Outer Heaven, Sea of Light.
After pondering for a long while, Emperor Jiayou finally gave his reply:
"Fellow Daoist's strength is indeed impressive. If you are truly willing to defect and bring [Heavenly Fire] with you, I can take it upon myself to agree to both of your conditions."
Clearly, Emperor Jiayou felt he had seen through Lu Yang's schemes.
Since he wants to attach [Great Relay Earth], it seems he doesn't intend to give up [Heavenly Fire] entirely; he likely wants to use this connection to charge toward the late-stage Golden Core.
By bringing [Heavenly Fire] and defecting directly to my Dao Court, he effectively burns his bridges. He will inevitably offend the Saint Sect, he's already crossed the Sword Pavilion, and no one wants to seek refuge in the Pure Land. At one point, he will be a solitary official in the Dao Court, and I can manipulate him with ease...
Thinking of this, Emperor Jiayou let out a laugh. "It seems we shall be on the same side from now on."
"In the previous dynasty, the Zou Yu Imperial Family established the position of State Preceptor, ranking alongside the Three Excellencies. If Fellow Daoist enters my Dao Court, I shall treat you with the same courtesy and status."
Hearing this, Lu Yang offered a relaxed smile. "Then, I look forward to a happy cooperation."
"Happy cooperation indeed!" Emperor Jiayou said readily. "Regarding [Great Relay Earth], I will make the arrangements as soon as possible... Do you need me to send the person to you before the war officially begins?"
"That would naturally be best," Lu Yang nodded.
Attaching a Dao Fruit was a mutually beneficial arrangement. For the one attaching, they could share the "Grotto-Heaven Unfalling" effect; even at the early-stage Golden Core, they could obtain the immortality and indestructibility characteristics usually reserved for the mid-stage. For the host, they gained the ability to utilize the power of the attached Dao Fruit.
Although Lu Yang could use [Great Relay Earth] without attachment thanks to [Heavenly Fire], an official attachment would allow him to manifest far more Wonders. With the great war approaching, every marginal increase in strength mattered.
Soon, Emperor Jiayou departed with the Seven Luminaries Heaven.
On the other side, Lu Yang shifted his intent and retreated into the [Nourishing Life Master]. Immediately, the Righteous Dao Banner emerged, and rolling purple qi surged forth.
"Patriarch... what are you doing?"
While casting technique to obscure heavenly secrets, Lu Yang looked on in surprise. Patriarch Nether Whisper, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, Suo Huan, and even Empress Xiao had all actively manifested.
Patriarch Nether Whisper spoke sternly: "Do it!"
"Eh?" Lu Yang was stunned.
Before he could react, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon and Suo Huan flanked him from the left and right.
Empress Xiao pounced like a lithe tiger, wrapping her arms around him. Together, the three exerted their full force to pin him down.
The sudden move startled Lu Yang, but he didn't resist. He allowed them to restrain him, though his expression was one of utter confusion.
He knew Patriarch Nether Whisper and the others would never truly harm him; he just couldn't fathom the reason for the ambush.
Patriarch Nether Whisper strode forward.
Boom!
Without hesitation, the Patriarch's aura erupted, instantly climbing to the level of a First Grade Perfected Lord. He pressed a heavy hand onto Lu Yang.
Lu Yang simply blinked.
After a long silence, Patriarch Nether Whisper withdrew his hand. His expression grew increasingly solemn and grim.
"I can't detect anything... It seems the illness has already entered the marrow!"
"He's hopeless. Let's restart."
Lu Yang: "???"
Seeing this, Lu Yang finally understood. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Patriarch, you don't actually think I've been influenced by a Dao Lord, do you?"
"How else do you explain this?" Patriarch Nether Whisper shot back.
Seizing the [Eternal Sword]... listen to how outrageous that sounds! Who could hear such a plan and not think Lu Yang has gone mad? Only someone with a fried brain would dare such a thing.
