Chapter 35: Senior Brother Zhao and I Have a Fate!

In the previous previous era, about twenty years after Lu Yang's current point in time, the Holy Sect would launch a campaign of extermination against the Righteous Sects.

The Righteous Sect that was exterminated was named "Divine Martial Gate".

And in that previous previous era, Zhao Xuhe ultimately cultivated to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and together with Fairy Feixia, became the managers of the Holy Sect's external market.

That market was located at Skull Mountain, bordering the Divine Martial Gate.

Before the war, the Holy Sect transported vast amounts of supplies under the cover of the market; it is said that it was at that time the two found a Foundation Establishment wonder.

After that, as the war began, the two shone brilliantly, established considerable merit, and exchanged another Foundation Establishment wonder from within the Holy Sect; then they requested a Pill Master to combine the two Foundation Establishment wonders into one, refining a "Foundation Establishment Pill", which gave them the opportunity to assault the Foundation Establishment realm.

Although they ultimately failed, the opportunity was real.

"I cultivate the Nine Transformations Dragon Art just like Zhao Xuhe; if he can assault the Foundation Establishment, perhaps I have a chance too; in any case, this is worth a try!"

Another three days passed.

Lu Yang was sitting in meditation in his cave dwelling when suddenly a human-faced owl flew to the front of his cave dwelling; its lips and teeth moved, spitting out a clear, melodious voice:

"Junior Brother Lu, please come to my cave dwelling for an audience."

It was Fairy Feixia.

Seeing this, Lu Yang's gaze shifted slightly; he immediately rose on a sword light and flew toward Fairy Feixia's cave dwelling, then was escorted to a landscape tea pavilion.

Inside the tea pavilion, Fairy Feixia was brewing tea; he saw her pale hands move lightly, spiritual water pouring, true fire urging, moistening the tea and brewing; her movements were pleasing to the eye. Lu Yang happened to witness this, and felt a wisp of ethereal tea fragrance rush to his nose, making his heart and spirit refreshed, even his spiritual sense became more active.

"Junior Brother, please sit."

Only then did Fairy Feixia raise her brows to look; after Lu Yang took his seat, she spoke directly to the point: "The reason I came to find Junior Brother is that the Association's reply has arrived."

"Oh?" Lu Yang deliberately showed an excited expression: "Has my divine technique arrived?"

"Correct." Fairy Feixia smiled slightly: "Second Senior Brother has already sent the list of divine techniques; Junior Brother may now choose any one from the list to cultivate."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Lu Yang cupped his hands, accepted the list jade slip, and opened it; immediately, the dense mass of divine techniques dazzled his eyes. After examining them carefully, he cursed bitterly in his heart.

Because he had seen most of these divine techniques in the library of the Heaven-Mending Peak; however, those in the library were all maimed versions, their power far inferior to the complete versions in the list. They appeared similar, but were actually worlds apart; this showed to what extent the Holy Sect controlled its resources.

It was simply hair-raising.

If he had not joined the Sanhe Association and signed a life-contract, with the background of a True Disciple above him, he probably would never have accessed these complete divine techniques in his entire life.

After a moment, Lu Yang's eyes suddenly brightened.

Because he actually saw familiar words in the list: the Demon Heaven Blood-Transforming Divine Light, or more accurately, the complete version of the Demon Heaven Blood-Transforming Divine Light!

"The True Art of Great Yin Corpse-Release and Form-Transformation"!

"Great Yin refines the body form; superior to taking the Nine-Turned Pill. The appearance is dignified and solemn; the complexion resembles spiritual clouds. Ascending to the Supreme Palace, receiving the book as a True Person."

This is a great divine technique!

The Demon Heaven Blood-Transforming Divine Light is even just its first step; once fully refined, one does not enter the Five Elements, weapons cannot harm, and one even earns the title of "Corpse-Release Immortal".

"I choose this one!"

Lu Yang immediately made his decision, copied a portion of the content of the "True Art of Great Yin Corpse-Release and Form-Transformation", then looked at Fairy Feixia and cupped his hands solemnly:

"Now that this matter is settled, does Senior Sister have any important tasks to assign?"

"To not hide it from Junior Brother," Fairy Feixia said lightly with a smile, "I recently plan to apply for an external transfer to Skull Mountain market to take command; I am precisely lacking several suitable assistants."

Here it comes indeed!

Lu Yang was not surprised by Fairy Feixia's invitation; after all, sweet dates come with a big stick; since the Sanhe Association had already given benefits, how could they not let him work?

