Curse as he might, in that flash of lightning, [Immortal Lord Shaoyin] still grabbed the dazed [Immortal Lord Daoyan] and retreated with the speed of thunder covering one's ears.
Boom!
Without any hesitation, he flung out a patch of water and fire to block Lu Yang and Patriarch Nether Whisper's trio, then rode an streak of light and vanished from the spot.
Seeing this, Lu Yang didn't pursue. Instead, he sat down on the spot, letting Patriarch Nether Whisper and the others protect him. Before, he had been fully focused; now that he relaxed slightly, his body, which had seemingly healed, cracked open again. Water and fire light flowed out from within, gnawing and expanding the wounds like maggots.
A bit tricky...
Lu Yang frowned slightly. The disaster of water and fire had settled both inside and outside his dharma body like maggots attached to the bone. Even abandoning his physical body wouldn't erase this concept.
Clearly, this wasn't simply rooted in the flesh.
It's more like it's rooted in my very being, binding the concept of water and fire disaster to me personally, such that as long as I live, I cannot escape the calamity.
But fortunately...
While Lu Yang was pondering, Suo Huan had already walked up to his side. With a thought, the brilliant light of [Wellspring Water] shone brightly, and its fundamental profound wonder emerged:
[Shared Nourishment].
The brilliant light shone on Lu Yang like an inexhaustible stream of cold spring water, instantly bringing a sense of coolness to his pain-racked body.
His tightly furrowed brows relaxed.
However, on the other side, Suo Huan began to frown gradually. On his body, visible concepts of water and fire actually began to emerge.
Seeing this, Lu Yang immediately cut off the brilliant light. "That's enough."
[Shared Nourishment], the fundamental profound wonder of [Wellspring Water], had a simple effect: sharing the state between the person locked by the profound wonder and the master of the dao fruit.
Simply put, damage transfer.
Moreover, since [Wellspring Water] seeing [Heavenly Fire] was considered most auspicious—termed "Manifest Illumination"—this effect of damage transfer was pushed to the extreme.
As long as Suo Huan was willing, he could completely take on heavy injuries as the price to instantly restore Lu Yang to his peak!
"There is no need for this."
Lu Yang shook his head. "This water and fire injury is not simple. If we share it, we can recover slowly. If I give it all to you, I fear it will damage your grotto-heaven."
Besides, this was also an opportunity.
If he returned completely unharmed, it would extinguish the thoughts of many people.
He had to return half-dead to stir the hearts of those with ulterior motives, making them take risks so he could catch them all in one net!
Hmph... trying to scam me.
Lu Yang sneered inwardly. For the current him, unless it was a Late-Stage Golden Core or a Nascent Soul Dao Lord setting the trap, he had the confidence to deal with it!
"Just right. I'll take this opportunity to refine my first true treasure."
"[Myriad Spirits Banner]!"
Lu Yang closed his eyes. Perhaps it would have been a bit strenuous before, but after Suo Huan shared part of the injury, he could spare some effort.
The dao fruit of the [Myriad Martial World Realm] was something he was determined to get on this trip.
Therefore, even though he had a way to flee after slashing open the formation and breaking free, he chose to stay and forcefully kill [Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta].
Now, the reward had arrived.
With [Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta] dead, the [Myriad Martial World Realm]'s [Unorthodox Dao Fruit], [Imperial Order], was completely seized by Lu Yang and merged into the [Heavenly Pillar Profound Governance Grotto-Heaven].
In this moment, his whole being was immersed in the satisfaction of "filling a defect."
Incredible!
At the same time, [Heavenly Fire] seemed to stir, actively probing towards him as if wanting a share of the [Imperial Order] dao fruit.
After all, as Lu Yang expected, the [Imperial Order] dao fruit was truly compatible with [Heavenly Fire]. Their concepts complemented each other. Lu Yang could clearly perceive it right now: if he chose to feed it to [Heavenly Fire], it would inevitably make [Heavenly Fire] favor him even more, becoming inseparable from him.
But what was the use?
No matter how much favor, it's just giving a bit more dao fruit profound wonder. I already have that. Giving it to you is throwing it into the water; better to feed it to myself...
