Chapter 58: The Saint Sect is Full of "Human Resources" Everywhere
As for Wang Song, Lu Yang didn’t pay too much attention to him. At most, he sighed with emotion that his good friend from a few lifetimes ago, the old man of the Scripture Pavilion, Wang Bairong, actually had a descendant.
In the next life, if there was a chance, he would look after him. For now, he had more important things to do.
Riding his escape light, Lu Yang left the Cave Abode. At the same time, he took out the Dao-Illuminating Jade Slip and began to comprehend The Sage Steals.
An ancient saying goes: If the Sage does not die, the Great Thieves will not cease.
This does not mean that sages are thieves, but rather that sages establish laws and regulations for the world. Although they standardize conduct under heaven, they also inadvertently provide convenience for great thieves.
However, this is the interpretation of the Orthodox Path. The understanding within The Sage Steals is completely different:
The Sage Steals states: The Sage uses his own rules to profit for himself. Those who do not comply are treated as bandits. The so-called Sage is the Great Thief who steals from the world.
Therefore, to master this body-refining technique, one must establish a cultivation method for the world. When everyone under heaven abides by this cultivation method, the cultivator can steal the Qi destiny of the people to nourish his own body. This is the true meaning of the technique: “The Sage is the Great Thief, and the Great Thief is the Great Dao.”
Using the smoke and fire of the human world to cast the Golden Body of a Sage.
Once the Golden Body is cast, the toughness of the physique is like “The Law of the Sage, unchanging for ten thousand generations.” Even among the many body-refining techniques of the Saint Sect, it can rank in the top ten.
Reading this, Lu Yang was simply astounded.
“Turning everyone in the world into cultivation resources… The Saint Sect is still the same Saint Sect. Every time I have a slightly favorable impression of it, it always manages to open my eyes wide…”
To be honest, ever since meeting Ming Chan, Yun Miaozhen, and others, Lu Yang’s perception of the Orthodox Path had dropped significantly.
Admittedly, the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion and other Orthodox sects were very good to their own people, meeting the standards of the Orthodox Path in all aspects. But this was limited only to “their own people.”
What defines “one’s own people”?
The Orthodox Path talks about karma and past and present lives. If you accumulated good karma and merit in your previous life, then you are one of the Orthodox Path’s own and can receive their favor.
Conversely, if you did evil in your previous life and have negative karma, then even if you are innocent in this life, you cannot enter the Orthodox Path. You might even be directly killed by the Orthodox Path under the pretense of “for your own good,” “cleansing karma,” or “fate will come in the next life.” That madwoman Yun Miaozhen was a typical example of this.
In comparison, Lu Yang discovered the watershed between the Righteous and Demonic paths.
For the Primordial Saint Sect, all disciples are “human resources” (talent/material). Therefore, they accept disciples without taboos, teaching without discrimination. Whether they have a past life or what their merit is like doesn’t matter at all.
The Orthodox Path, on the other hand, stresses “Enforcing Justice on Behalf of Heaven.”
Reincarnation, karma, destiny… The Orthodox Path places extreme importance on merit, karma, and past lives in these aspects, often recruiting disciples based on them.
Both have their pros and cons; the difference is merely who acts more human.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang felt utterly helpless: “Not a single normal sect. What on earth is wrong with this world… It must be a systemic problem!”
While pondering, Lu Yang had already arrived deep within the cloud sea.
Soon, a majestic and magnificent black mountain range came into Lu Yang’s view. It was shockingly Yin Mountain, which was also the location of the Three Rivers Society’s main altar.
Just then, a loud laugh suddenly rang out: “Junior Brother Lu, you finally exited seclusion.”
The next second, a figure identical to the one from thirty years ago appeared outside Yin Mountain. Lu Yang smiled slightly upon seeing him and immediately cupped his hands in greeting:
“Greetings, Senior Brother Luo.”
“Between you and me, there is no need for formalities.”
Luo Wuya smiled and patted Lu Yang’s shoulder. He had always valued Lu Yang; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to send The Sage Steals technique.
He had also guessed some of Lu Yang’s intentions for coming.
“Junior Brother, you came for The Sage Steals, right?”
Lu Yang nodded: “This technique is indeed profound and unfathomable, but its scope is extremely wide and it consumes a long time. I fear it cannot be achieved overnight…”
“Hahaha.” Luo Wuya laughed loudly: “Junior Brother, you weren’t actually thinking of leaving the Saint Sect to go to the mortal world and cultivate this technique from scratch, were you? The Saint Sect has vast territory and abundant resources, teeming with talent. Why go through such trouble? regarding The Sage Steals, the Saint Sect has long had a perfect cultivation method.”
