With Lü Yang's breakthrough, his dossier soon landed on the desks of those with influence. His background was quickly laid bare.
As he'd predicted, it was spotless.
A disciple recruited in the annual intake. Entered the sect after his senior in the Joyful Union Hall died. Made a fortune trading Substitute Yin Puppets. Then entered seclusion.
"A diligent cultivator," remarked a sharp-eyed female cultivator, reviewing the materials. She was also at late-stage Qi Refining—ninth level, a step from perfection.
She was Fairy Feixia, renowned within the Holy Sect not just for her looks, but as one of its few Talisman Masters. Her skill had even earned the notice of a Sect Elder.
"Diligence alone doesn't reach late-stage Qi Refining," said a young man beside her, fan in hand. "He profited from the Yin Puppet trade yet kept a low profile."
"That shows caution and wit."
"Naturally." Fairy Feixia sighed. "For ordinary disciples to rise, we need talent, caution, wit, and courage all at once."
"So, it's decided?"
Feixia nodded. "I'll recommend him. Breaking through in just ten years? Our Sanhe Society needs talent like this."
Inside the cave, Lü Yang sat upright. Before him lay over a dozen talismans—each an olive branch from a different faction. The promises were lavish: cauldrons, techniques, divine abilities, treasures, pills… everything imaginable.
I didn't pay attention in my last life. I didn't realize there were so many factions.
Any late-stage Qi Refining cultivator could form a faction, like Liu Xin had. But the ones with real pull were backed by Elders or True Disciples. Their offers were credible.
But still lacking.
"I overestimated myself." Lü Yang shook his head. The big factions offered tens of thousands of contribution points. But he wasn't short on money.
What he lacked was authority—access to the Holy Sect's inner circle, to resources unavailable to ordinary disciples.
As he pondered, the array at his door trembled.
He looked up. The warning formation glowed, illuminating a graceful, curvaceous figure.
Fairy Feixia.
"Junior Brother Lü, you know formations too?" She looked at the array patterns around her with pleasant surprise.
Lü Yang cupped his hands. "Senior Sister, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Feixia returned the gesture gracefully. "I am Feixia, a steward of the Holy Sect's Sanhe Society. I've come for you."
"Oh? Please, speak."
Lü Yang ushered her in, his mind racing. The Sanhe Society? Wasn't that Zhao Xuhe's faction? Why recruit me?
He knew little about them, but Zhao Xuhe—a disciple of the Heaven-Mending Peak Master—was only a mid-level member. That spoke volumes about the society's influence.
"Forgive my ignorance, Senior Sister. What is the Sanhe Society?"
"It was founded by three senior brothers," Feixia explained with a smile. "The eldest is already a Foundation Establishment True Person, with his own peak in the Cloud Sea. The second and third brothers have cultivated third-grade True Qi and are at Qi Refining Perfection. They could establish their foundations any time."
She leaned forward slightly. "I heard you, Junior Brother, also rose from humble origins. You know how hard it is for ordinary disciples early on. Our three senior brothers came from the same background. After succeeding, they founded the Sanhe Society to help fellow disciples through those early struggles."
"I see." Lü Yang wore an expression of admiration. "Our senior brothers have performed a great service."
Bullshit.
If he hadn't borrowed from their loan service in a past life and witnessed their 36% annual interest firsthand, he might have believed her. He was a show-me-the-benefits man. He wouldn't decide based on pretty words.
"I'm honored by the invitation," he said cautiously. "But what are the… practical benefits?"
"Rest assured, Junior Brother." Feixia was frank. "Join, and I can immediately grant you a True Disciple-level divine technique. An annual stipend of contribution points. Access to True Disciple purchasing privileges within the society. You may even seek cultivation guidance from the three senior brothers."
"Of course, there are requirements." She produced a jade slip. "New members must sign a contract and leave a trace of their essence blood."
"Simple enough."
Lü Yang scanned the contract—standard confidentiality and non-disclosure clauses. Some might fear losing their freedom. Lü Yang didn't care. He signed with a flourish.
It's just for this lifetime. Won't affect the next.
He almost wished the binding were stronger—to be seen as more of an insider, worthy of better resources.
Pleased with his straightforwardness, Feixia nodded. "Now, your disciple token."
Lü Yang handed it over. Feixia formed a hand seal, inserting a talisman into the token. A new section lit up.
The Art of Talisman Making.
Lü Yang's eyes gleamed. As a ninth-grade Array Master, he saw talismans as simple, temporary arrays. Valuable. I want to learn this.
Then, studying the technique, he finally remembered who Fairy Feixia was. He'd heard of her in his past life.
She was Zhao Xuhe's Dao companion.
The memory clicked. In his past life, while studying arrays, he'd heard that she and Zhao Xuhe became Dao companions. Both reached Qi Refining's peak, shone brightly in the war between righteousness and demonic forces, and attempted Foundation Establishment together.
They failed. And died.
But that wasn't the key point.
The key was: They had a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment at all.
There was an opportunity behind this. A Foundation Establishment opportunity.
Lü Yang's eyes sharpened. This was the real prize.