Chapter 568 : A Fated Death in the Future?

“Boom ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍rumble rumble！”

Within ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Foundation Establishment Realm, the area was now completely engulfed in a stretch of blinding daylight. Real Persons below the late Foundation Establishment stage weren’t even qualified to spectate and were forcibly expelled.

Only ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍those at the late stage or the perfected stage of Foundation Establishment could barely make out the sixteen-foot golden body trudging with difficulty through that intense daylight. Yet even such a perfected golden body was, at this moment, cracking under the light—its skin splitting, bones melting, and viscera turned to dust.

That ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍single beam of daylight had affected who knew how many parts of the present world.

Amid ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it, countless specks of starlight were shattered by the Manifested Tathāgata, torn from the Foundation Establishment Realm and plunged into the mortal world. Once nourished by spiritual energy, they could become spirit flames in under a hundred years.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a long while, the daylight finally subsided.

At this moment, the Manifested Tathāgata no longer resembled a human figure. All flesh and skin had been burned away, leaving only a skeleton radiating golden brilliance standing in place.

“Clatter clatter.”

With a gust of wind, the skeleton lost its divine aura and disintegrated. Yet just then, in the distance, Buddhist light reappeared, and another Manifested Tathāgata stepped forth.

‘It’s the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】.’

Lü Yang lowered his eyelids and saw through the mystery of this “resurrection”:

‘This Manifested Tathāgata had actually restructured himself into an official-like existence within the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】. Even if he died, he could be reborn at any time!’

In the past, when the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 only governed Jiangdong, giving birth to a Manifested Tathāgata at the Golden Core True Lord level would have been incredibly difficult. Even if possible, once or twice was the limit. But now, with the Immortal Kingdom’s laws spanning the world, such feats could be achieved with ease!

More terrifyingly, this resurrection completely bypassed the rules Lü Yang had set.

According to Lü Yang’s original rules, the more the Manifested Tathāgata recovered from injury, the heavier the punishment he would suffer under the rules—using a snowball effect to guarantee victory.

But the outcome?

The opponent didn’t even bother to recover—he just resurrected directly!

How was one supposed to play like this?

‘This is outright cheating!’

Lü Yang sighed internally. His hand changed seals and he dispersed the rule just formed. After all, if it came to a head-on battle of techniques, he would be injured as well.

Just then, the Manifested Tathāgata moved.

“This gift was originally meant to be saved for last, but since you, good sir, remain stubborn, I shall bestow this beautiful future upon you.”

He smiled faintly. Then, forty-eight thousand arms simultaneously extended, and the wisdom eyes in their palms once more reflected the image of the 【Jambudvīpa Saha Blessed Realm】. Not only that, streams of visible light flowed out—each carrying massive karmic weight—pointing directly toward a certain fixed future—

【A Possibility of Hongtian】！

The World-Honored One had deliberately sent the Manifested Tathāgata into the 【Pseudo-History】 before Lü Yang sought his Golden Core, to slay Hongtian—not merely as practice.

But also to ensure this very future.

A future of 【Seeking Heavenly Fire, Failing and Perishing】！

In an instant, Lü Yang felt a massive karmic burden land upon him. Cause and effect were born. Regardless of the process, the outcome was already fated:

‘I seek gold... and I must die!?’

Lü Yang’s expression darkened abruptly, though he did not panic. This final card of the Manifested Tathāgata was still within his expectations.

However, the next second—

“Crack！”

Lü Yang’s pupils shrank suddenly. He snapped his gaze toward the 【Yama Palace】, specifically at the radiantly glowing Hong Yun Golden Nature that had performed outstanding service.

There he saw it—the supposedly indestructible True Lord Golden Nature had developed visible cracks under the strain of the 【Yama Palace】. Pieces were breaking off, and the Hong Yun Golden Nature, which should have lasted longer, was visibly thinning!

And that wasn’t all.

As the Hong Yun Golden Nature shattered, the 【Yama Palace】 began to emit groaning noises, struggling to withstand the pressure of the 【Heavenly Fire】.

Lü Yang calculated the karmic causes and instantly understood the situation:

‘Because I previously used the 【Heavenly Fire】 to strip other golden natures and patch the Hong Yun Golden Nature, it seemed flawless—but actually left severe hidden risks.’

