Chapter 399: One Sword Splits the Heavens, Foundation Establishment Perfection!
Chapter 399: A Sword That Splits the Heavens, Foundation Establishment Perfection!
Jiangnan, Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion.
At Ji Tian Cliff, True Person Dangmo sat cross-legged, quietly observing the sky. A radiant light soared from his crown into the clouds, symbolizing his currently flourishing fortune.
Yet, there was not a trace of joy on True Person Dangmo's face.
'This is urging me forward.'
Ever since the True Lords went into seclusion, his fortune had begun to grow—swiftly, day by day. Now, it had almost materialized to the point of being visible to the naked eye.
Thinking this, True Person Dangmo couldn't help but sigh.
'I thought capturing that spiritual vein at Skeleton Mountain ten years ago might slightly diminish my fortune. But who knew the heavens and earth wouldn't even acknowledge it?'
Why had he personally intervened when Lü Yang sought the spiritual vein?
Concern for Lü Yang, not wanting him to recklessly leave, was only one aspect. More importantly, the act itself held certain benefits for him.
The outcome was as he expected.
Lü Yang's fortune had completely dissipated, clearly struck by Heavenly Punishment. And according to the principle of collective punishment by heaven and earth, he, as the one who acted, should have been punished as well.
Yet, to True Person Dangmo's dismay, it was as if heaven and earth had turned a blind eye to him. They relentlessly punished Lü Yang while ignoring him entirely. Clearly, even heaven and earth were unwilling to provoke him at this moment, lest they disrupt his grand prospects of Achieving the [Sword Dao Fruit Position].
"...The will of heaven."
With another sigh, True Person Dangmo prepared to resume his secluded meditation, using his sword intent to suppress the growth of his fortune. But just then—
"Clang! Clang!"
A crisp sword chime suddenly resounded within Ji Tian Cliff. In an instant, the winds and clouds stirred across heaven and earth, followed by countless sword chimes ringing in unison.
Such an anomaly instantly drew the attention of many.
True Person Dangmo's eyes snapped open, locking onto the source of the first sword chime almost immediately. A look of delight soon spread across his face.
"Excellent, excellent!"
Inconceivable!
'Only ten years... Could spiritual veins truly have the effect of tempering sword intent? I thought he was just making up excuses to deceive me... Who knew it was actually true!'
For a moment, True Person Dangmo was overjoyed.
The thought even crossed his mind—perhaps he should go chop down a few spiritual veins himself someday to see if his sword intent would grow as well...
Meanwhile, within a cave dwelling on Ji Tian Cliff.
Lü Yang's sword avatar sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, his sword foundation—the [Brilliant Union with the Eternal, Upright Enforcement of the Sword of Gold]—laid flat across his knees.
There were no sword qi manifestations, no divine abilities on display. His essence, energy, and spirit were all concentrated into the longsword before him. Countless magic powers converged into a single point of light upon the blade's edge—seemingly ordinary, yet the ultimate sublimation of his avatar's divine abilities and magic power.
[Sword Intent]!
The third realm of the Sword Dao, theoretically equivalent to Golden Core True Lords. Yet, due to the absence of the [Sword Dao Fruit Position], it remained confined to the Foundation Establishment level as a divine ability!
Seven Luminaries Heaven.
The anomaly that had shaken half the Sword Pavilion was merely the aftershock of true [Sword Intent]. Its foundation ultimately lay with Lü Yang's Original Body at this very moment.
'So this is sword intent...'
In the blink of an eye, the [Sky of Separation] collapsed. Facing the thunderclouds of Seven Luminaries Heaven's Heavenly Punishment, it reshaped itself into Lü Yang's likeness, standing calmly in midair.
"Everything alright now?"
Seeing this, Ancestor Nether Whisper immediately showed delight.
Lü Yang nodded, then without hesitation, retrieved the Myriad Spirits Banner: "I'll need to trouble you, Ancestor... to extract the fruit position from within."
"Understood!"
Ancestor Nether Whisper didn't doubt Lü Yang's judgment. With his keen comprehension, his thoughts raced, quickly grasping Lü Yang's intentions. He immediately formed hand seals.
Lü Yang hadn't interacted much with the embryonic fruit position within the Myriad Spirits Banner, nor was his comprehension sufficient. At most, he could borrow some of its power. To truly summon this embryonic fruit position, only Ancestor Nether Whisper—both a Banner Spirit and one who had studied it extensively—could accomplish it.
"Boom!"
The next moment, the banner unfurled. A pearl-like orb, condensed from countless rays of light, was cradled by Ancestor Nether Whisper and placed midair.
Almost simultaneously, thunder roared!
The heavenly tribulation lightning originally targeting Lü Yang instantly diverted most of its force, revealing intense greed as it surged toward the orb!
Just as Lü Yang had anticipated.
