Chapter 518: Eternal Bliss Garden

What exactly does the [Eternal Bliss Garden] look like?

With the credentials left behind by Ancestor Nether Whisper, Lü Yang quickly connected to this inexplicable place—both illusory and tangible, existing yet not existing.

The truth proves that humans cannot imagine things they have never seen before.

Even someone as talented as Ancestor Nether Whisper was no exception. Thus, the [Eternal Bliss Garden] he created naturally drew inspiration from the object he interacted with most frequently in daily life—

The Myriad Spirits Banner.

Looking around, Lü Yang saw that the so-called [Eternal Bliss Garden] was essentially an enormous black box, inside which lay countless pitch-black coffins. Each coffin contained a cultivator, their expressions ranging from smiles to agony to blankness, vividly reflecting the myriad states of mortal existence.

"My goodness..."

Lü Yang blinked. With the highest authority over the [Eternal Bliss Garden] granted directly by Ancestor Nether Whisper, he quickly grasped all the information about this place.

First, the Eternal Bliss Garden itself.

'The nature of this inexplicable place is very similar to [Worry-Free Heaven], pushing the boundary between reality and illusion to the extreme, existing at the threshold between being and non-being.'

'As for the members recruited by the [Eternal Bliss Garden], apart from the higher-ups of various sects in the Jiangnan region, there are also a considerable number of mortals and Qi Refining disciples. The [Eternal Bliss Garden] aids them in cultivation and growth, while they carry out tasks to maintain its operation.'

This was a symbiotic relationship.

And without a doubt, this relationship further strengthened the connection between the masses and [Worry-Free Heaven], as well as tightened the blockade against True Lords.

'Gaining roughly... ten more years.'

Lü Yang performed a quick calculation and soon arrived at an answer: "In the previous life, the blockade lasted sixty years, yet True Lords could manifest by burning their Dongtian after just thirty."

Ancestor Nether Whisper had optimized this.

With the expansion of the [Eternal Bliss Garden], the time before True Lords could forcibly descend was extended to forty years. At first glance, this might not seem like much.

But everything must be viewed in comparison.

The original [Heaven of Non-Existence] had already been optimized to its limit by the Innate True Person Mu Changsheng, a genius born amidst heavenly tribulation.

Under such circumstances, Ancestor Nether Whisper still managed to design the [Eternal Bliss Garden], achieving an improvement over [Heaven of Non-Existence], which was already quite astonishing.

If there were any flaws in the [Eternal Bliss Garden], they wouldn't lie in its hardware.

Rather, its design logic was flawed.

As Lü Yang browsed through the information about the [Eternal Bliss Garden], he frowned:

'All cultivators recruited by the [Eternal Bliss Garden] receive its blessings, which help them enhance their cultivation and Cultivation Depth.'

Reading this, Lü Yang froze.

How does the [Eternal Bliss Garden] boost its cultivators? Ancestor Nether Whisper referenced the Dao Court's system—essentially, empowerment through the Fruit Position power of [Worry-Free Heaven].

However, this had its limits.

'Unless it's a Fruit Position like [Flowing Water], which embodies boundless imagery, the power of Fruit Positions isn't infinite. Overuse will lead to self-damage!'

Compared to the Fruit Position power expended, most of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠recruited cultivators were merely at Qi Refining or even mortal levels, with very few at Foundation Establishment. Thus, the resources gathered were minimal.

Under such circumstances, breaking even was impossible.

In other words, the [Eternal Bliss Garden] was consuming the power of [Worry-Free Heaven] to sustain its members.

Ancestor Nether Whisper might have considered this worthwhile, as the [Eternal Bliss Garden] could help Lü Yang increase his chances of achieving Golden Core. But Lü Yang saw it differently.

"Precious Fruit Position power, wasted on Qi Refining cultivators?"

"What a sin!"

Lü Yang looked utterly heartbroken: "Mere Qi Refining cultivators aren't even fully human yet! The Ancestor was too kind to them! How can the [Eternal Bliss Garden] grow and thrive like this?"

