After a long moment, Lü Yang held a yellowed talisman in his hand, examining it with deep interest.
After refining Liu Xin into a banner spirit, he'd forced the man to recount his entire life story—the deception and murder of Chen Xin'an, and how he'd evaded the divination of a Foundation Establishment expert.
"The Primordial Chaos Divine Talisman?"
"Yes, Master. This talisman is a legacy of the Primordial Daoist. As long as you carry it, it obscures your karma from calculation."
Lü Yang nodded, satisfied. He shook the Myriad Spirits Banner lightly. This time, a handsome young man in black robes materialized—Chen Xin'an himself.
The newcomer stared in shock at Lü Yang, then at the subservient Liu Xin. His body trembled.
"Hahaha! You finally got what you deserved!" Chen Xin'an laughed bitterly, then smirked at Liu Xin. "I thought you were incompetent, but you've surpassed even my lowest expectations. Turned into a banner spirit by someone else? How did you manage that?"
Liu Xin simply lowered his head, silent.
Chen Xin'an turned his gaze to Lü Yang. "As expected of a Holy Sect disciple. Well done. I don't ask for reincarnation. Killing Liu Xin has settled my deepest hatred. How about this—I'll give you the location of a secret treasure as a reward?"
"As a banner spirit, you see truth clearly. That treasure is on Gourd Island, deep in the Cloud Sea. Your cultivation is still too low. Go after reaching Qi Refining perfection."
"No need."
Lü Yang remained unmoved. "Senior Brother Chen, we're both Holy Sect disciples. Why the act?"
"...You misunderstand me, Junior Brother. While most disciples lack camaraderie, we still repay kindness. We are not heartless monsters."
"Enough." Lü Yang cut him off with a cold sneer. "Where are the 'good people' in the Holy Sect? Every survivor is a villain. Save your breath. I'm not going for your 'treasure'."
He deeply distrusted this true disciple. If a real treasure existed, why hadn't Liu Xin seized it over all these years? Likely because he feared Chen Xin'an's hidden counters. This man's background was deep, his methods unpredictable. Even as a banner spirit, he couldn't be trusted.
Chen Xin'an's expression shifted. "Then why summon me?"
"An experiment."
Chen Xin'an sensed danger. "Wait—I also know of a Foundation Establishment opportunity!"
Boom!
Lü Yang didn't hesitate. Ignoring the offered opportunity, he shattered Chen Xin'an's true spirit within the banner.
"NO—!"
"The Heaven-Mending Peak Master targeted me relentlessly in my last life. This life, I'll kill his son first to vent my anger. In a few lifetimes, when I reach Foundation Establishment, I'll kill him too."
His Dao heart, tempered by the [Hundred Lifetimes Book], was unshakable. No enemy was insurmountable.
As for Foundation Establishment opportunities… he already knew of one.
With Chen Xin'an's aura extinguished and soul scattered, Lü Yang stored the banner, cleaned the scene, and waited.
A moment later, Heaven-Mending Peak quaked.
A familiar, mountain-like pressure descended—the gaze of a Foundation Establishment expert. His complete annihilation of Chen Xin'an had alerted the Peak Master, who was now using karmic divination to find the killer.
Normally, he would have been discovered instantly.
Lü Yang waited in his cave. Half an hour passed. The oppressive feeling faded. The Peak Master never appeared.
…It worked. He couldn't trace me.
Outwardly calm, Lü Yang smiled inside. With this verified, he could finally cultivate the Nine Transformations Dragon Technique in peace this lifetime.
His next steps mirrored his previous life: trading substitute puppets for contribution points, using Yun Miaoqing to conceal his sword arts and sword pill, purchasing vast amounts of spirit pills, and entering seclusion.
Ten years passed.
In the blink of an eye, generations of disciples rose and fell. Past storms subsided. The Holy Sect's development remained stable.
Only today was different.
Heaven and earth resonated. Spiritual energy surged toward Lü Yang's cave like a tidal wave, forming a visible vortex.
"This phenomenon…!"
"A senior brother has condensed his Qi Seed! Broken through to late-stage Qi Refining!"
Even in the Primordial Saint Sect, late-stage Qi Refining was considered high-tier talent—no longer mere cannon fodder, but a figure with some autonomy.
Across Heaven-Mending Peak, disciples struggling daily felt a mix of awe and bitter envy. Why him and not me?
Inside the cave, Lü Yang opened his eyes.
A flash of white light pierced the dim room.
"The so-called bottleneck… lives up to its name."
This life, his cultivation speed was identical: reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining in three years, then stalling at the peak of mid-stage for seven years. And this was with the experience of a prior breakthrough. Without it, the stall could have lasted a lifetime—as it did for countless cultivators.
After breaking through, he meditated for three more days, fully stabilizing his true qi, physique, and spiritual sense before rising.
He opened his [Hundred Lifetimes Book] panel:
[Name: Lü Yang]
[Age: 28]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 (Late Stage), Rank 9 Array Master]
[Talent: Dual Cultivation Prodigy (White), Somewhat Skilled (Purple)]
[Cultivation Technique: Nine Transformations Dragon Technique (Seventh Transformation)]
[Divine Abilities: Divine Firmament Sword Control (Minor Mastery), Array Treasure Secret Manual (Perfect), Killing Curse (Perfect), Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light (Perfect), Qi Concealment Art (Perfect)]
[Treasures: Blood Sun Sword Pill (Superior Magic Treasure), Primordial Qi Myriad Spirits Banner (Superior Magic Treasure)]
[Hundred Lifetimes Book Pages: 95]
Both at late-stage Qi Refining, but this life's Lü Yang was far stronger—his true qi on another level entirely. In a fight, the outcome would be 10-0.
With the Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light mastered and the Blood Washing Heavenly River Sword Formation perfected, any late-stage Qi Refining cultivator caught in his array would meet certain death—unless they knew his abilities beforehand and prepared a specific counter.
"Still, it's not absolute."
The Blood Transformation Divine Light was powerful, but it was a divine ability obtainable by ordinary disciples. Who knew what monstrous arts the true disciples possessed?
"True disciples… I wonder if I have a chance now?"
A flicker of anticipation crossed his face. This life, with the divine talisman shielding his karma, his identity was clean—prime recruitment material.
Even to Foundation Establishment experts, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was a valuable subordinate. Unlike his previous life, he wasn't a blood-shadowed outcast. His path was clear. By all logic, he had investment value.
His mind was made up.
If a Foundation Establishment expert extended an olive branch—even if it was the Heaven-Mending Peak Master himself—he wouldn't refuse. Take the benefits now. Settle the scores in the next life.
A man's knees are worth gold. Today's the day to cash them in.