Chapter 131 – Lord of Nine Luminaries Celestial Capital, Azure Cloud Shangqing Dao Lord

“Dao Lord Shangqing… How could Dao Lord Shangqing still be alive?”

“He was clearly surrounded and killed by several descended ancient Immortal Fiends during the Azure Cloud Sect battle. Even his lifebound sword formation was left behind at the Azure Cloud Sect. He couldn’t possibly be alive, he shouldn’t be alive!”

Rong Gongming stared at Lu Chen’s face in the square and the Shangqing Cloud Sword floating behind him, confirming once again that he wasn’t seeing things.

The person appearing in his branch altar was indeed the same Dao Lord Shangqing who, five thousand years ago during the Azure Cloud Sect battle, had used his powerful sword formation to confront several descended ancient Immortal Fiends.

Rong Gongming knew all this because he had personally participated in that battle five thousand years ago.

Though at that time he was merely a lowly Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

But by sheer luck during that great battle, he managed to consume part of a Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiend’s body.

This not only allowed his cultivation to break through to the Golden Core Stage.

But later he even had the fortune to catch the attention of the Black Lotus Buddha Mother, who brought him into the Buddha Mother’s palm Buddha land.

However, entering the palm Buddha land also meant he completely lost any possibility of strengthening himself through his own efforts.

Only through the Black Lotus Buddha Mother’s grace could he make any improvements.

Yet Rong Gongming didn’t regret his decision back then too much.

Because if he hadn’t been taken into the palm Buddha land, he wouldn’t have been able to survive until now.

During these five thousand years,

Rong Gongming had indeed reached higher realms before.

But the Two Realms Battlefield was simply too brutal.

Causing Rong Gongming to die several times in battles against immortal cultivators.

Each death not only required five hundred years to resurrect, but each resurrection would cause his cultivation to fall back to the first revolution of the Golden Core Stage.

After several such cycles, Rong Gongming eventually didn’t dare to rashly join that brutal Two Realms Battlefield anymore.

Instead choosing to hide in this completely occupied Great Yan Dynasty of the Black Lotus Sect.

What he never expected was that this Great Yan Dynasty actually had such a terrifying place as the ‘Great Yan Imperial Mausoleum.’

For reasons unknown, the higher-ups didn’t dare to dispatch Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiends here.

Only daring to station some Golden Core Stage Immortal Fiends here.

Rong Gongming only learned about this situation after arriving here.

But by then, even if he wanted to regret it, it was already too late.

According to a Black Lotus Sect higher-up who was friendly with him,

the reason no Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiends dared to come to the Great Yan Imperial City

was because there was an Eternal residing within the Great Yan Imperial Mausoleum.

For Immortal Fiends below the Nascent Soul Stage, the Eternal was certainly terrifying, but the threat to them was far less than to Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiends.

Because unlike Nascent Soul Stage immortal cultivators,

the power of Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiends mostly comes from the ancient Immortal Fiends behind them.

The power of ancient Immortal Fiends partly comes from the devoured Heavenly Dao, and partly from the faith of their believers.

What Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiends can borrow is precisely that portion of the Power Of Faith.

And the Power Of Faith, in a certain sense, is equivalent to Luck.

Therefore, if a Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiend is personally killed by an Eternal, not only would they lose any chance of resurrection in the Buddha land, but it would even allow the other party to recover considerably to some extent.

As for Golden Core Stage Immortal Fiends, because they are too ‘weak,’ the Eternal disdains to take action against them.

After all, the Eternal has limited opportunities to act, and she must use her limited Luck to deal with more valuable enemies.This resulted in the peculiar sight of a mortal imperial city harboring no fewer than five Golden Core Stage Immortal Fiends.

The absence of Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiends did not mean the Black Lotus Sect was truly powerless against the Eternal within the Great Yan Imperial Mausoleum.

By seizing control of the Great Yan Dynasty and severing the land’s dragon veins, they devised their countermeasure—a method to weaken the Eternal’s power.

For the Eternal was the only existence in this world unafraid of Luck’s backlash, capable of wielding Luck to execute numerous forbidden arts.

How formidable were these forbidden arts? It was said that during the Azure Cloud Sect battle, this very Eternal had harnessed the Luck of an entire nation to unleash a Luck-forbidden technique, ultimately slaying a descended Ancient Fiend with mere mortal flesh.

Though the power of descended Ancient Fiends was suppressed in the Mortal Realm, they still rivaled “Mortal Realm Immortals”—the pinnacle of mortal world strength. Yet not only did the Eternal personally destroy such a being, but its true body in the Ancient Fiend World suffered significant injury as well.

This battle cemented the Eternal’s fearsome reputation across both realms, establishing a consensus among Ancient Fiends: none should lightly challenge the Eternal in the Mortal Realm.

