Chapter 48: Foundation Establishment Settles Karma

Blood Robe Tower, another early morning.

Fairy Feixia leaned against the balcony railing, sunlight piercing through her thin garments that swayed with the wind, casting a graceful silhouette that stirred endless遐想.

"For this period, many thanks to Junior Brother Lu."

The two had just finished a night of exchange, and after Lu Yang's exhaustive instruction, Fairy Feixia had reached her limit, finding it difficult to make further progress in the short term.

"Today, I plan to leave the market."

Turning her head, Fairy Feixia stared straight at Lu Yang: "My state of mind cannot compare to Junior Brother's, and my talent is also inferior, yet I am unwilling to simply fade into obscurity as a mortal."

"With this departure of Feixia, seeing Junior Brother again may be a distant hope." Fairy Feixia raised her eyes, her expression evoking pity, then suddenly sighed softly: "In the future, perhaps the path lies ahead, perhaps I will be buried in a foreign land; the Immortal Road is lonely, and within the Holy Sect, Feixia only hopes to meet an old friend again when that time comes."

Having spoken, Fairy Feixia offered Lu Yang a radiant smile.

Her beautiful face, her pure and lovely smile, seemed to open her heart to Lu Yang for the first time: "Junior Brother... would you be willing to be that old friend of Feixia's?"

"..." Lu Yang remained silent for a long time.

A stunning woman gazed at him with deep affection, like a vast net weaving thread by thread around him, enough to make any man lose his soul.

However, Lu Yang held back.

He calmly raised his hand: "Senior Sister is welcome to return for tea anytime."

Seeing the guest out.

In an instant, the light in Fairy Feixia's eyes flickered, impossible to tell whether it was disappointment or helplessness; immediately after, she withdrew her smile, becoming cold and aloof once more.

"This humble one takes her leave."

As her voice fell, a streak of escape light resembling colorful clouds soared into the sky, vanishing at the horizon.

Only after the other party had departed did Lu Yang exhale, turning back into the quiet room of Blood Robe Tower, hiding within the formation, and grasping the Primordial Mixed Unity One Qi Divine Talisman...

Finally stopping the trembling of his body.

"Damn it, this must be a Foundation Establishment True Person plotting against me!"

Regarding Fairy Feixia, Lu Yang had always been physical without emotional attachment; their interaction was purely an exchange of learning, dual cultivation merely being one method of study.

But just now, he had actually felt moved!

Toward Fairy Feixia, he had once been confused by desire, nearly saying "willing" several times; such emotions were clearly wrong and fundamentally inconsistent with his true heart!

Drawing on the experience of his previous lives, Lu Yang quickly reached a conclusion: "That Foundation Establishment True Person behind the scenes is getting impatient and has started using crude methods; they are using Fairy Feixia as bait, forcibly trying to bind me to her... wanting to lure me out of the market!"

"Seclude... I must seclude myself!"

Thinking this, Lu Yang immediately announced to the outside world that he was entering a death seclusion, refusing to see outsiders for the short term, maximizing the avoidance of his karma being entangled by others.

"... emarkable."

Outside Skull Mountain Market, on a cliff, a figure stood with hands clasped behind his back, while behind him stood a Blood Robe youth with a respectful expression.

The next second, the figure with hands behind his back laughed: "An ordinary disciple, without any background, yet able to produce such a person with such a firm Dao Heart is truly rare; I cast spells several times to lure him, yet he never bit the bait. Second Brother, I truly do not know whether to say your judgment is good or bad."

"Please forgive this junior brother, Senior Brother."

The Blood Robe youth bowed respectfully, his tone also filled with helplessness: "My original intention was merely to find a cannon fodder, I simply did not expect that even shallow waters could produce a dragon..."

The Blood Robe youth was named "Luo Wuya," the "Second Senior Brother" of the Sanhe Society.

His cultivation base was at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation, and he also mastered one Great Divine Ability, making him the strongest figure openly representing the Holy Sect at Skull Mountain, a prominent person in every sense.

And the identity of the person who could command such respect from him, the one with hands behind his back, was obvious.

The Society Head of the Sanhe Society!

