NOVEL NEXT Ch. 178
Chapter 178: Restart Again, Breakthrough to the Mid Stage!
【Faced with the pincer attack of Dao Sin and Pure Land, you chose the third path and resolutely self-destructed. Your life could completely be described as legendary.】
【Current remaining pages of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes: 92】
【Restarting a new lifetime, you may choose one of the following gains from your previous life:
One: Treasure.
Two: Cultivation.
Three: Lifespan.
Four: Give up all gains and randomly awaken a talent based on your past life experience.】
Atop Mount Luofeng, Lü Yang opened his eyes but remained dazed for a long while, the golden eyes filled with Buddha light still lingering in his mind.
The howling wind at the mountaintop seemed to vanish in that moment, the only sound Lü Yang could hear was the violent pounding of his heart from fear, as sweat uncontrollably dripped down, soaking him in no time.
His mouth was slightly open, yet it seemed he had forgotten how to breathe, as if frozen.
After a long while, Lü Yang finally squeezed out a sound from his throat.
"Shit!"
What the hell was that thing that appeared in the end!?
That was clearly not the woman in white, nor the Golden Core True Lord of Pure Land, but someone completely different!
In an instant, a thought emerged: "…The World Honored One?"
Lü Yang felt a chill run through his mind, for the Golden Core True Lords, the Bodhisattvas of Pure Land, strictly speaking, had already reached the ultimate state of “Brahma and Self as One”.
In other words, every Pure Land Bodhisattva who appeared to possess independent consciousness might have long since refined themselves into one of the World Honored One’s incarnations.
So long as that Pure Land World Honored One willed it, he could descend into any of those bodies at any time, and the mighty power of the 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】 had clearly alarmed that World Honored One!
"He even fucking spoke!"
Lü Yang panted heavily, and after a long while, he managed to dispel the fear in his heart.
However, his dread toward Pure Land had risen to an unprecedented level.
Not long ago, he had still been lamenting that things had been “too smooth”.
As a result, first came Dao Sin, then the True Lord, and finally even the World Honored One of Pure Land appeared, instantly crushing the arrogance that had just risen in his heart.
This world was too dangerous!
The gap between realms was already vast enough, but the key issue was that those mighty figures loved bullying the weak, shamelessly coming to the newbie village to fish for small fries.
At this thought, Lü Yang immediately made a decision:
“This 【Earth atop the City Wall】, forget it!”
The karmic burden was too heavy.
How could he live with a Golden Core True Lord targeting him at the Foundation Establishment early stage?
It was better to find a way to jump ship and escape as soon as possible.
Lü Yang had already made his plan.
"First, I will do my best to improve my cultivation at the second anchor point and uncover the secrets of the Biyang Cultivation World, to see if it's truly possible to cultivate that so-called First-Grade True Qi of the Great Ascension."
"Then, I will investigate whether there is manipulation behind this from an Innate True Person."
"If everything checks out, or if I have ways to counter it, I will return to the first anchor point with the cultivation method of the First-Grade True Qi and start over!"
What garbage Nine Transforming Dragon Art, it only led to Third-Grade True Qi, I don’t need it anymore!
By then, I would start with First-Grade True Qi and already have the experience of Foundation Establishment.
It would not take long to rebuild my cultivation, and that would be the true great Dao!
At the same time, Lü Yang also came to a realization:
"My cheat is still not strong enough!"
With this in mind, Lü Yang gritted his teeth and opened the panel of the 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】, this time choosing the second anchor point, when he was at his peak state.
【Name: Lü Yang】
【Lifespan: 100 years】
【Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage】
【Talent: Dual Cultivation Prodigy (White), Somewhat Capable (Purple)】
【Dao Foundation: Myriad Chariots Dragon-Riding Dao Foundation】
【Divine Ability: Dragon-Riding Chariot (Determine closeness, resolve doubts, distinguish sameness and difference, clarify right and wrong)】
【Treasures: Innate Primordial Qi (Superior Rare Treasure), Myriad Spirits Banner (Superior Spiritual Treasure), Abi Sword (Superior Spiritual Treasure), Sky Surveying Instrument (Superior Spiritual Treasure), Thirty-Nine Soul-Dissolving Gourd (Medium Spiritual Treasure)】
【Pages of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes: 92】
【Number of Anchor Points: 0】
Lü Yang did not hesitate at all and directly chose 【Treasure】, redeeming the Earth Qi of Wu Earth that he had painstakingly obtained in his previous life.
Although he could have chosen talent, that would have forced him to go overseas again.
Too dangerous, it was better to play it safe.
Soon, a wisp of formless, causeless smoke fell into Lü Yang’s palm.
"Now that I have the Earth Qi of Wu Earth, I no longer need to seek fortunes overseas. I will directly begin preparing for the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Mid Stage!"
