Chapter 153: All Karmic Ties Concluded

Moral blackmail—

It would never disappear.

But if you had no morals, then it could never bind you!

The Yin-Yang Law Sect was annihilated.

Countless handsome men and beautiful women were sucked into the Human Sovereign Banner. Lu Ye figured that since the Hehuan Sect had opened branches all across the Great Wilderness, it was only natural to open one inside the banner too.

And with such high quality, plenty of souls would definitely go in willingly.

Just thinking about it, Lu Ye couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.

No one helped clean up the battlefield this time, so Lu Ye had to work hard on his own.

Next stop: Heaven Pavilion!

Heaven Pavilion was located in a miniature world atop Heavenly Mountain. Normally, it was as elusive as a celestial mirage.

Lu Ye wasn’t planning to destroy Heaven Pavilion. In fact, there should’ve been a somewhat amicable relationship between him and Heaven Pavilion.

In his past life, he had obtained the Seven-Colored Heavenly Lotus from them.

When he was besieged, Heaven Pavilion hadn’t even joined the assault.

It was just that some fool from Heaven Pavilion had shown up, intent on watching the spectacle—only to end up watching himself straight to death.

News of the Yin-Yang Law Sect’s fall spread swiftly across the First Heaven.

Every cultivator in the Great Wilderness felt numb at this point.

The Eternal Teachings Sect had already fallen—so what if the Yin-Yang Law Sect was wiped out too?

As long as the Hehuan Sect didn’t collapse, they could live with it.

Lu Ye’s figure appeared outside Heaven Pavilion.

An old man and a youth were already waiting for him.

“This poor Daoist is Wangyou. I greet Fellow Daoist Lu Ye,” said the Daoist, bowing politely.

“This junior is Li Huaiyu. I greet Fellow Daoist Lu Ye as well.”

Lu Ye returned the salute with a smile.

“I wonder what brings Fellow Daoist to Heaven Pavilion this day?” Daoist Wangyou asked with a smile, not the least bit nervous.

Li Huaiyu, on the other hand, was a little anxious. He had a particularly good impression of Lu Ye, thinking him a good man—also ridiculously strong. Truly the number one among the younger generation.

He had bragged a little to his senior brother upon returning.

Who would’ve thought that senior brother of his refused to accept it and went to challenge Lu Ye...

Li Huaiyu was worried that incident might have left Lu Ye with a grudge against Heaven Pavilion.

“No need to be nervous, Fellow Daoist Li. I’m not here for slaughter today—I’ve come seeking a Seven-Colored Heavenly Lotus for my cultivation. Daoist Wangyou, I wonder if Heaven Pavilion still has one?” Lu Ye asked with a smile.

“There is indeed one left. If you need it, Fellow Daoist, we are happy to gift it to you,” said Daoist Wangyou, smiling warmly.

“I couldn’t possibly. I’ve never had the habit of taking things for free. Right now, I’ve got the treasures of the Eternal Teachings Sect and Yin-Yang Law Sect in my hands. If there’s anything you need, Daoist Wangyou, just ask. If I have it, I’ll trade it.”

Daoist Wangyou thought for a moment.

“Fellow Daoist, are you skilled in formations?”

“I know a bit.”

“If you would be willing to instruct my disciple here, then I’ll give you the Seven-Colored Heavenly Lotus in exchange. What do you say?” Daoist Wangyou smiled.

Lu Ye glanced at Li Huaiyu—so the kid was really favored, huh?

“Agreed.”

“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!”

Without further delay, Lu Ye took out a blank jade slip. Using his divine sense as a pen, he inscribed roughly one percent of the formation insights in his mind into the slip.

Daoist Wangyou was stunned.

He was doing it on the spot?

Didn’t even need to think?

Well, he was ranked first on the Myriad Ancient Heaven’s Proud Sons list. Being a monstrous genius was to be expected.

