Chapter 498
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Dramatic Change in Heaven and Earth
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At this moment, heaven and earth underwent a dramatic change.
All the Foundation Establishment True Persons who had cultivated the [Heaven of Non-existence] Divine Ability raised their heads to gaze at the sky one after another, abruptly beholding an illusory star slowly rising.
"What is that... thing?"
"Is that a fruit position conjured by Mu Changsheng? Is he using it to prove True Lord status?"
This time differed utterly from Chongguang's prior attempt. Without [Soaring Empyrean] drawing fire, the True Lords of the world naturally reacted in a completely different fashion.
"Amitabha!"
The first to strike was the Pure Land. There, the peerlessly beautiful [Treasure Lotus Hidden Subduing Bodhisattva], whose every glance brimmed with seductive charm, manifested her Dharma body in Jiangxi.
The next instant, this Bodhisattva entwined her ten fingers, her palm raised high, jade fingers unfolding like a blooming lotus. At the lotus's heart cradled a pure and pristine radiant light linking the heavenly stars above to the earth veins below, which she remotely brushed toward the manifestation of [Heaven of Non-existence].
In this instant, countless gazes converged.
In Jiangdong, Lu Yang's face betrayed tension: 'The fruit position corresponding to this Bodhisattva is [Hairpin Gold]! She's going all out from the very first move!'
That beam of radiant light was precisely the profound mystery of the [Hairpin Gold] fruit position!
Its name: [Hidden Gold Boudoir]!
Gold qi concealed and subdued, the form already decayed, hidden away in the boudoir to amplify light and manifest dharma—this was Hairpin Gold. The divine wonder of its fruit position excelled above all at debasement and empowerment!
Thus, should [Heaven of Non-existence] be struck by this radiant light, it would instantly embody the "hidden subdued" imagery. All its divine wonders would first lose thirty percent of their power, followed by a sheer plummet in status. Meanwhile, the [Treasure Lotus Hidden Subduing Bodhisattva] would thereby elevate her own divine wonders and status.
Boom!
The next instant, that radiant light struck [Heaven of Non-existence] with pinpoint accuracy—only to pass straight through it unimpeded the very next moment.
"...Hm?"
Witnessing this, the [Treasure Lotus Hidden Subduing Bodhisattva]'s delicate brows furrowed faintly. The feedback from her divine wonder felt wrong, as though she had struck nothing at all.
'Seeming real yet illusory... How is this possible?'
At this moment, forget the [Treasure Lotus Hidden Subduing Bodhisattva]—even the other True Lords revealed astonished looks, discerning the profound shift in that fleeting instant.
'Fruit position divine wonder?'
This privilege belonged solely to orthodox fruit positions, inducible only by Golden Core Grotto-Heavens. Ordinary outer path fruit positions utterly lacked such divine wonders.
Yet now, [Heaven of Non-existence] had manifested means akin to those of orthodox fruit positions. The gap might remain, but it was not vast. Precisely this divine wonder, toggling between reality and illusion, had let [Heaven of Non-existence] evade the [Treasure Lotus Hidden Subduing Bodhisattva]'s radiant light!
Even Lu Yang found this utterly surprising.
'In the previous life, that old thief Chongguang wielded similar means, but they weren't nearly as potent as the Ancestor's—enough to withstand even a fruit position divine wonder?'
Just then, [Heaven of Non-existence] quivered.
Immediately, a figure strolled forth, layers of cloud-light veiling his face and exposing only a pair of eyes that surveyed the world's four quarters.
It was Ancestor Tingyou.
Unlike Chongguang, Chongguang had possessed a complete blessed land and fully refined gold essence back then, ultimately proving the [Morning True Supreme Void Grotto-Heaven]. Compared to that, he fell far short.
'I haven't refined a blessed land, nor had time to extract gold essence. Fortunately, [Heaven of Non-existence] is inherently an outer path fruit position and requires none of that. This fruit position imagery handles smoothly enough—offense is middling at best, but calamity evasion and disaster dodging are peerless, rendering me exceedingly hard to kill.'
