Chapter 467
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Number]
Chapter Title: Tianwu City, Capital Heaven Department
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Tianwu City, Capital Heaven Department yamen.
Though called a yamen, it was in fact an immortal mountain spanning a thousand li. After entering, Lu Yang quickly found the cave abode assigned to him.
"The top priority is to first digest the Noon Fire Dao conduct."
In this regard, the yamen held no small advantage. As such a vital stronghold, it was under the watchful gaze of the Immortal Nation's Dao Regulations, and it even featured a dedicated mode to aid comprehension.
This was also one of the ways the Dao Court disbursed salaries.
The Dao Court's salaries generally fell into three categories, issued once every century, with recipients free to choose one: spiritual materials, techniques, or insight.
The first two went without saying, but the last—insight—was quite subtle. It allowed the Immortal Nation's Dao Regulations to directly empower the cultivator, plunging them into an unprecedented state of "world-shaking insight." In this state, the efficiency of comprehending techniques, refining spiritual treasures, or concocting pills would increase tenfold.
And as a newly appointed official, Lu Yang came with one free salary claim.
After selecting "insight" and promptly activating it, Lu Yang immediately grasped just how heaven-defying this ability truly was.
He wasn't inexperienced in attempting to comprehend the Noon Fire.
Yet in prior sessions, each insight had felt obscure and impenetrable. Grinding through it with time might eventually yield understanding, but it would demand decades of bitter labor.
But now was different.
Under the empowerment of the Immortal Nation's Dao Regulations, the once-obscure knowledge smoothed out as if lubricated, allowing him to plunge straight in unimpeded.
Comprehension flowed effortlessly, with no barriers whatsoever. Questions resolved upon thought, obstacles dissolved upon reflection—the entire process free of any bottlenecks.
'Is this the state my ancestral master experiences daily?'
No wonder they were so formidable!
Lost to the passage of time in cultivation, Lu Yang roamed freely through the ocean of knowledge when suddenly, his once-fluid thoughts slammed into an iron wall.
"Hm? What's this?"
Lu Yang grunted, opening his eyes. It felt as if he'd been interrupted right at the brink of release, denied any continuation.
An uncomfortable hardness.
Blinking, Lu Yang reviewed the Noon Fire knowledge that had just gushed forth like a spring, only to find it obscure once more.
Had he grown stupid?
Lu Yang's gaze turned blank. Having tasted true "world-shaking wisdom," he struggled to accept his own mediocrity.
'Immortal Nation's Dao Regulations.'
Lu Yang eyed the golden great net overhead, swallowing hard.
This treasure and I are fated!
At this rate, three more empowerments from the Immortal Nation's Dao Regulations would let him fully digest the Noon Fire Dao conduct and begin his breakthrough!
'But damn the Dao Court's salary—once every century. To get another empowerment, I'd either wait a hundred years or rack up merits. Well played! In the end, it still turns Dao Court cultivators into competitors. The salary's just bait!'
So, where to earn merits?
Lu Yang sank into brief contemplation, his eyes gradually brightening.
'...Uncle-Master Chongguang!'
In the original history, Chongguang would secretly reincarnate and infiltrate the Qing Nation for the Covered Lamp Fire, transforming that Dao Court wonder into his provisions.
What if he stopped him?
Set up an ambush in the Qing Nation early, seize Uncle-Master Chongguang upon reincarnation, refine him in an instant, and resolve the Qing Nation crisis.
Merit earned!
This would not only neutralize the acting sect master of the Northern River Demon Sect—bah, the Primal Saint Sect—but also safeguard the Dao Court's wonder embedded in the north by the Heavenly Son.
A merit vast as the sky!
As for Uncle-Master Chongguang suffering a bit—well, Uncle-Master, I'd make it up to you next life. I didn't even hold his ninth-life draining of my luck against him!
With that thought, Lu Yang rubbed his fists eagerly. If he pulled this off, forget one Immortal Nation's Dao Regulations empowerment—even ten or eight wouldn't be excessive! The only issue was Uncle-Master Chongguang's failure leaving no one to prove the Heaven of Non-existence...
