[Please select restart anchor point]
Looking at the text surfacing on the panel, Lu Yang fell into contemplation. He had a total of three restart anchor points now; naturally, he needed to choose with extreme care.
Initial Anchor Point: Qi Refining cultivation.First Anchor Point: Mid-stage Foundation Establishment + Golden Core Dao Body.Second Anchor Point: [Heavenly Fire] Perfected Lord.
Each of the three offered its own benefits. If he chose the Second Anchor Point, he would have an excellent opportunity to use the [Precious Life Perfect Form Scripture] to devour [Heavenly Fire]. A Supreme Dao Fruit was a tempting prize.
But after thinking it over, Lu Yang abandoned the idea. No need. In this restart, I definitely want to prioritize my cultivation growth.
I have already devoured the [Overturned Lamp Flame]. While I could devour another [Heavenly Fire], doing so would make my Fire-element control overly powerful. It would boost my combat power, but it wouldn't actually do much for my overall progression.
The logic was simple. He currently had four elements complete, lacking only the Wood element. As long as he could find a Wood-element Dao Fruit to devour, he could rely on the Dharma Body Dao to advance immediately to the late-stage Golden Core.
Furthermore, that life as the [Heavenly Fire] Perfected Lord was far too dangerous. By that point, he was likely already under the scrutiny of the Saint Sect's old monster. Abruptly revealing his Dharma Body Dao cultivation would have been suicide.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang skipped the Second Anchor Point.
The First Anchor Point—the one he had chosen in his previous life—was an option, but at that timeline, he was deep within the gaze of the Pure Land. He could cut ties as he did before, but this time he planned to devour [Pomegranate Wood] to complete his Five Elements. To do that, he would need to refine a Life Form Body from scratch.
The problem is, who can do it for me?
Peak Master Chen Taihe of Heaven-Mending Peak? It's possible, but he might lack the ability to seek golden core. Choosing him might result in drawing water with a bamboo basket—all that effort for nothing.
Better to do it myself. Is it not just seeking [Pomegranate Wood]? I already have the Dao comprehension for this fruit, and I have the Heaven-Mending True Scripture ready. I will refine my main body into a Life Form Body and find a way for that body to seek golden core.
From this perspective, the First Anchor Point wouldn't work either. In that timeline, he was already a Foundation Establishment Perfected One cultivating [City Rampart Earth]. He couldn't switch to [Pomegranate Wood].
That left the Initial Anchor Point.
Lu Yang frowned. The Initial Anchor Point was vital. Usually, if he chose it, he wouldn't prioritize cultivation. But this time was different. His harvest from the previous life was simply too massive; only by choosing cultivation could he "pack it all away." Any other choice would be a pure loss.
"...I've got it."
Suddenly, Lu Yang's eyes lit up. A bold idea took root, and a smile spread across his face. He made his decision, shouting inwardly:
"Return to the Initial Anchor Point!"
The darkness before his eyes surged like the turning pages of a book. Then, a ray of sunlight pierced through the night and struck his pupils.
[You died from looking directly at a Dao Lord's true body. Before death, you attracted a Dao Lord's gaze. Even as noble Dao Lords, They couldn't figure out what you were howling about before death. Because you shouted with such imposition and held grudges with certain Dao Lords, They gave you a glance.]
[Current Book of a Hundred Lifetimes remaining pages: 88]
"Those whose names are called, come before me."
The voice, buried in distant memory, rang in his ears. Lu Yang felt a wave of daze as he looked at the black-clothed Daoist standing on the platform assigning entry disciples.
Senior Brother Liu...
One of his greatest early opportunities—the Myriad Spirits Banner, the predecessor to the Righteous Dao Banner—had been "kindly" given to him by this Senior Brother before his death. Lu Yang felt a surge of nostalgia. This environment, surrounded by "talents", gave him an unprecedented sense of security.
The fish pond still feels the best.
[Restarting a life, you can choose one of the following harvests from the previous life: 1: Treasures. 2: Cultivation. 3: Techniques. 4: Give up all harvests, randomly awaken a talent based on previous life experiences.]
Lu Yang didn't rush to choose. Instead, he commanded silently: "Set this very moment as my Third Anchor Point!"
Back when he broke through to the Golden Core, the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] had rewarded him with two anchor points. One had become the Second Anchor Point; the other he had held in reserve. Now, he placed it here.
At this moment, I haven't formally made a choice yet, so my cultivation is still at Qi Refining. This ensures the purity of the Initial Anchor Point.
With his experience, he knew this was a solid move. Not only was it safe, but he could exploit a ridiculous bug: since he was still at the selection stage, what if he restarted at this moment again in the future? He would have two chances to choose. One could be used for cultivation, and the other could be used to discard everything and awaken a top-tier talent!
With my experiences in the previous life, if I choose a talent, I will inevitably draw something top-notch. Even if I don't, I can just restart a few more times, gather some golden talents, and use the integration function to forge a colorful talent.
But that was for the future. For now, he had to choose cultivation. Lu Yang decided to soothe his nerves first, balancing work with rest.
Step one: Get assigned to Joyous Union Hall. Step two: Surpass Yu Suzhen.
Once he had settled into the familiar rhythm, he clicked the cultivation option. Instantly, an abundant, unmatched power surged within his body.
"Phew!"
Lu Yang exhaled a long breath. Before he could recover, a voice he had almost forgotten echoed faintly in his Sea of Consciousness:
"Fellow Daoist... are you ignoring me?"
Holy shit, who—oh, it's Sisui's remnant thought.
Lu Yang's heart jumped, but his face remained a mask of calm. He laughed inwardly. "How could I? I was certain Fellow Daoist would be just fine!"
That was a lie. Ever since seeing the "giant trap" on Perfected One Subduing-Spirit, Lu Yang had basically abandoned the identity of Yuan Tu, giving no thought to Sisui's remnant thought. But it seemed that since the remnant thought was anchored to Yuan Tu's Sea of Consciousness, it had been pulled along into the restart. Pity it was just a remnant thought with no knowledge of how to attain the Nascent Soul, giving it little practical value...
"It is good that Fellow Daoist still remembers me." Inside the Sea of Consciousness, the illusory figure of Sisui smiled bitterly. "However, this humble one luckily did not fail his mission this time. I have prepared a surprise for you."
"...What?"
The next second, he saw Sisui reach into his robe and pull out a mass of weak, yellow radiance wreathed in karma.
Lu Yang was stunned. With his cultivation level, he couldn't possibly mistake what that was. It was a concept! And it was the concept of [City Rampart Earth]!
"Sisui! My good brother! I knew you were reliable!"
Lu Yang was instantly overjoyed. He grabbed Sisui's hand and shook it vigorously, his eyes full of fire.
What is called a surprise?
This is a goddamn surprise!
(End of Chapter)