Perhaps it was the instinct of a bird that had narrowly escaped the slingshot, or perhaps it was simply unnecessary worry—either way, Lü Yang had grown wary of any force with Foundation Establishment backing.
Especially those forces that could keep him within their sights.
Unlike my past life, I now have the protection of the divine talisman. Heaven-Mending Peak can't scheme against me, and the Divine Martial Sect, as a righteous order, wouldn't betray their own. That means the Foundation Establishment cultivator lurking in the shadows, plotting against Skull Mountain, is most likely the one behind the Three Rivers Society!
The more Lü Yang thought about it, the more suspicious the Three Rivers Society became. Yet outwardly, he remained perfectly composed.
"I see. Does Second Senior Brother wish to see me?"
"Indeed." Fairy Feixia nodded. "Second Senior Brother is coming to Skull Mountain and needs a few capable allies. He hopes you can lend him your strength."
Allies? More like cannon fodder.
Lü Yang decisively shook his head. "While I have some skill in formations, my combat strength without them is severely diminished. I am unworthy of Second Senior Brother's regard. Please ask him to find someone more capable."
He spoke with absolute conviction.
Yes, he had joined the Three Rivers Society and signed their covenant. But he was no one's slave. He still had that much autonomy. Who could force him?
Fairy Feixia clearly thought the same; she was merely delivering a message.
Now that her task was complete, her expression gradually softened. A flush of red crept across her fair cheeks, making her look charming and alluring.
"Junior Brother, I've encountered some confusion regarding formations lately. Would you guide me through it?"
"With pleasure."
Lü Yang perked up instantly.
For the next three months, Lü Yang's pace of life slowed to a tranquil rhythm.
Each day, he either discussed the Dao with Fairy Feixia or studied the Hundred Bones Revitalization Array outside the market. On days when inspiration struck, he did both simultaneously.
But compared to his serene existence, the world beyond Skull Mountain Market had descended into utter chaos.
Not only the Divine Martial Sect and the First Holy Sect, but also their affiliated factions—and even a few terrifyingly powerful rogue cultivators—had all been drawn into the fray.
Three factions clashed, and naturally, battle raged without end.
During this time, several ancient relics of the Witch Ghost Path were unearthed, further confirming the existence of the Witch Ghost Secret Realm.
It was then that Fairy Feixia brought him news: Zhao Xuhe had been using Lü Yang's name to seize opportunities outside the market.
"I didn't expect my reputation to carry such weight," Lü Yang remarked, genuinely surprised.
Time and again, Zhao Xuhe had thrown himself into desperate struggles for opportunity. Time and again, he had found himself on the brink of death. And time and again, he had escaped by invoking Lü Yang's name.
Clearly, Ouyang Haoze's death had made many people think twice before crossing him.
Of course, it also helped that Zhao Xuhe was clever—he knew when to advance and when to retreat, and he had yet to provoke anyone truly formidable.
"Junior Brother, are you truly going to let this slide?" Fairy Feixia's face was cold with murderous intent, her voice dripping with frost. "This man uses your name to court disaster for you. If you ask me, you should kill him first!"
"No need to trouble myself over him."
Lü Yang shook his head. Zhao Xuhe never even returned to the market; he was fixated solely on scouring Skull Mountain for traces of the ancient Witchcraft Path and the Witch Ghost Secret Realm.
If Lü Yang wanted to kill him, he would have to leave the market.
And that was simply out of the question.
"Let him be. He mortgaged a sum of contribution points with me back then, and I agreed he could use my name. The matter is settled."
After seeing Fairy Feixia off, Lü Yang's expression gradually turned contemplative.
"Heh."
"How interesting. Over these past months, everything I've seen and heard seems to be... urging me to leave the market?"
A word surfaced unbidden in his mind: calamity.
For a mere Qi Refining cultivator to be targeted by a Foundation Establishment True Person—to have his fate calculated and his every move orchestrated from the shadows—if that wasn't calamity, what was?
