Whoosh!
As the sword-wielding youth's body collapsed, a burst of fire ignited within, scattering sparks and flowing flames. Amidst the chaos, a streak of golden light attempted to slip away.
However, Lu Yang, who had been eyeing it covetously, was never going to give it that chance.
"Get over here."
Almost simultaneously, a divine ability descended into the quiet room. It was as if the void had opened a bloody maw, frantically swallowing everything within.
[Great Unity Embodying True Qi]!
This divine ability could even suck out the essence of heaven and earth from the Seven Luminaries Heaven. How could a mere wisp of Golden Nature resist? It was instantly locked in place by Lu Yang.
Only after doing all this did Lu Yang breathe a sigh of relief and look at Patriarch Nether Whisper:
"Congratulations, Patriarch!"
Emotional value had to be given fully, so Lu Yang had left the final blow against the sword-wielding youth to Patriarch Nether Whisper. This could be considered his tenderness toward the banner spirit.
On the other side, Patriarch Nether Whisper clearly appreciated this gesture. He turned to Lu Yang and, without a word, bowed deeply: "Although it was just a manifestation body, it can be considered settling a matter that weighed on my heart from the past. Many thanks for Fellow Daoist's full assistance; Nether Whisper is endlessly grateful!"
This sentence came entirely from the heart.
For Patriarch Nether Whisper, the greatest regret and pain was that the Shaman Ghost Dao had been exterminated by a single sword back then, and he didn't even have the chance to fight back.
Now, Lu Yang had fulfilled his wish.
Although strictly speaking, he wasn't actually a match for the sword-wielding youth in a one-on-one duel just now... so what? You were a Golden Core Perfected Lord back then!
I only did two-on-one; that's much more honorable than you!
"Patriarch speaks too seriously."
Lu Yang hurriedly helped Patriarch Nether Whisper up, speaking earnestly: "I am also a disciple of the Shaman Ghost Dao. This is inherently my duty; why act like strangers?"
"You see, when I order you around, old man, do I act like a stranger?"
"This..."
Patriarch Nether Whisper was stunned for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his face: "...True. In the future, you must order me around more; don't treat me like an outsider."
"Definitely!"
Lu Yang was waiting for this sentence from Patriarch Nether Whisper. He nodded with satisfaction, then let the newly broken-through Patriarch Nether Whisper go back to regulate his breath.
Only at this moment did he look at the Golden Nature captured by [Great Unity Embodying True Qi].
The second Perfected Lord Golden Nature... Although the Ye Family treasury is far inferior to the Dragon Palace in resources, just this one wisp of Golden Nature is worth all the supreme treasures in the world!
Grabbing it, he refined it instantly!
[Settling experience for "Zhengde"...]
[You were once the most outstanding disciple in the history of the Ye Family. After four lifetimes of bitter cultivation, you finally achieved Foundation Establishment Perfection and attained the Golden Core, yet you left behind a lifelong shadow.]
Dense writing emerged.
Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde, originally named Ye Zhongliang, the fourth Perfected Lord of the Sword Pavilion. Trapped on the Extreme Heaven Cliff due to heart demons, wasting a thousand years without advancing an inch...
Soon, Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde's resume entered his eyes one by one.
Like Hong Yun, it included a vast amount of insights into [Wall-Top Earth]. Lu Yang compiled them into a booklet, planning to give it to Patriarch Nether Whisper later.
Next were the trump cards he prepared for his return after reincarnation.
A manifestation body, a True Treasure, and a secret method to sense the Dao Fruit. Now that the manifestation body was destroyed, the True Treasure and secret method naturally fell into Lu Yang's hands.
Besides these, there was an unexpected harvest.
In Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde's memory, Lu Yang unexpectedly discovered an important piece of intelligence—it was the background and origin of Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon!
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon Ye Guangji, the number one genius of the Ye Family since Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde. In his first life, he cultivated [Wall-Top Earth] but suffered a crushing defeat at his peak. Forced to switch to sword cultivation in his second life, he achieved Foundation Establishment in thirty years, comprehended sword intent, and from then on, step by step, forged the name of Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon.
However, in the Sword Pavilion, how can there be a heaven's favored one without cause and effect?
Nine out of ten heaven's favored ones in the Sword Pavilion are reincarnated cultivators... Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon is no exception. Strictly speaking, his background doesn't even lose to a Perfected Lord!
