"My apologies, Senior, I am not a disciple of the Saint Sect."
In response to Daoist Master Chongguang's question, Lu Yang shook his head and said, "I am just a Rogue Cultivator who was lucky enough to obtain the inheritance of the ancient Witch Ghost Dao."
"... Oh."
Hearing this, Daoist Master Chongguang's brows furrowed, and his originally friendly expression gradually began to change. However, in the next moment, Lu Yang's tone shifted.
"But I am quite willing to join the Saint Sect. I can also leave a copy of the Witch Ghost Dao inheritance in my possession for the sect. Consider it my meeting gift."
As soon as these words were spoken, Daoist Master Chongguang's brow relaxed.
"Hahaha, Daoist friend, why be so courteous?"
It seems this Daoist Master made quite a few enemies in the Saint Sect in his past life, so much so that after reincarnating, he wants to sever ties with his past and not bear its karma. Thinking of this, Daoist Master Chongguang immediately calmed down.
After all, there were quite a few Daoist Masters in the Saint Sect who severed ties with their past lives and pretended to be newcomers. It was not at all strange. He immediately laughed heartily, "Since you are willing to join our sect, Daoist friend, we naturally welcome you.
I wonder what your intentions are?"
"I am willing to stand guard in the Northern Frontier."
Lu Yang said without hesitation, "As I am new to the Saint Sect, I am willing to guard Skull Mountain and fend off the Divine Martial Sect from the north. I will return to the Saint Sect to report on my duties after the matter is settled."
"... Good!"
Daoist Master Chongguang nodded in satisfaction, his gaze toward Lu Yang growing more appreciative.
"Since that is the case, we shall proceed according to your wishes, Daoist friend."
To be honest, he did not care about Lu Yang's true identity at all. Although he was more than ninety percent certain that Lu Yang was a reincarnated Daoist Master from the Saint Sect, it did not matter even if he was not. What mattered was the value Lu Yang displayed.
Whether or not he was useful to the Saint Sect. As long as he was useful, many were willing to turn a blind eye to certain things. And Lu Yang's proactive offer to "stand guard in the Northern Frontier" was undoubtedly a display of his value.
This attitude was the reason for Daoist Master Chongguang's satisfaction.
‘There's no mistake, he must be a reincarnated Daoist Master from our Saint Sect.’
At the same time, seeing Daoist Master Chongguang agree so readily, Lu Yang also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, with his current cultivation level, he truly did not dare to return to the Saint Sect.
Although both Daoist Master Chongguang and the Heaven Mending Peak Master were certain he was a reincarnated Daoist Master, Lu Yang knew very well that his so-called reincarnated identity could not withstand scrutiny. If a Golden Core True Monarch from within the Saint Sect was alerted and swept a gaze over him, he would surely be exposed.
At that point, his only option would be to start over again. Therefore, the current outcome was good for everyone. Just then, the void beside Daoist Master Chongguang cracked open, and a man in a black robe stepped out.
It was none other than the familiar Daoist Master Yinshan.
"Yinshan?"
Daoist Master Chongguang said with surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"My apologies for the intrusion, Senior Brother."
Daoist Master Yinshan first glanced at Lu Yang, then cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Daoist friend. I am Yinshan. I have come today with an impudent request."
"This eight-hundred-mile stretch of Skull Mountain was once refined by the Witch Ghost Dao, giving its spiritual vein a very special quality. It is connected to the Witch Ghost Secret Realm and has been nourished by thousands of Witch Ghosts for a thousand years. It should have given birth to a wisp of Heavenly Corpse Killing Qi. This item is in the Earthly Fiend position, belonging to Zhixu. It is crucial for my cultivation, so I ask you, Daoist friend, to part with it."
As soon as he said this, Daoist Master Chongguang's expression changed slightly. Lu Yang, on the other hand, was stunned for a moment before he realized this was the very thing Daoist Master Yinshan had schemed so hard to obtain from the secret realm in his previous life. Something crucial for the cultivation of a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master?
Hearing this, Lu Yang sensed the spiritual vein of Skull Mountain and, sure enough, deep within it, he saw a wisp of the most yin and gentle, turbid and unfathomable energy of the Yellow Springs. So this is the Heavenly Corpse Killing Qi?
The Witch Ghost Dao inheritance did contain an overview of the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters, but due to the sheer vastness of the inheritance, Lu Yang had not yet had the time to study it in detail. Thinking of this, Lu Yang mentally noted this item down while saying with a smile, "This is a simple matter.
I can decide to give it to you, Daoist friend. However, this item is located deep within the spiritual vein and cannot be moved hastily. It needs to be extracted slowly...
It will probably take about thirty years to refine a single wisp."
"That is no matter."
Daoist Master Yinshan breathed a sigh of relief. A mere thirty years was but the blink of an eye. As long as he could use the Heavenly Corpse Killing Qi to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, such a short amount of time was nothing to him.
"Good."
Daoist Master Chongguang was also overjoyed to see this and sent a private message, "Thank you, Daoist friend, for helping Yinshan. After this, you need not worry about the Heaven Mending Peak." The implication was that he would mediate on Lu Yang's behalf.