Thus, even after the Azure Cloud Sect conflict left the Eternal in prolonged slumber due to Luck backlash, the Ancient Fiends dared not provoke her recklessly. They could only gradually occupy her former territories to diminish the Luck at her disposal—hence why even the modest Great Yan Imperial City hosted five Golden Core Stage Fiends.

Beyond depleting the Eternal’s power, Rong Gongming and his cohorts also monitored her movements, ensuring the Black Lotus Sect could respond immediately upon her reemergence.

While others might not know the Eternal’s identity within the Great Yan Imperial Mausoleum, Rong Gongming understood clearly: she was Ji Ling’er, last emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, revered as the Nine Luminaries Celestial Capital Lord.

“Nine Luminaries” represented the stars, symbolizing that all lands touched by starlight fell under Ji Ling’er’s dominion. “Celestial Capital” signified that wherever she resided became a realm comparable to an Immortal Emperor’s abode in the Upper Realm.

In the Great Yan Dynasty’s zenith, she commanded one-third of the Mortal Realm, personally monopolizing a third of the Human Race’s Luck drawn from countless mortals. Her generals, empowered by her Luck arts, achieved prowess rivaling deities despite their mortal forms.

Had the Ancient Fiends not corrupted numerous mortals—spreading rumors that disasters following their descent were divine retribution provoked by Ji Ling’er—thus undermining the dynasty from within, conquering this mortal power would have cost the Ancient Fiend World dearly.

But Rong Gongming never anticipated that instead of the Celestial Capital’s Eternal Emperor emerging from the mausoleum, he would encounter the far more terrifying Shangqing Daojun.

Stripped of Dynastic Luck, the Eternal Emperor was little different from an ordinary mortal—posing no threat unless cornered. Yet this Shangqing Daojun was different: he slaughtered Immortal Fiends on sight!

His Sword Formation wasn’t something a mere Golden Core Stage Fiend like himself could withstand—even descended Ancient Fiends who entered it never returned!

Run! Now!We must leave now, or it will be too late!

Without any hesitation, Rong Gongming immediately decided to turn and flee.

He had no intention of staying even a moment longer.

But before he could make a move, the Buddha Mother Statue he was guarding suddenly opened its eyes.

In the next instant, Rong Gongming felt a terrifying pressure emanating from within the altar.

It forced him to halt his escape and drop to his knees in fear.

“G-Gongming… welcomes the descent of the Buddha Mother…”

Rong Gongming knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead, his body trembling.

Due to certain special reasons, the suddenly awakened Buddha Mother Statue didn’t look at Rong Gongming but instead gazed intently at a certain spot outside the altar.

After a moment, a cold voice reached Rong Gongming’s ears.

“Kill him. If you kill him, I shall grant you the supreme Dao and the fruit of immortality.”

What?!

You want me to kill Shangqing Daojun? Buddha Mother, are you serious???

Perhaps guessing Rong Gongming’s thoughts, the Buddha Mother Statue spoke again.

“Do not fear. This is merely one of His Clones, a pawn He left in the mortal realm.”

“Kill him. If you cannot accomplish this… there is no need for you to live either.”

After speaking, the Buddha Mother Statue returned to its original tranquil state.

The hurried departure seemed to indicate that the Black Lotus Buddha Mother feared something and dared not linger here.

At almost the same moment the Buddha Mother appeared, Ji Ling’er, lying in the Undying Longevity Coffin within the Imperial Mausoleum, suddenly opened her eyes.

She sat up from the partially opened Undying Longevity Coffin.

Hearing movement from the palace, Lan Yan, who was guarding the Great Hall, immediately pushed the door open and entered, asking: “Your Majesty, what happened?”

Ji Ling’er didn’t answer immediately but looked up toward a certain direction above ground.

Her eyes turned golden, and the intricate patterns on the Undying Longevity Coffin beneath her began to glow faintly, appearing quite mystical.

After a moment, Ji Ling’er closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the golden light in her pupils had vanished.

“It’s nothing. I just let a certain individual escape.”

“A pity. If I could have captured Him, my power would have recovered significantly…”

After speaking, Ji Ling’er lay back down.

She closed her coffin.

Soon, the palace returned to tranquility.

Hearing these words, Lan Yan seemed to ponder something briefly before closing the palace doors again and retreating outside the Great Hall.

Standing outside the Great Hall doors, she looked up at the mausoleum ceiling and murmured to herself: “Daoist Master, whether we can reclaim Great Yan’s Luck and sound the horn of counterattack from the mortal realm… it all depends on you now.”

