Chapter 150: On Protracted War

Time always passes quickly.

Especially when Lu Yang hunkered down in the Holy Sect with all his heart, refusing to poke his head out no matter how the wind blew or rain fell outside, it was even more impossible to encounter any trouble.

Time flies.

Inside the quiet room of Mount Luofeng Mountain, a Daoist book lay before Lu Yang; the 【Qiu Tian Yi】 at his brow flickered with brilliance, and a handsome face was etched with a look of entanglement.

"No... yes yes yes... no no yes...?"

Just like that, after a long while, Lu Yang suddenly opened his eyes, revealing pupils blazing with crimson light, where countless runes seemed to swirl in the distance.

Almost simultaneously, a graceful silhouette appeared beside him.

The moment Su Nu appeared, she immediately bowed low, and with lips slightly parted, spoke softly: "This servant greets Master, and wishes Master a great success in his divine arts!"

"How long have I been in seclusion?"

"Replying to Master, you have been in seclusion for over five years."

"Five years..."

Lu Yang was somewhat surprised, not because it was long, but because it was too short; he had originally thought this time would require at least several decades of his life.

After all, before entering seclusion, what he chose to contemplate was nothing other than the array and talisman Daoist book he had wheedled from True Person Yu Feng during their previous conversation, titled 【Ping Rong Wan Quan Shu】, which contained the four arts of arrays, talismans, pills, and artifacts, not only in vast quantities but also reaching as high as the Fourth Grade.

For such a Daoist book, the difficulty of contemplation was evident.

Having experienced twenty years of array contemplation in a previous life, Lu Yang originally thought this time would be much the same, yet the speed of his comprehension far exceeded expectations.

"It seems my talent is not bad."

"Relying on my talent, plus the insignificant help provided by the 【Qiu Tian Yi】, in another few decades I should achieve some small success."

Immediately following this, Lu Yang stepped into the Foundation Establishment realm.

After devouring the merit and fate of the Divine Martial Gate, Lu Yang's 【Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Driving Foundation】 had already undergone a brand new transformation, giving him a strange sensation.

"My opportunity..."

Lu Yang raised his head and gazed into the distance; with the blessing of fortune, he could now vaguely calculate where the opportunity to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment lay.

"... Actually overseas?"

Lu Yang's gaze shifted; breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment required containing a Cheng Tian Gang or Di Sha, refining it into an innate divine art, which could not be obtained just anywhere.

Even within the Holy Sect, such resources did not exist.

This was because Cheng Tian Gang and Di Sha were born of the times; if no one took them within a short period, they would return to heaven and earth, and even a Jin Dan True Lord could not keep them.

Therefore, regardless of which sect or school a cultivator belonged to, if they sought Cheng Tian Gang or Di Sha to break through, they could only travel abroad; this was also one of the reasons various powers fought over territory, for the larger your territory, the higher the probability that Cheng Tian Gang or Di Sha would manifest within it.

"It seems this trip overseas is unavoidable."

Thinking of this, Lu Yang turned his gaze and looked at Su Nu again: "What is the situation outside the sect? What about Fu Long? Has that bald monk not returned to the Pure Land yet?"

"Replying to Master, no..."

Speaking here, Su Nu's expression became somewhat strange: "Not only has he not returned, but in fact that bald monk has been wandering near the Holy Sect almost every day for these five years."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Lu Yang showed an expression of interest: "Is he waiting for me? It seems the old monk is unwilling to let go, thinking I will still go out and fight him?"

Su Nu nodded and continued: "In fact, in recent years, Master's reputation has grown greater and greater; many True Persons regard you as an expert in manipulating cause, effect, and fate, playing with the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment while only at the early stage, a feat rarely seen even within the Holy Sect."

"They all say you are... um." Su Nu suddenly closed her mouth.

Seeing this, Lu Yang became even more interested and asked curiously: "What do they say about me? Great divine powers? Heavenly wisdom? An unparalleled genius capable of defeating superiors?"

"This..."

Su Nu glanced at Lu Yang cautiously and whispered: "They say you are deeply versed in the way of preserving one's life, act with caution, and are a turtle that keeps its head in its shell..."

Seeing Lu Yang's expression gradually darken, Su Nu's voice grew smaller and smaller.

Finally, she obediently knelt and sat before Lu Yang, lowered her swan-like long neck, nodded vigorously, and spoke no more.

One day later.

Lu Yang walked out of the quiet room with a refreshed spirit; displaying his aura, within a short while, a figure sensed it, broke through the void, and landed on Mount Luofeng Mountain.

It was none other than True Person Yinshan.

