Chapter 480: Chapter 480: Fortune in Hand, All Is Ready

The moment the thought occurred to him, Lü Yang made his move.

He did not use [Guiyuan Palace], because this time was different. Hongyun was using a Yi Wood Ability, and Yi Wood is born of Wu, so it does not fear the Divine Effect of Wu Fire.

Therefore, if he were to deploy [Guiyuan Palace] now, not only would it fail, but it might even boost the power of his opponent’s Ability. If that happened, he would be the one at a disadvantage, making one wrong move after another. So, after a moment’s thought, Lü Yang’s mind shifted, and the Daoist Hand Seal he was forming changed as well.

The next second, a Sword Light flared.

CLANG! CLANG!

Lü Yang did not employ one of his Abilities. Instead, he held the [Tribulation Wave] in his hand. With a flick of his sword, its Sword Light became like a towering ancient tree, directly withstanding the cutting Da Feng!

BOOM!

With a deafening roar, the Illusionary Colors around Lü Yang’s body were weakened layer by layer. However, the Sword Light, sustained by his Sword Intent, was not diminished by the Da Feng. Instead, it grew stronger and stronger, until it finally surged backward against the current, splitting the Da Feng with righteous, overwhelming power and reflecting a pinprick of red light in Hongyun’s pupils.

’HISS!’

In that instant, Hongyun’s pupils shrank. The moment the Sword Light reflected in his eyes, a sword mark appeared on his face, from which dark red blood began to well!

Yi Wood does not fear Wu Fire and in fact counters Earth of Wu. Its only fear is being cut by Gold!

That was why Lü Yang had used a Sword Technique to defeat his enemy instead of any other Ability. This seemingly simple choice was entirely based on his profound Cultivation.

’[Sword Intent]... Is he really a Sword Cultivator from the Sword Pavilion!?’

Hongyun was terrified. He took a step back and subconsciously reached up to touch his cheek. Mana surged, quickly healing the bleeding sword mark.

But the bone-chilling coldness from his face still left Hongyun shaken. Such Sword Intent, such Sword Light... who in the world was this person?

In a flash of lightning and a spark of flint, Hongyun had already made a decision:

"[Heaven-Reaching Road]!"

With a shake of his sleeve, he unleashed an endless torrent of fiery energy. Yet it wasn’t a raging inferno, but an image of worldly smoke and fire.

Beneath the layers of smoke and fire, a great road appeared. One end lay at Hongyun’s feet while the other vanished into the boundless void, supporting his body. Hongyun took a step forward, and Lü Yang’s slashing Sword Light was instantly left behind, unable to get near him again.

BOOM!

With another deafening roar, Lü Yang slashed down with his sword again. This time, however, Hongyun dodged the attack at the last possible moment, by the narrowest of margins.

"Si Fire..."

Lü Yang’s Dharma Eye was like a torch; with a single glance, he saw through the details of Hongyun’s Ability. Si represents the Great Post, with its imagery of worldly smoke and fire and clear, open roads.

Of course, this was only one aspect of Si Fire.

Take Chong Guang, for example. The Si Fire Ability he sought was named [Steel Flame Furnace], which drew upon a different aspect of Si Fire’s imagery: its fire enhances light, the very peak of the six yang.

This choice of Ability, in a way, reflected the difference in personality between Chong Guang and Hongyun. Hongyun sought a Heaven-Reaching Road, a steady and stable path. Chong Guang, on the other hand, sought to burn. If he failed to build momentum, it would be of no consequence, but once he did, he would become a sky-scorching inferno.

Countering it was, in fact, also simple.

The next second, a mischievous grin appeared on Lü Yang’s face. He stretched out his hand, and the Divine Illusionary Colors of an Ability lit up his palm. It was the Earth God’s Divine Technique:

[Root of All Things]!

The moment this Ability appeared, Hongyun’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. That was *his* Ability! And a very important one in his Combat System!

’When Si meets the hour of Chen, the snake transforms into a swift dragon; in terms of Position, it becomes a steed that can travel a thousand li.’

In other words, the Si Fire Ability and the Earth of Chen Ability could create a wondrous synergy. When used together, the power of both Abilities would increase dramatically!

