In this instant, Lu Yang's spiritual intuition blared a warning.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately attempted to sense the [Heaven-Reaching Hall], intending to return to the Saint Sect. It wasn't that he was cowardly, but mainly that he wanted to invite Perfected Lord Feixue to accompany him.
However, his face soon darkened.
The connection... is severed!
Lu Yang raised his head, his brow furrowed tight. Although the connection with the Saint Sect had been cut off, the brilliance from [Heavenly Fire] still shone upon him.
Thanks to this, his strength hadn't diminished in the slightest.
This location should be very far from the "Wretched Place." Theoretically, [Heavenly Fire] shouldn't be able to reach here. But there is something peculiar about that place's position...
Lu Yang had a realization. The wretched place position was extremely unique. It seemed to be located at the nexus of the entire outer heaven light sea, connecting to myriad worlds. Thus, the power of the dao fruit could extend to any corner of the outer heaven light sea even if one left the home realm, allowing a perfected lord to maintain their strength even in the outer heaven.
... [Immortal Nexus].
At this moment, Lu Yang recalled what the figure in the [Heaven-Observing Mirror] had called the 'wretched place' [Immortal Nexus]—the name was actually quite fitting.
Lu Yang's contemplation didn't last long.
Because in the next second, a massive hand completely forged from [Two Polarities Birth and Destruction Profound Light] suddenly reached out from the outer heaven light sea, grabbing brazenly toward Lu Yang.
Boom!
As the giant hand descended, thunder birthed from its palm. Rolling thunderclaps shook the soul, yet it showed no mountains nor revealed any water. Not a trace of concept emerged—only the purest power!
Facing this descending palm, if Lu Yang didn't flee, he would either have to expose his own concept prematurely to counter it with technique or clash head-on with spiritual power, relying on pure force. Either way, he would reveal part of his foundation. With the enemy in the dark and him in the light, he would invisibly fall into a passive position.
However, Lu Yang held his head high, fearing nothing.
"Good timing!"
As his voice fell, he formed a seal with one hand, holding his sword fingers before his chest. A golden glint lit up at his fingertips, followed by a sudden bloom of immeasurable light.
It was a sword light!
Being in the outer heaven, Lu Yang actually let loose. At this moment, a single sword finger point unleashed a dazzling sword light that destroyed everything in its path, tearing the giant hand apart in the blink of an eye!
Where the sword light passed, a brilliance rivaling the heavens shone, reflecting the brightness of the fire trigram. In an instant, it even suppressed the inherent radiance of the [Two Polarities Birth and Destruction Profound Light], causing heaven and earth to dim momentarily before brightening again. Darkness turned to light, and in that fleeting transformation, the profound light giant hand exploded.
Bang!
The shattered hand turned into a sky-filling rain of light, returning to the outer heaven light sea. The residual sword qi pierced through the void, blasting two figures out from within the sea of light.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, the magnificent power of [Heavenly Fire] descended. The [Inscribing the Heavenly Chapter] emerged on Lu Yang's forehead, and ten thousand feet of firelight enveloped him, making him appear increasingly sacred.
"...As expected of an [Immortal Nexus] perfected lord."
In the outer heaven light sea, outside the [Myriad Martial World Realm], the man standing slightly in front among the two figures blasted out by Lu Yang let out a sigh of admiration.
"Not to mention one with a supreme dao fruit."
At the same time, the other man standing behind him also spoke. Their auras revealed themselves in tandem, causing Lu Yang to narrow his eyes.
Their stature was no less than a perfected lord's, yet their concepts were unlike anything he had ever seen.
In a flash of lightning, Lu Yang understood everything he was encountering: A trap! From Han Qingyun to the [Heaven-Observing Mirror], it was all a trap!
First, use the [Heaven-Observing Mirror] to lure Han Qingyun to join my Righteous Dao. Then, let me discover the mirror, leading me to notice the strange concept within it. To verify it, I would inevitably go to the Saint Sect. After learning the secrets of the thousand year tribulation, I would inevitably think of ways to improve my strength...
The result was the trap set here: the [Myriad Martial World Realm]!
As an [Unorthodox Dao Fruit], the [Myriad Martial World Realm] was undoubtedly very compatible with [Heavenly Fire]. The Pure Land, which also dabbled in this, naturally could calculate this point.
"...The Pure Land actually colluded with outer heaven cultivators."
"The [Celestial Court]?"
Lu Yang lowered his gaze and looked toward the [Myriad Martial World Realm]. He saw a streak of Buddha light rising slowly, and from within it, two more figures walked out.
