Chapter 443: Shaking the World!

Jiangnan, Sword Pavilion.

Within the ancestral grounds of the Ye Family, the scene remained a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Lü Yang stood calmly amidst that sea, quietly comprehending his present state.

A radiance, pure and white as jade, condensed into a ring behind his head. From it, web-like patterns spread outward, tightly linking him with Heaven and Earth, forming an aura that compelled all who perceived it to kneel and bow in worship. It was transcendent, otherworldly, as though it had seized all brilliance under Heaven.

‘So this is the False Holding of the Golden Rank.’

Lü Yang glanced around. The Heaven and Earth before him felt so fragile— as if a mere thought of his could easily rend it apart.

The next instant, Heaven and Earth descended in light.

An invisible qi current spread forth— one completely superior to the mortal world, a force whose rank existed on an entirely different plane from the common beings.

At this moment, even without Lü Yang’s deliberate action, Heaven and Earth began to respond of their own accord to his will. The very world that once ignored him, even bore malice toward him, now exuded an overwhelming sense of intimacy. Cascading rays of light enveloped his body, shining with peerless brilliance.

Dark clouds around him began to churn.

All at once, every Qi Refining cultivator below Foundation Establishment— and even mortals— instinctively turned toward the direction of the Sword Pavilion. Then, without conscious thought, they all prostrated in worship!

Flowers, birds, fish, insects.

Mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees.

In that moment, all living things under Heaven expressed their profound goodwill toward Lü Yang, surrounding him in reverence, making him appear even more sacred and transcendent.

This was the true meaning of “君” — Sovereign.

A True Lord!

Yet Lü Yang remained unmoved. Once, Heaven and Earth ignored him. Now that he had risen, they came groveling to curry favor.

‘Shameless!’

Lü Yang muttered inwardly, then shifted his gaze toward the Yun Family Ancestor possessed by 【昂霄】, showing a gentle smile.

On the other hand, 【昂霄】’s mood was far from pleasant. He had to admit that Lü Yang’s false holding of the Golden Rank had completely disrupted his plans, exceeding all his expectations. What was worse— since Lü Yang used 【Golden Nature of Great Fortune】, his false rank was tethered to 【Overturning Lamp Fire】!

‘If he uses the power of 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 to reverse 【Chen Earth】...’

At that thought, 【昂霄】’s expression darkened to the extreme. 【Chen Earth】 was his Dao Foundation— if it were reversed, what Dao Lord could he still call himself?

‘...Damn it!’

He had to admit— he was panicking a little.

Yet, as a long-established True Lord of the Holy Sect, he understood one truth well: No matter how anxious, never let it show! Otherwise, one’s weakness would be seized immediately.

Thus, despite his inner agitation, 【昂霄】 still forced a hearty laugh.

“Daoist friend—”

“No need for words.”

Before 【昂霄】 could even prepare his lines, Lü Yang spoke calmly: “My time is short. I’d like to ask you for a favor— best not refuse.”

With that one sentence, 【昂霄】’s expression changed.

Lü Yang’s words were blunt— I don’t have much time. Though it revealed a weakness, it also forced 【昂霄】 onto the edge of an unavoidable choice.

The meaning was clear:

‘I’m asking you to help. Will you? If not, I’ll lose my temper. Don’t test me— I don’t have time. Stall me, and I’ll still lose my temper!’

Looking at 【昂霄】, Lü Yang sneered inwardly.

Did he have a choice?

None!

Indeed, in the very next second, 【昂霄】 replied helplessly, “What do you want me to help you with?”

He had compromised!

Lü Yang’s expression remained calm as he summoned Suohuan: “I plan to have him begin Seeking Gold. The trick you left on him will cause a Fruit Position collapse— and 【Long Flowing Water】 will be drawn to you, correct? I want you to seize the power of 【Long Flowing Water】 and transfer all of it to me.”

“This may be a bit—”

Boom!

Before 【昂霄】 could finish his hesitation, Lü Yang suddenly rose to his feet, looking as though the negotiation had fallen apart. An invisible force rippled outward.

Almost simultaneously, 【昂霄】’s face changed.

He could sense it— one strand of 【Chen Earth】 was being reversed! From Yin Earth back into Yang Earth— and the reversal was still ongoing!

‘You beast!’

【昂霄】 cursed inwardly while hastily saying, “I agree! You draw in 【Long Flowing Water】, and I’ll help you intercept the Fruit Power!”

