Chapter 399: Chapter 399: A Sword to Open the Heavens, Foundation Establishment Perfection

The South. Celestial Sword Pavilion.

On Zenith Cliff, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected sat cross-legged, quietly gazing at the sky. A splendid light shot from the crown of his head into the clouds, a symbol of his currently flourishing fortune.

However, there was not the slightest trace of joy on Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s face.

’They’re urging me on...’

Ever since all the True Monarchs went into seclusion, his fortune had begun to grow, more rapidly with each passing day. Now, it had almost solidified to the point of being visible to the naked eye.

At this thought, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected could not help but sigh.

’I thought that capturing that lay line from the Skull Mountains ten years ago might have slightly diminished my fortune, but it turns out Heaven and Earth didn’t care at all...’

Why had he personally intervened when Lü Yang had sought the lay line?

Caring for Lü Yang and not wanting him to leave rashly was only one reason. More importantly, the act itself held certain benefits for him as well.

The result was just as he had expected.

Lü Yang’s fortune had completely dissipated, a clear sign he had suffered celestial punishment. According to the principle of collective responsibility from Heaven and Earth, he, as the one who had intervened, should also have been punished.

What left Demon-Vanquishing Perfected feeling helpless, however, was that Heaven and Earth acted as if they hadn’t seen him. They relentlessly punished Lü Yang while pointedly ignoring him. It was obvious that not even Heaven and Earth wanted to bring him bad luck at this critical juncture, ruining his great prospect of attaining the Fruit of Sword Dao.

"...Celestial Will."

Thinking of this, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected sighed again. He was about to resume his seated meditation to suppress the growth of his fortune with his Sword Intent, but just then—

CLANG! CLANG!

A clear sword cry suddenly rang out from within Zenith Cliff. In an instant, wind and clouds churned between Heaven and Earth as countless other sword cries followed, chiming in resonance.

Such a strange phenomenon instantly drew the attention of countless people.

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s eyes shot open. He located the source of the first sword cry in an instant, and a look of delight immediately appeared on his face.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent...!"

Incredible!

’It’s only been ten years... Could it be that lay lines truly have the effect of tempering Sword Intent? I thought he’d just casually made up an excuse to trick me... I never thought it was actually true!’

For a moment, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was overjoyed.

The thought even made him consider chopping up a few lay lines himself someday, just to see if his own Sword Intent would also grow...

Meanwhile, inside a Cave Mansion on Zenith Cliff.

Lü Yang’s Sword Dao Avatar sat on a meditation cushion, his Sword Foundation, the Minghe Changshi Sword of Righteousness, now resting flat across his lap.

There was no Sword Qi, no manifestation of Abilities. All of his Spiritual Essence was currently focused on the longsword before him. His vast mana was entirely concentrated into a single point of light on the blade’s edge. It seemed ordinary, but it was the ultimate sublimation of this avatar, his Abilities, and his mana.

Sword Intent!

The Third Realm of Sword Dao—an Ability that was, in theory, on par with a Perfected Lord, yet ultimately remained at the Foundation Establishment Level because the Fruit of Sword Dao had not yet manifested!

.......

「Seven Luminaries Heaven.」

The phenomenon that had alarmed most of the Sword Pavilion was merely a ripple from the true Sword Intent; its foundation ultimately rested with Lü Yang’s main body.

’So this is Sword Intent...’

In the blink of an eye, Li Hen Heaven collapsed. Facing the Celestial Punishment Thundercloud of Seven Luminaries Heaven, it reformed into Lü Yang’s likeness, standing silently in the air.

"Are you okay now?"

Seeing this, Progenitor Tingyou’s face lit up with delight.

Lü Yang nodded, then without hesitation, took out the Myriad-Soul Banner. "I’ll have to trouble you, Progenitor... please get the Fruit out of it."

"Alright!"

Progenitor Tingyou did not doubt Lü Yang’s judgment. In fact, with his level of enlightenment, his thoughts raced and he instantly understood Lü Yang’s plan. He immediately formed a Daoist Hand Seal.

Lü Yang hadn’t had much contact with the Fruit Position Prototype inside the Myriad-Soul Banner, and what’s more, his enlightenment wasn’t high enough; he could only borrow a bit of its power at most. Only Progenitor Tingyou, who was both the Banner Spirit and had studied it for a long time, could truly summon it.

BOOM!

The next second, the banner unfurled. Progenitor Tingyou presented a Treasure Pearl that seemed to contain a condensed multitude of splendors, and it settled in the empty air.

Almost simultaneously, the thunder roared!

The tribulation’s lightning, which had originally been aimed at Lü Yang, instantly swerved. Revealing a strong sense of greed, the bulk of it descended toward the Treasure Pearl!

It was just as Lü Yang had expected.

Seven Luminaries Heaven was, after all, still a child with a hazy consciousness. The moment it sensed the benefits of the Myriad-Soul Banner’s Fruit Position Prototype, it immediately abandoned Lü Yang.

