Chapter 485: Heroes Under Heaven, Truly as Numerous as Carps Crossing the River! |
Although with Hongyun entering the banner, Lu Yang had expected that Uncle-Master Chong Guang would begin Seeking Golden Fruition before long, he still hadn’t anticipated it would be so soon.
Moreover—
‘Something’s not right!’
Lu Yang’s expression remained unchanged, but unease stirred in his heart: ‘Uncle-Master Chong Guang wasn’t supposed to reincarnate in secret first and develop for several decades before starting the Golden Fruition path.’
Had history been changed?
Impossible?
Lu Yang already had experience in altering fixed history. He knew clearly that sometimes, even his unintentional actions could change the course of history.
For example, at the very start of this lifetime, he abolished the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』 from his body, which directly led to Zhao Xuhe cultivating the 『Ninefold Transforming Dragon Art』 even before the Substitute Death Yin Puppet incident. In a twist of fate, it even ended up in the hands of the Dao Court.
So the question now was:
Despite the many doubts in his heart,
Lu Yang calmed his thoughts, looked up at the Emperor Jiayou, and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty… this karmic fluctuation seems to be coming from Jiangbei?”
“Indeed.”
Emperor Jiayou nodded, his emerald eyes piercing through ten million li of mountains and rivers, brows tightly furrowed: “It’s that reincarnated Immortal Spirit, the acting Sect Master of the Demonic Sect, who is Seeking Golden Fruition.”
“Seeking Golden Fruition…?”
Lu Yang feigned shock and continued, “There are still people in this world who can attempt Seeking Golden Fruition? I wonder what kind of ritual he’s performing. Can he truly attain the Supreme Golden Rank?”
He even revealed a hint of envy on his face.
Emperor Jiayou glanced at Lu Yang upon hearing this, not surprised—after all, Seeking Golden Fruition was the ultimate dream of every Foundation Establishment True Person. Envy was natural.
But soon, his expression turned solemn:
“Something’s off. That reincarnated Immortal Spirit went to 【Qing Nation】. What is he planning? Could it be that for his Seeking Golden Fruition ritual, he intends to make one of our Dao Court’s Wonders his target?”
At that thought, Emperor Jiayou immediately stood up.
Yet at that very moment, a majestic aura exploded out from Jiangbei—like mountains circling delicate waves, snow surging and flying upward—it isolated nearly all of Jiangbei!
【True Lord Qingcheng Feixue】!
In just a month, this famously madwoman had taken action again, publicly declaring to the world—clearly forbidding any True Lord from interfering in Chong Guang’s Seeking Golden Fruition!
‘You win this round!’
Emperor Jiayou sat back down.
It wasn’t cowardice—it was wisdom. A prince of great value shouldn’t risk himself in the halls. It wasn’t worth clashing head-on with Qingcheng Feixue True Lord over such a trivial matter.
‘To put it bluntly, those court officials below—the Three Dukes—are probably all hoping I’ll go and fight that madwoman. Just like how I once hoped the Grand Tutor would go… No, I can’t give them that chance. One Wonder—if it’s lost, so be it. But I also can’t appear too weak.’
With that in mind, Emperor Jiayou’s gaze suddenly shifted.
He looked at Lu Yang:
“…Beloved subject, your recent investigation into corruption in the All-Heaven Department was commendable. Coincidentally, I have an even more important mission to entrust to you.”
Lu Yang immediately bowed. “Your servant awaits Your Majesty’s orders.”
“Go to Jiangbei.”
Emperor Jiayou declared directly, “Take the Imperial City Department’s men and head to 【Qing Nation】 to develop the Xianghuo Shendao, and block that Demonic Sect’s acting Sect Master from entering 【Qing Nation】.”
Huh? Me?
Lu Yang lowered his head. “The Demonic Sect of Jiangbei possesses peers with both immense cultivation and strength. Though your servant is willing, I fear my abilities are too meager to succeed.”
At those words, Emperor Jiayou’s brow slightly arched.
‘He wants benefits?’
‘No shit!’
Lu Yang kept his head down in silence, but inwardly he cursed: this Emperor Jiayou was truly stingy. He and the Imperial City Department had helped him investigate corruption—
And what was the reward? A so-called “Valiant Cavalry General,” which was nothing but an empty title. No real position. No cultivation techniques. No Dao attainment. Just a name. As they say, the crying baby gets the milk. This was a rare opportunity, and Lu Yang had no choice but to be blunt.
