Chapter 478: Chapter 478: Fortune: Where’s My 7 Yao Heaven!?

「The Outer Heaven Sea of Light.」

Although this wasn’t Lü Yang’s first visit, seeing the sights beyond the heavens under the protection of a Perfected Lord was a completely different experience.

’When I came here in my past life, I was in danger of perishing...’

After all, the space beyond the heavens was filled with surging Duality of Life and Death Profound Light. The collision of Yin and Yang Qi annihilated all things, and even Foundation-Stage Cultivators couldn’t last long within it.

However, everything was different now that he was following the Perfected Lord. Emperor Jia You walked at the forefront. As he strolled, countless rays of Splendid Light rose from beneath his feet, converging into a Golden Bridge. It was flanked by dragon banners and imperial carriages, their flags fluttering, with brocade-clad soldiers in formation extending all the way into the void.

’What a grand display!’

Lü Yang was inwardly shaken. As far as he could see, the path was paved with golden light. The Duality of Life and Death Profound Light, lethal enough to annihilate a Foundation-Stage Cultivator, spontaneously parted to either side.

Emperor Jia You and Lü Yang stood upon this great golden road. It connected their current location to the coordinates Lü Yang had provided, locking onto the destination. Then, with a single step, an indescribable distance was crossed. An Outer Realm instantly appeared before Lü Yang’s eyes.

’We’re here... so fast!’

It had taken him considerable effort to reach the Seven Luminaries Heaven before, yet Emperor Jia You made it look like a leisurely stroll, showing no sign of strain whatsoever.

Lü Yang lowered his head and thought:

’This great golden road... it’s a manifestation of the Fruit of Roadside Earth!’

Qi takes form, and substance is revealed by the road. That which has form has substance, and that which has substance can be revealed—this is called the Fruit of Roadside Earth. Its concept embodies the wonder of the earth connecting all paths, of vast, flat fields stretching for thousands of miles.

This result confirmed a suspicion Lü Yang once had:

’It seems that even after leaving that Broken Place and moving far away from the Fruit, a Perfected Lord’s strength doesn’t decrease in the slightest... But why?’

Logically, the Fruit exists within Heaven and Earth, allowing a Perfected Lord to wield the Power of a Fruit Position. But far from Heaven and Earth, the Fruit should be out of reach, and the Perfected Lord ought to grow weaker... Yet, from the power Emperor Jia You now displayed, being Beyond the Heavens clearly had no effect on him.

At that moment, Emperor Jia You suddenly spoke. "Du Aiqing."

"I am here, Your Majesty," Lü Yang hurried to reply.

"I’m curious about something." Emperor Jia You’s tone was casual, as if they were just chatting. "How did you manage to extract the *Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis*?"

Upon hearing this, the image of Zhao Xuhe instantly flashed through Lü Yang’s mind.

Speaking of which, Zhao Xuhe was truly unlucky. If things had proceeded normally, he shouldn’t have switched to practicing the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis yet.

However, Lü Yang changed all of that.

Originally, at the first anchor point, Lü Yang had already practiced the *Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis*, snatching away Zhao Xuhe’s fated opportunity and nearly driving him insane with rage.

But in this do-over, Lü Yang was aiming for the Fruit of Celestial Fire and had no interest in that blasted Fruit of Rampart Earth. He therefore decisively abandoned his *Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis*. The moment he did, through the ripples of karmic links, Zhao Xuhe discovered his opportunity had been lost and then found again.

Such are the great ups and downs of life.

Under the circumstances, Zhao Xuhe naturally didn’t dare to wait. To prevent any further trouble, he went straight to Panlong Island and switched to the *Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis* ahead of schedule.

As it turned out, this very act became the root of his downfall in this life.

’Karmic links are so mysterious and profound... truly worthy of awe...’

Lü Yang sighed inwardly, but his face was resolute as he said, "To be perfectly honest, Your Majesty, I used a method passed down from Heaven Mending Peak of the Jiangbei Demon Sect."

Since he dared to produce the *Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis* so openly, he had naturally prepared an explanation.

"After the Dragon Monarch unexpectedly came upon this technique, he felt it was disruptive to the natural order. That, coupled with the presence of the Demon Sect, made him afraid to let it spread."

Then, Lü Yang went on to explain in detail the Heaven-Mending Skill and the Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light, and how to use these two Daoist Skills to search for information.

Emperor Jia You was astonished.

"Monsters... Just what you’d expect from the Demon Sect!"

The words were barely out of his mouth when they arrived at the location of the Seven Luminaries Heaven. Emperor Jia You just gave it a placid glance before reaching out and grabbing at the empty space.

RUMBLE!

