Chapter 402: False Golden Seat Method!
Chapter 402: The False Golden Seat Method!
As the final divine ability expanded, Lü Yang's figure became indistinct, while the halo behind him suddenly magnified countless times in that instant.
Countless spiderweb-like patterns radiated outward from the halo.
Then twisted.
This time, facing Ancestor Nether Whisper's incoming Dao technique, Lü Yang no longer avoided it but allowed it to strike. The distorted radiance swallowed everything in its path.
The next second, Ancestor Nether Whisper abruptly halted his movement, casting a surprised glance at Lü Yang before surveying his surroundings. Undoubtedly, Lü Yang remained unharmed—his Dao technique had not failed to land but rather its intended lethal effect had been transferred elsewhere.
Transferred to where?
In that instant, Ancestor Nether Whisper felt the incense offerings sustaining him begin to violently dissipate. An intense, invisible fury locked onto his qi out of nowhere.
'Heavenly Punishment...!?'
Realization dawned in Ancestor Nether Whisper's eyes. When he looked back at Lü Yang, genuine admiration finally surfaced in his gaze, and he voluntarily withdrew his magic power.
"...I concede defeat."
Ancestor Nether Whisper laughed freely, while Lü Yang solemnly clasped his hands in salute:
"You honor me too much, Ancestor. It was merely luck."
[With the World]—this divine ability lived up to its name by binding the user to heaven and earth, transferring any harm received onto the world itself.
Just now, Ancestor Nether Whisper's Dao technique had been redirected entirely by Lü Yang, specifically into the spiritual veins of Seven Luminaries Heaven. The consequence was immediate hostility from the realm toward the Ancestor for damaging its veins, hence the rapid dissipation of his incense offerings.
Had Lü Yang not halted Seven Luminaries Heaven's subsequent reactions,
Ancestor Nether Whisper would likely have lost all incense support by now, plummeting from late-stage Foundation Establishment. Hence his frank admission of defeat.
And this was only within Seven Luminaries Heaven.
'After all, [With the World] isn't limited to this realm—it functions across all worlds. Even in that broken place, it would still work!'
Under this divine ability's enhancement, Lü Yang essentially became a human spiritual vein.
Any injury could be directly transferred to heaven and earth, invoking celestial retribution. Yet since he could shift the damage away, punishing him was meaningless.
Naturally, the only remaining target was his opponent.
'The true function of this ability is forcing heaven and earth to stand on my side against my enemies—disgusting both my foes and the cosmos itself...'
Absolutely beastly. I love it!
Lü Yang smiled faintly as he withdrew [With the World], the white jade halo behind him contracting once more into an unremarkable full moon suspended at the back of his head.
"Ancestor, how strong would you say I am now?"
After pondering briefly, Ancestor Nether Whisper nodded: "Quite impressive. Raw power aside, your divine abilities make you exceptionally difficult to defeat."
A masterclass in understatement.
Lü Yang's eyebrow twitched, catching the implication—if "raw power aside" meant that fundamentally, his strength still fell short?
"Not exactly weak either."
Seeing his reaction, Ancestor Nether Whisper hurriedly amended: "Among Foundation Establishment perfected cultivators outside the Four Great Powers, you'd be evenly matched."
"Even at my peak, I'd only be slightly stronger than you now."
Lü Yang nodded thoughtfully before asking: "Where exactly does the gap lie?"
"In Dao techniques!"
Ancestor Nether Whisper explained: "To my knowledge, the Four Great Powers all possess specialized Dao techniques for perfected Foundation Establishment—ones requiring Metal Essence refinement to cultivate."
"Your [Sword Intent] is among them."
Such were the advantages of prestigious sects.
By comparison, minor sects lacking true transmissions—without the accumulated heritage of major sects over countless years—could only reach Ancestor Nether Whisper's level at best, regardless of talent.
Yet Lü Yang frowned again:
"I've now condensed [Sword Intent], but its enhancement doesn't feel overwhelmingly powerful. Significant, yes, but not quite enough..."
"[Sword Intent] is merely foundational."
Ancestor Nether Whisper shook his head: "Do you possess sword arts capable of fully unleashing it? Sword techniques are the true core—the primary reason sword cultivators dominate in combat."
It bore remembering that [Sword Intent] wasn't exclusive to sword cultivators.
Take Lü Yang himself—his original path wasn't swordsmanship, yet he'd still manifested sword intent. At its essence, this was simply an extreme refinement of soul and divine sense.
Though this was temporary.
Once Sword Pavilion achieved the [Sword Dao Fruit Position], under its influence, [Sword Intent] would become solely the domain of sword cultivators.
"In any case, your strength still has room to grow."
Ancestor Nether Whisper doused Lü Yang's enthusiasm before offering consolation: "Still, your divine abilities are insidious enough that few would willingly engage you."
"Moreover, combat prowess isn't truly vital."
Here, the Ancestor sighed meaningfully: "Take me—I was never skilled in battle. Yet such shortcomings can be compensated by advancing one's realm."
Lü Yang: "..."
Ancestor Nether Whisper wasn't skilled in combat?
Was this some kind of joke?
But realization soon dawned, his eyes brightening—indeed, when strength falls short, elevate one's realm! Cultivation always prioritized advancement above all!
Better to contest cultivation depth than martial skill!
"...[Yama Palace]?"
The False Golden Seat Method!
With this epiphany, Lü Yang waved his hand grandly, summoning Grand Ancestor Yan, City God, and Wusheng Laomu—all now refined into Banner Spirits.
Next came Mending Heaven Peak's master, Dragon Lady Sui Ling, and Guardian Deity Su Nu.
Followed by Long Yue and Ancestor Nether Whisper himself.
These eight could all be empowered through the Incense Qi Divine Path to attain perfected Foundation Establishment status. Combined with Lü Yang himself, this made nine perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators!
The conditions for [Yama Palace] were now fulfilled!
Envisioning this, Lü Yang rubbed his hands together eagerly.
"Don't celebrate prematurely."
Ancestor Nether Whisper sighed at his enthusiasm: "[Yama Palace] itself doesn't correspond to any Fruit Position. How do you suppose it falsely holds a Golden Seat?"
The words instantly cooled Lü Yang's ardor.
'...True.'
Previously overlooked, but reconsidering now—[Yama Palace]'s method of simulating a Golden Seat seemed peculiar. Simply gathering nine perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators sufficed?
No Fruit Position required?
Yet without a Fruit Position, how could it feign holding one?
"The key lies in Metal Essence."
Ancestor Nether Whisper explained: "In my deduction, [Yama Palace] fundamentally resembles the Qi Refining 'Heaven's Collapse' method."
"Heaven's Collapse..."
Lü Yang quickly recalled—this referred to Qi Refining cultivators elevating their status to Foundation Establishment before plummeting back down, creating a lethal technique through this "dimensional reduction." Ancestor Nether Whisper had once used it against him, only countered by his [Some Skill] talent.
"[Yama Palace] operates similarly."
"Its principle involves elevating oneself to a 'height' approximating a Fruit Position, enabling the palace to manifest power comparable to one."
"This parallels the process of seeking Metal Essence."
"Thus both require Metal Essence."
Here, Ancestor Nether Whisper revealed [Yama Palace]'s greatest limitation: "Each activation of [Yama Palace] equates to seeking Metal Essence."
"Seeking Metal consumes Metal Essence."
"In other words, feigning a Golden Seat with [Yama Palace] demands Metal Essence expenditure. Once exhausted, the palace will collapse!"