Chapter 58: The Holy Sect Is Full of Talents Everywhere

Lu Yang paid little attention to Wang Song, at most sighing that Wang Bairong, the elder from the Library Pavilion and a friend from several past lives, actually had descendants.

He would look after them in a future life if given the chance; for now, he had more important matters to attend to.

Riding his escape light, Lu Yang left his cave dwelling and took out the Mingdao Jade Slip to begin comprehending the "Sage Thief."

An ancient saying goes: "As long as the sages do not die, the great thieves will never cease."

This does not mean sages become thieves; rather, it means that when sages establish laws for the world, while regulating conduct, they also provide convenience for great thieves.

However, this is the orthodox interpretation; the understanding within the "Sage Thief" is entirely different:

The "Sage Thief" states: Sages use their own rules to profit themselves, treating those who do not comply as bandits; the so-called sages are merely great thieves who steal from the world.

Therefore, to cultivate this body-refining technique, one must establish a cultivation method for the world, and when everyone follows this method, the cultivator can steal the fortune of all people under heaven to nourish themselves; this is the true intent of the technique: "The sage is the great thief, and the great thief is the Great Dao."

Using the fireworks of the mortal world to forge the Golden Body of a Sage.

Once the Golden Body is forged, the physique becomes as unyielding as "the laws of the sage, unchanged for ten thousand generations," ranking among the top ten even among the many body-refining techniques of the Holy Sect.

Seeing this, Lu Yang could only marvel in awe.

"Turning everyone under heaven into cultivation resources... the Holy Sect is still the Holy Sect; every time I start to feel slightly favorable toward it, it always manages to shock me."

To be honest, ever since meeting Ming Chan, Yun Yun Miaozhen, and others, Lu Yang's impression of the orthodox path had plummeted.

Admittedly, orthodox sects like the Yushujiange treated their own people quite well, meeting all orthodox standards in every aspect, but this applied only to "their own people."

Who counts as "their own people"?

The orthodox path speaks of karma and past and present lives; if you accumulated good karma and merit in a past life, you are one of their own and receive their favor.

Conversely, if you committed evil in a past life and incurred karma, even if you are innocent in this life, you cannot join the orthodox path; instead, they will kill you outright with excuses like "for your own good," "cleansing your karma," or "you will have opportunities in the next life," with Yun Yun Miaozhen, that madwoman, being a typical example.

Comparing the two, Lu Yang discovered the dividing line between the orthodox and the demonic.

For the Holy Sect, all disciples are talents, so they accept students without hesitation or discrimination, regardless of past lives or merit.

The orthodox path, however, emphasizes "acting on behalf of heaven."

Reincarnation, karma, and fate—the orthodox path places immense value on merit, karma, and past lives, often using these criteria to recruit disciples.

Both have their pros and cons; the difference lies merely in which one feels more human.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang felt utterly helpless: "Not a single normal sect; what has happened to this world? It must be a problem with the system!"

While pondering, Lu Yang arrived deep within the Sea of Clouds.

Soon, a towering and vast black mountain range came into view, unmistakably Yinshan, which also served as the headquarters of the Sanhe Society.

Just then, a loud laugh suddenly rang out:

"Junior Brother Lu, you have finally closed your retreat!"

The next second, a figure identical to how he appeared thirty years ago appeared outside Yinshan; seeing this, Lu Yang smiled slightly and then clasped his hands in greeting:

"Greetings, Senior Brother Luo."

"Between you and me, there is no need for courtesy."

Luo Wuya laughed and patted Lu Yang on the shoulder; he had always held Lu Yang in high regard, otherwise he would not have specially sent him the "Sage Thief" technique.

He had also guessed Lu Yang's purpose to some extent.

"Junior Brother, you are here for the 'Sage Thief,' correct?"

Lu Yang nodded: "This technique is indeed unfathomable, but its scope is extremely wide and the time required is exceedingly long; I fear it cannot be accomplished overnight..."

"Hahaha." Luo Wuya laughed loudly: "Surely Junior Brother doesn't actually plan to leave the Holy Sect and start cultivating this technique from scratch in the mortal world? The Holy Sect is vast and rich in resources, with abundant talent; why make things so difficult? Regarding the Sage Thief, the Holy Sect has long had a complete cultivation method."

