Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory was dead!
His Golden Body was shattered, a shocking sight to behold. The boiling streams of fire briefly illuminated the surrounding sea of light with brilliant radiance, only to be completely extinguished with a flip of Lu Yang's hand.
A dignified Golden Core Perfected Lord, a being who stood high above the masses and looked down upon heaven and earth even in the talent-filled Immortal Nexus, had just been crushed to death in someone's grip like a little chick. This deeply humiliating death, ironically, carried the most impact, striking terror into the hearts of all who witnessed it.
But that wasn't the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying part was that Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory's soul hadn't managed to escape either. It curled up in Lu Yang's palm, rapidly ground away by the boundless, prismatic light.
"Save me... save me!"
A shrill, agonizing roar echoed from Lu Yang's palm, carrying thick despair. Yet, until his soul was completely scattered and destroyed, the World Honored One didn't send down any further mighty power.
This was to be expected.
Ultimately, the methods I displayed this time weren't anything bizarre. There was zero technical complexity; it was all purely due to my peerless talent.
Furthermore, the fact that I possess all four elements complete hasn't been exposed. Under these circumstances, the World Honored One won't expend the effort to save an early-stage Golden Core Bodhisattva. As long as I don't go too far and wipe out all three Pure Land Bodhisattvas, it's really not a major issue... At most, he'll just pay a bit more attention to me.
With this thought, Lu Yang shifted his gaze.
Rumble!
Wherever his gaze landed, Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer and Bodhisattva Precious Vase Water Moon fled toward the Immortal Nexus without hesitation, not even daring to meet his eyes.
Meanwhile, within the Immortal Nexus.
Sky-shrouding had completed his seizure of the [White Wax Gold] and [Silted Sand Earth] and had returned to the Netherworld. Yet, a look of profound solemnity shone in his eyes.
It wasn't just him. Across the entire Immortal Nexus, every Perfected Lord had actually divided a portion of their divine sense to constantly monitor the great battle unfolding in the Mystic Spirit World Realm. Therefore, when Bodhisattva Precious Vajra Victory was crushed to death in Lu Yang's grip, almost every Perfected Lord couldn't help but feel a bone-chilling cold run through them.
"What a powerful person... How does he cultivate?"
Above the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue, half-bathed in blood, looked up at Lu Yang's Dharma Body. A strange light surfaced in her beautiful eyes, and she subconsciously licked her lips.
Crushing an early-stage Golden Core Perfected Lord to death!
Although she was also at the mid-stage of Golden Core, even she couldn't do such a thing. While she could kill early-stage Golden Cores, it still required exchanging a few blows first.
This kind of overwhelming, crushing method was practically the domain of a Great Perfected Lord!
However, Lu Yang's stature was plainly visible. It was undeniably high, but it definitely hadn't reached the late stage of Golden Core. At best, he was on the same level as her.
In other words...
Could this person be stronger than me?
At this thought, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue's aura instantly began to fluctuate. A thrill of excitement at finding a worthy prey made her expression grow increasingly twisted and fanatical.
Simultaneously, the storm gradually spread across the Immortal Nexus.
It wasn't even limited to Perfected Lords; even Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones vaguely sensed something was wrong. After all, following the fall of a Perfected Lord, heaven and earth immediately began playing a dirge.
However, Lu Yang currently paid no attention to any of this.
He simply stood above the Mystic Spirit World Realm, his brows furrowed, lost in deep thought for a long time before letting out a sigh.
I aimed a bit too high.
I can't save the Mystic Spirit World Realm. At most, I can only barely maintain its current state of being adjacent to the Immortal Nexus.
The [Inevitable Fate] has already been set; it cannot be reversed. Even if I could use weak force to deflect a strong force, with my meager cultivation, I probably wouldn't even be able to shake it in the slightest
This was the very first time Lu Yang had encountered a problem he couldn't solve even while the [Supreme Dao Transformation] was active. However, he quickly tossed the matter to the back of his mind. Instead, he brought out the [Divine Firmament Thunder], thinking inwardly:
My current state is far too rare. This heaven-shaking wisdom only comes once in a lifetime.
Just letting it fade away would be an absolute waste.
Perfect timing. I'll use this opportunity to comprehend the profound wonders of the [Divine Firmament Thunder]... Actually, I already had some ideas earlier, but I didn't have the time to refine them.
Besides, the Wood element isn't complete yet.
But it doesn't matter. I'll memorize the operational methods and design concepts. The Divine [Firmament Thunder]... Lightning is merely the most superficial aspect of this Dao Fruit.
The Patriarch said its profound wonder could be designed around the aspect of 'information'. I deeply agree with this. Information is essentially the concept within the [Sea of Bitterness]. All myriad phenomena and entities are constructed from 'information'. It's just that cultivators lack the sufficient perspective to truly see the truth of all things.