Seven Luminaries Heaven remained that naive child, its consciousness muddled. Upon sensing the benefits of the Myriad Spirits Banner's embryonic fruit position, it immediately abandoned Lü Yang.
Of course, this was also because, from Seven Luminaries Heaven's perspective, Lü Yang's threat level had significantly diminished—no longer capable of posing a real danger. Thus, it shifted its focus. And this was precisely what Lü Yang desired. He cooperatively feigned weakened vitality.
His face turned ashen, his body swayed as if on the verge of collapse.
Yet, in his hand, [Tribulation Wave] was silently gripped. His divine abilities and magic power surged into it like a tide, without revealing the slightest killing intent.
"Outsider, prepare to die!"
At that moment, the long-accumulated City God and Grand Ancestor Yan finally struck. As Lü Yang's human tribulation, they naturally seized the opportunity without hesitation.
"Thud!"
Lü Yang's body was struck head-on by Grand Ancestor Yan, forcing him back a step. His magic power and vitality grew even more feeble, cracks spreading across his entire form.
Simultaneously, the City God attacked as well.
Incense fire divine power transformed into countless chains, piercing Lü Yang's collarbones. His face twisted in agony as he staggered to his knees.
By all appearances, his life now hung by a thread.
Witnessing this, not only did Grand Ancestor Yan and the City God breathe sighs of relief, but even Seven Luminaries Heaven's embryonic fruit position shifted most of its attention away.
"Rumble—!"
The heavenly tribulation poured forth in full force, thunder seas clashing—no longer targeting Lü Yang, but colliding with the embryonic fruit position within the Myriad Spirits Banner. The latter resisted fiercely.
Two embryonic fruit positions in conflict!
As this battle raged, the heavenly tribulation Seven Luminaries Heaven desperately gathered grew increasingly weaker. Correspondingly, the Myriad Spirits Banner's embryonic fruit position also dimmed.
Finally, Seven Luminaries Heaven could endure no longer.
An intangible force of heaven and earth spread outward. Once more, Lü Yang glimpsed that talisman inscribed with dragon-phoenix script at Seven Luminaries Heaven's deepest core.
'The moment has come!'
In that instant, Lü Yang raised his head.
His life still hung by a thread—only his right sleeve billowed, revealing the tightly gripped [Tribulation Wave], its sharp blade aimed squarely at Seven Luminaries Heaven.
[Tribulation Wave] was originally a top-grade magic sword, possessing five divine mysteries, just a step away from becoming a True Treasure. Now, in the hands of Lü Yang, who had condensed sword intent, it was like a steed meeting its destined rider. The blade trembled, its light flickering between brilliance and shadow, instantly reflecting a vast expanse of sword radiance!
[Proclaiming Might]!
In that moment, the void itself seemed to divide. The five-colored Dipper's handle rose high, while the three caverns' spiritual patterns manifested simultaneously.
A sight of unparalleled grandeur—
Yet not a hint of killing intent was revealed.
Only when it pierced the talisman formed by Seven Luminaries Heaven's embryonic fruit position did everything become clear.
"!!!"
An indescribable sound instantly reverberated throughout Seven Luminaries Heaven, echoing far and wide.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang felt as if parched land had met sweet rain. Countless essences of heaven and earth now surged into him through this single sword strike!
The next second, a fourth divine radiance blossomed across his body.
'[Uphold Heaven's Laws]!'
In an instant, the four Innate Divine Abilities interconnected, fused into one under the governance of sword intent, ultimately transforming into a light that tore through the darkness!
"Open!"
At that moment, all of Seven Luminaries Heaven fell silent—then split apart beneath Lü Yang's sword!
At the fissure's edge, the Myriad Spirits Banner unfurled wildly, voraciously devouring Seven Luminaries Heaven's domain.
Had this been earlier, Seven Luminaries Heaven could have easily resisted. But now, after expending tremendous power and suffering Lü Yang's sword strike, it was exhausted and forced to retreat.
It needed time to recuperate and rebuild its strength.
Yet how could Lü Yang grant it that opportunity?
Even as it rested, Lü Yang siphoned its power every second. Though it recuperated, the strength it could muster dwindled continuously!
"Boom!"
As Seven Luminaries Heaven gradually succumbed to the Myriad Spirits Banner, Lü Yang's aura grew increasingly potent.
Behind his head, a fifth radiance emerged.
This radiance acted as a binding agent, linking the previously independent divine abilities together.
Countless divine abilities, a thousand hues of illusion—all ultimately coalesced into a circle of supreme, jade-white radiance suspended behind Lü Yang's head.
[With the World]!
The next moment, Lü Yang's aura abruptly crossed an insurmountable threshold.
[Exquisite Heart], [True Qi Containment], [Harmonizing Origin Art], [Uphold Heaven's Laws], [With the World]!
All divine abilities complete.
Foundation Establishment Perfection!