Lü Yang had already made his plans for this.
First, he intended to replicate the actions of his previous life.
Endure until the death of Arhat Fulong.
Then, join the family of the Mending Heaven Peak Master and obtain Chen Shuqian’s Vermilion Bird Noon Fire.
This time, Lü Yang did not waste any more time.
After using the Vermilion Bird Noon Fire to heal his injuries, he decisively began fusing with the Wu Earth Qi, fully prepared mentally.
"This breakthrough is risky, strictly speaking, because I don’t know how powerful the calamity of advancing to Foundation Establishment Mid Stage is, nor the true strength of the 【Yin Fire】. There is a possibility of failure... but it doesn’t matter. If I fail, I’ll just restart and choose a talent next time."
Under his deliberate replication, this lifetime’s experience was not much different from the previous one.
Although he skipped the overseas journey, enduring the death of Arhat Fulong and publicly stunning the Mending Heaven Peak Master’s family still made his name resound throughout the Primordial Saint Sect.
The talent born from this should not be too bad.
“Bet it all!”
With this thought, Lü Yang cast aside all hesitation.
His Dao Foundation manifested, and the magnificent 【Dragon-Riding Chariot】, drawn by four dragons, appeared within his Foundation Establishment realm.
Immediately after, the Wu Earth Qi emerged.
One of the four flood dragons pulling the chariot raised its neck and, without deviation, swallowed the Wu Earth Qi.
The first Heavenly Gang fusion, complete!
Lü Yang furrowed his brows tightly, carefully sensing the changes in his Dao Foundation and his innate divine ability.
Very soon, he noticed a mysterious fluctuation arising in one of the intricacies of his innate divine ability.
“This is... 【Distinguish Sameness and Difference】?”
Lü Yang calculated with his fingers, his thoughts racing: "I deliberately chose the Hour of the Tiger for this breakthrough. At this moment, the Qi of the Earthly Fiend position 【She Ti Star】 is at its strongest."
At this moment, fusing with the Heavenly Gang perfectly aligned with the Wu Earth’s intersection at 【She Ti Star】.
From this, a talent divine ability was born,
Named 【Embracing the Mountain】!
"In the time before the Primordial Chaos split, embracing one to guard the center, able to distinguish sameness and difference… so this is it. The mystery of talent divine abilities and innate divine abilities are actually connected!"
Lü Yang instantly gained insight in his heart.
Why was it said that only Third-Grade True Qi had the hope of reaching Golden Core?
Because only a Dao Foundation built with Third-Grade True Qi would possess four intricacies in its innate divine ability, fully accommodating four talent divine abilities within itself!
Those below Third Grade, whether weak like True Person Huanwu of the Divine Martial Sect, or strong like Wu Cang, had at most one or three intricacies.
Not only was their current strength inferior to Lü Yang, but their future Dao path was also already predetermined.
They could not achieve a perfected Foundation Establishment, let alone seek to ascend to Golden Core.
Just then, Lü Yang suddenly felt a chill beneath his feet.
"...It’s coming!"
Lü Yang immediately held his breath, watching as a pitch-black fire inexplicably emerged from his Yongquan Acupoint, sweeping all the way toward his Muddy Pellet Palace.
Wherever the 【Yin Fire】 passed, all five organs were incinerated!
Lü Yang remained calm.
While the 【Yin Fire】 burned his body, the Vermilion Bird Noon Fire continuously repaired it, creating a delicate balance between the two.
During this process, the 【Yin Fire】 also wrapped around his Dao Foundation, refining it like a pill furnace, with the Dao Foundation as the furnace and his innate divine ability along with the Wu Earth Qi as the ingredients inside.
If he could endure until the Wu Earth Qi transformed into a talent divine ability, the tribulation would be considered overcome.
However, as time passed, the recovery speed gradually fell behind the burning speed.
"My Vermilion Bird Noon Fire alone isn’t enough."
Fortunately, he had a backup plan.
Lü Yang sighed and immediately called Chen Shuqian in.
There was no other way.
The effect of the Vermilion Bird Noon Fire refined by both of them together was better.
Though he was not fond of carnal pleasures and felt somewhat reluctant, he had no choice but to go along with it.
Ten days later.
Lü Yang pushed aside the unconscious Chen Shuqian and walked out of the secret chamber feeling refreshed: "Ten days of bitter cultivation, countless efforts and sweat… I finally succeeded!"
As his words fell, within his Foundation Establishment realm, under layers of golden auspicious clouds, a towering mountain silhouette emerged from the 【Myriad Chariots Dragon-Riding Dao Foundation】.
Talent Divine Ability, 【Embracing the Mountain】, achieved!
Foundation Establishment Mid Stage!