Fifteen minutes later—

Lu Ye finished engraving.

“Alright, take a look, see if you’re satisfied.” Lu Ye handed over the jade slip.

“Let my disciple examine it. You’ll have to forgive me—when it comes to formations, I truly don’t have a clue. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been so desperate for someone to teach him,” said Daoist Wangyou helplessly.

Lu Ye chuckled.

“It’s true—having a layman teach a specialist really is torture.”

Honestly, chatting with Daoist Wangyou felt unexpectedly pleasant.

His whole body relaxed.

Even his smiles came more frequently than usual.

Perhaps it was because Daoist Wangyou’s temperament was exceptionally calm—unmoved by gain or loss. That state of mind seemed to draw Lu Ye into it as well.

“Come inside Heaven Pavilion for a chat. To be honest, Fellow Daoist, it’s been centuries since anyone from outside has stepped foot in here.”

“You’re living like a recluse.”

“Haha, recluse? Hardly. Just tucked away in a quiet corner. I’ve long grown indifferent to the strife of the cultivation world. All I want now is to dwell in this peaceful place, contemplate the Dao, examine myself—and find endless joy in it.”

“Your words are wonderful indeed. To watch the mountains and rivers, the struggles of mankind, the rise and fall of storms... all of it passes in an instant. Only the eternal Dao and the true self bring lasting joy. That’s where true freedom lies.”

Daoist Wangyou looked at Lu Ye in mild surprise.

By all accounts, Lu Ye was at the age where, if he didn’t fight one day, he’d itch for it; if he didn’t fight two days, his whole body would be crawling.

But to think he could already speak such words of insight...

Li Huaiyu didn’t quite understand the conversation, but soon, he was completely immersed in the jade slip Lu Ye had given him.

Formations!

An endless sea of formation Dao mysteries.

If his own understanding was like a single star, then Lu Ye’s casual brushstroke had laid out a whole galaxy in front of him—in just fifteen minutes.

Lu Ye and Daoist Wangyou chatted happily, and Lu Ye even stayed for tea in Heaven Pavilion.

After receiving the Seven-Colored Heavenly Lotus, Lu Ye took his leave.

“Are you heading to Netherworld next?” Daoist Wangyou asked with interest.

“That’s right. I still have unresolved karma with Netherworld. This trip is to settle it once and for all.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to. The day you defeated the allied foreign army, Netherworld had already packed up and fled,” Daoist Wangyou said with a laugh.

“They ran that fast?”

“Netherworld once had dealings with the Buddhist Sect.”

Hearing that, Lu Ye instantly understood.

In that case, fleeing quickly made perfect sense.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Lu Ye didn’t waste time. Even if Netherworld had fled, he still had to check. Chatting with Daoist Wangyou hadn’t been an intentional delay—both had simply spoken from the heart and gotten carried away.

To have someone to discuss the Dao with—that was what made life meaningful.

Arriving at the place where Netherworld once was—

Sure enough, it had been completely cleaned out. Not even a stone remained.

Lu Ye closed his eyes and used a few secret techniques to divine the heavenly patterns.

They’d indeed fled long ago.

So be it.

Lu Ye couldn’t be bothered to chase them.

With that, all karmic ties in the First Heaven seemed to have reached their end.

As for the matters with those women—those were karmas of his previous life. In this life, Lu Ye truly hadn’t formed any such ties with them yet.

The three divine treasures needed to condense his fourth life had all been acquired:

The Divine-Sealing Jade Tree, obtained from the Eternal Teachings Sect’s treasury.

The Golden Sky Stone, obtained from the Yin-Yang Law Sect’s vault.

The Seven-Colored Heavenly Lotus, obtained in exchange from Heaven Pavilion.

Now, it was time to devote himself to cultivation, cross the tribulation, condense his next life, ascend to the Second Heaven—

And kill!

Ding. Simulation complete. Host may now review the contents of the Path-Hiding Technique!