Chapter 47: The Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss

Perhaps it was the behavior of a bird startled by a bowstring, or perhaps it was mere needless anxiety, but regardless, Lu Yang was now deeply wary of any faction with a Foundation Establishment background.

Especially those factions capable of noticing him.

'Unlike before, I have the protection of Divine Talismans in this life; Butian Peak cannot scheme against me, and as a righteous sect, the Shenwu Sect shouldn't sabotage its own people... In that case, that Foundation Establishment cultivator who remains hidden in the shadows, plotting for Skull Mountain, might truly be the one behind the Three Rivers Society!'

The more Lu Yang thought about it, the more suspicious the Three Rivers Society seemed, yet he remained composed on the surface.

"I see. Does Second Senior Sister wish to see me?"

"Indeed." Fairy Feixia nodded. "Second Senior Brother is coming to Skull Mountain and is in need of several capable assistants. Therefore, he hopes you can lend your hand, Senior Brother."

Assistants? More like cannon fodder.

Lu Yang shook his head decisively. "Although I have a slight understanding of formations, it means that without them, my strength is greatly diminished. How could I possibly be worthy of Second Senior Brother's great favor?"

"I suggest Second Senior Brother seeks someone more capable."

Lu Yang spoke with great confidence.

Although he had joined the Three Rivers Society and signed a magical contract, he was not their slave; he still possessed this much autonomy. Who could force him?

Fairy Feixia clearly thought the same, so she was merely delivering a message.

Now that the message had been delivered, her expression gradually turned ambiguous. A rosy hue crept onto her fair face, and her every glance exuded charm and grace.

"Junior Brother, I have recently encountered some difficulties regarding formations. I hope you might offer me some guidance..."

"That sounds wonderful."

Lu Yang's spirits instantly lifted.

For the next three months, Lu Yang's pace of life slowed down.

Every day, he was either discussing the Dao with Fairy Feixia or researching the Hundred Veins Truth-Returning Array outside. Sometimes, when the mood struck him, he would simply do both at once.

However, in contrast to his peaceful days, Skull Mountain outside the market was in a state of utter chaos.

It wasn't just the Shenwu Sect and the Primordial Saint Sect, but also the subordinate sects under their jurisdiction, and even some rogue cultivators with astonishing supernatural powers were drawn to the area.

When the three parties met, a massive brawl naturally broke out.

During this time, several ruins of the Ancient Witch-Ghost Path were unearthed, further confirming the existence of the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm.

It was also at this time that Fairy Feixia brought him news, saying that Zhao Xuhe had been using his name to snatch numerous opportunities outside the market.

"I didn't expect my name to be so useful..."

Lu Yang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. Zhao Xuhe had entered several life-threatening situations while competing for opportunities, and in every instance, he had escaped danger only by invoking Lu Yang's name.

Clearly, Ouyang Haoze's death had indeed made many people 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 powerful figures, allowing him to borrow someone else's prestige to intimidate others.

"Junior Brother, do you truly intend to do nothing about this?"

Fairy Feixia's face was flushed with anger, her voice icy. "This man is using your name to bring karma upon you. If you ask me, it would be better to kill him first!"

"There is no need to bother with him."

Lu Yang shook his head. Zhao Xuhe was currently not returning to the market at all, focusing entirely on searching for the ruins of the Ancient Witch-Ghost Path and that Witch-Ghost Secret Realm on Skull Mountain.

If Lu Yang wanted to kill him, he would have to leave the market.

But how could that be possible?

"Let him be. He mortgaged a sum of contribution points to me back then, and I agreed to let him use my name. There is nothing more to say."

After seeing Fairy Feixia off, the expression on Lu Yang's face gradually tightened.

"Heh!"

"Interesting. Over these past few months, everything I have heard and seen seems to be urging me... trying to force me to leave the market?"

The word "Tribulation" unconsciously arose in Lu Yang's mind.

For a mere Qi Refinement cultivator like himself to be targeted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who would deduce his karma and plot against him in every way—if this wasn't a tribulation, what would be?

