West, the Pure Land.

Buddha Light filled the heavens as the towering Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata's World Appearance erupted from the earth. With its palms pressed together, the sound of its chanting resounded across more than half of West.

Behind this Dharma Appearance, two disciples who had already taken their places—Southern King Wu Taian of the Dao Court and Exorcist Zhenren—unleashed their own auras. The Fruit that Exorcist Zhenren vied for was the Fruit of Pewter Metal, while Southern King Wu Taian sought the Fruit of Mound-Top Fire.

Stars materialized in the vast heavens.

That being said, it wasn't actually necessary for Exorcist Zhenren and Wu Taian to succeed in Seeking Gold. So long as they could cause their respective Fruits to manifest, it would be considered a victory.

'Once the Fruits manifest, they can be drawn into the Buddha Country.'

'At that point, as long as I can attain the Fruit of Rampart Earth, I'll be able to seize control of the Buddha Country and indirectly manipulate the other Fruits that fall within it.'

Unfortunately, times had changed.

In the past, the Fruit of Rampart Earth had been sealed away by the Pure Land's Unity, ensuring that only a Monk could attain it and that the Buddha Country would never fall into the hands of an outsider.

But now, if the Pure Land failed to attain the Fruit of Rampart Earth the moment the Buddha Country formed, and one of the other four Dao Fruit Positions was successfully claimed through Seeking Gold, the victor could immediately use a True Monarch's Mighty Power to turn the tables. The Pure Land's Earthly Buddha Country would have merely paved the way for another's ascension!

What was this?

In West, witnessing this scene through the eyes of his Sword Dao Avatar, Lü Yang had a flash of insight:

'This is an opportunity! A chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step! The Buddha Country's Five Elements Perfection comes with an Emperor Fruit... That's a privilege only someone like Ang Xiao should have!'

In other words, whoever could ultimately control the Earthly Buddha Country would have a chance to become the next Ang Xiao!

BOOM!

Just then, with a tremendous roar, two more auras shot into the sky, causing the heavens to blaze with light and manifest the images of two more Fruit Position Stars.

The Fruit of Pomegranate Wood!

The Fruit of Spring Water!

In the South, the ground cracked open. Surging Earth Vein Qi swirled around a stone figure as it strode forth—it was none other than Lü Yang's former Immortal Spirit Body!

Meanwhile, another figure emerged from the Sword Pavilion.

Xiang Ye.

This sole surviving Foundation Establishment Perfection Grand Zhenren of the Stain Sect had clearly reaped great rewards in the Sword Pavilion; the manifestation of the Fruit of Spring Water was his doing.

Both possessed a Buddhist Destiny. Just as Lü Yang had seen the opportunity within the Earthly Buddha Country, their own Cultivation was high enough that they too could deduce the full implications. Thus, they no longer held back. They even revealed themselves, hoping to help bring about the Earthly Buddha Country and contend for that heaven-ascending opportunity!

At this moment, all parties were prepared.

Although the Pure Land was at a great disadvantage, they were not without their own trump cards. After all, having sealed away the Fruit of Rampart Earth for so long, they had a few contingency plans.

Xiang Ye had his own designs as well.

To say nothing of the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter. Aided by the Heavenly God, he was the focal point of Fortune itself, and his aura was strengthening more rapidly than anyone else's.

"At a time like this... an Immortal Spirit has actually appeared!"

The world was shaken, and discussion erupted everywhere.

A considerable number of Foundation-Stage Cultivators fixed their gazes upon the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter. After all, a Perfect Immortal Spirit was a being that had previously existed only in historical records.

The Perfected Persons of the various major powers, once they reached a certain standing, were all more or less aware of the taboos surrounding Immortal Spirits.

What should have been a contest for the True Monarch Position between the Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators of the four great powers now included an extra contender: a Great Perfection Immortal Spirit, born of heaven and earth, well-rested and waiting for its exhausted foes.

Would it snatch the ultimate prize?

At this moment, many Foundation-Stage Cultivators had the same thought. Even the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter itself couldn't help but think along the same lines.

