South, Sword Pavilion.

Within the Ye Family Territory, the scene was still one of utter carnage. Lü Yang stood calmly amidst the Sea of Blood, quietly contemplating his current state.

A jade-white radiance condensed into a halo behind his head. It split outwards in spiderweb-like patterns, binding him tightly to Heaven and Earth. This formed an aura that compelled others to kneel and kowtow, so transcendent and otherworldly it seemed to have stolen all the brilliance in existence.

'This is the Fake Golden Position...'

Lü Yang glanced around. The world before him felt incredibly fragile, as if he could tear it asunder with a single thought.

An instant later, a brilliant light descended from Heaven and Earth.

An invisible aura spread out, one that completely transcended the mortal realm. Its Position was on an entirely different plane from that of ordinary beings.

At this moment, Lü Yang didn't even have to act. Heaven and Earth itself began to spontaneously respond to his will. The very same Heaven and Earth that had once ignored him—or even treated him with malice—now radiated an intense affinity. The descending light enveloped his body in an extremely brilliant radiance.

The surrounding dark clouds began to churn.

In that moment, all Qi Refiners and even mortals below the Foundation Establishment realm instinctively looked toward the Sword Pavilion. Then, they involuntarily fell to their knees and kowtowed in worship!

Flowers and birds, fish and insects.

Mountains and rivers, grass and trees.

At this very moment, all of creation conveyed its profound goodwill toward Lü Yang. Everything flocked to him, making him appear all the more sacred and transcendent.

This was a true "Lord"!

A Perfected Lord!

Yet Lü Yang remained unmoved. Heaven and Earth had ignored him before, but now that he was powerful, it was proactively trying to cozy up to him.

'What a shameless bootlicker!'

Cursing internally, Lü Yang turned his gaze back to the Yun Family's Ancestor, who was possessed by Ang Xiao. A genial smile spread across his face.

On the other hand, Ang Xiao's mood was not nearly as pleasant. He had to admit, Lü Yang's Fake Golden Position had completely shattered his plans and exceeded his expectations. More importantly, because Lü Yang had used the Hongyun Gold Attribute, his Fake Golden Position was anchored to the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire!

'If he uses the power of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire to reverse the Earth of Chen...'

At this thought, Ang Xiao's expression turned utterly grim. The Earth of Chen was his Dao Foundation. If it was reversed, how could he even dream of becoming a Master of Dao?

'...Bastard!'

He had to admit, he was starting to panic.

However, as a veteran Saint Sect True Monarch, he knew one thing for certain: no matter how panicked you were, you could never let it show! Otherwise, your weakness would be seized upon.

Thus, despite the anxiety churning in his heart, Ang Xiao still managed a hearty laugh.

"Daoist..."

"There's no need."

Before Ang Xiao could even choose his words, Lü Yang cut in. "I don't have much time. I need you to do me a favor, Daoist. And it would be best if you didn't refuse."

At those words, Ang Xiao's expression changed.

Lü Yang was being completely direct. By saying 'I don't have much time,' he exposed a weakness, but he also pushed Ang Xiao to the edge of a cliff, forcing him to make a choice.

The implication was simple:

'I'm asking for your help. Are you going to help me or not? If you don't, I'm going to lose it. And don't try to stall me. I don't have much time. If you try to stall, I'm still going to lose it!'

Lü Yang looked at Ang Xiao and sneered internally.

Did he have a choice?

He didn't!

Sure enough, a moment later, Ang Xiao gave his response, his voice full of resignation. "What is it you need my help with, Daoist?"

He had caved!

Lü Yang's expression was calm. He brought out Summon and said directly, "I'm going to have him begin Seeking Gold. The little trick you played on him will cause his Fruit to fall, and the Fruit of Long-Flow Water will be drawn to you, correct? I want you to help me seize the power of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water and transfer it all to me."

"That... might be a little..."

RUMBLE!

The moment Ang Xiao's hesitant voice trailed off, Lü Yang stood up abruptly, looking as if all negotiations were off. An invisible power began to spread from him.

Almost simultaneously, Ang Xiao's expression faltered.

He could sense it—a sliver of the Earth of Chen had just been reversed! It had changed from Yin Earth back to Yang Earth, and the process was still ongoing!

'You absolute animal!'

While inwardly cursing up a storm, Ang Xiao hurriedly said, "I agree! You can channel the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, and I'll help you intercept the Power of Fruit Position."

