124 Breaking Out of the Seventh Dream

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Since he hadn't dug any graves in advance, after collecting his arrows, Yang Tang stripped all the members of the Heavenly Dragon Cult, including the female corpses of Yacha and Xiang'er, leaving them only with their undergarments. The male corpses were treated even worse, left only in their loincloths. He tossed them one by one, half-naked, onto the nearby treetops to be dried by the wind.

When he finally threw Xiang'er's body up, Yang Tang couldn't help but mutter, "If I had known it would come to this, I should have sent you to the Western Heaven back in Yangzhou. It would have saved me all this unnecessary trouble."

"Conversion complete. Obtained Kinnara's perfect singing voice. The fourth of the four perfect voices has been collected. Overall mission progress: 80%!"

Hearing the prompt from the Epiphany system, Yang Tang, who had just shot over a dozen people—some of whom he even knew—felt no joy. Feeling the emptiness of his fourth storage slot, he silently wrapped everyone's personal belongings into a bundle and burned their clothes to ashes.

Returning to his hut in Xiaoyao Valley, Yang Tang began to inspect the items he had scavenged from Mahoraga and the others. Yacha and Xiang'er, being women, had little on them. Kinnara had had his vocal cords removed, so Yang Tang hadn't felt right searching him thoroughly. Only Mahoraga had many bottles and jars, along with a manual for the "Ten Thousand Snake Grand Method."

Yang Tang tested the bottles and jars one by one; he discarded the antidotes and kept the poisons, as his "Immortal Sound Purification" rendered him immune to all toxins.

Throughout October, Yang Tang practiced all the martial arts routines he had learned—including the Tathagata Palm, Dog-Beating Staff Technique, and the Twelve Paths of Soul-Suppressing Kicks—to the tenth level. In truth, these techniques had already reached the seventh level, so he was simply capping them off.

As for his four internal energy arts—Golden Goose Skill, Shaolin Nine Yang Skill, Xiaoyao Heart Method, and Minor Formless Skill—Yang Tang had long since mastered them to the tenth level. By early November, to boost his health and internal energy, he began practicing the Ten Thousand Snake Grand Method. In the first ten days, he also purchased the "Faded Flower Treasure Mirror" from the Xiaoyao Valley shop, practicing both simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the half-naked corpses of the four masters of the Heavenly Dragon Cult were discovered in a forest outside Luoyang, causing a sensation in the martial world. However, as the killer could not be found, the matter eventually faded into obscurity.

In mid-November, using Old Hu's blacksmithing tools, Yang Tang finally forged the Fuxi Armor.

"Fuxi Armor: Defense +200, Absolute Hit, Hit Aura +50%."

In late November, at the instigation of Jiang Yu, Yang Tang went to White Horse Temple to stop King Likong from stealing the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra. In gratitude, the monks of White Horse Temple insisted on teaching him the Zen Sect Lotus Skill.

Entering December, Yang Tang spent the entire month practicing his three newly learned internal arts, occasionally blacksmithing as a diversion. During this time, perhaps as a natural progression, Old Hu guided him to successfully modify his Mother-Son Swords, reshaping them into a new dual-wielding weapon: "The Crying of the Bereaved Crow."

"The Crying of the Bereaved Crow: Attack +90, Combo: Absorbs 15% of health and internal energy upon attack."

"As long as every turn's attack hits, I can replenish health and internal energy." Yang Tang was speechless at this special effect. With this, the final shortcoming of his "Dual-Wielding Faded Flower Absolute Hit Combo/Chain-Kill Style"—the weak recovery of health and internal energy—had been fully addressed.

By the end of December, before participating in the Young Heroes Assembly, Yang Tang had already trained the Faded Flower Treasure Mirror to the tenth level.

Over the next half year, Yang Tang constantly consumed medicine, ate fish, and roamed the mountains and forests like a savage, engaging in endless combat. All seven internal arts and numerous martial routines were capped at the tenth level. Even after converting 4,999 points of health and internal energy each, his base attributes reached an astonishing 9,001 health, 9,999 internal energy, 1,417 attack, and 1,365 defense.