After all, besides itself, what were the other four contenders but a bunch of worthless trash? The Pure Land's Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata's World Appearance had lost Guang Ming as its anchor and was greatly weakened. Exorcist Zhenren was already half-dead. Xiang Ye was worn down by countless battles and riddled with old injuries. And Wu Taian was from the Dao Court...

"The advantage in this battle is mine!"

The Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter let out a triumphant roar. Brimming with confidence, it was about to ride its Flying Light toward the Pure Land when, in the very next second, its vision suddenly went dark.

"...Huh?"

It was a hand.

An elegant, well-formed palm had appeared from nowhere, cutting off its path. It stretched between heaven and earth, casting a deep shadow over the Immortal Spirit.

"Who's there!?"

The Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter subconsciously erupted with its aura. Five of its Abilities manifested one after another, instantly stirring up a Spirit Tide that spanned thousands of miles.

Yet this massive Spirit Tide—the earth, water, wind, and fire born from the collision of Spiritual Qi, the thunderous explosions—was completely contained within that single, elegant palm. The boiling Spiritual Fire that landed upon it could not even scorch its flesh. The hand simply allowed the raging power to wash over it as its five fingers began to slowly close.

'How can this be... Impossible...!'

This wasn't a Foundation-Stage cultivator!

The Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter had a clear understanding of its own power. In the entire world, there was absolutely no Foundation-Stage Cultivator who could counter its Abilities in such a way!

Not even Demon-Vanquishing Perfected could do this—at the very least, he would have had to draw his sword!

But the hand before it now had not circulated a single shred of Mana. It had simply manifested and was now grabbing for it!

The only one who could do something like this was...

'A Perfected Lord? How is that possible!'

The Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter looked to the sky. The Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth was still radiating a celestial glow, and though it grew more brilliant by the second, it was not yet strong enough to support the descent of a Perfected Lord.

So where did this Perfected Lord come from!?

'Heavenly God... Heavenly God... save me...'

The Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter cried out in desperation, but the deep, abiding concern it usually felt from the Heavenly God had vanished without a trace.

In the next instant, the lofty ambitions and boundless aspirations the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter held upon its birth shattered like a dream. The great hand descending from the sky seized it, and the world spun violently. When it looked up again, it saw an all-too-familiar face.

"...It's you!?"

The Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter was stunned. Lü Yang was no longer hiding. His aura flared as he watched it silently, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"So this day has finally come."

He thought back to decades ago, when he had been a mere plaything in the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter's hands, unable even to take his own life. Now, their roles were completely reversed.

With a single thought, a jet-black palace landed in Lü Yang's palm. It was the Yama Hall, shrunk down countless times, now filled with a dense Incense and Candle Qi. A blazing Gold Attribute burned fiercely within it, causing Lü Yang's own Position to climb ever higher.

The Yama Hall!

"How can this be..."

Elsewhere, Ang Xiao, who was possessing the Yun Family's Ancestor, lost his composure for the first time. He was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the serene Lü Yang.

"Nothing is impossible."

Lü Yang gave a slight smile and casually tossed the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter into the Yama Hall. Simultaneously, one of his Talent Skills activated, affecting the Immortal Spirit.

Cuckoo's Nest!

'It's time for you to return... what was once mine!'

The Immortal Spirit Body's physical form, its Soul, and the Abilities related to the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood—all were being reclaimed by Lü Yang under the effect of Cuckoo's Nest!

Throughout this process, his aura grew ever more intense.

Until at last, he broke through an unseen barrier.

BOOM!

Lü Yang opened his eyes.

At some point, his eyes had turned golden, as if two candle flames were lit within their depths. The world he now saw was completely different.

The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire: illuminating where sun and moon cannot reach, brightening the time before heaven and earth are clear.

In the next moment, Lü Yang lowered his head and looked toward Ang Xiao.

"Daoist, where do you think you're going?"

"..." Ang Xiao was silent.

He seemed to want to use the Veil of the Trees to conceal himself, but this time, the once-infallible Veil of the Trees failed right before Lü Yang's eyes.

This outcome seemed to highlight an undeniable fact:

'In the world today, with All True Monarchs still in seclusion... this man is likely unstoppable!'