Chapter 473: Chapter 473: Minor Metal’s Decisiveness

Why was Fortune so shocked by the Fruit of Celestial Fire?

The reason was simple. Much like the Fruit of Rampart Earth, almost no corresponding Cultivation Techniques for the Fruit of Celestial Fire had been passed down, so it had always remained hidden from the world.

However, the logic behind this was completely different.

The Fruit of Rampart Earth was hidden because the Zouyu Royal Family, which once controlled it, had physically destroyed all the Cultivation Techniques that could be used to practice it.

This was a man-made disaster.

The Fruit of Celestial Fire, however, had faded away naturally.

This was because the conditions for Seeking Gold with the Fruit of Celestial Fire were simply too demanding. Ruling the World—such an absurd requirement was no different from having the path cut off entirely.

Thus, as time went on, fewer and fewer Foundation-Stage Cultivators practiced the Fruit of Celestial Fire. The Cultivation Techniques were gradually lost, until they vanished from the world completely. After all, what Foundation-Stage Cultivator didn’t harbor some hope of Seeking Gold? If one couldn’t Seek Gold, then no matter how powerful they were, it was all just an illusion, like the moon’s reflection in water or a flower in a mirror.

But one thing was undeniable: the Fruit of Celestial Fire was incredibly strong!

Beneath a boundless sky where sun and moon hung together, Lü Yang formed a finger technique with one hand. A brilliant point of light appeared at his fingertip, like the very axis of Heaven and Earth, around which all things revolved.

’Ming Monarch’s Rule!’

Lü Yang’s Innate Ability was rooted in this Profound Mysterious technique. The Light of Governance it produced could Deprive All Phenomena, and with the blessing of the Emperor’s Fate, it became even more miraculous.

After just four strikes, Fortune had been deprived of two Innate Divine Techniques, all his Spiritual Treasures, and his vast Mana. He was left utterly drained. In this zero-sum exchange, Lü Yang, on the other hand, reached his absolute peak. With a single thought, he cast an Ability upon Fortune.

’Thunder Gradually Subsides!’

With the Ability active, Lü Yang opened his mouth and, just as Fortune had done earlier, unleashed a Thunder Sound from his throat. A roiling storm of Yang Fire surged forward.

Seeing this, Fortune nearly ground his teeth to dust.

That’s my Ability!

’He stole it from me!’

Despite his rage, he didn’t dare hesitate for a second. With a single Heart Thought, his Dharma Body exploded, instantly transforming into a dazzling, crimson streak of bloody light that shot into the sky.

He had self-detonated.

A shimmering golden Soul instantly fled into the Netherworld. It moved so fast that no one short of a Perfected Lord at the Middle Stage of Golden Core could have intercepted it.

Lü Yang wasn’t surprised by this. He simply stood his ground, activated Rise and Fall to protect himself, and completely neutralized the aftershocks of the explosion.

Strictly speaking, if Lü Yang hadn’t used the Tribulation Wave to raise his Position to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment and had simply fought Fortune at the same Cultivation level, he still would have won, but it wouldn’t have been so easy. His victory was so smooth this time mainly because he had caught Fortune completely off guard.

’He didn’t know that I cultivate the Fruit of Celestial Fire.’

That was why he used a Jia Wood Ability against me, only to be countered by my Wu Fire’s Guiyuan Palace. Once he was at a disadvantage, it was impossible for him to turn the tables.

Unfortunately, while Lü Yang could win the fight, he couldn’t stop Fortune from killing himself.

And without Ang Xiao’s help, even if he sent a Puppet to follow Fortune into the Netherworld, it would be difficult to find him and pinpoint his location for reincarnation.

’Still, I can consider this a success. Fortune won’t dare return to this hideout again. I’ve effectively cut off one of his escape routes.’

Lü Yang calmed his Heart Spirit and looked at his hand.

Within the golden light of Ming Monarch’s Rule, the Abilities, Mana, and Spiritual Treasures he had previously Deprived from Fortune had fallen into a quiescent state.

As long as he didn’t release the Profound Mysterious technique, these things could not escape.

’But the number of things Ming Monarch’s Rule can Deprive is limited. Once it’s full, I can’t use it anymore. Holding onto these things for no reason will just waste my capacity.’

’Unless I can truly attain the Fruit of Celestial Fire. Perhaps then there will be no limit.’

At this thought, Lü Yang immediately released his hold on Fortune’s Mana and Spiritual Treasures. He also let go of Thunder Gradually Subsides, keeping only the Root of All Things.