It is only because the various Perfecter Lords of Sword Pavilion found the [Sword Dao Fruit] difficult to attain that they enlightened a nature spirit from the Sword Pavilion's mountain gate, thus giving birth to him!'
And the Sword Pavilion mountain gate is rumored to be the personal sword left by the Sword Pavilion Ancestor.
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's nature spirit was born from it. It can be said that he was born to cultivate the sword! Cultivating [Wall-Top Earth] in his first life actually delayed him.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang also recalled what Perfected One Warding-Evil said when questioning Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon earlier: He said Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon is a person without a heart... Looking at it now, it's not unreasonable. An artificial sword spirit—above aligned with the Heavenly Will, below in harmony with earthly intent—such a being should naturally possess the temperament of supreme detachment.
A heartless person—this was normal.
Rather, with such a background, it was surprising that Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon was actually so compassionate, able to come up with such a bizarre sword intent as [No-Kill].
There must be a mystery behind this!
Lu Yang pondered in his heart. What exactly happened to Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon? And where did the origins of the two sword intents, [No-Kill] and [All-Slaying], come from?
I always feel something isn't right...
Through Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde's memory, Lu Yang understood Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's life from the side. Throughout the whole thing, there was one sentence: It went too smoothly!
In this wretched place, who among those who made a name for themselves wasn't targeted or suffered setbacks? Martial Uncle Chong Guang stumbled heavily; Suo Huan is right in the pit; not to mention me, and Hong Yun... As the illustrious number one sword cultivator in the world, how could Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon not be targeted?
But the result was that Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon had a smooth sailing for most of his life!
Never encountering any setbacks, his growth trajectory was incredibly smooth... Although there were no suspicious points, in Lu Yang's view, this was the biggest suspicious point!
Either there are no pits.
Or the pit is buried relatively deep and hasn't exploded yet...
Just as Lu Yang was pondering, the panel of [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] suddenly bloomed with golden light.
[You have obtained a Gold Talent— Turtle Dove Occupying the Magpie's Nest!]
[Turtle Dove Occupying the Magpie's Nest: Once per lifetime. Can forcibly seize another's destiny, turning it into one's own use, replacing a person's existence from karma and origin]
Just like Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde's life.
That life should have been the one where Patriarch Nether Whisper rose against the heavens. As a result, he replaced him, seizing the fortune that should have belonged to Patriarch Nether Whisper.
This talent is so evil!
Lu Yang frowned tightly. The effect of [Turtle Dove Occupying the Magpie's Nest] was similar to possession, but of a higher status because the replacement was all-encompassing!
Once I use this talent to possess a target, everything of the target will be inherited by me, including divine abilities, memories, dao technique, karma... In other words, if the target is seeking Golden Core or even close to success, and I possess them, I can also replace them to seek the Golden Core and become a Golden Core Perfected Lord!
What an exaggerated talent!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang even subconsciously gave birth to an extremely evil thought: If he used this talent to possess Patriarch Nether Whisper...
...Hmph!
In the next second, Lu Yang's gaze turned cold. His mind became like a sword, and he directly severed this evil thought.
What meaning would there be in possessing patriach? I wouldn't truly inherit that world-shaking wisdom—only an empty shell. In the end, one must rely on oneself!
With this thought, Lu Yang looked at the [Turtle Dove Occupying the Magpie's Nest] talent again but frowned:
[Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde] himself had heart demons. As a result, the talent settled from him is actually also a thing that easily breeds heart demons...
Even if I really want to use it, I can't use it on cultivation...
Cultivation relies on oneself. If one doesn't rely on one's own ability to ascend, even if lucky enough to succeed, the result will only be like Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde, trapped for a thousand years without truly walking one's own path!
Using people as a mirror, one can understand gains and losses.
Perhaps this is also the significance of [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] settling talents...
Boom!
Just then, at the moment the talent was settled and this wisp of Golden Nature from Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde was thoroughly digested by [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes].
Above the dome of the sky, thunder suddenly rang out.
Immediately, a star suddenly lit up under the canopy of heaven, like an opened eye —seemingly furious, seemingly terrified— it cast down starlight.
Almost at the same time, Lu Yang also raised his head.
It was [Wall-Top Earth].
The Dao Fruit trembled!