At this moment, accompanied by a loud bang spreading out, all mortals and foundation establishment cultivators under the sky couldn't suppress a feeling of sorrow rising in their hearts.
Heaven and earth wept blood; all things grieved together!
Immediately after, all foundation establishment perfected ones looked up in horror. Above the Foundation Establishment Realm, a small piece of the vast and boundless Sea of Bitterness suddenly collapsed.
The collapsing area displayed thousands of phantom colors, intertwining to outline a wondrous scene of lush branches and building beams. Looking closely, it was a dense forest, waves of a forest sea. But as it continuously sank and collapsed, the trees and branches that should have been lush were also withering continuously.
And in the center of those phantom colors was a figure.
"No—!"
A shrill roar of rage came from the mouth of the Dao Court's Grand Preceptor, carrying thick despair and unwillingness. Why me? What grudge do I have with you?
I have nothing to do with the Pure Land!
The one in the Dao Court who has a grudge against you is Emperor Jiayou. The one whose wife you slept with is also him, not mine. What does it have to do with me? I was even happy to see it happen.
But why is it me who dies!
I am wronged!
The Grand Preceptor's fear was not baseless. As Golden Core perfected lords, the Dao Court's Three Excellencies had a fundamental difference from other Golden Core perfected lords:
They had no Golden Nature!
Dao Court cultivators, except for the Tianwu Imperial Family, derived all their cultivation from official positions. Even at foundation establishment perfection, the Golden Nature condensed was the same!
Golden Nature was bound to the official position, not their souls. Let alone that the Grotto-Heavens of the Dao Court's Three Excellencies weren't theirs either; they were similarly linked to the official positions. Now that the Grotto-Heaven was gone, the official position and Golden Nature were also retracted by the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]. He would only reincarnate like other cultivators!
How could he be reconciled to this?
I still had ambition. I still thought of using this opportunity to regain the momentum of the Three Excellencies in the court, break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core, and restore the authority of the previous Grand Preceptor...
And it ends just like this?
I just came to join the fun. I thought with seven perfected lords, the Dao Court and Pure Land joining forces should be an easy battle. I could just slack off in the back and fight casually!
But in the end, I'm the one who died!
I really refuse to accept this!
However, no matter how much resentment there was, at this moment, it was all the wailing of a defeated dog. Under the general trend of Grotto-Heaven collapse, the Grand Preceptor's soul had no power to reverse the situation.
Boom!
With a final loud bang, the Grand Preceptor's soul had no power to resist and was dragged away directly by the Netherworld. The falling Grotto-Heaven was wrapped by another mighty power.
[Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]!
Normally, when a perfected lord died and their Grotto-Heaven fell from the Sea of Bitterness, it should shatter directly, turning into countless Grotto-Heaven fragments and merging into heaven and earth.
But at this moment, Lu Yang saw clearly that the Dao Court Grand Preceptor's Grotto-Heaven didn't disintegrate after falling. Instead, at the critical moment, it was retrieved by the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]. If repaired in the future, and another foundation establishment perfection cultivator entered it, perhaps it could fly up into the Dao Fruit again.
Interesting.
Lu Yang rubbed his chin, understanding the operating system of the Dao Court's Three Excellencies. Compared to other Golden Core perfected lords, Dao Court perfected lords seemed to have it harder.
Rather, this is inherent to the characteristics of the four great powers.
The higher the strength, the more lenient they are to subordinates.
Needless to say about the Pure Land, with that wretched World Honored One. The Dao Court is a bit better, but still quite harsh. The Sword Pavilion is only strict with outsiders. Only the Saint Sect embraces all rivers...
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
After going around in circles, this wretched place—the Saint Sect—turned out to be the best?
There was no justice!
Just then, another loud bang came from above the dome of the sky, followed by Emperor Jiayou's exasperated roar: "Old Dragon, you dare ruin my Dao path!"
The Grand Preceptor was dead!
The Dao Court's Grand Preceptor corresponded to the Dao Fruit [Plains Forest Wood], which was a key Dao Fruit in Emperor Jiayou's original plan to break through to the late Golden Core stage!
After all, among the four Dao Fruits of the Dao Court—[Wayside Earth], [Great Relay Earth], [Plains Forest Wood], [Gilded Gold Leaf]—there were overlaping element. Without [Plains Forest Wood], the remaining Dao Fruits became two earths and one metal, unable to form three elements. What would Emperor Jiayou use to charge for the late stage?
