Chapter 307: The Deal with Master Chongguang

Within the Hidden Sword Manor, inside a pavilion.

Lu Yang sat cross-legged on a cushion, radiating brilliance that finally converged upon him, transforming into gorgeous golden patterns branded onto his flesh.

Innate Divine Ability, 【Obstinate Metal Lord】!

This one was not obtained from refining the Cheng Tian Gang and Li Jie Bo, but rather a divine ability deduced by projecting the Dao path using the Law-Holding power of 【Enduring Tribulation Waves】, borrowed in advance.

"【Shen Metal】 is obstinate, dull metal that requires fire refining to become swords and halberds; this Qi resides in the Li Jie Bo position, sharing the Yang attribute of metal with 【Geng Metal】; its light is supremely sharp and hard to break; after enhancing the Law Body, it cannot be damaged by knife cuts, axe chops, heavenly strikes, or thunderclaps; thus it is called 【Obstinate Metal Lord】."

Boom—!

The next second, as the innate divine ability descended, Lu Yang's energy surged violently, ruthlessly shattering the shackles of the early Foundation Establishment realm and plunging straight into the mid Foundation Establishment realm!

"Finally, some achievement."

Lu Yang opened his eyes and nodded in satisfaction; after three years, his Immortal Spirit Original Body had finally reached perfection in the early stage, and his Law-Holding capability could now rival the mid Foundation Establishment realm.

Looking back, these three years were truly not a life fit for a human.

'After exiting the Gan Tang Dao, I immediately destroyed my clone, buried all the Geng Metal spiritual objects I had scavenged, and didn't dare even hold them, fearing they would implicate my Original Body.'

Lu Yang was always decisive; he simply abandoned all gains from the Ganhai Li Clan, instead spending three years re-collecting Geng Metal spiritual objects, only recently completing the final nurturing step for his Immortal Spirit Original Body in the early Foundation Establishment realm, while also confirming one thing that greatly relieved him:

'That 【Ang Xiao】 is probably not free either.'

If his guess was correct, he was likely unable to leave the Netherworld!

'In the previous life, the reason he could run around like a ghost was largely because he had refined the Dao Sin formed after Master Chongguang failed to seek gold.'

Just like Lu Yang now, possessing a clone naturally allowed one to walk the world on his behalf.

However, at this point in time, he clearly did not yet possess similar means, so his perception of the mortal world was limited, certainly not omniscient or omnipotent.

Otherwise, why would the Qingcheng Feixue True Person of the previous life have dared to grapple with him?

Besides the fact that Qingcheng Feixue True Person was indeed audacious and possessed extraordinary strength, a portion of the factor was that 【Ang Xiao】 faced severe restrictions within the Netherworld.

Beyond that, there was another matter that exceeded Lu Yang's expectations.

That was the Ten Thousand People Pit of Jiangnan.

'When I was at the Holy Sect, less than a month after I reopened, the Yushu Jiange acted to seize the Ten Thousand People Pit of Jiangnan, causing the price of Substitute Shadow Puppets to skyrocket.'

'However, in this life, perhaps due to my earlier letter warning Master Chongguang, the Holy Sect strengthened its defenses at the Ten Thousand People Pit of Jiangnan, so the Yushu Jiange delayed taking action, and it seemed there were other considerations involved; the result was a full three years of dragging on, with no battle actually breaking out.'

This was also a good thing.

After all, if the fighting had started too early, it would have been difficult for him to get a share of the spoils; now that he had recovered to the mid Foundation Establishment realm, he could be considered to have some qualification to participate.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang finally took out a Flying Letter Spirit Book.

This was a pair with the Flying Letter Spirit Book he had sent to the Holy Sect; the two resonated with each other, allowing communication simply by writing upon them.

'For three years, Master Chongguang has tried to contact me more than once.'

'It seems he is curious about me.'

Lu Yang did not reply immediately; instead, he waited three years. Partly, this was because his cultivation was not yet complete, but partly it was also a deliberate tactic to whet the appetite.

Things obtained too easily are not cherished.

Only by feigning reluctance while showing interest can one seize the initiative.

Despite saying this, Lu Yang did not immediately activate the Spirit Book in his hand; instead, with a thought, he locked his divine sense onto a mortal city thousands of li away.

Then, he randomly selected a Qi Refining loose cultivator within the city.

Immediately, he delivered the Spirit Book into the loose cultivator's hands and activated 【Puppet Strings】 to directly control him, thereby creating a layer of causal firewall.