That was why they had restrained him. They needed Patriarch Nether Whisper to check his body, fearing he had been inexplicably jinxed by a Dao Lord, just like in his previous life.
After all, the [Eternal Sword] was a relic of the Dao Lord of the Sword Pavilion. Even if one managed to snatch it, its utility ultimately depended on the Dao Lord's whim. For an outsider—someone not even a descendant of the Sword Pavilion's aristocratic families—to try and wield it was no different from seeking death.
"Look at yourself!" Patriarch Nether Whisper looked at him with the frustration of one seeing 'iron fail to become steel.' "Today you dare to snatch the [Eternal Sword]; tomorrow, I dread to think what you'll attempt. You need to wake up!"
"Patriarch, I truly haven't been jinxed. I am perfectly lucid," Lu Yang said with a bitter smile.
Patriarch Nether Whisper remained skeptical. "You claimed to be lucid in your previous life, too!"
"This time is different!" Lu Yang defended himself earnestly. "I am not who I was then. In this life, my Dao Heart is perfect! Even a Dao Lord cannot influence my mind anymore."
Really? I don't believe it.
"Truly! I have a plan..." Seeing their doubt, Lu Yang had no choice but to reveal his strategy in its entirety, explaining every detail.
A long time passed.
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon and Suo Huan finally let go, though Empress Xiao remained nestled in Lu Yang's arms. Patriarch Nether Whisper wore a look of deep contemplation.
"...You are taking a massive risk," the Patriarch muttered, gritting his teeth. "This is too crazy!"
Lu Yang nodded, not denying the charge. But in the world of cultivation, especially at this level, how could there be no risk?
In his estimation, he had at least a forty percent chance of success. That was a gamble worth taking.
Worst case scenario? He would simply restart.
Gathering his thoughts, Lu Yang looked at them seriously. "Patriarch, Master—honestly, do you think my plan is feasible?"
After a heavy silence, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon spoke first: "No problem on my end."
Patriarch Nether Whisper's frown deepened. Finally, he sighed. "With your current situation, you could afford to be much more steady."
"You don't need to involve yourself in these external conflicts. Just focus on conquering the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]. By hiding in here, no one can find you—not even a Dao Lord. You could cultivate properly for a few thousand years and build a peerless foundation. Why must you take such risks?"
"Patriarch, the time isn't right for that," Lu Yang shook his head. "I've read every Dao Fruit books within the [Nourishing Life Master], but knowledge on paper is shallow. It is still too far from the Void Attainment I seek."
"I need more."
Lu Yang's plan had two objectives.
First was to use the [Eternal Sword] to forcibly break through to the late-stage Golden Core.
However, he knew his foundation was likely insufficient, and the probability of failure was high.
Thus, he had a backup plan: if the breakthrough failed, he would pivot and swallow the attached Dao Fruit instead.
"I already possess the Wonders of [Overturned Lamp Flame] and [Wellspring Water]. If I acquire Earth and Metal, I will be nearly complete. By swallowing two Dao Fruits at once, even if I don't reach the level of a Great Perfected Lord, my combat power will peak just below that rank."
"But that is secondary. More importantly, I will have consumed four of the Five Elements Dao Fruits. With only one remaining, my Dao comprehension will skyrocket. Once the Five Elements are complete, I can truly attempt Void Attainment."
Lu Yang spoke with conviction. "Only then will it be time for me to settle down for a thousand—or several thousand—years to solidify my foundation."
Furthermore, he had to consider [Supreme Dao Transformation]. This super-enlightenment talent he had taken from Patriarch Nether Whisper could only be used once per lifetime. He had already spent it for this life.
In other words: no matter how long he spent "settling down" now, the progress would pale in comparison to restarting a new life and cultivating for a single minute under [Supreme Dao Transformation]. Since that was the case, why wait? He had to gamble now to secure better opportunities for his next life.
Lu Yang's logic finally won over Patriarch Nether Whisper.
The Righteous Dao Banner churned, and the figures vanished once more. Only Empress Xiao remained by his side, much to her own surprise.
