Chapter 34: Three Rivers Recruitment, Foundation Establishment Opportunity

Outside the Cave Abode, with Lu Yang’s breakthrough, intelligence information about him was placed on the desks of interested parties. His origin and background were quickly investigated thoroughly.

And just as Lu Yang had expected, his background could only be described in four words.

Roots upright, seedlings dark.

A disciple recruited by the Saint Sect during the annual intake. Formally entered the sect after counter-killing his Senior Sister in the [Joyous Union Hall]. Then made a huge profit speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, and had been in secluded cultivation ever since.

“This is an ascetic cultivator.”

Looking at the materials on the table, a female cultivator with a powdered face containing a hint of evil aura and eyes full of sharpness couldn’t help but praise. She was also a cultivator at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. However, compared to Lu Yang who had just broken through, her cultivation had impressively reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, only one step away from the Tenth Layer Perfection!

The female cultivator’s name was “Feixia”, and she had quite a reputation within the Saint Sect.

Not only because of her appearance, but also because she was a rare Talisman Cultivator in the Saint Sect. Relying on her talisman crafting skills, she had even gained the appreciation of a Saint Sect Elder.

“Just being an ascetic cultivator isn’t enough to reach the Late Stage of Qi Refining.”

Beside Fairy Feixia, a young man wearing a feather fan and silk scarf smiled slightly. “He clearly made a huge sum of money speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, yet he didn’t show off or reveal his wealth.”

“From this, it can be seen that he is also a cautious and smart person.”

“Normal. This is also reasonable.”

Hearing this, Fairy Feixia sighed. “For ordinary disciples like us to stand out, talent, caution, intelligence, courage… none can be dispensed with.”

“So, it’s decided.”

Fairy Feixia nodded. “I will recommend him. This person broke through to the Late Stage of Qi Refining in just ten years. My [Three Rivers Society] needs exactly such a talent.”

Inside the Cave Abode, Lu Yang sat upright on a meditation cushion.

In front of him, more than ten talisman letters were laid out in a row. Each one was an olive branch, claiming that as long as he was willing to join their faction, a great gift would be presented immediately. This included but was not limited to Dao Companions, techniques, Divine Abilities, Treasures, pills… it could be said to have everything one could wish for.

“Didn’t pay attention in the life before last. I didn’t expect there to be so many factions within the Saint Sect…”

Basically, as long as one had cultivation at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, one could pull together a not-so-small team in the Saint Sect. Liu Xin in the life before last was like this.

Lu Yang wasn’t surprised by this.

After all, where there are people, there are factions. The Saint Sect was so big, it was impossible for everyone to be of one mind. People would always group together for warmth due to their respective interests.

Of course, those factions were like rootless duckweed—without foundation.

The ones with real confidence to rope him in were still the factions established by some Saint Sect Elders or even True Disciples. The conditions they offered were also relatively authentic and credible.

But that was all.

“I still overestimated myself.” Lu Yang shook his head. The conditions offered by those large factions were indeed good, easily amounting to tens of thousands of Contribution Points.

However, it just so happened that he didn’t lack money.

After all, he hadn’t even finished spending the Contribution Points earned from speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets.

Compared to money, what he lacked was “authority”—the authority to truly contact the middle layer of the Saint Sect and purchase some things that couldn’t be bought under normal circumstances.

Just as Lu Yang was pondering, suddenly, the formation outside the door shook impressively.

Lu Yang looked up at the sound and saw the Illumination Formation he had set up in front of the Cave Abode shining brightly. The brilliant formation light illuminated a graceful figure with well-proportioned curves.

It was none other than Fairy Feixia.

“Junior Brother Lu also understands formations?” Fairy Feixia looked at the emerging Formation Patterns around her with surprise, her pretty face showing a bit of unexpected delight.

Lu Yang cupped his hands. “This Senior Sister, may I ask why you have come here?”

Fairy Feixia didn’t act coy and returned the greeting generously. “I am Feixia, a Deacon of the Saint Sect’s [Three Rivers Society]. I came this time for Junior Brother.”

“Oh? Senior Sister, please…”

Lu Yang hurried to welcome her, his mind becoming active instantly. [Three Rivers Society]—wasn’t this the faction behind Zhao Xuhe? They actually came to recruit him?

Regarding the [Three Rivers Society], Lu Yang actually never knew much. But he knew Zhao Xuhe was a member. More importantly, as a disciple of the Heaven-Mending Peak Master, Zhao Xuhe seemed to be only a middle-to-low-level member of the [Three Rivers Society]. From this point alone, the value of the [Three Rivers Society] could be seen.

