Chapter 400: I’m Already Invincible!
Chapter 400: I Am Now Invincible Across the Heavens!
Within Seven Luminaries Heaven, a swirling mass of illusory colors hovered high in the sky, its radiant hues intertwining amidst thunderous peals as it continuously drew in spiritual energy from the world.
"What in the world is happening?"
Even now, Grand Ancestor Yan and the City God hadn't recovered from Lü Yang's earlier world-splitting sword strike. They exchanged bewildered glances.
Yet as time passed, the swirling colors gradually condensed, finally taking human form—a tall, handsome youth standing calmly with hands clasped behind his back. A halo of white jade light encircled his head like an embodiment of cosmic principles, lending him an increasingly solemn and sacred aura.
Lü Yang remained silent, merely closing his eyes slightly.
The surging, world-shaking magic power within him was nearly intoxicating, simultaneously stirring an indescribable sense of disbelief in his heart:
'It actually didn't screw me over...!'
The smoothness was absurd!
Frankly, if a giant hand had grabbed him the moment he broke through to Foundation Establishment Perfection and refined him on the spot, he wouldn't have been surprised.
Yet everything turned out perfectly fine.
At this thought, Lü Yang shook his head: 'As expected, all those previous misfortunes were purely because that damned place was cursed—not me.'
Had he not decisively fled, how difficult would achieving Foundation Establishment Perfection have been?
Never mind other obstacles—just the four Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend energies alone would have toyed with him relentlessly. He'd probably still be stuck at mid Foundation Establishment, let alone reaching his current heights.
'Though my success is likely impossible to replicate.'
Lü Yang understood clearly—if simply escaping that damned place and cultivating beyond it could lead to Foundation Establishment Perfection, why would anyone remain there?
Ultimately, it was because he had inherited Daoist Hong Yun's arrangements. Whether the [Seven Luminaries Stabilizing the World Grand Formation] or Seven Luminaries Heaven itself, all were trump cards left behind by Hong Yun. Lü Yang's achievement stemmed more from walking the very escape route Hong Yun had prepared for himself.
'Hong Yun, Hong Yun—you truly are my fortune!'
'The most correct decision of this lifetime was probably overthrowing the newly reincarnated Hong Yun back then—that was my first golden opportunity!'
Even the weakest True Lord was still a True Lord.
Even casual arrangements by such an existence could bring immense benefits to those beneath that realm—Lü Yang felt this truth profoundly once more.
The next moment, Lü Yang lowered his gaze.
Where his eyes fell, Grand Ancestor Yan and the City God abruptly snapped back to awareness, only to feel a chill seize their hearts. This demeanor—had the outsider won!?
Instantly, the expressions of both incense deities twisted bitterly.
Seeing this, Lü Yang shook his head.
Had Saint Sect True Persons been present, they'd already be prostrating themselves while congratulating him as "Senior."
'Too prideful... understandable, though. After lording over Seven Luminaries Heaven for so long, their necks have stiffened from looking down on others—no wonder they're slow to react.'
At this thought, Lü Yang suddenly felt a wave of weariness.
"Enough. Since you two were merely acting under duress, I shall mercifully refrain from soul extraction and refinement. Let your souls scatter instead."
As his words fell, the white jade halo behind Lü Yang's head brightened.
[Heaven's Mandate]!
True to its name, this divine ability was a junior version of Seven Luminaries Heaven's embryonic Fruit Position. Once activated, its suppression of the Incense Qi Divine Path was nearly absolute!
With Lü Yang's declaration, Grand Ancestor Yan and the City God instantly showed terror, watching in horror as the incense power they once wielded effortlessly was stripped away in an instant. Their bodies promptly disintegrated, their souls dispersing with not even a scream!
Seven Luminaries Heaven lacked a [Netherworld].
Thus, there was no cycle of reincarnation. Upon death, souls immediately dissolved into the world, which then condensed new ones.
Of course, Lü Yang—merciful as he was—spared them this fate by refining them into banner spirits instead.
'I am now invincible across the heavens!'
...Within Seven Luminaries Heaven, at least.