"Fellow Daoist... are you still in the mood for this?" she asked, her beautiful eyes rippling with amusement.
Facing those tender eyes, Lu Yang coughed and took on a serious tone. "Don't talk nonsense. Am I the type of person to lose sight of the big picture for small gains?"
"I kept you here to discuss important matters!"
"If you say so, Fellow Daoist... Ah-wu," Empress Xiao nodded playfully.
"Hiss... In short, I feel that your Dao Fruit, the Incense Offering Divine Dao, has great merit. I want to see if we can develop it further."
"Mmh-hmm..."
Chapter 792: Secondary Development of the Incense Offering Divine Dao
Lu Yang was deep in study, meticulously analyzing the method of Empress Xiao's Incense Offering Divine Dao.
"In my estimation, the potential of the Incense Offering Divine Dao is actually immense. To put it simply, it functions as a lower-tier substitute for [Thunderbolt Flame]."
Both abilities were designed to empower subordinates. However, the empowerment from [Thunderbolt Flame] could share one's own Golden Core Stature, whereas the Incense Offering Divine Dao capped out at Foundation Establishment Perfection.
Furthermore, [Thunderbolt Flame] carried no inherent restrictions, while the Incense Offering Divine Dao was entirely dependent on the quality and quantity of believers. This created a massive gap.
Consequently, Empress Xiao had become the Perfected Lord with the least presence within the Righteous Dao Banner. Most of the time, Lu Yang didn't even dare to let her take the field, fearing she might accidentally perish if he wasn't careful.
Empress Xiao, however, was quite content with this arrangement. Though her combat strength was limited, she was still a Perfected Lord, and she found plenty of ways to amuse herself inside the Righteous Dao Banner every day.
In short, she was slacking off.
Lu Yang, however, had no intention of letting her "lie flat" indefinitely. While the Banner Spirits within the Righteous Dao Banner were all his brothers, those who didn't pull their weight were no brothers of his.
More importantly—
Currently, I can utilize the 'Sea of Banner Spirits' tactic to unleash the [Sever All Evil] talent because I can mobilize the power of [Thunderbolt Flame] to empower them. But what about the future?
Controlling [Heavenly Fire] now doesn't guarantee I will control it forever. What isn't mine is ultimately borrowed. I must prepare for a time when I might lose it.
The combination of the [Sever All Evil] talent and the swarm of Banner Spirits was simply too effective to abandon. Lu Yang was determined to find a way to make this tactical advantage permanent. Thus, his gaze eventually landed on Empress Xiao and her Incense Offering Divine Dao.
"Do you understand?" Lu Yang said, solemnly patting Empress Xiao's head. "In short, I plan to perform a 'secondary development' on your Dao Fruit."
Lu Yang frowned momentarily as he assessed the situation. But as a man who had lived many lifetimes, he was battle-hardened and quickly recovered his composure.
"I have arranged everything. The key lies in the Dao Fruit Wonder. The foundation of an Unorthodox Dao Fruit is naturally weak; if you want to transcend its limits, the only way is to birth a unique Wonder."
Hearing this, Empress Xiao nodded vigorously, her voice trembling slightly. "I also pondered this, but for an Unorthodox Dao Fruit to birth a Wonder is as difficult as ascending to heaven. I... I truly lack the aptitude to achieve it."
She looked up at Lu Yang with a pitiful, pleading gaze, her throat moving slightly as she spoke.
"Hiss... I am aware of the difficulty. That is why I asked the Patriarch to design a plan. We will graft an external Concept onto the Incense Offering Divine Dao."
Empress Xiao was instantly overjoyed. "What Concept?"
"The Binding Concept," Lu Yang said in a deep voice. "Simply put, we will bind your Dao Fruit to me. Through this connection, your Dao Fruit's Stature will be forcibly elevated by my own."
"This shouldn't be difficult. The Incense Offering Divine Dao functions through the power of faith, which aligns perfectly with the Binding Concept. The only change is that previously, your believers' faith was directed at you; from now on, you must transfer the object of that faith to me."
