Chapter 457: First Kill Lu Yang

In the new, ownerless grotto-heaven, the cultivators of Dayu successively moved items out of their storage rings to decorate it.

Even palaces could be moved from storage rings, and soon, magnificent structures stood tall in the desolate grotto-heaven.

Next to the palaces was an inconspicuous thatched hut, the residence of the Imperial Advisor.

The Imperial Advisor considered himself a recluse, and his dwelling was notably modest and simple.

The Imperial Advisor squatted on a small stool, his eyes profound and bottomless like ancient wells, projecting the image of a sagely strategist from beyond the mortal world.

"It's safe now."

"The Wen Dao Sect forced me to relocate. This is truly a great humiliation!"

What kind of person was he? He was the second Imperial Advisor of Dayu, the inheritor and promoter of Dayu's golden age. With his help, several Yu Emperors became enlightened rulers, revered by the world.

The first Imperial Advisor had two excellent disciples. The elder disciple fought in all directions, establishing the Dayu Dynasty and later being known as the First Yu Emperor. He himself was the second disciple of the first Imperial Advisor.

He was not only the second Imperial Advisor but also the junior brother of the First Yu Emperor. Who in the world would dare disrespect him?

He himself was an immortal cultivator of terrifying power, capable of suppressing six Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivators by himself.

The cause of all this was Daoist Buyu's scheme, which led to Dawn's capture and the leaking of the grotto-heaven's location.

His subordinate's eyes also showed anger. How dare a mere sect compete with a dynasty? "Damned Wen Dao Sect!" he thought.

The Imperial Advisor's eyes darkened as he analyzed how to deal with the Wen Dao Sect. "To date," he stated, "the Wen Dao Sect has obstructed Dayu's path three times."

"At the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, a Wen Dao Sect cultivator intervened. However, due to the influence of national destiny power, we could not ascertain this cultivator's identity."

"Next was a junior disciple named Lu Yang, in the Golden Core stage. He exposed Huang Ming, who was planted in the Corpse-Driving Sect."

"Finally, Daoist Buyu, the Wen Dao Sect Master, set a trap with himself as bait and captured Dawn."

"These three must die. We'll start with Lu Yang, who has the lowest status. If Dayu doesn't act soon, we'll become a laughingstock for Daxia and Daqian, who are hiding somewhere!"

Both Dayu and Daqian intended to replace Daxia, maintaining a competitive relationship. The Imperial Advisor had repeatedly sought Daqian's hiding place, hoping to make Daqian and Daxia fight to a mutual destruction, allowing Dayu to profit.

Unfortunately, he had found nothing.

The Imperial Advisor ordered his subordinate, "Go investigate this junior disciple named Lu Yang and find out his current whereabouts. If you can kill him, do so."

"Yes, sir!"

After the subordinate left, the Imperial Advisor pondered. According to the information he received, a third party appeared during the Battle of Hanshui City: an immortal who claimed to be the Supreme Grand Heavenly Venerate of the Heavenly Court Sect, and who defeated Wu Youdao and two others.

"What is the origin of this Heavenly Court Sect? And who is Grand Heavenly Venerate Dou?"

The Imperial Advisor was profoundly knowledgeable and had thoroughly investigated the current power distribution, yet he had never heard of the Heavenly Court Sect, let alone Grand Heavenly Venerate Dou.

"This Heavenly Court Sect seems to have just appeared out of nowhere. Strange."

"Why did the Heavenly Court Sect intervene to stop Wu Youdao? Are they also eyeing the national destiny power?"

Five days later, the subordinate reported back.

"Did you find Lu Yang?"

"Reporting to the Imperial Advisor, yes."

"Did you kill him?"

"Well..."

"You can't even kill a mere Golden Core stage cultivator?!" The Imperial Advisor was visibly angered, dissatisfied with his subordinate's work efficiency. If they all maintained such an attitude, how could Dayu hope to be restored?

