Chapter 56: If One Fails to Reach Foundation Establishment, One Remains a Pawn

For Lu Yang, this was an unprecedented experience.

He was "ascending."

Within some profound and mysterious realm, his position was continuously climbing toward a "higher place," and all worldly things were becoming increasingly insignificant to him.

'So this is the vision of a Foundation Establishment True Person.'

'Is this... Ascension!?'

Lu Yang had a sudden realization. No wonder most Foundation Establishment True Persons were elusive and transcended the mundane; perhaps this "height" was one of the reasons.

At the same time, he thought of the "Taiyi Golden Radiance" that Yun Miaozhen had unleashed during their previous battle. That great divine ability had given him a similar feeling to what he was experiencing now, though it wasn't quite as "high." Thinking back, perhaps a great divine ability was merely a simulation of Foundation Establishment.

No wonder it was said that mastering a great divine ability could increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment.

It was like the difference between "starting a mountain climb from the foot" and "starting from the mountainside." With different starting lines, the difficulty of reaching the summit would naturally differ.

In the next second, Lu Yang's mind was suddenly jolted.

Immediately following this, he felt as if he had fallen into a place where one could not see their own hand in front of their face—a realm that seemed to encompass everything yet was void and desolate, where his spiritual sense struggled to expand.

However, the situation changed quickly.

"Beasts! You bunch of beasts!"

Accompanied by a furious roar, a burst of colorful light suddenly erupted from the mysterious realm, and surrounding the light, streaks of heaven-reaching black Qi locked down all directions.

Whether it was the colorful light or the black Qi, they both felt as heavy as mountains to Lu Yang. However, looking at the situation, the colorful light was clearly being pinned in place by the black Qi. As time passed, large patches of the colorful light were being eroded by the black Qi, and the originally vigorous roar grew increasingly withered.

'Is this... a battle of Foundation Establishment?'

Lu Yang was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. He understood that he was merely hitching a ride with True Person Yin Shan and could not truly witness this grand battle between True Persons.

However, relying on the experience from his previous lives, he managed to make a judgment.

'That patch of colorful light is likely the True Person from the Divine Martial Sect... I see! This is another trap! Only this time, the bait is the entire Skeleton Mountain!'

At this thought, Lu Yang felt a sudden moment of clarity.

Everything before his eyes solved a mystery that had long plagued him.

It was obvious that True Person Yin Shan was fishing at Skeleton Mountain for the sake of the Wugui Secret Realm, and judging by his words, this likely concerned his own cultivation.

But from beginning to end, True Person Yin Shan was the only Foundation Establishment expert on Skeleton Mountain.

Where were the Foundation Establishment experts of the Divine Martial Sect?

Initially, Lu Yang thought True Person Yin Shan possessed such extraordinary methods that he could lay a trap while deceiving the Divine Martial Sect's experts, but now it seemed that was not the case.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

'This True Person probably wasn't hiding anything at all. Instead, he was openly manipulating karma, all for the purpose of luring out the Divine Martial Sect's Foundation Establishment experts!'

True Person Yin Shan was at Skeleton Mountain, using himself as bait.

And the Saint Sect was using True Person Yin Shan as bait for the entire Northern Border! Now, the fish had taken the hook; the Foundation Establishment experts of the Divine Martial Sect had all fallen into the trap!

*Rumble!*

In an instant, the entire world trembled. A Foundation Establishment True Person from the Divine Martial Sect shouted loudly, "Demonic Sect! Do you truly intend to exterminate the lineage of my Divine Martial Sect this time?"

"Or else what?"

A True Person from the Saint Sect sneered, "Let me guess, are you still pinning your hopes on those lunatics from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion? Let me tell you, they won't come!"

"Ten years ago, during the battle at the Jiangnan Ten Thousand Man Pit, our Sect's Supreme and the Sword Pavilion's Sect Leader reached an agreement. The Northern Border belongs to my Sect, and the Southern Border goes to the Sword Pavilion. Therefore, when my Saint Sect destroys your Divine Martial Sect today, the Sword Pavilion will destroy the Myriad Poison Sect of the Miao Border in the future. It's a one-for-one swap; no one loses out."

"What... impossible! Chongguang, you lied to me!"

Facing the furious rebuke of the Divine Martial Sect expert, True Person Chongguang gave a mocking laugh. "Just consider it a lie then. Regardless, after today, there will be no more Divine Martial Sect!"

"Kill them!"

In an instant, the colorful light surged, finally transforming into five brilliant streaks of aura. However, they did not attack together; instead, they dispersed and fled rapidly in all directions.

"Scatter! Escape! Find a way to flee back to the sect—"

"Escape? Wishful thinking!"