His Daoist title was "Yinshan"; ten years ago, after successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, he immediately became a high echelon of the Holy Sect, granted permission by the Sect Master to establish the Yinshan lineage within the Cloud Sea.

"However, Senior Brother, I still cannot understand; is it really necessary for it to be a disciple of the Holy Sect?"

"Second Brother, you do not understand."

True Person Yinshan shook his head: "The ancient Witch-Ghost Path was a major demonic sect; its Secret Realm carries deep karmic ties, and even I am unwilling to easily become entangled with it."

In this world, karma exists everywhere.

If one gains benefits and forms karmic ties, one must repay them.

The ancient Witch-Ghost Path established the Secret Realm precisely to seek a person of great fortune, planting karmic ties through the sect's inheritance to seek an opportunity for the revival of their lineage.

"If I were to act personally, finding the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm would naturally be easy; indeed, I would not even need to search, as the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm would manifest itself voluntarily. But if that happened, the karma of the Witch-Ghost Path would fall upon me, and who knows how many troublesome matters would arise then, hindering my cultivation..."

To put it plainly, True Person Yinshan wanted the goods but did not want to pay.

"Therefore, I need someone to open the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm for me; since the Witch-Ghost Path is a major demonic sect, selecting a disciple of the Holy Sect is most suitable."

"I originally selected that 'Master of Blood Robe Tower,' specially arranging for him to attract many significant enemies; as long as he was willing to step out of the market, I would act as his backer, assisting him in slaying his enemies and accumulating fortune. Once his fortune was sufficient, the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm would be attracted out by it..."

If Lu Yang were here, hearing these words, he would certainly find them familiar.

Because that was exactly how Xiao Shiye had died back then.

An artificially created Child of Destiny, seemingly blessed with heaven-high fortune, invincible in attack and unbeatable in battle, was in reality merely bait used by a Foundation Establishment True Person to fish out opportunities.

And once the opportunity was fished out, the bait was no longer useful.

Behind True Person Yinshan, the Blood Robe youth Luo Wuya bowed his head deeply, feeling a hidden chill at the terrifying methods a Foundation Establishment True Person used to manipulate karma and fate.

"... ever mind."

Suddenly, True Person Yinshan shook his head: "Since that 'Master of Blood Robe Tower' is unwilling to cooperate, then let us simply change to another; he is not the only option."

Speaking thus, True Person Yinshan chuckled lightly: "Second Brother, do you remember how the ancient Witch-Ghost Path was destroyed?"

"I know; it was the Yushu Sword Pavilion."

Luo Wuya nodded: "The Sect Master of the Sword Pavilion of that generation, a Golden Core True Lord, slashed out a single sword strike atop the Seven Stars Cliff of the Sword Pavilion, causing the mountain gate of the Witch-Ghost Path to immediately sink..."

"Indeed, merely a single strike."

True Person Yinshan sighed with emotion: "During the peak of the ancient Witch-Ghost Path, there were fully two digits of Foundation Establishment True Persons, and even a Fourth Grade formation suppressing their fortune."

"Even so, they still could not block a single sword strike slashed from tens of thousands of li away by a Golden Core True Lord."

"Furthermore, that single sword strike still remains within the Witch-Ghost Path's Secret Realm to this day!"

Speaking thus, a trace of dread appeared in True Person Yinshan's eyes: "The True Lord's Dharma Decree, the sword qi residing in the world; as long as the Witch-Ghost Path is not extinguished, the sword qi naturally will not perish."

This was also the reason he refused to enter the fray personally.

The sword qi of a Golden Core True Lord, originating from the leader of the righteous path, Yushu Sword Pavilion; what if he went to open the Secret Realm and the sword qi inside casually slashed him down?

Therefore, finding a stepping stone to test the path was far more secure.

"That sword qi and the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm have been entangled for countless years, becoming completely integrated; thus, since we cannot open the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm through a Holy Sect disciple, let us change direction and try to lure over a disciple of Yushu Sword Pavilion to obtain that sword qi; the effect would actually be the same."

Speaking thus, True Person Yinshan's gaze shifted, and he finally left the market.

Almost simultaneously, Lu Yang, who was in seclusion within the market, suddenly felt his body become light, as if an infinite burden had been lifted, revealing a look of astonishment.

(End of Chapter)