With this thought, Lü Yang immediately began revising the settings.

First, the practice of using Fruit Position power to enhance cultivators had to stop—it was pure waste with no audible return.

Lü Yang's new setup was simple, summarized in four words:

Increase income, reduce expenditure.

'From now on, the original bodies of all cultivators joining the [Eternal Bliss Garden] will be sealed away, replaced by avatars created using Fruit Position power.'

'All enhancements and upgrades provided by the [Eternal Bliss Garden] will be applied ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠solely to these avatars... This way, the [Eternal Bliss Garden] is merely lending Fruit Position power to cultivators temporarily, reclaimable at any time. Essentially, it remains mine, effortlessly cutting labor costs.'

In addition, income had to be increased.

'Starting today, the [Eternal Bliss Garden] officially introduces Eternal Bliss Notes. All enhancements and upgrades must be exchanged using these notes.'

'Completing missions earns Eternal Bliss Notes.'

'Submitting spiritual materials, treasures, Dao techniques, or rare items can also be exchanged for Eternal Bliss Notes... Of course, to me, these notes are just numbers.'

At its core, it was a scheme to get something for nothing.

After all, cultivators exchanged Eternal Bliss Notes to enhance themselves, yet all enhancements ultimately resided in the avatars Lü Yang controlled.

Effectively, he spent nothing while others worked for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠free!

Lü Yang couldn't care less. If he didn't squeeze every ounce of value from these people, how could he progress? The strong should ruthlessly exploit the weak!

Fundamentally, he never expected these [Eternal Bliss Garden] cultivators to assist him in battles. Most weren't even fully human. Their usefulness lay in helping him achieve the [Heavenly Fire Above] Fruit Position, serving as cannon fodder, gathering resources, and exploring dangerous lands.

'And for this, they should thank me!'

Since their original bodies were sealed within the [Eternal Bliss Garden], only avatars ventured outside. Even if killed, they could be recreated, losing nothing but a sliver of divine sense.

In other words, as long as the [Eternal Bliss Garden] remained undiscovered and unbreached, these cultivators were immortal!

'But they mustn't know this. It's best to design a resurrection limit—three free revivals, with subsequent ones ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠requiring Eternal Bliss Notes...'

Beyond this, Lü Yang added dozens of paywalls within the [Eternal Bliss Garden], aiming to fully unleash the potential of these "talents."

'Expand north of the river and overseas!'

'With the [Eternal Bliss Garden], governance isn't an issue. Anyone absorbed by it becomes my subordinate!'

Of course, the Fruit Position power of [Worry-Free Heaven] was limited. Lü Yang couldn't send everyone into the [Eternal Bliss Garden].

Just like in Jiangnan, targeting the ruling elites ensured their subjects naturally became his as well.

Soon, under Lü Yang's guidance, a revamped [Eternal Bliss Garden] roared into operation, rapidly spreading across the four corners of the world.

Several months later.

Lü Yang sat idly in the Tian Wu Hall, pushing the unconscious Empress Xiao aside as he routinely checked the [Eternal Bliss Garden]'s recent operations.

By now, the [Heavenly Fire Above] in the sky had been fully ignited, its dazzling radiance visible across Jiangdong, Jiangbei, Jiangnan, and overseas—all manifestations of Lü Yang's "authority." The only remaining territory untouched was Jiangxi's Pure Land.

But Jiangxi had the World-Honored One. Rushing there would be unwise.

In contrast, Lü Yang had stumbled upon an unexpected boon—one of his greatest gains since the [Eternal Bliss Garden] began expanding months ago.

The next moment, Lü Yang entered the Eternal Bliss Garden.

His gaze quickly settled on one of its subordinate cultivators—a disciple of the Saint Sect who had recently encountered trouble:

He had been possessed.

The possessor was a jade-like fragment containing a figure shrouded in mist, which had been guiding his cultivation lately.

[Ang Xiao]!