Chapter 395: The Beginning of Refining the Realm
The thought of refining the Seven Luminaries Heaven wasn’t a sudden whim for Lü Yang, nor was it an idea that had popped into his head out of nowhere after being influenced.
With this in mind, Lü Yang paused, then took out the Tribulation Wave and passed it over himself.
—No reaction.
’Yes, it really wasn’t.’
In short, he was quite certain of his success. The idea had taken root long ago; only now did he have the confidence to see it through.
’First and foremost is my strength... Ten years ago, I only had Long Yue, a single Protector at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. Refining an Outer Realm back then was just a pipe dream. Now, however, after seizing all the Incense from the White Lotus Sect, I have three Incense Fire Great Gods whose Positions are comparable to the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm!’
Progenitor Tingyou, the Banner Spirit Mother of Non-Birth, and Long Yue.
In comparison, the Seven Luminaries Heaven was merely a Fruit Position Prototype, incomparable to the Fruit of a true Outer Realm. This gave him the perfect opportunity to exploit its weakness.
More importantly—
’Outside the Seven Luminaries Heaven, there’s also the Third-Grade Grand Array that Fortune personally inscribed back when he was a Perfected Lord! That is the true key to this plan!’
The Seven Luminaries Array for World Stabilization and Truth Preservation!
’Although Fortune left behind some failsafes in the Array, I’ve already reviewed his memories. I’m aware of all his tricks, so there’s nothing to fear.’
Strictly speaking, when Fortune laid this Grand Array, he likely harbored the same ambition of refining the Seven Luminaries Heaven. However, he died suddenly before he could act on it, and the plan was stillborn. But while Fortune himself was rather disappointing, his Realm as a Perfected Lord was the real deal.
The Grand Array from all those years ago was still functioning perfectly.
Thousands of years had done nothing to degrade Fortune’s handiwork. After a brief inspection, Lü Yang knew the Grand Array was ready to be used.
’Now is the perfect time!’
’After all, in my current state, further improvement in the short term is impossible. Any more preparation would just be a waste of time.’
’I must be decisive!’
Having reached this conclusion, Lü Yang took a deep breath. With no further hesitation, he began to activate the Second-Grade Cultivation Skill created by Fortune, a skill designed specifically to target the Seven Luminaries Heaven.
’Opening Altar Cultivation Dao Ceremony!’
RUMBLE!
In that instant, Heaven and Earth trembled violently.
Meanwhile, outside Li Hen Heaven, the expressions of the two Incense Fire Great Gods who had been spying on Lü Yang—Yan Taizu and the Capital City God—changed drastically.
This booming sound didn’t echo through the physical world.
It resounded through the hearts of all people.
It wasn’t just them. Every Incense Fire God in the world, and even every mortal connected by the threads of Incense, felt it in their hearts. They all looked up at the sky.
"What’s happening?"
"What is he doing!?"
Yan Taizu looked on in horror. He felt as if Lü Yang’s Li Hen Heaven had transformed into a gaping, bloody maw, madly devouring and expelling Heaven and Earth themselves.
’Heaven-Mending Skill!’
Lü Yang’s expression was serene. Ever since the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had entered his banner, they had frequently discussed their insights into the Heaven-Mending Skill. For ten years, he had put it into practice day and night. Finally, his understanding of the Heaven-Mending Skill surpassed his master’s, reaching a theoretical peak.
What did it mean to mend the heavens?
As the name implied, it was to use one’s own strengths to compensate for the deficiencies of Heaven and Earth.
To surpass Heaven and Earth!
At this moment, Li Hen Heaven, which was now an extension of Lü Yang’s body, had completely embedded itself within Heaven and Earth. Simultaneously, a powerful emotion flooded his mind.
Excitement, joy, thrill.
Clearly, Lü Yang’s use of the Heaven-Mending Skill was pleasing the Seven Luminaries Heaven. He could distinctly feel the favor that Heaven and Earth bestowed upon him rise to a new level.
Yet, witnessing this, Lü Yang sighed internally. ’A pity. If I still possessed my Immortal Spirit Body and was at Foundation Establishment Perfection, I could have used this Super Heaven and Earth Magic Instrument to surely draw the attention of the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood. Unfortunately, I’m now forced to use a great talent for a minor task, wasting it on this Seven Luminaries Heaven.’
As Lü Yang communed with the Seven Luminaries Heaven, his thoughts turned to the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood.
The next moment, a jolt ran through him. His vision swam, and it felt as if he had broken through an Illusion Barrier to perceive some kind of behemoth.
It was a ’web’!
A web that blotted out the sky, encompassing all the information of the Seven Luminaries Heaven. Flora and fauna, the hustle and bustle of civilization, the Sun, Moon, Mountains, and Rivers—all living beings were contained within it...
’Such immense scale!’
Even though the Seven Luminaries Heaven had yet to form a true Fruit, its sheer scale was still colossal to a Cultivator. Lü Yang’s Spiritual Space couldn’t possibly contain it all!
But Lü Yang didn’t shrink back. Instead, he gritted his teeth.
