East, Huaming City, atop the Star-picking Tower.

The Demon Cultivator Xiao Shan, now the Commander of the Imperial City Department, had long since shed the humility he possessed thirty years ago. His every move now carried the noble air of one accustomed to wielding power.

After all, the Imperial City Department was now the largest division of the Dao Court. And though his personal strength was not formidable, as its head, his status was in no way inferior to the Three Ministers of old. Yet even so, as he ascended the Star-picking Tower, his face was still filled with reverence.

He did not even use his Flying Light to travel directly to the top.

Instead, he climbed the Star-picking Tower step by step, following the spiral staircase all the way up until, at the very end, the world suddenly opened up before him.

What came into view was a high platform.

Upon it, clouds billowed and dispersed, and the sun and moon shone together, both paying homage to a lone figure. He sat with his back to the world, and to look upon him was like gazing at a world unto itself.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

Xiao Shan took a deep breath and looked at the figure on the platform with utmost piety. The moment the words left his lips, he prostrated himself without hesitation, performing a full kowtow.

Silence reigned between Heaven and Earth.

After a long while, the figure finally spoke, his voice faint. Though his was the voice of the man who ruled the world, it carried an indescribable loneliness and solitude.

"...Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Shan kowtowed deeply once more before rising to his feet. "Your Majesty, the tasks you assigned have all been completed. Everything is ready. The Imperial City Department has not failed its mission!"

"Good."

Lü Yang nodded, then smiled. "You’ve all worked hard these past few years. Don’t remain in Huaming City any longer. Go Overseas. It’s safer there."

At these words, Xiao Shan’s eyes immediately reddened. He then gritted his teeth and said,

"Your Majesty... I will stay here. The Imperial City Department is spread across the world now, but Huaming City is ultimately the center. Someone needs to stand guard for Your Majesty."

"Oh?" Lü Yang raised an eyebrow. "You’re not afraid to die?"

"I’ve lived long enough!"

Xiao Shan took a deep breath. "These past thirty years have been more joyous than the previous three hundred! If not for Your Majesty, who knows where we would be, still wasting our lives away."

Looking at Xiao Shan, Lü Yang was momentarily stunned. Through ten lifetimes of cultivation, he had always been a lone wolf. With the Centome allowing him to restart, he had grown to disregard life to a large extent. After all, everything would return to how it was after a reset. Aside from a very few people within the Myriad-Soul Banner, he didn’t truly care about anyone.

But since when did this start?

He actually had a die-hard loyalist... Even though he had planted a Puppet in the man long ago, he hadn’t activated it in over a decade.

How many others were there like him?

Lü Yang looked up, sensing the Divine Effect of the Fruit of Celestial Fire... His Spiritual Sense told him there were many. In the world today, a great number of people were actually on his side.

Empress Xiao, Minor Metal, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, Celestial Python, Summon... Whatever their reasons—be it for profit or sentiment—they were undoubtedly on his side. Minor Metal had gone ten years without Seeking Gold, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had also waited bitterly until now, and Empress Xiao had toiled tirelessly for him to this day.

’They’re betting on me to win!’

"..."

After a moment of silence, Lü Yang flicked his sleeve and took out the Myriad-Soul Banner. The Banner swayed. "Once you are inside, stand guard before the gates of the Star-picking Tower."

"As you command!"

Without any hesitation, Xiao Shan willingly walked into the Myriad-Soul Banner. After he was transformed into a Banner Spirit, he bowed to Lü Yang once more before turning and departing.

’This way, at least his True Spirit can be preserved... Xiao Shan’s death is certain. After all, once I begin Seeking Gold, Huaming City will bear the brunt of it. Many will surely die then; blood must be shed.’

HAAAAH...!

On the high platform, Lü Yang remained seated cross-legged, breathing in and out the winds and clouds of the world. He looked up at the sky, where the great net formed by the Immortal Dao Law trapped him beneath it.

