Chapter 345: Hong Yun: Why Me Again?
At first, it was just one person.
"My Taixu Divine Ability?"
This True Person had been quite enthusiastic about the [Heaven of Non-Existence], having already passed the first tribulation—though he obtained the lowest-grade divine ability, [Skeleton Visualization].
Yet managing to overcome the first tribulation still proved his capability, indicating he had some merit. Countless True Persons across the land were like him, and at this moment, they all shared the same doubt as they watched their Sea of Consciousness erupt with radiance, their once-acquired Taixu Divine Abilities bursting forth in dazzling brilliance.
This transformation spread visibly across the world at an astonishing speed.
How vast was the reach of the [Heaven of Non-Existence]?
After all, it freely bestowed a divine ability—though it didn't provide rank, the cultivation difficulty was far lower than other innate divine abilities. Who would refuse an extra technique?
Thus, despite its brief existence, the divine abilities granted by the [Heaven of Non-Existence] had already spread far and wide, even reaching overseas. It could be said to have swept across the world.
And so, this anomaly swept across the world as well.
Meanwhile, above the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds north of the Jiang River, purple qi had already filled the heavens. Several Fruit Position stars shone brilliantly, clashing fiercely against the purple qi—just like Chong Guang's pursuit of gold in the past.
Yet in the next moment, the True Lords who had been locked in fierce combat suddenly halted their movements. Their Fruit Position stars trembled as they sensed the anomaly in heaven and earth.
"What's happening?"
"Something's wrong—why are the Fruit Positions disturbed?"
"[Ang Xiao], what underhanded methods have you employed this time?"
On the other side, amidst the vast purple qi, [Ang Xiao] also underwent a change in expression, for he realized this anomaly had affected him as well.
'What's going on? Who's scheming behind the scenes?'
Though he was habitually blamed, [Ang Xiao] was profoundly cunning and immediately seized the opportunity to deflect. With a light chuckle, he said, "This has nothing to do with me."
Denial was admission!
Had [Ang Xiao] remained silent, it might have been fine. But his words instantly branded him as the culprit behind the anomaly in the eyes of True Lords across the land, and they prepared to attack again.
In contrast, Qingcheng Feixue True Lord—who had been charging forward most aggressively against [Ang Xiao]—narrowed her eyes as if realizing something. Instead of pressing the attack, she deliberately distanced herself, carefully sensing the state of her Fruit Position. A look of astonishment flickered in her beautiful eyes.
'Chong Guang...'
Boom!
The next moment, countless radiant lights emerged across the heavens as the [Heaven of Non-Existence] opened wide, revealing a cross-legged figure brimming with sharp, soaring energy.
"It's that Fruit Position achieved from nothing..."
"Mu Changsheng chose an excellent time. Compared to him, [Ang Xiao] is far more important. We can deal with this person later—it won't affect the grand scheme."
"...Wait, no—something's wrong!"
At first, the True Lords remained quite composed. After all, if the [Heaven of Non-Existence] had truly succeeded, it would merely mean one more True Lord at the early Golden Core stage.
Would that impact the grand scheme of the world?
Yes—but not significantly.
Thus, initially, none of the True Lords paid it much heed. Yet soon, as the disturbance in the Fruit Positions grew increasingly severe, some finally began to lose their composure.
What in the world was happening?
Some True Lords even suspected their own Dao Lords, wondering if they were orchestrating something—for how else could the Fruit Positions be influenced like this?
"Look down below."
The next instant, Chong Guang's figure emerged from the manifested [Heaven of Non-Existence]. His lips parted as his calm yet powerful voice echoed faintly:
"How long has it been, esteemed lords above the heavens, since you last truly gazed upon the world beneath you?"
Within the [Southern Heavenly Gate] of the Mystic Spirit Realm's Heavenly Court fragment, Lü Yang's avatar sat cross-legged, quietly observing the figure before him. He was not alone—the Yun Family Patriarch and True Person Xiuxin also saw the same figure.