Lu Yang clasped his hands: "Please instruct me, Senior Brother."

"Follow me."

Luo Wuya led Lu Yang to a great hall inside Yinshan, where a massive crystal sphere sat prominently in the center.

"This place is called the 'Dharma Refining Secret Realm.'"

Seeing the confusion on Lu Yang's face, Luo Wuya pointed at the crystal sphere and voluntarily explained: "Do not let its size fool you; this is actually a creation of a Dao Lord!"

"A Dao Lord!?"

Lu Yang's heart shook violently; Foundation Establishment cultivators are called True Persons, Golden Core cultivators are True Lords, and only Nascent Soul cultivators earn the honorable title of Dao Lord—was this object refined by such an existence?

"Inside the 'Dharma Refining Secret Realm' live one hundred and forty million living beings, each possessing powerful blood and qi and pure souls; one of them is worth more than ten ordinary mortals from the outside world. Whether used for refining magic treasures or cultivating techniques, they are superior materials, making them perfectly suited for your cultivation of the Sage Thief, Junior Brother."

Hearing this, Lu Yang drew a sharp breath: "One hundred and forty million talents..."

It seemed that with his breakthrough to the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation and his entry into the Sanhe Society, a Foundation Establishment faction, he now qualified to learn a bit of the Holy Sect's true depth.

Just then, the Secret Realm suddenly erupted with bright light.

The next second, a young man in black robes walked out, his face filled with frustration: "Damn those unruly people... failed again!"

After speaking, the young man glanced at Luo Wuya but said nothing more, leaving immediately.

Lu Yang naturally remained silent until the young man had departed, then looked at Luo Wuya, only to see a hint of schadenfreude on his face.

"That is also an inner disciple of our sect, the only son of True Person Master Chongguang, named Chongming; pay him no mind, he simply failed again in cultivating the Sage Thief."

"I will not hide anything from you, Junior Brother; the Sage Thief is not so easy to cultivate."

Saying this, Luo Wuya resumed a solemn expression: "Do not underestimate the people in this Secret Realm; although they are talents, they are not fools."

"As you know, Junior Brother, the Sage Thief requires creating a cultivation method out of thin air for the world before one can cultivate; the more brilliant the created technique, the greater the reward upon success. However, we are not Dao Lords, so the techniques we create are mostly shallow and easily seen through."

"This is precisely why failures occur with the Sage Thief."

"In the past, there were even cases where disciples cultivating the Sage Thief were discovered by the living, feigned cooperation, and were ultimately killed in return, becoming a laughingstock of the Holy Sect."

"Therefore, you must think carefully about how to cultivate this technique, Junior Brother."

Having said this, Luo Wuya took out a jade slip and handed it to Lu Yang: "Your elder brother also cultivated this technique back in the day, so I have some modest experience."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

"It is all for the sake of the Sanhe Society; I am still waiting for you to achieve great success and exit your retreat. If you truly master the Sage Thief, you will be quite formidable among the inner disciples."

Hearing this, Lu Yang raised an eyebrow, catching Luo Wuya's implied meaning.

Only upon mastering the Sage Thief would one be considered formidable.

Does that mean... I am still not up to standard?

Lu Yang remained outwardly calm, bowing respectfully once more before approaching the 'Dharma Refining Secret Realm'; sweeping it with his spiritual sense, a flood of information flowed into his mind.

It must be said that, worthy of being a Dao Lord's creation, this Secret Realm can actually be "configured"!

Cultural history, terrain, and architecture could all be shaped according to his will; this tremendous power to change heaven and earth with a single thought filled Lu Yang with both awe and deep caution.

For in his heart, a thought refused to fade.

The Secret Realm is a Dao Lord's creation; if a Dao Lord can perform such terrifying feats within the realm, then in reality... do they possess equal power?

The living beings in the Secret Realm are talents to him.

Then what are the cultivators of the Holy Sect to the Dao Lords?

Lu Yang dared not think further, sighing helplessly: "Damn it, the Holy Sect is full of talents everywhere!"

(End of Chapter)