Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: The Tampered Chen Soil
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"So that's how it is!"
Thanks to the reminder from his own earth-shattering wisdom, Lu Yang suddenly came to a realization in that instant. It felt as though he had finally parted the thin veil that had always shrouded his mind.
【Yin Dragon Water】—the primal yang of Chen Soil!
Now, looking back, which four Heavenly Gangs and Earth Fiends did Heavy Light need for the fruit position of 【Covered Lamp Fire】? And how were they supposed to pair together?
【Immortal Elm】, Jia Wood, yang attribute.
【Yin Dragon Water】, Chen Soil, yin attribute.
【Fear of Felling】, Yi Wood, yin attribute.
【Rigid Flame Furnace】, Si Fire, yin attribute.
Three yins and one yang—how could they possibly harmonize? A truly complete and flawless fruit position should consist of a balanced pair of yin and yang! Heavy Light's path had been flawed from the very foundation!
"The key lies in the Chen Soil—in 【Yin Dragon Water】. This Heavenly Gang Earth Fiend should have been yang soil by nature, but someone twisted its properties into yin soil. That's why Heavy Light's cultivation path couldn't merge with it even after receiving the guidance of Covered Lamp Fire. It even provoked rejection!"
Lu Yang understood it almost immediately.
"And the Innate True Person likely fell victim to this as well! The fruit position he proved was 【Long Flowing Water】, which also requires Chen Soil essence!"
What was 【Long Flowing Water】?
The Heavenly Gangs 【Ren Water】 and 【Gui Water】, combined with the Earth Fiends 【Chen Soil】 and 【Si Fire】—only then could it be achieved. But because 【Chen Soil】 had been twisted into a yin nature...
This fruit position was ruined too!
Beyond that, which other fruit positions relied on 【Chen Soil】?
In that moment, the Heaven-Scrutinizing Instrument at Lu Yang's brow whirred at top speed, divining the secrets of heaven. His fingers rubbed together so furiously they nearly sparked.
"Beyond those, there are three more fruit positions!"
【White Wax Gold】, 【Sand-Midst Soil】, and 【Great Forest Wood】!
Memories from the past flooded his mind in an instant, nearly making Lu Yang cry out.
"【Great Forest Wood】—Contemplating the Golden Core's Purpose! That 【Soaring Empyrean Sun-Obscuring True Lord】!"
A True Lord of the Primal Saint Sect!
The notorious disgrace of the Primal Saint Sect, whom every faction acknowledged as a harmless old softie. He'd sensed something off back then, and now it was clear there really was a problem!
But his conclusion failed to move Heavy Light, who simply shook his head.
"【Soaring Empyrean Sun-Obscuring True Lord】 perished in a great calamity tens of thousands of years ago, just like the old Hongyun. Rumor has it he was betrayed by several True Lords of the Primal Saint Sect. He hasn't ascended in tens of thousands of years—he's likely dead beyond doubt."
"Still, the various True Lords must suspect him as well."
After all, his origin in the Primal Saint Sect alone was grounds for suspicion. That was why so many True Lords waited silently outside the blessed land at this very moment.
"They're all waiting for me."
Perfected Chongguang clasped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly.
"Waiting for me to make one final desperate gambit—forcing the enemy to show themselves and fully expose their true colors."
At the same time, beyond the blessed land.
Boom!
The auras of True Lords from every side churned violently. Perfected Being Clear Serene Flying Snow clenched her silver teeth, a mad scarlet glint flickering in her autumn-water eyes.
"I saw it clearly—encountered it—yet I can't figure it out, can't deduce it. What a 【Knowledge-Seeing Barrier】!"
The alteration to the Chen Soil essence was subtle, but in theory, any Golden Core True Lord who had lived through countless ages should know its original nature before the change.
And yet, no one had noticed!
A 【Knowledge-Seeing Barrier】 powerful enough to deceive the entire world—even Golden Core True Lords—was beyond what an ordinary True Lord could cast.
"Late stage... or even consummation?"
