Chapter 217: Human Hearts Are Hard to Change, Yet Heaven and Earth's Will Remains

Above the firmament, within the nearly collapsing Cave Yang Blessed Land, Master Chongguang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at that single star in the sky with reluctance and unwillingness to let go.

Covering Lamp Fire.

Until this moment, this fruit position still shone for him, yet he was already powerless to merge with it; he could only watch helplessly as it gradually dimmed.

Lowering his head, Master Chongguang looked at his four innate divine abilities, only to see that the Yang Earth Shade Dragon Water, which he had already reversed, now once again revealed wisps of yin qi that could not be eradicated; it was precisely this final trace of yin qi that caused his second attempt to fail just short of success.

"A single step makes a difference of a thousand li; no wonder they are a True Person of the Holy Sect!"

In truth, that True Person who had reversed the Chen Earth had completed all steps long ago; the depth of their layout spanned at least several thousand years, with an unimaginable foundation.

"Compared to them, I merely acted on a sudden whim."

Thinking of this, a trace of unwillingness surfaced once more in Master Chongguang's eyes; yes, it was only a sudden whim—if he too had prepared in advance, the outcome might not have been so!

"I have now reversed the attributes of more than half the Chen Earth under heaven; achieving this proves that the mysterious True Person's foundation is not yet stable. They may have begun reversing the Chen Earth thousands of years ago, but the actual completion of the reversal, transforming Yang Earth into Yin Earth, took no more than a hundred years!"

If he could return to a hundred years ago, the situation would certainly be vastly different!

After all, even though it was a hasty act born of a sudden whim, he had originally been close to success.

Using the treasure of the fruit position to pry open the Covering Lamp Fire and reverse the world's Chen Earth back to its Yang attribute had nearly been achieved, lacking only one thing.

The initial Chen Yin Earth.

The Chen Earth that the mysterious True Person first reversed between yin and yang served as the foundation for their reversal of all Chen Earth under heaven, yet Master Chongguang could not locate their position.

As a result, he was defeated by this very factor.

At the critical final moment, that mysterious True Person used that strand of Chen Yin Earth to influence Master Chongguang's Shade Dragon Water, causing his effort to fail just short of completion.

Reflecting on this, Master Chongguang glanced down at the world below once more: "Where have you hidden the final strand of Chen Earth, the initial Chen Yin Earth?"

At this moment, he was equivalent to overlooking the world from the perspective of a True Person; whether in the present reality or the Foundation Establishment realm, nothing should have been able to escape his sight, yet strangely, he could not find the other's existence; all the Chen Earth visible to his eyes had returned to Yang, with not a trace of Yin Earth to be found.

"Could it be..."

In an instant, Master Chongguang's gaze shifted slightly as if he had thought of something; his eyes brightened for a moment, only to dim again: "Useless; it is ultimately a dead end."

However, very quickly, Master Chongguang rallied his spirits once more.

With a slight calculation, he turned to look behind him, only to see that the layers of karmic fortune and merit hanging behind his head, symbolizing his innate immortal spiritual root, had already vanished.

"Still a bit unaccustomed to it."

Master Chongguang smiled, having calculated the desired result: "Judging by current circumstances, after death I am likely to reincarnate as pigs and dogs for one hundred and forty-seven lifetimes before becoming human again."

Despite these words, there was not a hint of resentment on Master Chongguang's face; the corners of his mouth even carried a touch of self-mocking laughter: "For an innate immortal spirit to end up reincarnating as pigs and dogs, I am恐怕 the only one; the good news is that pigs and dogs die relatively quickly, so one hundred and forty-seven lifetimes... actually isn't that long."

In other words, this was his final end.

Even though, as a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had long refined his golden nature, it was now utterly useless.

This was because a Golden Core True Person and a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator were different; a True Person's golden nature had long penetrated deep into their soul, indistinguishable from self, which was why they did not suffer the mystery of the womb.

However, the golden nature of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator remained like an external object; it would be stripped away during reincarnation, so even at peak Foundation Establishment, one was still limited to a lifespan of five lifetimes.

Moreover, his golden nature had been completely exhausted when promoting the Blessed Land.