It was still True Person Chongguang. This Foundation Establishment expert from the Saint Sect appeared exceptionally domineering as he laughed loudly, "Under heaven, there is nowhere for you to run!"

*Boom!*

With a massive explosion, Lu Yang's senses were completely severed, and he fell into unconsciousness. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly regained consciousness, feeling as if he were in a dream.

"You're awake?"

A voice drifted from beside his ear. Lu Yang's pupils constricted, and he snapped fully awake. Looking around, he realized he had returned to the forests of Skeleton Mountain.

Beside him, True Person Yin Shan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Greetings, Senior Brother!"

Without a word, Lu Yang immediately performed a formal bow of respect.

"Rise."

True Person Yin Shan raised a hand and chuckled softly. "You played a great part in helping me seize the Wugui Secret Realm, so I shall give you a few pointers regarding certain matters."

"Please instruct me, Senior Brother," Lu Yang said respectfully.

"First, I previously forcibly elevated your destiny and even helped you seize the destiny of others. Although this allowed you to make rapid progress in the short term, the long-term consequences are immense."

True Person Yin Shan paused intentionally. Seeing that Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged, appearing unperturbed by honor or disgrace, he nodded slightly and continued, "Therefore, according to my calculations, your luck will be extremely poor for the next thirty years. It would be best if you do not cultivate and do not venture out, otherwise, you will face the risk of death."

"I shall take your words to heart."

Lu Yang did not dare show even a hint of dissatisfaction. After all, while he had lost thirty years of luck, True Person Yin Shan had gained an entire Wugui Secret Realm.

If one cannot reach Foundation Establishment, one is ultimately just a pawn... and would a pawn dare to be dissatisfied?

To have a Foundation Establishment True Person willing to use you was a blessing in itself!

The fact that True Person Yin Shan was even willing to warn him was already a gesture of respect, given that he had joined the Three Rivers Society and was, in a sense, a subordinate.

Seeing how "sensible" Lu Yang was, True Person Yin Shan was quite satisfied and smiled. "Regardless, you helped me succeed, which counts as a great achievement."

"As the leader of the Three Rivers Society, I always reward merit."

"I see that since you have already broken through to the tenth level of Qi Refinement, the next step is nothing more than Foundation Establishment... How about this: I shall grant you a Foundation Establishment Treasure."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Yang's eyes widened instantly.

A Foundation Establishment Treasure!?

'That's it... Zhao Xuhe from two lives ago likely obtained his first Foundation Establishment Treasure this way, except now, I have replaced him...'

No wonder Zhao Xuhe had sat in the market for so long and sent people to gather intelligence every day, yet never saw even a shadow of a Foundation Establishment Treasure. Thinking back, that must have been a rumor intentionally released by the Zhao Xuhe of two lives ago to mislead those with ulterior motives.

Lu Yang's mind raced with excitement and longing.

However, in the end, his expression gradually calmed. After closing his eyes in thought for a moment, he actually shook his head and said, "Senior Brother, may I exchange this for a different reward?"

"...Oh?"

This time, True Person Yin Shan was genuinely surprised. "Are you sure? This 'Ascension Token' in my hand can increase your Foundation Establishment success rate by at least ten percent."

"I am sure."

Lu Yang nodded. A Foundation Establishment Treasure was precious, but he knew very well that with his damaged destiny over the next thirty years, he would not be able to keep it!

To his current self, a Foundation Establishment Treasure was not an opportunity, but a source of calamity that would most likely lead to his untimely death. He could see the clues from the end of Zhao Xuhe's life two lives ago. Thus, Lu Yang used sheer willpower to suppress the greed in his heart.

'For me, there is no need to rush...'

'I have only just reached the perfection of Qi Refinement; there is still much room for growth, such as great divine abilities... I can always come back for Foundation Establishment Treasures in a few more lifetimes...'

Lu Yang's certainty left True Person Yin Shan in silence.

To be honest, he hadn't originally intended to pay much attention to Lu Yang. It was mainly because Lu Yang had broken through two realms consecutively, knew how to assess the situation, and was a member of the Three Rivers Society, which had sparked a slight interest in cultivating him.

After a moment, he spoke again, "What kind of reward do you want to exchange it for?"

Lu Yang said without hesitation, "I want a treasure that enhances comprehension."

After all, his great divine ability, the *Great Yin Morphing Corpse Dissolution Method*, still lacked one *Taiwei Imperial Decree Talisman* to be completed, and that method relied heavily on comprehension.

If he didn't have it, he simply wouldn't have it.

Therefore, without a treasure to enhance his comprehension, Lu Yang estimated that even if he lived several more lifetimes, it might still be impossible for him to master this divine ability.