As his voice fell, 【昂霄】’s heart was filled with helplessness.

Control— gone!

For some reason, the other party knew his condition and intentions as if reading them from a book, striking directly with no room for maneuver.

‘So this is the power of Great Fortune…? How terrifying!’

How had I not realized in five thousand years? I thought him merely a Heaven-blessed lucky fool— yet he hid such depth!

I was careless!

Meanwhile, Lü Yang ignored 【昂霄】’s inner turmoil. As Suohuan began his Seeking Gold, Lü Yang stepped forward toward the distant horizon.

After all, his time was limited. The false Golden Rank driven by 【Golden Nature of Great Fortune】 could only last for the time of one incense stick. After that, he would be forced back to his original state. He couldn’t afford to act one step at a time— he had to handle many things at once, to reap the maximum benefit within a single incense’s duration!

“Rumble—!”

As Lü Yang strode forward, the mountains and rivers beneath his feet receded of their own accord. Distance became nothing more than a number he could alter at will.

With a single step— he entered Jiangdong.

By now, the four realms under Heaven had all sensed Lü Yang’s unrestrained aura. 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 hung high above, striking fear into all hearts.

“How could this be?”

“Where did this True Lord emerge from?”

“【Overturning Lamp Fire】...”

Jiangdong Dao Court, Tianwu City.

This place was the Dao capital, now governed by the Dao Court’s crown prince, together with the civil and military officials. Yet all of them now stared toward the horizon in horror.

“【Dao Law】— he treats it as nothing!”

“He’s just walking through it!?”

Witnessing this, even the Dao Prince was stunned.

The so-called 【Dao Law】 was unique to the Jiangdong Dao Court— it regulated Heaven and Earth’s spiritual qi, forming the foundation of its rule, exerting immense suppression within its domain.

Normally, even a Foundation Establishment True Person entering Jiangdong would be suppressed by 【Dao Law】— unable to absorb even a trace of qi, even forced down a realm. Regardless of one’s power, without the Dao Court’s recognition, one was but a stray cultivator, unable to take a single step in Jiangdong.

Yet now— there was an exception.

Lü Yang simply walked on foot. Wherever he passed, phenomena manifested, while the Dao Court’s 【Dao Law】 lay trampled under his feet, losing all divine efficacy.

A True Lord walking the world!

‘In five thousand years, this might be the first time a True Lord has truly walked beneath Heaven. Who could possibly stop this? Who could dare stand in his way!?’

In Jiangdong, Lü Yang lifted a hand.

The 【Eastern Heavenly Gate】— once part of the 【Xuanling Realm】 and now fallen to Jiangdong— was reclaimed. Likewise, he retrieved Jiangnan’s 【Southern Heavenly Gate】.

Then Jiangbei’s 【Northern Heavenly Gate】.

And Jiangxi’s 【Western Heavenly Gate】.

In but a few strides, he traversed the four realms of the world, reuniting the once-fragmented 【Xuanling Realm】, and cast it into Suohuan’s Blessed Land!

“Rumble—!”

At that moment, Suohuan’s expression turned fervent as he raised high the 【Lingxu Blessed Land】, preparing to merge it with the 【Xuanling Realm】 to Seek a Golden Rank of the Outer Dao!

Lü Yang turned slightly. “Daoist Friend 【昂霄】?”

“Tch!”

Within the 【Netherworld】, 【昂霄】 nearly exploded with rage— he wanted nothing more than to crush Lü Yang outright, but dared not falter. His hands formed seals in haste.

The next instant, Suohuan’s 【Lingxu Blessed Land】 trembled violently. Indeed, the hidden mechanism 【昂霄】 had planted took effect— the vision originally directed toward 【Xuanling Realm】 suddenly shifted, redirecting to 【Long Flowing Water】, igniting yet another star in the heavens!

‘【Long Flowing Water】 carries endless meaning— most fitting to nurture the sprout of a Fruit Position.’

Lü Yang looked up, eyes shining.

Once, the Innate True Person Mu Changsheng had used 【Long Flowing Water】 to scheme, seizing Fruit Power to cultivate 【Boundless Heaven】. Now, he would employ the same method once more!

He would nurture 【Seven Luminaries Heaven】! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

This was the first—and most crucial—thing he did after falsely holding the Golden Rank:

to nurture a Fruit Position that belonged solely to himself— unique under Heaven!