Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 542: Heaven and Earth Respond to Me, Meeting the Zouyu

Looking at Chong Guang, a theory quickly formed in Lü Yang’s mind.

’The one who guided Master Chong Guang was either World Purger Fei Xue or the Saint Sect’s Ancestral Master.’

The Saint Sect’s Ancestral Master was self-explanatory. As for World Purger Fei Xue, Ang Xiao had once said he was certain that both Lü Yang and World Purger Fei Xue came from the same place.

Lü Yang hadn’t understood at the time.

Thinking about it now, he had a new theory: Ang Xiao most likely thought that he, like the Zouyu Descendants, came from that period of history excised by the Bhagavat!

By that same logic, so was World Purger Fei Xue!

’If World Purger Fei Xue is like the Zouyu Descendants, then her guiding Chong Guang wouldn’t be strange. But can she even contact the Current World right now?’

It had only been a little over ten years!

’No, she wouldn’t necessarily have to make contact now. Making arrangements beforehand could achieve the same effect. Of course, it’s also possible the Ancestral Master descended to the mortal realm...’

At this thought, Lü Yang shook his head again. He found the World Purger Fei Xue theory more plausible than the one involving the Saint Sect’s Ancestral Master. It wasn’t that he underestimated the Ancestral Master—quite the opposite. The Saint Sect’s Ancestral Master was simply too lofty a figure, not the type to personally descend to the mortal realm to guide a junior.

’Either way, it looks like I’ll have to pay the Saint Sect a visit.’

With this in mind, a smile appeared on Lü Yang’s face. He looked at Chong Guang and said, "Daoist, could you wait here for me a moment? I’ve been looking forward to visiting the North for a long time."

Chong Guang nodded.

From his expression, he clearly wasn’t surprised by Lü Yang’s decision to visit the Saint Sect. It seemed he understood, to some extent, the effect the information he’d provided would have.

RUSTLE...

After watching Chong Guang depart, Lü Yang’s gaze sharpened. He clasped his hands behind his back as a gentle, sourceless breeze lifted the long hair at his temples.

This was proof of his unsettled mind.

At this point, Lü Yang was no longer worried that Chong Guang, having reversed the Earth of Chen ahead of schedule, would succeed in Seeking Gold before him. The reason was simple: he was now terrifyingly strong.

Peak Foundation Establishment, Returning to the Truth.

This wasn’t a level of Cultivation, nor was it a Realm. It had nothing to do with one’s Cultivation progress, nor was it something that could be achieved through external items like Spiritual Treasures. Instead, it was an incomparably profound and mysterious state.

In Lü Yang’s eyes, this state was undoubtedly the ultimate expression of the Fruit Position’s favor, allowing him to draw upon a portion of the Power of Fruit Position while still at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Although this power was insignificant compared to that of a Golden Core Perfected Lord—the difference between clouds and mud—at the Foundation Establishment Level, it was a symbol of invincibility.

In other words, if Lü Yang willed it.

He could now kill Chong Guang in a direct confrontation. Therefore, even if Chong Guang genuinely tried to achieve Seeking Gold before him, Lü Yang could guarantee his failure.

Chong Guang obviously understood this as well, which was why he was being so cooperative.

Lü Yang was quite pleased by this. After all, he was one to remember old ties and didn’t mind giving others a chance, so long as they posed no threat to him.

His top priority, however, was to continue improving himself.

’First, I’ll refine the qi from the Ten Thousand Martial Realm!’

Lü Yang held the Jade Box from Chong Guang in his palm. He quickly activated the Heavenly Qian Captures All Phenomena and began to devour the Celestial Qi within the box.

BOOM!

Behind Lü Yang, billowing black flames erupted, casting halos of light. Within the flames sat a towering divine effigy with a green face, protruding fangs, three heads, and six arms.

However, as the qi from the Ten Thousand Martial Realm was continuously consumed, the appearance of the divine effigy began to change. First, its three heads and six arms dissolved, followed by its green face and fangs. Then, even the black flames were extinguished. The multitude of phenomena collapsed, finally coalescing into an intertwining streak of black and gold.

All impurities were purged, leaving only pure perfection.

