Leading the disciples of the Primordial Saint Sect to destroy the Divine Martial Sect.

This was the news brought by True Person Yinshan, clearly showing that behind it, True Person Chong Guang was making his move again, spending great effort to support him once more.

Lü Yang naturally accepted this with a delighted smile.

After all, as a major sect in the northern border, the Divine Martial Sect’s merit and fortune had always been something many envied, and it was not easy for True Person Chong Guang to secure this opportunity for him.

Because this concerned the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Generally speaking, the most important thing in Foundation Establishment cultivation was to seek the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends, to integrate them with one's innate divine abilities, but the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends were born of heaven and earth.

How to seek them? Where to find them?

Not to mention that different True Persons and different Dao Foundations had completely different requirements for Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends. Sometimes, even if found, they might not be usable.

For example, Lü Yang still had a 【Heavenly Corpse Fiend】 in his possession, with its Earth Fiend position being 【Zhi Xu】, but it was incompatible with his 【Myriad Chariots Dragon-Riding Dao Foundation】. If he forced it to integrate, there was a ninety percent chance it would explode due to conflicting divine abilities. Even if it succeeded, there would always be a risk of backlash.

Therefore, the search for Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends was the second great challenge faced by Foundation Establishment True Persons.

And the method to solve this challenge was, in fact, quite simple—merit and fortune.

If your fortune was strong enough and your blessings were deep enough, your wishes would naturally come true.

Just like those children of destiny.

When your merit and fortune were high enough, you didn’t even need to search. The Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends would gather before your eyes on their own, feeding the meal right to your mouth.

That was why all the great immortal clans and immortal sects existed.

Any Foundation Establishment True Person was rarely a rogue cultivator.

Almost all would establish sects or clans, not for any other reason but to accumulate merit and fortune.

When a sect prospered and a clan flourished, fortune would naturally gather.

With the proper mystical methods, the fortune of an entire sect or clan could be concentrated on a single person, thereby increasing the chances of finding Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends.

Of course, there were also rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Most of these rogue cultivators stumbled upon great fortune but lacked complete traditions, so they had no methods to accumulate fortune and ultimately could only choose to seek refuge in great sects and immortal clans.

Like True Person Panlong of the past, now known as Fulong Arhat.

After sending off True Person Yinshan, Lü Yang reviewed his trump cards again. Among his great divine abilities, only the 【Twelve Capitals Heavenly God Fiend Secret Demon Tribulation Light】 was still usable.

His innate divine ability had already been condensed, and he also had the Heaven-Seeking Instrument as a spiritual treasure.

Besides that, there were the Qi-devouring insects he had cultivated over thirty years, now numbering one hundred and forty million, which could be considered a sharp weapon.

"Still feels unstable."

Lü Yang rubbed his brow.

Although the Heaven-Seeking Instrument could be used in battles, it ultimately lacked direct destructive power and did not align with his innate divine ability.

His advantage was still not great enough and needed to be expanded.

If possible, he really wanted to see the Divine Martial Sect’s mountain gate explode right now.

"... Is there any other opportunity?"

Lü Yang racked his brains, thinking bitterly until his eyes suddenly lit up: "... I remember now, Chen Xin'an seemed to have mentioned an opportunity back then..."

It was said that there was a hidden treasure located on an island deep within the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds, named Gourd Island.

At that time, he had been wary of Chen Xin'an and did not pursue it. Now, before heading to the Divine Martial Sect, he might as well try his luck. Perhaps he could pick up a bargain.

Moreover, as a True Person, exploring a hidden treasure spoken of by a Qi Refining cultivator was almost certain success.

With this thought, Lü Yang set off immediately.

Using the Heaven-Seeking Instrument to conceal causality and deduce heavenly secrets, Lü Yang only needed a brief calculation to determine the location of Gourd Island and arrived at an uninhabited region.

"Is this the place?"

Lü Yang stopped his escape light, opened his brow’s heavenly eye, and the treasure light of the Heaven-Seeking Instrument shone down, instantly dispersing the thick clouds and revealing a fiery red island.

The island had two distinct sections, small on top and large below, both circular, resembling a red gourd.

Gourd Island, true to its name.