‘Now, under intense combat, those flaws erupted. The Hong Yun Golden Nature began to crack, drastically shortening its lifespan, and the 【Yama Palace】 began collapsing along with it. At this rate, forget a whole incense stick’s time—in three minutes, I’ll fall!’

What kind of joke was this!?

Lü Yang drew a deep breath. He knew clearly that this wasn’t his own mistake—it was the so-called 【Fated Death Future】 granted by the Manifested Tathāgata, stirring the changes in karma!

Just then—

“Boom！”

The 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 trembled again, as if recovering from Lü Yang’s earlier strike. Then, new script surfaced:

【Eradicate the Usurping Emperor, Restore the Lawful Orthodoxy】！

In the next moment, cultivators from the Dao Court across all five regions of the world simultaneously felt the decree—the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 had issued a mission: Eliminate all cultivators of the incense spirit path！

In an instant, war erupted！

In Huànmíng City, beneath the 【Star-Plucking Tower】.

“Get out of my way！”

Xiao Shan's entire body surged with incense divine power. His true form, a monstrous Shanxiao, manifested as he desperately fought off the surrounding Dao Court cultivators.

“Don’t be afraid, hold your ground！”

“Incense Path cultivators are nothing. They can only bully lower realm Real Persons. Against peers, they’re nothing!”

The leader attacking Xiao Shan roared with laughter. As a loyalist of the Tianwu Royal Clan, long enduring in silence, he had just been granted a position—one that Lü Yang had once sealed away. The position of 【Junior Mentor】 descended from the heavens, boosting his cultivation to perfected Foundation Establishment!

“I knew it—the False Dynasty wouldn’t last！”

The newly appointed 【Junior Mentor】 was ecstatic. Previously a second-rank official, he had long coveted a first-rank seat. Today, he had finally gotten his wish.

How could he not be overjoyed?

Thinking this, he looked at Xiao Shan with growing bloodlust. Eradicating rebels and traitors—whether he could secure his 【Junior Mentor】 post depended on it!

If he did well, once Tianwu was restored, he might even aspire to the position of one of the Three Dukes！

The mortal world’s situation shifted again.

Meanwhile, within the Foundation Establishment Realm, Lü Yang’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at the Golden Bridge. One by one, the images of light within it drifted away from him.

Cause and effect had been sealed. The future was immutable.

He was about to lose！

Lü Yang wanted to resist, but now, even maintaining pseudo-possession was a struggle. His Hong Yun Golden Nature was still collapsing. What could he possibly use to fight back?

“Amitabha.”

Seeing this, the Manifested Tathāgata once again wore that world-compassionate smile and gently said, “Why must you persist so bitterly, my good sir?”

“Enter my 【Jambudvīpa Saha Blessed Realm】. I’ve left a place there especially for you. In time, if you accept vows and uphold the law, you may become a Tathāgata of my path—alongside me, you could study the Fundamental Sutra of Mahayana True Enlightenment. Would that not be supreme bliss? Why insist on rolling in the red dust?”

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang raised his head.

At this point, the firelight around him had grown dim, and as the Royal Guard Division’s cultivators were slaughtered one by one in the mortal world, his golden-seeking foundation began to collapse.

Yet his expression remained calm—serene like still water.

Seeing this, the Manifested Tathāgata involuntarily frowned:

Why was he still so calm?

He had failed to attain gold. His schemes had fallen apart. Ten years of preparation had crumbled to nothing. How could he remain so composed?

The next moment, Lü Yang spoke:

“I refuse.”

Just three words, but they made the Manifested Tathāgata laugh. You refuse? What good is refusal? Could the affairs of the world be altered by mere refusal?

“To think you’d say something so naive... truly unexpected of you, benefactor.”

The Manifested Tathāgata chuckled and shook his head, now believing his prior wariness laughable. What demon dragon? He was just a fool who didn’t understand reality.

And yet—

Suddenly, voices erupted from all five domains of the world, converging upon the Foundation Establishment Realm, shaking the heavens—male and female alike—harmonizing with Lü Yang’s voice:

“He’s right.”

As the words fell, golden-seeking lights surged not only from Jiangdong, but also from Jiangbei, Jiangxi, and overseas—piercing into the Sea of Bitterness together:

“We refuse——！”