Chapter 266: Chapter 266: Seeking Gold Is Certain Death?

Although Lü Yang was no longer dwelling on it, his guess had been correct. A magnificent Perfected Lord would never make a move over a mere junior.

Lü Yang was just a pretext.

The person who had truly contacted Ang Xiao the Sun Veiler—using the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, an Outer Realm where karmic links were difficult to trace, as a meeting point—was actually Summon.

If that weren’t the case, why would he have attacked Dragon King Sui Ying of the Four Seas Sect? Did people really think it was for a deal with that stupid woman, Miaoyin? His true target from beginning to end was the half-piece of Shade Dragon Water in Sui Ying’s hands! It was a piece of the Earth of Chen whose Yin and Yang had been reversed by Ang Xiao the Sun Veiler!

It was by using this that Summon had managed to contact the Perfected Lord.

Looking at Summon prostrated on the ground, the Perfected Lord spoke with an indifferent tone, seemingly unconcerned by his display of reverence. “You already possess a Gold-Seeking Technique. Why did you insist on seeing me?”

“Your insight is keen, Perfected Lord. I am terrified.”

Summon spoke, trembling. “Various Perfected Lords have approached me, wanting me to attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water and shatter Your Lordship’s Dao Lineage. I truly have no choice in the matter…”

Upon hearing this, the Perfected Lord gave Summon a serious look, then chuckled. “The Pure Land perfected your Blessed Land, the Stain Sect helped you sense the Fruit’s resonance, and the Dao Court blessed you with an Official Position. With these three powers working together to give you a sliver of a chance at Seeking Gold, ’no choice in the matter’ seems unlikely, wouldn’t you say?”

“It is an opportunity, but it is also a Tribulation.”

Keeping his head low, Summon continued, “The Fruit of Long-Flow Water concerns Your Lordship’s Great Dao. Even if I were to attain it, I would only be a Loose Cultivator. How could I possibly withstand your divine might?”

“I fear the moment of Attainment would be the moment of my death.”

“Therefore, I am willing to pledge myself to the Netherworld and serve before your throne, to act as your vanguard. I only ask that you grant me a chance at a True Fruit. I beg for your mercy, Perfected Lord.”

Summon’s tone was utterly debased.

Yet he saw nothing wrong with it. For a minor figure like him, how could he ever hope to succeed in Seeking Gold without being debased, without bowing his head, without casting aside all pride?

He hadn’t even locked his Spiritual Space.

Normally, when a Foundation-Stage Cultivator locked their Spiritual Space, it was impossible to open without special methods. Not even a Perfected Lord could casually perform a Soul Searching on them.

Yet at this moment, Summon had deliberately left his Spiritual Space wide open, exposing all his thoughts to the Perfected Lord before him as a show of sincerity.

For a moment, even the Perfected Lord fell silent.

Because Summon had put up no defenses, he easily read the man’s intentions. He found not a single stray thought; everything could be summarized in a single phrase:

’He wants to be my dog?’

After a moment of silence, the Perfected Lord finally smiled. “Good. You are a talent indeed… Since the other powers want you to attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, then go and do it.”

The moment he said this, Summon’s head swam.

’What!? He’s telling me to go attain it… He isn’t the least bit concerned!?’

For an instant, Summon felt a surge of panic. He had, in truth, considered how the Perfected Lord might react and had even made ample preparations.

He had even considered the possibility that the Perfected Lord would see his attainment of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water as an obstacle to his own Great Dao, and—too bothered to offer an Outer Heaven Cultivator like him a path of retreat into the Netherworld—simply slap him to death. That was why the one who came to the Ten Thousand Martial Realm was not his true body, but a refined incarnation.

But he had never, ever imagined that the Perfected Lord wouldn’t care!

Just a short while ago, this very Perfected Lord had been embroiled in the whole affair with Minor Metal’s Seeking Gold and the reversal of the world’s Earth of Chen, leading to a vicious battle against more than ten other Perfected Lords.

Under these circumstances, how could he possibly allow someone to attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water?

Seeing Summon’s wavering expression, the Perfected Lord smiled. “If you attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water and *then* enter my Netherworld, I will value you all the more.”

’He wants to draw the Fruit of Long-Flow Water into the Netherworld?’

’Is his true aim really reincarnation?’

Endless questions bloomed in Summon’s mind, but not a hint of it showed on his face. Instead, he adopted a look of profound gratitude, bowing his head. “Thank you for your mercy, Perfected Lord!”

“But, my Lord, my chances of success in Seeking Gold are truly slim…”

One only had to compare his situation to Minor Metal’s to see why.

