Mystic Spirit World Realm.
Within a side hall of the Heavenly Court, Dao light pierced the heavens, and the phenomena of the Four Symbols manifested. Amidst the radiant glow, a man in a black robe sat cross-legged, his hands forming a seal over his chest.
Hovering just above his fingertips was a slowly rotating pill-like orb.
Around the orb, lightning crackled and golden serpents danced wildly, transforming into a massive, fissure-like net that seeped into the surrounding void, tightly linking with the Mystic Spirit World Realm.
Although he had decided to go to the Star Palace, Lu Yang didn't set off immediately. Instead, he planned to first spend some "quality time" with the Mystic Spirit World Realm he had just gotten acquainted with.
In short, he decided to experience the realm's enhancement of a Dao Fruit. After all, this kind of realm enhancement was something he had never seen in any other Unorthodox World Realm.
The effect was remarkably similar to a profound sublimation of a Dao Fruit. It could even allow an Unorthodox Perfected Lord to contend with an Orthodox Perfected Lord to a certain extent.
And as it turned out, the Mystic Spirit World Realm was truly incredible.
This World Realm is absolutely extraordinary! What exactly are its origins?
At first, Lu Yang thought the realm's enhancement merely strengthened the concept of the [Divine Firmament Thunder]. While powerful, it wouldn't have been anything particularly special.
But now, he realized he was wrong.
Rather than strengthening the Dao Fruit's concept, it's more like it bestows a profound wonder out of thin air, and one that integrates perfectly with the Dao Fruit itself.
More importantly, it's subtly altering my Dao Fruit. It's safe to say that after being integrated for a long time, an Unorthodox Dao Fruit under the influence of the Mystic Spirit World Realm will gradually birth its own profound wonders and ascend to orthodoxy! This is definitely not an ordinary Unorthodox World Realm. There must be a massive background to it!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
As for this profound wonder bestowed out of thin air, Lu Yang named it [Upholding Heaven's Principles]. Simply put, it allowed him to become the localized consciousness of the Mystic Spirit World Realm itself.
No wonder there are local restrictions tied to the Mystic Spirit World Realm.
After all, the premise of this profound wonder is too massive. It can only be used within the Mystic Spirit World Realm. If this were a super world realm, it would probably be immediately reduced to a garbage profound wonder.
The same logic applied to the [Penetrating the Void and Pacifying Karma Jade Scripture].
Although he had driven the Mystic Spirit World Realm into a state of blissful ecstasy with just a few casual moves, if he tried the same techniques in the Immortal Nexus, they probably wouldn't even make a ripple.
Upholding Heaven's Principles, executing tribulations...
Lu Yang poured his entire focus into the conceptual changes of the [Divine Firmament Thunder]. Time seemed to fly by; lost in cultivation, he lost track of the passing seasons.
A long time later, he finally opened his eyes again.
Rumble!
In an instant, a flash of lightning seemed to tear across the heavens and the earth. Following that, every cultivator within the Mystic Spirit World Realm, and even those in its subordinate minor world realms, felt a resonance.
At that moment, Lu Yang's lips parted slightly. Without utilizing any divine abilities or spiritual power, but with the active cooperation of the Mystic Spirit World Realm, his voice echoed across every major and minor realm. From Heaven Immortals comparable to Foundation Establishment Perfection down to Qi Practitioners who had just embarked on the path of cultivation, everyone heard his voice:
"I am the Master of Tribulations. Today, I have refined the [Divine Firmament Thunder] to establish the rules for this world."
"From this day forth, lightning tribulations shall exist between heaven and earth."
"When mortals refine qi, they must endure the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Upon establishing a foundation and ascending to immortality, one must face the Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. And for immortals to be crowned a lordship, they too must brave the peril of the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation..."
His booming Dao voice echoed throughout the Mystic Spirit World Realm. Wherever it passed, billions of cultivators felt the resonance. Whether they were shocked, bewildered, envious, or jealous, all those myriad emotions ultimately coalesced into deep reverence. They bowed in unison, speaking with one voice:
"Congratulations to the Immortal Lord on attaining the Dao, establishing a heart for heaven and earth, and securing destiny for all living beings."
"Congratulations to Immortal Lord Master of Tribulations and Ferryman of Karma!"
Meanwhile, at the main seat of the Heavenly Court.
The Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm naturally heard Lu Yang's voice as well. A deeply complicated expression crossed his face. "He actually figured out the Mystic Spirit World Realm this quickly..."
How long had it taken him to reach this step back then?
A full century!
"Immortal Lord Master of Tribulations and Ferryman of Karma... With this title, from now on, he can truly stand as an equal with me, Immortal Lord Supreme True Overseer of the Profound."
