Outer Heavens, Sea of Light.
Although this wasn't Lu Yang's first visit, re-examining the scenery of the outer heavens under the protection of a Golden Core Perfected Lord brought completely different insights.
When I came in my previous life, there was the danger of death...
After all, the outer heavens were filled with surging [Profound Light of Life and Death Creation]. The collision of Yin and Yang energies annihilated myriad phenomena. Even a Foundation Establishment Perfected One couldn't stay in it for long.
However, following a Golden Core Perfected Lord at this moment, everything was vastly different. Emperor Jiayou walked at the very front. As he paced, thousands of brilliant lights rose beneath his feet, converging into a golden bridge. On both sides were imperial carriages with dragon flags, banners fluttering, and groups of soldiers in brocade clothes, extending all the way to the outer heavens.
What a grand display!
Lu Yang was shocked in his heart. What met his eyes was only golden light paving the ground. The [Profound Light of Life and Death Creation] that could annihilate a Foundation Establishment Perfected One spontaneously parted to the sides.
Emperor Jiayou and Lu Yang stood on this golden avenue. One end connected to the coordinates of the two, while the other end locked onto the coordinates given by Lu Yang from afar. Then, with one step, an indescribable distance was crossed instantly, and a World Realm immediately entered Lu Yang's view.
We arrived... so fast.
Back then, he spent quite a bit of effort to reach [Seven Luminaries Heaven]. Yet Emperor Jiayou walked leisurely like strolling in a courtyard, showing no sign of strain at all.
Lu Yang lowered his head, pondering in his heart:
This golden avenue is transformed from the concept of [Wayside Earth]!
Qi gives rise to form; things manifest through paths. Form condenses into substance; substance reveals itself to the world.
This is called [Wayside Earth].
The concept embodies the wonder of great earth linking all roads, and of vast, boundless plains stretching for ten thousand hectares.
Such a result verified a guess Lu Yang once had:
It seems even after leaving that wretched place and moving away from the Dao Fruit, a Perfected Lord's strength won't decline in the slightest...
Why?
Logically speaking, Dao Fruits are located within heaven and earth. A Golden Core Perfected Lord can command the power of the Dao Fruit inside heaven and earth. But far from heaven and earth, beyond the Dao Fruit's reach, a Golden Core Perfected Lord should become weaker... Yet judging from the concept displayed by Emperor Jiayou at this moment, clearly the outer heavens had no effect on him.
Just then, Emperor Jiayou spoke suddenly: "Minister Du."
"Your subject is here." Lu Yang replied hurriedly.
"There is one thing I am very curious about." Emperor Jiayou's tone was casual, seeming like mere idle chatter: "How did you interrogate out that [Nine Transformations Dragon Art]?"
Hearing this, Zhao Xuhe's figure instantly flashed through Lu Yang's mind.
Speaking of which, Zhao Xuhe was also unlucky. Actually, if following the normal trajectory, at this point in time, he shouldn't have switched to cultivating the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art] yet.
However, Lu Yang changed all this.
Originally in the First Anchor Point, Lu Yang had cultivated the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art], intercepting Zhao Xuhe's opportunity and nearly driving Zhao Xuhe mad with anger.
But in this restart, Lu Yang aimed for [Heavenly Fire] and had no interest in the pitfall that was [City Rampart Earth]. So he decisively scrapped his own [Nine Transformations Dragon Art]. Once he scrapped it, under karmic sensing, Zhao Xuhe discovered his lost opportunity had returned.
Life's ups and downs were nothing more than this.
In this situation, Zhao Xuhe naturally dared not wait any longer. To avoid any unforeseen complications, he went directly to Coiled Dragon Island and switched to cultivate the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art] in advance.
As a result, this move became the root of his disaster in this life.
Karma is mysterious and marvelous, truly awe-inspiring...
Lu Yang sighed with emotion in his heart, but on his face, he said without hesitation: "To tell the truth, what this subject used was the method circulated in the Jiangbei Demon Sect, Heaven-Mending Peak."
Since he dared to bring out the [Nine Transformations Dragon Art] directly, he naturally had an explanation prepared.
"After the Dragon Lord accidentally obtained this method, he felt it damaged the harmony of heaven. Plus with the Demon Sect nearby, he dared not spread it to the outside."
Immediately after, Lu Yang explained in detail the Heaven-Mending True Scripture and Heavenly Mother Transformation Profound Light, as well as how to use these two dao terchnique to search for desired intelligence.
Emperor Jiayou's horizons were greatly broadened—
"Animals... Worthy of the Demon Sect!"
