Chapter 317: The Influence of Wu You Heaven
Jiangnan, Ten-Thousand-Man Pit.
As a “spectacle” created by the Saint Sect’s invasion of Jiangnan, the so-called Ten-Thousand-Man Pit was not a small place, but a region covering several thousand miles.
Its scale was no different from the Kingdom of Qing.
The reason it was called the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit was that this region was a giant abyss-like pit, with intense Yin Baleful Qi layered within it.
The entire Ten-Thousand-Man Pit had a total of ten layers. The Yin Baleful Qi in each layer was stronger than the one above, breeding countless poisonous insects and fierce monsters. Boosted by the Yin Baleful Qi inside the pit, they could pollute spiritual Qi, and their power was thirty percent greater than outside. Moreover, concealed by the Yin Baleful Qi inside the pit, they were not easily detected by Divine Sense.
Such a dangerous place was very much in the Saint Sect’s style.
Unlike the Kingdom of Qing established by the Dao Court, the Saint Sect never intended to occupy Jiangnan. They simply wanted to disgust people and turn this place into a desperate land.
However, having said that, it didn’t mean there were no people here.
Quite the opposite, the very bottom of the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit actually gathered a large number of cultivators. Besides the Saint Sect, there were also various large and small sects from Jiangbei, and even rogue cultivators gathered here.
These cultivators even established a market together.
The reason was simple— resources.
“Jiangnan is wealthy after all. Under the Sword Pavilion’s rule, the Hundred Arts of Cultivation are incredibly developed, making it very suitable for resale and speculation. This is a hugely profitable industry…”
Accompanied by the glow of a formation, Lu Yang strode out.
Of course, this wasn’t his main body. His main body still remained inside Yun Miaoqing. The one who came from afar was merely his Immortal Fetus Incarnation.
Ever since he passed the news that “Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon of the Sword Pavilion is about to attack the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit” to Chong Guang, Lu Yang obtained an opportunity to enter the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit. However, to his surprise, the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit didn’t seem to enter a state of combat readiness because of his news, as if completely unaware of it.
“…Interesting.”
Lu Yang strolled through the market. He wasn’t in a hurry to find his biggest goal for this trip, the [Shen Metal] Qi, but instead spread his Divine Sense to observe the surroundings.
Soon, voices swarmed in.
As he expected, the most frequent topic and discussion was the Wu You Heaven, which had been expanding continuously recently and gradually showing a trend of covering the universe.
After all, the temptation of this thing was astonishing.
Breaking through tribulations and passing stages—success meant gaining a divine ability, and failure didn’t mean death. At most, one would lose a bit of merit and destiny, which could be recovered after a few months of recuperation.
More importantly—
“That first stage is too tempting!”
“The Saint Sect’s Heaven-Mending Peak’s [Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Intersection Grand Formation]… and it’s the top configuration. The taste of over a hundred Celestial Maidens is truly…”
“My grand-uncle has been completely obsessed recently.”
“Isn’t that right? My family’s Perfected One is the same. He didn’t even think about breaking the tribulation, just went in to experience the Saint Sect’s gameplay. Pity I haven’t reached Foundation Establishment yet…”
Lu Yang listened with a strange expression. Clearly, for some people with hopeless Dao paths and insufficient willpower, the [Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Intersection Grand Formation] hit their weakness directly. They couldn’t withstand the test at all. over time, some even preferred to stay inside rather than come out.
Of course, Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones who did this were in the minority.
Most were rogue cultivators.
Truly determined Perfected Ones, even if they couldn’t defeat the [Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Intersection Grand Formation], wouldn’t sink into it but would think hard about ways to break it.
Thanks to this, Lu Yang discovered a significant increase in the number of dual cultivation techniques.
“Indeed, where there is demand, there is a market…”
Lu Yang sighed with emotion but also harbored doubts in his heart: Do the Perfected Lords really allow Wu You Heaven to expand like this without caring at all?
But soon, he heard another conversation.
“Having said that, don’t be too reassured about that Wu You Heaven. My elders say this is likely Perfected One Primordial’s backup plan for resurrection.”
“Perfected One Primordial?”
“The one from five thousand years ago… Anyway, several Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones seem to have received warnings not to break too many tribulations in Wu You Heaven.”
“Think about it. You break the tribulation with the identity of ‘Perfected One Primordial’. In the end, is it you who comes out, or him?”
