Chapter 398
Chapter 398
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Descent of Heavenly Punishment
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Rumble!
At this moment, the entire sky region of Seven Luminaries Heaven was sealed off. The endless cloud sea below condensed out of thin air, transforming into a solid barrier.
This was to prevent the aftershocks from affecting the populace below.
Thus, Yan Taizu, suppressed by Patriarch Tingyou's spell, did not crash to the ground. Instead, he smashed into the cloud sea. Only after ten breaths did a sound emerge.
Crack!
Cracks continuously appeared on his stone statue incarnation. Then, boundless incense fire divine power erupted forth, sweeping away all the mud and soil.
Patriarch Tingyou frowned slightly at the sight. But he soon relaxed.
'There is still room for improvement. Ultimately, the amount of incense fire divine power is far too lacking. He forcibly broke through my Dao art purely by expending incense fire. But that is all. They are no match for me.'
This was merely because his condition had yet to fully recover.
After all, his cultivation had only just returned to late Foundation Establishment. Even he could not contend against peak Foundation Establishment with late Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Thus, he could only rely on incense fire divine power.
Otherwise, if they stood on equal footing—with him at peak Foundation Establishment—he could slay these two so-called great gods of incense fire within three moves.
'The disparity is too vast.'
'Moreover, Seven Luminaries Heaven has enjoyed prolonged peace. Their study of combat techniques is laughably scant—little more than swinging massive hammers in close-quarters brawls. Not even comparable to loose cultivators.'
Patriarch Tingyou pondered inwardly. His responses grew ever more composed.
Though the incense fire divine power amounted to only one-sixth the combined total of Yan Taizu and the Capital City God, he faced two opponents yet held them at bay with ease.
He even had spare capacity to glance toward Lu Yang.
Meanwhile, within [Lihen Tian], Lu Yang continued devouring and exhaling the world's vital energies. At last, a second divine ability shimmered into being:
'[Embracing True Qi]!'
As this divine ability manifested, a crisp water-drop sound echoed in Lu Yang's ears—pleasing and clear. It stirred ripples across his sea of consciousness.
'Taiyi Embracing True Qi: spirit, soul, psyche, intent.'
'At utmost stillness, heaven's heart reveals itself; divine clarity naturally arrives.'
As the name implied, this divine ability possessed the power to swallow all things and refine myriad forms. In operation now, it threatened to draw out every last essence of Seven Luminaries Heaven.
Splash!
Lu Yang's figure abruptly vanished. In its place rose a majestic landscape of sun, moon, mountains, and rivers—the true manifestation of [Lihen Tian].
And within [Lihen Tian], a great banner fluttered proudly in the wind.
Myriad Spirits Banner!
At this moment, every strand of world's essence Lu Yang had devoured via [Embracing True Qi] poured into the Myriad Spirits Banner. He began refining it with the banner's aid.
Yet as time wore on, the process grew increasingly arduous. The gulf in scale between Lu Yang and Seven Luminaries Heaven was simply too immense. Though he exerted himself to the utmost, Seven Luminaries Heaven stood firm as Mount Tai. Its essence flowed endlessly, vast as the ocean.
Puff!
Suddenly, Lu Yang's form faltered. The entire [Lihen Tian] shuddered violently. Clear cracks spiderwebbed across numerous spots.
Patriarch Tingyou, ever vigilant of Lu Yang, started in alarm.
"Be careful!"
He had long foreseen that refining a world-heaven would prove exceedingly difficult. Yet they had barely advanced the first step—how were they already nearing their limit?
"No matter."
Meanwhile, Lu Yang swiftly regained his composure after a fleeting moment of alarm. A knowing glint even flickered in his eyes.
'Mortal strength has its limits.'
He had grasped this truth long ago.
His injury stemmed from that instant when the influx of world's essence exceeded his control threshold. The backlash had caught him off guard.
Yet essence beyond his grasp meant little to Seven Luminaries Heaven.
'It did this deliberately.'
Lu Yang's heart grew heavy. Evidently, Seven Luminaries Heaven was adapting—shedding its initial bewilderment, learning to counter him.