"Karma... damn thing!"

"Regardless, with a tribulation looming, I must not act on impulse. Only by closing my cave doors tightly and quietly reciting the three volumes of the Yellow Court Scripture can I hope to evade this disaster..."

First, it was the external pressure from the Three Rivers Society.

Now, it was the internal entanglement of Zhao Xuhe.

"No matter how you try to fish for me, I will not bite. A hidden dragon does not leave its abyss; what can you do to me?"

At this thought, Lu Yang felt his mind clear. His previously restless thoughts returned to tranquility, and his body felt light, as if he had shed another layer of karma.

Time flowed, and another month passed.

A thousand miles east of the Skull Mountain Market.

A streak of light was fleeing for its life, seemingly employing some method of burning essence blood, while seven or eight streaks of light pursued closely behind.

"Zhao Xuhe! Where do you think you're running!"

The pursuers were all heavily armed with surging blood qi; they were clearly disciples of the Shenwu Sect, with cultivation levels generally at the late stage of Qi Refinement, though none were at the Great Perfection stage.

Had they been any higher, Zhao Xuhe would have found it impossible to escape.

Even so, fleeing this far had already pushed him to his limit. The only reason he hadn't collapsed yet was due to a flicker of hope.

"I can still be saved!"

"I already sent a flying message to Lu Yang. As long as I can... as long as I can reach that place, the area around the market, Lu Yang will definitely save me!"

Zhao Xuhe sprinted desperately, trying to convince himself.

"There is a restriction of mine on the Heaven-Stealing Technique. As long as he still wants to break through to Foundation Establishment, rather than waiting eighty years until he is old and frail, he must come to save me!"

"He will come to save me!"

"He definitely will!"

Just then, to Zhao Xuhe's immense excitement, a magnificent streak of light finally rose from the direction of the market, as if it had discovered he was in mortal peril.

"It's coming! I knew he wouldn't abandon me!"

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe's spirits surged. The pursuers behind him also slowed down, seemingly waiting for something as well.

However, as time passed, everyone realized something was wrong.

Although that magnificent streak of light was on its way, it simply could not arrive in time.

Finally, Zhao Xuhe could no longer run. The pursuers from the Shenwu Sect reluctantly cornered him, and a battle broke out between the two sides.

The battle lasted for nearly half a day.

By the end, the Shenwu Sect pursuers didn't even dare to use their full strength, fearing they might kill Zhao Xuhe with a single blow, and they frequently glanced toward the direction of the approaching light.

Looking closely... wasn't that light getting further and further away?

In the end, Zhao Xuhe's mental defenses completely shattered.

"No! Why!?"

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of heart blood and knelt on the ground, having completely exhausted his last bit of strength. Even his life force began to dissipate rapidly.

Before death, only one thought remained in his heart.

Did Lu Yang no longer want the Heaven-Stealing Secret Technique?

"Why won't you save me!?"

Little did he know, this was also the thought of the mastermind behind this pursuit.

In the shadows, the Shenwu Sect Elder Ouyang Feng was equally perplexed. He looked toward the distant Skull Mountain Market, his eyes revealing a hint of resentment and helplessness.

"Why won't he save him?"

"Only a fool would save him!"

Retracting his light, Lu Yang looked at what was perhaps the umpteenth distress message sent by Zhao Xuhe and tossed it aside. "Does he really think he can blackmail me with a secret technique?"

"It's just eighty years. I can wait!"

"Once your restriction naturally dissipates, the technique will still be mine! If it doesn't work in this life, I'll just use it in the next..."

Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but lament Zhao Xuhe's poor luck. If he had truly managed to flee into the market, Lu Yang wouldn't have minded helping him.

But outside the market? Then one could only say they were not destined to meet.

"Senior Brother Zhao, go in peace. You sacrificed yourself for the Sect; in the future, I will surely petition the Peak Master of Butian Peak to grant you a grand funeral."

"As for your debt, forget it for this life. I'll come to collect it from you in the next!"