Before his voice fell, the two had already arrived at the location of [Seven Luminaries Heaven]. Emperor Jiayou merely glanced at it calmly, then reached out and grabbed at it from afar.
Instantly, the entire [Seven Luminaries Heaven] was directly stored away by Emperor Jiayou. Even the [Seven Luminaries World-Stabilizing Truth-Preserving Grand Formation] left by Hong Yun outside [Seven Luminaries Heaven] was broken by Emperor Jiayou with overwhelming ferce. This also deepened Lu Yang's understanding of this Dao Court Son of Heaven's strength.
Middle-stage Golden Core...
Within the Dao Court, there is a struggle between civil officials and the imperial family. When civil officials are powerful, the emperor governs the world with inaction; when the emperor is powerful, the officials serve as herdsmen for the emperor.
And this generation of the Dao Court honored the Son of Heaven.
Moreover, the Tianwu imperial family cultivates their own nature, and Emperor Jiayou's cultivation is undoubtedly genuine. He is probably the most promising Perfected Lord among the Dao Court to break through to the late stage!
With such a mighty figure taking action, a mere [Seven Luminaries Heaven] that was still an embryonic Dao Fruit naturally had no power to resist.
"Let's go, time to return."
Emperor Jiayou put away [Seven Luminaries Heaven], then suddenly smiled faintly and looked at Lu Yang: "Minister Du, would you like to be the first person conferred godhood by incense?"
Lu Yang raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this: "...Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."
"I intend to establish a new division to spread the Incense Divine Dao widely within Tianwu City, letting these incense gods guard the capital. Let's call it the [Imperial City Division]."
"This is a heavy responsibility."
"Minister Du, since you presented this Incense Divine Dao, I plan to give the first divine position to you, letting you watch over the capital for me. You will serve as the head of the [Imperial City Division]. However, this is privately granted by me and hasn't gone through the Grand Secretariat, so there is no true official position bestowed upon you."
"Of course, it makes no difference to you."
"After all, the Incense Divine Dao can elevate cultivation. You control the [Imperial City Division]; the incense is at your disposal. It should also allow you to cultivate to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection."
"What do you think?"
Emperor Jiayou spoke earnestly, looking like he cared for his subordinate. Seeing this, Lu Yang also looked full of emotion, his voice choked with sobs: "This subject thanks Your Majesty for the profound grace!"
After speaking, he lowered his head, then cursed loudly in his heart:
Damnt it, you tyrant!
Emperor Jiayou's words might fool others, but he had controlled [Seven Luminaries Heaven]! How could he not understand the difference between the Incense Divine Dao and Dao Court official positions?
The two were completely incomparable!
Dao Court official position blessing at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection can condense Golden Nature! But Foundation Establishment Great Perfection of the Incense Divine Dao only has empty stature.
In an instant, Lu Yang understood Emperor Jiayou's thoughts.
He's deceiving me!
He wants me to do his bidding, but doesn't want me to rise too quickly, so he's using this inferior thing to trick me into doing his bidding.
Thinking this, Lu Yang was furious.
How could one manage the Dao Court well with such a scroundel by his side?
But soon, he had another thought: Although that's the case, if this [Imperial City Division] is really established, at least the authority on the surface won't be small...
Of course, the reason Emperor Jiayou dared to give such a position was mainly because the [Imperial City Division] relied on the Incense Divine Dao, and [Seven Luminaries Heaven], the source of the Incense Divine Dao, was held in his hands. It was equivalent to holding the lifeline of all Incense Gods, so he didn't worry about causing chaos.
However, Emperor Jiayou couldn't have imagined:
I also have [Seven Luminaries Heaven]... And the one in my hand is more perfect, irrigated by [Eternal Flowing Water], a genuine Unorthodox Dao Fruit!
In other words, as long as he had the intention—
He could completely manage the [Imperial City Division] as his own base, and if necessary, it could become the foundation for him to restore order in the Dao court and rule the world!
...
Outer Heavens, Sea of Light. Not long after Emperor Jiayou and Lu Yang left...
At the original site of [Seven Luminaries Heaven], a golden light broke through space and arrived, manifesting a figure. It was Hong Yun looking dejected and full of decadence.
Then he was stunned.
He widened his eyes, then rubbed his eyes, looked around, and rubbed his eyes again...
Finally, he revealed a look of pure confusion.
"...Where is [Seven Luminaries Heaven]?"
My last trump card hidden deepest when I was still a Perfected Lord... where is such a big Seven Luminaries Heaven] go!?