For Patriarch Nether Whisper and Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, condensing Golden Nature was actually not something difficult. Especially since it was just Foundation Establishment level Golden Nature.
Although one of them had attained Void Attainment and the other was an Unorthodox path cultivator, those were just results. Before that, they were both Perfected Ones at the peak of Foundation Establishment who had condensed Golden Nature. It was just rather troublesome to re-cultivate, so Lu Yang hadn't specifically requested it. He never expected to receive such a surprise now.
A massive surprise!
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yang didn't say any more emotionally intelligent words of gratitude. Instead, he exchanged a solemn look with Patriarch Nether Whisper and Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon.
Everything was understood without words.
The next second, he grasped the Golden Nature handed over by the two. Then, directly circulating the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], he first swallowed Patriarch Nether Whisper's Golden Nature.
[Calculating experience for 'Nether Whisper'...]
[You are the Child of Destiny who died prematurely. Your shocking talent withered before it could bloom with its due brilliance. This is a despicable waste of the Great Dao...]
Soon, handwriting emerged:
[You have obtained the Golden Talent: Supreme Dao Transformation.]
[Supreme Dao Transformation: Upon activation, you will enter a once-in-a-lifetime Dao Transformation state. In this state, your Great Dao comprehension will reach a critical point.]
In an instant, Lu Yang turned around abruptly, staring straight at Patriarch Nether Whisper.
"What's wrong?"
Being looked at with such a fervent gaze, Patriarch Nether Whisper waved his hand somewhat uncomfortably: "What did the calculation produce? It shouldn't be too bad, right?"
Lu Yang shook his head upon hearing this: "Patriarch... you are still too modest."
It was simply good beyond imagination!
To sum up this talent in one sentence: It was a Patriarch Nether Whisper Experience Card!
Just now, when he saw the talent description, he almost jumped up from where he stood, dumbfounded, hardly daring to believe what he saw.
From now on, I am also a genius!
For a moment, Lu Yang almost activated the talent on the spot to feel what it was like for Patriarch Nether Whisper to comprehend the Dao usually. But in the end, he held back.
No rush, wait. Must endure.
Only when it is most needed can it be used.
Lu Yang exhaled deeply, finally stabilizing his surging thoughts. He then turned to look at the other Golden Nature in his hand, and the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] circulated again.
[Calculating experience for 'Vanquishing-Demon'...]
[You are the Sword Spirit of a Dao Sword, born for the Sword Dao. Although an artifact spirit, you possess a human heart. To you, killing is to protect life; severing karma is not severing people...]
Soon, new handwriting leaped onto the paper.
[You have obtained the Golden Talent: Sever All Evil!]
[Sever All Evil: When fighting an enemy, if your attack hits the opponent's Dharma Body, you can forcibly apply a Severing Mark on them.]
[Each Severing Mark will leave a sword scar on the opponent's Dharma Body, causing a slight decrease in their spiritual power and injury recovery speed. The effect stacks up to a maximum of ten marks. After stacking ten marks, you can decide whether to detonate the Severing Marks.]
[Detonating the Severing Marks will trigger an Immediate Death Judgment.]
[The result of the judgment will be determined based on the gap between you and the opponent in five fields: Spiritual Power, Dao Arts, Realm, Dao Comprehension, and Dao Fruit.]
[If you win in all five fields, the opponent dies immediately.]
[If you win in four fields, the opponent falls into a dying state.]
[If you win in three fields, the opponent suffers heavy injuries difficult to heal.]
[If you win in two fields, the opponent suffers minor injuries.]
[If you win in only one field, the opponent falls into weakness.]
"...Holy shit!"
Lu Yang marveled again. This was the first time he had seen a Golden Talent that enhanced offense so significantly and was so precise in power and utility!
At the same time, this was also the talent with the greatest external manifestation.
Other talents, like [A Few Tricks Up Your Sleeve] or [Marionette], were mostly the silent, nourishing type that basically wouldn't be noticed.
However, [Sever All Evil] was different. It had a very clear external manifestation. Rather than a talent, it was more like some powerful dao arts or divine ability. Especially the so-called "Severing Mark"—he didn't know what its specific appearance was like, whether it could be removed, and its actual combat effectiveness remained to be observed.