"What opportunity lies within this place?" Lü Yang made a divination, but his expression gradually turned serious, and his previously relaxed brows slowly furrowed.

— He could not divine anything.

"Even with the Heaven-Seeking Instrument, I can’t divine anything!?"

Lü Yang turned his gaze, his brow’s Dharma Eye illuminating the heavenly light and casting it onto Gourd Island, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, revealing not the slightest anomaly.

"This island... is not ordinary!"

Lü Yang first marveled, then frowned again: "How could such a dangerous place be accessible to Qi Refining cultivators? Chen Xin'an clearly intended to harm me!"

But soon, Lü Yang changed his mind.

Now that Chen Xin'an had become his banner spirit, loyally lurking beside the Master of Mending Heaven Peak, and since this was something from many lifetimes ago, there was no need to hold a grudge. He wasn’t that petty.

"I’ll just count this debt on the Master of Mending Heaven Peak!"

Immediately after, Lü Yang took out the Myriad Spirits Banner.

With a shake of the flag, he summoned the Guardian Spirit Su Nu, and then held the King of Qi-devouring Insects in his palm.

Clearly, there was something wrong with Gourd Island.

Moreover, this was the Primordial Saint Sect, and every opportunity here more or less came with some hidden danger. Lü Yang had already suffered plenty of such losses.

So it was better to let Su Nu endure more hardship!

After all, Su Nu could endure hardship, so it was just right to let her endure a bit more.

He could also take the chance to see what his Qi-devouring Insect King, cultivated over thirty years, was capable of, and whether it could be used in future battles against other Foundation Establishment True Persons.

"Go with peace of mind."

As he finished speaking, Lü Yang waved his sleeve, and a violent wind directly swept up Su Nu and the Qi-devouring Insect King, unhesitatingly throwing them into Gourd Island.

Su Nu swallowed nervously and landed on Gourd Island with the Qi-devouring Insect King.

Boom!

In the next moment, the spiritual energy within Gourd Island seemed to sense some foreign entity, surging in like a mountain crashing down upon Su Nu.

However, this spiritual pressure was not very strong.

As long as one had the cultivation of Qi Refining Great Perfection, it was enough to withstand. For Su Nu, it felt like a gentle breeze brushing her face. But on second thought, if just entering the island required Qi Refining Great Perfection, what might be hidden deeper within the island?

"Go deeper."

Lü Yang issued the command.

Su Nu dared not disobey and boldly ventured deeper into Gourd Island.

Just to be safe, she used her divine sense to scan the surroundings as she went.

As the Guardian Spirit, Lü Yang’s connection with Su Nu was extremely close. With just a thought, he borrowed Su Nu’s perspective to see the interior of Gourd Island.

What he saw was a land littered with skeletons, their flesh melted away, and various severely damaged magical tools and robes scattered all around.

Was this... a battlefield?

Passing through layers of forest, a new scene appeared—a deep valley filled with radiant red light, clearly hiding some rare treasure.

Then he heard—

"Qi-devouring Insect, go in and have a look."

Su Nu looked seriously at the Qi-devouring Insect King in her hand: "Remember to report back to me if you see anything. I’ll be sure to credit you before the master in the future."

Through the connection with the Guardian Spirit, Lü Yang clearly sensed Su Nu’s thoughts:

‘This valley doesn’t seem right. It’s too dangerous for me to enter. I’ll let this insect go first. If it dies, it doesn’t matter, and it won’t compete with me for the master’s favor...’

Then, Lü Yang saw the Qi-devouring Insect King hesitate for a moment before actually shaking its head: "No rush, I’ll let my children go in first."

Likewise, Lü Yang sensed its thoughts:

‘This valley looks very dangerous. I barely survived until now and don’t want to die. Let my children go first, there are plenty of them anyway.’

Lü Yang: "..."

For a moment, Lü Yang felt heartbroken.

Avoiding responsibility when trouble arose—how could they carry the burden forward like this?

If you don’t carry the burden forward, how can I enjoy peace and quiet?

They say that those who associate with excellence become excellent themselves, yet these two Guardian Spirits had been by his side for so long and hadn’t learned a single good thing!?