Chapter 335
Chapter 335
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: Unknown
Chapter Title: Behind the South Heaven Gate
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Behind the [South Heaven Gate].
Lu Yang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the sky. Streams of flowing light were plummeting toward the layered palaces before his eyes, each one trailed by a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being.
Yet the current him had no heart to concern himself with these.
Before setting off, Heavy Light's abrupt voice transmission still lingered vividly in his ears:
'A truly strange transaction. He actually wants me to stay in the secret realm as long as possible. Why? Though the price he's offering is exceedingly generous.'
Lu Yang's mind sank into his sea of consciousness.
When it came to transactions, Heavy Light was always forthright—one job meant one reward, never delaying payment. He could truly be called a conscientious employer.
The next instant, a scripture appeared before Lu Yang's eyes.
*The Grand Yin Kan Wall Scripture*!
'This isn't a Dao art or a secret technique—it's a Dao scripture specifically elucidating the essence of [Metal Xin]. It's meant precisely to increase the corresponding Dao attainment!'
'[Metal Xin] is the foremost of the five metals, the origin of the eight minerals. In the heavens, it manifests as sun and moon, the essence of the Grand Yin; on earth, as ores in mountains and stones. These must all be Heavy Light's insights into [Metal Xin] from when he was its spirit, meticulously recorded. For me now, they hold immense value!'
This was because [Metal Xin] was precisely his next step in cultivation.
The fruit position of [Pomegranate Wood] encompassed [Metal Geng], [Metal Shen], [Metal Xin], [Metal You]—wood dwelling in metal's domain, clashing to seize, termed the transformation of wood.
Lu Yang immersed himself in it, reading rapturously.
But the next moment, his expression abruptly changed. "It's cut off!"
He quickly realized, however—this was Heavy Light's safeguard, to prevent him from taking the goods and reneging on the deal. Thus, only half the scripture had been provided.
'That beast!'
The remaining half was sealed by Heavy Light. Only by abiding the agreement and remaining in the [South Heaven Gate] for sufficient time would the seal's restriction unlock.
With this in mind, Lu Yang reined in his thoughts and turned to survey the area around him. What met his eyes was a scene of ruined walls and shattered remnants.
The vast heavenly palace stood empty, devoid of any figures.
Yet traces of living beings were everywhere—scorch marks from blades and spears on the ramparts, footprints, and shattered tea sets scattered about.
Simply witnessing this scene, Lu Yang could envision the pinnacle of prosperity in the heavenly court: myriad immortals paying homage, entering through the [South Heaven Gate], gathering in this cloudborne palace to discourse on the Dao, chat freely, sip tea, and play chess. What should have been an ordinary day had instead halted abruptly at some instant.
'The Primal Saint Sect arrived, and another realm-heaven fell.'
The entire heavenly court's immortals had been swept away in an instant, even that supreme sovereign of the [Mysterious Spirit Realm] slain. Only empty palaces remained.
"True Lord, you are truly shameless!"
After sighing in感慨 for a moment, Lu Yang produced the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner. With a flick of the flag, Cheng Xian, now refined into the banner spirit, emerged from within, his face full of loyalty.
"What treasures are there in this place?"
Lu Yang inquired. Banner spirit Cheng Xian pondered briefly before replying, "Among the regions corresponding to the [South Heaven Gate], the greatest奇珍 is undoubtedly the [Heaven Capital Palace]."
"[Heaven Capital Palace]?"
"Indeed. It is the sovereign's refining chamber, housing an Eight Trigrams Heaven Capital Furnace within, and inside the furnace dwells a [Six Ding Divine Fire]—the foremost fire under heaven."
Speaking of his former possessions, Cheng Xian expounded freely. "Beyond that, the palace holds a [With Heaven Same Lifespan Immortal Youth Root]. It is said that carrying it on one's person grants eternal youth and boundless lifespan, free from worries of longevity. Next are the [Dao Harmony Immortal Pills] personally refined by the sovereign in recent years."
Fully three奇珍!
"[Six Ding Divine Fire] excels in artifact and pill refining, and is unparalleled in combat and slaughter."
"[With Heaven Same Lifespan Immortal Youth Root] holds little use for me. Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings fret not over lifespan, but over the calamity of stagnation."
