Chapter 47: The Hidden Dragon Does Not Emerge from the Abyss
Perhaps it was due to being a startled bird, or perhaps it was undue worry, but regardless, Lü Yang was now wary of all forces with a Foundation Establishment background.
Especially those forces that had taken notice of him.
‘Unlike before, in this lifetime, I have the protection of divine talismans. Mending Heaven Peak cannot calculate against me, and the Divine Martial Sect, being part of the righteous path, shouldn't harm their own. That being said, the Foundation Establishment True Person who remains hidden and is plotting over Skeleton Mountain might truly be the one behind the Three Rivers Society!’
The more Lü Yang thought about it, the more suspicious he found the Three Rivers Society, yet he maintained a calm facade:
“So that's how it is. Could it be that Second Senior Brother wishes to see me?”
“Indeed.” Fairy Feixia nodded: “Second Senior Brother has come to Skeleton Mountain and is in need of capable assistance, so he hopes you can lend a hand.”
Assistance? More like cannon fodder!
Lü Yang decisively shook his head: “Although I have some knowledge of formations, without them, my strength diminishes significantly. How could I be worthy of Second Senior Brother's favor?”
“Please have Second Senior Brother seek someone more capable.”
Lü Yang spoke with confidence.
Although he had joined the Three Rivers Society and signed a legal contract, he was not their slave. He still had some autonomy; who could force him?
Fairy Feixia evidently thought the same, so she was merely delivering a message.
Now that the message was conveyed, her expression gradually turned ambiguous, her fair and delicate face blushing, her glances full of charm.
“Junior Brother, I have recently encountered some difficulties with formations. I hope you can guide me.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Lü Yang immediately perked up.
Over the next three months, Lü Yang's pace of life slowed down.
Each day, he would either discuss the Dao with Fairy Feixia or study the Hundred Bones True Formation outside.
Sometimes, when the mood struck, he would do both simultaneously.
However, compared to his peaceful days, Skeleton Mountain outside the market was in complete chaos.
Not only were the Divine Martial Sect and the Primordial Saint Sect involved, but also their subordinate sects, and even some powerful rogue cultivators were drawn in.
When the three sides met, battles naturally ensued.
During this period, several relics of the Ancient Witch Ghost Path were unearthed, further confirming the existence of the Witch Ghost Secret Realm.
It was at this time that Fairy Feixia brought him news that Zhao Xuhe, under his name, had seized many opportunities outside the market.
“Who would have thought my name would be so useful?”
Lü Yang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
Zhao Xuhe had competed for opportunities several times and found himself in peril, but each time, he escaped danger by invoking Lü Yang's name.
Clearly, Ouyang Haoze's death had made many wary of him.
Of course, this was also because Zhao Xuhe was clever and knew when to advance or retreat. So far, he hadn't provoked any truly formidable figures, allowing him to bluff successfully.
“Junior Brother, are you truly going to ignore this?”
Fairy Feixia's fair face turned stern, her words cold: “This person is using your name, bringing you karmic entanglements. I say we should kill him first!”
“Leave him be.”
Lü Yang shook his head.
Zhao Xuhe now never returned to the market, focusing solely on searching Skeleton Mountain for the Ancient Witch Ghost Path and the Witch Ghost Secret Realm.
If Lü Yang wanted to kill him, he would have to leave the market.
But how could that be possible?
“Let him be. He once mortgaged some contribution points with me, and I agreed to let him use my name. There's nothing more to say.”
After sending off Fairy Feixia, Lü Yang's expression gradually became serious.
“Heh!”
“Interesting. Over the past few months, everything I've heard and seen seems to be urging me to leave the market?”
A term involuntarily surfaced in Lü Yang's mind: calamity!
He was merely a small Qi Refining cultivator, yet he was being targeted by a Foundation Establishment True Person, with karma deduced and various schemes. If this wasn't a calamity, what was?
“Damn karma!”
“No matter what, with calamity looming, I must not act rashly. Only by closing my cave door and quietly reciting the Yellow Court Scriptures can I hope to avoid disaster.”
First, there was the Three Rivers Society, applying external pressure.
Now, Zhao Xuhe was causing internal entanglements.
“No matter how you try to bait me, I won't bite. The hidden dragon does not emerge from the abyss. What can you do to me?”
Thinking this, Lü Yang felt his mind clear. His previously restless thoughts settled, and he felt relaxed, as if he had shed another layer of karma.
Time flowed, and another month passed.
Skeleton Mountain Market, over a thousand miles to the east.
A streak of escape light was seen fleeing desperately, seemingly burning blood essence, with seven or eight escape lights in pursuit.
“Zhao Xuhe! Where do you think you're going!”
The pursuers were all clad in armor, their blood energy soaring, clearly disciples of the Divine Martial Sect, mostly in the late stages of Qi Refining, none at the peak.
Otherwise, with Zhao Xuhe's cultivation, he wouldn't have been able to escape.
Even so, fleeing to this point had nearly exhausted him. The only reason he hadn't collapsed was due to hope.
“I can still be saved!”
“I've already sent a flying message to Lü Yang. As long as... as long as I can escape to that place, to the area around the market, Lü Yang will surely save me!”
Zhao Xuhe fled desperately, convincing himself.
“There is still my restriction on the Stealing Heaven's Secret. As long as he still wants to break through to Foundation Establishment and not wait until he's eighty and frail, he must come to save me!”
“He will come to save me!”
“He definitely will!”
At that moment, Zhao Xuhe was overjoyed to see a brilliant escape light rising from the market's direction, seemingly aware of his peril.
“He's coming! I knew he wouldn't abandon me!”
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe was invigorated, and his pursuers slowed down, seemingly waiting for something.
However, as time passed, they realized something was wrong.
The brilliant escape light was still approaching, but it never arrived.
Eventually, Zhao Xuhe could run no more, and the Divine Martial Sect pursuers reluctantly surrounded him, and a fierce battle ensued.
This battle lasted for half a day.
In the end, the pursuers didn't dare to strike hard, fearing they might kill Zhao Xuhe with a single blow, occasionally glancing towards the escape light.
Upon closer inspection... was that escape light moving farther away?
Finally, Zhao Xuhe completely broke down.
“No! Why!?”
He suddenly spat out a mouthful of heart blood, then knelt on the ground, utterly drained, his life force rapidly fading.
Before death, only one thought remained in his heart.
Could it be that Lü Yang didn't want the Stealing Heaven's Secret technique?
“Why didn't you save me!?”
Little did he know, this was also the thought of the person behind the orchestrated pursuit.
In the shadows, Elder Ouyang Feng of the Divine Martial Sect was equally puzzled, looking towards the distant Skeleton Mountain Market, his eyes filled with unwillingness and helplessness.
“Why didn't he save him?”
“Only a fool would save him!”
Retracting his escape light, Lü Yang looked at yet another of Zhao Xuhe's desperate flying messages and casually tossed it aside: “Did he really think he could use a secret technique to threaten me?”
“It's just eighty years. I can wait!”
“Once your restriction naturally dissipates, the secret technique will still be mine! If not this lifetime, then the next...”
Thinking this, Lü Yang couldn't help but lament Zhao Xuhe's misfortune. If he had managed to escape into the market, Lü Yang wouldn't have minded helping him.
But outside the market? That was just unfortunate.
“Senior Brother Zhao, rest in peace. You sacrificed for the Saint Sect. In the future, I will petition the Mending Heaven Peak Master to grant you a grand burial.”
“As for your debt, let's forget it this lifetime. I'll collect it in the next!”