Immortal Nexus, Jiangxi.
Although only two years had passed, Jiangxi had already undergone subtle changes compared to the time under the Pure Land's rule. The number of cultivators began to increase gradually.
And in the center of Jiangxi.
The former Dragon Palace had been moved here. The Old Dragon Lord coiled within it but restrained the dragon clan under his command— not replacing the [Righteous Dao].
The result was that the entire Jiangxi was currently still managed by the old subordinates Lu Yang left behind—the cultivators of the former Incense Divine Dao and the Imperial City Division. The Old Dragon Lord and even the entire dragon clan had been elevated to positions of honor. Both sides had reached a delicate balance, neither interfering with the other in normal circumstances.
At this moment, inside the main hall of the [Righteous Dao].
Xiao Shan, dressed in luxurious clothes and looking solemn, sat upright. After Lu Yang left, as the second person in the Incense Divine Dao, he naturally shouldered the heavy responsibility.
The Imperial City Division, originally in turmoil due to Lu Yang's disappearance, also returned to calm under his iron-fisted governance.
After that, there were also a few Incense Deity with no discernment who came to "urge him to ascend,"—wanting to put a yellow robe on him (make him emperor)—but he had them all beaten to death with sticks.
All because Xiao Shan firmly believed:
"My Lord is absolutely not dead!"
"As early as the year my Lord seek golden core, I voluntarily allowed myself to be refined by him. If my Lord truly died, I would undoubtedly die too and follow him."
"Since I'm not dead, my Lord must be fine."
"So before my Lord returns, I must look after Jiangxi for him. Otherwise, I would be disregarding my Lord's cultivation of me and his trust over the years..."
Xiao Shan kept his eyes closed tight, silently refining incense fire.
Behind him, Lu Yang listened to the many distracting thoughts in Xiao Shan's heart while sighing with emotion: "Loyalty worthy of praise. I didn't misjudge you back then."
[Marionette], activate!
In the next second, Lu Yang's figure overlapped with Xiao Shan. Immediately, "Xiao Shan" opened his eyes and exhaled a deep breath of turbid air.
Apologies, let me borrow your physical body for a moment...
He hadn't used [Marionette] for a long time. However, now that his main body was far away in the outer heavens, he could only return through this method.
Then Lu Yang stood up, formed hand seals, and flew straight toward the Dragon Palace on a streak of light. At the same time, he mustered his spiritual power, and a heavenly voice burst from his mouth, crashing into the Dragon Palace: "Senior Dragon Lord, Junior Lu Yang has a request. Please show yourself for a meeting."
Instantly, deep within the Dragon Palace, a divine sense quickly awakened.
Lu Yang. He came back?
The Old Dragon Lord looked out. After seeing "Xiao Shan," he first frowned, then pinched his fingers to calculate for a moment, revealing intense curiosity.
I can't calculate it.
No matter how I look, this demon is that Xiao Shan. But how could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dare to lie to me? Could it be some powerful puppet secret technique?
Thinking of this, the Old Dragon Lord immediately released his divine sense.
In the next second, Lu Yang felt the world spin. When he looked again, he had already fallen deep into the Dragon Palace, and a robust middle-aged man walked toward him.
Needless to say, just the difference in stature radiating from the middle-aged man confirmed his identity to Lu Yang.
"Junior Lu Yang greets the Old Dragon Lord."
"...Perfected Lord Yuji Siming?"
The Old Dragon Lord frowned tightly. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist fled to the outer heavens back then, and there was no news. I wonder what exactly happened?"
"It's a long story..."
Lu Yang didn't shy away and frankly explained the karma of going to the outer heavens to seek a breakthrough, being ambushed by the Pure Land, and attacked by Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao.
Only then did the Old Dragon Lord believe most of it.
A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't possibly know the secrets between perfected lords, let alone speak so clearly... It seems it really is that Perfected Lord Yuji Siming.
Thinking of this, a smile finally appeared on the Old Dragon Lord's face, and he proactively returned the greeting. "Fellow Daoist indeed has extraordinary means, able to return to the mortal world while far away in the outer heavens. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, this old man has looked after the land of Jiangxi well for you. Those bald donkeys from the Pure Land attacked several times but were driven back by this old man."
"Many thanks for Senior's protection."
Lu Yang smiled slightly and proactively showed his goodwill—acknowledging the Old Dragon Lord's favor. Hearing this, the smile on the Old Dragon Lord's face became even more sincere.
"May I ask Fellow Daoist, what is the matter for coming specifically to find this old man this time?"
"I came to ask about the Dao."