One of them had a compassionate face and a solemn appearance, wearing a kasaya that seemed draped with the sun and moon and embellished with stars. The surging power of his dao fruit shared the same origin as the [Heaven] Lu Yang cultivated. It was precisely the unique aura of the [Myriad Martial World Realm], and surrounding his body was a concept that upheld the fortune of all living beings.
Lu Yang calculated the karma, and the other party's identity instantly surged into his mind.
Within the [Myriad Martial World Realm], all living beings have a Destiny Star, manifesting the identity and fortune each person is born with. Thus, an [Unorthodox Dao Fruit] named [Imperial Order] was born.
And the Buddhist cultivator who attested this dao fruit was named [Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta]!
Previously, he was Venerable Mahasthamaprapta, the Arhat of the Pure Land with the most hope of achieving Bodhisattva status. He disappeared mysteriously, but unexpectedly, he was secretly advancing here...
Aside from him, the other Bodhisattva was somewhat unfamiliar.
Unlike [Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta], atop this Bodhisattva's head, a magnificent light also drew upon the Great Void, manifesting a dao fruit just like him.
[Pine & Cypress Wood]!
It's the Pure Land's third Bodhisattva, the one I previously forced back into seclusion alongside [Bodhisattva Precious Vase Water Moon] using the [Inscribing the Heavenly Chapter]!
[Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory]!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang's expression grew increasingly grave. It wasn't because of the Pure Land's two Bodhisattvas; one was unorthodox, and the other was at the early stage—they didn't amount to much.
The truly thorny problem was those two outer heaven cultivators.
Lu Yang's gaze swept over them, silently assessing the combat power of the enemies before him. One of them has an aura similar to [Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer]—both are Mid-Stage Golden Core, second-grade perfected lords. The other one I briefly clashed with in the [Heaven-Observing Mirror]; his strength is inferior to mine, counting as a third-grade perfected lord.
Add in the two Bodhisattvas.
Calculating it all together, it wasn't exactly a dead end. The only real threat was that second-grade perfected lord from the [Celestial Court]. The rest were not worth worrying about...
Boom!
In the next second, however, [Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory] suddenly raised his hand. Centered on the [Myriad Martial World Realm], Buddha light emerged throughout the surrounding outer heaven light sea.
Rank 3... No, a Rank 2 Formation!
Lu Yang's gaze focused slightly as he saw formation patterns condensing in the sea of light. The Buddha light was dazzling, manifesting pagodas, stupas, temples, and zen forests.
Lu Yang recognized this scene.
Buddha Kingdom on Earth!?
Indeed, the manifested formation was strikingly similar to the Buddha Kingdom on Earth he had seen in Jiangxi in his past life, only lacking the [City Rampart Earth] to preside over it.
Under the enhancement of this formation, the originally weakest [Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta] saw his aura skyrocket instantly. He broke through the bottom line of the fifth-grade perfected lord and reached the fourth-grade level. Meanwhile, [Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory]'s aura also climbed continuously, faintly reaching the high position of a third-grade perfected lord.
"...Quite a grand setup."
Lu Yang looked indifferent and shook his head. "Although I've tried my best to lower my estimation of the Buddhist cultivators' bottom line, you manage to break through my imagination every single time."
"Colluding with outer heaven cultivators, and formidable enemies of the future thousand year tribulation at that."
"Are you trying to cut yourselves off from the five regions of the world?"
"Amitabha."
[Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory] chanted a Buddha's name upon hearing this but did not answer Lu Yang. Instead, he turned to look at the two outer heaven cultivators who had come with them.
"Immortal Lord Shaoyin*, Immortal Lord Daoyan. We only take his soul and true spirit; the rest belongs to you."
"Hahaha, good!"
Upon hearing this, the two outer heaven cultivators laughed heartily. The man [Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory] addressed as Immortal Lord Shaoyin sneered.
"I came this time for Daoyan. Since this person attests [Heavenly Fire], after killing him and seizing his concept, Daoyan should be able to attain the [Governing Heaven Primary Position] of the great yang lineage upon returning. He will count as a Taiyang Immortal Lord."
"Many thanks for the promotion, my Lord!"
Hearing this, the other outer heaven cultivator called Immortal Lord Daoyan was overjoyed. He hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks, then looked at Lu Yang with predatory eyes.
Between their words, the four of them had already decided Lu Yang's life and death.
Yet Lu Yang merely smiled faintly. Even though he had been plotted against and trapped deep within a grand formation, he remained calm. As his lips parted, his voice resonated through the universe:
"Clay chickens and pottery dogs—you think you can kill me?"
Translator Note:
The Six Qi are: Jueyin (Absolute Yin), Shaoyin (Lesser Yin), Taiyin (Greater Yin), Shaoyang (Lesser Yang), Yangming (Yang Brightness), and Taiyang (Great Yang).