Chapter 372: Sudden Desperation
Chapter 372: A Sudden Desperate Situation
Guang Ming's appearance resolved Lü Yang's confusion.
Why was Heaven and Earth in such a hurry to act?
Because the World-Honored One had set his sights on him!
In that instant, Lü Yang was nearly frightened out of his wits. After all, in his ten lifetimes of cultivation, the World-Honored One was the most outrageous and shameless person he had ever encountered.
A Nascent Soul Dao Lord attacking a Foundation Establishment cultivator?
'But the question is—what virtue or ability do I possess to warrant the World-Honored One's attention?'
This made no sense at all!
Of course, for a fleeting moment, Lü Yang wondered if it might be related to that previous lifetime when the World-Honored One had almost caught him during a restart, leaving behind some lingering issue.
Yet he quickly dismissed this notion.
Absolutely impossible!
'After all, that happened several lifetimes ago. If that were truly the case, the World-Honored One would have already seized and refined me in the previous lifetime.'
Feeling the urgency emanating from Heaven and Earth, Lü Yang's eyes suddenly brightened with realization: 'Wrong! I've reversed the cause and effect! It's not because the World-Honored One noticed me that Heaven and Earth acted urgently—it's because Heaven and Earth has been supporting me all along that the World-Honored One took notice!'
In short, it was because of his identity as a Celestial Spirit!
'Previously, I had questioned the purpose of Celestial Spirits. To me, they seemed like entities forcibly nurtured by Heaven and Earth specifically to occupy Fruit Positions.'
Now, it appeared his speculation had hit the mark!
'If my guess is correct, the four Dao Lords are likely locked in a struggle with Heaven and Earth. Heaven and Earth wants to nurture Celestial Spirits, while the Dao Lords seek to suppress them!'
This conjecture also resolved another lingering doubt.
Why did Celestial Spirits also have to undergo tribulations?
As Heaven's favorite child, his cultivation should have been smooth sailing—no bottlenecks, not even the additional demands typical of ordinary cultivators' cultivation depth.
Yet what was the reality?
Not only did he have to endure the [Heavenly Thunder Tribulation] at the late Foundation Establishment stage, but also the [Five Decays of Heaven and Man] at Foundation Establishment perfection. None of the trials were spared.
'Now it seems... these tribulations may not have been sent by Heaven and Earth!'
'But by the Dao Lords!'
No wonder not a single Celestial Spirit had successfully grown to maturity over the years—ninety-nine percent were likely intercepted by the Dao Lords, perhaps even forcibly recruited.
The Saint Sect had a prime example: Chong Guang!
'What innate Celestial Spirit? More like a massive trap!'
'The result is that all the Celestial Spirits painstakingly nurtured by Heaven and Earth ended up serving the Dao Lords, becoming talents under their command...'
Boom!
The murmurs in his ears grew increasingly urgent. In the vision, Guang Ming was clearly speeding toward the Myriad Poison Sect, leaving Lü Yang with little time.
A sudden insight struck Lü Yang—Heaven and Earth was urging him, reminding him. In plain terms: 'Don't worry, you're Daddy's favorite child. Everything just now was a misunderstanding. Daddy only wanted to save you. Quickly open your mind so Daddy can help you ascend in a single step.'
"I don't believe a word of it!"
Lü Yang remained unmoved, steadfastly guarding that sliver of clarity. Treating him well? Wanting to save him? If that were truly the case, he wouldn't have been inexplicably drowsy earlier!
Ultimately, the intention was still to harm him.
Even so, Lü Yang couldn't help but feel a twinge of helplessness. With Heaven and Earth on one side and the World-Honored One on the other—wolves ahead and tigers behind—there was no room to maneuver.
'Fine... self-destruct it is!'
You win this round.
Lü Yang focused his mind.
Yet the next second, his expression froze slightly—his Celestial Spirit form was now firmly restrained by the [Moon-Worshipping Sacred Pool].
Suicide was impossible!
This time, Lü Yang's expression truly changed.
If it were merely ordinary inability to self-destruct, Lü Yang wouldn't have cared. As long as he maintained mental clarity, opportunities would arise... but the World-Honored One was right outside!
