Chapter 289: Tenth Life, Entering the Sword Pavilion!

It took a long time for Lu Yang to calm his agitated emotions.

To be honest, listening to [Sky-shrouding]’s mix of shock and rage at the end was truly satisfying. He felt as if all the frustration from before had been vented out.

“It’s not over yet!”

“[Sky-shrouding], was it? Just you wait. Once I become a Late Stage Golden Core, the first place I’ll visit is the Netherworld. I’ll remember this grudge for the rest of my life!”

Lu Yang cursed for a good while longer before finally composing himself and looking around.

For Lu Yang, this was a very subtle experience. Heaven was chaos, and earth was void darkness. He stood alone in the center of this world.

[The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] turned its pages slowly.

This was the “standby state” before [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] restarted each time. However, in the past, it had always flashed by in an instant, so he hadn’t felt it very tangibly.

But this time was clearly different. The “standby” time was significantly prolonged. In the palm of Lu Yang’s hand, the sliver of [Golden Nature] from Suo Huan was shimmering with faint light, merging bit by bit into [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]. Finally, lines of text appeared on the panel before his eyes.

[Settling experience for “Suo Huan”…]

[As the Child of Destiny of the “Universe Ruins Realm,” you were entrusted with a mission at a critical moment to resist the invasion from an unknown world. You swore to complete your mission.]

[You fought bravely and used countless strategies.]

[You grew rapidly, soon reaching the peak of cultivation in the “Universe Ruins Realm.” Gathering the strength of the masses, you finally defeated the unknown invaders.]

[You were full of ambition and ready to retire with your confidantes.]

[Then the Perfected Lord descended.]

[The “Universe Ruins Realm” was destroyed. You had no power to resist, and you can’t even remember clearly how you escaped. You felt incomparable pain in your heart.]

[Finally, arriving overseas in the unknown world, you pulled yourself together and discovered the [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land] and the Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture that the “Universe Ruins Realm” had entrusted to you before its destruction. Although you vaguely felt something was wrong with the latter, you quickly dismissed it as overthinking.]

[You had a new goal.]

[You intended to revive the “Universe Ruins Realm.” This goal was ambitious and ethereal, but you were determined, willing to devote your entire life to it.]

[You still had “hope”]

[…]

Long lines of text surfaced, recording every bit of Suo Huan’s six hundred years overseas, his mental journey, and his determination when [Seeking Golden Core].

—And his final despair.

Finally, accompanied by a brilliant golden luster, a brand-new talent appeared on the panel of [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]. Lu Yang immediately looked over:

[You have obtained the Golden Talent—Marionette]

[Marionette: By seizing a person’s destiny and accepting their karma, you can hide beneath their appearance and manipulate them like a puppet. No one can calculate your background.]

“It’s actually this kind of talent?”

Looking at the talent on the panel, Lu Yang was stunned. To be honest, he thought it would be something like [Lone Star of Heavenly Balefulness] or [Loss is Blessing].

“But it makes sense.”

Looking at Suo Huan’s life, this outcome was actually destined from the moment the [Universe Ruins Realm] was captured by the four great sects and became a battlefield for the Battle for the Dao.

First, he was pitted by [Sky-shrouding], then devoured jointly by the Saint Sect, Dao Court, and Pure Land.

Even his vision of ascending to position, [Seeking Golden Core], and rebuilding the [Universe Ruins Realm] was essentially an illusion given to him by [Sky-shrouding]. It was tragic to the extreme.

[Marionette], worthy of the name.

“Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist Suo Huan. I will guide you across in this life… But considering my current strength is weak, postponing it for a few lifetimes is also possible.”

Calming down, Lu Yang thought about it seriously. He felt that even if he restarted a life, snatching someone from the hands of a Late Stage Golden Core like [Sky-shrouding] might still be a little difficult. Recalling his experience overseas, it was more likely he would be fooled into an idiot by the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] again.

“Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, why don’t you clear the mines for me in this life first? Sacrifice a bit for my [Seeking Golden Core]. Once I become a Perfected Lord, I’ll come back and find a way to guide you!”

Lu Yang quickly convinced himself.

Then, [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] finally turned to the next page. Subsequently, the Golden Talent [Natural Immortal Spirit] he had settled from Chong Guang took effect.

[Please select the birthplace.]

Lu Yang looked closely and saw five options appearing on the interface of [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]: Jiangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and Overseas.

He already had a plan for this.

“I can’t cultivate [City Rampart Earth] anymore in this life. That thing is too much of a pit, too conspicuous, and too easily noticed by the Perfected Lords of all factions.”

