Chapter 148: On Protracted Warfare
Time always passed swiftly.
Especially when Lü Yang remained reclusive within the Primordial Saint Sect, never poking his head out regardless of the storms outside, it became even less likely for him to encounter any trouble.
Time flew by.
Inside a quiet chamber on Mount Luofeng, Lü Yang had a Dao book placed before him, with the 【Heaven-Seeking Instrument】 between his brows shimmering brilliantly. His handsome face was filled with a conflicted expression.
"Not right. Right, right, right. Not right, not right, right?"
After a long while, Lü Yang suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of crimson, dazzling pupils, within which countless runes seemed to circulate.
Almost simultaneously, a graceful figure appeared beside him.
As soon as Su Nu manifested, she immediately bowed deeply, her red lips slightly parted as she softly said, "This servant greets the master and congratulates the master on achieving great divine powers!"
"How long have I been in seclusion?"
"Reporting to the master, you have been in seclusion for over five years."
"Five years..."
Lü Yang was somewhat surprised—not because it was long, but because it was too short. He had originally thought that this time, he would need to spend at least several decades.
After all, before entering seclusion, he had chosen to comprehend not something else, but the Dao book of formations and talismans he had obtained from his conversation with True Person Yu Chong. Its name was 『Comprehensive Book of Pacifying Wars』, encompassing the four arts of formations, talismans, pills, and tools. Not only was it vast in quantity, but it also reached up to the fourth grade.
Such a Dao book was evidently difficult to comprehend.
Having had the experience of studying formations for twenty years in his previous life, Lü Yang originally thought that this time would be similar. However, his speed of comprehension far exceeded expectations.
"It seems my talent is quite good."
"With my talent, plus the negligible assistance provided by the 【Heaven-Seeking Instrument】, I should be able to achieve some success in a few more decades."
Immediately after, Lü Yang stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
After consuming the merit and fortune of the Divine Martial Sect, Lü Yang's 【Myriad Chariots Dragon-Taming Dao Foundation】 had undergone a new transformation, granting him a mysterious sense.
"My opportunity..."
Lü Yang looked up, gazing into the distance.
With the blessing of fortune, he could vaguely calculate where his opportunity to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment lay.
"...It's actually overseas?"
Lü Yang's gaze changed. To break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, one needed to integrate a Heavenly Gang Earth Fiend and refine it into an innate divine ability.
This was not something that could be obtained just anywhere.
Even within the Primordial Saint Sect, such resources were unavailable.
This was because the Heavenly Gang Earth Fiend was born in response to fate. If not taken within a short period, it would return to the heavens and earth. Even a Golden Core True Monarch could not retain it.
Therefore, regardless of the sect or faction, cultivators seeking the Heavenly Gang Earth Fiend to break through had to travel abroad.
This was also one of the reasons various forces competed for territory.
After all, the larger your territory, the higher the chance of the Heavenly Gang Earth Fiend manifesting within it.
"It seems this trip overseas is unavoidable."
Thinking of this, Lü Yang shifted his gaze to Su Nu again: "How are things outside the sect? What about Fulong? Has that bald donkey not returned to the Pure Land?"
"Reporting to the master, no."
At this point, Su Nu's expression became somewhat peculiar: "Not only has he not returned, but in fact, that bald donkey has been wandering near the Primordial Saint Sect almost every day for the past five years."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Lü Yang showed an interested expression: "Is he waiting for me? It seems the old monk is unwilling to accept defeat, thinking I will come out to fight him again?"
Su Nu nodded and continued: "In fact, in recent years, your reputation has grown increasingly prominent. Many True Persons regard you as a master of manipulating karma and fate. As someone at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, toying with mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in the palm of your hand—such feats are rare even within the Primordial Saint Sect."
"They all say you are... um." Su Nu suddenly closed her mouth.
Seeing this, Lü Yang became even more interested and curiously asked: "What do they say about me? That I possess vast divine powers? That I am exceedingly intelligent? That I am a peerless genius capable of surpassing higher realms?"
"This..."
Su Nu cautiously glanced at Lü Yang and whispered: "They say you are well-versed in the art of self-preservation, act prudently, and are a turtle that hides its head..."
Seeing Lü Yang's expression gradually darken, Su Nu's voice grew increasingly softer.
In the end, she obediently knelt before Lü Yang, lowered her swan-like slender neck, nodded vigorously, and said no more.
A day later.
