Chapter 372: False Holding of the Golden Position Method!

As the final divine art expanded, Lü Yang's figure grew hazy, while the halo behind him suddenly swelled countless times over.

Countless web-like patterns radiated outward from the halo.

Then they twisted.

This time, facing the Dao art launched by Zushi Tingyou, Lü Yang did not evade—he let it strike, and the twisted radiance swallowed all things.

The next instant, Zushi Tingyou froze mid-movement, then glanced at Lü Yang with surprise, followed by a look around. Undoubtedly, Lü Yang was unharmed; his Dao art had not failed to land—it was merely that the intended damage had been redirected.

Redirected where?

Instantly, Zushi Tingyou felt his incense offerings violently unraveling, as a powerful, invisible fury locked onto his vital energy.

'Celestial Punishment!?'

Zushi Tingyou's expression cleared with sudden understanding; when he looked at Lü Yang again, awe finally surfaced in his eyes, and he voluntarily withdrew his magic power.

'…I have lost.'

Zushi Tingyou smiled lightly, and Lü Yang solemnly bowed his hands.

'Don't say that, Zushi, you're too kind.'

'Unity with the World,' this divine art, as its name implies, binds oneself to heaven and earth, transferring all harm one suffers onto heaven and earth to bear.

Just now, Zushi Tingyou's Dao art was exactly that—all damage was redirected by Lü Yang, specifically into the earth veins of the Seven Luminaries, causing Zushi Tingyou to immediately incur the Seven Luminaries' enmity, hence the unraveling of his incense offerings.

Had Lü Yang not halted the Seven Luminaries' subsequent reaction,

Zushi Tingyou would have already lost his incense support and fallen from Foundation Establishment peak, which was why he frankly admitted defeat.

This was only within the Seven Luminaries.

'After all, "Unity with the World" is not confined to the Seven Luminaries—it operates across all worlds, even usable in the most desolate places!'

Under the divine art's enhancement, Lü Yang was akin to a living earth vein.

Any injury could be directly transferred to heaven and earth, thereby summoning celestial punishment—but because he could redirect harm, punishing him was meaningless.

The result was naturally that his opponents were punished instead.

'This divine art's function is to force heaven and earth to side with me and fight my enemies—it's both a nuisance to enemies and a nuisance to heaven and earth.'

So cruel—I love it!

Lü Yang smiled faintly, dismissed 'Unity with the World,' and the Bai Yu circular light behind him retracted, hanging unremarkably like a full moon behind his head.

'Zushi, how strong do you think I am now?'

Zushi Tingyou pondered for a moment, then nodded: 'Very good. Strength is secondary—what matters is how hard you are to fight due to the divine art's subtleties.'

This statement was extremely diplomatic.

Lü Yang raised an eyebrow, sensing the unspoken implication: strength is secondary, meaning that in truth, his strength still fell short?

'Not weak, either.'

Seeing this, Zushi Tingyou quickly added: 'A Foundation Establishment peak cultivator from outside the Four Great Powers is roughly equal to you now.'

'Even if I restored to my peak, I'd only be slightly stronger than you.'

Lü Yang nodded, then asked curiously: 'Exactly where am I lacking?'

'In Dao arts!'

Zushi Tingyou explained: 'As far as I know, the Four Great Powers each have specialized Dao arts prepared for Foundation Establishment peak cultivators, requiring Gold-nature refinement to cultivate.'

'Your "Sword Intention" is one of them.'

This is the advantage of the great sects.

In comparison, small sects lack true transmissions and the accumulated knowledge of great sects over countless years—no matter how gifted, they can only reach Zushi Tingyou's level.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang frowned:

'I've now condensed "Sword Intention," but I don't feel its enhancement is as exaggerated as described—it's strong, yet seems insufficient…'

'"Sword Intention" is merely the foundation.'

Zushi Tingyou shook his head: 'Do you have a sword technique capable of unleashing it? The sword technique is the key—that's why sword cultivators lead in combat power.'

Remember, "Sword Intention" is not exclusive to sword cultivators.

For example, Lü Yang—his true body isn't a sword cultivator, yet he still condensed Sword Intention; fundamentally, it's merely an extreme application of soul and spiritual awareness.

Once the Sword Pavilion truly manifests the 【Sword Dao Fruit Seat】, under the influence of that Fruit Seat, 【Sword Intent】 will become something exclusively for sword cultivators.

Once the Sword Pavilion truly attains the "Sword Dao Position," under the Position's influence, "Sword Intention" will become entirely exclusive to sword cultivators.

'In short, your strength still has room to grow.'

Zushi Tingyou doused Lü Yang with cold water, then comforted him: 'But your divine art is devious—I doubt anyone will dare fight you.'

'Besides, combat strength isn't that important.'

Here, Zushi Tingyou added thoughtfully: 'For instance, I'm not skilled in combat—but combat weakness can be compensated by realm.'

Lü Yang: '…'

Zushi Tingyou isn't skilled in combat?

However, he quickly reacted, his eyes brightening slightly; indeed, if combat power is insufficient, make up for it with realm—cultivation has always placed realm first!

But he quickly realized, eyes brightening—yes, if combat power is lacking, compensate with realm! Cultivation always prioritizes realm above all!

'…Yan Mo Palace?'

False Holding of the Golden Position Method!

With this thought, Lü Yang immediately waved his hand, summoning Yan Taizu, the Ducheng City God, and Wu Sheng Laomu—all already refined into banner spirits.

Then came the Baitian Peak Master, the Dragon Maiden's malevolent spirit, and the Guardian Deity Suni.

Also Long Yue and Zushi Tingyou.

These eight could all be empowered by incense divine path to attain Foundation Establishment peak status, and with Lü Yang himself, there were now nine Foundation Establishment peak cultivators!

The conditions for the Yan Mo Palace have been met!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately clenched his fists and got ready.

"Don't get too excited yet."

Hearing this, Master Tingyou said with a hint of exasperation: "The Yama Palace itself points to no fruit position—how, then, do you think it falsely holds the Golden Position?"

At these words, Lu Yang immediately regained his composure.

'That's right.'

He hadn't noticed before, but now that he thought about it, the method by which the Yama Palace falsely holds the Golden Position was strange—just gather nine Foundation Establishment completions?

Do you need a fruit position at all?

But if you don't even have a fruit position, what's the point of falsely holding it?

"The key lies in Gold Nature."

Seeing his expression, Master Tingyou explained: "In my calculations, the Yama Palace is fundamentally very similar to the 'Heaven Collapses' method used during Qi Condensation."

"Heaven Collapses."

Lu Yang quickly recalled: the so-called Heaven Collapses was a technique where a Qi Condensation cultivator ascends in rank to reach Foundation Establishment, then violently collapses—achieving a killing move through this 'dimensional descent.' Master Tingyou had once used it on him, and he had barely blocked it using the 【Have Two Tricks】.

"The Yama Palace works the same way."

"Its principle is to elevate oneself to a 'height' nearly equal to a fruit position, allowing the Yama Palace to manifest power akin to that of a fruit position."

"This is essentially no different from the process of seeking Gold."

"Therefore, it also requires Gold Nature."

Here, Master Tingyou finally revealed the Yama Palace's greatest limitation: "Each time you activate the Yama Palace, it is equivalent to one act of seeking Gold."

"Seeking Gold consumes Gold Nature."

"In other words, to make the Yama Palace falsely hold the Golden Position, you must expend Gold Nature—once the Gold Nature is exhausted, the Yama Palace will disintegrate!"

(End of Chapter)