Although from Lu Yang's perspective, he would not have to worry about the threat from the Heaven Mending Peak Master for the next thirty to fifty years. By the time the Peak Master recovered from his injuries, he himself would have long since reached Foundation Establishment.
However, since Daoist Master Chongguang had extended this kindness, he naturally could not refuse it. He immediately cupped his hands in thanks. For a time, the mood was joyous for both guest and host.
Afterward, the three of them chatted for a long while before Daoist Master Chongguang finally left with the Heaven Mending Peak Master. Lu Yang, in turn, returned to his loyal Skull Mountain Market.
"A familiar place indeed."
Lu Yang transformed into a streak of light and directly chose the Blood-Robed Pavilion from his past life as his place for secluded cultivation. His vast spiritual sense instantly swept across the entire market. Feeling his spiritual sense, the whole market erupted with excitement.
"Greetings, Daoist Master!"
Countless people bowed respectfully, their voices filled with both reverence and fervor. Lu Yang even spotted a woman of peerless beauty among them.
‘She's here too? This early?’
Lu Yang's expression was strange, for the woman who stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens was none other than Fairy Feixia, with whom he had shared a deep connection in his previous life. Her expression was as cold as ice, seemingly giving no one the time of day.
However, Lu Yang knew that once one peeled away that cold exterior and entered her heart, one could fully experience the warmth beneath her icy demeanor.
"..."
Withdrawing his gaze, Lu Yang had no intention of rekindling old flames. In fact, their relationship in the previous life was one of mutual benefit, and they had parted on good terms. In this life, he had more important things to do.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang waved his hand to dismiss the crowd, then chose a Cultivation Chamber. With a shake of the Myriad Spirits Banner, he once again summoned the guardian god, Sunü.
"Your servant greets you, Master."
"Kneel."
At Lu Yang's command, Sunü immediately prostrated her curvaceous body, touching her head, hands, and knees to the ground. Her tight-fitting clothes outlined a graceful arc on her figure. However, Lu Yang paid no mind to the beautiful, undulating scenery before him.
Instead, he focused his full attention on studying Sunü's Dharma body. After all, this guardian god had been thrown into battle immediately after he refined her, and he had not yet had the chance to experience her many mysteries, which required in-depth research.
"A guardian god can bear karma on my behalf."
With a thought, Lu Yang bundled up all the remaining thoughts of the Listening Nether Patriarch and the entire inheritance of the Witch Ghost Dao, and directly threw it all to Sunü. The next moment, Lu Yang looked up at the sky.
Originally, by accepting the inheritance, he had forged a karmic connection with the Witch Ghost Dao and even with that Golden Core True Monarch far away. But now, that karma had been transferred. It had fallen upon Sunü.
"Speaking of which, the karma of the Witch Ghost Dao is not as terrifying as I imagined. Otherwise, that Daoist Master from the Sword Pavilion would have slapped me to death long ago."
Lu Yang mused to himself, "It makes sense. The Witch Ghost Dao is only a Foundation Establishment Dao lineage. The one that truly made that Daoist Master wary was the Listening Nether Patriarch alone.
Now that the Listening Nether Patriarch is dead, how could a small fry like me, or the guardian god Sunü whose path of the Dao has been severed, attract the attention of a Daoist Master?" At most, it would attract the targeted karma of that wisp of sword qi. But in this life, the sword qi had already dissipated.
Even if he might be targeted by the sword qi in the next life for carrying the karma of the Witch Ghost Dao, that was a matter for the next life. And even so, he had a way to deal with it.
"Once I use the Book of a Hundred Lives to start over, the things I choose—cultivation, talents, even treasures—cannot be traced back to any karma!"
Lu Yang had personally tested this long ago. No matter who it was or how they tried to deduce it, all karma associated with the cultivation he obtained through the Book of a Hundred Lives would be severed on the first day he started over. Without cause or effect, it was untraceable.
All the various karmas of his past life would be cleansed by the Book of a Hundred Lives after he started anew. Of course, this was limited to the parts chosen through the Book of a Hundred Lives. Cultivation, treasures, and talents.
For example, with the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, although no one could figure out where his cultivation came from after he chose to bring it back, the cultivation technique itself would not be concealed. The result was that he was nearly located by the Heaven Mending Peak Master right after he started over.
"If I can break through to Foundation Establishment in this life, then so be it. If not... I will choose a treasure in my next life!"
Thinking of this, Lu Yang looked at the Myriad Spirits Banner in his hand. He planned to send the guardian god, and even the thousands of Witch Ghosts of the Witch Ghost Dao, all onto the Myriad Spirits Banner.
Since it was called the Myriad Spirits Banner, the true spirits on the banner should also be part of the magical artifact. By doing so, he might be able to both sever his ties with the Witch Ghost Dao through the power of the Book of a Hundred Lives and keep the benefits like the Yama Demon Hall for himself.
"First, I'll see if this works."
"If it doesn't, at worst, I'll just hide in the Saint Sect and never go out after I start over. I refuse to believe that sword qi could possibly slash its way into the Saint Sect's Heaven-Linking Cloud Sea!"