In heaven above or on the earth below, there was nowhere to run.

Ever since Progenitor Tingyou attained the Fruit of Sorrowless Heaven and established the Eternal Joy Garden, the Perfected Lords of the world had gone into seclusion. All told, nearly thirty years had passed.

For thirty years, Lü Yang had traveled to many places. In the final decade especially, he had practically measured the lands of the North, the West, the East, the South, and even the vast regions Overseas on foot. He walked every place illuminated by the Fruit of Celestial Fire, only returning here at the very end.

’Nowhere left to advance, nowhere left to retreat.’

Lü Yang looked up at the sky and saw, high above his head, a boundless ocean of Fortune converging into a scene of dragons and phoenixes calling in harmony, a symbol of the Fortune he currently possessed.

The Fortune of the entire world, all gathered in one person!

’I’m finally getting a taste of what Master Demon-Vanquishing Perfected went through back then... My Fortune swells day by day, as if someone is urging me to hurry up and Seek Gold.’

A cold, mocking sneer touched the corners of Lü Yang’s lips.

’Getting impatient already?’

’It seems They are worried too. Worried that the Fruit of Sorrowless Heaven won’t be able to hold back the Perfected Lords for much longer. When the Perfected Lords of the world return, my momentum from Ruling the World will shatter.’

’After all, if it shatters, They won’t get anything out of it.’

Things having reached this point, Lü Yang was no longer in a hurry. They were the ones who were anxious now. Almost every day, a sudden impulse would wash over Lü Yang—a strange urge to attempt the Seeking Gold Ascension Position.

But he held himself back.

He was still waiting for one last person. His machinations over the past ten years were many, and he had tried everything, but very few things proved truly useful—few enough to be considered trump cards.

Therefore, until he was completely prepared, he would absolutely not act rashly.

Another half a month passed. Lü Yang was startled from his Meditation, and his brows rose slightly.

The next second, he pushed aside his sleeve, and a Jade Scroll flew out, glowing faintly. A line of text then appeared on it: "I’ve handled your request."

Lü Yang’s expression turned solemn. He replied with his spiritual perception:

"Many thanks, Senior."

"It’s nothing, a trivial matter."

The Jade Scroll continued to glow. "On the contrary, I should be thanking you for helping Minor Metal resolve this situation... I look forward to the day we can discuss the Dao after my true self descends to the Lower Realm."

With that, the Jade Scroll fell silent.

At that moment, Lü Yang finally rose to his feet. His gaze was fixed on Jiangnan. And in the South, another person had also risen.

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected.

At that instant, a glorious Sword Intent radiated from both of them. Though they were separated by thousands of miles, they could still hear each other’s voices reflected in their Sword Intents.

"What are your chances?"

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s tone was heavy. What happened to him alone was a small matter; after all, it had long been foreseen. But he did not want Lü Yang to walk the same path.

"Thirty percent, maybe."

Lü Yang replied in kind, his expression as placid as an ancient well. He had already sorted through all his thoughts. All that remained was tranquility, every emotion suppressed deep in his heart.

"Thirty percent... That’s already quite high. It’s not easy."

Hearing this, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected sighed. "I will coordinate with you. I hope a miracle occurs."

Lü Yang shook his head and looked toward Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. "There has never been such a thing as a miracle. The so-called miracle is just another name for hard work."

"Success depends on human effort."

Lü Yang’s voice was calm and powerful, making Demon-Vanquishing Perfected pause for a moment. Then, he too smiled, his brow smoothing over as two streams of Sealed Title Sword Intent flowed from his body:

"Well said. It seems I have underestimated you, Daoist."

"Success depends on human effort!"

With that, the two broke their connection.

The next second, with no further hesitation, Lü Yang stepped off the Star-picking Tower. The Qi trace he had accumulated for so long erupted forth, no longer concealing his presence.

BOOM!

A peal of thunder cracked across the heavens.