'...Not necessarily.'
At that, Lu Yang reined in his mind, descending into the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner. He then tapped lightly, rousing Ancestor Tingyou from closed-door cultivation.
"Another technique for me to comprehend?"
Ancestor Tingyou opened his eyes and extended his hand with practiced ease.
Lu Yang: "..."
The next instant, Lu Yang's expression turned indignant.
"How could Ancestor think so little of me? Am I the sort to only trouble you?"
"This time, I've come with good news for Ancestor!"
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Ancestor Tingyou responded indifferently. In his last life, he'd even slain the Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord, avenging his great grudge. Joy and sorrow no longer stirred his heart.
"This life, I plan to help Ancestor seek the gold!"
At those words, the nonchalant Ancestor Tingyou shot upright.
"...Elaborate!"
Seeing this, Lu Yang grinned.
"Before, I had Ancestor comprehend the Heaven of Non-existence. Now's the chance... I want Ancestor to prove it!"
Proving the Heaven of Non-existence wasn't easy. Even the first step, the Marrow of a Hundred Flowers—battling 108 heavenly maidens in blood—was a hurdle none could pass. Aside from Chongguang with his success record, Lu Yang could think of no one but Ancestor Tingyou, who had once comprehended it.
This was actually good for Ancestor Tingyou too.
"The Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord lives this life and won't die anytime soon. Ancestor, though at peak Foundation Establishment, finding it hard to attempt seeking gold."
Lu Yang said gravely,
"Thus, better to prove the Heaven of Non-existence!"
"Mm, sound reasoning."
Ancestor Tingyou pondered, naturally accepting Lu Yang's phrasing of "this life" without suspicion.
But soon, worry creased his brow.
"However... if I prove the Heaven of Non-existence, I'll have to seclude with the world's true lords. Without me at your side, won't you be in danger?"
Lu Yang froze.
He'd been scheming how Ancestor Tingyou would prove the Heaven of Non-existence, when, and what benefits he'd reap after.
But now, everything stalled.
The next moment, he flashed a sincere smile.
"No matter. Ancestor proving the Heaven of Non-existence is more important. It's preparation for the future."
In this forsaken place, one man alone achieved little.
To accomplish anything, one needed many friends and few foes. The value of an utterly reliable true lord ally went without saying.
And Lu Yang hadn't forgotten—the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner held a Heaven of Non-existence too!
Though mere embryonic, wasn't there the Soaring Empyrean? He'd vowed to devour him across a hundred lives; this one wouldn't escape.
'Torture Suo Huan a bit, squeeze another Long Flowing Water power from the Soaring Empyrean, nurture the embryonic Heaven of Non-existence in my Ten Thousand Spirits Banner to completion. Add Ancestor's proven Heaven of Non-existence this life, forming a cavern-heaven, and next life I start with a true lord guardian!'
Just then, a voice sounded outside the cave abode.
"Lord Du Huan?"
Lu Yang stepped out in response, only to find Eunuch An—the one who'd escorted him into the palace—standing there. He hurried to bow.
"May I ask what business Dao Friend An has?"
"No business to speak of."
Eunuch An waved it off, beaming.
"I'm here to relay an imperial decree, Lord Du Huan. His Majesty has entrusted you with a major task this time."
A major task?
Seeing Lu Yang's puzzled look, Eunuch An quickly explained.
"It's like this... The Capital Heaven Department recently captured a cultivator practicing City Wall Earth!"
Hm?
"Though merely at Qi Refining, not even Foundation Establishment by strict measure, the technique unmistakably points to City Wall Earth. His Majesty has spoken personally."
"He wants Lord Du Huan to somehow extract the technique's contents. The foe's method is unique, bound by karma—no direct soul-search yields it. His Majesty doesn't wish to alert the Pure Land, so only interrogation will do. If you succeed, it's another great merit!"
Lu Yang: "..."
The person you're talking about... wouldn't be Senior Brother Zhao Xuhe, would it?