"The Spiritual Treasures don’t matter. Even if I release the Profound Mysterious technique, Fortune has already reincarnated, so these Spiritual Treasures are ownerless and will end up mine anyway. The Mana is even more meaningless. As for Thunder Gradually Subsides, that Jia Wood Ability is decent, but it’s countered by me, so it’s not a concern either."

The only thing of value was the Root of All Things.

This was an Earth of Chen Ability... and unlike the other Earth of Chen Abilities in the world today, this one—being Fortune’s—had not been reversed!

It was still Yang Earth!

’I’ll hold onto it for now. It might be very useful later... All that’s left is that Grotto Heaven Fragment in the South.’

Lü Yang retracted his Ability and turned to look in the direction of the Stain Sect.

He believed that Master Chong Guang wouldn’t disappoint him. He would never forget how ruthless Chong Guang had been when he blood-sacrificed the entire Qing Country over a single disagreement.

Lü Yang had even guessed what Chong Guang would do.

After all, he had used the Centome to analyze Chong Guang. There was no one in the world who understood Chong Guang better than him. It was easy to figure out by simply putting himself in Chong Guang’s shoes. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

’The opportunity... must be the Mass Grave!’

.......

Less than a month later, news arrived.

The Sword Pavilion’s Demon-Vanquishing Perfected personally went to the Mass Grave and drove out all the Jiangbei Cultivators, causing the price of scapegoat puppets within the Stain Sect to fluctuate wildly.

Soon, the Stain Sect responded.

Interim Sect Leader Chong Guang took action personally. World Purger Fei Xue came out of seclusion with great fanfare, creating the impression that a Great War of Righteous and Evil between the North and South was about to begin.

However, just as everyone thought the Stain Sect’s target was to retake the Mass Grave, Chong Guang, upon entering the South, made a sudden turn and went straight to Gantang Dao. The next second, World Purger Fei Xue, who had been gathering power for a long time, struck without warning. A clear, flowing light suddenly shone down from the vault of heaven.

No one had expected this sudden turn of events.

The Mass Grave? The Jiangbei Cultivators? The Holy Sect Disciples? Chong Guang ignored them all, treating them as disposable pawns merely to conceal his true objective!

Originally, All True Monarchs of the Sword Pavilion had already made preparations. Their scheme at the Mass Grave was all for the sake of monopolizing the Outer Dao Fruit Position within the Profound Spirit Realm.

If World Purger Fei Xue were to make a move, they would advance together to stop him.

Therefore, their attention was entirely focused on the Mass Grave. As a result, when World Purger Fei Xue changed direction, their response was a step too slow.

Furthermore, another Perfected Lord from the Stain Sect, True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo, also acted to obstruct them, successfully creating a brief opening for World Purger Fei Xue.

BOOM!

The next second, the clear, flowing light shone upon Gantang Dao. The great Ganhai Li Clan didn’t even have time to react before they were instantly vaporized within the light.

"World Purifying Light?!"

A Perfected Lord within the Sword Pavilion revealed a look of astonishment, because the clear, flowing light that now illuminated the area was, in essence, the fundamental concept of the Fruit of Gully-Rill Water!

The Fruit of Gully-Rill Water favors clarity. Thus, as its name implied, this flowing light could purify all the filth in the world, transforming the turbid back to the clear. As for what was considered clear and what was turbid, that was entirely up to the personal judgment of the Master of the Fruit Position. And in the eyes of World Purger Fei Xue, his enemies were naturally turbid, and his allies were clear.

As the light shone down, All Phenomena instantly fell silent.

Across Gantang Dao, the first to be vaporized were the people and possessions of the Ganhai Li Clan. In an instant, all the buildings and Arrays on the ground vanished without a trace.

It was as if a clan had never existed here.

Next were the vast waters within Gantang Dao. A perfectly good harbor was turned into a deep crater in the blink of an eye, revealing the true face of the seabed.

Illuminated by the Splendid Light, the fragment of the Long Brilliance Treasure Light Grotto Heaven could no longer hide and was forced into view. However, back when Fortune was still a Perfected Lord, he was no match for the current World Purger Fei Xue, let alone a mere Grotto Heaven Fragment. In a flash, the fragment began to dissolve inch by inch!

Such a drastic change naturally startled Ang Xiao.

After all, this Grotto Heaven Fragment was a trap he had prepared for Fortune. But now, it had been crushed to dust by World Purger Fei Xue’s indiscriminate attack.

Ang Xiao: "...Huh?"

What just happened?