Chapter 479
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Sea of Light Beyond the Heavens
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sea of Light Beyond the Heavens.
Although this wasn't Lu Yang's first time here, reviewing the scenery beyond the heavens while sheltered by a Golden Core True Lord brought an entirely different revelation.
‘In my previous life, coming here still carried the risk of death.’
After all, the outer heavens teemed everywhere with surging [Two Forms Birth and Death Mysterious Light]. Yin and yang qi clashed there, obliterating all phenomena—even a Foundation Establishment True Person could not linger long amid it.
Yet now, traveling alongside a Golden Core True Lord changed everything. Emperor Jiayou strode ahead, and with each step, myriad rays of splendor rose beneath his feet. They converged into a golden bridge, flanked by dragon banners and imperial carriages. Flags billowed, brocade-clad soldiers marched in formation, the procession stretching onward into the void.
‘What a spectacle!’
Lu Yang's heart shook. Golden light carpeted the path before him. The [Two Forms Birth and Death Mysterious Light]—lethal even to Foundation Establishment cultivators—parted of its own accord to either side.
Emperor Jiayou and Lu Yang stood upon this avenue of golden light. One span linked their coordinates; the other end locked remotely onto the position Lu Yang had supplied. With a single stride, an inconceivable distance vanished in an instant. The vista of a certain bounded heaven filled Lu Yang's vision.
‘We've arrived. So swiftly!’
Reaching [Seven Luminaries Heaven] had once demanded great toil from him. Yet Emperor Jiayou traversed it with the ease of a casual ramble, utterly unstrained.
Lu Yang bowed his head, musing inwardly:
‘This golden light avenue... manifests the [Roadside Earth] concept!’
Qi takes form as substance; things reveal paths. Where form gains tangibility and objects gain prominence—that is [Roadside Earth]. Its intent evokes boundless connected earth, vast level fields spanning ten thousand qing.
This outcome confirmed a suspicion Lu Yang had long harbored:
‘Evidently, even departing that forsaken realm—far from the [Fruit Position]—a True Lord's power suffers no decline whatsoever... But why?’
By rights, Fruit Positions dwell amid heaven and earth. Within them, a Golden Core True Lord commands their might. Remote from heaven and earth, though, the Fruit Position's reach falls short; the True Lord ought to weaken. Yet judging from the concept Emperor Jiayou now displayed, the outer heavens affected him not at all.
At that moment, Emperor Jiayou spoke abruptly.
“Minister Du.”
“Your minister is present.”
“There is one matter that piques my curiosity.”
Emperor Jiayou's tone was offhand, as though merely chatting idly.
“How did you appraise that volume of *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*?”
The words sparked Zhao Xuhe's image in Lu Yang's mind.
In truth, Zhao Xuhe had been most unfortunate. Under the normal course, at this juncture, he would not yet have begun cultivating the *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*.
But Lu Yang had upended it all.
At the first anchor point, Lu Yang had already mastered the *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*, usurping Zhao Xuhe's destined fortune and nearly driving the man insane.
This cycle, however, Lu Yang sought [Heavenly Fire] alone. He held no interest in that treacherous [City Head Earth]. Thus, he resolutely discarded his own *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*. Through causal resonance, Zhao Xuhe sensed his lost opportunity restored.
Such were the heights and depths of existence.
Fearing further delay might invite mishap, Zhao Xuhe wasted no time. He hastened straight to Coiling Dragon Island and prematurely converted to the *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*.
That very choice sowed the seeds of his doom this lifetime.
‘Causality's mysteries command true reverence.’
Lu Yang sighed to himself, yet replied without hesitation, his expression earnest.
“To speak plainly, Your Majesty, your minister employed a technique from the Northern Jiang Demon Sect's Heaven Mending Peak.”
Having boldly presented the *Nine Transformations Dragon Art*, he had prepared his account in advance.
“Dragon Lord chanced upon this art but deemed it contrary to heavenly harmony. With the Demon Sect nearby, he dared not disseminate it widely.”
Lu Yang then expounded in detail on the Heaven Mending True Scripture and Heavenly Mother Transformation Mysterious Light—how these two arts enabled the pursuit of sought-after secrets.
Emperor Jiayou marveled.
“Beasts—no wonder it's the Demon Sect!”