To survive, unless a True Person was willing to use their golden nature to protect him through reincarnation, but since his Great Dao was already fixed, he held no value for a True Person anymore.

After all, the Covering Lamp Fire had been severed; no one could achieve proof.

Under such circumstances, even Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue True Person, who had always supported him most, would not intervene; this was the Holy Sect; the Holy Sect never spoke of warmth or affection.

"... o be it."

Master Chongguang quickly composed his emotions: "Reincarnation will cleanse the soul; by the time I become human again, the traces of the Great Dao on me should be mostly washed away."

At that time, he could seek another path.

"Thinking of it this way, it might not be a bad thing after all."

Although by then, the consciousness belonging to "Master Chongguang" would likely dissipate as well, replaced by a brand new life, a brand new consciousness.

But so what?

Master Chongguang smiled indifferently: "If I attain the true fruit, whether self or other-self, ultimately it is still me; if I do not attain the true fruit, whether self or other-self, there is actually little difference."

"Enough... the sooner I go, the sooner I return."

As his voice fell, Master Chongguang's figure vanished beneath the last wisp of brilliant light from the Covering Lamp Fire, shattering like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, or a shadow into a sky full of colorful clouds.

However, just before shattering completely, driven by a desire for revenge against the mysterious True Person who had blocked his path, Master Chongguang still managed to project a strand of spiritual sense.

Gazing at the Covering Lamp Fire gradually fading in the sky, and the Cave Yang Blessed Land collapsing, disintegrating, and merging with heaven and earth, Lu Yang could not help but sigh with emotion.

Recalling everything Master Chongguang had experienced along the way, he couldn't help but curse inwardly:

"... hat a beast!"

What a wretched place; achieving a Golden Core was unbelievably difficult, every step a pitfall; take one wrong step and, like Master Chongguang, you would be doomed for ten thousand kalpas.

Thinking of this, sorrow suddenly welled up in Lu Yang's heart; if it were him at peak Foundation Establishment, having spent long years gathering the required Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, refining innate divine abilities, thinking he could seek gold and ascend, only to discover a flaw in the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, yet unable to change it because the Great Dao knows no regret—

'... h right, I can restart?'

Then there's no problem!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang quickly composed his emotions and restored his calm; Great Dao knows no regret? That does not exist for me! As long as I wish to walk, the path lies beneath my feet!

However, just at that moment, Lu Yang suddenly froze.

The next second, he took out the Formless Sword; the raw material of this superior spiritual sword was precisely Master Chongguang True Person's immortal spiritual body, a strand of Xin Metal qi.

He saw that this strand of Xin Metal qi was now glowing with brilliance.

'Is this... Master Chongguang's last words?'

Lu Yang paused, about to examine it with his spiritual sense, when a slightly hoarse yet cold voice suddenly rang out beside his ear: "What did Master Chongguang say to you?"

Lu Yang's expression instantly stiffened, and only then did he belatedly turn his head.

Behind him, 知 when, stood a woman in a palace skirt, covered in blood with torn clothes; though she looked like a battle-worn mess, her demeanor and movements were extremely dignified; suddenly, she showed no signs of madness, resembling instead a beautiful matron about to attend a banquet.

—Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue True Person!

"Disciple pays respects to the True Person!"

Immediately afterward, he handed over the Formless Sword.

"Disciple has not yet had time to examine Junior Uncle Master Chongguang's message; please, True Person, inspect it clearly."

"Master Chongguang... what a pity."

Hearing this, Qingcheng Feixue True Person shook her head, glanced casually at the Formless Sword, and sighed: "It's useless information; it no longer affects the overall situation."

"If it had been a hundred years earlier, there might have been room for reversal."

Oh?

Hearing this, Lu Yang's heart stirred slightly; a hundred years ago—that coincided exactly with his first anchor point, not long after he had entered the Holy Sect as a talent.

While noting this crucial piece of information, Lu Yang glanced at the Formless Sword.

Perhaps because time was running out, the message Master Chongguang left via the Formless Sword was very simple, consisting of only four words, truly concise and comprehensive:

"It is in the Netherworld."

(End of Chapter)