Chapter 48: Foundation Establishment Determines Karma

Blood-Clad Pavilion, another early morning.

Fairy Feixia leaned against the pavilion railing, her graceful silhouette casting a reflection that stirred countless fantasies.

"I must thank Junior Brother Lyu for everything during this period."

The two had just finished their cultivation session. Fairy Feixia had reached her limit and would find it difficult to make further progress in the short term.

"Today, I plan to leave the market town."

Turning around, Fairy Feixia looked directly at Lyu Yang. "My mental state cannot compare to yours, nor is my talent equal, yet I am unwilling to simply fade into mediocrity."

"When Feixia leaves, I fear the day we meet again may be far in the future." Fairy Feixia lifted her eyes, her expression so pitiable it evoked deep sympathy. She suddenly let out a faint sigh. "Perhaps the Dao path lies ahead, or perhaps I shall end up buried in a foreign land. The path to immortality is lonely, especially within the Holy Sect. Feixia only hopes that when that time comes, I might still see an old friend."

Having said this, Fairy Feixia gave Lyu Yang a radiant smile.

Her beautiful face and pure smile seemed as if she were opening her heart to Lyu Yang for the very first time. "Junior Brother... would you be willing to be Feixia's one and only old friend?"

"..." Lyu Yang remained silent for a long time.

A peerless beauty was gazing at him with overflowing affection, like a web of fine silk winding around him—enough to make any man lose his soul.

However, Lyu Yang held back.

He calmly raised his hand. "You are always welcome to return and have tea, Senior Sister."

He saw her off.

In an instant, the light in Fairy Feixia's eyes flickered, expressing something between disappointment and helplessness. She immediately withdrew her smile, returning to her usual cold and aloof demeanor.

"This humble one takes her leave."

As her voice fell, a streak of light shaped like rosy clouds soared into the sky and vanished toward the horizon.

Only after she had departed did Lyu Yang exhale. He turned and returned to the quiet room of the Blood-Clad Pavilion, hiding within his formation and grasping the Primordial Chaos One-Qi Divine Talisman...

Finally, the trembling in his body ceased.

"Damn it, this must be a scheme by a Foundation Establishment True Person!"

With Fairy Feixia, it had been pure exchange and learning.

But just now, he had actually felt his heart stir.

He had been momentarily infatuated with her, nearly saying "I am willing" several times. This emotion was clearly wrong; it was fundamentally inconsistent with his true intent!

Drawing on the experience of his previous lives, Lyu Yang quickly reached a conclusion: "That Foundation Establishment True Person behind the scenes is getting restless and has started using crude methods. They are using Fairy Feixia as bait to forcibly bind me to her... trying to fish me out of the market town!"

"Seclusion... I need to go into seclusion!"

Thinking of this, Lyu Yang immediately announced that he was entering deep seclusion and would not see outsiders for a time, aiming to minimize the risk of being entangled in someone else's karma.

"...Impressive."

Outside the Skeleton Mountain Market, atop a cliff, a figure stood with hands behind his back. Standing behind him was a blood-clad youth with a respectful expression.

A moment later, the figure with hands behind his back laughed. "An ordinary disciple with no background, yet he managed to produce such a talent with a steadfast Dao heart. Truly rare. I tried to fish him out several times with spells, yet he never took the bait. Second Brother, I truly don't know whether to say your eye for talent is good or bad."

"Please forgive me, Senior Brother."

The blood-clad youth bowed respectfully, his tone tinged with helplessness. "My intention was merely to find some cannon fodder. I did not expect that even shallow waters could produce a dragon..."

The youth's name was Luo Wuya, the "Second Senior Brother" of the Three Rivers Society.

His cultivation was at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement, and he had mastered a Great Divine Ability. He was the openly recognized strongest expert of the Holy Sect in Skeleton Mountain—a true big shot.

And the identity of the person to whom even he was so respectful was obvious.

The leader of the Three Rivers Society!

