Chapter 398: Human Effort Decides the Outcome!
Chapter 398: Human Effort Determines Success!
"Boom!"
As the first thunderclap erupted from the storm clouds symbolizing heavenly punishment in the vault of the sky, an extreme yang and rigid aura instantly swept over Lü Yang's entire body.
"Crack!"
With just that single sound, [Sky of Separation] emitted a brittle noise of strain!
Looking around, the mountains, rivers, sun, and moon within this Minor Paradise began collapsing—and this was merely from the thunderclap, with the true lightning yet to descend!
Yet Lü Yang smiled upon seeing this.
'Still too green.'
Seven Luminaries Heaven had ultimately failed to maintain composure. Tricked by Lü Yang into believing he'd truly resolved the incense offerings issue, it immediately revealed all its trump cards!
At this moment, Lü Yang observed with [Exquisite Heart] and saw that the two tribulations previously brewing in Seven Luminaries Heaven had now been fully unleashed. The heavenly punishment storm clouds before him represented one fully formed tribulation, while the other—though Lü Yang could clearly see it—was at most half-formed.
However, the latter was formless and intangible, its true nature temporarily unclear to him.
'...Well then.'
Lü Yang's mind remained steady. After all, this outcome was already quite favorable for him—Seven Luminaries Heaven had acted hastily while he was fully prepared.
'Come to think of it, this counts as heavenly thunder tribulation...'
Lü Yang raised his head, gazing at the three divine abilities swirling around him, and suddenly understood: overcoming this heavenly tribulation would surely manifest his fourth divine ability!
"This outsider... he's doomed!"
Meanwhile, the City God and Grand Ancestor Yan, witnessing this scene, ceased their attacks. Even though the thunder wasn't directed at them, it weighed heavily on their minds.
"Heavenly punishment descends—no matter how high his cultivation, can it surpass the heavens themselves?"
Heavenly punishment!
In the memories of these two incense deities, no one had ever resisted heavenly punishment. They had no doubt that a single stray lightning bolt from these storm clouds striking the earth would instantly shatter the Central Province and exterminate all life—a truly world-ending catastrophe!
Yet Ancestor Nether Whisper merely laughed coldly at this:
"Frogs at the bottom of a well—how could they comprehend the world's grandeur?"
Admittedly, the heavenly tribulation Seven Luminaries Heaven had conjured was powerful—extremely so—but only within Seven Luminaries Heaven itself. Try taking it elsewhere and see how it fares!
World-ending?
Ancestor Nether Whisper estimated this thing couldn't even breach the mountain gates of the Witch Ghost Path at its peak when he presided over it with spiritual vein support—let alone challenge the Four Great Powers!
Simultaneously, Lü Yang also smiled.
"...Come then!"
Lü Yang looked up at the sky and laughed freely. At this moment, he'd become unrestrained—after all, with no retreat possible and already at rock bottom,
Every step from here could only lead upward!
"Boom!"
Under everyone's gaze, the heavenly tribulation storm clouds suddenly collapsed, pouring forth a Milky Way-like deluge of lightning that crashed down upon Lü Yang!
In an instant, [Sky of Separation] shattered!
Like destroying rotten wood, the mountains and rivers within [Sky of Separation] overturned, the sun and moon inverted, lakes and seas evaporated—each inch continuously devoured.
Yet despite this, Lü Yang remained calm.
With a swift thought, he unhesitatingly ejected Banner Spirit Wusheng Old Mother and Long Yue outward.
After all, these two banner spirits couldn't compare to Ancestor Nether Whisper—he wouldn't mourn any mishap befalling them.
Yet even with two perfected Foundation Establishment incense deities taking the blow, the heavenly punishment remained unstoppable.
'Indeed, human effort has its limits...'
Was there still a way to turn the tide?
Lü Yang focused his mind, and the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] interface materialized before him. The golden talent [Sign of Fortune Drawing] suddenly radiated brilliant light.
[Event: Refining Seven Luminaries Heaven]
[Great Misfortune: Audacity defies heaven—nine deaths, one life.]
[Great Misfortune: Audacity defies heaven—nine deaths, one life.]
[Great Misfortune: Audacity defies heaven—nine deaths, one life.]
An unbroken series of black fortune sticks made Lü Yang smile bitterly: 'Three great misfortunes—so little faith in me? Couldn't even give me one auspicious...'
Wait—that wasn't right.
Lü Yang abruptly looked around. [Exquisite Heart] pierced through illusions as realization dawned: 'Of course—this is the third tribulation from heaven and earth!'
Destiny Tribulation!
As the name suggested, this tribulation differed from human tribulations (visible to the eye) and heavenly tribulations (pure destruction). It struck from within, targeting Lü Yang's fortune directly—functioning similarly to [Sign of Fortune Drawing] by predetermining his future outcomes through unseen means.