“I hope Senior Sister forgives me. Junior Brother is ignorant and ill-informed. I don’t know what the [Three Rivers Society] is…?”

Lu Yang asked very carefully. Hearing this, Fairy Feixia wasn’t surprised and smiled. “The [Three Rivers Society] was established by three True Disciple Senior Brothers.”

“Among them, the Eldest Senior Brother is already a Foundation Establishment Perfected One, having opened a peak within the cloud sea.”

“Although the Second and Third Senior Brothers haven’t established their foundations yet, they have both refined Third Grade True Qi and are ranked at the Perfection of Qi Refining. They could establish their foundations at any time.”

“I heard Junior Brother Lu also comes from an ordinary disciple background. You should be clear about the hardships of life for ordinary disciples in the early stages. The three Senior Brothers came from humble backgrounds just like us ordinary disciples. So after their cultivation achieved success, they established the [Three Rivers Society], aiming to help ordinary disciples tide over the difficulties of the early stages.”

“So that’s how it is.” Lu Yang looked full of admiration. “The three Senior Brothers have boundless merit.”

Pah.

If I hadn’t taken loans from your [Three Rivers Society] in previous lives and seen your 36% annual interest rate with my own eyes, I would have almost believed this bullshit.

Lu Yang cursed inwardly. He had always been one not to release the hawk until he saw the hare. Naturally, he wouldn’t make a rash decision just because of Fairy Feixia’s words. He immediately said cautiously, “To be invited to become a member of the [Three Rivers Society] is my honor. I just wonder how the treatment in the [Three Rivers Society] is?”

“Junior Brother can rest assured on this point.”

Hearing this, Fairy Feixia said frankly, “As long as Junior Brother is willing to join, I can immediately make the decision to gift you a True Disciple-level Divine Ability Secret Art.”

“After joining the society, there will be a annual contribution point offering every year.”

“Moreover, as long as Junior Brother has money, you can also borrow the True Disciple authority within the society to purchase some desired items, or even ask the three Senior Brothers for guidance on cultivation.”

“Of course, there are also requirements.”

Speaking of this, Fairy Feixia took out a jade slip and placed it in front of Lu Yang. “All members need to sign a contract and leave a drop of blood essence…”

“That’s simple.”

Lu Yang glanced at the contract in front of him. It was nothing more than clauses common to all factions, confidentiality obligations, and so on. Perhaps some people would feel they lost their freedom by doing this, involuntarily bound in many matters. But Lu Yang didn’t care at all— with a wave of his large hand, he signed his name.

It was just a matter of one lifetime—it wouldn’t affect the next life.

Lu Yang even wished the binding force could be greater. Only then would he be more likely to be treated as one of their own, and the resources obtained would definitely be better.

Seeing Lu Yang being so straightforward, Fairy Feixia also nodded with satisfaction.

“Next, Junior Brother just needs to take out the Saint Sect disciple token. I will set a restriction for you. From now on, the token can be used generally within the society.”

“I’ve troubled Senior Sister.”

Lu Yang took out the token. He saw Fairy Feixia form seals with one hand and strike a talisman seal into it. immediately, a brand-new section appeared on it.

“Talisman Crafting Art…”

Lu Yang’s eyes brightened slightly. He could now be called a Ninth Grade Formation Master. By comprehending by analogy, although he didn’t understand talisman crafting, he could understand a little bit.

In his view, a so-called talisman was just a simple temporary small formation.

Good stuff… I want to learn it.

In the next second, looking at this display of Talisman Crafting Art, Lu Yang finally remembered who this Fairy Feixia before him was. He had heard of this person in the life before last.

“She is Zhao Xuhe’s Dao Companion…” Lu Yang pondered in his heart. “In the life before last, when I was researching formations, I heard she became Dao Companions with Zhao Xuhe. Both were at the Perfection of Qi Refining. They shone brilliantly on the Righteous-Demonic battlefield and even attempted Foundation Establishment together. Unfortunately, after failing, they both passed away in meditation…”

Thinking of this, Lu Yang’s eyes instantly lit up.

The key point wasn’t that they passed away after failing Foundation Establishment, but that they actually had the opportunity to attempt Foundation Establishment… Behind this must be a Foundation Establishment Opportunity!

TN: Roots upright, seedlings dark: (A pun on “Roots red, seedlings straight,” meaning politically correct/loyal. Here, it means he is a perfect fit for the Demonic Sect.)

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