Chapter 97: Charging Toward Foundation Establishment Again, the Coiled Dragon Appears!

Time flew swiftly; in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

On this day, Lu Yang sat cross-legged atop Skull Mountain when he suddenly opened his eyes, a look of joy spreading across his face, for his physical body had finally completed the transformation of Corpse Dissolution!

The next second, Lu Yang vanished from his spot.

Inside the Myriad Souls Banner.

In a void-like expanse, twisted flesh and blood had constructed a magnificent palace, with dense blood vessels winding around it like the roots of trees.

These root-like blood vessels all spread out from the deepest part of the palace, and following them inward, one could see that both the pillars and the walls were crafted entirely from stark white skeletons, wrapped in blood vessels that writhed quietly like living creatures.

Terrifying, eerie, and bizarre.

This was precisely the form his physical body had taken after Corpse Dissolution; no longer human, it shifted into countless forms every moment, indescribable, like an incarnation of chaos.

"I didn't expect this 【Corpse Dissolution Immortal】 path to have a final trial!"

Lu Yang looked surprised; the transformation of the physical body was not the end. A cultivator had to restrain the rampaging flesh and blood before they could truly master it!

If one failed to restrain the physical body, they would become a flesh-and-blood monster possessing a certain grade of existence.

Yet, for ordinary cultivators who reached this stage, their consciousness was already obscured, hovering between life and death, half-asleep and half-awake; how could they possibly retain the ability to control their physical bodies?

"The difficulty is far too high; fortunately, I am one step ahead."

With the help of the Dharma Protector Goddess Sunü, he had successfully cultivated the "Secret Art of Severing Thoughts to See the Heavenly Silkworm" a month ago, smoothly transforming his spiritual consciousness into divine sense.

And with divine sense supporting him, controlling the physical body was naturally a trivial matter.

At this moment, as Lu Yang willed it, the massive palace of flesh and blood immediately began to collapse, and the chaotic phenomena returned to order under his will.

In the end, only a Daoist priest of handsome and refined appearance remained in its place.

The Daoist wore white robes, his black hair flowing like a dragon, dancing as if alive, while his entire being exuded a transcendent, ethereal quality beyond the mundane world.

【Corpse Dissolution Immortal】 achieved!

Lu Yang's soul merged into his physical body; in an instant, spirit and flesh became one. The corner of his mouth curled up slightly, and his original grade of existence instantly soared to an unimaginable height.

Looking up at the sky, Lu Yang could even see that lofty 'Foundation Establishment Realm'; in fact, if that place was the mountain peak, then he was now standing less than a hundred paces from the summit, comparable to Patriarch Tingyou before, or even slightly higher.

Yet even so, the grandeur of the 'Foundation Establishment Realm' still compelled him to sigh with emotion.

Being close, after all, is not the same as arriving.

No matter how close one gets to the 'Foundation Establishment Realm', even if only a single step away, unless one steps inside and truly constructs the Dao Foundation, the distinction between immortal and mortal remains.

"I mourn the brevity of my life and envy the endless Yangtze River."

Just then, a beam of spiritual light suddenly pierced through the void from afar, sent from the direction of the Holy Sect; after Lu Yang caught it, a token materialized.

The Ascension Token!

As he had expected, after both parties had agreed upon the matter of the 【Heavenly Corpse Fiend】, True Person Yinshan naturally would not stint on a mere Foundation Establishment treasure.

"... verything is ready!"

At this moment, Lu Yang was filled with determination.

Why wait for an auspicious day when today is as good as any? He would break through to Foundation Establishment right now!

With a single thought, Lu Yang made his decision immediately and strode directly toward the 'Foundation Establishment Realm'; the next second, he stepped inside!

He had almost completed the ascension in a single step!

"Far easier than in my previous life."

In his previous life, he possessed only the grade of the 【Saint Thief】, and the ascension alone had consumed more than half of his true qi; yet in this life, the situation was completely different.

With Third Grade true qi, the 【Corpse Dissolution Immortal】 and 【Saint Thief】 grades combined with Foundation Establishment divine sense, plus the Ascension Token unlocking the seals of the nine layers of heaven and earth, Lu Yang stepped into the 'Foundation Establishment Realm' with almost no effort, possessing ample true qi to construct his Dao Foundation, unlike the predicament of his past life.

