Blood Garment Pavilion Master

The Divine Martial Sect's invasion ended as abruptly as it had begun.

With Ouyang Haoze dead, Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan did not even dare linger. Without another word, they turned and fled, as though a flood dragon or savage beast were chasing them from behind.

In stark contrast to the Divine Martial Sect's headlong rout, the marketplace was filled with jubilation.

After all, following this battle, Skull Mountain Market was as impregnable as a fortress. So long as Foundation Establishment True Persons did not act, the Divine Martial Sect would find it difficult to shake this turtle shell.

As for the Corpse Tide, it was nothing more than scabies and ringworm—not worth mentioning.

In short, it was safe!

A safe marketplace was bound to become a hub of money. One could well imagine that trade here would become even more frequent in the future, with even more opportunities to make a profit.

The good days were still ahead!

But the bustle belonged to everyone else. Lu Yang only found them noisy.

He was still immersed in the lingering palpitations from earlier and could not regain his senses for a long while.

For a long time—or rather, ever since Xiao Shiye had been lured away by Daoist Hongyun—Foundation Establishment True Persons had become an inescapable shadow in Lu Yang's heart.

When he realized that another Foundation Establishment True Person might be plotting against him, the joy of having just slain Ouyang Haoze was swept away in an instant. He instinctively gripped the Primordial Primordial-Breath Divine Talisman at his neck, and only after making sure it was still functioning did his raised heart settle slightly.

The Divine Talisman is still operating. That means he still can't calculate me.

Even so, the Primordial Primordial-Breath Divine Talisman's effects had their limits.

Strictly speaking, it did not sever Karma. It obscured it, wrapping a false thread of Karma around Lu Yang to protect him.

After all, completely severing Karma would be far too conspicuous instead.

Thus, when a Foundation Establishment True Person calculated him, they would not obtain nothing. Rather, they would calculate a result without the slightest flaw—yet one that was entirely false.

The advantage was greater concealment. The disadvantage was that it could not completely block the influence of Foundation Establishment True Persons.

At this thought, Lu Yang already had an answer in his heart. So he wasn't targeting me specifically. I was simply dragged in by accident?

That also explained the matter of the Mysterious Female Yin Jade.

It was not that fortune had smiled upon him. Someone had deliberately placed this item in his hands, intending to use him to accomplish some unspeakable purpose.

What purpose?

Lu Yang's gaze shifted to Ouyang Haoze's corpse. With a sweep of the Ten Thousand Spirit Banner in his hand, he drew over the body that had been split in two.

Perhaps he could obtain some clues from this man.

Besides, as a Divine Martial Sect True Disciple, Ouyang Haoze's collection was surely substantial!

Soon, Ouyang Haoze's corpse was refined into the Ten Thousand Spirit Banner. Unfortunately, the body had been cut in half, so the true spirit extracted from it was incomplete.

When the Ten Thousand Spirit Banner recorded Banner Spirits, whether it could preserve their combat strength, memories, and consciousness from life generally depended on the integrity of the corpse. The more intact the body was, the closer the Banner Spirit would be to its living state—Liu Xin, for example. As for Ouyang Haoze, Lu Yang had only barely preserved seventy percent of his former state.

Even so, he still learned many secrets.

So this was the Divine Martial Sect's true objective.

There is a secret realm within Skull Mountain, left behind by the ancient Witch Ghost Sect. The yin energy in the Earth Vein beneath Skull Mountain has been leaking out from that secret realm.

The Divine Martial Sect wanted to monopolize the secret realm, which was why they planned to uproot the Sacred Sect's marketplace here.

That's not bad news. If I report it back to the Sacred Sect, I'll definitely receive a considerable Contribution Points reward, and the Sacred Sect will also send people here for support.

Though monopolizing this information would bring greater benefits, why should I monopolize it?

I don't plan on venturing into that Witch Ghost Secret Realm anyway. I might as well hand it to the Sacred Sect, steadily earn a batch of Contribution Points, and watch others fight to the death!

With that thought, Lu Yang relaxed.

Now that he knew a Foundation Establishment True Person was secretly plotting at Skull Mountain, he became even more determined to hide in the marketplace and never step outside.

Next, Lu Yang began dealing with Ouyang Haoze's belongings.

But just as he picked up Ouyang Haoze's Storage Pouch, a round mirror trembled as it floated over. Upon approaching, it even affectionately rubbed against his hand.

It was none other than the Taixiao Mirror.

This Spiritual Treasure was like an eager little dog. It circled Lu Yang while bouncing twice now and then, every movement brimming with an intention to pledge allegiance.

"You want to abandon the light and join the darkness?"

Lu Yang was somewhat surprised. Honestly, for such an intensely Yang Spiritual Treasure to defect to a demonic cultivator like him, Ouyang Haoze must truly have hurt it deeply.

Seeing that Lu Yang's attention had finally fallen on it, the Taixiao Mirror first reflected the Storage Pouch in Lu Yang's hand, then swayed from side to side. A voice then sounded in Lu Yang's mind, carrying a childish lilt, like a child who had only recently been born and was just learning to speak:

"They... no good!"

