Chapter 516 517: The Ancestor's Backup Plan, an Unexpected Surprise!
Chapter 517: Ancestor's Backup Plan, Unexpected Surprise!
Lü Yang didn't linger long in the illusion of "60% chance of success," because he clearly understood that this momentary feeling was as fleeting as the moon reflected in water or flowers in a mirror.
'Jiangbei and the overseas regions are only nominally submissive.'
'This submission merely meets the basic conditions for [Heavenly Fire Above], lacking genuine governance. With unstable foundations, there's actually no true 60% chance of success.'
What constitutes a truly perfect pursuit of [Heavenly Fire Above]?
Complete unification of the world, merging all vital energies into one, pure and flawless. Seeking the Golden Core under such circumstances would be as natural as ascending the throne—utterly without possibility of failure.
However, as long as any region remains ununified, impurities will exist in this world for Lü Yang. Normally, this wouldn't matter, but when he seeks the Golden Core, these impurities from unconquered territories will emerge to oppose him, disrupting his attempt and reducing his chances by another thirty percent.
'On the surface, it seems like a 60% chance.'
'Yet without complete unification, impurities first reduce it by thirty percent. Having only nominal control without actual governance cuts another thirty percent. In reality, the odds are less than thirty percent.'
Seeking the Golden Core brooks no shortcuts.
If he indulged in wishful thinking, losing himself in the momentary illusion of all nations paying homage and addressing him as "Your Majesty," he might as well prepare for death.
That said, Lü Yang was still satisfied:
'The issue of nominal control without actual governance is easily solved. Overseas, the True Dragon Clan can enforce it, while Jiangbei only requires the Saint Sect to seal its mountain gates.'
Of course, doing so would be akin to carving flesh from a True Lord. But overseas, the True Dragon Clan would undoubtedly be delighted. As for Chong Guang, being a True Person of the Saint Sect, he wouldn't care—after all, it's not his flesh being carved. When it comes to being generous with others' resources, Saint Sect True Persons have always been exceedingly liberal.
Thus, the 60% chance would only be reduced by thirty percent, barely exceeding forty percent.
'If we then seize Jiangnan, raising the odds to eighty percent, even without occupying Jiangxi's Pure Land, a thirty percent reduction would still leave over fifty percent.'
At this thought, Lü Yang cursed inwardly:
'In other words, to achieve [Heavenly Fire Above], one must either succeed with absolute certainty or settle for slightly over fifty percent... What kind of bullshit requirement is this?'
If [Heavenly Fire Above] is like this, what about [Great Forest Wood]?
How did Ang Xiao achieve it back then?
He had expended ten lifetimes of accumulation and exhausted every ounce of his ingenuity to reach his current state. Ang Xiao had only one chance—how did he manage it?
As the saying goes, minor matters call for grand assemblies, while major affairs demand intimate councils.
The enthronement ceremony was for public display, establishing Lü Yang's status within the Dao Court. Beyond that, certain matters required private discussion.
Inside the Tianwu Hall.
"Today has been taxing for both esteemed seniors."
Lü Yang smiled faintly, cupping his hands in salute toward Tian Qiu and Chong Guang. As the current "Emperor Huanming" of the Dao Court, his initiative in offering courtesy was already a significant gesture.
Thus, Tian Qiu didn't hesitate. Despite being Lü Yang's elder, he promptly returned the salute, deliberately lowering his posture further to show deference. On the other side, Chong Guang, though his expression remained cold and unyielding, matched Tian Qiu's speed in returning the gesture.
Meanwhile, Empress Xiao emerged, carrying a wine flask.
Pop!
As the flask was uncorked, wine spilled forth. Lü Yang personally poured for everyone present before raising his own cup first:
"From this day forth, we are united."
"You all understand—for you to seek the Golden Core, I must first attain True Lord status. Only under my protection can you succeed. Ours is a relationship of mutual benefit."
Empress Xiao, needless to say, could only pin her hopes on Lü Yang for the Golden Core.
