Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Let It Begin With Me

’To think you dared to fight me with just this?’

Lü Yang lowered his Sword Light and reached out. From the Spirit Tide created by the shattered and disintegrating Dharma Bodies of the two Ten Thousand Poison Sect Perfected Persons, he instantly plucked two streaks of light.

They were none other than their Gu Insects.

The [Dragon Centipede Gu].

The [Hui Gu Gu].

The former was clearly a Divine Power Gu, similar to a Dharma Body, that could transform a person into a variant Dragon Centipede. It did possess a hint of a True Dragon’s might, but that was the extent of it.

The latter, on the other hand, was more interesting.

“The morning mushroom knows not dusk and dawn; the Hui Gu knows not spring and autumn…”

Lü Yang held the [Hui Gu Gu] in his hand. At first glance, it was a delicate golden cicada. As he infused it with his Mana, it began to emit a droning sound.

Suddenly, Lü Yang’s brow twitched. Amidst the drone, he clearly felt his body begin to subtly decay. The circulation of his Mana sped up, as if time were gradually slipping away from him. A few frosty strands even appeared in his once jet-black hair…

“…Hmph!”

The next second, Lü Yang gave a cold smile. With a flick of his fingertip, he instantly unleashed a [Sword Qi Thunder Sound], immediately dispelling the strange cicada drone.

When he checked himself again, what decay was there?

His jet-black hair was unchanged. The wrinkles and decay that had appeared from the passage of time had all vanished, as if everything just now had been nothing but an illusion.

“Interesting.”

Lü Yang rubbed his chin, having figured out the profound mystery of this [Hui Gu Gu]. Its foundation was not in Mana, but in the single thought of the person afflicted by the Gu.

’Perception shapes reality. If you believe, it exists; if you don’t, it’s nothing. This Gu Insect can create an Illusion Realm that is almost indistinguishable from reality. Once the afflicted person believes it, the illusion immediately becomes real. If they don’t believe, then it’s just a fleeting dream… This Gu Insect is far more advanced than the [Dragon Centipede Gu].’

The only drawback was that this Gu Insect’s lifespan was extremely short.

Born in spring to die in summer, born in summer to perish in autumn. Thus, it usually remained in a dormant state, only awakening when needed. It could not be used lightly.

’No wonder that among the three fortunes I just drew from the Divination Lottery, there was a possibility that I wouldn’t be able to take them down.’

After all, if the [Hui Gu Gu] was used well, its power was truly considerable.

Whether one was injured, out of Mana, or in any other predicament, as long as they could firmly believe in the Illusion Realm they created, they could easily erase the crisis.

’A pity they ran into me.’

Such a miraculous Gu Insect was instantly taken out by Lü Yang’s dishonorable one-combo kill before it could even truly display its power. It possessed a Divine Effect but had no chance to use it.

“It’s mine now!”

Lü Yang beckoned with his hand and put the [Hui Gu Gu] away. The only unfortunate thing was that neither of the two carried the Ten Thousand Poison Sect’s Dharma Gate for controlling Gu Insects.

’Right, few people would carry such a secret on their person…’

At this thought, Lü Yang’s movements paused slightly.

’Actually, if I wanted to, I could use the Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body to bring the Myriad-Soul Banner here right now and capture the souls of these two Ten Thousand Poison Sect Perfected Persons.’

’Then I could just ask them about any secret Cultivation Techniques they know.’

But after some thought, Lü Yang decided against it.

’There’s no need. Since my clone has already entered the Sword Pavilion, I can’t leave behind any clues linking it to my main body. It’s better to make a clean break.’

’Besides, you can never be too careful… Heaven knows if someone is watching me right now!’

……

「Southern Border.」

In the center of a military camp bristling with blades and spears and shrouded in layers of clouds, the Dao Court’s Southern King, Wu Taian, calmly withdrew his gaze.

“He actually won…”

Wu Taian stroked his chin, a little surprised. “To reach Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection right after achieving Foundation Establishment… this person’s background in his previous life must be considerable.”

He was a nobleman of the Dao Court’s Imperial Family. The current Emperor was his elder brother, and the Crown Prince was his nephew. The pair of green eyes he inherited from his bloodline were born with the profound and mysterious ability to gaze up into the nine heavens and peer down into the Netherworld. Compared to others, it was like having an extra Innate Divine Technique that didn’t occupy a Position. Gazing thousands of miles was a simple matter for him.

“The Sword Pavilion has produced another formidable Sword Cultivator.”

Wu Taian sighed, but the expression on his face gradually darkened. His tone grew somber. “Looking across this world, just how many heroes are there?”

