Chapter 470: Lü Yang’s Plan
Thinking it through, Lü Yang acted immediately—high efficiency in execution had always been his strength.
However, before taking action, there was one more issue to resolve: his main body had to remain in the Dao Court, ready to respond to Emperor Jia You's summons at any moment.
After all, power was like real estate—location was always paramount.
The closer one was to the center of power, the greater the authority. If you weren't in position today, you'd never be in position later. The result would only be losing more than you gained.
"Looks like I'll have to refine another avatar."
Lü Yang took stock of his inventory. In his previous life, he had brought back most of his gains, but there were still a few things he hadn't retrieved.
First was the Sword Dao avatar.
That avatar had essentially become independent in practice, relying solely on his manipulation via [Puppet on Strings]. Moreover, it had pursued the unpromising path of a sword cultivator.
Second was the [Ascension to the Mysterious Realm Observation Register Sword]. This was unexpected because Lü Yang had originally intended to bring it back, only to discover that this True Treasure couldn't be fused into [Heavenly Dominion Over All Phenomena], nor was it recognized by the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] as his possession.
'Ownership of a True Treasure doesn't lie with its wielder.'
'It lies with the Fruit Position.'
Lü Yang pondered: 'Even True Lords who hold Fruit Positions aren't, strictly speaking, the owners of True Treasures—they're merely temporary custodians.'
In his previous life, the [Ascension to the Mysterious Realm Observation Register Sword] had willingly submitted to him once he temporarily held the [Wall Soil].
Clearly, whoever was the master of the Fruit Position would have the True Treasure's loyalty. Thinking about it this way, it made sense why Daoist Hong Yun didn't possess a single True Treasure.
After all, even the [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] had one.
But what about Hong Yun? After all his efforts in the overseas Biyang Cultivation World, he had only managed to produce one-and-a-half True Treasures—hardly befitting a True Lord's capabilities.
At the time, Lü Yang had simply thought Hong Yun was too weak.
But now, looking back—even after falling from his Fruit Position, Hong Yun's crafted artifacts could still be considered "half" True Treasures. That was no small feat.
Inside the meditation chamber, a young man sat cross-legged.
Crimson light intertwined across his body as Lü Yang sat opposite him, surrounded by four divine abilities, gradually amplifying the young man's aura.
[Secret Records of the Immortal Embryo]!
This avatar technique, originating from the Saint Sect, remained highly effective even now. Its only flaw was the exorbitant cost—requiring a top-grade Spirit Treasure.
But in this life, Lü Yang was a True Dragon. The Dragon Clan was extravagant, and a top-grade Spirit Treasure was nothing to them. Thus, Lü Yang effortlessly refined another Immortal Embryo avatar. Linked to his main body, this avatar could also unleash the power of a late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand True Person.
"I'll use it for this trip."
Lü Yang grinned, then formed a hand seal with his fingers. The Immortal Embryo avatar immediately shrank, transforming into a tiny figure that he grasped and stored in his spatial pouch.
From there, things were straightforward.
He sent word to Dongting Lake, summoning a True Dragon. Using [Puppet on Strings], he manipulated it and entrusted the Immortal Embryo avatar to its care, instructing it to deliver the avatar north of the river.
Once it arrived, Lü Yang's main body entered deep meditation.
Simultaneously, the Immortal Embryo avatar north of the river opened its eyes, its pupils shimmering with shifting colors. The previously lifeless aura instantly became vibrant.
"North of the river... I've returned!"
Lü Yang stretched his arms while mentally calculating the timeline: 'At this point in time, the [Mystic Spirit Realm] will appear in a few years.'
In the original timeline, the regions south and north of the river had jointly divided the [Mystic Spirit Realm]. The Pure Land and Dao Court hadn't even gotten a sip of the soup, let alone a bite of the meat. But in his previous life, because [Ang Xiao]'s identity had been exposed by him, it became a four-way division of the [Mystic Spirit Realm], with [Ang Xiao] lured into a trap.
'This life calls for a different approach.'
Lü Yang contemplated how to make Uncle Chongguang begin his pursuit of the Golden Core as soon as possible.
