Inside Feixue Palace, Lü Yang sat cross-legged for a full day and night. The divinatory gestures of his fingers never ceased, and his handsome face grew visibly haggard.

Strands of frost-white had even appeared amid his once jet-black hair.

This was a rare sight on a Foundation-Stage Cultivator.

Let alone on Lü Yang, a Perfected Person at the Peak of Foundation Establishment and the strongest below the Golden Core. For him to become so worn out showed just how immense his expenditure had been.

Throughout that day and night, he had tried to divine a way to break the deadlock, but the results were always pitch-black. In the face of absolute power, all his schemes were as meaningless as an ant trying to shake a tree. His only other option was to give up on the[Fruit of Celestial Fire], kill himself to start over, and choose an Ordinary Fruit next time.

Without a doubt, that was a much easier path.

Lü Yang even had a plan: after restarting, he would choose the[Fruit of Pomegranate Wood] and then, as a Perfected Lord, gather various resources until he was fully confident.

Then he would return and attempt to attain the[Fruit of Celestial Fire].

It was a very thorough plan. He believed that if he went this route, aside from wasting a few more pages of the[Centome], his chances of success would be even greater than they were now.

But in the next moment, Lü Yang slashed away all thoughts of restarting.

True, attaining an Ordinary Fruit is the easier path, but only an Emperor Fruit can serve as the foundation for Nascent Soul. Ordinary Fruits are just a waste of time!

’As for becoming a Perfected Lord first and returning to attain an Emperor Fruit after accumulating enough strength... it’s meaningless. After all, no matter how well I prepare, can I really overcome a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord? In the end, I’ll still have to fight for that slim chance of survival. The moment I try to attain an Emperor Fruit, I will inevitably draw the attention of a Master of Dao, and I will inevitably face a calamity!’

’I can’t retreat!’

Lü Yang was certain. This moment, this life, was his best chance. His destiny was a perfect match for the[Fruit of Celestial Fire]. Though the situation was desperate, his ambition burned bright!

But if he retreated and chose to restart...

...others might not know, but he himself knew... his destiny would surely wane, and his chances of attaining the[Fruit of Celestial Fire] would become even slimmer!

Lü Yang stood up and paced toward the palace doors.

In the next instant, the world spun. A thick mist suddenly rose all around, and a familiar, graceful figure emerged from it, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lü Yang.

"...Not bad. Very good."

Seeing Lü Yang’s mentally and physically exhausted state, World Purger Fei Xue actually smiled. She was stunningly beautiful, yet her smile carried an indelible, heroic spirit.

Lü Yang gave a wry smile. "How can you say I’m doing ’good’ when I look like this?"

"This is exactly how you should look."

World Purger Fei Xue nodded, her expression solemn. "Because this is proof that you haven’t given up on yourself... Exhaust every possibility and find a way out."

"We cultivators only fear having no path forward. Why should we fear the dangers on the path of the Dao?"

As her voice fell, the mist surged once more.

When he came to his senses, Lü Yang was already standing outside the palace. He turned around, only to find Feixue Palace slowly fading away into the mist.

In the next instant, a streak of Flying Light descended.

Minor Metal emerged from it. His gaze landed on Lü Yang, and he was startled for a moment before a look of understanding crossed his face. "...Daoist, is there anything else you need?"

"...Nothing for now."

After a moment of silence, Lü Yang cupped his hands. "My apologies for my appearance, Daoist."

Minor Metal waved his hand and looked at Lü Yang seriously. "We are fellow Daoists. There’s no need for such words... I will wait for you to finish your Seeking Gold. After you are done, I will ascend to my position."

This wasn’t some so-called camaraderie between heroes; it was a matter of pure, calculated interest.

Unlike Lü Yang, after the Earth Reversal, Minor Metal was almost 100% certain he could attain the[Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire]. However, the fundamental crisis had not been resolved.

[Ang Xiao]!