Lü Yang, feeling refreshed, walked out of the quiet chamber and released his aura.
Before long, a figure sensed it and broke through the void, landing on Mount Luofeng.
It was none other than True Person Yinshan.
Upon landing, he smiled and cupped his hands: "Congratulations, Junior Brother, on destroying the Divine Martial Sect and seizing its merit and fortune. It seems the mid-stage is within reach."
"Senior Brother flatters me; it's still early."
Lü Yang shook his head: "That bald donkey Fulong is still alive, and the karma remains unresolved. To be cautious, I plan to wait a few more decades before going out to seek opportunities."
"Mm..."
Upon hearing this, True Person Yinshan looked deeply at Lü Yang, hesitating to speak.
Clearly, he thought Lü Yang was being overly cautious, not like a young man at all.
Although the Fulong Arhat indeed had a deep blood feud with Lü Yang now, Foundation Establishment True Persons could conceal karma.
As long as Lü Yang was slightly careful, even if he left the Primordial Saint Sect, the Fulong Arhat would likely be unable to do anything to him. Yet, Lü Yang insisted on hiding within the sect, which was excessively prudent.
Lü Yang immediately saw through True Person Yinshan's thoughts.
However, to him, it was another consideration: indeed, even if he left the sect, with his abilities, the Fulong Arhat would likely be unable to do anything to him.
But why take the risk?
If there's an eighty percent chance he can't harm him, that means there's a twenty percent chance he can. Why gamble on that twenty percent when he can win securely?
At this moment, a beam of spiritual light descended into the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.
"Lü Yang! Come out!"
The next second, the spiritual light exploded, and a voice resounded in all directions.
It was the Fulong Arhat's shouting and cursing, with various provocations and taunts emerging endlessly.
Immediately after, the spiritual light dispersed, revealing a rainbow-colored garment—it was a woman's clothing—falling conspicuously towards Mount Luofeng, attracting the attention of many True Persons in the Primordial Saint Sect. Some laughed, some mocked, and some admired.
Lü Yang, upon seeing this, calmly accepted it.
"Su Nu, it's yours."
Lü Yang grabbed the rainbow-colored garment, instantly refined it, then called out the still slightly weak Su Nu and casually threw it over.
"Thank you, master!" Su Nu immediately showed a face full of joy.
True Person Yinshan, seeing this, could only inwardly sigh that this Junior Brother Yuantuo had a face as thick as a city wall, truly worthy of being the future pillar of the Primordial Saint Sect as designated by Senior Brother.
Then, Lü Yang turned around, smiling as he took out a storage pouch.
"To be honest, Junior Brother previously looted the Divine Martial Sect and, after obtaining its treasury, went into seclusion without carefully organizing it."
Lü Yang sighed as he stuffed the storage pouch into True Person Yinshan's hands: "Senior Brother is the right-hand man of Uncle Master Chong Guang. The Divine Martial Sect's treasury is messy and filled with many useless items. It's better to send it to Senior Brother's residence first for a thorough inventory to ensure everything is in order before handing it over to the sect."
True Person Yinshan, while receiving the storage pouch, shook his head: "Isn't this inappropriate?"
"Just trying to ease the burden for the sect!"
Lü Yang insisted, and True Person Yinshan half-heartedly accepted. Then Lü Yang smiled and asked: "Do you know where the two True Persons of the Divine Martial Sect are now?"
"Huanwu and Xuanwu?"
True Person Yinshan was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said: "The Divine Martial Sect's fortune and merit have dissipated, and its disciples have scattered. Naturally, they have fled overseas."
At this point, True Person Yinshan's eyes lit up: "Junior Brother wants to offer that 【Abe Sword】?"
"That's the idea."
Lü Yang nodded: "Unfortunately, the Divine Martial Sect's True Persons have fled overseas and are hard to find. Does Senior Brother have any means?"
Having just received Lü Yang's storage pouch, True Person Yinshan naturally couldn't refuse. He immediately smiled and said: "That's no problem; leave it to me!"
After speaking, True Person Yinshan looked at Lü Yang with even more satisfaction.
To be fair, he had originally thought Lü Yang would ask him to help deal with the Fulong Arhat... If that were the case, he would have had to firmly refuse.
After all, the Fulong Arhat now was a dying madman.
Such people were troublesome and not worth provoking.
But Huanwu and Xuanwu?
Two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from a declining minor sect—True Person Yinshan could easily handle them.
It was a trivial matter!