'In my previous life, the emergence of the [Heaven of Non-Existence] and the appearance of the [Mystic Spirit Realm], coupled with [Ang Xiao]'s exposure, delayed Uncle Chongguang's pursuit of the Golden Core.'
'This time, with my interference regarding Sister Yu, I can significantly postpone the opening of the [Heaven of Non-Existence].'
'As for the [Mystic Spirit Realm], its impact should be minimal.'
'And [Ang Xiao]—the [Great Forest Wood] holds substantial value. As long as I don't actively expose his identity, no one should discover him.'
Reviewing his past lives, what had been the critical point in Uncle Chongguang's pursuit of the Golden Core?
'Hong Yun!'
In the life before last, although Uncle Chongguang had theoretically reincarnated long ago to prepare for the Golden Core, he likely only made up his mind after dealing with Hong Yun overseas.
'So, in this life, if I want Uncle Chongguang to reincarnate and pursue the Golden Core quickly, I must first eliminate his biggest concern—Hong Yun! Moreover, with the new [Golden Nature of Great Fortune], not only do I have an additional opportunity for temporary possession, but I can also manipulate [Ang Xiao] at critical moments.'
No matter how you looked at it, Hong Yun was a target he had to take down!
And at this point in time, Hong Yun should still be far from recovered.
'After all, back then, even the Mending Heaven Peak Master dared to shout at Hong Yun. I estimate Hong Yun's strength was, at most, mid-stage Foundation Establishment perfected.'
Not even a Grand True Person!
Among cultivators, rank determined everything. Lü Yang believed that with the combat power of a Grand True Person, he could effortlessly overpower Hong Yun, who was only at mid-stage Foundation Establishment perfected.
'But killing is easy—capturing alive is the hard part...'
Lü Yang rubbed his temples in frustration.
Without [Ang Xiao]'s active cooperation in this life, once Hong Yun reincarnated, Lü Yang would find it difficult to track him in the [Netherworld] and reverse-kill him.
To prevent Hong Yun from even having the chance to commit suicide and reincarnate, Lü Yang would need at least mid-stage Golden Core strength—like the [True Lord Qingcheng Feixue].
The old Dragon Monarch?
Lü Yang frowned slightly but quickly dismissed this tempting thought. After all, when True Lord Feixue had captured Hong Yun, she had privately absorbed all of his Golden Nature.
He didn't believe the old Dragon Monarch would hand over Hong Yun's Golden Nature intact if he obtained it. At best, Lü Yang might receive a sliver out of the old Dragon Monarch's doting affection for his grandson.
'In that case, the only option is to trap him somewhere he can't reincarnate—beyond the heavens! The [Seven Luminaries Heaven]! That's right. No wonder Hong Yun never dared to venture beyond the heavens. Once there, far from the Netherworld, if he were captured, he'd lose reincarnation—his ultimate escape method!'
Lü Yang's thoughts gradually crystallized.
'Join forces with Uncle Chongguang to corner Hong Yun! Force him to abandon everything and flee to the [Seven Luminaries Heaven], then ambush him en route!'
'Perfect—this is the kind of thing Uncle Chongguang should have a hand in.'
'After all, if he personally deals with Hong Yun, he'll be more convinced afterward that Hong Yun has truly been eliminated. That will make him more confident in reincarnating and pursuing the Golden Core in the [Kingdom of Qing].'
'And when the time comes, I can betray Uncle—perhaps even gain some talent bonuses!'
With this plan formed in his mind, the next step was to establish contact with Uncle Chongguang.
At the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds, atop the Sacred Fire Cliff.
Inside the spacious Great Hall, a man sat at the head of the hall. Though not particularly handsome, his brows carried an indomitable sharpness.
Between his fingers, he held a flying letter.
Lü Yang had used the same method as in his previous life—sending a private message through Chongguang's personal channels. The contents of the letter were simple:
'Beneath the waters of Sweet Pear Tree Path in the Jiangnan region... lies a fragment of Hong Yun's cave heaven?'
It was a tip-off letter.