If he couldn't kill himself before the World-Honored One arrived...
Then it would truly be over!
Moreover, the World-Honored One's target was almost certainly him—snatching meat from Heaven and Earth's jaws. His attempt to convert Lü Yang was practically inevitable.
—A desperate situation!
Without warning, giving Lü Yang no psychological preparation—one moment, the forces of Heaven and Earth were aligned with him; the next, his luck had turned, leaving him powerless.
Yet even so, his thoughts remained calm.
The murmurs of Heaven and Earth in his ears intensified, warning him of the crisis, urging him to consider the bigger picture, trying to instill fear in him.
"If the World-Honored One comes, then let him come!"
As soon as this thought formed, the murmurs in his ears turned into deafening roars. Yet Lü Yang remained unmoved, instead curling his lips into a cold smile:
"Stir trouble all you want!"
"Stir until the World-Honored One turns me into a Buddhist cultivator! Stir until the Dao Lords descend and destroy this Celestial Spirit body! At worst, I'll just gamble my life alongside you!"
Was Lü Yang afraid of death?
Of course he was. But after ten lifetimes of cultivation, he knew full well that the more afraid one was of death, the more one had to act unafraid! In this damned place, only madness led to survival!
In an instant, all sounds ceased.
Every murmur vanished. Lü Yang sat quietly, his mind becoming increasingly clear and transparent. The invasive consciousness from Heaven and Earth was both a crisis and the finest whetstone, honing his newly forged [Sword Heart] to razor sharpness, like an unsheathed blade gleaming with cold light.
Then, the roaring returned like a tidal wave!
Yet this time, Lü Yang smiled—because he could sense that the drowsiness induced this time was much weaker than before.
Had Heaven and Earth compromised?
Of course not. It was simply that Heaven and Earth had more pressing matters, forcing it to divert the power originally focused on him.
'This is enough... this is enough!'
When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured!
His chance for survival lay precisely here!
The next second, Lü Yang felt tremors beneath his feet.
"Amitabha!"
A solemn Buddhist chant resounded across the distant landscape—Guang Ming had arrived! He stood before the Myriad Poison Sect's mountain gate, wearing a smile brimming with compassionate virtue.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, Lü Yang watched as the three divine abilities he had painstakingly cultivated—[Lord of War], [Stubborn Gold Duke], and [Solemn Profound Frost]—flew out from his body.
But [Tribulation Wave] remained unmoved.
This peculiar treasure, bestowed by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], severed karma. Only Lü Yang could activate it—not even Heaven and Earth could influence it in the slightest.
Yet soon, Lü Yang witnessed a scene that left him dumbfounded.
A bell tolled between Heaven and Earth as a convergence of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends inexplicably gathered before him, coalescing into a wisp of white qi that gently descended.
[You Metal]!
The Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends had formed!
Right before his eyes!
'This is truly Heaven and Earth's favored child... If Heaven and Earth had fully supported me from the start, why would I have wasted time searching for Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends?'
Lü Yang glared at the [You Metal] before him, grinding his teeth.
At the same time, he understood Heaven and Earth's reasoning. Why scheme against him? Because he was uncontrollable! What Heaven and Earth needed was a Celestial Spirit it could control!
'Heaven and Earth must have suffered enough from Hong Yun's betrayal—finally elevating him to True Lord status, only for Hong Yun to turn around and sell it out, sharing no benefits. No wonder it distrusts me... To compare me with Hong Yun—doesn't it know I'm a good person?'
The next moment, [You Metal] merged with Lü Yang's main body.
A fourth innate divine ability emerged.
[Resounding Heaven Bell]!
Instantly, no dazzling display accompanied the divine ability—only a melodious bell chime reverberated through the air. The four innate divine abilities gathered together, finally outlining a figure.
Then, that figure charged out of the Myriad Poison Sect's mountain gate.
Witnessing this, Guang Ming—who had been preparing to breach the sect's grand formation—paused in surprise before nodding with utmost satisfaction, smiling gently:
"Benefactor, you and I are destined to have a master-disciple relationship."