Chapter 59: An Unexpected Problem

Standing before the secret realm, Lü Yang carefully contemplated this “creation of the Dao Master” while pondering how to configure the secret realm to best benefit himself.

‘First of all, I will definitely not step onto the stage.’

‘I only need to scatter the seeds and then wait for them to blossom and bear fruit. If there is no mastermind from the beginning, naturally no one will investigate!’

‘Secondly, I do not need a peaceful world.’

‘After all, only in chaotic times do heroes emerge, and only in chaos can one fish in troubled waters. Even if a hero who discovers the truth does appear, he won't be able to stir up much trouble.’

‘Because I can simply let heroes deal with heroes, and let the brave contend with the brave!’

Thus, a large number of settings were input into the secret realm.

In the next moment, the entire secret realm radiated light, rotating in circles. Within it, Lü Yang seemed to see countless scenes of the mortal world constantly changing.

Seeing this, Luo Wuya took the initiative to say, “Junior Brother is about to enter the secret realm for cultivation, so I won't disturb you. I wish you success in advance.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Senior Brother,” Lü Yang replied with a bow. “I will remember your guidance, and when I achieve success in the future, if you have any requests, please feel free to ask.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Wuya immediately smiled with satisfaction: “Junior Brother is destined for great things!”

In the next second, the light of the secret realm engulfed Lü Yang.

“Quite impressive.”

Inside the secret realm, Lü Yang stood atop a mountain peak, his eyes filled with curiosity, feeling that the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees all appeared so real.

“But there are still flaws; it's not perfect.”

A halo appeared behind Lü Yang's head as the Taiwei Pardon Talisman operated, divining and deducing, instantly seeing through the illusions and discovering flaws that differed from the real world.

These flaws were minor and existed in the microscopic domain, which Lü Yang could only perceive through his divination abilities. Ordinary cultivators could not see these flaws from a macroscopic perspective, and as for those “talents” who had lived in the secret realm since birth, it was even more impossible for them to notice anything amiss.

“Rather than calling it a world, it's more like a massive stage set.”

The flowers, birds, fish, and insects—all were real.

However, the “world” that composed all of this was entirely fake in nature, no different from a pigsty in a rural mortal's home.

“This is the talent cultivation base of the First Saint Demon Sect.”

Lü Yang shook his head, no longer sighing, and began preparing for his grand undertaking of “imparting the Dao,” the most important aspect of which was establishing a cultivation system.

“With the Bright Dao Jade Slip, it's no wonder Luo Wuya said that the Saint Thief is very suitable for me.”

Because the Bright Dao Jade Slip, this artifact of deduction, could make the cultivation system he created have fewer flaws and be less likely to be noticed by the locals within the secret realm.

‘The cultivation system must not be too complex.’

‘After all, with my abilities, the more complex it is, the less it can withstand scrutiny. So simplicity is best—it should be understandable to fools and cultivable by anyone.’

‘But it also can't be too weak. If the strongest in this system only reach the first layer of Qi Refining, although they won't pose a threat to me, the Qi fortune that the Saint Thief can steal will be pitifully small, which would be detrimental to my cultivation. So I should be bold and elevate the system's peak combat power.’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang suddenly had an epiphany.

‘The true disciple that Senior Brother Luo mentioned, who was counter-killed by someone in the secret realm, probably also wanted to maximize benefits like me, but ended up failing unexpectedly.’

‘No, I need to set up an insurance policy.’

Lü Yang pondered continuously and finally had a framework. With the help of the Bright Dao Jade Slip, numerous details were filled in, eventually forming a complete system.

After a moment, Lü Yang made a decision.

Since the Saint Thief is ultimately a body-refining cultivation method, if he were to establish a cultivation system, it should naturally focus on body refinement, making the cultivation process more efficient.

Regarding the physique, the most advanced knowledge Lü Yang possessed came from Yun Miaozhen's 『Taiyi Primordial Essence Jade Radiance』.

Therefore, he planned to use this divine ability as the foundation.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang immediately began to activate the divine ability.

Heart fire, lung metal, spleen earth, liver wood, kidney water.

Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, tendons, bones, flesh, blood, will.

Lü Yang calmed his mind, gathering the radiance condensed from his five viscera and all parts of his body into himself, then directing it towards the heavenly gate atop his head, erupting from his crown!

Brilliant flames shone, enveloping Lü Yang, eliminating all “flaws,” making his physique as translucent as jade.

This was the “Taiyi Primordial Essence Jade Radiance.”

At the same time, Lü Yang also used the Bright Dao Jade Slip to record all the changes of this divine ability.

Based on this, he quickly organized a complete system.

“This method shall be named Martial Dao!”

“Martial Dao cultivators prioritize blood and Qi, mastering the five elements within the body, opening the nine orifices of heaven, and breaking through the mysteries of creation! A consummate martial artist... should be comparable to the late stage of Qi Refining!”

“However, although Martial Dao enhances divine power, it cannot achieve flight.”

This was Lü Yang's insurance policy: martial artists cannot fly!

In this way, even in the worst-case scenario where he is counterattacked by someone in the secret realm, at worst, he can simply fly away. If he can't win, he can at least escape.

After an unknown amount of time, Lü Yang finally awoke from his meditative state.

In his hand, there was already a book recording the “Martial Dao.”

In the next second, as Lü Yang's thoughts moved, the book suddenly emitted golden light, splitting into four in mid-air, then dispersing towards the horizon.

“The pieces are set; let's see what changes the future will bring.”

Lü Yang smiled slightly, then turned and returned to the temporarily established cave dwelling, entering seclusion once again.

In terms of cultivation, he still had many unfinished matters.

For example, he had now mastered the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light, the Profound Yin Form-Capturing Grand Art, and the Taiwei Pardon Talisman—the three divine abilities that compose the 『Taiyin Body-Shedding Corpse Liberation True Method』—just like Yun Miaozhen back then. However, he still had no clue how to integrate them.

This wasn't because he didn't know the method.

In fact, the final step of the 『Taiyin Body-Shedding Corpse Liberation True Method』 was very simple, with the key being one sentence:

“Die through Taiyin, temporarily pass the three gates; Taiyi guards the corpse, three souls camp in the bones, seven spirits attend the flesh, fetal spirit records Qi, thus reforming the body, reborn to ascend to the heavens.”

In short, it requires “dying once.”

Only after death can one shed and transform.

Although failure means true death, success allows one to transform into an immortal fetus, possessing part of the power of a Foundation Establishment True Person.

This step isn't actually difficult for most people; it's merely a matter of whether the cultivator dares to gamble on the probability between life and death and whether they have the luck to succeed.

However, for Lü Yang, this was an insurmountable chasm.

“Because once I die, I immediately restart!”

After restarting, everything returns to the beginning—what talk is there of shedding after death?

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

All along, the 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】 had been his greatest reliance.

No matter what danger he encountered, he had the confidence to face it, at worst starting over.

Unexpectedly, the 【Book of a Hundred Lifetimes】 had become an obstacle to his further progress!