Under normal circumstances, after suffering such repeated setbacks, it would lie thoroughly vanquished. No chance to learn or evolve. But its foundations ran far too deep for Lu Yang to plumb. Its margin for error was vast—not slain in a single blow, affording ample time for growth.
'It has even ceased summoning tribulations.'
Lu Yang activated [Exquisite Heart] once more to peer within. The second tribulation had fully brewed in Seven Luminaries Heaven, yet it remained dormant.
Clearly, it had wised up.
Once bitten, twice shy. Having hastily unleashed a human tribulation only for Lu Yang to resolve it effortlessly, it would grant no further openings.
'Even this fishing pond is learning to grow stronger.'
Lu Yang sighed inwardly, unperturbed. He turned toward the Myriad Spirits Banner. Divine sense delved deep, activating a long-dormant technique:
'[Supreme Void Sacrificial Rite Marvelous Method]!'
This had originally served to commune with [Heaven of Non-existence]. Yet since [Heaven of Non-existence] attained proof under Chongguang, the method lost its efficacy.
That held true for others, at least.
For Lu Yang, it retained another profound utility: communing with—and drawing upon—the embryonic position seed nestled within the Myriad Spirits Banner!
Unlike Seven Luminaries Heaven, this embryonic position was far more primordial. Strictly speaking, it was merely a seed—nowhere near sprouting, much less blooming.
Thus, its response to Lu Yang was feeble, the mighty power it lent quite limited.
'No helping it. Otherwise, the Innate True Person would have proven [Heaven of Non-existence] ages ago.'
'Back then, [Heaven of Non-existence] achieved proof only because the Innate True Person expended five millennia irrigating it with [Long Flowing Water].'
'Be that as it may—it's enough!'
Composure settled over Lu Yang. Bolstered by the embryonic position's empowerment from the banner, his faltering [Embracing True Qi] blazed anew with radiant splendor.
Vast quantities of world's essence surged inward once more.
This time, Lu Yang accepted it all without refusal. A third luster began budding on his form—another innate divine ability awakening!
'[Converging Origins Merit]!'
No sooner had this divine ability ignited than it revealed its extraordinary prowess.
Recall: Lu Yang remained under incense fire empowerment. Seven Luminaries Heaven, naturally, offered no aid against the erosion gnawing at his consciousness.
To refine it, he could not relinquish incense fire until he seized sufficient position to propel himself to peak Foundation Establishment. Nay—to counter its resistance, he required even greater quantities. This, of course, intensified the incense fire's assault.
Such torment outstripped lingchi execution.
Yet he could not lapse into unconsciousness. He endured it all with crystal clarity.
Were it not for his sustained [Sword Heart Illumination], the excruciating agony would have driven him to madness by now.
But at this juncture—
As [Converging Origins Merit]'s luster descended, Lu Yang's mind cleared in an instant. His turbulent sea of consciousness steadied anew!
Even the borrowed might from the Myriad Spirits Banner fused seamlessly, devoid of any awkwardness.
'Assimilate foreign powers; myriad arts return as one.'
Insight dawned in Lu Yang's heart. This was the marvel of [Converging Origins Merit]: integrating disparate systems and incompatible foreign forces into unity!
Precisely as now.
Incense fire divine power—a force fraught with dire side effects—merged fully under [Converging Origins Merit]'s sway, truly becoming his own.
Naturally, this was no permanent state.
[Converging Origins Merit] harbored limits. Absent true attainment of peak Foundation Establishment, the divine ability would endure but a fleeting quarter-hour before dissipating.
Yet to goad heaven and earth—it sufficed.
Rumble!
In that instant, a thunderous peal resounded in the hearts of Lu Yang and Patriarch Tingyou... of Yan Taizu and the Capital City God... of every living soul in Seven Luminaries Heaven.
"This is..."
"Heavenly punishment!"
The Capital City God gazed heavenward. Profound dread welled in its eyes.
Atop the firmament, dark clouds blanketed all. Myriad thunder serpents writhed amid the roiling masses.
The illimitable thunderheads resembled a colossal eye peering downward. The rampaging thunder-light serpents were its bloodshot veins of fury. As the clouds churned, apocalyptic energies blanketed the world—firmly locked upon Lu Yang, intent on reducing him to drifting ash!