Lu Yang cupped his hands: “Please enlighten me, Senior Brother.”
“Follow me.”
Luo Wuya led Lu Yang all the way to a great hall within Yin Mountain. In the center of the hall, a gigantic crystal sphere was shockingly displayed.
“This place is called the ‘Refining Arts Secret Realm’.”
Seeing Lu Yang’s look of confusion, Luo Wuya pointed at the crystal sphere and proactively explained: “Don’t look at it being only this big; in reality, this is a creation of a Dao Lord!”
“Dao Lord…!?”
Lu Yang’s heart shook violently. Foundation Establishment is called Perfected One, Golden Core is called Perfected Lord, and only at the Nascent Soul realm is one honored as Dao Lord. This item was actually refined by such an existence?
“Inside the ‘Refining Arts Secret Realm’, there are one hundred and forty million living people. Each one has powerful Qi and blood and a pure soul. One person is worth more than ten people in the mortal world outside. Whether used to refine spiritual treasures or cultivate techniques, they are top-notch materials. Junior Brother, it couldn’t be more suitable for you to cultivate The Sage Steals.”
Lu Yang sucked in a breath of cold air upon hearing this: “One hundred and forty million ‘human resources’…”
It seemed that after breaking through to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining and joining the Three Rivers Society—a Foundation Establishment faction—he was finally qualified to understand some of the Saint Sect’s true foundation.
Just then, the secret realm suddenly shone with a bright light.
The next second, a young man wearing a black robe walked out from within, his face flushed with exasperation: “Fucking bunch of unruly commoners… I actually failed again!”
After speaking, the youth glanced at Luo Wuya but didn’t say a word, leaving directly.
Seeing this, Lu Yang naturally didn’t speak either. Only after the youth had walked far away did he look at Luo Wuya, only to see Luo Wuya revealing a bit of schadenfreude.
“That is also a True Disciple within the sect, the only son of Perfected One Chong Guang, named Chong Ming… Ignore him; he just failed at cultivating The Sage Steals again.”
“I won’t hide it from Junior Brother; The Sage Steals is not that easy to practice.”
At this point, Luo Wuya returned to a solemn expression: “Do not underestimate the people in this secret realm. Although they are ‘human resources’, they are not idiots.”
“Junior Brother, you also know that The Sage Steals requires creating a cultivation method out of thin air for the world before you can cultivate it. The more brilliant the created technique, the greater the feedback upon success. However, we are not Dao Lords. Most of the techniques we create are shallow, and flaws are easily spotted.”
“The failure of The Sage Steals stems from this.”
“In the past, there were even examples of disciples cultivating The Sage Steals whose true bodies were discovered by the living people. The people pretended to comply but eventually killed the disciple in a counterattack, turning him into a laughingstock of the Saint Sect.”
“Therefore, Junior Brother needs to think thrice about how to cultivate this technique.”
After speaking, Luo Wuya took out another jade slip and handed it to Lu Yang: “Back in the day, I also cultivated this technique. Consider this some shallow experience.”
“Many thanks, Senior Brother!”
“It’s all for the Three Rivers Society. I’m still waiting for Junior Brother to exit seclusion with great success. If you truly master The Sage Steals, Junior Brother will not be considered weak even among the True Disciples.”
Lu Yang raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, catching the implication in Luo Wuya’s words.
Only by mastering The Sage Steals will I not be weak.
Does that mean… the current me isn’t impressive enough?
Lu Yang remained composed and bowed respectfully again. Only then did he approach the ‘Refining Arts Secret Realm’. With a sweep of his spiritual consciousness, a multitude of information flowed into his mind.
Should one say, worthy of a Dao Lord’s creation? This secret realm could actually be “configured”!
Human history, geography, architecture—all could be shaped according to his thoughts. This mighty power to change heaven and earth with a single thought made Lu Yang feel incomparable apprehension alongside his awe.
Because in his heart, a thought lingered and would not go away.
The secret realm is a Dao Lord’s creation. Since a Dao Lord can do such terrifying things inside the secret realm, then in reality… does he also possess equivalent mighty power?
The living people in the secret realm are “human resources” to me.
Then what are the cultivators of the Saint Sect to the Dao Lord?
Lu Yang dared not think further and could only sigh helplessly: “This fucking Saint Sect is full of ‘human resources’ everywhere!”
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