Chapter 498 499: The Spring of Tian Wu
Chapter 499: The Spring of Tian Wu
At this moment, an eerie silence enveloped the entire Tianwu Hall.
Within the vast palace, only a clear sword chime resonated, its brilliant radiance surging forth like a breached flood—an indiscriminate large-scale attack!
[Ang Xiao] had calculated meticulously. In that fleeting instant, it was impossible for him to discern who the mysterious Foundation Establishment cultivator ambushing him was. Thus, his only option was an all-encompassing assault, targeting every official within the Tianwu Hall—except Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes, whom he deliberately spared.
Yet his restraint did not mean Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes would remain passive.
After all, the entire upper echelon of the Dao Court was gathered here in the Tianwu Hall. With their impending seclusion, if all these officials perished, how could the Dao Court continue to function?
Thus, almost simultaneously, Emperor Jiayou took action.
"Outrageous!"
Before his words faded, the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes] descended with crushing force. As the Tianwu Hall stood at the heart of the Dao Court, it was where the statutes' power was most concentrated.
The moment [Ang Xiao] unleashed his sword light, it was instantly suppressed by the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes]. The late-stage Golden Core-level attack, originally capable of sweeping through all present, was forcibly downgraded to mid-stage Golden Core. Its speed and might diminished drastically, finally granting those present a chance to react.
"Boom!"
First came the scattered sword light. The Three Dukes acted in unison, invoking the mystical power of their Fruit Positions to shield the assembled ministers behind them from the attack's aftermath.
Yet they were already on the verge of seclusion.
Forcing themselves to intervene hastened the process. After just one move, their figures shattered like illusions, vanishing without a trace.
Only Emperor Jiayou persisted stubbornly.
Possessing mid-stage Golden Core cultivation and bolstered by the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes], he managed to suppress that overwhelming sword light.
Even so, Emperor Jiayou felt a lingering fear.
'Thankfully, this is the Tianwu Hall.'
Among the four great powers of the world, the Saint Sect and the Sword Pavilion wielded techniques at the late-stage Golden Core level. While the Pure Land and the Dao Court lacked such means, they still possessed methods of self-preservation.
The Pure Land relied on the Unity of All Beings and the face of the World-Honored One.
The Dao Court, meanwhile, depended on the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes]. Within the Tianwu Hall, even late-stage Golden Core experts would find their realms suppressed, unable to act recklessly.
Yet just as the World-Honored One's influence had its limits, the Dao Court's statutes were only effective within Jiangdong. Beyond its borders, their power would revert to its original state. Hence, the Dao Court had long confined itself to Jiangdong, isolating from external conflicts.
'But this sword light feels so familiar... Hiss!'
Emperor Jiayou's thoughts raced before his expression twisted in horror—he had recognized this as the very sword strike [True Lord of Rigid Form Preaching the Dao] had once aimed at [Ang Xiao].
With the sword light unleashed, memories associated with it naturally resurfaced.
In that instant, Emperor Jiayou was utterly stunned: '[Ang Xiao]... How could it be [Ang Xiao]? Is the Demon Sect moving against our Dao Court? That can't be...'
He couldn't fathom the logic behind [Ang Xiao]'s attack.
His gaze then shifted to Lü Yang, who knelt before him. Above Lü Yang's head, a conch emitting rippling blue light shielded him firmly.
[Commanding Sea Conch]!
Despite Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes' swift reactions and the suppression by the [Immortal Nation's Dao Statutes], over a dozen officials were still struck by the sword light.
Lü Yang was among them.
Yet unlike the others, at the critical moment, the [Commanding Sea Conch] bestowed by the old Dragon Monarch was activated, blocking the sword light for him.
"Crack!"
In the next second, the Fruit Position True Treasure shattered piece by piece before exploding into a shower of radiant fragments!
Beneath the dissipating light, Lü Yang's face appeared "terrified."
Lowering his eyelids, Emperor Jiayou thought coldly:
'Pity... he didn't die.'
Had the sword light killed Lü Yang outright, it would have spared him trouble. He could have simply sent an obituary to the True Dragon Clan while maintaining a righteous stance.
But Lü Yang's survival complicated matters immensely.
Suppressing the sword light, Emperor Jiayou prepared to speak again. He still had strength left to briefly outline arrangements for the Dao Court's future—
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion froze Emperor Jiayou's expression mid-thought.
Because Lü Yang had struck.
Without attracting anyone's notice, Lü Yang lowered his eyelids and silently commanded the Banner Spirit within the Myriad Spirits Banner to construct the [Yama Palace], invoking the Sword Dao Fruit Position.