As for being inseparable from him.
Heh, as if you can leave me now. [Heavenly Fire], you have already been attained by me. From now on, you can only obey me!
"Get lost!"
With a thought, Lu Yang instantly suppressed [Heavenly Fire]'s stirring. What a joke. I risked my life to get this; how could I give it to you?
It's all mine!
Soon, the [Imperial Order] dao fruit was completely merged into the grotto-heaven by Lu Yang. Feeling the disappearance of [Imperial Order], [Heavenly Fire] became even more urgent.
Rumble!
For a time, infinite heavenly light surged. [Heavenly Fire] even actively extended some concept into Lu Yang's grotto-heaven, causing his eyes to brighten instantly.
"...Cut!"
As his voice fell, a sword light flashed and vanished, directly severing the concept that [Heavenly Fire] had permeated inside, letting it fall into his grotto-heaven.
Lu Yang was overjoyed seeing this. To refine a true treasure, the most important step was to extract a concept from the dao fruit. Yet, he had been unable to complete this step before. Now, by devouring an [Unorthodox Dao Fruit], he had accidentally stumbled through the most difficult step!
"No wonder... no wonder!"
No wonder Perfected Lord Feixue said devouring an [Unorthodox Dao Fruit] could help me quickly improve my cultivation. So there was this kind of mutation. Truly unexpected.
After a long while, Lu Yang exhaled a mouthful of turbid air heavily.
Hu!
After exhaling completely, he opened his eyes, holding the [Myriad Spirits Banner] in his hand while merging the [Heavenly Fire] concept he had just severed into it.
Under his mental sensing, Lu Yang clearly saw the drastic changes in the [Myriad Spirits Banner]. The originally sizable space expanded further at this moment, actually manifesting sun, moon, and stars, mountains, rivers, and peaks just like a grotto-heaven. The rolling black qi became so dense it even revealed a hint of purple.
True treasure, success came naturally!
"Not bad, not bad!"
Lu Yang smiled with satisfaction, feeling that the already profound [Myriad Spirits Banner] had now birthed many more divine wonders, completely breaking free from its original limitations.
"The name [Myriad Spirits Banner] shouldn't be used anymore."
It sounds easy to misunderstand, making it seem like I'm some demon cultivator who kills people and refines souls, or that this is some evil treasure that seizes true spirits and enslaves living beings.
"I founded the Righteous Dao; you are the mountain gate of my Righteous Dao."
"Since that is the case, naturally, the purpose must be to propagate the Righteous Dao, aiming to enlighten all living beings, letting them understand what the Righteous Dao is, and then practicing it personally."
"In that case—"
Speaking to this point, Lu Yang chuckled lightly, the banner in his hand fluttering in the air. "—From now on, you are the sect-guarding supreme treasure of my Righteous Dao."
"[Righteous Dao Enlightenment Banner]!"
Those who enter my banner are all pillars of my Righteous Dao! And with the support of these stepping stones... these pillars, I will walk step by step to the highest peak!
In the next second, Lu Yang retracted all concepts.
Then he raised his head, his eyes bright as if piercing through the outer heaven light sea. "The Saint Sect... as expected of the Saint Sect. All of them are damn insidious villains!"
The Pure Land deceived the Saint Sect and set up a killing trap?
Perhaps the Pure Land indeed planned it that way, but to say the Saint Sect didn't notice?
I don't believe it!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but grit his teeth, cursing inwardly: I bet ninety-nine percent they played along with the plot, deliberately using me as bait to fish!
Outer heaven light sea, an inexplicable realm.
[Immortal Lord Shaoyin] and [Immortal Lord Daoyan] transformed into flowing light, anchoring coordinates in the light sea and shuttling recklessly. They should have returned to the [Celestial Court] in just a moment.
But in the next second—
"When a guest comes from afar, though far, they must be executed."
"Two Fellow Daoists, since you've come, why be in such a hurry to leave?"
Accompanied by a gentle chuckle, the two Immortal Lords stopped in their tracks simultaneously. Their faces were uglier than ever before as they stared straight at the beautiful figure blocking their path ahead.
It was none other than [Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue]!