Lu Yang didn't pay too much mind to Wang Song. At most, he simply lamented that a friend from his past lives, the old man from the Scripture Pavilion, Wang Borong, actually had descendants. Perhaps he would look after them if there was a chance in the next life, but right now, he had more important things to do.
Riding his escaping light, Lu Yang left his cave residence. At the same time, he took out the Enlightenment Jade Slip and began to comprehend "The Sage's Theft". An ancient saying goes, "Sages do not die, great thieves do not cease."
This did not mean that sages were thieves. Rather, it meant that when sages established laws for the world, although they standardized the conduct of all under heaven, they also provided convenience for great thieves. However, this was the interpretation of the righteous path.
The understanding within "The Sage's Theft" was entirely different. As it is written in "The Sage's Theft": Sages use their own rules to profit themselves, and those who do not comply are regarded as bandits. The so-called sages are the great thieves who steal the world.
Therefore, to cultivate this body-refining technique, one must establish a cultivation method for the world. When everyone under heaven abides by this cultivation method, the cultivator can then steal the fortune of all people to nourish themself. This was the true meaning of the technique: "The sage is the great thief, and the great thief is the Great Dao."
With the mortal fires of the human realm, cast a sage's golden body. Once the golden body was cast, the fortitude of one's physique would be like "the laws of a sage, unchanging for ten thousand generations." Even among the many body-refining techniques of the Saint Sect, it could rank in the top ten.
Reading this, Lu Yang was utterly amazed.
"To turn everyone in the world into cultivation resources... the Saint Sect is still the Saint Sect. Every time I start to feel a bit of goodwill towards it, it always manages to open my eyes in a big way."
To be honest, ever since meeting Ming Chan, Yun Miaozhen, and the others, Lu Yang's impression of the righteous path had dropped significantly. Admittedly, righteous sects like the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion treated their own people very well, conforming to the standards of the righteous path in every aspect. But this was limited only to "their own people."
Who were their own people? The righteous path spoke of karma, of past and future lives. If you accumulated good karma and merit in your past life, then you were one of their own and could receive their favor.
Conversely, if you committed evil in your past life and accrued karma, then even if you were innocent in this life, you could not enter the righteous path. You would even be struck down by them with reasons like "it's for your own good," "to cleanse your karma," and "you will naturally have your chance in the next life."
That madwoman Yun Miaozhen was a prime example. With this comparison, Lu Yang discovered the dividing line between the righteous and demonic paths. To the Saint Sect, all disciples were personnel, so they recruited without any reservations, teaching all regardless of their background.
Whether they had a past life or what their merit was like simply didn't matter. The righteous path, however, believed in "acting on behalf of Heaven." Reincarnation, karma, fate... the righteous path placed extreme importance on merit, karma, and past lives.
They often recruited disciples based on these factors. There were pros and cons to both, the only difference being which was more human-like. Thinking of this, Lu Yang felt utterly helpless.
"Not a single normal sect. What in the world is wrong with this world... It must be a problem with the system!"
While lost in thought, Lu Yang had already arrived deep within the sea of clouds. Soon, a majestic and vast black mountain range came into Lu Yang's view. It was none other than Yin Mountain, the headquarters of the Three Rivers Society.
Just then, a loud laugh suddenly rang out.
"Junior Brother Lu, you've finally come out of seclusion."
In the next second, a figure identical to how he looked thirty years ago appeared outside Yin Mountain. Seeing him, Lu Yang smiled faintly and cupped his hands in a salute.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Luo."
"There's no need for such courtesy between us."
Luo Wuya laughed and patted Lu Yang's shoulder. He had always held Lu Yang in high regard; otherwise, he would not have specially sent him "The Sage's Theft". He had also guessed a thing or two about Lu Yang's purpose for coming.
"Junior Brother, you've come because of 'The Sage's Theft,' haven't you?"
Lu Yang nodded.
"This technique is indeed profound and unfathomable, but its scope is extremely wide and it takes a very long time. I'm afraid it cannot be accomplished overnight."
"Hahaha," Luo Wuya laughed loudly.
"Surely Junior Brother isn't actually thinking of leaving the Saint Sect to go to the mortal realm and cultivate this technique from scratch? The Saint Sect is vast and abundant, filled with talented people. Why go through so much trouble? As for 'The Sage's Theft,' the sect has long had a complete method for its cultivation."