Then the Taixiao Mirror itself burst forth with brilliant light and bobbed up and down. Its voice changed, carrying an innate pride and self-assurance:

"I... good!"

It was recommending itself.

Lu Yang's expression grew increasingly astonished. He had long known that Spiritual Treasures possessed their own intelligence and were extraordinarily wondrous, but this was his first time seeing it for himself.

"Fine. I'll use you first, then."

Lu Yang beckoned with a hand, and the Taixiao Mirror immediately descended of its own accord. With its cooperation, he swiftly gained a complete grasp of every aspect of this Spiritual Treasure.

"Good! Truly a fine treasure!"

Lu Yang's face was full of delight. A Spiritual Treasure truly lived up to its name!

As everyone knew, Qi Refining Great Perfection referred to cultivators who had nurtured the Qi Seed in their bodies to its limit, thereby transforming it into a strand of Perfected True Qi.

For example, once his Nine Transformations Dragon Art reached Qi Refining Great Perfection, it would transform into a strand of True Dragon Sha.

In other words, Perfected True Qi was the mark of Qi Refining Great Perfection, as well as the greatest means by which such cultivators suppressed all Qi Refining cultivators below Great Perfection.

Yet the Taixiao Mirror, this Spiritual Treasure, was born with a strand of Perfected True Qi called Taixiao Wind-Thunder Breath!

In other words, so long as one wielded this Spiritual Treasure, even a cultivator at Qi Refining First Layer could rival Qi Refining Great Perfection while activating it!

"However, this Spiritual Treasure seems to contain quite a few restrictions."

Lu Yang examined the Taixiao Mirror. Treasures were made to serve people, and even the righteous path was no exception. The Taixiao Mirror clearly contained numerous restrictions limiting its movements.

Therefore, if he used this Spiritual Treasure before Divine Martial Sect disciples, they might only need to form a Dharma Seal for the Taixiao Mirror to fly back on its own.

This had nothing to do with the Taixiao Mirror's will. It was entirely a safeguard left behind by its refiner.

It would be far too wasteful if such a Spiritual Treasure couldn't be used.

Lu Yang pondered for a moment before his eyes suddenly lit up. Though his skill in formations was not enough to break the restrictions within the mirror, there was not no compromise.

The next second, Lu Yang shook the Ten Thousand Spirit Banner and summoned Ouyang Haoze again. He then refined him into a strand of Primordial Breath and sent it into the Taixiao Mirror. Lu Yang would control Ouyang Haoze, Ouyang Haoze would control the Taixiao Mirror, and thus he would bypass the restrictions within the mirror.

Rumble!

In an instant, the Taixiao Mirror in Lu Yang's hand erupted with dazzling Precious Light. The sound of wind and thunder faintly echoed within the light, and its power had clearly reached Qi Refining Completion!

It really works!

Lu Yang laughed heartily, then suspended the Taixiao Mirror behind his head. For a moment, even the Precious Light it emitted turned crimson, taking on his color.

"Not bad! Not bad!"

Lu Yang laughed freely. Only then did he put away the Taixiao Mirror and open Ouyang Haoze's Storage Pouch. In an instant, the surging Spiritual Qi made his eyes narrow.

A vast quantity of spirit stones was piled within!

Beyond that were all manner of precious pills, magical treasures, and materials. Lu Yang made a rough calculation: selling them to the Sacred Sect would fetch at least thirty thousand Contribution Points.

"This is truly a massive windfall. Unfortunately, I'm afraid there won't be another chance in the future."

After all, with Ouyang Haoze's example before them, no one below Foundation Establishment should dare enter the formation again.

Once news of the Witch Ghost Secret Realm spreads, Skull Mountain will face another storm of blood and wind. There must be Foundation Establishment True Persons secretly plotting behind it all.

But as long as I don't leave and don't get caught up in this turmoil, what can he do to me unless he acts personally?

Lu Yang made up his mind. He then put everything away, parted the formation, and rode a streak of escaping light back to the marketplace, landing atop the Blood Garment Pavilion.

From that day onward, Skull Mountain fell into an eerie calm.

The Divine Martial Sect continued dispatching more people, while reinforcements from the First Saint Sect arrived one after another. Yet there was not the slightest ripple on the surface; only undercurrents surged behind the scenes.

Under such circumstances, Lu Yang's deeds somehow spread far and wide, becoming known to all.

Ten years ago, he had joined the Sacred Sect as a mortal, made a fortune speculating on Death Substitute Puppets, secluded himself for ten years to break through to Qi Refining Late Stage, then became a Formation Master and slew a Divine Martial Sect True Disciple of Qi Refining Great Perfection within a formation. Such an inspiring commoner's rise against all odds was nearly a shot in the arm for every ordinary Sacred Sect disciple.

Gradually, out of awe and reverence, many people no longer even mentioned Lu Yang's name.

In its place came another honorific:

Blood Garment Pavilion Master!