The subordinate felt like crying. "My lord," he said, "Lu Yang is already the acting sect master."

"Hmm?"

The Imperial Advisor thought he had misheard. Although he looked down on the Wen Dao Sect, he couldn't imagine it being so desolate as to have a Golden Core stage cultivator as acting sect master.

He had been reluctant to act against Daoist Buyu precisely because Daoist Buyu was the sect master, too conspicuous, and acting against him could easily lead to complications.

Now that Lu Yang was the acting sect master, there must be many people protecting him. Acting rashly would be unwise.

"According to the information I've gathered," the subordinate explained, "this matter involves an internal power struggle within the Wen Dao Sect. The sect's power has long been usurped by a cultivator named Yun Zhi, who is the de facto sect master. Yun Zhi is Daoist Buyu's eldest disciple, and her cultivation level is unknown. Daoist Buyu doesn't want Yun Zhi to hold power indefinitely and sideline him, so he made his junior disciple, Lu Yang, the acting sect master."

The Imperial Advisor sneered. "You see things too superficially," he said. "Lu Yang is merely in the Golden Core stage; how could he possibly contend for power with his senior sister? It's clear that the Wen Dao Sect anticipated my move against Lu Yang and made Lu Yang the acting sect master in advance to protect him!"

"Let me ask you," he continued, "did Lu Yang become acting sect master after returning from Hanshui City?"

The subordinate was astonished, seeing the Imperial Advisor as divine, and his admiration grew. "My lord is truly wise!" he exclaimed. "That Lu Yang indeed became acting sect master after returning from Hanshui City!"

They were willing to follow the Imperial Advisor precisely because of his extraordinary talent for governance and his infallible calculations!

The Imperial Advisor showed an understanding expression. "Hmph," he scoffed, "there are no such coincidences in this world; there are always calculations behind them."

"So, this Lu Yang..."

"Kill him! He must be killed!"

"A mere Wen Dao Sect," he continued, "even if they anticipated Dayu's retaliation, what then? Can they really protect a tiny Golden Core stage cultivator?"

"I want the Wen Dao Sect to know, and all under heaven to know, that in the face of absolute power, all schemes are futile!"

The subordinate was overjoyed to hear this. He could already imagine them killing Lu Yang and the Wen Dao Sect's stunned, enraged, yet helpless expressions!

"I also found out," the subordinate added, "the Wen Dao Sect will hold a sect celebration in two months, marking its 120,000th anniversary. Many forces will be invited then; we can use this opportunity to enter!"

The Wen Dao Sect's defenses were thorough, and entry and exit checks were strict. Only during such large-scale events would they slightly relax.

"Such a thing exists," the Imperial Advisor murmured, his eyes gleaming and a smile playing on his lips. "It seems the Mandate of Heaven truly favors Dayu."

"After 120,000 years, the Wen Dao Sect is also due for its demise."

He casually uttered a sentence, sentencing the Wen Dao Sect to death.

If they couldn't even deal with a mere Wen Dao Sect, what hope did Dayu have of restoration?

At this moment, Lu Yang was unaware that he had been targeted by the Dayu Imperial Advisor and placed on the kill list.

In fact, this was a misunderstanding caused by asymmetrical information.

At the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, Heavenly Calamity Venerate could have escaped, but was defeated by the Senior Sister summoned by Lu Yang.

In Hanshui City, Wu Youdao and his two companions were about to acquire the national destiny power, but were stopped by the Immortal Fairy residing within Lu Yang, who also conveniently captured the three of them.

In Dingxin City, the paper crane flying towards Daoist Buyu was written at Lu Yang's instruction.

Had the Dayu Imperial Advisor known that all three of these incidents were related to Lu Yang, Lu Yang would have been on the kill list long ago, and wouldn't have waited until today.

Even if Lu Yang knew he was on the kill list, he wouldn't care too much.

He had more important matters to attend to now.

"Senior Sister, you're saying I, as acting sect master, need to attend a meeting at the Imperial Palace?"