’I can’t back down!’
’Refining an Outer Realm is a long and arduous path. I’ve only just taken the first step. If I falter now, how can I even dream of refining the Seven Luminaries Heaven?’
’Activate the Array!’
Lü Yang clenched his jaw, performed a finger technique, and pointed. The Seven Luminaries Array for World Stabilization and Truth Preservation, which shrouded the exterior of the Seven Luminaries Heaven, immediately rumbled to life in response.
As the Array began to operate, the overwhelming torrent of information that had threatened to burst Lü Yang’s Spiritual Space was immediately siphoned away. With this Third-Grade Grand Array to collate, parse, and organize it, Lü Yang was finally freed up. Li Hen Heaven pushed forward, advancing ever deeper into the Seven Luminaries Heaven.
RUMBLE!
The next second, a massive boom echoed in Lü Yang’s ears. He knew it was a warning from the Seven Luminaries Heaven; clearly, it was starting to feel pain.
At this thought, Lü Yang immediately took out a stream of Earth Vein Qi.
"Here now, eat this. It won’t hurt anymore."
He had only used a tiny fraction of the Vast Skull Mountains Ley Line to bribe the Seven Luminaries Heaven before. Now he had plenty of Earth Vein Qi to spare, perfect for pacifying it!
HUM...
The moment the Earth Vein Qi appeared, it was devoured completely by the Seven Luminaries Heaven. Lü Yang seized the opportunity, manipulating Li Hen Heaven to press a little deeper.
RUMBLE!
Instantly, the warning from Heaven and Earth came again. Lü Yang repeated his trick, tossing out another stream of Earth Vein Qi.
The message was simple: ’Don’t be afraid. I’ll feed you the Lay Line. Just bear with it and don’t move.’
Heaven and Earth calmed slightly.
Lü Yang advanced again... A warning from Heaven and Earth. More Earth Vein Qi. A brief calm... Throughout this process, the amount of Earth Vein Qi that Heaven and Earth demanded kept increasing.
Eventually, Lü Yang had fed the entire Lay Line away.
In return, however, he had finally reached the very depths of the Seven Luminaries Heaven. He had arrived at the center of the great web. What met his eyes was a beam of Splendid Light.
A Talisman drifted within the Splendid Light.
The markings on the Talisman resembled a dragon and a phoenix. The strokes were like a dragon and phoenix calling to each other in harmony, a sight of such boundless magnificence that one couldn’t help but lose their Heart Spirit in its imagery.
’The Dragon and Phoenix Seal, the very representation of Heaven and Earth.’
’So this is the Seven Luminaries Heaven’s Fruit Position Prototype...’
Gazing directly at the Talisman, Lü Yang finally understood what kind of Fruit was evolving within the Seven Luminaries Heaven. The Incense and Candle Divine Dao was merely its external manifestation.
Its essence was the mind!
Appearances are born from the mind; reality is proven by the mind... In a daze, Lü Yang felt as if he had returned to the day the Seven Luminaries Heaven was first conceived, witnessing the very origin of this Outer Realm.
’This Outer Realm came into being... simply because some unimaginably Great Power once stopped here and had a passing thought.’
It thought: ’It would be nice if an Outer Realm could take root here.’
There was no intention, no Abilities were left behind—it was truly just a thought. And yet, the Outer Heaven Sea of Light spontaneously responded to that Great Power’s passing notion.
Thus, after countless years, an Outer Realm was born from that very thought.
’Unbelievable!’
Lü Yang couldn’t see the figure of that Great Power. In fact, by the time the Seven Luminaries Heaven was born from that thought, the Great Power had already been gone for countless eons.
For a moment, Lü Yang didn’t know whether to feel relieved or regretful.
Regretful, because he hadn’t been able to witness such a Great Power. Relieved, also because he hadn’t been able to witness such a Great Power... After all, if he had truly seen them, they would have most likely sensed him in return.
And then, a giant hand might have simply descended to crush him.
Lü Yang let out a breath of Muddy Qi, cast aside his distracting thoughts, and looked once more at the Fruit Position Prototype within the Seven Luminaries Heaven. Then, mustering his Incense Divine Power, he surged forward with all his might!
RUMBLE!
In that instant, a deafening sound erupted both inside and outside the Seven Luminaries Heaven. At that same moment, as Yan Taizu and the Capital City God looked toward Lü Yang, a thought bloomed unbidden in their minds.
’Kill!’
Kill him!
Almost simultaneously, Lü Yang felt the Incense he commanded begin to slip away. Clearly, the Seven Luminaries Heaven was trying to revoke his authority over it.
’Too bad. Once you’ve given something to me, it’s mine for good!’
With a single thought, Lü Yang activated the Seven Luminaries Array for World Stabilization and Truth Preservation. It instantly locked the wavering Incense to him while simultaneously suppressing the rebelling Seven Luminaries Heaven.
The refining of the Seven Luminaries Heaven had officially begun!
At this moment, even the long-decided Lü Yang couldn’t help but feel a flicker of apprehension. After all, he had just pushed all of his chips onto the table.
’Can I win?’