False External Path!
"Clang!"
A second sword chime rang out. Those below Golden Core couldn't distinguish it from the first, their divine senses blinded.
Only Emperor Jiayou saw everything clearly—and thus, he was incredulous.
He couldn't comprehend how a mere slave, someone he could crush at will, had suddenly transformed into an External Path True Lord!
It felt like stepping on an ant, only to find a tyrannosaurus rex beneath your foot!
But that wasn't all.
As Lü Yang borrowed the Sword Dao Fruit Position to unleash his strike, three innate talents simultaneously activated, amplifying his sword light.
[Not Under Others]!
[I Am the Vanguard]!
[Fortune Not Filling the Eyes]!
The first talent doubled the power of backstabbing techniques; the second augmented fortune; the third divided fortune into good and bad luck before redistributing them.
In an instant, Lü Yang completed his maneuver. The fortune bestowed by [I Am the Vanguard] was split via [Fortune Not Filling the Eyes]—good luck to himself, misfortune to Emperor Jiayou. Surging sword qi surrounded Emperor Jiayou from all directions, the imagery of a coordinated assault triggering yet another talent.
[Dragon-Flaying Platform]!
Even as a False External Path, with four golden talents enhancing him—especially the Sword Dao renowned for its offensive prowess—his strike rivaled that of a genuine True Lord!
Meanwhile, Emperor Jiayou was still suppressing [Ang Xiao]'s sword light while nearing seclusion, unable to muster even a tenth of his power.
"You—" Emperor Jiayou opened his mouth to speak.
"Thud!"
The sword pierced his chest before exploding violently, extinguishing him like a gust of wind snuffing out a candle—without allowing him to utter another word.
'Success!'
Lü Yang exhaled deeply, swiftly dispersing the False External Path state. Even that brief moment had destabilized his Dao foundation.
Excruciating pain originating from his soul wracked his entire body.
Yet Lü Yang clenched his teeth, enduring the agony silently:
'Unless I borrow the [Overturned Lamp Flame] Fruit Position and use the Golden Nature of Great Fortune to absorb damage, maintaining False External Path again will depend entirely on luck...'
In the next moment, countless illusions shattered, revealing the Tianwu Hall's true state. Emperor Jiayou and the Three Dukes had vanished completely. All that remained was Du Huan, the True Dragon whom Emperor Jiayou had just praised for his "loyalty to the nation," now vomiting blood and roaring furiously:
"Capture them! Don't let the assassins escape!"
"Someone within the Dao Court conspired with the Jiangbei Demon Sect to assassinate His Majesty! With irrefutable evidence, apprehend the culprits immediately! This matter must be investigated thoroughly!"
Rising to his feet, Lü Yang swept a cold gaze across the assembled officials.
"Wait!"
Seeing this, Ning Haohe, Commander of the Dutian Department, stepped forward reluctantly: "Investigating this matter shouldn't fall to the Imperial City Bureau, should it? This is our Dutian Department's—"
Before he could finish, a massive hand descended toward his head.
"What are you trying to do?"
Ning Haohe paled, instinctively activating his Official Position as layers of divine abilities manifested to block—yet all froze before that descending hand.
[Sage-King Governance]!
The divine abilities originally aimed at Lü Yang seemed to surrender upon contact with the radiant energy around his hand, coiling around it instead. Not only was their power undiminished, but enhanced, as that hand clamped onto Ning Haohe's throat!
Silence fell instantly.
Then Lü Yang spoke icily: "Let the Dutian Department investigate? Need I remind you that the assassin was Chen Yuanli, Vice Commander of your Dutian Department!"
"He was your subordinate."
"By saying this now, are you attempting to shield a criminal?"
Ning Haohe's face flushed crimson. He struggled to defend himself, but Lü Yang's grip sealed his meridians, rendering him speechless.
Simultaneously, auras surged outside the Tianwu Hall.
Earlier, Emperor Jiayou had assigned the Imperial City Bureau to oversee the Nine Gates. With the commotion in the hall, its Incense Offering Deities were naturally the first to arrive.
"Your silence implies confession."
Lü Yang tossed Ning Haohe aside, knocking him unconscious before throwing him to the ground: "Take him into custody. From now on, everyone will cooperate with the Imperial City Bureau's investigation."
"His Majesty's assassination demands answers!"
Before Lü Yang's words faded, the Imperial City Bureau's Incense Offering Deities seemed telepathically aligned. Stamping their feet, they placed right hands to their temples and roared in unison:
"Loyalty!"