Chapter 434: The Immortal Fairy Takes Action

The Tribulation Stage cultivator from Great Yu taking over Sect Master Lu explains everything.

Why were there no records of Body Integration Stage cultivators fighting? Because it's effortless for a Tribulation Stage cultivator to seize the body of a Body Integration Stage cultivator!

Why was Sect Master Lu unremarkable, yet the first among his peers to break through to the Tribulation Stage? He had already been taken over by the Great Yu Tribulation Stage cultivator, which is akin to re-entering the Tribulation Stage, making the process naturally easy!

While Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had no definitive proof, these points served as strong circumstantial evidence, as they couldn't conceive of any other explanation.

As Governor Lu and the others were about to congratulate the Corpse Driving Sect, they heard Sect Master Lu burst into uninhibited laughter, a sound completely unlike his usual demeanor.

"Finally, finally back to the Tribulation Stage!"

"No, you're not Lu Baqian, who are you!" Governor Lu reacted instantly, demanding in a sharp tone. A sense of unease welled up within him.

Wu Youdao and Venerable Cang Lei congratulated "Sect Master Lu."

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wuji, on successfully passing your tribulation."

Hearing this, Elder Gai's pupils constricted, his face filled with disbelief: "Wuji? Venerable Wuji?! The Venerable Wuji of the Witch Corpse Sect!"

The Witch Corpse Sect was rated as a Super-grade sect precisely because they had Venerable Wuji, a Tribulation Stage cultivator.

During the recent battle, Elder Gai had been wondering, as historical records stated Venerable Wuji's whereabouts were unknown, implying he had fallen into a long slumber, to awaken during a major revival.

If that were the case, why were only the Witch Corpse Sect's Body Integration Stage cultivators fighting? Where was Venerable Wuji?

Now it was finally clear: Venerable Wuji had been right under his nose the entire time!

With three Tribulation Stage cultivators now on Great Yu's side, the pressure on Qiu Jin'an, who was already in a difficult position, doubled.

The man in the white paper hat glared, gritting his teeth, at Venerable Wuji, who occupied Sect Master Lu's body.

Huang Ming and Meng Tian had already explained this matter, which was one of the reasons he had resolved to confront the Great Yu Tribulation Stage cultivators.

Due to the Corpse Drivers' unique views on life and death, there were rumors that the founder of the Nine Nether Sect originated from the Corpse Driving Sect.

This was actually a rumor, but one thing was true: the Corpse Drivers' views on life and death were very similar to those of the Nine Nether Sect, which naturally led to the Nine Nether Sect having a favorable impression of Corpse Drivers.

As for Venerable Wuji, who had seized Sect Master Lu's body, the leader of the Nine Nether Sect was naturally furious.

His original plan was to cooperate with Qiu Jin'an and quickly deal with Wu Youdao before Venerable Wuji returned to the Tribulation Stage.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned; he hadn't expected Great Yu to also have Venerable Cang Lei, nor had he expected Venerable Wuji to advance to the Tribulation Stage early.

Seeing that his side's people had all arrived, Wu Youdao revealed his true greedy and vicious nature.

"Governor Lu, I've given you a chance to hand over the power of national destiny. Since you won't, I'll have to take it myself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the three Tribulation Stage cultivators simultaneously attacked Governor Lu. The spiritual energy of the entire Hanshui City became turbulent. This strike was like an apocalyptic blow, directly leaving Governor Lu in a near-death state. Fortunately, the power of national destiny saved him; otherwise, that single blow would have killed him on the spot.

Governor Lu crashed to the ground, falling next to Lu Yang in the grand mansion.

Lu Yang's eyelid twitched; things had gone from bad to worse. Great Yu actually had three Tribulation Stage cultivators, making the power disparity too vast.

"As expected of the power of national destiny, to not die even from that. I truly desire this power more and more; I wonder to what extent my Dragon-Tiger Qi will transform."

Governor Lu, propping himself up, snorted coldly, facing death unflinchingly: "Do you think killing me will transfer the power of national destiny to you? How ridiculous. Even if I die, the power of national destiny will return to its original place. You won't get a single shred of it!"

"Is that so?" Venerable Wuji showed a sinister smile, pulling out a very familiar talisman. "Can you guess why I had to seize this body?"