But regardless—
Just an Immediate Death Judgment is already exaggerated enough! Even without immediate death, the other effects are enough to make it my trump card for killing!
Indeed a huge enhancement!
Lu Yang sighed with emotion, then looked again at Patriarch Nether Whisper and Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, who were smiling, and bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Patriarch and Master."
Patriarch Nether Whisper nodded: "Do you have a plan?"
"I do." Lu Yang whispered: "I now control the Dharma Body Dao and have devoured [Wellspring Water]. I'm becoming more and more conspicuous, which is actually not good."
"The Dharma Body Dao is ultimately something swept into the trash heap of history."
"So this is an opportunity. An opportunity for me to abandon the light for the dark, rejoin the warm family of the Saint Sect, and gain the recognition of the Old... Ancestor."
Lu Yang stated his plan:
"My intention is to regain control of [Heavenly Fire]!"
…
[Sea of Bitterness].
Tian Qiu and Mu Changsheng ran wildly. Meanwhile, Mu Changsheng was also circulating [Wu You Heaven], striving to resolve the injuries on Tian Qiu's body.
There was no helping it. With the betrayal of Tian Qiu and Mu Changsheng, the Old Dragon Lord naturally wouldn't use his wonder to influence [Heavenly Fire] anymore. Therefore, the [Heavenly Fire] that had originally birthed countless consciousnesses was now gradually withering, and the newly born consciousnesses seemed about to reach the end of their lifespans.
Under these circumstances, the resistance of [Heavenly Fire] naturally revived.
This was thanks to [Sky-Shrouding]'s setup, preventing the Old Dragon Lord from directly withdrawing his wonder. Otherwise, Tian Qiu and Mu Changsheng might not even have lasted until now.
"Thank you for your hard work, Fellow Daoist."
Another injury was turned from real to fake and vanished into nothingness. Tian Qiu couldn't help but look at Mu Changsheng and said sincerely: "Fortunately, Fellow Daoist is here this time."
Speaking up to here, Tian Qiu had a look of sincerity.
"Fellow Daoist, put in a bit more effort. This [Heavenly Fire], even if My Lord snatches it over, it's actually not much use. Mostly, it will be given to someone to attain and find a way to control."
"Fellow Daoist has put in a lot of effort this time. In the future, maybe the candidate to control [Heavenly Fire] will be you!"
"Is this true?"
Mu Changsheng immediately revealed a look of excitement upon hearing this, then nodded heavily: "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist... with me here, I definitely won't let any mishap befall you!"
After speaking, he cursed in his heart:
Indeed, father and son with the Old Dragon Lord. This 'making empty promises' can be considered inherited... I don't believe it. Has that nameless Perfected Lord from the Saint Sect not arrived yet?
Just at this moment, Mu Changsheng suddenly felt a stir in his heart.
It's Heaven!
A whim from the unseen, representing an inquiry from Heaven: Why help the Saint Sect Perfected Lord? I should stand with the Old Dragon Lord...
Pah!
Mu Changsheng immediately threw away this thought, justifying himself in his heart: There's no other way, Heaven. The situation is stronger than people now. I am also thinking for our future, sacrificing myself and submitting to the enemy, trying to obtain as many benefits for us as possible.
Benefits the Old Dragon Lord couldn't give?
Of course he can't give them. Heaven, you have to understand, True Dragons being nobles of heaven and earth was a thing of the past. Why would he care about you now?
You only have me now.
I am the one who truly thinks for you... Alright, don't be unreasonable. Give me a bit more destiny, so I can continue to work for you in the future.
Mu Changsheng said this with righteous confidence.
Back during Foundation Establishment, he still felt that Golden Core Perfected Lords were unworthy sons, each and every one exploiting Heaven. Named cultivators, but actually thieves of heaven and earth.
But now, he had also become a Perfected Lord.
Especially after in-depth exchanges with Lu Yang, his strength was stronger, and his horizons were broader. And Heaven? It was still that foolish appearance.
I am improving, what about you?
Thinking of this, Mu Changsheng suddenly felt that for the sake of the overall situation of heaven and earth, making Heaven make a trivial sacrifice was actually very necessary.