"If Senior Sister does not disdain me, I am willing to accompany Senior Sister on the journey."

Lu Yang nodded without hesitation.

After all, since it concerned the Foundation Establishment opportunity, even if Fairy Feixia had not invited him actively, Lu Yang had planned to take a mission from the Merit Hall to go to Skull Mountain market.

Seeing Lu Yang so decisive, Fairy Feixia's expression in her eyes became even more satisfied: "Junior Brother is indeed as I thought, a person with a firm Dao heart. We ordinary disciples, if we willingly fall into depravity, staying within the Holy Sect are destined never to rise; only by going out to seek opportunities is there a sliver of a chance for survival."

"Breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats, placing life and death aside, only then is there hope for Foundation Establishment!"

After some conversation, Lu Yang found that Fairy Feixia's gaze toward him had become affectionate; obviously, she regarded him as someone of like mind.

Placing life and death aside was not wrong.

But not because of breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats; it is because I have the 【Book of Hundred Lives】, so I am not afraid of failure at all. If I die, so be it; at worst, I can start over again!

Ten days later, on the sky-flying boat heading to Skull Mountain.

Lu Yang arrived riding light and landed steadily on the flying boat's deck; after exchanging greetings with Fairy Feixia, he low-key blended into the crowd below.

On this journey to Skull Mountain, he did not intend to appear too conspicuous.

Compared to being the focus of everyone's gaze, he actually preferred to be indistinguishable from the masses; preferably, the kind who could frown and silently retreat behind the crowd.

Soon, many cultivators gathered on the flying boat.

Besides Fairy Feixia, the leaders included two cultivators at the seventh layer of Qi Refining; one of them he even knew: Lu Yuanchun, a disciple of the Heaven-Mending Peak Master.

"Hmph, I'll add him to my list sooner or later."

A flash of cold light passed through Lu Yang's eyes, then vanished; he looked around again. Since Lu Yuanchun had come, would Zhao Xuhe come too?

In this life, the Foundation Establishment opportunity might just fall on him!

Indeed, after Lu Yang scanned the area, he really saw Zhao Xuhe silently drinking spiritual wine in a corner of the crowd, in a remote part of the flying boat.

However, the current Zhao Xuhe was several times more despondent than in previous lives; Lu Yang was not surprised, after all, in this life Zhao Xuhe could not find him, his destined opportunity vanished into thin air, the substitute death yin puppet cost him his entire fortune, and his mistress, Fairy Qingchen, had surely left him; he had lost both people and wealth.

The fact that he had not yet jumped off Heaven-Mending Peak was already something Lu Yang admired.

"Senior Brother Zhao? Is it Senior Brother Zhao?"

Lu Yang stepped forward actively, deliberately showing a surprised expression: "I never expected to meet Senior Brother Zhao here; Senior Brother and I have a fate!"

"Ah? You are..."

Zhao Xuhe was stunned for quite a while before recognizing Lu Yang by his cultivator's memory; he was immediately dumbfounded: "... Junior Brother Lu? You are at the mid-stage of Qi Refining?"

Zhao Xuhe was indeed down and out; he could not see through Lu Yang's Qi-Collection Art, so naturally he could not know his true realm; yet even so, the mid-stage of Qi Refining was enough to shock him greatly, after all, Lu Yang ten years ago was in his eyes just an insignificant, dispensable minor character.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe suddenly felt even more depressed.

"Heh, you've come to mock me too, haven't you? Get lost!"

"What makes Senior Brother say such a thing?" Lü Yang's face was full of confusion, then he quickly said, "I've always kept Senior Brother's past kindness in mind — how could I possibly have any intention of mocking you?"

Kindness? What kindness?

Zhao Xuhe was stunned again, then recalled that back in the day he seemed to have actually helped Lü Yang take out a loan — and that counts as a kindness? There are actually idiots like this?

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe was just about to open his mouth to mock him.

"I see Senior Brother's cultivation still seems stuck at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. If Senior Brother doesn't mind, I happen to have a spirit pill here that can boost cultivation."

"Would that really be appropriate?"

Zhao Xuhe blankly accepted the spirit pill Lü Yang forcefully pressed into his hands. For some reason, looking at Lü Yang again, he actually did feel a genuine sense of warmth!

As if the two of them had crossed paths in a previous life.

Could it be that we truly have a fated connection?

Happy New Year!

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(End of chapter)