Of course, this was also because, in Seven Luminaries Heaven’s view, Lü Yang’s threat level had dropped significantly. He was no longer a real menace, so it shifted its attention. This was precisely what Lü Yang wanted, and he immediately cooperated by feigning a weakened Qi trace.

His face was like golden paper, and his body swayed as if he could collapse at any moment.

And yet, he was silently clutching the Tribulation Wave in his hand. His mana and Abilities surged into it like a tide, but he revealed not a hint of killing intent.

"Outlander, die!"

Just then, the Capital City God and Yan Taizu, who had been waiting for a long time, finally made their move. They were Lü Yang’s human tribulation, after all, and would naturally not pass up this chance.

BANG!

Lü Yang’s body was struck head-on by Yan Taizu. He immediately staggered back a step, his aura of mana growing even weaker, and countless cracks appeared all over his body.

Meanwhile, the Capital City God attacked as well.

Incense Divine Power transformed into countless iron chains that pierced straight through Lü Yang’s collarbones, causing the look of pain on his face to intensify as he staggered to his knees.

No matter how you looked at it, his life was now like a candle in the wind.

Seeing this, not only did Yan Taizu and the Capital City God breathe a sigh of relief, but even Seven Luminaries Heaven’s Fruit Position Prototype finally shifted the majority of its attention away from him.

RUMBLE!

The heavenly tribulation poured out in full force. A sea of lightning surged, no longer aimed at Lü Yang, but instead colliding with the Fruit Position Prototype from the Myriad-Soul Banner, which fought back fiercely.

The two Fruit Position Prototypes clashed!

In the process, the heavenly tribulation that Seven Luminaries Heaven had desperately gathered grew weaker and weaker. Correspondingly, the Myriad-Soul Banner’s Fruit Position Prototype also gradually dimmed.

Finally, Seven Luminaries Heaven could bear it no longer.

An invisible Power of Heaven and Earth spread out, and Lü Yang once again saw the Talisman outlined in Dragon and Phoenix Seal script, located in the deepest part of Seven Luminaries Heaven.

’The time has come!’

In that instant, Lü Yang looked up.

His life was still like a candle in the wind, but the sleeve of his right arm whipped about, revealing his tight grip on the Tribulation Wave. Its sharp edge was aimed directly at Seven Luminaries Heaven.

The Tribulation Wave was already a top-grade Magical Sword possessing five Divine Effects, only a step away from becoming a True Treasure. Now, in the hands of a Lü Yang who had condensed Sword Intent, it was truly like a legendary steed meeting its rightful master. The blade trembled, its light flickering between bright and dark, and in an instant, it reflected a vast expanse of Sword Light!

Xuanwei!

In an instant, the great void parted. The handle of a five-colored dipper was raised high, and the Three Cave Spirit Patterns appeared in unison.

It was clearly a magnificent, world-altering sight,

yet it revealed not a shred of killing intent.

Only when it pierced the Talisman that was the manifestation of Seven Luminaries Heaven’s Fruit Position Prototype did everything become clear.

!!!

An indescribable sound instantly echoed inside and outside of Seven Luminaries Heaven, rumbling far and wide.

At the same time, Lü Yang felt like a parched land receiving welcome rain. Countless streams of the Essence of Heaven and Earth were now surging madly into his body through the sword!

The next second, the radiance of a fourth Ability bloomed from his body.

’Heavenly Order!’

In an instant, the four Innate Divine Techniques linked together. Unified by his Sword Intent, they smelted into one, finally transforming into a ray of light that tore through the darkness!

"Open!"

At that moment, all of Seven Luminaries Heaven fell silent, and then, it suddenly split apart beneath Lü Yang’s sword!

And at the opening of the sword scar, the Myriad-Soul Banner unfurled, expanding wantonly and devouring the domain of Seven Luminaries Heaven.

Previously, Seven Luminaries Heaven could have easily resisted. But now, having first expended a vast amount of its mighty power and then being struck by Lü Yang’s sword, it was drained of energy and strength, forced to retreat.

It needed to regroup and recover before it could gather its strength again.

But how could Lü Yang give it that chance?

While it was recovering, Lü Yang was depriving it of its power with every passing second. Though it was trying to recover, the amount of power it could mobilize was constantly decreasing!

BOOM!

As Seven Luminaries Heaven fell into the Myriad-Soul Banner piece by piece, Lü Yang’s Qi trace grew stronger and stronger.

And behind his head, a fifth splendid radiance appeared.

This splendid radiance acted like an adhesive, linking the previously independent Abilities together.

Myriad Abilities and a thousand illusionary colors all transformed into a single halo of supreme nobility, white as jade, suspended behind Lü Yang’s head.

With the World!

The next second, Lü Yang’s Qi trace suddenly crossed an impassable threshold.

Exquisite Heart, Holding True Qi, Huiyuan Skill, Heavenly Order, With the World!

All Abilities were complete.

Foundation Establishment Perfection!