Chapter 89: Surpassing Death, Xiao Shiye

“If I can truly refine a guardian spirit that mimics Foundation Establishment, it would greatly aid my own breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, increasing my chances by at least thirty percent!”

Lü Yang sat cross-legged, pondering in his heart:

“Not only that, but more importantly, the guardian spirit would carry complete karmic ties, allowing me to sever them when necessary and shift the karma of the Witch Ghost Path onto it.”

“Although this means that the cultivation fortune obtained from Stealing Heaven’s Secrets cannot be used for Foundation Establishment and must be invested in the guardian spirit, with a guardian spirit, combined with third-grade true qi, 【Corpse Dissolution Immortal】, 【Saintly Thief】, and 【Thought-Severing Heaven-Seeing Silkworm Secret】, I still have a seventy percent chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment!”

If I obtain the Ascension Order, that would make it eighty percent!

“Moreover, according to Ancestor Nether Wishper, the more preparation before Foundation Establishment, the higher the success rate, and the greater the benefits after breaking through.”

“This pertains to the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm.”

“So-called Foundation Establishment is essentially a gamble with one's life; there are even those who attempt it with only a thirty or forty percent chance, relying on sheer luck to succeed.”

“However, breakthroughs achieved through such gambles are not without cost. The less preparation beforehand, the lower the success rate, indicating that the Dao injuries sustained during Foundation Establishment are more severe. Especially after Foundation Establishment, these Dao injuries become deeply ingrained, hindering further advancement unless removed.”

“The entire early stage of Foundation Establishment cultivation is actually a healing process.”

“Conversely, if you are well-prepared and attempt the breakthrough with a seventy or eighty percent chance, the corresponding healing time after success will be significantly reduced.”

“If you have a full hundred percent chance before breaking through, then upon success, you will have perfected the early stage of Foundation Establishment and can look forward to the mid-stage.”

“In the cultivation world, this method of breakthrough is also known as ‘Perfect Foundation Establishment,’ generally only attempted by the direct disciples of True Lords.”

This is also normal.

It should be noted that Lü Yang has come this far through multiple lifetimes of arduous cultivation, and at best, he has an eighty percent chance of breaking through to Foundation Establishment; the remaining twenty percent is still unaccounted for.

This is not due to a lack of talent but purely a matter of background.

After all, ‘Perfect Foundation Establishment’ requires an overwhelming amount of resources, which ordinary people simply cannot achieve. Perhaps only the direct disciples of Golden Core True Lords can mobilize such resources.

However, despite this, Lü Yang does not intend to pursue the so-called ‘Perfect Foundation Establishment.’

“Although ‘Perfect Foundation Establishment’ sounds impressive, it merely saves cultivation time. I have no need to be fixated on it.”

“An eighty percent chance is sufficient to take the plunge!”

“Break through first, then talk!”

As the saying goes, “Only by standing tall can one see far.” Many matters can only be addressed after becoming a Foundation Establishment True Person; the benefits of breaking through first are self-evident.

Having made up his mind, Lü Yang no longer hesitated.

“Judging by the time, Yu Suzhen should be almost done. If the old master of Mending Heaven Peak is truly willing to act, she has probably succeeded by now.”

Lü Yang formed a hand seal with one hand and once again calculated Yu Suzhen’s recent situation.

Primordial Saint Sect, Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.

Within a secret realm, an ancient bronze hall, Yu Suzhen sat suspended in mid-air, her thin garments unable to conceal the crimson hue emerging on her skin.

On the other side, Xiao Shiye’s eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted with struggle, as if enduring something. His robust body emitted intense yang energy, forming a stark contrast with Yu Suzhen’s overwhelming yin energy. For a moment, the convergence of yin and yang was evident.

“Despicable scoundrel!”

In the next second, Yu Suzhen’s voice turned icy as she shattered the bronze coffin at the center of the secret realm with a palm strike, her face visibly burning with intense anger.

Xiao Shiye was even more terrified upon seeing this.

However, amidst his fear, a strange sensation quietly emerged in his heart due to Yu Suzhen’s resistance, making it increasingly difficult for him to control himself.

The incident originated from a treasure hunt in the secret realm.

Relying on immense fortune, he was the first to enter the core of the secret realm, only to find that Yu Suzhen was just a step behind, forcibly seizing his opportunity.