"Next comes the invasion of heart demons."

Lu Yang moved with divine speed; the moment he entered the 'Foundation Establishment Realm', he summoned Sunü, and the 【Yanmo Hall】 reformed instantly, erupting with tremendous power.

Dharma Protector!

With Sunü present, Lu Yang effectively mastered the Foundation Establishment grade in advance; using her to protect himself was sufficient to resist most of the heart demons within the 'Foundation Establishment Realm'.

"Eighty percent; indeed, far easier than thirty percent."

Lu Yang remained calm and unhurried as his Third Grade true qi, the 【True Dragon Fiend】, roared forth, coiling beneath his feet, its scales opening and closing as it inhaled and exhaled myriad clouds of mist.

Clouds follow the dragon!

Above the "Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art" lies the "Precious Scroll of Controlling Ten Thousand Chariots and Dragons to Ascend"; the Dao Foundation constructed thereby takes the form of a carriage sheltered by a floral canopy.

Controlling the dragon to pull the chariot of ten thousand carriages and ascend!

Soon, as the clouds of mist gathered and the radiance turned inward, the form of a chariot gradually emerged, causing Lu Yang's spiritual presence to become even more lofty and ethereal.

However, Lu Yang's brows gradually furrowed.

"Something is not right."

His perception of karma was extremely keen; thus, as his own level approached Foundation Establishment, he felt increasingly alarmed, shadows rising in the depths of his heart.

Karma that he once could not sense now appeared exceptionally clear, wrapping around him strand by strand; the more he charged toward Foundation Establishment, the more it felt like a moth flying into a flame, or a butterfly falling into a spider's web. This sensation made Lu Yang's expression grow increasingly grim, until sudden enlightenment dawned in his heart:

"Someone is plotting against me!"

Who is it?

True Person Master Chongguang, True Person Yinshan, Peak Master Senior Butian, or even Patriarch Tingyou—Lu Yang's mind flashed through everyone he knew in an instant.

No, that's not right!

"Patriarch Tingyou was killed by Golden Core sword energy; there is absolutely no way he could have come back to life. Peak Master Senior Butian was injured so severely; it's impossible for him to be fully recovered in just three months."

"As for True Person Master Chongguang and True Person Yinshan, it is even more impossible."

The next second, a name finally leaped forth from Lu Yang's heart; that person's situation was so unique that he had overlooked them until now.

Suddenly, Lu Yang exhaled a long breath of turbid air and stopped pondering further; this was not giving up on uncovering the truth, but rather realizing that by now, discovering the truth was already too late.

Lu Yang gazed into the distance and saw that within the vast, boundless 'Foundation Establishment Realm', a figure was slowly approaching.

The visitor moved with composure, each step firm and steady, the sound of their footsteps resonating through the 'Foundation Establishment Realm' like a great bell and heavy drum, resembling a clear, soaring dragon's roar.

When Lu Yang first looked, the figure was still extremely far away, yet after only a few steps, they had arrived right before him; wherever they passed, golden lotuses bloomed, and loud chants of Zen deafened the ears. Merely standing before Lu Yang made it impossible for his gaze to shift away from them.

"... t is indeed you."

Lu Yang's voice was cold as he stared straight at the visitor, who possessed a full forehead, wore golden Zen robes, and held a nine-ring tin staff in hand.

The visitor appeared as a youth, with red lips and white teeth, their face radiating compassion.

Yet the small dragon clutched in their hand, claws bared and fangs exposed, was the complete opposite: fierce and sinister, its golden eyes filled with killing intent as it stared at Lu Yang.

The next second, Lu Yang felt his entire body freeze.

The small dragon let out a low roar, its dragon eyes unblinking, reflecting all phenomena surrounding Lu Yang within its pupils, trapping him within those golden orbs.

Dragon pupils, golden eyes, framing heaven and earth within their gaze!

Seeing this, Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged as he spoke in an icy tone:

"True Person Panlong!"

With the other's appearance, the karma that had been hidden so deeply finally revealed its traces; the visitor was indeed True Person Panlong, whom Lu Yang had previously believed to be long dead!

(End of Chapter)