Every cultivator in the world who had passed trials in the [Heaven of Non-Existence] and possessed Taixu Divine Abilities fell into a trance, as if their spirits wandered the void, arriving at the [Heaven of Non-Existence] and standing beside Chong Guang—one, ten, a hundred... forming an indescribable tide!
The tide rose and fell.
Buoyed by this intangible surge, Chong Guang's figure grew increasingly distinct. Steps materialized beneath his feet, and he ascended them with effortless grace.
With each step he took, the [Heaven of Non-Existence] rose higher.
And with each ascent of the [Heaven of Non-Existence], the True Lords across the land felt their Fruit Positions sink deeper. Countless True Lords paled in an instant.
"So this is it!"
This scene was witnessed not only by Lü Yang but also by Ancestor Nether Whisper within the Myriad Spirits Banner—especially the latter, whose expression was one of astonishment and admiration.
"I see now. This is the second profound application of the 《Taixi Sacrificial Rites Esoteric Incantation》 that I had not deduced before—plundering the foundational Dao directions of the world... The Dao foundations originally supporting other Fruit Positions are forcibly seized. The higher the [Heaven of Non-Existence] rises, the lower the other Fruit Positions sink!"
Ancestor Nether Whisper reacted with remarkable speed.
Through his understanding of the 《Taixi Sacrificial Rites Esoteric Incantation》, he nearly instantly deduced the entirety of Mu Changsheng's scheme and Chong Guang's current actions.
At the same time, some True Lords also realized what was happening.
'You've truly succeeded...'
Qingcheng Feixue True Lord stood with her hands behind her back, her long hair fluttering in the wind. Her exquisitely beautiful face showed no trace of dismay—only a faint smile.
Unlike the early Golden Core cultivators who were a mix of shock and fury, her Cultivation Depth was immensely profound, and her Cave Heaven remained unfallen. Her reliance on the Fruit Position had long since diminished greatly. Though she was affected, she wouldn't suffer any real harm. Instead, having vaguely guessed Chong Guang's intentions, she wore an expression of excitement.
Yet she was among the few.
"Stop!"
With a thunderous roar, heaven and earth trembled as a beam of Buddhist light rose—emanating from the Pure Land's True Lord, [Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva].
Her usually gentle countenance twisted into a visage of wrath as she abruptly overturned the white jade vase in her hand.
Boom!
Instantly, a torrential river poured forth from the vase, surging toward the [Heaven of Non-Existence] in an attempt to halt Chong Guang's ascension.
Yet Chong Guang didn't even glance at her.
He continued ascending step by step, and the attack launched by the [Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva] passed cleanly through the [Heaven of Non-Existence] as if it were nothing.
When illusion is taken as reality, reality becomes illusion;
Where nothingness is treated as existence, existence turns to nothingness.
"What a magnificent Fruit Position of Illusion and Reality! Perhaps it lacks combat prowess, but its mastery over illusion and reality makes it unparalleled for survival—few can even touch it..."
"He's plundering the True Persons under our governance..."
"What does he intend to do?"
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Chong Guang climbed to the highest step of the staircase. By this point, many True Lords' Fruit Positions had already begun destabilizing.
Of course, this wasn't enough to affect those currently holding positions.
But those without positions—those still seeking gold—were in dire straits.
"No—!!!"
Above the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds, Hong Yun stared dumbfounded at the [Overturned Lamp Flame] above him as it flickered once before vanishing into obscurity.
—Chong Guang had specifically targeted the [Overturned Lamp Flame].
As a True Person of the Saint Sect, holding grudges was second nature. With no True Lord currently holding the [Overturned Lamp Flame], it was the first to retreat into the Sea of Suffering.
'Why me again!?'
At this moment, Hong Yun had countless curses to unleash—after all, he had been on the verge of success! Yet at the final step, the cooked duck had flown away?
He was still seeking gold!
The Blessed Land that had been halfway to completion suddenly lost its destination—how could it sustain itself? In an instant, it collapsed into nothingness!
Boom!