As it turned out, the inheritance left by the secret realm’s master concealed a trap. After obtaining the inheritance, it required the harmonization of yin and yang energies; otherwise, imbalance would lead to immediate death.

At this moment, only Xiao Shiye and Yu Suzhen were present in the core of the secret realm—a lone man and woman—what would happen was self-evident.

Thinking of this, Xiao Shiye instinctively stood up.

“Don’t come any closer!”

On the other side, Yu Suzhen almost immediately cried out in alarm. However, her misty eyes and flushed skin lacked any convincing deterrent.

This only made Xiao Shiye more excited.

The two drew closer, and the yin and yang energies completely merged. In the next second, Xiao Shiye saw a fair, jade-like arm wrap around his neck.

In an instant, a fragrant scent enveloped him.

Yu Suzhen’s weak voice, tinged with a sigh, still echoed in Xiao Shiye’s ear: “Little thief, if you dare touch me, I will take your life in the future!”

This sentence instantly triggered Xiao Shiye’s rebellious psyche.

He had heard of Yu Suzhen, the renowned Fairy Suzhen, exceptionally talented, surpassing many disciples at a young age, having reached the late stage of Qi Refining.

In contrast, he was merely an unknown cultivator in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

From the moment they entered the secret realm, Yu Suzhen had maintained this cold demeanor, never acknowledging him, even forcibly taking his opportunity.

This was intolerable!

“I’ll touch you—what can you do about it?”

Xiao Shiye’s eyes turned blood-red. In a fit of rage, he abandoned all the unease and self-restraint that had arisen, grabbed her forcefully, and began the act.

Yin and yang intertwined, day and night unceasing.

Several days later, Yu Suzhen finally awoke, engaged in another bout of entanglement with Xiao Shiye, but ultimately chose to let him go, even saving his life.

From then on, the two formed an inseparable bond.

Since then, Xiao Shiye could not forget Yu Suzhen.

Especially when he occasionally saw the cold fairy appear before others, he couldn’t help but recall the passion hidden beneath her icy exterior.

Under the influence of his lower desires, Xiao Shiye’s choice was clear: he wanted to become stronger! Strong enough to stand before Yu Suzhen again and openly become her Dao companion!

Driven by this thought, Xiao Shiye arrived at the sect’s Merit Pool.

Having hit rock bottom, any direction was upward.

Take a gamble!

In places unseen by mortals, Xiao Shiye’s soaring fortune burned intensely at this moment, eliciting a response from the Merit Pool.

“This time, I must win!”

“I’ve invested all my contribution points this year; at least give me a gold one?”

“If not gold, at least a purple one as a consolation…”

Under the intense, red-eyed gaze of numerous sect disciples, the Merit Pool revealed its results, and a seven-colored light burst forth!

“Jackpot! Jackpot!”

In an instant, the crowd erupted.

Almost everyone’s gaze immediately focused on Xiao Shiye, now bathed in colorful light, their eyes filled with jealousy, anger, and murderous intent, barely concealed.

Damn it, who is this guy!?

Xiao Shiye paid no attention to them, his face beaming with excitement as he received the colorful Merit Fish that landed in his hand, affectionately rubbing it against his palm.

With this, he could turn his life around!

That cold and proud Fairy Suzhen would surely see him in a new light!

Sensing the envious and greedy stares around him, Xiao Shiye didn’t hesitate. He swallowed the Merit Fish whole and began refining it on the spot.

In the next second, silence fell.

“…”

All the anger, jealousy, and greed vanished. Every sect disciple, including Xiao Shiye, ceased thinking, as if time had stopped.

A figure embodying all the colors of heaven and earth quietly appeared.

It was none other than Daoist Hong Yun.

“Seems like this bait yielded a good catch.”

Daoist Hong Yun looked at Xiao Shiye, nodding in satisfaction.

With the fortune from the colorful Merit Fish, he could alleviate his urgent needs.

With this thought, he immediately prepared to retrieve Xiao Shiye and extract his fortune.

However, he quickly froze.

Because when he extended his divine sense into Xiao Shiye’s body, he found it empty—his true qi and vitality had vanished.

He was dead.

Where’s the fish I caught? That big one?

Daoist Hong Yun’s smile stiffened, his face turning visibly ashen, staring at Xiao Shiye’s corpse in shock and fury.

In the next second, Daoist Hong Yun calculated with his fingers, then laughed in extreme anger:

“How bold!!!”