Equipped with his weapons and accessories—The Crying of the Bereaved Crow (+90 ATK), Fuxi Armor (+200 DEF), and Tortoise Statue (+100 DEF)—Yang Tang’s stats soared to 9,001 health, 9,999 internal energy, 1,507 attack, and 1,665 defense, supplemented by high evasion, life/energy steal, combo, chain-kill, and absolute hit effects.

In mid-June, Yang Tang accompanied his second senior brother, Jing Ji, to the Leshan Giant Buddha and helped him seize the Buddha Sword and Demon Blade.

On the Qixi Festival, Yang Tang went to meet Ren Qingxuan and naturally encountered the Sword Saint. After a brief sequence of events, Yang Tang knocked down the Sword Saint. Embarrassed but still putting on airs, the Sword Saint taught him the dual-wielding routine, the "Thirteen Styles of the Netherworld."

In August, Yang Tang, destined for the "Overlord" ending, betrayed Xiaoyao Valley and headed straight for the Heavenly Dragon Cult headquarters with Xuan Mingzi and Jing Ji.

The Heavenly Dragon Cult was currently controlled by the Dragon King and his faction. Of the original Eight Classes of the Heavenly Dragon, three supported the Dragon King: Mahoraga, Yacha, and Asura. The remaining three—Gandharva Xiang'er, Kinnara, and Garuda—supported the Heavenly King. Unfortunately for them, Mahoraga, Yacha, Gandharva, and Kinnara had been assassinated by Yang Tang over half a year ago, so the task of receiving Xuan Mingzi fell to Asura.

After some pleasantries, a cultist reported that the Heavenly King’s faction was colluding with righteous sects to obtain the other half of the Sanctuary Key. Xuan Mingzi proposed controlling all the righteous sects to cut off their support. In the process, he revealed the "Only-I-Alone-Command Pill," a recipe equivalent to the Three-Corpse Brain-Spirit Pill.

Asura naturally tasked Xuan Mingzi with preparing the medicine. Xuan Mingzi took Jing Ji and Yang Tang away from the cult’s lair, and after much effort, finally produced the pills.

Under the guise of testing the medicine, Jing Ji and Yang Tang were "rewarded" with one pill each. Xuan Mingzi chuckled inwardly at his cunning, unaware that Yang Tang had long since used his Immortal Sound Purification to neutralize the poison.

Following a series of battles and conspiracies, aside from the major sects like Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, and the Beggar Sect, every other sect in the martial world was either controlled by the pill and forced to kneel before the Heavenly Dragon Cult, or was wiped out. Once the deed was done, Xuan Mingzi told Jing Ji and Yang Tang there was one hidden force they had yet to deal with: Xiaoyao Valley.

After hesitating, Jing Ji and Yang Tang agreed to attack Xiaoyao Valley.

Upon arriving at the valley, as Gu Yuexuan and Old Hu fell together at Yang Tang's feet, Yang Tang felt a momentary trance. After all, these two, along with Jing Ji, were the people he had spent the most time with since entering this dream. For what grand purpose had he slaughtered even these close companions?

*No, that's not it. I must follow this path to escape the dream!*

Thinking this, Yang Tang teamed up with Xuan Mingzi and finished off Wuxiazi as well.

*I'm sorry, old master.*

While mourning Wuxiazi, Yang Tang didn't notice Xuan Mingzi eyeing Jing Ji, who hadn't dared to strike his master, deeming him too soft-hearted. On the way back to the Heavenly Dragon Cult, Jing Ji was pushed off a cliff, meeting a gruesome end.

Later, Yang Tang inadvertently learned that Xuan Mingzi refused to bow to anyone. After Xuan Mingzi staged a coup against the Dragon King and won a Pyrrhic victory, Yang Tang suddenly erupted in violence, striking him down on the spot with a hidden blade.

At that moment, a cultist ran over in a panic, glanced at Xuan Mingzi's corpse, and stammered, "Re-re-re-report, Protector Yang!"

"What is it?"

"Th-th-the Heavenly King has brought a massive force and is... is attacking the front gates!"

"Understood. You can go die now."

Yang Tang said this nonchalantly and crushed the cultist's skull with a wave of his hand.