In an instant, Emperor Jia You simply collected the entire Seven Luminaries Heaven. He even shattered the Seven Luminaries Array for World Stabilization and Truth Preservation, which Fortune had left outside, with sheer, overwhelming force. This gave Lü Yang an even deeper understanding of the Daoist Court Emperor’s power.

’Middle Stage of Golden Core...’

Within the Dao Court, a struggle existed between the civil officials and the Imperial Family. When the officials held power, the Emperor governed through inaction. But when the Emperor was strong, the officials were reduced to shepherding the populace for him, working like "Sect Slaves."

And in this generation of the Dao Court, the Emperor was supreme.

Moreover, the Celestial Wu Royal Family cultivated their own inner nature. Emperor Jia You’s Cultivation was likely the real deal, with no shortcuts taken. He was probably the Daoist Court True Monarch with the best chance of breaking through to the Late Stage!

With a Great Power like him making a move, a mere Seven Luminaries Heaven—still just a Fruit Position Prototype—naturally stood no chance.

"Let’s go. Time to head back."

Emperor Jia You put away the Seven Luminaries Heaven, then looked at Lü Yang with a faint smile. "Du Aiqing, would you be interested in becoming the first person to be deified through Incense?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Lü Yang’s eyebrows rose slightly at his words. "...Please elaborate, Your Majesty."

"I intend to establish a new department to spread the Incense and Candle Divine Dao throughout Celestial Wu City. I will have these Incense Fire Gods guard the Capital City. As for the name... we’ll call it the Imperial City Department."

"This is a heavy responsibility."

"Du Aiqing, since you were the one who presented the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, I intend to give the first Divine Position to you. You will watch over the Capital City for me and serve as the Director of the Imperial City Department. However, this is a private appointment from me. It hasn’t gone through the Cabinet, so no true Official Position will be bestowed."

"Of course, to you, it makes no difference."

"After all, the Incense and Candle Divine Dao can also advance your Cultivation. Once you’re in charge of the Imperial City Department, you’ll have all the Incense you could want at your disposal. It should be enough to help you achieve Foundation Establishment Perfection."

"How about it?"

Emperor Jia You spoke earnestly, feigning the look of a caring superior. Lü Yang, seeing this, put on a face full of emotion, his voice catching as he said, "I thank Your Majesty for this immense grace!"

He lowered his head after speaking, then cursed up a storm in his mind:

’Screw you, you fatuous emperor!’

Emperor Jia You’s words might fool someone else, but he was a man who had once controlled the Seven Luminaries Heaven! How could he not understand the difference between the Incense and Candle Divine Dao and an official position in the Dao Court?

The two weren’t even comparable!

’Foundation Establishment Perfection backed by a Dao Court Official Position allows one to refine the Gold Attribute! But Foundation Establishment Perfection from the Incense and Candle Divine Dao... it’s just an empty title, a Position with no substance.’

In an instant, Lü Yang understood Emperor Jia You’s intentions.

’He’s trying to scam me!’

’He wants me to do his dirty work, but he doesn’t want me to get promoted too fast. So he’s fobbing me off with this shoddy substitute to trick me into working for him...’

Lü Yang was absolutely furious at the thought.

How was one supposed to improve the Dao Court with vermin like this?

But soon, he had another thought: ’That being said, if this Imperial City Department is really established, it will have considerable authority, at least on the surface...’

Of course, Emperor Jia You only dared to offer such a position because the Imperial City Department relied on the Incense and Candle Divine Dao. Since he held the source of that path—the Seven Luminaries Heaven—in his hands, he effectively had all the Incense Fire Gods by the throat. He had no fear of things getting out of hand.

However, Emperor Jia You could never have imagined:

’The Seven Luminaries Heaven? Big deal... I have one too! And mine is even more complete. It was irrigated by the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, making it a genuine, bona fide Outer Dao Fruit Position!’

In other words, if he put his mind to it.

The Imperial City Department could be transformed into his personal stronghold. If necessary, it could even become the foundation of his power—the team he would use to set things right in the Dao Court and eventually rule the world!

......

「In the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, not long after Emperor Jia You and Lü Yang’s departure.」

At the former location of the Seven Luminaries Heaven, a streak of golden light tore through the void. It materialized into a figure—it was none other than Fortune, looking utterly dejected and despondent.

And then he froze.

He stared, his eyes wide. Then he rubbed them. He looked all around, and rubbed his eyes again... Finally, a look of pristine, clear bewilderment settled on his face.

"...Where’s the Seven Luminaries Heaven?"

’My final, most deeply hidden trump card from back when I was still a Perfected Lord... where did my huge Seven Luminaries Heaven go!?’