On his own, even with the help of World Purger Fei Xue who had reached the Late Stage of Golden Core, facing[Ang Xiao]would be extremely difficult. But if there was one more Perfected Lord who had attained an Emperor Fruit, it would undoubtedly have a major impact on the power difference between them, helping to protect the Dao Fruit he had worked so hard to obtain.

Therefore, for both public and private reasons, Minor Metal was hoping for Lü Yang’s success. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"...I appreciate the sentiment, Daoist."

As a Saint Sect Zhenren, Lü Yang was only stunned for a moment before he understood the meaning behind Minor Metal’s words. As he acknowledged it, a flame suddenly ignited in his heart.

’Racking my brains is getting me nowhere. I should just act first and take it one step at a time.’

Lü Yang took a deep breath. After bidding farewell to Minor Metal, he stepped into the Cloud Sea. A dark golden radiance flowed around his body as the world’s mountains and rivers propelled him toward the East.

He traveled without stopping and landed within Celestial Wu Hall.

Of course, it was called Huaming Hall now.

Almost at the same time, a streak of Flying Light sped over. The curvaceous and graceful figure of Empress Xiao emerged from it, a slight smile on her face.

"You’re back?"

Lü Yang nodded and studied Empress Xiao deeply. She had long ago chosen to enter his banner, making her someone he could undoubtedly trust completely.

’...Follow me. I have a treasure to show you.’

The two of them entered the rear palace. Another day passed. When he emerged again, Lü Yang was alone. Empress Xiao, however, remained secluded deep within the palace and did not appear for a long time.

At first, as the one person below Lü Yang and above all others in the Dao Court, Empress Xiao’s sudden disappearance might have attracted the attention of the court officials. However, once they learned that Lü Yang had returned and the two had spent a day together in the palace, everyone immediately dismissed it, considering it perfectly normal.

Of course, some diehard loyalists of the Celestial Wu Royal Family cursed privately:

"Adulterous pair!"

But regardless of the reactions, no one cared about Empress Xiao’s disappearance anymore. Everyone continued with their duties as usual. After all, it was perfectly normal for a Demon Dragon to have a bit of extra stamina.

However, what many did not expect was that Lü Yang vanished after that.

He would only appear in the world for a single day every one or two years. Each time he appeared, he would head straight for Empress Xiao’s chambers, disappear immediately after he was finished, and Empress Xiao would have to rest for several months.

Just like that, ten years passed in a flash.

And during these ten years, rumors finally began to spread in the once-stable Dao Court, claiming that the Demon Dragon of the Pseudo-Dynasty’s days were numbered.

In response, the loyal Cultivators of the Imperial City Department naturally wouldn’t let the rumors run rampant. Under Empress Xiao’s order—"These are no longer ordinary rabble-rousers, we must strike hard!"—the scale of the Imperial City Department expanded to cover the entire East, instantly becoming the largest department in the Dao Court.

However, the more they suppressed them, the more intense the rumors became.

"I think that Demon Dragon is on his last legs... And has anyone noticed the Fruits loosening recently? Don’t forget, His Majesty and the Three Ministers will return eventually!"

"That Demon Dragon must be trying for Seeking Gold."

"You’re kidding! A mere Demon Dragon trying to attain the[Fruit of Celestial Fire]? Impossible!"

"He’s just courting death!"

"It’s a pity. That Demon Dragon is actually exceptionally talented. He’s just too arrogant and doesn’t know his own limits, insisting on trying for the[Fruit of Celestial Fire]."

The rumors quickly spread to the South, the North, and Overseas.

Thus, the Imperial City Department expanded its recruitment even further. For a time, the number of Imperial City Department agents even surpassed the number of Dao Court officials as they began to suppress the rumors throughout the world.

Under this level of suppression, the rumors gradually died down.

The world returned to a state of peace.

Yet beneath this calm, all Foundation-Stage Cultivators could feel an undercurrent surging. Those with exceptional insight checked the sky daily.

Because high up in the dome of the heavens...

The[Fruit of Celestial Fire] that favored "Emperor Huanming"—the one whose reign countless people had decried as being on its last legs—had not dimmed in the slightest.

On the contrary, it was brighter than ever before.