I didn't have a design concept before.
But now I understand. The profound wonder of the [Divine Firmament Thunder] should provide the user with a higher-dimensional authority to manipulate information.
Just like my current state.
Under the [Supreme Dao Transformation], I can see through the surface of anything and reach its essence. This is, in fact, a manifestation of possessing a sufficiently high perspective.
Although I can't keep the effect of the [Supreme Dao Transformation] active permanently, I can solidify this perspective and then imbue it with the ability to manipulate 'information'. By doing so, it can control myriad phenomena by manipulating information—whether that's dismantling them or modifying them!
Thunder is the pivot of Yin and Yang, the fundamental command over all things.
This is the true Divine Firmament Thunder! Not some basic thing that only knows how to summon lightning... Sigh, will I actually be able to pull off something this profound later?
Lu Yang was very worried.
What worried him even more was that the effect of the [Supreme Dao Transformation] had ended. He clearly felt the boundless wisdom scrambling to escape his brain.
A moment later, Lu Yang sighed.
"Damn it, I've gone dumb again... But my 'past' self underestimated me too much. Since I have the specific operational methods and concepts, can't I just copy them?"
I'll just ask the Patriarch later!
The next second, Lu Yang returned to the Mystic Spirit World Realm. The moment he arrived, the realm immediately conveyed an intense joy, and countless anomalies surfaced around him.
"Alright, alright, it's fine now."
Lu Yang comforted the Mystic Spirit World Realm, sighing inwardly that plans could never keep up with changes. Hadn't his original plan been to run away and let the Mystic Spirit World Realm take the fall?
Looking at it now, somehow, through all the fighting, he had become the savior of the Mystic Spirit World Realm? He definitely hadn't intended this from the start.
Not only that, but by frontally repelling the Pure Land this time, he had more than likely entered the Dao Lord's line of sight again. He would probably need to be far more careful and cautious when doing things in the future.
...Whatever, it doesn't feel too bad.
Lu Yang shifted his gaze and looked at the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm, who was stumbling over. The Supreme offered him a solemn bow. "Thank you for your intervention, Fellow Daoist."
"It was merely lifting a finger. I am not worthy of such a grand gesture from you, Fellow Daoist," Lu Yang said casually.
"You are too modest, Fellow Daoist."
The Supreme's expression was grave, his voice deep. "That lightning art you unleashed earlier nearly shattered a region spanning thousands of miles. Yet, you deliberately aimed it at an uninhabited, desolate wasteland. Because of that, despite the vast area of effect, the casualties were minimal. Your compassionate heart alone makes you worthy of my bow, Fellow Daoist."
"Uh... you flatter me, you flatter me."
Lu Yang blinked, feeling a bit embarrassed. While it was true he had done so deliberately, the core reason was to accommodate Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's feelings.
Not out of any inherent compassion.
"What's wrong with that?"
Inside the Righteous Dao Banner, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon smiled so broadly his eyes turned into crescent moons. "In all things, judge the deed, not the heart. The fact that you did it is actually more than enough."
"If everyone acted this way, heaven and earth would undoubtedly be vastly different."
At this point, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon looked at Patriarch Nether Whisper beside him and sent a telepathic message:
Fellow Daoist, your words were not wrong... Lu Yang truly is a good child.
Patriarch Nether Whisper nodded smugly.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang spent a good amount of effort to finally send off the immensely grateful and admiring Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm. Only then did he find a chance to slip into the Righteous Dao Banner.
And then, he was met with the beaming faces of Patriarch Nether Whisper and Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, both staring right at him.
"...What is it?"
Lu Yang looked helpless and awkwardly changed the subject. "Let's inventory our gains first... Patriarch, Master, I hit the jackpot this time!"
Following that, he took out a residual light.
The Golden Nature of Vajradhatu Ratnasambhava Tathagata!
The next second, [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] leapt up and ferociously devoured it. Soon, a massive block of settlement records rapidly populated the interface.
Lu Yang skimmed the interface, taking in ten lines at a glance, and then a smile broke across his face.
Because he saw exactly what he was looking for.
Qi rides upon Yang, yet abides beneath Metal. Metal and Frost are steadfast by nature; Wood, dwelling below, draws strength from them, flourishing in their presence and only withering when the year turns cold. Because of this unyielding character, it is known as [Pine & Cypress Wood].
The Dao comprehension knowledge of the [Pine & Cypress Wood]!
Everything from Qi Refining to Golden Core was complete. With this, attaining the [Pine & Cypress Wood] was virtually guaranteed. Devouring the Wood-element Dao Fruit was right within his grasp!
Not only that, the Dao comprehension knowledge for the [Ornamental Gold] and the [Weeping Willow Wood] was packaged along with it! There are even some hidden secrets... let alone the settlement talent. The World Honored One is actually a good person!