"This is outrageous!"
Thinking of this, the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm couldn't help but grind his teeth. The feeling of being forced to share the Mystic Spirit World Realm with someone else left a truly bitter taste in his mouth.
"Forget it, forget it. Endure for a moment and the wind and waves will pass."
With this thought, the Supreme reigned in his aura.
"Anyway, he'll be going to the Star Palace soon. Once he goes there and comes back half-dead, that will be my chance to seize back control."
He didn't forget to send a message to the Mystic Spirit World Realm: Don't worry. Before I destroy someone, I must first let them inflate their ego! I've already arranged for people to take care of him, just bear with it a little longer... But thankfully, at least he doesn't dare to do anything blatant to you here in the Heavenly Court.
Rumble!
Before the Supreme's words even faded, he felt his connection with the Mystic Spirit World Realm abruptly sever. Meanwhile, dazzling Dao light erupted from Lu Yang's direction.
Seeing this, the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm froze in place.
Lu Yang looked down with satisfaction at the [Divine Firmament Thunder] in his hand. He could feel the previously aloof and haughty Mystic Spirit World Realm now actively converging its profound wonders towards him.
Not bad. It seems the Mystic Spirit World Realm can't do without me anymore.
Right now, even disregarding the stature of my mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, just relying on the innate stature of the [Divine Firmament Thunder], I'm not inferior to an ordinary Perfected Lord!
According to the five-tier ranking of Perfected Lords I established, I'd probably be in the fourth tier. I could even fight Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde head-on... But more importantly, with this experience in the Mystic Spirit World Realm, I now have an idea for the future Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual of the [Divine Firmament Thunder].
In short: establish tribulations for heaven and earth!
If I can integrate the [Divine Firmament Thunder] into the cultivation path of every cultivator in the Immortal Nexus, and then, through the Immortal Nexus, indirectly affect the entire sea of light...
When that time comes, I will definitely complete the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual.
Of course, the prerequisite is that the [Divine Firmament Thunder] must first reach perfection. And doing this will inevitably touch the cake of all the Perfected Lords in the world. It will undoubtedly be a massive undertaking...
But as long as he accomplished it, the benefits would be unimaginable!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang's heart pounded with excitement. Perhaps the opportunity for the [Divine Firmament Thunder] to advance to a Supreme Dao Fruit in the future lay precisely in this!
Soon, the day to depart for the Star Palace arrived.
The Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm walked over with a long face and said coldly:
"Fellow Daoist, the Star Palace has sent a reply. They welcome your visit. These are the corresponding coordinates in the sea of light. You may depart whenever you are ready."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."
Lu Yang smiled faintly. Sensing his impending departure, the surrounding spiritual qi immediately swarmed over, almost liquefying into spiritual water trying to shower down upon him.
This was the Mystic Spirit World Realm's reluctance to part.
"Don't worry, I'll be right back," Lu Yang murmured comfortingly. At the same time, he activated the [Devour] formula, swallowing all the spiritual water clean.
In an instant, the phenomena and Dao light grew even more intense.
On the other side, the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm could only watch in agony. He was standing right there, yet the Mystic Spirit World Realm completely ignored him, actively seeking intimacy with Lu Yang.
It hurts! It hurts so much!
For a moment, the Supreme's face twisted in pain. He resolved that once Lu Yang left, he would go all out to satisfy the Mystic Spirit World Realm and win back the favor of heaven and earth.
Lu Yang could easily guess the Supreme's thoughts, but he didn't care. After all, compared to the other party's brief, unskilled attempts at flattery, he—armed with the [Penetrating the Void and Pacifying Karma Jade Scripture]—was vastly superior in both strength and technique, making him far more capable of satisfying the Mystic Spirit World Realm.
Soon, the world spun.
Lu Yang entered the dark void, anchored himself to the Star Palace's coordinates, and in the blink of an eye, the scenery before him shifted into a boundless, dazzling expanse of stars.
Strictly speaking, this was his first time visiting the Star Palace.
And then, he was stunned.
Because what met his eyes wasn't the familiar aesthetic of a cultivation world, but dense clusters of steel creations, exuding a distinct mechanical beauty.
Lu Yang's gaze landed on the leading steel construct.
It was a golden-white disc, densely inscribed with Dao patterns and talismans. As it rotated, it radiated fluctuations of spiritual power as vast as an ocean.
...A flying saucer?
The next second, a mental fluctuation emanated from the golden-white disc. Its stature was exceptionally high—clearly a Star Lord. The tone was filled with overbearing arrogance:
"Welcome to the Star Palace, Unorthodox native."