Chapter 453: Chapter 453: 5 Golden Talents

[Tallying experience for ’Exorcist’...]

[You were a prodigy of the Sword Pavilion, but your brilliance was overshadowed by another. Forced to hide in the shadows, unknown to the world, your heart filled with jealousy...]

Words floated into view on the Centome’s interface.

The first was Exorcist Zhenren. When it came to this Foundation Establishment Perfection Grand Zhenren from the Sword Pavilion, his life could only be described as tragic.

’Exorcist Zhenren and Demon-Vanquishing Perfected were of the same generation, so naturally, his own brilliance was suppressed from a young age. He only felt a little more balanced when Demon-Vanquishing Perfected switched to cultivating the Sword Dao, as it meant the latter’s path to the Dao was severed. But then Ang Xiao came along, and he became the clown...’

Because he cultivated the Fruit of Pewter Metal!

At the time, Exorcist Zhenren was on the verge of a breakdown: ’Here I was, mocking Demon-Vanquishing Perfected for his severed path, but it turns out I don’t have a path forward either!’

Who could handle that?

[You have obtained the Golden Talent - Fool!]

[Fool: You can actively reduce your presence. The more people there are where you are, the harder it is for anyone to notice your existence.]

’A bit like the Veil of the Trees...’

’Although it’s not as versatile as the genuine Veil of the Trees and has significant limitations, it’s still a powerful tool. Used correctly, it could have extraordinary results.’

[Tallying experience for ’Wu Taian’...]

[You are the Southern King of the Dao Court, from a collateral branch of the Celestial Wu Royal Family. As the younger brother of the Daoist Court Emperor, you have always harbored a secret ambition to become the Emperor yourself...]

The tally for the second Gold Attribute was complete.

Lü Yang’s eyes lit up with great interest as he looked at the densely packed records of "Wu Taian’s" life on the panel.

’The Dao Court... It’s always been so mysterious!’

’Even during the recent chaos that swept the world, the Dao Court never made a move. The entire East sealed its borders, making it difficult for outsiders to understand its internal structure.’

’The details from Wu Taian’s life would fill this gap in his knowledge perfectly. After all, he had never underestimated the Dao Court. One simple fact proved it: in the aftermath of the great chaos, the Dao Court had likely become the single strongest power in the world!’

’And All True Monarchs hadn’t even reappeared in the world yet!’ 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

’Yet, aside from the Dao Court, the other three great houses had no one left who could attempt Seeking Gold. Jun Tong and Demon Subduing Zhenren had only just reached Foundation Establishment Perfection; for them to try Seeking Gold now was too much of a stretch.’

’Only the Dao Court had suffered minimal losses.’

’If nothing else, the Dao Court’s Crown Prince, the one with the highest Position, certainly has a chance at Seeking Gold! I just don’t know why he hasn’t tried...’

Just then, words abruptly appeared on the Centome’s panel:

[You have obtained the Golden Talent - Ambition!]

[Ambition: The more outstanding you appear in your superior’s eyes and the more they value you, the greater the bonus you receive when you backstab them.]

"This..."

Lü Yang’s expression grew strange. The ’backstab bonus’ from this Golden Talent was a comprehensive enhancement, boosting everything from his Abilities and Mana to his Qi.

It could go as high as double!

In other words, if he could maximize the bonus while backstabbing, he could instantly double his power!

It might only be a twofold increase, but... when combined with the element of surprise from the backstab, this sudden doubling of power could allow him to kill in a single strike, leaving his opponent no chance to turn the tables!

’What a talent for a rebellious heir...’

Lü Yang rubbed his chin and looked back at the Centome.

The next to be tallied was the Gold Attribute from the Buddha’s Son’s Dharma Appearance. Unlike the previous two, the Dharma Appearance itself didn’t have a complex history; the description was over in just a few lines.

[You have obtained the Golden Talent - Reincarnated Spirit Child!]