Instantly, Emperor Jiayou went mad.
Even when he learned that Lu Yang and Empress Xiao were messing around together before, he hadn't been this crazy. At this moment, he wanted to repel the old Dragon Lord at all costs.
However, facing such a crazed Emperor Jiayou, the old Dragon Lord was dismissive:
"You also know your Dao path is broken, so do you think I still need to fear you? Still going crazy? If going crazy could solve problems, I would have gone crazy long ago!"
What kind of person was the old Dragon Lord?
You could call him cowardly or weak, but it was undeniable that he had led the Dragon Race through so many years. How could he not see Emperor Jiayou's petty thoughts?
Emperor Jiayou wasn't crazy.
He was scared!
The Dao Court's Grand Preceptor died. He feared the Grand Guardian and Grand Tutor would follow in his footsteps. If he truly became a solitary man then, the one to die would probably be him!
He seemed crazy, but in truth he wanted to flee!
With this thought, the old Dragon Lord laughed loudly: "Stop pretending, Jiayou. Today, with this old man blocks you here; you aren't going anywhere!"
Meanwhile, above Jiangxi.
Lu Yang stood with hands behind his back. Concepts surfaced around him, and rules manifested one after another, firmly suppressing the remaining Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian of the Dao Court.
The situation had reversed!
Lu Yang sneered inwardly: Dao Court is just so-so!
Except for Emperor Jiayou, the Three Excellencies weren't fearsome at all. The Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian were slightly stronger than the Grand Preceptor, but limited. They couldn't be considered powerful perfected lords.
If you really had to compare, they belonged at the same table as [Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde]!
As for the Pure Land, [Bodhisattva Precious Vase Water Moon] and another Bodhisattva had long been sent back into seclusion by Lu Yang. As long as he didn't retract the profound wonder, it would be difficult for them to return.
The seven perfected lords who came with menacing momentum instantly were reduced to one!
However, there was no relaxation on Lu Yang's face; instead, it became graver. Because fighting until now, he had essentially exhausted his means.
[Inscribing Heavenly Chapters] was used on the seclusion of the two Bodhisattvas and his own defense.
The [Deprivation] concept was contained and suppressed by [Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer]. The [Punishment of Heavenly Fire] was also used to suppress the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian, difficult to drive further.
But compared to him, [Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer] hadn't used her full strength yet.
Lu Yang's expression was indifferent. The spiritual perception of his sublimated soul constantly reminded him, allowing him to sense the intense danger coming from the opponent with extreme clarity.
If he had to say, his advantage was numbers.
Although he needed to distract himself to suppress the two Bodhisattvas and the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian, with Patriarch Nether Whisper and Suo Huan present, three against one, the advantage was still mine!
But in the next second, Lu Yang's expression changed.
Because a brilliance he had never seen before gradually emerged from [Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer]'s body. The charming smile originally on her face also turned cold:
"...Amazing."
"You haven't refined a true treasure yet, nor even formed a system unique to yourself. Just relying on the concept and profound wonder of the Dao Fruit, you can achieve this much."
"I admit the supreme Dao Fruit is indeed very strong... but not necessarily invincible!"
"Ultimately, you only broke through recently."
[Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer]'s voice became colder and colder: "Insufficient Dao comprehension, relying entirely on the Dao Fruit's own abilities... Do you really think I can do nothing to you?"
As her voice fell, the strange and unpredictable light on her body finally manifested completely. Within the light were the three true treasures she had refined: [Containing Origin Precious Lotus Cup], [Qi-Subduing Spirit-Stabilizing Hairpin], and [Four Noble Truths Dharma Wheel]. Combining together, they actually transformed into an extremely complicated crest.
"Amitabha."
[Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer] chanted the Buddha's name. Instantly, whether it was Emperor Jiayou and the old Dragon Lord in fierce battle, or the Saint Sect and Sword Pavilion in the distance...
Without exception, all cast their gazes over:
"Surprising... In the situation of the Pure Land, with the World Honored One above, someone could still cultivate the Dao-Seeking Immortal Method?"
"Good, good, good. It seems the ending is yet unknown."
"There are still variables!"