Chapter 62: Foundation Establishment Initiates a Killing Tribulation, Wind and Clouds Rise with a Single Thought

“With my current strength, trying to kill that little demon will probably not be easy…”

The Yun Family Ancestor revealed a thoughtful expression. After all, he had just reincarnated. As an infant, aside from a powerful soul and divination abilities, he had absolutely no combat power.

“…But it matters not.”

The Yun Family Ancestor wasn’t anxious. After all, Lu Yang couldn’t possibly discover him. He could develop slowly; within ten years, he could recover to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

“However, that kid is slippery and currently holds control over this Refining Arts Secret Realm. Once he discovers he’s in danger, he can withdraw from the secret realm at any time. Even if I recover to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, I must plan carefully to kill him. I need to lure him into a setup, ensuring he cannot escape.”

The Yun Family Ancestor pondered while continuing his divination.

“Martial Dao Three Steps: controlling the Five Elements within the body, opening the Nine Orifices connecting to heaven, and breaking the Mystic Gate of Creation… A master martial artist can rival the Late Stage of Qi Refining. What a wondrous technique.”

The Yun Family Ancestor looked amazed.

Having achieved Foundation Establishment in two lifetimes and lived for over six hundred years, he had seen countless demons. Among them were those who cultivated The Sage Steals, but few were like Lu Yang.

“Without reaching Foundation Establishment, one cannot know the Mandate of Heaven. Divination and deduction abilities fall far short of the standard for creating techniques. Even if forced out, such techniques are usually like clay tiles from a mud kiln—shattering at a touch. For a master of such a technique to rival the Middle Stage of Qi Refining would already be considered impressive. To reach the Late Stage of Qi Refining can be called perfect.”

“That demon actually possesses such natural talent.”

While amazed, the apprehension in the Yun Family Ancestor’s heart deepened. He had resolved not to let Lu Yang break through to Foundation Establishment, lest he add to the strength of the Demonic Path.

But how to do it?

“The Sage Steals steal the Qi destiny of the people, damaging merit. Those who achieve Great Success will inevitably encounter tribulation… In that case, my reincarnation this time is likely his tribulation.”

The Yun Family Ancestor gained insight into the heavenly secrets, and enlightenment arose in his heart: “However, I have the ‘Investigating Heaven Instrument’ protecting me. He cannot divine my existence, yet I can easily grasp his whereabouts. This should be my great advantage.”

“Since that is so, I can devise a way to create a ‘tribulation’ for him. This ‘tribulation’ cannot be too easy to solve, nor too difficult. He must see hope in solving it so that he will personally take action. I will use this ‘tribulation’ to hook him into the game and make him fall into my trap…”

As the saying goes, a lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit.

The Yun Family Ancestor had already reincarnated once, so he didn’t put on the airs of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, nor would he underestimate Lu Yang. His planning was solemn to the extreme.

“So, what should the ‘tribulation’ be?”

The Yun Family Ancestor pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly, having formed a plan: “For this child, the most worrying thing is undoubtedly an error in the cultivation of The Sage Steals.”

“Since that is the case, let me lend him a hand!”

“He created the Martial Dao Three Steps; I will create the Martial Dao Fourth Step for him. However, this step will no longer be limited to the framework of the system he created…”

Thinking of this, the Yun Family Ancestor immediately began to manipulate karma.

In the blink of an eye, another ten years passed.

During these ten years, heroes rose throughout the land. The development of the Martial Dao reached a peak. The Martial Dao Three Steps became widely known and learned by people all over the world.

And in this era where the world revered martial arts, late one night, thunder suddenly boomed over Tianjing City. Dragons and snakes rose from the land, and heavy rain poured down. Subsequently, the citizens of the entire city saw a pillar of Haoran Qi (Noble Spirit) shoot straight into the clouds, breaking open the rain clouds and reversing the celestial phenomenon. In less than a moment, the clouds parted and the sun shone bright.

The next day, news spread like wildfire across the world.

The Master of the Haoran Academy, which held a volume of the Heavenly Book, ‘Sacred Heart Scholar’ Wang Boyuan, achieved enlightenment overnight. He saw through the profound mystery and actually took the Fourth Step of the Martial Dao!

Martial Dao First Step: Controlling the Five Elements within the Body. Heart, Lungs, Spleen, Liver, Kidney—when the five viscera are perfect, one is a Martial Artist.

Martial Dao Second Step: Opening the Nine Orifices Connecting to Heaven. Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Tendons, Bones, Flesh, Blood, Intent—when the nine orifices are all open, one can be called a Martial Master.