[Reincarnated Spirit Child: You can transform yourself into a ’Primordial Spirit’ and, without being detected, inhabit another person, using their body as a shell to hide yourself.]

’Puppet-lite?’

Lü Yang frowned slightly, but then he quickly realized. ’No, their focus is just different. The strength of Puppet lies in greater numbers and a wider range.’

’In comparison, while Reincarnated Spirit Child can only possess one person, it allows me to hide my true self, and the possession goes undetected. It’s a perfect way to conceal myself in the shadows. If I use it in conjunction with Puppet, no one could possibly detect the mastermind pulling the strings...’

The more Lü Yang thought about it, the stranger he felt.

Why did it feel like these newly tallied Talents were turning him more and more into a storybook villain? He had always aspired to be a good person.

Immediately after, the Centome vibrated once more.

This time, the Gold Attributes from Xiang Ye and the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter were being tallied.

[You have obtained the Golden Talent - I am the Vanguard!]

[I am the Vanguard: When you do something that no one around you dares to do, you will receive a boost to your Fortune. The more difficult the task, the greater the Fortune.]

[You have obtained the Golden Talent - Blessings Overflowing!]

[Blessings Overflowing!: You can accumulate your Fortune, convert it into ’bad luck’ and ’good luck’, and assign it to yourself or others.]

’So many... far too many...’

Lü Yang let out a satisfied grunt, his senses reeling. He felt as though his very spirit was being inundated by the Talents pouring from the Centome.

After all, his status panel was now frighteningly impressive.

[Name: Lü Yang]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Perfection]

[Talent Skill: Cultivation Genius (White), Got a Pair (Purple), Innate Immortal Spirit (Golden), Puppet (Golden), Divination Lottery (Golden), True Dragon Bloodline (Golden), Dragon-Stripping Platform (Golden), Cuckoo’s Nest (Golden), Fool (Golden), Ambition (Golden), Reincarnated Spirit Child (Golden), I am the Vanguard (Golden), Blessings Overflowing (Golden)]

[Blessed Land: Heaven’s Grace and Earth’s Favor Geng Metal Blessed Land, Profound City Blessed Land]

[Abilities: Exquisite Heart, Holding True Qi, Huiyuan Skill, Heavenly Order, With the World, Master of Weapons, Wan Jin Gong, Su Xuan Frost, Heaven-Sounding Bell, Heaven and Earth’s Authority of Killing.]

[Artifacts: Qian Heaven All-Encompassing (Second Grade)]

[Available Leaves of Centome: 91]

Look at that! Just look at my haul from this life!

’To say nothing of the Talents, which have basically doubled.’

’As for my Abilities, apart from the ones I obtained from the Seven Luminaries Heaven, I reclaimed all the others from the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter using Cuckoo’s Nest.’

Lü Yang felt a surge of excitement at the thought.

’I’ve come this far in this life. There’s nothing left to hold onto.’

Lü Yang looked down at his body. The Heavenly God had raised the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter well. All its Abilities were intact and its Gold Attributes were complete. He could attempt Seeking Gold almost immediately.

’Why not... give it a try?’

I’m going to have to restart anyway, so why not make a run for the Golden Position before I do!

’Up until now, I’ve only been an observer while others attempted Seeking Gold. I’ve never actually experienced it. I still know nothing about the difficulties and dangers involved...’

Lü Yang never fought a battle he wasn’t prepared for.

According to his plan, he would definitely strive to become a Perfected Lord in his next life. Since this life was nearing its end, he might as well put it to good use—waste not, want not—to benefit his next one!

’If I succeed, that would be ideal. I could bring the Grotto Heaven directly into my next life and start as a Perfected Lord.’

"Even if I fail, it’s a chance for some trial and error. If I happen to uncover any pitfalls in Seeking Gold, I’ll be able to figure out how to deal with them in my next life."

With that thought, Lü Yang hesitated no longer.

Time to Seek Gold!

To attain the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood!