Chapter 365

"Is this all you dare bring against me?"

Lv Yang pressed down his sword light, extending his hand to snatch two glimmering threads from the Spirit Tide formed by the shattered Spiritual Bodies of the two Ten Thousand Poisons Sect True Men.

They were unmistakably their Venomous Divination Beetles.

[Dragon Centipede Venom].

[Mirage Cicada Venom].

The first appeared to be a Divine Ability akin to a Dharma Body, capable of transforming its user into a dragon centipede with a semblance of true dragon might—though its power ended there.

The second, however, intrigued him.

"Mushrooms know not the dawn and dusk; cicadas comprehend neither spring nor autumn."

Holding the [Mirage Cicada Venom] in his palm, Lv Yang observed its form—a delicate golden cicada emitting a shrill, resonant chirp as he channeled his energy into it.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed. The cicada’s song prickled his senses, and he felt his body subtly wither. His energy surged faster, as though time itself drained from him. Strands of frost appeared in his previously jet-black hair.

"Hmph!"

But in the next instant, Lv Yang scoffed, his finger flicking out to release a bolt of [Sword Qi Thunderclap]. The eerie chirping vanished instantly, revealing the truth—his hair remained unaltered, the wrinkles and decay from moments ago erased as though they’d never existed.

"Fascinating."

Stroking his chin, Lv Yang unraveled the [Mirage Cicada Venom]'s secret. Unlike conventional toxins, its power stemmed not from poison but from the target’s own mind.

"Appearance follows perception; belief makes it real, disbelief renders it illusion. This Venomous Divination Beetle creates a near-perfect illusionary realm. Those who believe in it transform illusion into reality. Those who doubt see only a fleeting dream. This [Mirage Cicada Venom] far surpasses the [Dragon Centipede Venom]."

Its sole flaw lay in its ephemeral nature—born in spring, dead by summer; born in summer, dead by autumn. It remained dormant except in critical moments, making its use prohibitively rare.

"No wonder the [Fortune-Drawing Fate-Sign] earlier hinted at scenarios where I might fail to overcome them."

After all, the [Mirage Cicada Venom] wielded skillfully could neutralize dire situations—wounds, depleted energy, or any crisis—through sheer conviction in the illusion.

"Pity it met me."

Such a miraculous Venomous Divination Beetle, its power yet to manifest, was instantly extinguished by Lv Yang’s ruthless tactics, its divine essence left unused.

"Mine now."

Waving his hand, Lv Yang absorbed the [Mirage Cicada Venom]. His only regret was the absence of any technique on the two Ten Thousand Poisons Sect True Men explaining how to control Venomous Divination Beetles.

"Expected. Such secrets rarely travel on one’s person."

Pausing, Lv Yang considered summoning the [Heaven-Seizing Universal Command Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body] to retrieve the Ten-Thousand Spirit Banner and capture these foes, extracting their cultivation techniques. Yet after deliberation, he abandoned the idea.

"No need. Since Avatar entered the Sword Pavilion, no trace of the True Body should remain. Better to sever ties cleanly."

"Better safe than sorry. For all I know, someone’s watching me even now."

In the Southern Frontier, within a heavily fortified military camp shrouded in clouds, Dao Court's [Suppress Southern King] Wu Taian withdrew his gaze.

"He actually won."

Rubbing his chin, Wu Taian murmured in surprise, "Foundation Building stage, yet restored to Mid-Stage Perfection—their previous life’s roots must’ve been formidable."

As a noble of Dao Court’s imperial lineage—his elder brother the Son of Heaven, his nephew the crown prince—his jade-green eyes possessed innate divine sight, peering into the heavens and abyssal realms. A natural talent surpassing ordinary Divine Abilities, granting vision across thousands of miles.

"The Sword Pavilion’s produced another formidable sword cultivator."

Wu Taian sighed, his expression darkening. "How many heroes roam this world?"

"Holy Sect leads the age."

"One [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] shattered five millennia of stagnation, igniting sixty years of contention. Who among the True Men doesn’t owe him debts?"

"Sword Pavilion trails not."

"Dangmo True Man Ye Guangji stands as the peerless sword cultivator. I can’t name a single Foundation Building cultivator capable of withstanding three of his strikes. His strength defies reason."

"As for Pure Land, the Buddha’s heir rises, with [Earthly Buddha Realm] within reach."

"Even the Overseas Dominion..."

Here, Wu Taian’s voice turned venomous. He slammed his palm on the table, "Even the Overseas Dominion birthed a formidable cultivator from the heavens beyond!"

Holy Sect, Sword Pavilion, Pure Land—all bore their era’s elites.

Overseas Dominion, too, had its talents.

"But what of us?"

What of Dao Court?

At his words, the deputy general beside him ventured cautiously, "Your Highness, we have the Crown Prince governing in the king’s stead."

The mention only deepened Wu Taian’s scorn. "The Crown Prince? A slothful parasite, a man of no merit. He spends his days awaiting the Emperor’s death to meet our ancestors, craving the Son of Heaven title. That’s the limit of his ambition!"

"Assigning him to hold what we have is already a stretch."

"Expecting him to expand our borders, to seize even a minor kingship? Overestimating him! Forget a true kingship—he lacks the spine for a mere acting title."

"As for the court officials, every last one’s a spineless mediocrity!"

"How can such worms govern Jiangdong? How can they lead Dao Court?"

Wu Taian ranted furiously.

His deputy general, meanwhile, wished for deaf ears, staring at his nose in silence.

But then Wu Taian’s expression shifted, his voice turning grave, "Sixty years ago, the [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] forged an era of tranquility."

"Ten years have passed since."

"Yet the world remains unchanged—restless but stagnant. You know why?"

"Why?" the deputy asked softly.

"They fear."

Wu Taian’s lips curled into a grim smile. "Do the True Monarchs’ words hold truth? Did those elders truly retreat, or did they leave hidden traps?"

"These uncertainties linger."

"Perhaps some suspect the True Monarchs orchestrated this, seeking to uproot the five-thousand-year-old seedlings one by one."

The deputy sweated profusely as Wu Taian spoke. Could these suspicions hold truth?

Of course.

The [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] hailed from the Holy Sect alone—a fact sufficient to breed doubt among True Men.

Yet Wu Taian abruptly pivoted, "All cowards!"

"Waiting today, waiting tomorrow—waiting for an eternity? They forget—the earlier one acts, the greater the chance. Delaying only courts danger!"

"The [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] is a fledgling True Monarch. Claimed sixty years of stability? But who can say? Defying all True Monarchs, sustaining thirty years of that would be a feat! Perhaps he already nears death, his end imminent!"

Standing abruptly, Wu Taian declared, "Holy Sect, Sword Pavilion, Pure Land, Overseas Dominion—shall Dao Court remain absent?"

His voice rang with conviction, "The world’s True Men hesitate, waiting for a pioneer. Then let me be first!"

"Throughout history, those who ascended to power embraced martyrdom. Now the True Monarchs retreat, and none dare walk the path of sacrifice. Thus, the world stagnates. If change is to come, let it begin with me!"

"Is this all you dare bring against me?"

Lv Yang pressed down his sword light, extending his hand to snatch two glimmering threads from the Spirit Tide formed by the shattered Spiritual Bodies of the two Ten Thousand Poisons Sect True Men.

They were unmistakably their Venomous Divination Beetles.

[Dragon Centipede Venom].

[Mirage Cicada Venom].

The first appeared to be a Divine Ability akin to a Dharma Body, capable of transforming its user into a dragon centipede with a semblance of true dragon might—though its power ended there.

The second, however, intrigued him.

"Mushrooms know not the dawn and dusk; cicadas comprehend neither spring nor autumn."

Holding the [Mirage Cicada Venom] in his palm, Lv Yang observed its form—a delicate golden cicada emitting a shrill, resonant chirp as he channeled his energy into it.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed. The cicada’s song prickled his senses, and he felt his body subtly wither. His energy surged faster, as though time itself drained from him. Strands of frost appeared in his previously jet-black hair.

"Hmph!"

But in the next instant, Lv Yang scoffed, his finger flicking out to release a bolt of [Sword Qi Thunderclap]. The eerie chirping vanished instantly, revealing the truth—his hair remained unaltered, the wrinkles and decay from moments ago erased as though they’d never existed.

"Fascinating."

Stroking his chin, Lv Yang unraveled the [Mirage Cicada Venom]'s secret. Unlike conventional toxins, its power stemmed not from poison but from the target’s own mind.

"Appearance follows perception; belief makes it real, disbelief renders it illusion. This Venonmous Divination Beetle creates a near-perfect illusionary realm. Those who believe in it transform illusion into reality. Those who doubt see only a fleeting dream. This [Mirage Cicada Venom] far surpasses the [Dragon Centipede Venom]."

Its sole flaw lay in its ephemeral nature—born in spring, dead by summer; born in summer, dead by autumn. It remained dormant except in critical moments, making its use prohibitively rare.

"No wonder the [Fortune-Drawing Fate-Sign] earlier hinted at scenarios where I might fail to overcome them."

After all, the [Mirage Cicada Venom] wielded skillfully could neutralize dire situations—wounds, depleted energy, or any crisis—through sheer conviction in the illusion.

"Pity it met me."

Such a miraculous Venomous Divination Beetle, its power yet to manifest, was instantly extinguished by Lv Yang’s ruthless tactics, its divine essence left unused.

"Mine now."