"Cause and effect be damned."
"No matter what, with disaster looming, I must not recklessly invite trouble. Only by sealing my cave tight and quietly reciting a few chapters of the Yellow Court Classic can I hope to evade this catastrophe."
First came the Three Rivers Society, pressure from without.
Now came Zhao Xuhe, entanglement from within.
No matter how you try to bait me, I won't bite. A hidden dragon never emerges from its abyss—what harm can you do me then?
With this thought, Lü Yang felt his mind suddenly clear. The agitation that had plagued him faded into calm, and his entire being felt lighter, as though he had shed another layer of karmic weight.
Time flowed on. Another month passed.
More than a thousand li east of Skull Mountain Market, a streak of light fled in desperate haste, burning through its very life essence. Behind it trailed seven or eight other streaks of light in hot pursuit.
"Zhao Xuhe! Where do you think you're going?!"
The pursuers were heavily armed and radiated formidable auras—disciples of the Divine Martial Sect, their cultivation mostly at late Qi Refining, none yet at Great Perfection.
Otherwise, even Zhao Xuhe's skill would not have carried him this far.
But even so, he was spent. The only reason he hadn't collapsed was the faint hope still flickering within him.
"I can still be saved!"
"I already sent word to Lü Yang. If I can just... if I can just make it to that place, near the market, Lü Yang will definitely save me!"
He ran as though his life depended on it—because it did.
I still have the restriction on the Stealing Heavenly Secrets technique. As long as he still wants to break through to Foundation Establishment—and doesn't want to wait until he's eighty and decrepit—he has to come save me!
He will come save me.
He definitely will!
And then, to Zhao Xuhe's immense relief, a dazzling light finally rose from the direction of the market. It seemed to have spotted his plight.
"He's here! I knew he wouldn't abandon me!"
At this sight, Zhao Xuhe's spirits soared. Even his pursuers slowed, as if waiting to see what would happen next.
But as time passed, something felt wrong.
The dazzling light was still on its way, yet it never seemed to draw any closer.
Finally, Zhao Xuhe could run no more. The Divine Martial Sect pursuers, with visible reluctance, closed in and cornered him. A fierce battle ensued.
It lasted half a day.
Throughout it all, the pursuers scarcely dared to strike with full force, afraid that a single heavy blow might kill him. They kept stealing glances toward that distant, shimmering light.
And the light—if one looked closely—seemed to be drifting farther away.
Until, at last, Zhao Xuhe completely broke down.
"No! Why?!"
He coughed up a mouthful of blood, then collapsed to his knees. His last ounce of strength had finally failed him. His life force ebbed rapidly away.
In his dying moments, only one thought remained.
Did Lü Yang no longer want the Stealing Heavenly Secrets technique?
"Why didn't you save me?!"
Unbeknownst to him, this was precisely the thought echoing in the mind of the mastermind behind the pursuit.
From the shadows, Ouyang Feng of the Divine Martial Sect stared toward distant Skull Mountain Market, his expression caught between resentment and helplessness.
Why didn't he save him?
"Why would I save him?"
Lü Yang withdrew his fleeing streak of light and glanced at the umpteenth desperate SOS from Zhao Xuhe before setting it aside.
"Did you really think you could hold me hostage with a secret technique?"
"It's only eighty years. I can wait."
"Once your restriction naturally dissipates, the technique is still mine. If not in this life, I'll simply use it in the next."
At this thought, Lü Yang couldn't help but sigh at Zhao Xuhe's misfortune. If the man had actually managed to flee all the way to the market, Lü Yang wouldn't have minded lending a hand.
But outside the market? Clearly, fate had not willed it.
"Senior Brother Zhao, rest in peace. You sacrificed yourself for the Holy Sect. I will surely petition the Peak Master of Heaven-Mending Peak to grant you a grand funeral."
"As for your debt—consider it forgiven. In this life."
"I'll collect it in the next."