scatter, get out! Find a way to escape back to the sect..."
"Escape? Wishful thinking!"
It was Daoist Master Chongguang again. This Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Saint Sect appeared particularly domineering at this moment. He laughed loudly and said, "In heaven or on earth, none of you can escape!"
BOOM!
With a tremendous noise, Lu Yang's connection to all his senses was completely severed, and he fell unconscious. He did not know how much time had passed before he slowly regained his senses, feeling as if he were in a dream.
"You are awake?"
A voice came from beside his ear. Lu Yang's pupils shrank, and he became fully awake. Looking around, he found that he was back in the forests of Skull Mountain.
And beside him, Daoist Master Yinshan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
Lu Yang said nothing further and immediately performed a grand salute.
"Get up."
Daoist Master Yinshan raised his hand and said with a light chuckle, "You have rendered great merit by helping me obtain the Witch Ghost Secret Realm this time, so there are a few things I will give you some advice on."
"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother," Lu Yang said respectfully.
"First, I previously forcibly raised your fortune and helped you seize the fortune of others. Although this allowed you to advance by leaps and bounds in a short time, the future consequences are severe."
After speaking, Daoist Master Yinshan deliberately paused. Seeing that Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of being moved by honor or disgrace, he nodded slightly and continued, "Therefore, according to my calculations, your luck will be extremely poor for the next thirty years.
It is best you do not cultivate or go outside, otherwise you will be in mortal danger."
"I humbly accept your teachings."
Lu Yang did not dare to show the slightest dissatisfaction. After all, although he had lost thirty years of luck, Daoist Master Yinshan had gained a Witch Ghost Secret Realm. Without Foundation Establishment, one is always a pawn...
How could a pawn dare to be dissatisfied? For a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master to be willing to use you, that is your good fortune! The fact that Daoist Master Yinshan was even willing to remind him was already out of consideration for him joining the Three Rivers Society; after all, he could be considered his own subordinate.
Seeing Lu Yang being so "sensible," Daoist Master Yinshan was also quite pleased and said with a smile, "In any case, you helped me succeed, which counts as a great merit."
"I preside over the Three Rivers Society, and I always reward merit where it is due."
"Seeing as you have already broken through to the tenth level of Qi Refining, the next step is nothing more than Foundation Establishment... How about this, I will bestow upon you a Foundation Establishment wondrous object. What do you think?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Yang's eyes instantly widened. A Foundation Establishment wondrous object!? 'That is right...
In the life before last, Zhao Xuhe most likely obtained his first Foundation Establishment wondrous object this way. It is just that now, he has been replaced by me.'
No wonder that even though he had been stationed in the market for so long and sent people out to gather news every day, he had not seen even a shadow of a Foundation Establishment wondrous object.
Thinking back now, it was probably just a rumor deliberately spread by the Zhao Xuhe of the life before last to fool interested parties and obscure their view. Lu Yang's thoughts raced. He felt excitement, and also desire.
However, in the end, his expression gradually calmed. After closing his eyes in contemplation for a moment, he actually shook his head and said, "Replying to Senior Brother, can I exchange it for a different reward?"
"... Oh?"
This time, Daoist Master Yinshan was genuinely a little surprised.
"Are you sure? This 'Ascension Token' in my hand can increase the probability of Foundation Establishment by at least ten percent."
"I am sure."
Lu Yang nodded. A Foundation Establishment wondrous object was very precious, but he knew very well that with his fortune damaged for the next thirty years, he would not be able to hold onto this wondrous object! For him right now, a Foundation Establishment wondrous object was not an opportunity, but the root of disaster.
It was highly likely to lead to his untimely death in the end... This could be seen from Zhao Xuhe's fate in the life before last. Therefore, relying on great perseverance, Lu Yang forcefully suppressed the greed in his heart.
'For me, there is no need to rush.' 'I have only just reached Qi Refining Perfection. I still have a lot of room to grow, like with Great Divine Abilities...
It would be the same to come and get a Foundation Establishment wondrous object after a few more lives.' Lu Yang's affirmation made Daoist Master Yinshan fall silent. To be honest, he had not actually planned on paying Lu Yang any mind at first.
It was mainly because he saw him break through two realms in a row, understood how to judge the situation, and was a member of the Three Rivers Society, that he developed some thoughts of nurturing him. After a moment, he spoke again, "What reward do you want to exchange it for?"
Lu Yang said without hesitation, "I want a treasure that can increase my comprehension." After all, for the Great Divine Ability in his possession, the Supreme Yin Corpse-Shedding Form Transformation True Art, he was still missing the Supreme Empyrean Pardon Treasured Record. And that particular art placed extreme importance on comprehension.
If he could not learn it, he just could not learn it. So, without a treasure to increase his comprehension, Lu Yang estimated that if he wanted to master this divine ability, it would probably be impossible even after several more lifetimes.