"Soul Dispersion Talisman!" Governor Lu recognized the talisman, feeling a sudden sense of dread. This was a talisman quickly produced overnight by the government and the Corpse Driving Sect to deal with the ghost plague. The one in Venerable Wuji's hand was the master talisman, and to enhance its power, it also bore the mark of the Desolate Province Seal.

What was he going to do with this talisman now?

Venerable Wuji raised the talisman, and countless points of light lit up across Hanshui City—all places where the Soul Dispersion Talismans had been used.

"Formation, activate!"

The talisman in Venerable Wuji's hand burned, and the points of light in the city became increasingly brilliant, connecting to form a vast array. Governor Lu felt the power of national destiny slowly peeling away from his body, turning into an ownerless entity.

"I went through all this trouble to seize this body precisely for this moment!" Venerable Wuji laughed continuously, his grating laughter echoing throughout Hanshui City.

"The previous governor stepped down, and other factions weren't trusted by the imperial court. You, the newly appointed governor, could only trust our Corpse Driving Sect. When the ghost plague struck, only our Corpse Driving Sect could resolve it!"

"The Soul Dispersion Talismans were crafted jointly by the Corpse Driving Sect and your government. The talismans inherently carried the government's intent, and with the mark of the Desolate Province Seal, that intent was further strengthened."

"I used the fierce ghosts as anchor points and had my disciples use the talismans to eliminate them. Once the talismans combined with the ghostly qi, they became nodes in the formation."

All array masters had guessed wrong; the formation in Hanshui City was not laid out using fierce ghosts as nodes, nor was it meant to disturb the balance of Yin and Yang. Instead, it was based on the Soul Dispersion Talismans.

But the array masters had no idea about the existence of the Soul Dispersion Talismans, and no one paid attention to the talismans themselves.

"The talismans and the ghost eradication were all done under your government's directives. Therefore, the formation is also effectively your government's directive. This is equivalent to the government deliberately relinquishing the power of national destiny!" Venerable Wuji sneered. The conditions for making the power of national destiny ownerless were extremely strict, requiring the government to actively relinquish it.

He had orchestrated all these events precisely to obtain the power of national destiny!

Feeling the power of national destiny gradually losing control and becoming ownerless, Governor Lu felt a sudden surge of powerlessness. An experienced governor would not have made such a fatal mistake.

"They cannot obtain the power of national destiny!" Qiu Jin'an and the Nine Nether Sect leader hastily took action.

But how could two of them be a match for three Tribulation Stage cultivators?

"Grand Luo Triple Force!"

"Heavenly Punishment Lightning!"

"Corpse Qi for a Thousand Miles!"

The three Tribulation Stage cultivators attacked simultaneously, sending Qiu Jin'an and the Nine Nether Sect leader flying, coughing up blood incessantly.

A substance resembling both light and water drifted out from Governor Lu's body, forming wisps and patches as it floated into the air.

Wu Youdao saw the long-sought power of national destiny. He extended his large hand, employing "Universe in Palm," and pressed down towards Governor Lu.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang and the others were right beside Governor Lu.

"The power of national destiny is mine!"

"This immortal also finds this power of national destiny quite good. How about this immortal uses it first?"

A light, clear voice suddenly rang out, reverberating between heaven and earth, its source unknown.

A figure suddenly appeared between Governor Lu and the large hand. She extended a slender, jade-like hand, absorbing all of the national destiny power.

"And you dare call this 'Universe in Palm'?"

The woman scoffed. She raised a hand and, with a single palm strike, sent Wu Youdao's large hand flying. Wu Youdao tightly gripped his wrist, his hand trembling uncontrollably, a hint of panic in his eyes.

The woman was enveloped by the power of national destiny, her face indistinct. With her graceful figure and bare, jade-like feet, she appeared like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm, sacred and inviolable, inspiring awe and worship.

"Who are you!"

Wu Youdao stared intently at the mysterious woman. He felt that she was like an abyss, unfathomably deep.

The strike that sent his palm flying did not exceed the realm of the early Tribulation Stage, but the control and method of power usage she displayed were far superior to his own!

How was this possible!

The mysterious woman looked at Wu Youdao with disdain. She parted her cherry lips, her voice lazy, and spoke her name:

"This immortal is the Supreme Great Heavenly Venerate of the Heavenly Court Sect, Heavenly Venerate Dou."