Black Lotus East Altar, Great Yan Imperial City.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it! Even if it’s just a Clone, it’s still the Clone of a True Immortal or even higher existence!”

“Even if He currently appears to be at the Foundation Establishment Stage, what if He suddenly undergoes Awakening!”

After cursing to himself for a while, Rong Gongming finally reached a decision.

“I can’t run. If I run, the Buddha Mother will never spare me.”

“Between a slim chance of survival and certain death… I know which to choose.”

Having said this, Rong Gongming stood up and walked out of the Great Hall.

Rong Gongming was well aware of the power of the ‘Fiend-Trapping Sword Array’ that Lu Chen was currently deploying.

The most notable characteristic of this Sword Formation was that the longer it persisted, the more powerful it became.

He had one incense stick’s time—he must kill his opponent within one incense stick’s time.Moreover, throughout this process, he had to pretend not to recognize the other party.

Only in this way could he ensure the other would not awaken memories of their past life.

This was the only path that gave him a chance of victory.

Though this journey was fraught with danger, it was also a great Opportunity for him.

After all, not only would killing Lu Chen earn him the Buddha Mother’s favor,

Lu Chen’s “True Immortal body” alone was no less than a priceless treasure to him.

In the past, he had reached the Golden Core Stage by devouring the corpse of an ordinary Nascent Soul Stage Immortal Fiend.

If he could devour Lu Chen’s True Immortal body…

He dared not imagine, he absolutely dared not imagine what heights he might reach in the future.

At this thought, the hesitation in Rong Gongming’s eyes vanished.

Replaced by an indescribable madness.

Either die, or achieve Ascension.

Only these two paths lay before him now!

Soar to greatness or perish with his Dao destroyed—it all hinged on this moment!

Besides, he wasn’t fighting alone; the Altar Lords from other branches and the Protectors within the Imperial Palace would surely arrive soon.

Five Golden Core Stage cultivators against one Foundation Establishment Stage True Immortal Clone—the odds weren’t small!

Provided the other didn’t awaken…

Great Yan Imperial City, Black Lotus East Altar.

Faced with Lu Chen’s sudden intrusion and the eerie Sword Formation hovering in the sky,

the many Black Lotus Cultists hesitated to approach recklessly in the short term.

Earlier, a few fearless ones had acted rashly,

only to end up as cold corpses on the ground before they could even get close to Lu Chen.

They hadn’t even seen Lu Chen make a move—just a flash of Sword Qi, and those men were decapitated.

It was as if invisible Sword Qi guarded Lu Chen’s surroundings; whoever approached would die.

“What’s happening?”

Just as the Black Lotus Cultists were leaderless, a steady voice came from behind.

Hearing this voice, many cultists’ faces lit up with joy.

For that voice belonged to their Altar Lord, Rong Gongming, who possessed Golden Core Stage cultivation!

Perhaps emboldened by their Altar Lord’s presence,

one Black Lotus Cultist immediately pointed at Lu Chen and arrogantly threatened, “You’re done for, kid! Just wait to die—our Altar Lord is here!”

Hearing this, before Lu Chen could react, Rong Gongming beside him first shot a “death glare” at the cultist who had spoken so presumptuously.

Don’t drag me into your suicide!

Are you that eager to climb the ranks, hoping I die quickly?

If not for the Buddha Mother’s divine decree, I’d have fled long ago—why would I still be here?

Though he had mentally cursed the cultist who insulted Lu Chen a hundred times over,

Rong Gongming showed none of it on his face.

He appeared utterly confident, as if he could single-handedly capture Lu Chen.

His calm demeanor further emboldened the misunderstanding cultists around him.

With the Altar Lord here, there’s no mishap!

Since the Altar Lord was so composed, he must be certain of victory.

In that case, they had nothing to fear!

At this thought, many Black Lotus Cultists joined in with their own threats.

“Pathetic Foundation Establishment Stage ant, how laughable! Do you even know where you are, that you dare come here so recklessly? Don’t tell me you actually think you’re a Reincarnation Immortal? What a joke!””This fellow believer speaks true. A mere showpiece relying on the might of a Magic Treasure—once our Altar Lord makes a move, cutting him down will be as easy as slicing melons and chopping vegetables!”

The Black Lotus Cultists chattered among themselves, each word more disparaging than the last, painting Lu Chen as utterly worthless.

They completely failed to notice Rong Gongming’s increasingly grim expression behind them.

Unmanageable. The current cultists were becoming more and more unmanageable.

How could they be so utterly lacking in perception!

Didn’t they ever use their rusted brains to think properly?

Would an ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator dare to intrude alone into a Black Lotus Branch Altar?

Aside from the cultists’ baffling attitudes, Lu Chen’s behavior also puzzled Rong Gongming.