Ancestor Tingyou silently savored the fruit position's profound mysteries.
Moments later, he lifted his head, scanning his surroundings. His gaze vaguely brushed Lu Yang before shifting to Jiangnan, where he abruptly flashed a roguish grin.
The next instant, the cloud-light masking his face dispersed, accompanied by a resounding proclamation:
"This seat, Tingyou, proves the [Heaven of No Worries] overseas."
Rumble!
The next instant, the hitherto inert Sword Pavilion exploded into motion. A sword-bearing youth rose from Extreme Heaven Cliff, gaping slack-jawed toward the overseas horizon.
[Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord]: "???"
What had he just heard? Tingyou had become a True Lord?
Impossible!
In this instant, the [Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord] nearly succumbed to uncontrollable self-doubt, his handsome youthful visage twisting repeatedly.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing this, Ancestor Tingyou roared with laughter.
Amid the laughter, Divine Abilities such as [Marrow of a Hundred Flowers], [Sea of Pouring Sorrow], [Ferry of Delusion], [Song of Everlasting Sorrow], [Flame Transmission], and others emerged successively around him.
Crack!
The next instant, amid a shattering like fractured琉璃, all unfolded as Lu Yang foresaw. Foundations stripped, True Lords began forced into seclusion one after another.
The order of seclusion followed cultivation realm.
The [Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord] was first, then the [Treasure Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva]. Overhead in the firmament, every fruit position star winked out.
Yet Ancestor Tingyou remained unsatisfied.
'...Not enough!'
Ancestor Tingyou exhaled deeply. Though the True Lords would seclude, Lu Yang would doubtless face myriad trials and perils ahead, beyond his distant reach then.
'I must accomplish more.'
One worldly True Lord in seclusion fell far short!
'I can achieve more!'
The next instant, the ever-more-ethereal figure of Ancestor Tingyou parted his lips. A majestic celestial tone bearing intangible might swiftly blanketed the world's four quarters.
"I prove [Heaven of No Worries] and establish [Eternal Joy Garden]. All in the world—cultivators or mortals—may be inducted by [Eternal Joy Garden]. Complete its bounties to gain cultivation methods, Divine Abilities, spirit treasures, spirit materials... [Eternal Joy Garden] seeks naught else, but to blaze a path of ascent for the world."
In Jiangdong, Lu Yang deeply exhaled stale qi.
For as Ancestor Tingyou's voice echoed across the realm, a surge of might abruptly descended into the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner via the bond between banner spirit and master.
'This is...'
Lu Yang's divine sense swept it, instantly comprehending: control authority over the [Eternal Joy Garden] Ancestor Tingyou had opened, transmitted to him.
'[Eternal Joy Garden]—supremely covert, rooted in every major power yet emergent from them all. Should I seize its reins, I indirectly command every cultivator it selects. Invaluable for my future rite of ruling the world!'
Lu Yang raised his head toward [Heaven of No Worries].
In a trance, he seemed to see Ancestor Tingyou bowing his head then, gazes meeting, bestowing an expectant smile upon him.
'Ancestor...'
He had proved [Heaven of No Worries], not [Heaven of Non-existence].
Partly because Ancestor Tingyou had tweaked [Heaven of Non-existence] ever so slightly, but also because it enshrined his vision:
'Only hoping the juniors' path ahead knows no woes.'
The next instant, [Heaven of No Worries] secluded itself.
Even via the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, contact with Ancestor Tingyou severed—not blocked by any hand, but as though sundered by unfathomable distance.
"Hu!"
Eyes shut, Lu Yang deeply exhaled, reopening them restored to serenity. The next instant, [Immortal Kingdom Dao Regulations] delivered a message:
'Emperor Jiayou, the Three Dukes seclude forthwith.'
'Urgently summon the ministers to the palace!'