“The Stain Sect is the most stunning of all.”

“Take True Monarch Chaotian alone. He shattered a five-thousand-year-old shackle, initiating a sixty-year age of great contention. Is there a single Perfected Person in the world who doesn’t owe him a favor?”

“The Sword Pavilion is likewise unwilling to be left behind.”

“Demon-Vanquishing Perfected Ye Guangji, the number one Sword Cultivator in the world today. I can’t even imagine anyone at the Foundation Establishment realm who could take three of his strikes. His strength is simply unreasonable.”

“And don’t even get me started on the Pure Land. With the birth of the Buddha’s Son, the establishment of an Earthly Buddha Country is just around the corner.”

“Even Overseas…”

At this point, Wu Taian suddenly erupted in fury, slamming his palm on the table. “Even Overseas, for fuck’s sake, has produced a formidable Outer Heaven Wanderer!”

The Stain Sect, the Sword Pavilion, the Pure Land—they all have heroes of this generation.

Overseas, too, has produced its share of talented individuals.

“But what about us?”

What about the Dao Court?

As he finished speaking, his adjutant standing beside him couldn’t help but say cautiously, “Your Highness, don’t we also have the Regent Crown Prince…”

It would have been better if he hadn’t said anything. The moment he did, Wu Taian sneered, “The Crown Prince? A useless incompetent who does nothing but occupy his position! I bet his mind is completely focused on waiting for His Majesty’s Ascension to Heaven, to go meet the Grand Ancestor, so he can rightfully inherit the Emperor’s throne. That’s the peak of his ambition in this life!”

“It would be a stretch for him to even maintain the status quo.”

“Asking him to expand our territory and seek a Golden Position for himself? You’re overestimating him! Forget a Golden Position, he probably doesn’t even have the guts for a Fake Holding!”

“As for all the officials in the court, every single one of them is a once-in-a-generation good-for-nothing!”

“How can we govern the East properly with these insects? How can we manage the Dao Court?”

Wu Taian cursed to his heart’s content.

However, the adjutant beside him was terrified by what he heard, wishing his ears were deaf. He could only lower his eyes and feign ignorance, pretending not to have heard a thing.

But in the next second, his expression changed.

Because after he finished cursing, Wu Taian’s expression suddenly became calm. “Back then, True Monarch Chaotian ushered in sixty years of peace.”

“Ten years have passed since then.”

“And yet, the world remains the same. Although undercurrents are surging, no one has truly taken that step. Do you know why?”

“Why?” the adjutant asked in a low voice.

“Because they’re afraid!”

Wu Taian grinned. “Can we be sure True Monarch Chaotian’s words are true? Have the great lords truly gone into seclusion? Did they leave behind any backup plans?”

“These things are all unknown!”

“Perhaps some even suspect this is all a scheme set up by the Perfected Lords, designed to lure out the ’seedlings’ that have been nurtured for five thousand years, only to uproot them all…”

The more Wu Taian spoke, the more the adjutant dripped with cold sweat.

Could these things possibly be true?

Of course they could!

Needless to say anything else, that True Monarch Chaotian came from the Stain Sect! That point alone was enough to make every Perfected Person in the world suspicious.

But in the next moment, Wu Taian changed his tune:

“If you ask me, they’re all cowards!”

“They wait today, they wait tomorrow… are they going to wait until the cows come home? Little do they know, the earlier the time, the greater the opportunity! The longer one waits before Seeking Gold, the more dangerous it becomes!”

“After all, True Monarch Chaotian is only a newly ascended Perfected Lord. He said he could hold them off for sixty years, but who can really say? Facing all the world’s Perfected Lords by himself… I’d say it’s impressive if he can even last thirty years! It’s even possible that he’s on the verge of death right now, his end drawing near!”

With that, Wu Taian stood up.

“Your Highness…”

The adjutant seemed to have anticipated something and began to speak in a low voice, wanting to dissuade him. But upon seeing Wu Taian’s calm and majestic expression, he silently lowered his head.

“The Stain Sect, the Sword Pavilion, the Pure Land, Overseas… how could the Dao Court be left out?”

Wu Taian let out a heroic laugh. “All the Perfected Persons in the world are watching and waiting. They don’t dare to go Seeking Gold. They’re all waiting for someone to stick their neck out. If that’s the case, then I will be the first!”

“Throughout all of history, ascending to power and Seeking Gold has never been accomplished without martyrdom. Now, the Perfected Lords are in seclusion, yet no one has been martyred for Seeking Gold. This is why the world does not prosper! If it is to happen, then let it begin with me!”

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