His Daoist title was "Yin Shan." After successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment stage ten years ago, he became a high-ranking member of the Holy Sect and was permitted by the Sect Master to establish the Yin Shan lineage within the Sea of Clouds.

"But Senior Brother, I still don't understand. Is it absolutely necessary for it to be a disciple of the Holy Sect?"

"Second Brother, there is something you do not know."

True Person Yin Shan shook his head. "The Ancient Witch-Ghost Dao is a great demonic sect. The karma of its secret realm is profound; even I am unwilling to involve myself lightly."

In this world, karma is everywhere.

If you gain a benefit, you create karma, and you must repay it.

The Ancient Witch-Ghost Dao established the secret realm specifically to find someone with great providence, using the sect's inheritance to plant karma in hopes of a chance at sectarian revival.

"If I were to act personally, finding the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm would be easy. In fact, I wouldn't even need to look; the realm would manifest itself. But if I did that, the karma of the Witch-Ghost Dao would fall upon me. I don't know how much trouble that would bring, and it would hinder my cultivation..."

To put it plainly, True Person Yin Shan wanted the prize but didn't want to pay the price.

"That is why I need someone to open the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm for me. Since the Witch-Ghost Dao is a great demonic sect, choosing a Holy Sect disciple is the most suitable option."

"I originally chose that 'Master of the Blood-Clad Pavilion.' I even specifically drew many heavy-weight enemies to him. As long as he is willing to leave the market town, I will act as his backer, helping him slay his enemies and accumulate providence. Once his providence is sufficient, the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm will be drawn out by his luck..."

If Lyu Yang were here, he would find these words hauntingly familiar.

Because that was exactly how Xiao Shiye had died.

A man-made "Child of Destiny"—seemingly blessed by heaven and invincible in battle, but in reality, merely bait used by a Foundation Establishment True Person to fish out opportunities.

And once the opportunity was caught, the bait was no longer needed.

Behind True Person Yin Shan, the blood-clad youth Luo Wuya lowered his head deeply, feeling a secret tremor of fear at the terrifying methods the True Person used to manipulate the threads of karma and fate.

"...Never mind."

Suddenly, True Person Yin Shan shook his head. "Since that 'Master of the Blood-Clad Pavilion' is unwilling to cooperate, we shall simply change targets. It doesn't have to be him."

At this, True Person Yin Shan chuckled. "Second Brother, do you remember how the Ancient Witch-Ghost Dao perished?"

"I know. It was the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion."

Luo Wuya nodded. "The Sword Pavilion Sect Master of that generation, a Golden Core True Monarch, struck a single sword strike from the Seven Star Cliff of the Sword Pavilion. The Witch-Ghost Dao's mountain gate sank into the earth immediately..."

"Correct. Just a single sword strike."

True Person Yin Shan remarked with emotion, "During the peak of the Ancient Witch-Ghost Dao, they had no fewer than two digits of Foundation Establishment True Persons, and even possessed a fourth-grade formation to suppress their providence."

"Even so, they still could not withstand a single sword strike from a Golden Core True Monarch from tens of thousands of miles away."

"In fact, that sword strike still exists within the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm to this day!"

At this point, a trace of wariness appeared in Yin Shan's eyes. "A True Monarch's decree, a sword intent anchored in the world. As long as the Witch-Ghost Dao does not perish, the sword intent will not perish either."

This was why he refused to step onto the field himself.

The sword intent of a Golden Core True Monarch, originating from the leader of the righteous path, the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion... what if he went to open the secret realm and the sword intent inside simply cut him down?

It was much safer to find a stepping stone.

"That sword intent and the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm have been intertwined for countless years and have long since become one. Since we cannot open the realm through a Holy Sect disciple, we shall change direction. We will find a way to lure a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion here to obtain that sword intent. The result will be the same..."

With that, True Person Yin Shan's eyes shifted, and he finally departed from the market town.

Almost simultaneously, Lyu Yang, who was in seclusion within the market town, suddenly felt his body grow light, as if an immense burden had been lifted, and a look of astonishment crossed his face.