What kind of advantages did Minor Metal have? A solid Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivation, a Blessed Land that was entirely his own, a patron at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, and countless capable subordinates.

And what about him? All alone. His Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivation was only thanks to a Dao Lineage blessing his Official Position. His Blessed Land was a half-ruined thing that had condensed from a collapsed Outer Realm, not something he’d refined himself. He had no patron to speak of. With this setup, even a sliver of hope for Seeking Gold was being optimistic!

So, he needed more!

He didn’t care what schemes this Perfected Lord was plotting. He had already approached three other powers; as long as it increased his chances of Seeking Gold, adding a fourth to the mix didn’t matter!

’It’s just that the Sword Pavilion is completely unreasonable, otherwise I would have approached them too…’

Among the Four Great Forces, the Sword Pavilion’s attitude toward Outer Heaven Cultivators was by far the harshest. They basically killed them on sight, euphemistically calling it “your Karma.”

From the Sword Pavilion’s perspective, Outer Heaven Cultivators were nothing but filth from beyond. Want to Seek Gold? Sure. ’Let us kill you, you can enter the cycle of reincarnation for a good cleansing, and once you’ve lost all memory of your past life, we will naturally come to guide you into our sect.’ Thus, even with Summon’s “in for a penny, in for a pound” mentality, he had never approached the Sword Pavilion.

“You certainly have some nerve.”

Summon’s brazen request for benefits made even the Perfected Lord raise an eyebrow. The moment the words left his mouth, this corner of Heaven and Earth seemed to freeze.

An immense spiritual pressure crashed down.

Yet Summon withstood the pressure. He pressed his body even lower, his forehead glued to the ground, and spoke in a steady, firm voice.

“I am simply unwilling to resign myself to fate. I seek a Pill Fruit… I beg for your mercy.”

His voice was the very picture of humility.

Yet the determination within it remained utterly unshaken by the Perfected Lord’s might.

“…Very well. I grant your request.”

The next second, the Perfected Lord let out a soft chuckle. In that instant, it was as if spring had returned to the land. The oppressive, killing atmosphere vanished like melting snow, as if it had never been there at all.

The Perfected Lord’s figure vanished without a trace. In his place floated a single drop of water. At first glance, it seemed no larger than a mustard seed, but a sweep of Divine Sense felt like plunging into a Vast Ocean, its currents twisting and turning, its surging source impossible to fathom.

Only then did Summon let out a long, deep breath.

He raised his head and saw the droplet suspended in the air. After a moment’s thought, a look of immense joy spread across his face. “This is a Treasure of Fruit Position!?”

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, the item’s information flooded his mind.

“Celestial Virtue Divine Water!”

As its name suggested, this water possessed the virtue of clarity and nourishment, along with the miraculous ability to aid the world and bestow boons. Consuming it could snatch one from the jaws of death, bring about great prosperity, and benefit all things.

“This is a Supreme Treasure for attracting the Fruit of Long-Flow Water!”

If he consumed this while Seeking Gold, it would cause the Fruit of Long-Flow Water to actively guide him. Wouldn’t that reduce the difficulty of ascending his Blessed Land by severalfold?

’Thirty percent. My chances should be thirty percent now!’

’He wasn’t feigning. He actually gave me this treasure. He truly wants me to attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water… Is he really not afraid that I’ll ruin his Great Dao?’

’Unless…’

At this thought, Summon’s expression grew grim. The joy that had just surfaced faded rapidly, replaced by a chilling coldness.

’All these powers are supporting me.’

’Do they really not mind the emergence of a Loose Cultivator True Monarch, an Outer Heaven Cultivator no less? Aren’t they worried that if I Deprive the Fruit, it will cause harm to Heaven and Earth?’

To be honest, he had expected this to be a task that would take over a hundred years to complete, with only the slimmest hope of success. He had undertaken it with the attitude of doing his best and leaving the rest to fate. Yet, so far, everything had gone incredibly smoothly. Almost every power he approached had agreed to his request without hesitation.

Although the conditions they set were harsh, they were all within the realm of what he could accept.

They didn’t even ask if he had been in contact with other factions. He had prepared a mountain of excuses, but he never had to use them.

’It’s all going too smoothly.’

The more Summon thought about it, the more horrified he became. He couldn’t help but glance around and give a bitter smile. He didn’t even know if the Perfected Lord was still watching him.

Summon raised his head, staring at the untouchable vault of heaven above. He could only swallow his doubts, not daring to voice the terrifying question:

’Are they really supporting me, or is everyone simply convinced… that my attempt at Seeking Gold is doomed to fail, and that I will die without a doubt?’

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