Martial Dao Third Step: Breaking the Mystic Gate of Creation. Three feet above the head lies the divine. Using the five viscera to circulate the body’s essence and Qi, and using the nine orifices to stir the power of heaven and earth—internal and external combine to break the Mystic Gate atop the head, revealing the ‘Divine.’

The world believed that reaching this point in the Martial Dao meant one was a Grandmaster of the generation, with no path forward.

However, with the breakthrough of ‘Sacred Heart Scholar’ Wang Boyuan, martial artists all over the world were invigorated. Wang Boyuan, harboring righteousness in his heart, did not hoard his insights privately.

“Martial Dao Fourth Step: Investigating the Changes of Heaven and Man!”

“To achieve this technique, one must break away from the shackles of the Martial Dao. No longer adhering rigidly to the Martial Dao itself, but walking one’s own path to achieve the transformation of Heaven and Man!”

The Sacred Heart Scholar saw through this point. No longer sticking to the Martial Dao, he created the “Qi Gazing Technique,” which could know the Mandate of Heaven, observe Heavenly Fortune, and even alter Heavenly Secrets. This was because he was devoted to the country, desiring to use the Qi Gazing Technique to extend the national destiny of the Great Zhou, establish an impregnable empire, and open an era of peace for ten thousand generations.

With the Sacred Heart Scholar’s breakthrough, karma shifted, and the world underwent drastic changes for a time.

The second to break through was the world walker of the Tianshi Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain, ‘Barefoot Daoist’ Chang Qingjing, who achieved enlightenment and broke through while practicing medicine.

The third was the ‘God Monk of Deliverance’ Xuan Ku of the Hanging Temple, who achieved enlightenment and broke through during morning prayers.

The fourth… the fifth… the sixth…

In just ten years, seven Martial Dao Celestials (Heavenly Beings) appeared in succession across the world, proving the feasibility of this path and completely shattering the Martial Dao framework Lu Yang originally set!

“Hm?”

In the extreme west of the Refining Arts Secret Realm, deep within heavy mountain forests, inside the Heavenly River Massacre Sword Formation Diagram surrounded by countless talismans, Lu Yang suddenly opened his eyes.

All he could see were dark clouds covering the top; the blue sky and white sun were invisible.

The next second, a round light burst forth behind Lu Yang’s head. The Taiwei Imperial Edict circulated, and the many changes of the past ten years instantly reflected in his heart, fully grasped by him.

“Martial Dao Fourth Step, Investigating the Changes of Heaven and Man… So fast!”

At this moment, Lu Yang was both pleasantly surprised and suspicious. Surprised because the Martial Dao had undergone such changes in such a short time, yet suspicious for the exact same reason.

How could it be so fast?

However, the causes and consequences divined were seamless, without a single flaw.

“The Martial Dao I created can rival the Late Stage of Qi Refining at the third step. Now that people in the secret realm have taken the fourth step, roughly estimating, these so-called Martial Dao Celestials probably possess considerable strength, perhaps rivaling the Great Perfection of Qi Refining… But in this way, it is no longer the Martial Dao!”

Thinking of this, Lu Yang’s expression gradually became serious.

There was no problem with the divined events… There was no problem with the shift in karma… Everything was reasonable, except for one problem: the Martial Dao was out of control, and The Sage Steals was about to fail. Only by him personally stepping out could it possibly be corrected.

“…This isn’t right!”

Alarm bells rang instantly in Lu Yang’s heart. He naturally couldn’t see the Yun Family Ancestor’s layout and planning, nor could he sense the Yun Family Ancestor’s moves to manipulate karma.

He only knew one thing: “No one can make me leave this place!”

Here, he had countless talismans at his disposal and formations for protection. Even if ten or more Great Perfection of Qi Refining cultivators came, he wouldn’t fear them. He could sit tight on the fishing platform.

But once he left this place, that would be a different story.

Moreover, he was currently the chess player, transcending the board. If he chose to enter the world and become widely known, it would be equivalent to turning himself into a piece and walking onto the chessboard.

One careless move, and the whole game is lost.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang instantly calmed down. Although the appearance of the Martial Dao Celestials could destroy his Sage Steals, it would also take some time.

“Let’s send a clone to scout the path first…”

With a thought, the Myriad Spirits Banner appeared in Lu Yang’s palm. Subsequently, a wisp of white Qi appeared at his fingertips—it was shockingly a pure ‘Primordial One Qi’.

This was condensed after he refined himself during his second life.

Once, this ‘Primordial One Qi’ had extraordinary effects, helping him break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining in his third life. Pity that in subsequent lives, it gradually became useless.

“Now is the perfect time to recycle this waste…”

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