‘Well, fine then.’
Fortunately, Emperor Jiayou also felt slightly guilty. Plus, Lu Yang’s flattery had pleased him earlier. So he readily relented:
“Grant the Dragon Metropolis Title of 【Commander of the Five Regiments of the Patrol Infantry of the Nine Gates】.”
“Boom!”
In an instant, Lu Yang felt an unprecedented majestic force descend from the 【Immortal Nation Dao Law】, like a blazing fire igniting on his body.
Commander of the Nine Gates—first-rank official!
In charge of guarding and regulating the nine gates around the imperial palace where Tianwu Hall was located. In a way, it was similar in function to today’s 【Imperial City Department】.
More importantly, this was a first-rank post sourced from the 【Roadside Earth】, containing within it the four corresponding Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend stars: 【Geng Metal】, 【Wu Fire】, 【Xin Metal】, and 【Wei Earth】. Among them, 【Wu Fire】 and 【Wei Earth】 directly corresponded to 【Heavenly Fire Above】!
In that moment, Lu Yang was overjoyed.
But he quickly calmed down again: ‘No, 【Wei Earth】 must come after 【Ji Earth】. This Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend is currently useless to me.’
【Heavenly Fire Above】 is based on 【Wu Earth】, 【Wu Fire】, 【Ji Earth】, and 【Wei Earth】.
Lu Yang had already refined 【Wu Earth】 and 【Wu Fire】. His next step should be refining 【Ji Earth】—he couldn’t skip ahead and cultivate 【Wei Earth】 first.
‘Emperor Jiayou likely did this on purpose. Anyone with eyes can see I’m aiming for 【Heavenly Fire Above】 and urgently need corresponding Dao attainment. He’s trying to control me, giving it piece by piece—creating the illusion that I’m just one step away, just need a little more effort…’
In other words… he’s PUA-ing me!
Lu Yang cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he wore an ecstatic expression, immediately accepting the decree with gratitude, and then strode out of Tianwu Hall.
After returning to the Imperial City Department’s office, Lu Yang immediately sat down to meditate.
His consciousness crossed over mountains and rivers, quickly landing in the Immortal Fetus Clone he had left in Jiangbei. He opened his eyes and looked toward the direction of the Holy Sect.
‘Uncle-Master Chong Guang… why?’
What had happened to make Chong Guang abandon his original plan of secretly reincarnating in 【Qing Nation】, and instead launch a direct frontal assault?
Lu Yang was utterly puzzled.
Carrying this confusion, he walked out from the hidden spot where his clone was stationed, intending to investigate—but the next moment… he froze in place.
The location of his clone was a remote mountain forest.
And just outside this hiding place stood a cliff, which should have been desolate and devoid of birds or beasts. Yet now, a figure stood there with hands behind his back.
“Daoist Friend, this clone of yours took me quite a while to find.”
The man turned around, revealing a face not particularly handsome, but one that radiated a sharp, sky-piercing aura between the brows. His gaze fixed directly on Lu Yang.
——Chong Guang!
Since the beginning of this reincarnated life, it was the first time Lu Yang had felt nervous. Only this situation had completely exceeded his expectations.
‘How did he do it?’
Lu Yang had done everything even more flawlessly this lifetime than the last. Last time, Uncle-Master Chong Guang hadn’t found him—so how did he manage it now?
It didn’t make sense!
Just as Lu Yang’s thoughts whirled, Chong Guang spoke:
“Daoist Friend, no need to overthink it.”
“I found this clone of yours because of Hongju. When your clone clashed with Hongyun, he left a mark on you. Hongju passed the sensing technique to me—that’s how I was able to locate you.”
“Besides, I’ve also learned many things.”
“Chen-Earth… quite interesting.”
Chong Guang spoke casually, yet exuded the calm of a mountain collapsing before one’s eyes: “Daoist Friend must know more. Would you care to share?”
“…Interesting.” Lu Yang smiled.
Hongju—a protector enlightened by the Golden Nature of Great Fortune, mentally linked to Hongyun. He had forgotten this hidden trick!
Heroes under Heaven—truly as numerous as carps crossing the river.
Hongyun… he had underestimated him!