He himself wasn’t making a move because he was waiting for support from the other Branch Altar Lords.

But what was Lu Chen waiting for by not acting?

Could it be that he wanted all the Branch Altar Lords to gather so he could wipe them out in one fell swoop?

As this thought crossed Rong Gongming’s mind, Lu Chen’s image in his eyes grew even more terrifying.

It was as if this guy could achieve Ascension at any moment, unlock his True Immortal memories, and transform into a living True Immortal.

If Lu Chen could guess his thoughts, he would only say Rong Gongming was overthinking.

The reason he wasn’t making a move now was, first, to familiarize himself with his Immortal-Trapping Sword Formation, and second, to see how long it would take for Altar Lords from other locations to arrive.

This way, he could accurately determine exactly how much time he had to deal with a Black Lotus Branch Altar Lord alone.

Additionally, the moment Lu Chen entered the branch altar, he had quietly released one of his Heretical Avatars.

It was searching for the Black Lotus Seed Statue hidden within the branch altar.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

His core purpose in coming this time was merely to gather intelligence.

The longer he delayed, the more intelligence… he would obtain.

After about a minute of standoff between Lu Chen and Rong Gongming’s group,

three figures suddenly appeared in the sky above the Black Lotus Branch Altar.

Including Rong Gongming on the ground, all four Black Lotus Altar Lords from within the Great Yan Imperial City had now gathered here.

They surrounded Lu Chen in an encirclement formation.

During this process, Lu Chen carefully examined these individuals’ stat panels:

[Black Lotus East Altar Lord · Rong Gongming (Minor Injuries)]

[Cultivation: Golden Core Stage Three Revolutions]

[Golden Core Quality: Sixth-grade Earthly Path Golden Core]

[Current Spiritual Power: 10 million/18 million]

[Characteristics: A fairly capable Black Lotus Golden Core Stage cultivator, can borrow some power from the Black Lotus Buddha Mother]

[Black Lotus West Altar Lord · Tuoba Yu]

[Cultivation: Golden Core One Revolution]

[Foundation Establishment Quality: Ninth-grade Mortal Golden Core]

[Current Spiritual Power: 1 million/1 million]

[Characteristics: An ordinary Black Lotus Golden Core Stage cultivator, can borrow a small amount of power from the Black Lotus Buddha Mother]

[Black Lotus North Altar…]

[Black Lotus South Altar…]

Among the four Branch Altar Lords,

Black Lotus East Altar’s Rong Gongming had the highest cultivation,

while Black Lotus West Altar Lord Tuoba Yu was the weakest.

Considering this, Lu Chen roughly formed a plan in his heart.

The East Altar required his personal attention, the South and North Altars could be handled by dispatching Heretical Avatars.

As for the weakest West Altar, he could simply send Mo Ling and the others later.

In that moment, Lu Chen’s plan gradually began to take shape.

Having reached this point, he no longer needed to wait any longer.Because the Heretical Avatar he had sent out had already located the exact position of the sub-statue within the East Altar.

Although that Heretical Avatar was quickly destroyed by the Formation after triggering it deep within the East Altar,

the memories after its dissipation were completely absorbed by Lu Chen.

Thus, Lu Chen learned quite a few things.

Given this, there was only one thing he needed to do now.

That was to force these Black Lotus Altar Lords to reveal their true strength as much as possible.

Once he understood their methods,

dealing with them afterward would not be difficult.

The same thought also occurred to the four Golden Core Stage Black Lotus Altar Lords.

After all, the reason they had rushed here was not just because they had detected anomalies in the East Altar.

They had also received a divine decree passed down by the Buddha Mother.

“Attack!”

Rong Gongming shouted loudly, actively unleashing his Divine Ability.

A massive, hairless demonic hound was summoned by him, occupying nearly half of the East Altar Square.

However, after summoning this hairless demonic hound, Rong Gongming shrewdly retreated behind the others.

Appearing to go all out, he was actually betraying his allies!

The other three Black Lotus Altar Lords, who had not participated in the Azure Clouds battle five thousand years ago, did not think too much about this.

One of them fully unleashed his Divine Ability, while the other two impatiently charged toward Lu Chen,

clearly eager to seize credit.

Facing the siege of these four Golden Core Stage Cultivators, Lu Chen’s eyes sharpened.

Five Elements… Spirit Communication!

Boom!

As vast Spiritual Power erupted from Lu Chen’s body, a massive, semi-corporeal Divine Lord appeared before everyone, as if a Divine Lord had descended to the mortal realm.

Then, Lu Chen controlled the Divine Lord, swinging its Sword down toward the nearest Golden Core Stage Altar Lord…

(End of Chapter)