Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Arrival in the Myriad Martial Realm
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As his vision gradually cleared, Lu Yang looked up at the sky. What met his eyes was a spectacular sight of countless stars hanging high, with the sun and moon shining together in the heavens.
"Interesting."
Lu Yang roughly sensed his surroundings and immediately felt the malice of this realm's heaven and earth. The spiritual energy permeating the air was like sharp silver needles, piercing and keen.
If he rashly absorbed the spiritual energy of this world, the result would only be his body being sliced apart by it, covered in wounds. There might even be deadly poison within the qi, corrupting his Dao foundation. It was clear that even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him, it was difficult—let alone someone at the peak of Qi Refining, who would face even greater peril.
After all, those at the peak of Qi Refining lacked sufficient standing and could easily be assimilated by the realm.
Only Foundation Establishment cultivators achieved eternal verification with a single proof. Even in different realms, they could anchor themselves with their Dao foundation, maintaining their existence without being eroded or influenced by the realm's power.
Next, Lu Yang checked the state of his main body.
'No issues. I can withdraw my consciousness at any time. Even if my main body heads to the [Heaven-Connecting Hall], I can teleport it to my clone's side!'
In the next moment, he looked up at the firmament again. The stars above felt like countless eyes staring down, their starlight making him uncomfortable.
This sensation was all too familiar to Lu Yang.
'Heavenly execution again!'
As an outsider, facing the killing intent of a realm's heaven and earth, ordinary methods offered no escape. This was one of the dangers inherent to harvesting qi from beyond the heavens.
At that moment, Perfected Being Miaoyin spoke from the other side.
"Yuantu, let's act separately for now. Together, we're too conspicuous and easy to track. We can reunite once we've concealed our auras."
This was, of course, just an excuse. In truth, Perfected Being Miaoyin wanted to find a reason to separate from Lu Yang, lest he notice something amiss. Then, she could summon Suo Huan as per their prior agreement, allowing him to slay Lu Yang and earn her a chance to transcend the tribulation in the blessed land.
Little did she know, this was exactly what Lu Yang wanted.
The two reached an immediate agreement. Perfected Being Miaoyin departed on a beam of escaping light, while Lu Yang remained in place, deducing intelligence about the [Myriad Martial Realm].
"Fate Star martial artists, Sun and Moon Heavenly Sons."
Soon, Lu Yang had a grasp on it. "In this realm, cultivators entrust all their cultivation to their Fate Stars, which are clearly manifestations of positional fruits."
"What a worldly Dao fruit!" Lu Yang exclaimed.
"This Dao fruit is somewhat like [City Head Earth]. It's probably the type the Dao Court favors most— this system even resembles the Dao Court's own."
In other words, the Dao fruits of this realm held great value for him.
"But in my current state, I can't cultivate properly. At best, I can grab a haul and run. The gains would be decent, but not substantial."
Lu Yang frowned, pondering how to maximize his benefits. But then, he suddenly felt a surge of qi rising within his body. The surrounding spiritual energy, which had treated him like an arch-enemy eager to tear him to shreds, abruptly stilled. Then, its attitude shifted dramatically.
'Earth vein qi?'
Lu Yang's eyebrows shot up as he discerned the reason for the realm's change in demeanor. After a quick deduction, a strange expression crossed his face.
"You want the earth vein qi in my possession?"
"Of course. To this realm, earth vein qi is also foreign qi. Absorbing it would surely bring significant benefits."
"But what's in it for me?"
"Even if I'm safe from heavenly punishment now, once I return, if the heavens discover I've taken the earth vein qi out but not brought it back, they'll surely try to kill me."
In other words—
"You need to pay extra!"
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth churned, falling into a deathly silence. Only after a long while did Lu Yang sense a beam of starlight descending onto him.
"Hm?"
He looked up, and a connection formed. The previous heavenly killing intent was entirely withdrawn. A star in the firmament bloomed with light.
"This is... trying to bribe me?"
Lu Yang furrowed his brow. The heaven and earth's fruit intelligence in this [Myriad Martial Realm] was far too advanced—completely unlike the fruits in his home world.
But its offer was indeed tempting.
In this realm, every being had a Fate Star, like an identity card issued by heaven and earth. Without one, they were obvious outsiders.
Conversely, if he obtained a Fate Star, it would be like getting a green card for the [Myriad Martial Realm], making interactions with natives far smoother and future actions more convenient. Otherwise, he'd have to skulk about, seizing the realm's essence while enduring heavenly killing intent.
There was just one problem.
"How do I know you won't go back on your word?"
Lu Yang projected himself onto it. If it were him, he'd first trick the earth vein qi into its grasp, then immediately turn hostile.
"Like this: I'll give you a little first, then the rest gradually."
As soon as Lu Yang spoke, the spiritual energy responded eagerly.
Seeing this, Lu Yang promptly separated one percent of the earth vein qi and fused it into heaven and earth. Almost simultaneously, a sensation arose in his mind.
Whoosh!
A Fate Star instantly ignited in the firmament. The corresponding marvel descended along the starlight into Lu Yang's mind, forming two large characters:
[Villager].
"The marvel is that when hungry, one can eat anything—husks, dirt, tree bark... This isn't a villager; it's a disaster refugee waiting to happen!"
Lu Yang pinched his fingers, and the obscure karmic response from heaven and earth came: More earth vein qi is needed to unlock stronger Fate Stars.
In short: Pay more.
Lu Yang sneered coldly, then decisively withdrew the remaining earth vein qi. Instead, he began circulating the *Gantian Primordial Unity Subjugating All Heavens Divine Method*.
Evidently, these so-called Fate Stars were a form of the realm's essence. Lu Yang devoured all the descending starlight. Soon, a shadow slowly manifested behind him—a towering illusory form with three heads and six arms, azure face and fangs, surrounded by swirling profound flames in every gesture.
"Good, good, good."
Lu Yang's face lit up with joy. "Initial qi harvesting success! At last, I have the foundation to truly cultivate this [Gantian All-Encompassing Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body]!"
The Dharma body was the foundation of protecting one's Dao.
Divine abilities, Dao arts, spiritual treasures—these were all external. Against the heavenly thunder tribulation when breaking through to late Foundation Establishment, they often shattered upon contact, hard to withstand.
Only the Dharma body was different.
"Refining a Dharma body to protect the Dao adds at least thirty percent chance of surviving the heavenly thunder tribulation. Unfortunately, a mere [Villager] Fate Star is far from enough."
At this thought, an idea struck Lu Yang: Even a single strand of earth vein qi had drawn such intense greed from the [Myriad Martial Realm]'s fruit. What if he offered an entire earth vein? Could it help him gather all the foreign qi provisions needed to cultivate the [Gantian All-Encompassing Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body] in one go?
"Regardless, I must complete this Dharma body!"
What resolved Lu Yang wasn't just the Dharma body's power, but more importantly—
"This Dharma body is named [Myriad Phenomena] precisely because it encompasses all things. Once refined, it can continuously advance by melting external objects."
In other words, once achieved, he could fuse treasures like the Avici Sword, Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, Imperial Mansion Golden Seal Tushita True Edict, and more into the Dharma body!
Before this, Lu Yang had agonized over his lifetime's excessive gains, unsure what to choose upon rebirth.
But if his immortal fetus clone refined the [Gantian All-Encompassing Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body], then bundled all his lifetime's harvests into it via the body, he could select the immortal fetus clone upon rebirth and bring everything back in one go!
Avici Sword? Ten Thousand Spirits Banner? Imperial Mansion Golden Seal Tushita True Edict?
I'll take them all!