"Altering 【Chen Soil】 single-handedly sealed off five fruit positions—metal, wood, water, fire, earth, all five elements complete. Someone's trying to prove Nascent Soul and claim the mantle of Dao Lord!?"
"Angxiao!?"
In a flash, not just the True Lords of the four inland factions but even those overseas unleashed towering auras skyward, probing the heavens. Shock and fury rippled through them.
No one wanted to witness the birth of a new Dao Lord.
For the inland realms—Jiangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangnan, Jiangbei—the four great powers held each other in check. A new Dao Lord would shatter that balance, benefiting no one.
Overseas, it was worse. The Four Seas Sect already dominated with multiple Golden Cores. A new Dao Lord, unable to gain a foothold inland, would almost certainly head overseas—becoming a supreme overlord above them. Who could tolerate that?
Exactly as Chongguang had anticipated.
The 【Great Forest Wood】 fruit position was far too conspicuous. With the original holder of 【Covered Lamp Fire】, Daoist Hongyun, long dead, it was impossible not to link it to him.
"Angxiao... is it really him?"
"Even if it is Angxiao, he can't be allowed to live!"
"If the Primal Saint Sect truly has someone proving Dao Lord... stop them at any cost!"
In that instant, every faction churned with schemes. Even within the Primal Saint Sect itself, atop the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, Perfected Being Clear Serene Flying Snow's face shifted between gloom and uncertainty.
"Angxiao..."
She harbored suspicions too. From the sect's perspective, she should step forward now. Yet she had suffered the heaviest losses this time.
How could she accept that?
Had she known earlier about the problem with 【Chen Soil】, she never would have let Chongguang pursue 【Covered Lamp Fire】.
Damn it—why didn't he warn her?
That beast!
With that thought, Perfected Being Clear Serene Flying Snow made her choice. Fellow True Lord of the Primal Saint Sect or not—if he'd sabotaged her path, it was kill or be killed!
Just then, within the blessed land.
Chongguang had led Lu Yang to the blessed land's core. At a glance, Lu Yang saw nearly every Foundation Establishment True Person who had entered gathered there.
Ye Guyue and Perfected Being Miaoyin were among them.
Perfected Being Miaoyin, in particular, paled slightly upon seeing Chongguang without Chongming. Annoyance and hatred flickered in her beautiful eyes.
"Chongguang..."
All eyes turned to him. Chongguang looked to the heavens and let out a hearty laugh.
"I've kept you all waiting!"
Boom!
Thunder crashed through the blessed land as his words echoed. The Foundation Establishment True Persons fell silent—for they all knew.
Chongguang's words weren't meant for them.
The true ones waiting were the True Lords encircling the blessed land. Invisible gazes pressed down, heavier than any mountain.
Only Chongguang remained utterly composed.
Only then did it hit Lu Yang. 【Yin Dragon Water】 had long been altered in its yin-yang nature by some mighty figure.
So why had it harmonized with the Avici Sword?
Unless—
"Perfected Chongguang reversed it back!?"
Lu Yang had no idea how he'd done it, but without question—for 【Yin Dragon Water】 to merge with the Avici Sword, it had to have returned to yang soil!
This was true reversal!
Boom!
The next instant, Lu Yang looked skyward. Miles of clear sky, stars ablaze overhead. Above the Foundation Establishment realm, amid the Bitter Sea, a radiant silhouette reemerged.
【Covered Lamp Fire】!
The second manifestation!
Brighter than the first reversal of 【Qing Nation】's laws, this 【Covered Lamp Fire】 shone with even greater splendor. It even extended a beam of guiding light!
Lu Yang stared in awe.
'With every True Lord watching—if the one who tampered with 【Chen Soil】 dares appear, the True Lords will deal with them. And if Chongguang reverses 【Chen Soil】 fully, every True Lord would welcome it. No one would stop him—they'd assist!'
But was this the True Lords' intent?
Hardly!
They had their own designs, but Chongguang had taken the pivotal step—reversing 【Chen Soil】—earning him this second chance!
Chongguang had spoken true.
From the start, his contingency wasn't Chongming at all. In the final pursuit of gold, his reliance—beginning to end—was himself alone!