Their words had scarcely ended when they reached the site of [Seven Luminaries Heaven]. Emperor Jiayou cast a calm glance, then extended a hand to seize it from afar.
Boom!
In that instant, the entirety of [Seven Luminaries Heaven] fell into Emperor Jiayou's grasp. Even the [Seven Luminaries World-Stabilizing Truth-Preserving Grand Array] Hongyun had arrayed outside shattered beneath his absolute might. Lu Yang gained deeper insight into this Dao Court sovereign's prowess.
‘Mid-stage Golden Core.’
The Dao Court harbored strife between civil ministers and the imperial house. When ministers held sway, the sovereign governed through inaction over the realm. When the sovereign dominated, officials toiled as beasts of burden.
This era's Dao Court bowed to the sovereign supreme.
Moreover, the Tianwu royals cultivated innate essence; Emperor Jiayou's attainment bore no falsehood. Among Dao Court True Lords, he stood foremost in promise to attain late stage!
Before such might, a nascent [Seven Luminaries Heaven] offered no defiance.
“Let us depart. Homeward.”
Emperor Jiayou stowed [Seven Luminaries Heaven] away. He chuckled softly, turning to Lu Yang.
“Minister Du, would you claim the honor of first among the Incense Fire Sealed Gods?”
Lu Yang's brows lifted faintly.
“...Pray enlighten me, Your Majesty.”
“I shall institute a new bureau. Spread the Incense Fire Divine Dao through Tianwu City. Let these incense deities safeguard the capital. Call it the [Imperial City Division].”
“A grave duty.”
“Minister Du, since you presented the Incense Fire Divine Dao, the inaugural divine rank shall be yours. Watch over the capital in my stead as [Imperial City Division]'s Division Envoy. Note, however: this is my personal decree, bypassing the cabinet—no formal office accompanies it.”
“Naturally, it matters little to you.”
“Incense Fire Divine Dao advances cultivation, after all. Commanding the [Imperial City Division], its incense yours to wield—you should achieve consummate Foundation Establishment thereby.”
“What say you?”
Emperor Jiayou spoke with evident sincerity, the very picture of solicitude for a retainer. Lu Yang mirrored deep emotion, his voice thick.
“Your minister thanks Your Majesty for this boundless grace!”
He bowed his head low.
Then, in his heart, he raged:
‘To hell with you, you muddleheaded tyrant!’
Such deception might sway the naive. But he who had lorded over [Seven Luminaries Heaven] knew the gulf between Incense Fire Divine Dao and Dao Court offices all too well.
They compared as nothing!
‘Dao Court office-blessed consummate Foundation Establishment refines true Golden Nature! Incense Fire's version offers mere hollow rank.’
In a flash, Lu Yang pierced the scheme.
‘He's stringing me along!’
‘Would have me labor in his service, yet balks at swift promotion—so dangles this counterfeit bait.’
Fury boiled within Lu Yang.
How to mend the Dao Court amid such parasites?
Yet soon, another thought surfaced:
‘Be that as it may—this [Imperial City Division], if founded, wields no small ostensible authority.’
Emperor Jiayou ventured the grant secure in the knowledge that the [Imperial City Division] hinged on Incense Fire Divine Dao. He clutched its root, [Seven Luminaries Heaven], grasping every incense deity's vital pulse—and thus feared no disorder.
But Emperor Jiayou could never foresee:
‘[Seven Luminaries Heaven]? I possess one too! Mine, perfected by [Everflowing Water]'s nurture—a true outer-path Fruit Position!’
In sum: should he so desire,
The [Imperial City Division] could become his private stronghold—a cadre for reforming the Dao Court, shouldering the world entire!
In the Sea of Light Beyond the Heavens, Emperor Jiayou and Lu Yang departed not long hence.
At [Seven Luminaries Heaven]'s former site, golden light rent the void, revealing a figure: none other than Hongyun, despondent of mien, his face etched with defeat.
He froze.
Eyes bulging, he rubbed them. Surveyed his surroundings. Rubbed again...
At last, bewildered clarity dawned.
“...Where is [Seven Luminaries Heaven]?”
When yet I was True Lord, my most profoundly concealed final card—that colossal [Seven Luminaries Heaven]!?