As soon as he landed, he smiled and clasped his hands: "Congratulations, junior brother; you have destroyed the Divine Martial Gate and seized all its merit and fate; I imagine the mid-stage is in sight."

"Senior brother overpraises; it is still too early."

Lu Yang shook his head: "That bald monk Fu Long is still alive; the cause and effect has not been eliminated; for safety's sake, I plan to wait another few decades before going out to seek opportunities."

"Hmm."

Hearing this, True Person Yinshan looked deeply at Lu Yang, wanting to speak but stopping, obviously thinking Lu Yang was a bit too cautious, not at all like a young person.

Although Luo Han Fu Long and Lu Yang indeed shared a blood feud now, a Foundation Establishment True Person could conceal cause and effect; as long as Lu Yang was slightly careful, even if he left the Holy Sect, Luo Han Fu Long would most likely be unable to do anything to him, yet Lu Yang insisted on hiding in the Holy Sect, which was truly too cautious.

Lu Yang saw through True Person Yinshan's thoughts at a glance.

However, for him, it was another consideration: Yes, even if he left the Holy Sect, with his abilities, Luo Han Fu Long would most likely be unable to do anything to him.

But why take the risk?

"Most likely unable to do anything" meant there was a twenty percent chance of being killed; in a situation where victory was almost certain, why gamble on that twenty percent chance?

Just then, a beam of spiritual light fell into the Cloud Sea Reaching Heaven.

"Lu Yang! Come out!"

The next second, the spiritual light exploded, and a voice resounded in all directions; it was none other than Luo Han Fu Long's shouting and cursing, with various goads and taunts emerging endlessly.

Immediately following this, the spiritual light scattered, revealing a rainbow-colored robe, a woman's garment, which fell blatantly toward Mount Luofeng Mountain, drawing the gazes of many True Persons of the Holy Sect, some mocking, some subtly sarcastic, some admiring; Lu Yang, seeing this, accepted it calmly.

"Su Nu, it's yours."

Lu Yang grabbed the rainbow-colored robe, refined it instantly, then called out Su Nu, whose body was still somewhat weak, and casually tossed it to her.

"Thank you, Master!" Seeing this, Su Nu's face immediately filled with joy.

Seeing this, True Person Yinshan beside him could only sigh inwardly that junior brother Duanmu Yuan Tu's skin was as thick as a city wall, truly worthy of being the future pillar of the Holy Sect designated by the senior brother.

Then Lu Yang turned around, smiled, and took out a storage bag.

"To be honest, this junior brother previously scoured the Divine Martial Gate, obtained its treasury, and then entered seclusion, never having carefully organized it."

Lu Yang sighed as he stuffed the storage bag into True Person Yinshan's arms: "Senior brother is Master Chongguang's right-hand man. This treasury of the Divine Martial Gate is chaotic, with many worthless items. It would be better to send it first to Senior brother's residence to sort through carefully, ensuring there are no issues before handing it over to the Holy Sect."

As True Person Yinshan accepted the storage bag, he shook his head: "Is this not inappropriate?"

"To share the Holy Sect's burdens!"

Lu Yang insisted, so True Person Yinshan half-resisted and half-accepted. Only then did Lu Yang smile and ask: "Where are the two True Persons of the Divine Martial Gate now?"

"Huanwu and Xuanwu?"

True Person Yinshan paused, thought for a moment, and said: "The fortune and merit of the Divine Martial Gate have scattered completely; its disciples have fled like monkeys scattering when a tree falls. Naturally, they have fled far overseas."

Speaking of this, True Person Yinshan's eyes brightened slightly: "Does Junior brother intend to sacrifice the 【Abyss Sword】?"

"I do have that thought."

Lu Yang nodded: "It is a pity that the True Persons of the Divine Martial Gate have fled overseas, making them hard to find. Does Senior brother have a way?"

Having just accepted Lu Yang's storage bag, True Person Yinshan naturally could not refuse, so he immediately smiled: "What difficulty is there in this? Leave this matter to Senior brother!"

Having finished speaking, True Person Yinshan looked at Lu Yang with even greater satisfaction.

To speak honestly, he had originally thought Lu Yang would ask him to help deal with the Luo Han Fu Long Luo Han. In that case, he would have had to refuse sternly.

After all, the current Luo Han Fu Long Luo Han is a madman on the verge of death.

Such a person is not to be trifled with, and he is unwilling to provoke him.

But Huanwu and Xuanwu? Two Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivators from a fallen small sect; True Person Yinshan could easily capture them. This would be a mere trifle!

(End of this chapter)