At this moment, the Epiphany prompt arrived: "The final battle of the dream must be resolved in a formal combat scenario. The Dreamer may choose three teammates!"

Yang Tang felt a headache coming on, but he followed the instructions, selecting three teammates from the ranks of the pill-controlled cultists: Xia Houfei of the Blade Sect, Gong Guangjie of the Hundred Herbs Sect, and Ren Jiannan of the Sword-Forging Villa. Xia Houfei’s martial style increased teammate defense, Gong Guangjie was an essential healer, and Ren Jiannan was a finisher with a massive attack range, there to clean up anyone Yang Tang didn't kill in one blow.

Finally, on the drill grounds of the Heavenly Dragon Cult, the final act of Yang Tang's "Overlord" route began.

In truth, the guide noted two major difficulties: first, the Heavenly King, who possessed damage reflection, health regeneration, and protected all teammates within two tiles, making them nearly impossible to kill. Second, Gandharva and Kinnara, one being an incredible healer and the other a high-output monstrosity—though, fortunately, both had been killed by Yang Tang long ago.

Thus, at the start, Yang Tang used the Faded Flower Treasure Mirror’s high mobility to rush into the crowd. Reaching the Heavenly King, he unleashed his two-tile range ultimate, "Yama’s Brush," wounding half of the Heavenly King's teammates.

*Damn it, the Grandmaster difficulty is so frustrating. As long as they have some reputation, you can't one-shot them in a single turn!*

But it didn't matter. By wounding six or seven people, Yang Tang triggered the "Combo" effect, allowing him to strike again. He repositioned, found four half-health targets in a straight line, and with "Soul-Chasing and Spirit-Snatching," took out three, leaving one barely alive. He ignored the survivor. This time the "Combo" effect didn't trigger, but the "Chain-Kill" effect did. Yang Tang repositioned again, found another three half-health targets in a line, and with "Impermanence Claims Life," all three fell. "Combo" and "Chain-Kill" triggered simultaneously. Yang Tang retreated to take out the survivor. Once that one fell, another "Chain-Kill" triggered, but since the internal energy cost for moves doubled during a chain-kill, Yang Tang didn't go on a rampage and instead retreated to his own position.

Soon, the Black and White Impermanence, leaders of the Heavenly Dragon Cult's subsidiary Black Wind Fortress, arrived with a mob of minions to assist Yang Tang. The battlefield became chaos. Yang Tang worked with Black and White Impermanence to wear down the Heavenly King in a corner, while the other pill-controlled cultists swarmed in, isolating and devouring the Heavenly King's remaining forces.

Finally, the Heavenly King was focused down by Yang Tang and the cultists. At this moment, massive waves of reinforcements from the Huashan, Beggar, and Shaolin sects swarmed in. It didn't matter; Yang Tang received the Epiphany: "Dreamer has obtained the Overlord Infinity state!"

"Overlord Infinity: Damage doubled, infinite internal energy, 'Chain-Kill' effect active!"

Yang Tang cleared the minions in a single turn. When the Seven Sages of Woyou appeared, he was so deep in his killing frenzy that he ended up cutting down Immortal Sound and Flower Lover as well.

The moment he struck down Flower Lover, he felt a sharp pain in his head and screamed, "Ahhhhh!" He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he found himself standing amidst golden haze.

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Golden Goose Skill, Shaolin Nine Yang Skill, Xiaoyao Heart Method, Minor Formless Skill, Ten Thousand Snake Grand Method, Faded Flower Treasure Mirror, Zen Sect Lotus Skill.

Twelve Paths of Soul-Suppressing Kicks, Nine Swords of Dugu, Tathagata Palm, Dog-Beating Staff Technique, Xiaoyao Lost-Trace Fist, Xiaoyao Blade Technique, Xiaoyao Sword Technique, Xiaoyao Staff Technique, Xiaoyao Lost-Trace Kicks, Sorrow and Joy, Wind Flower Snow Moon, Four Beauties, Infinite Blade Technique, Supreme King Four Divine Swords, Tianshan Six Solar Palms, Blade and Sword Ten-Kill.

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