"Only the last one, the [Dao Harmony Immortal Pill]..."
A gleam of intense longing flashed in Lu Yang's eyes. According to Cheng Xian, consuming this immortal pill could dramatically enhance a cultivator's aptitude for comprehension!
And the greater one's aptitude, the better the effect!
"Such an immortal pill is fated to be mine!"
That said, Lu Yang did not rush into action. Instead, he planned to first scour other areas.
For one, to fulfill his deal with Heavy Light and linger longer in the [South Heaven Gate]. For another, with a mind to lay a trap. "Everyone's scattered throughout the [South Heaven Gate] now—dealing with them one by one is too inefficient. But the [Heaven Capital Palace], as the most vital site, will surely draw them all in the end. I'll wait a bit, until they're all gathered, then strike to net them all at once!"
For this, Lu Yang brimmed with confidence.
Because just moments ago, he had tested it.
Even within the [South Heaven Gate], he could still draw forth the unfathomable might latent in the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, temporarily attaining the stature of a Grand Perfected Being!
Wouldn't this allow him to crush them at will?
[South Heaven Gate], another region.
The Heaven Mending Peak Master wore a cold expression as he seized a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being in hand. Without any visible motion, he instantly drained him into a lump of human dregs.
Having done this, a flush of red briefly crossed the Heaven Mending Peak Master's face.
As Heaven Mending Peak Master, his attainment in the *Heaven Mending True Scripture* had nearly reached the pinnacle, one step shy of the technique's supreme realm.
[Heaven Mending]!
"Heaven has flaws; I mend them with my body."
"It is said that upon reaching this realm, one merges with heaven and earth, drawing from them—the self becomes a grand ritual invoking the fruit positions' gaze!"
One could say that succeeding in this would lay the foundation for seeking metal.
"This journey bears grave importance."
"So long as I gather sufficient outer qi and accrue enough merit and fortune, I can seek the next Heavenly Dipper Earthly Fiend. Within a century, I may attempt a breakthrough to the late stage!"
"As for that Lu Yang..."
At this thought, the Heaven Mending Peak Master sneered coldly. "He's fled quite swiftly, but so long as he remains in this [South Heaven Gate], he can't hide forever!"
Several days later.
Though the [South Heaven Gate] encompassed only a quarter of the [Mysterious Spirit Realm]'s heavenly court, it was still vast beyond imagining—equivalent to an entire province.
In this time, the Sword Pavilion and Primal Saint Sect had already clashed several times.
Yet figures like the Heaven Mending Peak Master and Ye Guyue, at mid-stage Foundation Establishment perfection, had refrained from acting. The two sides thus maintained a delicate balance.
However, in the central region of the [South Heaven Gate]...
A majestic palace loomed amid the clouds, terrifying heavenly spiritual qi surging around it, manifesting myriad array patterns that barred outsiders.
It was precisely the [Heaven Capital Palace]!
As the most valuable site in the [South Heaven Gate], Foundation Establishment cultivators had long since discovered it, studying the palace's arrays in hopes of breaking in.
Over time, ever more Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered here.
They clearly divided into two factions.
One led by Ye Guyue, the other by the Heaven Mending Peak Master. Yet at this moment, both scanned their surroundings, as if seeking someone.
'He's not here... Doesn't dare come?'
Like the Heaven Mending Peak Master, Ye Guyue also harbored the intent to settle Lu Yang within the [South Heaven Gate]. She had searched ceaselessly for his trail these days.
Yet Lu Yang seemed to have vanished into thin air, utterly traceless.
'Where exactly is he hiding?'
Ye Guyue's fine brows furrowed tightly.
None noticed, however, that beyond the region where the crowd gathered at the Heaven Capital Palace, Lu Yang was leisurely inscribing array patterns.
He was setting an array!
'Joking aside, per Cheng Xian, the [Heaven Capital Palace] is the Mysterious Spirit Realm sovereign's pill refining ground. How could a True Lord's abode lack perils?'
'In truth, I have no need to enter the [Heaven Capital Palace] at all.'
'Directly ambushing and slaying the evildoers emerging from the [Heaven Capital Palace] to guard the Dao isn't better? Oh, no—I'm righteous now, so it's purging demons to protect the Dao!'