Aside from the Nine Transformations Dragon Art corresponding to [City Rampart Earth], the only complete Rank 3 True Art Lu Yang had was the Heaven-Mending True Scripture. This Rank 3 True Art corresponded to multiple Dao Fruits. The [Peak Master of Heaven-Mending Peak] used it to seek [Pomegranate Wood]. In his view, this was a way out.

“After all, I have the [Peak Master of Heaven-Mending Peak] clearing the mines ahead of me.”

“With the Peak Master’s connections as one of the four Peak Masters, he is well-informed. Since he chose [Pomegranate Wood], he must have done his research beforehand.”

But even so, the Saint Sect was still too dangerous.

“The Saint Sect is a shithole with too many pits. Since I want to recultivate in this life, I can’t inherit my cultivation. Staying in the Saint Sect to cultivate carries too many risks.”

So it was best to go to a place beyond the Saint Sect’s reach.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang’s gaze locked onto a direction.

“Jiangnan, [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion]!”

“If I can obtain the background of a [Natural Immortal Spirit] in this life, joining the Sword Pavilion should be a certainty. After all, the Sword Pavilion values background the most.”

Strictly speaking, the identity of an [Immortal Spirit] was popular in all four great sects. After all, [Immortal Spirits] were favored by heaven and earth, born at Foundation Establishment. They couldn’t even be killed easily; otherwise, one would suffer heavenly retribution like [Perfected One Blood Demon]. So at most, it would be a bit troublesome in the Saint Sect, with the risk of being treated as a resource.

But the Sword Pavilion would definitely welcome an [Immortal Spirit].

Thinking of this, Lu Yang clapped his hands and made a decision: “In this life, I will join the Sword Pavilion as an [Immortal Spirit] and seek to attain the position of [Pomegranate Wood]!”

“Although I’ve been a demon for nine lives, I know I am a good person. My heart has long yearned for the Righteous Path!”

Soon, text appeared on the panel in front of Lu Yang again:

[Facing a Late Stage Golden Core Great Perfected Lord, you achieved something even Perfected Lords couldn’t do with a Foundation Establishment body. Your angry curse before death was truly gratifying!]

[Current remaining pages of The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes: 91]

[Restarting a life. You may choose one of the following rewards from your previous life:] [1: Treasures.] [2: Cultivation.] [3: Lifespan.] [4: Give up all rewards and randomly awaken a talent based on the previous life’s experience.]

“I choose Treasures, [Qian Heaven All-Governing Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body]!”

This was something Lu Yang only discovered after restarting. The Dharma Body divine wonder acted as both a divine ability and a Spirit Treasure, and unexpectedly didn’t require the [Immortal Fetus Incarnation] as a medium!

So without a second word, he redeemed it directly.

The next second, the blue-faced, fanged, three-headed, six-armed [Qian Heaven All-Governing Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body] emerged. Two of its hands were holding a precious sword and a banner.

[Tribulation Wave]!

[Myriad Spirits Banner]!

The Dharma Body’s [Myriad Phenomena] divine wonder could smelt external objects. Lu Yang had long refined these two biggest assets into it, and now they were indeed brought along!

“Not bad, not bad.”

Seeing this, Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction. After all, since he planned to go to the Sword Pavilion, how could he do so without a top-quality spiritual sword?

Besides, when it came to sword techniques and secrets, the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] were the true experts. There was definitely a reason they dared to claim to be number one in combat among the four sects. Joining the Sword Pavilion this time, apart from [Seeking Golden Core], upgrading [Tribulation Wave] to the “True Treasure” level was also a goal. Achieving either would be a massive profit.

“And there’s [Insight] too!”

Lu Yang was truly impressed by these Perfected Lords—he had to guard against every single one of them. Therefore, a Spirit Treasure that could keep his mind clear was vital.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang took a deep breath.

“Let’s begin, Tenth Life!”

In this life, the goal is [Seeking Golden Core]!

The next instant, Lu Yang saw [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] in front of him shine brightly. The void darkness of the “standby state” finally began to show light.

It was like opening his eyes.

Soon, a brand new scene was reflected in Lu Yang’s eyes. It was a pair of sisters with stunningly beautiful and remarkably similar appearances, yet their expressions were one cold and one warm.

“Sister, this sword is so big!”

Lu Yang was instantly stunned.

Although many lives had passed, he still recognized this pair of sisters immediately: “Sword Pavilion’s [Yun Miaozhen] and [Yun Miaoqing]?”

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