Waving his hand, Lv Yang absorbed the [Mirage Cicada Venom]. His only regret was the absence of any technique on the two Ten Thousand Poisons Sect True Men explaining how to control Venomous Divination Beetles.

"Expected. Such secrets rarely travel on one’s person."

Pausing, Lv Yang considered summoning the [Heaven-Seizing Universal Command Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body] to retrieve the Ten-Thousand Spirit Banner and capture these foes, extracting their cultivation techniques. Yet after deliberation, he abandoned the idea.

"No need. Since Avatar entered the Sword Pavilion, no trace of the True Body should remain. Better to sever ties cleanly."

"Better safe than sorry. For all I know, someone’s watching me even now."

In the Southern Frontier, within a heavily fortified military camp shrouded in clouds, Dao Court's [Suppress Southern King] Wu Taian withdrew his gaze.

"He actually won."

Rubbing his chin, Wu Taian murmured in surprise, "Foundation Building stage, yet restored to Mid-Stage Perfection—their previous life’s roots must’ve been formidable."

As a noble of Dao Court’s imperial lineage—his elder brother the Son of Heaven, his nephew the crown prince—his jade-green eyes possessed innate divine sight, peering into the heavens and abyssal realms. A natural talent surpassing ordinary Divine Abilities, granting vision across thousands of miles.

"The Sword Pavilion’s produced another formidable sword cultivator."

Wu Taian sighed, his expression darkening. "How many heroes roam this world?"

"Holy Sect leads the age."

"One [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] shattered five millennia of stagnation, igniting sixty years of contention. Who among the True Men doesn’t owe him debts?"

"Sword Pavilion trails not."

"Dangmo True Man Ye Guangji stands as the peerless sword cultivator. I can’t name a single Foundation Building cultivator capable of withstanding three of his strikes. His strength defies reason."

"As for Pure Land, the Buddha’s heir rises, with [Earthly Buddha Realm] within reach."

"Even the Overseas Dominion..."

Here, Wu Taian’s voice turned venomous. He slammed his palm on the table, "Even the Overseas Dominion birthed a formidable cultivator from the heavens beyond!"

Holy Sect, Sword Pavilion, Pure Land—all bore their era’s elites.

Overseas Dominion, too, had its talents.

"But what of us?"

What of Dao Court?

At his words, the deputy general beside him ventured cautiously, "Your Highness, we have the Crown Prince governing in the king’s stead."

The mention only deepened Wu Taian’s scorn. "The Crown Prince? A slothful parasite, a man of no merit. He spends his days awaiting the Emperor’s death to meet our ancestors, craving the Son of Heaven title. That’s the limit of his ambition!"

"Assigning him to hold what we have is already a stretch."

"Expecting him to expand our borders, to seize even a minor kingship? Overestimating him! Forget a true kingship—he lacks the spine for a mere acting title."

"As for the court officials, every last one’s a spineless mediocrity!"

"How can such worms govern Jiangdong? How can they lead Dao Court?"

Wu Taian ranted furiously.

His deputy general, meanwhile, wished for deaf ears, staring at his nose in silence.

But then Wu Taian’s expression shifted, his voice turning grave, "Sixty years ago, the [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] forged an era of tranquility."

"Ten years have passed since."

"Yet the world remains unchanged—restless but stagnant. You know why?"

"Why?" the deputy asked softly.

"They fear."

Wu Taian’s lips curled into a grim smile. "Do the True Monarchs’ words hold truth? Did those elders truly retreat, or did they leave hidden traps?"

"These uncertainties linger."

"Perhaps some suspect the True Monarchs orchestrated this, seeking to uproot the five-thousand-year-old seedlings one by one."

The deputy sweated profusely as Wu Taian spoke. Could these suspicions hold truth?

Of course.

The [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] hailed from the Holy Sect alone—a fact sufficient to breed doubt among True Men.

Yet Wu Taian abruptly pivoted, "All cowards!"

"Waiting today, waiting tomorrow—waiting for an eternity? They forget—the earlier one acts, the greater the chance. Delaying only courts danger!"

"The [Chaotian Taixu True Monarch] is a fledgling True Monarch. Claimed sixty years of stability? But who can say? Defying all True Monarchs, sustaining thirty years of that would be a feat! Perhaps he already nears death, his end imminent!"

Standing abruptly, Wu Taian declared, "Holy Sect, Sword Pavilion, Pure Land, Overseas Dominion—shall Dao Court remain absent?"

His voice rang with conviction, "The world’s True Men hesitate, waiting for a pioneer. Then let me be first!"

"Throughout history, those who ascended to power embraced martyrdom. Now the True Monarchs retreat, and none dare walk the path of sacrifice. Thus, the world stagnates. If change is to come, let it begin with me!"

(End of Chapter)(End of Chapter)

Chapter end