Lu Yang cupped his hands.
"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."
"Come with me."
Luo Wuya led Lu Yang all the way to a grand hall within Yin Mountain. At the center of the hall stood a massive crystal sphere.
"This place is called the 'Refining Arts Secret Realm'."
Seeing Lu Yang's confusion, Luo Wuya pointed to the crystal sphere and took the initiative to explain, "Don't be fooled by its size. In reality, this is a creation of a Dao Lord!"
"A Dao Lord!?"
Lu Yang's heart trembled violently. Foundation Establishment cultivators were called Daoist Masters, Golden Core cultivators were True Monarchs, and only those at the Nascent Soul realm earned the honored title of Dao Lord. This object was actually refined by such an existence?
"'The Refining Arts Secret Realm' contains one hundred and forty million living beings. Each one has powerful qi and blood and a pure soul. A single person is equivalent to more than ten mortals from the outside world. Whether for refining magical artifacts or cultivating techniques, they are superior-grade materials. It is perfectly suited for you, Junior Brother, to cultivate 'The Sage's Theft'."
Hearing this, Lu Yang gasped.
"One hundred and forty million... personnel."
It seemed that with his breakthrough to the Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm and his joining the Three Rivers Society, a Foundation Establishment faction, he was now qualified to learn some of the Saint Sect's true foundation. Just then, the secret realm suddenly glowed brightly.
In the next second, a young man in a black robe walked out from it, his face livid with anger.
"Damn it, a bunch of unruly commoners... I failed again!"
After speaking, the young man glanced at Luo Wuya but said nothing more and left directly. Seeing this, Lu Yang naturally kept quiet as well. It was only after the young man was far away that he looked at Luo Wuya, only to see him revealing a hint of schadenfreude.
"That is also a True Disciple of the sect, the only son of Daoist Master Chongguang. His name is Chongming... Pay him no mind, he just failed at cultivating 'The Sage's Theft' again."
"I won't hide it from you, Junior Brother. 'The Sage's Theft' is not that easy to practice."
At this point, Luo Wuya's expression turned serious again.
"Do not underestimate the people in this secret realm. Although they are personnel, they are not fools."
"As you know, Junior Brother, 'The Sage's Theft' requires you to create a cultivation method out of thin air for the world to follow, only then can you cultivate. The more brilliant the created technique, the greater the returns upon success. However, we are not Dao Lords. The techniques we create are mostly shallow and their flaws are easily seen."
"This is where failure in cultivating 'The Sage's Theft' comes from."
"There have even been examples among past disciples cultivating 'The Sage's Theft' who were discovered by the living beings, feigned compliance, and were ultimately counter-killed, becoming a laughingstock in the Saint Sect."
"So, as for how to cultivate this technique, Junior Brother, you must think it over carefully."
After speaking, Luo Wuya took out a jade slip and handed it to Lu Yang.
"I also cultivated this technique back in the day and have some shallow experience."
"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"
"It's all for the Three Rivers Society. I'm waiting for you to achieve great success and emerge from seclusion, Junior Brother. If you truly master 'The Sage's Theft,' you will not be considered weak even among the True Disciples."
Hearing this, Lu Yang's eyebrows raised, catching Luo Wuya's hidden meaning. Only after mastering "The Sage's Theft" would he not be weak. Did that mean... he was not up to par right now?
Lu Yang remained impassive, still respectfully bowing before walking up to the 'Refining Arts Secret Realm'. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, a flood of information poured into his mind. As expected of a Dao Lord's creation, this secret realm could actually be "configured"!
Culture, history, geography, architecture—all could be shaped according to his thoughts. This world-altering power, while filling Lu Yang with awe, also made him extremely wary. Because in his mind, a thought lingered persistently.
The secret realm was a Dao Lord's creation. Since a Dao Lord could do such terrifying things within the secret realm, then in the real world... did they possess the same power? The living beings in the secret realm were personnel to him.
Then what about the cultivators of the Saint Sect to a Dao Lord? Lu Yang dared not think further and could only sigh helplessly, "Damn it, the Saint Sect is full of personnel everywhere!"