But now, his Earth of Chen had been swiped by Lü Yang.

Forget about them working together—Lü Yang was even using his own Earth God’s Divine Technique against him! This [Root of All Things] was the perfect counter to his [Heaven-Reaching Road]!

In the blink of an eye, Hongyun watched as Lü Yang casually tossed out [Root of All Things]. It landed on the worldly smoke and fire of his great road, instantly taking root. Countless tendrils twisted and tangled together, forcefully locking his [Heaven-Reaching Road] in place and preventing it from moving another inch.

How could he counter this?

With a helpless expression, Hongyun opened his mouth, gathered his energy, and blasted out a Thunder Sound. A rolling wave of Yang Qi instantly swept out in all directions.

[Thunder Gradually Subsides]!

To overcome Earth of Chen, one must use Jia Wood to control it. Amidst the reverberating Thunder Sound, Hongyun immediately felt the restraints on his [Heaven-Reaching Road] begin to loosen.

But the next second—

"[Guiyuan Palace]!"

The Light of the Midday Fire, like a rising sun in the east—bright, fiery, and righteous. Layer upon layer of Divine Illusionary Colors stacked up into a majestic palace, which then came crashing down upon Hongyun.

’I’ve lost... My skills are inferior!’

’This person knows far too much about me. Who is he?!’

Hongyun sighed to himself. ’After all that, we still came back to [Guiyuan Palace]... Grand and righteous, crushing me with sheer power. Such a high Realm, such profound Cultivation!’

From the very start of their Combat, aside from the initial advantage he gained from the Divine Effect of [Fear of Cutting], he had been completely suppressed by Lü Yang. Every move Lü Yang made was a critical strike that forced a response, pushing him step by step toward a dead end. And in the end, Lü Yang had used [Guiyuan Palace] to seal the victory in one fell swoop!

There was no excuse for such a defeat.

It wasn’t a difference in Position or a lack of power, but a complete suppression of his Cultivation. It was a defeat that left him utterly convinced, with no choice but to admit inferiority.

And this kind of grand and righteous power was exactly what the [Fruit of Celestial Fire] favored!

At that moment, Lü Yang felt a stroke of inspiration. He seemed to faintly hear a call from the great unknown—it was vague and unclear, but it was real.

For a moment, Lü Yang was filled with an indescribable joy:

’The Cultivation I displayed must have resonated slightly with the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]. Although I’m still far from attracting the Fruit’s full attention, it’s a start...’

As Lü Yang pondered this, his hands did not slow in the slightest.

BOOM!

[Guiyuan Palace] smashed down, its layers of Illusionary Colors completely shattering Hongyun’s Dharma Body and instantly refining him into flying ash, revealing a Soul wreathed in golden light.

In an instant, the golden light fled...

"Trying to escape?"

As if Lü Yang would give Hongyun the chance. Without the [Netherworld] to receive him, how could Hongyun’s Soul, now bereft of its body, possibly be faster than him?

The Myriad-Soul Banner billowed in the wind, swelling to an immense size and swallowing the Soul in the blink of an eye.

’Success!’

With Hongyun’s Gold Attribute in hand, Lü Yang’s face lit up with joy. Not only could he use it to claim a Fake Golden Position again, but he could also use it to threaten Ang Xiao!

Everything was ready!

’It’s about time to let [No Heaven] make its debut. After all, if I want [No Heaven] to Deprive the foundation of all the Fruits in the world, and thus cause all the Perfected Lords to go into seclusion, I first need to make [No Heaven] the most desirable thing in the eyes of every Foundation Establishment cultivator. I need them all to cultivate the [No Heaven] Abilities.’

This would undoubtedly take time.

’However, with [No Heaven]’s operating model of rewarding Abilities for clearing its trials, it shouldn’t take long to spread. After all, who would complain about having too many Abilities?’

’This is perfect.’

’While [No Heaven] is developing, I can also establish my own faction within the Dao Court. When the time is right, I’ll replicate Master Chong Guang’s gambit of going into seclusion!’

Thinking this, Lü Yang did not linger.

The next second, he withdrew his Abilities, summoned a Flying Light, and returned to that broken place, which was riddled with holes like a honeycomb.