'Fortunately, it's incomplete!'
Had Seven Luminaries Heaven fully formed this destiny tribulation, [Sign of Fortune Drawing] would have shown certain death rather than nine deaths with one life.
'From this perspective, nine deaths one life seems almost favorable?'
Lü Yang shook his head, then merged a black fortune stick into himself—though it hardly mattered now, given his dire straits.
'[Sign of Fortune Drawing] is useless here.'
'What else can break this deadlock?'
'What next? Must I truly restart? But even if I do, [Sky of Separation] can't be brought back—how would I find Seven Luminaries Heaven again?'
'Is restarting the only option?'
Lü Yang activated [Sword Heart Clarity], and time seemed to freeze—sound vanishing as he pondered in this silent world.
Then, a thought struck him.
"Ancestor!"
In a blink, Lü Yang recalled Ancestor Nether Whisper to his side and without hesitation transferred control of [Sky of Separation] to him.
"You take over!"
"Man must rely on himself"—Chongguang's philosophy wasn't one Lü Yang fully endorsed.
In his view, relying on oneself or others mattered less than the outcome. As long as the result was good, the process was irrelevant.
"Good!"
Ancestor Nether Whisper reacted swiftly, immediately deploying spells like they cost nothing—actually managing to block the heavenly tribulation's assault!
More crucially, he also drew upon the [Seven Luminaries Stabilizing the World Grand Formation] Hong Yun had established around Seven Luminaries Heaven, siphoning part of its suppression power to re-anchor the collapsing [Sky of Separation]—miraculously stabilizing what seemed certain doom!
Yet this alone wasn't enough.
[Sign of Fortune Drawing] had accounted for all Lü Yang's current trump cards. No matter how exceptional Ancestor Nether Whisper was, he could at most save Lü Yang.
Nine deaths, one life—Ancestor Nether Whisper represented that single life.
But nothing more.
With Ancestor Nether Whisper in control, Lü Yang might survive—but refining Seven Luminaries Heaven would become impossible. What meaning did that hold? He might as well restart!
'To break this deadlock requires a new approach.'
To leap beyond [Sign of Fortune Drawing]'s calculations, beyond the destiny tribulation Seven Luminaries Heaven imposed... but how? Lü Yang's thoughts raced at unprecedented speed.
Finally, an idea surfaced.
His gaze turned to the Myriad Spirits Banner beside him.
His original plan had been to merge Seven Luminaries Heaven into the Myriad Spirits Banner, using it to refine and assimilate Seven Luminaries Heaven's embryonic fruit position.
But now, circumstances had changed.
'The Myriad Spirits Banner was already cleansed by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]—devoid of cause and effect, thus outside destiny's grasp... Perhaps it's my key to breaking free?'
At this point, he could grow no stronger.
Therefore, he shifted strategy—if he couldn't strengthen himself further, he'd weaken Seven Luminaries Heaven instead!
'Use the embryonic fruit position within the Myriad Spirits Banner... to counterbalance!'
Two embryonic fruit positions would inevitably conflict—each seeking to devour the other. Only by letting them fight could he hope to profit as the third party.
Yet this carried tremendous risk.
If he missed the critical moment and allowed Seven Luminaries Heaven to consume the Myriad Spirits Banner's embryonic fruit position, Seven Luminaries Heaven would gain immense enhancement.
Then it wouldn't be nine deaths one life—but certain death.
Moreover, with the embryonic fruit position lost, even restarting would only return a diminished Myriad Spirits Banner—its power reduced by more than a grade.
Another crossroads moment.
Thus far, Lü Yang had made many decisions—some right, some wrong. But misstep here might end this lifetime entirely.
Past choices flashed through his mind—especially rashly teleporting his original body to the Myriad Poison Sect's mountain gates, falling into the immortal spirit trap... What if he erred again? Silent pressure bore down on Lü Yang, nearly stopping his breath.
This time was no different.
With Seven Luminaries Heaven's destiny tribulation active, the outcome was theoretically predetermined. The Myriad Spirits Banner's supposed exemption from destiny was merely his conjecture—possibly mistaken.
Gambling everything recklessly might yield nothing—possibly losing all.
Yet despite this, Lü Yang clenched his teeth.
Though no prodigy like Chongguang, True Person Dangmo, or the Innate True Person, he possessed one small advantage over them:
He cheated.
'If wrong... restart! One lifetime fails? Try two, three, ten!'
In this moment, all hesitation vanished:
'I may lack supreme talent, insufficient strength, perhaps even mental fortitude—but with the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], I have countless chances.'
Lü Yang feared not mistakes—only inaction.
Human effort has its limits?
'Now is precisely when we push those limits!'
Destiny already decided?
"Human effort determines success!"
With this thought, a clear, unwavering sword chime—unyielding and indomitable—suddenly resonated from the depths of Lü Yang's sea of consciousness.