Chapter 443
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Undisclosed]
Chapter Title: Jiangnan Sword Pavilion
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Jiangnan, Sword Pavilion.
Within the Ye family estate, the scene remained a mountain of corpses and sea of blood. Lu Yang stood calmly amid the carnage, quietly attuning himself to his current state.
A pure white, jade-like glow coalesced into a halo behind his head, splitting outward into web-like patterns that bound him inextricably to heaven and earth. It formed an aura that compelled involuntary kneeling and prostration, transcendent and otherworldly, as if it had seized all the splendor of the world.
*This is the False Golden Throne.*
Lu Yang surveyed his surroundings. This stretch of heaven and earth felt so fragile before him, as though a single thought could tear it asunder with ease.
The next instant, celestial radiance descended.
An intangible aura spread outward, one utterly surpassing the mundane world, its rank so exalted it existed on an entirely different plane from the masses.
Now, without even needing to will it, heaven and earth responded spontaneously to Lu Yang's intent. The cosmos, once indifferent or even hostile toward him, now radiated intense affinity. Rays of light draped his form, blazing to their utmost brilliance.
The dark clouds overhead began to churn.
In that moment, every Qi Refining cultivator below Foundation Establishment—and every mortal—instinctively turned toward Sword Pavilion, compelled to kneel and pay homage!
Flowers, birds, fish, insects.
Mountains, rivers, grasses, trees.
At this instant, all things under heaven conveyed fervent goodwill toward Lu Yang, enfolding him at the center and rendering him ever more sacred and aloof.
This was a true "lord"!
A True Lord!
Yet Lu Yang remained unmoved. Once, heaven and earth had ignored him; now that he had risen, they fawned to get close.
*Spineless lackeys!*
While inwardly sneering, Lu Yang turned his gaze back to the Yun family ancestor possessed by [Soaring Empyrean], offering a mild smile.
On the other side, however, [Soaring Empyrean]'s mood was far less pleasant. He had to admit, Lu Yang's False Golden Throne had utterly disrupted his plans, exceeding all expectations. Worse still, since he had used [Lucky Golden Nature], Lu Yang's False Golden Throne was anchored to [Covered Lamp Fire]!
*If he uses [Covered Lamp Fire]'s power to reverse [Chen Soil]...*
The thought darkened [Soaring Empyrean]'s expression to the extreme. [Chen Soil] was his Dao foundation; if reversed, what chance did he have at becoming Dao Lord?
*...Damn it all!*
He had to concede—he was starting to panic.
But as a veteran True Lord of a sacred sect, he knew one ironclad rule: No matter how urgent, never show it! To do so was to hand your foe a weakness.
Thus, despite his inner turmoil, [Soaring Empyrean] forced a hearty laugh on the surface.
"Fellow Daoist—"
"No need for words."
Before [Soaring Empyrean] could choose his phrasing, Lu Yang cut in.
"My time is short. Fellow Daoist, I need a favor. Best not refuse."
A single sentence shifted [Soaring Empyrean]'s complexion.
Lu Yang laid it bare: time was limited. It exposed a vulnerability, but shoved [Soaring Empyrean] to the precipice of decision!
The implication was clear:
*Help me, or I'll erupt. Don't half-ass it—my time's short, so half-assing it means I erupt anyway!*
Staring at [Soaring Empyrean], Lu Yang sneered inwardly.
Did he have a choice?
None!
Sure enough, almost the next instant, [Soaring Empyrean] responded, laced with helpless resignation.
"What favor does Fellow Daoist require?"
He had yielded!
Lu Yang's expression remained even as he summoned Suo Huan.
"I plan to have him seek the Golden Throne. The tricks you've planted on him will trigger a fall in rank—[Long Flowing Water] will be drawn to you, right? I want you to seize [Long Flowing Water]'s power for me, then transfer it all to me."
"That might be a bit—"
Boom!
[Soaring Empyrean]'s hesitant words barely began when Lu Yang rose, as if talks had collapsed. An invisible force unfurled.
At the same moment, [Soaring Empyrean]'s face changed.