Tian Qiu, now chosen by Buddhist karma, had no choice but to seek refuge under Lü Yang.
As for Chong Guang, without Lü Yang temporarily wielding [Overturned Lamp Flame] to reverse [Chen Earth], he stood no chance at all.
Thus, as Lü Yang finished speaking, all three raised their cups and drank in unison. Seeing this, Lü Yang's smile deepened:
"Today is the happiest day!"
Soon, after several rounds of toasts, Chong Guang turned to Lü Yang and said gravely, "After establishing the imperial court, the next step should be Jiangnan?"
"Correct."
Lü Yang didn't deny it. Both men tacitly left Jiangxi for last—after all, the World-Honored One's domain was something everyone understood wasn't for ordinary cultivators to meddle with.
Yet Jiangnan wouldn't be easy either, with its greatest obstacle being—
"Demon-Slaying True Person Ye Guangji."
Chong Guang frowned deeply. "That number one Foundation Establishment expert under heaven—how do you plan to deal with him? Without resolving him, taking Jiangnan is impossible."
"No need to worry. I have my own plans for this."
After all, he didn't actually need to do anything. Given time, the Demon-Slaying True Person would clash with the Pure Land on his own—though this carried risks as well.
The reason was simple: the Demon-Slaying True Person was too good at stalling.
'In my past life, he dragged things out for a full thirty years before self-destructing in the Pure Land. In fact, if Evil-Banishing True Person hadn't given him a push, he might have stalled even longer...'
This posed a problem because the longer things dragged on, the stronger the True Lords' perception of the mortal world would become. In the first decade, they might struggle to observe the mortal realm, but by thirty years—barring being unable to manifest without burning their Dongtian—the True Lords would have largely regained their surveillance over the mortal world.
'I can't afford to wait that long.'
'To achieve [Heavenly Fire Above], I must ensure no True Lord can interfere with the mortal world... Perhaps I should check on Ancestor's situation.'
Soon, the banquet concluded.
As Chong Guang and Tian Qiu departed, Lü Yang, with one arm around Empress Xiao returning to Kunming Palace, immersed his consciousness into the Myriad Spirits Banner.
There, he soon found a glowing sphere.
This was the key left behind by Ancestor Nether Whisper. Through it, Lü Yang could enter the [Eternal Bliss Garden] that the Ancestor had specially prepared for him before departing.
'Come to think of it, I've always let [Eternal Bliss Garden] operate automatically until now.'
As Lü Yang reached for the sphere, he pondered: 'After all this time, I wonder what stage it has reached...'
The next moment, the scenery before his eyes abruptly transformed.
And then he froze.
Boom!
Looking up at the sky, Lü Yang's jaw dropped as the radiance of [Heavenly Fire Above] shining down upon him suddenly intensified by another significant margin!
'This feeling... Jiangnan?'
With this thought, Lü Yang lowered his gaze to the sphere in his hand. A flood of information poured into his Sea of Consciousness, instantly clarifying the reason for this abrupt change:
'It's the Ancestor!'
'Of course... I never hid anything from the Ancestor. He knew about my True Dragon form and my dealings with Chong Guang. Thus, he deduced that if I took control of the Dao Court, Jiangbei and the overseas regions would effectively be secured, leaving only Jiangnan and Jiangxi as problems. So he made arrangements.'
During this period, [Eternal Bliss Garden] had focused on one task alone.
Relentlessly recruiting newcomers in Jiangnan. And the lofty Sword Pavilion, due to its hands-off governance of Jiangnan, had failed to notice anything amiss thus far!
But that wasn't all.
Under Ancestor Nether Whisper's design, [Eternal Bliss Garden] specifically recruited sect leaders and high-ranking officials responsible for governing various regions of Jiangnan.
The outcome was thus inevitable:
'Present-day Jiangnan—except for Sword Pavilion—has been permeated by [Eternal Bliss Garden], and is now recognized by [Heavenly Fire Above] as under my governance!'