“Maybe in the end, you’ll become Perfected One Primordial reborn in a borrowed body. The methods of these Great Perfected Ones are treacherous, not something we can imagine.”
“But brother, how is ‘breaking too many tribulations’ defined? How many is considered too many?”
“I reckon breaking one or two is fine.”
“But once it reaches three, or even four… the risk is high. Although that Perfected One Primordial said one can ascend to Perfected Lord after breaking five tribulations.”
“But who knows?”
“If it were me, I’d overstate by one or two tribulations. On the surface, it’s five, but actually, breaking three counts as success, specifically to entrap those honest people…”
“Hiss… may I ask which sect you are from, brother?”
“Unworthy, a disciple of the Saint Sect.”
“Oh, oh, that’s not surprising then…”
Conversations like this spread widely throughout the market, causing Lu Yang to narrow his eyes. He knew someone must be deliberately promoting and spreading this.
The world is vast; indeed, one cannot underestimate anyone. What I can guess, others can also guess. This way, almost all Foundation Establishment cultivators will be wary of Wu You Heaven. If that Perfected One Primordial wants to resurrect in this way, I’m afraid it will be in the indefinite future.
Is this also the reason why the Perfected Lords are at ease with him?
Come to think of it, let alone Perfected One Primordial not being a Perfected Lord, even if he were, so what? With East, West, South, and North, a mere single Perfected Lord can’t stir up big waves.
In this world, rogue cultivators truly struggled to move forward.
Foundation Establishment was one thing, but there was truly no hope for becoming a Perfected Lord. Suo Huan and Perfected One Primordial were typical examples. Without anyone above, how could you progress?
But… could Perfected One Primordial have not anticipated these things?
Lu Yang was somewhat skeptical. Perfected One Primordial was pitted to death by Perfected Lords back then, so he should have a reasonably accurate estimate of their methods.
Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones are a rather large group after all. No one knows if someone blinded by greed would risk breaking five tribulations. Perfected Lords can’t completely control every Foundation Establishment Perfected One in the world. As long as Perfected One Primordial intends to, he should still be able to find flaws.
And the Perfected Lords are not a monolithic block either.
If nothing else, if Mu Changsheng compromises slightly and accepts some restrictive measures, at least the Saint Sect should be very willing to accept a Perfected Lord.
This is… a game!
Lu Yang gradually gained enlightenment: Perfected One Primordial, Mu Changsheng… he is playing a game with the Perfected Lords of the world, taking a risk to walk out a Golden Core Great Dao!
While pondering, Lu Yang had already stopped in front of a building.
This place was named Secret Hall Street.
As the name suggested, this place was somewhat shady within the market, a venue specifically used for “disposing stolen goods.” Only Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones could open halls here.
However, to be able to carve out such a street specifically for fencing within the market, there must naturally be a Saint Sect background behind it. According to the intelligence Lu Yang obtained, it was an Initial Stage Foundation Establishment Saint Sect Perfected One named Qi He, over five hundred years old, already in the late years of his second life.
Bang!
Lu Yang didn’t hesitate. He went directly to the shop deepest in Secret Hall Street, pushed the door open, and entered. Instantly, a cluster of dark light fell on him.
However, Lu Yang’s expression remained unchanged.
[Unyielding Metal] activated, and golden brilliance covered his body like armor. Letting the dark light shine on him, it couldn’t leave a single mark on Lu Yang.
Immediately after, Lu Yang saw an old Daoist deep in the shop.
He had white hair and an aged face, his brow revealing heavy signs of senility. Although he still had divine abilities, he was clearly severely eroded by the Bi Wind.
As soon as Lu Yang walked into the shop, he took out a token and threw it on the table:
“I want intelligence related to [Heavenly Spirits] and [Earthly Fiends] near the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit.”
This Perfected One Qi He was precisely the hidden pawn left by Chong Guang in the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit, responsible for gathering intelligence on Jiangnan and the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit and reporting back to the Saint Sect on normal days.
This was also the transaction between Lu Yang and Chong Guang.
He informed Chong Guang of the Sword Pavilion’s movements, and Chong Guang shared the intelligence of the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit with him. This way, he could search for the [Shen Metal] Qi.
Once I get the [Shen Metal] Qi, I’ll leave immediately!
In his view, the Mystic Spirit World Realm, the Ten-Thousand-Man Pit, and the Righteous-Demonic War were all unimportant. The cultivation progress of his Immortal Spirit main body in this life was what truly mattered!
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