Lu Yang didn't drag things out and went straight to the topic. "Junior's cultivation has increased recently, but I am troubled by the void attainment of the dao fruit, so I came to ask Senior."
"...Void attainment?"
Hearing these words, the Old Dragon Lord instantly narrowed his eyes, slightly startled in his heart: This doesn't look like aiming too high, but rather truly having gained something.
Is this person's talent so high? It's been less than ten years since he attained golden core and ascended to his position. It is said he has already refined his first true treasure, and now he has actually comprehended void attainment? Is the supreme dao fruit really that powerful? Why didn't I feel this back then... Or is this person truly a peerless genius one in ten thousand?
After a moment of silence, the Old Dragon Lord said in a low voice:
"If the void attainment Fellow Daoist speaks of is a step further than the [Dao-Seeking Immortal Method]... then this old man does know a little and can try to resolve Fellow Daoist's doubts."
"Many thanks, Senior!"
Lu Yang cupped his hands upon hearing this, then impatiently asked, "May I ask Senior... does so-called void attainment require the support of five true treasures to succeed?"
Hiss!
As soon as these words came out, the Old Dragon Lord instantly sucked in a breath of cold air in his heart: It's not fake; he really comprehended it, and it's not just scratching the surface!
"...It is indeed five."
The Old Dragon Lord said in a deep voice, "Generally speaking, constructing a [Dao-Seeking Immortal Method] with three true treasures to maintain the grotto-heaven from falling is already the limit of cultivation. To condense a fourth, or even a fifth true treasure, the difficulty is extremely high, like a heavenly chasm. Rumor has it that only a supreme dao fruit can achieve it smoothly."
I guessed it right!
Lu Yang was slightly delighted in his heart and hurriedly continued to ask, "What is the significance of attaining a dao fruit through void attainment? What help does it provide for breaking through the Nascent Soul? Please teach me, Senior."
Old Dragon Lord: "..."
You really dare to ask!
The Old Dragon Lord bared his teeth, then waved his large hand, sealing the surrounding karma, before whispering, "This old man also only heard it through rumors..."
"Fellow Daoist, after hearing it, do not spread it carelessly."
Lu Yang's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Is he going to drop some real knowledge?
"Junior understands!" Without any hesitation, Lu Yang took a few steps to the front of the Old Dragon Lord and similarly cast a technique to isolate karma. "Please guide me, Senior."
"...As far as I know, attaining a dao fruit through void attainment should originally be cultivation available only after the Late Stage of the Golden Core, after becoming a Great Perfected Lord. Use the dao fruit attained through void attainment to swallow the original dao fruit. From then on, mighty power belongs to oneself, no longer bound or limited by any external force. Flawless and complete—that is the Golden Core perfection!"
In an instant, Lu Yang was suddenly enlightened.
Golden Core perfection... So this is the Golden Core perfection! No wonder... Hmm?
Suddenly, Lu Yang frowned slightly:
Great Perfected Lords at the Late Stage of the Golden Core all achieve their status with multiple dao fruits. Does one need to swallow all the dao fruits?
The Old Dragon Lord glanced at Lu Yang upon hearing this.
As expected of someone from the Saint Sect, he reacting so quickly.
"...That's right."
The Old Dragon Lord nodded slightly. "So those Great Perfected Lords who achieved their stature by gathering the power of many—despite looking majestic—actually have no hope of breaking through perfection."
Because to attain a perfection, one must swallow the other dao fruits. But one's own Great Perfected Lord stature is supported by other perfected lords. Once the other party chooses to rebel, the stature falls.
Let alone attaining a perfection, even the Late Stage cannot be maintained. Instead, it's like trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.
How insidious!
Lu Yang's eyes twitched slightly as he listened, then he glanced at the Old Dragon Lord again... This person has stayed in the Middle Stage of the Golden Core for countless years; he might actually be ambitious!
Because he wants to breakthrough to the Golden Core perfection, he has stayed in the Middle Stage of the Golden Core, seeking a method to monopolize other dao fruits to achieve the stature of a Great Perfected Lord?
No wonder [Sky-Shrouding] is full of confidence, aiming for the Dao Lord... because he really has a chance!
On the contrary, this so-called method of achieving Great Perfected Lord status by gathering the power of many seems to allow one to go a step further, but in reality, it completely cuts off their immortal path upward.
How vicious!
"Where did this method originally come from?"
Before his voice fell, Lu Yang realized he had asked a stupid question.
Hearing this, the Old Dragon Lord looked at him with a strange expression, then gave the answer he expected: "Where else could it have come from?"
"Of course, it's the Saint Sect."
(End of Chapter)