Chapter 565 : There Has Never Been Such a Thing as a Miracle

Jiangdong, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Huànmíng City, at the top of the 【Star-Plucking Tower】.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍demon cultivator Xiao Shan, now the Commander of the Royal Guard Division, had long shed his lowly status from thirty years ago. His every move now carried the air of one in power.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, the Royal Guard Division had become the largest department under the Dao Court, and although he was not particularly strong, as its head, his position was no less than that of the former Three Dukes. Yet, even so, when he ascended the 【Star-Plucking Tower】, his face still bore deep reverence.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍didn’t even use flight light to reach the top.

Instead, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he climbed step by step up the spiral staircase of the 【Star-Plucking Tower】, and only upon reaching the summit did he feel the vastness of heaven and earth.

What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍entered his sight was a high platform.

On the platform, clouds gathered and dispersed, sun and moon radiated in tandem, jointly surrounding a lone figure seated with his back to the world. Gazing upon him was like beholding a realm.

“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty!”

Xiao Shan took a deep breath, gazing devoutly at the figure atop the platform. As his words fell, he unhesitatingly kowtowed, prostrating himself in a full-body bow.

Heaven and earth fell silent.

After a long while, that figure finally spoke softly. Although it was the voice of the one who ruled the world, it carried an indescribable loneliness and solitude.

“. Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Shan heavily kowtowed once more before rising. “Your Majesty, the task you entrusted has been completed. All is prepared. The Royal Guard Division has not failed in its duty!”

“Good.”

Lü Yang nodded, then smiled and said, “You’ve worked hard these years. There’s no need to stay in Huànmíng City any longer. Go overseas—it’s safer there.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shan’s eyes instantly reddened. He gritted his teeth and said:

“Your Majesty... I will remain here. The Royal Guard Division may be spread across the world now, but Huànmíng City is still the center. Someone must guard it for Your Majesty.”

“Oh.” Lü Yang raised an eyebrow. “Not afraid of death?”

“I’ve lived enough!”

Xiao Shan inhaled deeply. “These thirty years were more fulfilling than the three hundred before! If not for Your Majesty, we’d still be wasting away somewhere.”

Looking at Xiao Shan, Lü Yang was momentarily dazed. In ten lifetimes of cultivation, he had always walked alone. After the reopening of the 【Hundred Lifetimes Book】, he had become indifferent toward life—after all, everything would reset. Apart from the few within the Myriad Spirits Banner, he cared for almost no one.

But when had that started to change?

He actually had a loyal follower now—even though Xiao Shan had long been implanted with the 【Puppet Strings】, Lü Yang hadn’t activated it in over ten years.

How many others were like him?

Lü Yang looked up, sensing the marvels of the 【Heavenly Fire】. His spiritual sense told him—there were many. In today’s world, many stood on his side.

Empress Xiao, Chong Guang, Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing, Tianqiu, Suo Huan... Regardless of their reasons—be it profit or emotion—there was no doubt: they stood with him. Chong Guang had sought no golden ascension for ten years, Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing had waited in hardship until now, and Empress Xiao had labored tirelessly to this day.

They were all betting on his victory!

“.”

After a moment of silence, Lü Yang waved his sleeve, retrieving the Myriad Spirits Banner. The banner fluttered. “Once inside, guard the entrance to the 【Star-Plucking Tower】.”

“At your command!”

Xiao Shan didn’t hesitate. He voluntarily stepped into the Myriad Spirits Banner. After transforming into a Banner Spirit, he bowed once more to Lü Yang before turning and departing.

‘This way, at least his true spirit can be preserved...’

Xiao Shan was undoubtedly doomed—once he began seeking the golden ascension, Huànmíng City would be the first to suffer. Many people would die. Blood would have to be shed.

“Huuh!”

On the high platform, Lü Yang still sat cross-legged, inhaling and exhaling the winds and clouds of heaven and earth. Looking skyward, the great net formed by the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 enclosed him from above.

Above and below heaven, there was nowhere left to go.

Ever since Ancestor Tingyou attained the 【World Without Worry】 and established the 【Everjoy Garden】, the True Lords of the world had hidden themselves away. In total, nearly thirty years had passed.

Over these thirty years, Lü Yang had traveled far and wide—especially in the last decade. He had practically measured Jiangbei, Jiangxi, Jiangdong, Jiangnan, and even the vast overseas lands on foot. Wherever the 【Heavenly Fire】 shone, he had gone, until finally he returned here.

‘No further forward. No retreat behind.’

Lü Yang looked up to the sky and saw, above his head, the vast sea of fate coalescing into the scene of dragon and phoenix in harmony—a vision representing his fate at this moment.

The fate of the world had gathered into him!

‘The ordeal Master of Demon‑Cleansing once faced—I now understand. My fortune swells by the day, as if someone is urging me to seek ascension.’

A mocking smirk crept onto Lü Yang’s lips.

So impatient already?

‘Seems They’re worried. Worried that the 【World Without Worry】 can’t contain the True Lords. If they return, my grip on the world collapses.’

If that happened, They would gain nothing.

At this point, Lü Yang no longer felt urgency. It was They who panicked. Almost daily, he would feel a sudden impulse to ascend and seek the golden realm.

But he restrained himself.

He was still waiting for one last person. Over the past ten years, he had laid many plans and tried countless methods, but few proved truly useful—few were worthy of being his final trump card.

So without full preparation, he would never act rashly.

Half a month passed. Lü Yang suddenly awoke from meditation, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The next moment, he opened his sleeve, from which a glowing Jade Slip flew forth, displaying a line of text: “I’ve fulfilled your request.”

Lü Yang’s expression grew solemn. He replied with divine sense:

“Thank you, Senior.”

“No need. It was a small matter.”

The Jade Slip continued to glow softly: “In fact, I should thank you. For helping Chong Guang resolve this crisis. I look forward to our future discourse after my true body descends.”

As the voice faded, the Jade Slip went still.

At last, Lü Yang stood up, his gaze piercing toward Jiangnan—and in Jiangnan, another figure also stood up.

Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing.

In that instant, sword intent and radiance emanated from both of them. Though separated by thousands of li, through the sword’s illumination, they heard each other’s voices.

“How confident are you?”

Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing spoke with grave tone. He, alone, mattered little—this had long been foreseen. But he didn’t want Lü Yang to follow in his footsteps.

“Thirty percent.”

Lü Yang responded likewise, his face calm as still water. He had already sorted through all thoughts. All that remained was serenity. All emotions were buried deep within.

“Thirty percent... is already a lot. Not easy.”

Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing sighed. “I’ll support you. Let’s hope for a miracle.”

Lü Yang shook his head, looking at him: “There has never been such a thing as a miracle. What we call a miracle... is just another name for hard work.”

“It depends on people.”

Lü Yang’s voice was calm and powerful, leaving Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing momentarily stunned. Then he laughed, his brows relaxed. Two Titled Sword Intents flowed from him:

“Well said. It was I who underestimated you, Daoist friend.”

“It depends on people!”

With those words, their connection severed.

The next second, Lü Yang stepped forward from the Star-Plucking Tower, no longer hiding his presence. His long-accumulated momentum burst forth.

“RUMBLE!”

Thunder roared in the skies above.