He sensed a strand of [Chen Soil] reversing in that instant! From yin soil back to yang soil—and the reversal was ongoing!
*You beast!*
Cursing furiously in his mind, [Soaring Empyrean] hurriedly replied,
"I agree. You draw in [Long Flowing Water]; I'll sever and deliver the rank's power."
As the words fell, helpless bitterness filled [Soaring Empyrean]'s heart.
Control—lost!
Somehow, his foe grasped his state and schemes perfectly, striking true without giving an inch to maneuver.
*[Lucky Golden Nature]... so formidable?*
How had he overlooked it for five millennia? He'd dismissed its bearer as mere heaven-favored luck, not suspecting such depths!
He'd been careless!
Meanwhile, Lu Yang ignored [Soaring Empyrean]'s thoughts. As Suo Huan began seeking the Golden Throne, he strode toward the horizon.
Time was scarce; the [Lucky Golden Nature]-fueled False Golden Throne lasted only the time for one incense stick to burn. Afterward, he'd revert. He couldn't afford one task at a time—he needed to multitask for maximum gain within that span!
Rumble!
As Lu Yang stepped forward, the mountains and rivers beneath him retreated of their own accord. Distance became mere cipher, editable at his whim.
In one step, he entered Jiangdong.
By now, all Four Realms sensed Lu Yang's unveiled aura. [Covered Lamp Fire] blazed high, filling every heart with dread.
"How can this be?"
"Whence came this True Lord?"
"[Covered Lamp Fire]..."
Jiangdong's Dao Court, Tianwu City.
Here, the Dao Court's crown prince presided over civil and military officials, governing the realm. Now, they all gazed skyward in terror.
"[Dao Laws] mean nothing to him!"
"He just... walks through!"
The Dao Court crown prince stared, stupefied.
The [Dao Laws] were Jiangdong Dao Court's unique domain, regulating spiritual energy—the foundation of their rule, imposing harsh suppression within.
Ordinarily, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator entering Jiangdong would face [Dao Laws]' suppression: unable to absorb even a trace of qi, their realm plummeting. No matter your cultivation, without Dao Court sanction, you were but a wild fox Zen—unable to take a step.
Yet now, an exception.
Lu Yang strolled unimpeded, phenomena blooming in his wake. Jiangdong's [Dao Laws] lay trampled beneath his feet, stripped of all potency.
A True Lord graces the world!
*In five thousand years, this is likely the first true True Lord to walk the land. Who could stop him? Who the hell could?*
In Jiangdong, Lu Yang beckoned casually.
Long ago, [Profound Spirit Realm] had been sundered by the four directions. Jiangdong's [East Heavenly Gate] returned to him; Jiangnan's [South Heavenly Gate] was reclaimed.
Next came Jiangbei's [North Heavenly Gate].
Then Jixi’s [West Heavenly Gate].
In a few strides, Lu Yang traversed the Four Realms, reassembling the fragmented [Profound Spirit Realm] before consigning it to Suo Huan's blessed land!
Rumble!
Suo Huan's face lit with fervor as he raised high [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land], merging it with [Profound Spirit Realm] to seek an outer-path Golden Throne!
Lu Yang glanced sidelong.
"Fellow Daoist [Soaring Empyrean]?"
"Tch!"
From within [Netherworld Mansion], [Soaring Empyrean] inwardly itched to slay Lu Yang outright, yet his hands flew without pause, forming seals.
The next instant, Suo Huan's [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land] trembled violently. Sure enough, [Soaring Empyrean]'s planted contingency activated—the intent originally aimed at [Profound Spirit Realm] abruptly shifted, redirecting toward [Long Flowing Water] instead. Another star ignited overhead!
*[Long Flowing Water] holds boundless intent, ideal for nurturing nascent rank power.*
Lu Yang looked up, eyes sharp.
Long ago, innate True Person Mu Changsheng had schemed with [Long Flowing Water] to harvest rank power and birth [Heaven of Non-existence]. Now, Lu Yang would repeat the feat!
He aimed to nurture [Seven Luminaries Heaven]!
This was the first—and foremost—act of his False Golden Throne: to birth a unique, personal true rank!