Chapter 567 : 【Dao Law Locks Heavenly Fire, the World-Honored One Treads the Dust Once More】

With ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the experience of Hongtian behind him, Lü Yang drew his sword from its sheath. With the support of his 【Titled Sword Intent】, he laughed heartily as a beam of sword light directly cleaved into the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】!

“Boom ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍rumble rumble.”

This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sudden turn of events clearly caught the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 off guard. In the next second, clear script emerged from within the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】:

【A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pretender court usurps the throne; the legal orthodoxy is not righteous and cannot serve as the imperial pivot!】

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍soon as this script appeared, all five regions of the world—now under the shroud of the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】—began to stir, mountains and rivers rebelling across the land!

“Hahahaha!”

Upon seeing this, Lü Yang burst into loud laughter, the sound affirming a truth: the World-Honored One and the Dao Court Dao Lord truly were not of one mind!

Indeed, the two were clearly working together now.

However, the mountain of prejudice in people’s hearts was not so easily moved. Even if the World-Honored One and the Dao Court Dao Lord cooperated, a rift still lay between their hearts!

After all, the World-Honored One had seized 【City Head Earth】, while the Dao Lord had used Lü Yang’s hand to exterminate the Buddhist cultivators. Under such circumstances, the World-Honored One would naturally relish seeing the Dao Lord suffer more—so long as the situation remained within his control. Likewise, the Dao Lord surely held the same thought.

Previously, Lü Yang had merely speculated as much.

Now, he had his answer: “If the World-Honored One had long since informed the Dao Court Dao Lord of the 【Pseudo-History】, then the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 shouldn’t have only just now demoted me!”

Only demoting him now? Too late!

“Boom!”

At this moment, although the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 demoted Lü Yang under the title of 【Usurping Emperor of a Pretender Court】, causing his aura to plummet instantly...

Another radiance lit up.

It was a beam of pure white brilliance. The moment it appeared, a tranquil sandalwood fragrance spread across heaven and earth, and faintly, the kneeling of millions could be sensed.

The Path of Incense Spirit!

【Seven-Star Heavens】!

Just as the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 faded, the net woven by the Path of Incense Spirit perfectly filled the vacancy, once again supporting Lü Yang’s aura!

This scene once again exceeded the expectations of the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】.

“Riiiip!”

The next moment, Lü Yang’s sword light slashed into that invisible web. The sound of a few threads snapping exploded forth, triggering a cataclysm in the world.

In that instant, from the thirty-six layers of Gang Clouds above to the seventy-two earth veins below, countless radiances erupted from the region of the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 that Lü Yang had cleaved. Like a broken dam, they surged down from the firmament, dripping like blood, and instantly swept across the world.

In the land of Jiangxi—

A Dao Court cultivator was fleeing through the skies when the official seal above his head suddenly dimmed and shattered with a bang, leaving him dumbfounded as he plummeted into the blue abyss.

Similar incidents occurred in endless succession.

And all of this was because Lü Yang had severed a few threads of the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】. Though seemingly minor, it affected tens of thousands of cultivators!

How much effort and time would be needed to repair it?

“Boom rumble rumble!”

At this moment, the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 seemed to erupt in rage, once again manifesting script. Just like it did to Hongtian, it now sought to confiscate all of Lü Yang’s Dao attainments!

In an instant, Lü Yang froze.

Because of his deep ties to the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】, all his innate divine abilities had been elevated through it to rapidly cultivate his corresponding Dao attainments.

So now, with his Dao attainments being confiscated, Lü Yang stood motionless, seemingly unsure of what to do. His originally obedient divine abilities began to riot. And in just this one moment, the once flawless Lü Yang revealed a tiny flaw.

Almost at the same time——

“Pftch!”

A golden, radiant hand pierced through Lü Yang’s back and emerged from his chest. In its grasp—between five fingers—was a freshly bleeding heart.

“Bang!”

Without pause, the heart was crushed in the golden hand, immediately triggering a chain of karmic links, intending to deal a devastating blow to Lü Yang’s Dharma body.

Only then did Lü Yang turn around and see the attacker’s face.

“Amitābha.”

The World-Honored One descended, true body manifested as the Tathāgata!

Just like the Buddha Child Manifestation, though not the true body of the World-Honored One, this avatar possessed even greater spiritual intelligence and wisdom. This sudden ambush was the proof.

Namely—there was no need at all for the whole song and dance of the 【Pseudo-History】, with Bodhi Trees, women giving birth, and eight tedious procedures. That was only performed because the World-Honored One knew Lü Yang was watching from start to finish and wanted to put on a show!

The true descent took but a moment!

And the Tathāgata's timing was perfect—striking just when Lü Yang had cleaved the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 and let his guard down!

Simply put, he used the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 as bait.

Hiding in the shadows, he launched a sneaky attack.

He’d even joined the fray directly, and although this avatar was only at the Golden Core level, it was still shameless enough to ambush a Foundation Establishment cultivator striving for the Golden Position—

“No wonder you're the senior.”

Lü Yang turned his head and remarked with emotion.

Tathāgata: “...Hmm?”

In an instant, the Tathāgata realized something was wrong—he hadn’t given Lü Yang any chance to pseudo-possess the Golden Position, so why was the latter seemingly unharmed?

The next second, he understood the answer:

【Overturning Lamp Fire】!

Cool lamplight spilled forth, piercing the fog and instantly dispelling the effects of the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】. Then, Lü Yang formed a seal with his hands and chanted:

‘【True Method of Correct Positional Shifting of Kan and Li】!’

The incantation shifted; the image transformed. In a flash, he jumped from 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 to 【Heavenly Fire】. Then Lü Yang slowly stretched out his hand:

“【Stripping】!”

Though it seemed long, this action happened in an instant. The Tathāgata immediately felt he had lost control of the golden hand that had pierced through Lü Yang’s chest.

Not only that, this sensation of loss rapidly spread from the arm to his entire body!

At that moment, the Tathāgata decisively severed the arm that had been 【Stripped】 by Lü Yang and quickly distanced himself.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang fused the 【Stripped】 golden arm into his Dharma body, instantly mending the injury from the sneak attack—and even further advancing his Dharma body. After all, the golden body was one of the ultimate trump cards of the Buddhist cultivators.

Seeing this, the Tathāgata slightly furrowed his brow.

On the other side, Lü Yang fully stretched his body. 【Yama Palace】 rumbled as it operated, pseudo-possessing 【Heavenly Fire】. That familiar might surged through him once more.

A joke—would he ever make the mistake of having a trump card and not using it?

He had already entered the pseudo-possession state for the Golden Position when striving for it. He merely used the celestial changes to conceal the signs.

The Tathāgata had thought to ambush him silently, not knowing Lü Yang was quietly plotting the same!

In an instant, flames erupted. Having pseudo-possessed the Golden Position in advance, Lü Yang had long been charging his strength in secret. Moreover, the current 【Heavenly Fire】 highly favored him.

Thus, the three rules that should have taken time to manifest appeared in one go:

【Those I Strip Shall Be Severely Punished】！

【All Wounds Shall Be Magnified Ten Thousandfold】！

【Those Who Heal Their Wounds Shall Be Severely Punished】！

Threefold laws, three flames of Heavenly Fire, all fused into a single, sun-like blaze that instantly engulfed the Tathāgata!

This was nearly the strongest offensive manifestation of the 【Heavenly Fire】!

Caught unprepared, the Tathāgata was struck head-on. The ever-smiling Buddha face finally shifted—revealing an enraged Vajra expression.

Upon seeing this, Lü Yang laughed even louder:

“Triggered, are you?”