'Although Master Chongguang is considered to have relatively high moral standards within the Holy Sect, that is only relative; moreover, he has a True Person behind him! Who knows if he is just waiting for me? The moment I contact him, True Person Feixue might instantly break through the void, seize me, and refine me in an instant.'

In this regard, Lu Yang had to admit that 【Puppet Strings】 was truly useful.

However, it was not because of its 【Hypnosis】 effect, as that effect was essentially bullying the weak, usable only by a higher realm to oppress a lower realm.

The key lay in severing causality.

No one could trace the causality of 【Puppet Strings】 back to Lu Yang, the puppeteer; this was the reason he could successfully hide in the shadows.

Otherwise, when he encountered 【Ang Xiao】 three years ago, he would have been forced to reopen.

'It really is a cheat!'

Lu Yang sighed, then, through a layer of 【Puppet Strings】 firewall, manipulated that Qi Refining loose cultivator to activate the Flying Letter Spirit Book in his hand.

Almost simultaneously.

The Cloud Sea Touching Heaven, Holy Fire Cliff.

Master Chongguang, who had been in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the Flying Letter that had remained motionless for a full three years, a hint of interest appearing in his gaze.

Finally unable to hold back?

The next second, he swept his sleeve, accepted the communication request from Lu Yang, and immediately began calculating causality along the connection between the Spirit Books!

The result was naturally nothing found.

Immediately, a message floated before his eyes through the Spirit Book:

【I know a secret not only concerning the cultivation of "Extinguishing the Lamp Fire," but also concerning that "Heavenly Fortune Bright Light True Person." I wonder if you are interested?】

Seeing this, Master Chongguang's eyebrows rose slightly.

With just these words, he knew the other party was no ordinary person; after all, not everyone could know the honorific title 【Heavenly Fortune Bright Light True Person】.

After pondering for a moment, he waved his hand and wrote four characters:

【What secret?】

Soon, a reply message arrived:

【I want a superior Spiritual Treasure!】

Master Chongguang's expression immediately became strange; he stroked his chin with interest. Asking for benefits before discussing matters—could he truly be a True Person of our Holy Sect?

【I naturally possess superior Spiritual Treasures, but how can I give them to you?】

【That is a problem you need to solve; however, my secret involves a fragment of a Grotto-Heaven left behind after the fall of that "Heavenly Fortune Bright Light True Person."】

「. 」

Master Chongguang's expression grew even deeper, and in the next instant, a graceful figure appeared within the hall, reaching out with one hand—the Spirit Book landed in her grasp.

"Thank you, True Person."

Only then did Master Chongguang smile—but the one holding the Spirit Book was none other than Qingcheng Feixue True Person, who had straightaway emerged from her seclusion upon receiving Master Chongguang's message!

Qingcheng Feixue True Person made no attempt to trace cause and effect; instead, she violently pursued the connection between the two Spirit Books, locking onto a location in Jiangnan in an instant, then reaching out and grasping—suddenly! The void tore open, and a figure was snatched directly through empty space!

Yet at the sight of that person, both of them let out a soft "Hm?"

Their gaze settled—the figure dragged forth was none other than the Qi Condensation cultivator whom Lu Yang had randomly selected and controlled using the 【Puppet Strings】.

'So they've resorted to dirty tricks. Bastards!'

Far away in Jiangnan, Lu Yang's true body shook his head helplessly, his heart utterly unmoved—he had known all along that caution ensures safety forever; these bastards of the Holy Sect had no honor!

Especially Master Chongguang—he was outrageous!

It was just a deal, and yet he directly summoned Qingcheng Feixue True Person to act! Had he not been on guard, he would already have been forced to restart!

"It seems… our friend prefers face-to-face communication?"

Lu Yang smiled faintly at Master Chongguang through the 【Puppet Strings】, but in the next instant, he felt a vast, overwhelming force descend upon the Qi Condensation cultivator.

Without a word, they launched a Soul Search!

Yet Lu Yang remained calm—he knew the Qi Condensation cultivator's memories held no trace of him; no matter how deeply they searched, they would find nothing.

After a long while, that overwhelming force finally faded.

Qingcheng Feixue True Person's beautiful eyes burned brightly—she had developed immense curiosity toward Lu Yang, her gaze as if she longed to dissect him on the spot.

Seeing this, Lu Yang spread his hands: "Can we talk now?"

As his words fell, Master Chongguang True Person finally smiled, then gave Lu Yang a long, piercing look: "Interesting… it seems our friend is indeed a True Person of our Holy Sect."

And judging by this style, he's likely no ordinary True Person of the Holy Sect!

(End of Chapter)