Only then did Lü Yang open his eyes. He saw the sun had set and the moon had risen. Frowning, he performed a quick calculation on his fingers and realized, to his surprise, that over a month had passed.

The next moment, a brilliant light gleamed in his eyes.

His former Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body had now been stripped of its various parts: "Dharma Body," "All Phenomena," "Totalizing," and even "Qian," leaving only a single word:

Heaven!

In an instant, Lü Yang’s aura changed. The intertwining black and gold light at his core brightened bit by bit, melting into the surrounding Heaven and Earth.

Under the influence of this light, Lü Yang’s figure gradually blurred.

It was unnameable, indescribable. Only the black-gold radiance flowed. A single glance would likely cause an ordinary mortal to undergo a bizarre and grotesque transformation.

What is "Heaven"?

Lü Yang’s understanding was now crystal clear. He felt as though, within the range of his Abilities, all things in existence revolved and circulated around him.

For an ordinary Cultivator to achieve this, they would have to locate dragon veins and acupoints, then use an Array to amplify the Feng Shui. This is called "I respond to Heaven and Earth," and its difficulty is terrifyingly high.

Yet Lü Yang had dispensed with all those tedious rituals. He simply sat down, and the entire natural energy field of Huaming City began to resonate with him spontaneously. If using a Feng Shui Array was to achieve "I respond to Heaven and Earth," then what Lü Yang was doing now was "Heaven and Earth Respond to Me"!

The effect might seem similar, but in reality, they were worlds apart!

To say nothing of its other benefits, achieving Second-Grade True Perfection was a massive boon for Seeking Gold, and could even directly influence the foundation of one’s Cultivation after the fact!

"...Daoist, it is time to go."

Lü Yang’s lips parted, his voice barely a whisper. He didn’t even use his Mana. And yet, the magnificent halls and jade towers of Huaming City instantly erupted in a thunderous roar!

At that moment, they had all become conduits for his voice.

A wild wind swept through, the towers trembled, and the very earth hummed, all of it echoing Lü Yang’s voice, carrying it all the way to the Quiet Chamber where Chong Guang resided.

BOOM!

As the sound reached him, Chong Guang’s eyes snapped open. He stepped out of the Quiet Chamber and looked toward the Star-picking Tower, a look of stunned amazement dawning in his eyes.

’A truly peerless genius!’

’He finished the Qi Collection so quickly... and the qi from the Ten Thousand Martial Realm is of such high quality. If he truly succeeds in Seeking Gold, he’ll likely stabilize his new Realm in no time!’

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Chong Guang immediately summoned his Flying Light.

At the same time, Lü Yang was strolling down from the Star-picking Tower. The two exchanged no more words; they had a tacit understanding. Together, they sped towards the North.

Unlike Chong Guang, however, Lü Yang—having mastered "Heaven"—no longer rode a Flying Light. Instead, he simply strolled through the Cloud Sea like an ordinary person. Yet with each step he took, the mountains and rivers below would spontaneously propel him forward, carrying him across their expanse at a speed several times faster than a Flying Light!

........

The North. The Sea of Clouds. Holy Fire Cliff.

A streak of Flying Light descended from the sky and dispersed, revealing Chong Guang. But at almost the same instant, he heard a heavy footstep beside him.

THUD!

He turned to see Lü Yang, riding the wind and clouds, landing gracefully on the Holy Fire Cliff. His robes fluttered in the breeze, giving him the ethereal air of an Immortal.

Chong Guang was inwardly startled by this change.

The Lü Yang of before, who had presided over the Dao Court for ten years, carried an air of majesty and dominance in his every gesture. But now, that aura was gone.

In its place was the ethereal grace and lofty detachment of an Immortal.

Just then, a white-haired, white-bearded old man hurried out from within the Holy Fire Cliff and immediately performed a deep, formal bow to Chong Guang and Lü Yang.

"This humble one, Yu Zhou, pays his respects to the two Upper Cultivators."

Lü Yang’s gaze fell upon the man. With a quick calculation on his fingers, he instantly understood the man’s identity: this was the patriarch of the Saint Sect’s Zouyu Descendants!