"No problem at all!"
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow at her sudden enthusiasm. "Disturbing my Dao Heart... see that you don't do it again."
"I was wrong~" Empress Xiao apologized with feigned obedience, then added timidly, "When does Your Majesty plan to begin this development? I am ready at any time."
"When? Right now."
Lu Yang gave her a fierce glare. Seeing this, Empress Xiao hurriedly knelt, raising her hands with her red lips slightly parted—the image of a loyal subject ready to be "harvested" by her sovereign.
Three days later.
Within the Sea of Light, a temporarily opened secret realm bobbed amidst the [Two Polarities Birth and Destruction Profound Light]. The rhythmic shaking that had persisted for days finally began to subside.
Lu Yang sat upright on a futon. One hand supported the soft-boned Empress Xiao—a literal handful of grace—while his other hand was spread open. A fluctuating sphere of light hovered in his palm, yielding to his touch as he kneaded it into various shapes. Amidst the shimmering brilliance, a scent of sandalwood filled the air. This is the essence of the Incense Offering Divine Dao.
"Change!"
At his command, the Incense Offering Divine Dao merged into the Righteous Dao Banner, beginning a large-scale harvest of faith from the Banner Spirits within.
The faith of the Banner Spirits was pure and unquestionable. Once collected by Lu Yang, this power passed through the Binding Concept. Its intensity was forcibly magnified by Lu Yang's own high Stature before being returned to the spirits.
Rumble!
In an instant, the Banner Spirits—whose auras were previously negligible—underwent a qualitative transformation. The influx of empowered faith caused their strength to surge.
"A pity... it's still missing a Dao Fruit Wonder." Lu Yang frowned. Without a true Wonder, the most critical step was absent. Even with this improvement, the Banner Spirits couldn't yet wield the true might of a Perfected Lord.
With a shift in his hand seal, Lu Yang stopped dispersing the power and instead condensed all the incense power generated by the sea of Banner Spirits.
"Quantitative change leads to qualitative change. This massive volume of incense power, bound to my Stature, can act as my incarnation—even an extension of my own limbs."
"Because your Dao Fruit is now bound to me, it can mobilize my power whenever I permit it. In this way, I don't even need to move my true body; I can simply send the Banner Spirits out to form an 'Incense Deity' to fight on my behalf."
Lu Yang's eyes grew brighter with every realization.
"This method is remarkably similar to the [World-Retribution Incarnation] from [Sky-Shrouding]! When paired with the Righteous Dao Banner, it creates the perfect Tribulation Substitute Body."
Banner Spirits were effectively immortal. Even if the manifested spirits were wiped out, as long as their true essence remained within the banner, Lu Yang could simply re-manifest them at the cost of a little spiritual power.
"The Incense Offering Divine Dao doesn't need to be strong on its own, as long as it can act as a conduit for power. The Patriarch's line of thinking was correct. This will be invaluable in the coming war!"
Lu Yang pulled Empress Xiao closer. "In the coming battle, I will need you to put in a great deal of effort."
Empress Xiao replied in a soft, charming lilt, "Yes, Your Majesty~"
Time flew. On the fourth day, a stream of light pierced the sky and landed at the former site of the Seven Luminaries Heaven. Two figures in magnificent robes stepped forth.
It was Emperor Jiayou and the Dao Court Grand Tutor.
The Grand Tutor, who controlled [Great Relay Earth], had come under the Emperor's orders to meet Lu Yang. However, they arrived only to find a violently shaking secret realm.
"This is...?"
Emperor Jiayou frowned, then circulated his spiritual power to project his voice: "Fellow Daoist, I have brought [Great Relay Earth]. Please emerge for a meeting."
After a short delay, a strained response echoed from within the secret realm:
"Wait a moment... almost done... I am a bit busy right now... cultivating hard! Fellow Daoist, wait just a moment... don't come in! Whatever you do, do not come in yet!"