As his words faded, Ang Xiao's heart filled with utter helplessness.

He had lost all control!

For some reason, his opponent seemed to know his condition and his plans like the back of his hand. He had struck a fatal blow in one go, giving Ang Xiao no room to maneuver.

'Fortune... is it really this powerful?'

'How did I not notice this over the past five thousand years? And here I was, thinking he was just some lucky brat favored by Heaven and Earth. I never imagined he was hiding this deep!'

'I was careless!'

Meanwhile, Lü Yang paid Ang Xiao's thoughts no mind. As he had Summon begin Seeking Gold, he took a step and began to walk into the distance.

After all, his time was limited. The Fake Golden Position, empowered by the Hongyun Gold Attribute, would only last for the time it took one stick of incense to burn. After that, he would revert to his original state. He couldn't afford to do things one by one; he had to multitask! Only by acting on multiple fronts could he reap the greatest benefits within this short window.

RUMBLE!

As Lü Yang strode forward, the very landscape beneath his feet began to retreat on its own. In that moment, distance seemed to be a mere number, one he could rewrite at will.

With a single step, he crossed into the East.

By now, the four corners of the world had sensed Lü Yang's undisguised aura. The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire hung high in the sky, striking terror into the hearts of all who saw it.

"How can this be?"

"Where in the world did this Perfected Lord appear from?"

"The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire..."

The Dao Court in the East, Celestial Wu City.

This was the Dao Capital. The Dao Court's Crown Prince, along with all the Civil and Military Officials, currently presided over the affairs of state. But now, all of them were staring at the horizon in terror.

"He's treating the Dao Law as if it's nothing!"

"He just walked right through it!"

The Dao Court's Crown Prince was stunned by the sight.

The so-called Dao Law was unique to the Dao Court in the East. It regulated the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and served as the very foundation of the Dao Court's rule, exerting an immense suppressive force within its domain.

Normally, even a Foundation-Stage Cultivator entering Jiangdong would be suppressed by the Dao Law. Not only would they be unable to absorb even a speck of Spiritual Qi, but their Realm would also be forcibly lowered. No matter how high your cultivation, without the Dao Court's approval, you were just practicing Wild Fox Zen—it was impossible to move an inch in the East.

Now, however, there was an exception.

Lü Yang simply walked on, and phenomenal visions manifested with his every step. The Dao Law of the Dao Court in the East was trampled underfoot, stripped of all its Divine Effect.

A Perfected Lord walking the mortal world!

'In five thousand years, this is likely the first time a Perfected Lord has truly walked among mortals. Who can possibly stop him? Who in the hell can possibly stand in his way?'

In the East, Lü Yang made a casual beckoning gesture.

He reclaimed the East Celestial Gate, a fragment of the once-shattered Profound Spirit Realm that had fallen in the East. He had also taken the South Celestial Gate from the South.

Next came the North Celestial Gate from the North.

And the West Celestial Gate from the West.

In just a few steps, Lü Yang traversed the four corners of the world. He reassembled the sundered pieces of the Profound Spirit Realm and threw them into Summon's Blessed Land!

RUMBLE!

At this moment, an excited look on his face, Summon majestically raised the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land. He sought to merge it with the Profound Spirit Realm and thereby obtain a Golden Position of the Outer Dao!

Lü Yang glanced over. "Daoist Ang Xiao?"

"Tsk!"

From within the Netherworld, Ang Xiao felt an urge to kill Lü Yang right then and there. Despite his fury, his hands didn't dare hesitate as he quickly formed a Daoist Hand Seal.

An instant later, Summon's Spirit Ruins Blessed Land began to tremble violently. Just as expected, a hidden measure left by Ang Xiao was activated within. The conceptual link that originally pointed toward the Profound Spirit Realm suddenly swiveled, redirecting to the Fruit of Long-Flow Water instead. High in the firmament, this caused another star to light up!

'The Fruit of Long-Flow Water embodies the concept of endlessness, making it perfect for nurturing a Fruit Position Prototype...'

Lü Yang looked up, his eyes shining with brilliant purpose.

In the past, Primal Daoist Mu Changsheng had used the Fruit of Long-Flow Water to lay a trap, intercepting the Power of Fruit Position to cultivate No Heaven. Now, Lü Yang intended to repeat the same trick!

He was going to cultivate the Seven Luminaries Heaven!

This was the first, and most important, thing he would do with his Fake Golden Position: cultivate a true, unique Fruit that belonged to him and him alone!