Shifting his gaze, Lü Yang then observed Ancestor Nether Whisper carefully cradling a dimly glowing treasure orb.
The nameless embryonic Fruit Position within the Myriad Spirits Banner.
"It's severely damaged," Ancestor Nether Whisper explained with a frown. "There are signs of necrosis. Without supplementation from a complete Fruit Position, recovery will be difficult."
Lü Yang felt no regret.
Hard to recover? Then don't bother!
With a thought, he withdrew this embryonic Fruit Position back into the Myriad Spirits Banner before merging it with [Seven Luminaries Heaven], his eyes gleaming with anticipation:
'Is there hope?'
Could two embryonic Fruit Positions combine into a complete one? If possible, he'd immediately restart without hesitation!
'The Myriad Spirits Banner persists across lifetimes!'
'If stacking quantities can cultivate a Fruit Position, restarting a few hundred times would be worthwhile—owning even one would be an immense gain!'
Under Lü Yang's expectant gaze, the Myriad Spirits Banner trembled. The embryonic Fruit Position Seven Luminaries Heaven failed to obtain in life was now consumed after Lü Yang's refinement. Yet soon, Lü Yang frowned—Seven Luminaries Heaven showed little noticeable change.
'Useless?'
No—not entirely. Gripping the banner, Lü Yang could sense the embryonic Fruit Position had grown slightly more complete.
'It works—the issue is quantity.'
After rough calculations, Lü Yang couldn't help but sigh: realizing his plan would require over three hundred restarts.
This conclusion instantly extinguished his enthusiasm—this wasn't the Book of Ten Thousand Lives. Where would he find three hundred Myriad Spirits Banners?
Ah well—every bit helps.
The gains this time were substantial enough that Lü Yang took it in stride.
Turning his thoughts elsewhere, he pondered another question: 'How strong am I now? Where would I rank in that damned place?'
'Strictly speaking, I'm highly unique—likely the only cultivator to achieve Perfection in a second-grade true art from scratch.'
This was Lü Yang's self-assessment.
Second-grade true art perfected, having usurped Seven Luminaries Heaven's cosmic essence.
In that damned place, second-grade true arts were typically pursued by Foundation Establishment True Persons as supplements for Metal Essence attainment.
Yet Lü Yang differed.
He had cultivated a second-grade true art as his primary path to Foundation Establishment Perfection.
'In other words, I'm now a coveted treasure there—using Seven Luminaries Heaven as my ascension platform makes attracting a Fruit Position's gaze effortless!'
Yet flaws remained.
'The two most crucial steps for Metal Essence—Metal Nature and Blessed Land—are both missing.'
The Blessed Land was manageable with [Sky of Separation], but Metal Nature proved troublesome. Lü Yang had assumed achieving Foundation Establishment Perfection would allow easy condensation.
Now, that seemed incorrect.
'The key... lies likely in Life Essence divine abilities. Though I plundered Seven Luminaries Heaven's fortune, my Perfection was achieved through five innate divine abilities.'
Reflecting now, all heavens beyond that damned place—despite housing Foundation Establishment Perfection-level existences—clearly lagged behind in certain aspects.
Mystic Spirit Realm exemplified this.
Lü Yang had witnessed Immortal Minghua—equivalent in rank to Foundation Establishment Perfection—yet never heard of Metal Nature or Blessed Lands there.
'These two are likely unique to that damned place!'
Troublesome indeed.
Exceptions existed, however—like Suo Huan, who condensed Metal Nature using a Dao Court official position. Evidently, Dao Court positions held their own mysteries.
'The road ahead is long...'
With this realization, Lü Yang's earlier swelling pride from achieving Perfection settled back into steady determination. Perfection was merely the first step on the gradual path to Metal Essence.
Still, indulging in some dominance should be feasible.
Metal Essence aside, gauging his current strength simply required a benchmark.
The next instant, Lü Yang unleashed his aura, turning to Ancestor Nether Whisper with an inflated grin: "Ancestor, care to spar with me?"
He would challenge his ancestor!