Chapter 479: Ambushing Hong Yun!
At this moment, Hong Yun's mood was utterly shattered.
Who could fathom the emotional rollercoaster he'd endured recently? He'd been peacefully at home when suddenly, a mysterious assailant barged in.
In the past, he could've obliterated such an intruder with a mere breath.
Yet now, not only was he unable to kill the attacker, he'd been beaten into fleeing for his life. Even worse... his innate divine ability had been permanently stolen!
How the hell was he supposed to pursue Golden Core attainment now?
Just as Hong Yun was preparing to secretly contact Hong Ju to identify and retaliate against that shameless ambusher, another devastating blow struck:
Under Chongguang's guidance, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue took action. The fragment of a cave heaven in Jiangnan's Sweet Pear Tree Dao—the one he'd pinned his hopes on but avoided retrieving due to suspicions of it being a trap—was utterly destroyed. This completely crushed his aspirations of reaching Foundation Establishment perfection, refining a Blessed Land, and ultimately achieving Golden Core restoration.
What was left to play for?
In utter despair, Hong Yun finally recalled his last-resort trump card—the Seven Luminaries Heaven—and reluctantly chose exile.
Yet against all expectations:
"[Seven Luminaries Heaven] is gone???"
In the Outer Light Sea, Hong Yun's face twisted grotesquely as his qi fluctuated violently, his steel-like teeth nearly grinding to dust: "Who... who exactly is scheming against me?!"
In his heyday, how glorious had he been?
Blessed by heaven and earth, he'd achieved the Overturned Lamp Flame position precisely during the great celestial calamity, profiting immensely. Even among True Lords, he'd stood as a paragon!
Alas, fortune had abandoned him.
How had he fallen to such depths?
For the first time, Hong Yun found himself uncontrollably reflecting. This introspection proved terrifying—the moment he looked back, cold sweat drenched him.
'How did I die?'
For five thousand years, due to some [Knowledge-Perception Obstruction], he'd completely overlooked "how he died," single-mindedly focused only on Golden Core restoration.
Now, amidst emotional extremes, he finally reflected and realized with sudden clarity, tearing through the fog that had clouded his vision: "Damn it! Someone murdered me! All this time I thought I'd died naturally from bad luck... when in truth, villains were plotting against me!"
"[Ang Xiao]!!!"
It was him! Hong Yun would never forget that crushing terror. That damned [Great Forest Wood]... Not only had his enemy survived, but reached mid-stage Golden Core!
With profound cultivation depth!
High cultivation, supreme cultivation, holding a supreme fruit position—yet that bastard had ambushed him, an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, during the chaos at the end of the millennium calamity!
'What a beast!'
Hong Yun's hands shook with rage. What grudge had [Ang Xiao] held against him? Weren't they both True Lords of the Saint Sect? Shouldn't they have been allies?
'Unless... it concerned our Dao paths!'
Hong Yun's thoughts raced, already guessing most of the truth. After all, among Saint Sect True Lords, only diverging Dao paths could turn comrades into mortal enemies.
The next moment brought deeper despair.
If [Ang Xiao] had killed him five thousand years ago for Dao path reasons, then most likely... his enemy had already succeeded by now.
'Mid-stage Golden Core? Too optimistic.'
'[Ang Xiao] has probably reached late-stage Golden Core by now—become a Great True Lord! My five-thousand-year failure to restore my position might well be his doing!'
And now, even his last escape route was gone.
Hong Yun raised his head, tears flowing before words could form.
A hero at his end!
Had his fortune not dissipated, had that villain [Ang Xiao] not targeted him, would he have suffered repeated defeats? Would five thousand years of struggle have made him a laughingstock among True Lords?
For five millennia, he'd endured their silent mockery yet persevered.
He'd waited all these years for one chance—not to prove his greatness, but to reclaim what he'd lost.
He would take it back!
Yet now, forget reclaiming—even retreat was impossible. His glorious early years had given way to destitution.
"Not the fault of battle..."
Hong Yun's sigh carried boundless sorrow!
Then abruptly, as if struck by realization, his eyes sharpened. Without another word, he summoned an escape light, rushing to return north of the river.
But as he neared that wretched place, thick golden light suddenly expanded around him, sealing heaven and earth like fortress walls, isolating him completely. Within the radiance, a figure materialized amidst the [Profound Light of Yin-Yang Creation and Destruction], smiling calmly:
"Senior Hong Yun, this junior has been awaiting you."
It was Lü Yang!
Not his true form—that had already returned east of the river with Emperor Jia You. This was his immortal fetus avatar, gazing intently at Hong Yun.
How had he tracked Hong Yun?
Simple—Hong Yun's Chen Earth divine ability [Root of All Things] remained in his possession. Following this trail made locating Hong Yun effortless.
Hong Yun showed no surprise, his mind crystal clear: "Disrupt my thoughts, cut off my retreat—all to lure me beyond heaven where [Netherworld] can't reach, leaving me no escape before killing me? [Ang Xiao], you go too far!"
Lü Yang: "?"
Facing Hong Yun's furious accusation, Lü Yang blinked but didn't refute it, smiling faintly: "Senior misunderstands. This junior harbors no harmful intent."
"No harmful intent?"
Hong Yun nearly laughed from anger, coldly surveying their surroundings: "If so, why lay this heavenly net awaiting my arrival?"
Lü Yang stood composed, ready with excuses: "That's different, isn't it?"
As he spoke, the Myriad Spirits Banner materialized behind him, fluttering in an unfelt wind:
"Moreover, Senior proves far too slippery. Only thus could this junior ensure you enter my banner, where I may properly host you."
Hong Yun's eye twitched at this.
Such high-sounding yet shameless rhetoric—was this the Sword Pavilion's style?
Wait, wasn't this [Ang Xiao]?
Briefly confused, Hong Yun nonetheless sensed profound danger from Lü Yang's banner. "Must we destroy each other?" he gritted out.
"Senior jokes."
Noting Hong Yun's bluster, Lü Yang smiled: "The fish may die, but the net won't tear. Cease your futile attempts to secretly breach the formation."
Lü Yang saw through Hong Yun's feigned argument while actually seeking escape routes. Seeing this, Hong Yun abandoned pretense, inhaling deeply as resolve flashed in his eyes, thunder erupting from his mouth: "Very well! Let our skills decide matters!"
With this, thunder boomed.
Instantly, the Outer Light Sea quaked as winds rose from nothing—gray, dark, carrying ghostly wails and the screech of countless blades grinding together!
[Fear of Felling]!
"Clang! Clang!"
The gale swept forth like a tidal wave. With one glance, Lü Yang understood: 'Learned his lesson—switched from Jia Wood to Yi Wood!'
What was [Fear of Felling]?
Yi Wood manifests as wind in heaven, as trees on earth—deep roots and lush leaves define living wood. And living wood fears Yang Metal's felling, dreads autumn's withering.
The gale-pressure struck Lü Yang's body like axes and blades, his radiant divine abilities freezing before cracking apart. Divine light scattered like falling petals, beautiful yet making Lü Yang frown:
'After all, he's a reincarnated True Lord.'
'With intelligence about my Dao lineage and countermeasures prepared, he's become troublesome. Fortunately, I already stole one of his divine abilities...'
Yet this only strengthened Lü Yang's resolve.
Hong Yun's metal essence concerned his grand Dao plans—no compromise was possible.
Today, he would claim this man!