Relying on the familiarity built over multiple lifetis, Lü Yang quickly eased into conversation with Zhao Xuhe—offering him sothing he had not felt in years: respect.
To be honest, it was a feeling Zhao Xuhe barely rembered anymore.
Ever since the price of the Death-Warding Skeleton collapsed beyond prediction, Panlong Island vanished without warning, and even the karmic traces slipped out of the Master of Heaven nding Peak’s calculations, his fortunes had spiraled.
His master grew increasingly disappointed. His cultivation stagnated. Ten years passed—and yet he remained stuck at the Mid-phase of Qi Refining, unable to take even half a step forward. If one could call anything fortunate, it was that his master severed his marriage contract to his junior sister, sparing her from sharing his downfall.
The chill of human hearts—Zhao Xuhe had experienced it thoroughly.
Thus, when he learned Lü Yang had sold off the Death-Warding Skeleton at its peak and achieved financial freedom, his eyes reddened with envy.
"Junior Brother Lü... your Dao Heart stands firm—unmoved by the temptations of wealth. Your future is boundless. It’s just a pity that back then... I lacked your resolve."
"Senior Brother, you are too harsh on yourself."
Lü Yang comforted him gently. "One’s fortunes do not hinge on a single loss. As long as you stay true to the Dao of cultivation, temporary setbacks are aningless."
"You’re right."
A spark flickered in Zhao Xuhe’s gaze—followed by hesitation. He stole a glance at Lü Yang, lips parting, closing again.
A silent plea.
A request for money.
Lü Yang caught it instantly—and smiled. Since Zhao Xuhe would not ask, he would not offer. Gifts too easily obtained were never treasured.
Just then, a voice bood across the flying boat:
"We’ve arrived at Skull Mountain!"
Skull Mountains, Northern Border.
It was an entire mountain range spanning hundreds of miles—its peaks surging like waves, Qi rising everywhere.
The Stain Sect had intentionally built a marketplace here. Though far inferior to the Sea of Clouds, for ordinary loose cultivators, this was already sacred land. And at the heart of the range lay the White Bone Cave—the marketplace itself.
"The Feng Shui here is truly a land of extre Yin."
From the deck, Lü Yang’s gaze pierced the terrain. "Anyone buried here will turn into a zombie within ten years..."
"Junior Brother has sharp eyes."
Light shimred as Fairy Feixia erged. "That is precisely why the sect sent us—to maintain order."
"Every thirty years, a great tide of zombies erupts here. Mindless, driven only to devour the living. A threat, yes—but also an opportunity. Zombies are premium materials for refining artifacts."
She continued:
"The marketplace is fortified by the ’Hundred Bones Grand Array.’ Fellow Daoist Lu and Fellow Daoist Chen will guard two of the array nodes. As for the remaining two—shall we each take one?"
"I follow Senior Sister’s arrangents."
Feixia nodded—then her brows tightened as she glanced toward Zhao Xuhe, who stood beside Lü Yang with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"What is it?" Lü Yang asked curiously. "Senior Sister knows Senior Brother Zhao?"
"...No."
Feixia withdrew her gaze indifferently, then smiled softly at Lü Yang. "In the future, I will rely on Junior Brother’s guidance."
With that, she turned into a beam of light and departed.
Zhao Xuhe stood frozen—expression tangled—finally realizing:
Lü Yang, entrusted with a marketplace node... was far beyond the Mid-phase cultivation he appeared to have.
"Senior Brother Zhao?"
Lü Yang’s voice snapped him back. Joy, sha, longing, and fear rippled across Zhao Xuhe’s features. His lips trembled before he lowered himself into a deep bow.
"Master."
Lü Yang blinked helplessly. "Senior Brother Zhao... I have official duties. If you encounter difficulties, contact anyti."
He transford into a streak of sword light and vanished.
Zhao Xuhe remained—emotions swirling—then slowly steadied, eyes turning contemplative.
"He’s wary of . I pushed too hard."
Entering the marketplace, Lü Yang chuckled. "But as expected... Zhao Xuhe ca here with purpose."
"Very well. Very well."
"In this lifeti, I shall treat him as a true friend."
Caution was expected. Lü Yang had patience.
If necessary, he could live out this life just to earn Zhao Xuhe’s trust—building intelligence, laying the foundation for the next life.
In thought, he arrived at a tall pavilion—one of the four array nodes. Qi surged here like a pool, nearly one-third as dense as the sect’s own cave mansions.
"Blood River Sword Array—activate."
With a flick of his sleeve, the Blood Sun Sword Pill shot forth, anchoring itself in the center.
Scarlet runes unfurled.
Although the ’Hundred Bones Grand Array’ was profound, Lü Yang occupied only one node—and as an Array Master, he refused to entrust his life entirely to another’s array.
"I have too many secrets to expose."
"And the marketplace has stood for years; its protections are already common knowledge."
Anything predictable was vulnerable.
When enemies ca, they would co prepared to break this array.
But instead of rejecting it outright, Lü Yang constructed the Blood River Sword Array within the the Hundred Bones Grand Array as his hidden trump card.
When finished, he nodded with satisfaction.
With a flourish, he inscribed three bold characters onto the pavilion:
"Blood Robe Tower."
A public identity. A place to stand.
Soon thereafter, over a dozen streaks of light swept toward him—Stain Sect disciples assigned to his jurisdiction, cultivations mostly Early to Mid-phase, all here to complete tasks.
They landed and saluted, facing the blood-robed youth by the terrace rail—handso, composed, eyes faintly amused.
"Greetings, Tower Master!"
Even among disciples, titles mattered outside the sect.
Especially Lü had the cultivation of Late-phase Qi Refining.
"No need for ceremony."
Lü Yang regarded them silently. Not bad—all expendable. No prodigies.
Aside from resolute cultivators like Lü and Feixia, most who accepted external postings had diocre talent, poor prospects, or lacked the resources to advance further.
"If I wished, a single sword strike would kill them all."
Others might lant such subordinates—but Lü Yang found comfort in the weakness surrounding him.
"Dismissed. Handle routine matters yourselves. No need to report over trifles."
The audience ended. The Blood Robe Tower sealed.
Lü Yang sat to cultivate—waiting for his opportunity at Foundation Establishnt.
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