'It is in the Netherworld.'
Lü Yang showed a thoughtful expression. He was not unfamiliar with the Netherworld. It was the place of reincarnation, where countless souls returned. However, what did "it" refer to?
"It is [Yin Earth of Chen]."
At that moment, True Person Qingchen Feixue beside him gave an answer.
"Ang Xiao. Although I am not certain if that person is truly him, I will assume it is."
"Ang Xiao hid the [Yin Earth of Chen] in the Netherworld, placing it beyond the reach of the living. I suspect he himself is also within. No wonder there was no news of his reincarnation after his death back then. Even this time, although he showed part of his power, that was all. He is not invincible."
"He certainly has guts."
"By sending the [Yin Earth of Chen] into the Netherworld and working on it for thousands of years, he likely aims to seize the position of the [Master of the Netherworld]."
"If we let him continue quietly like this, he might actually succeed."
"But now that he has been exposed by Chong Guang, everyone is watching him closely. It won't be so easy for him to proceed."
As she spoke, a hint of satisfaction appeared on True Person Qingchen Feixue's face.
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"This time, although all the True Persons working together failed to defeat him, we managed to hold him back, rendering him powerless to interfere with the return of [Chen Earth] to Yang."
"It's a pity Chong Guang didn't attain the fruit position."
"Otherwise, his entire scheme would have collapsed, knocking him down from the Late Golden Core stage. By then, we wouldn't even need to act—the Netherworld itself wouldn't spare him!"
"After today, I estimate he'll have to spend a long time reversing the [Chen Earth] again. That might not have mattered in the past, but with the millennium tribulation approaching, he may no longer have the chance to take the position of Dao Master. Reaching Golden Core Perfection might be his limit, all while becoming the target of all."
"Haha! He deserves it!"
By the end, True Person Qingchen Feixue slapped her thigh and laughed heartily, almost tearing off her dignified mask and revealing a hint of madness.
However, Lü Yang felt nothing but terror.
The reason was simple: True Person Qingchen Feixue had told him too much. Almost everything she mentioned was top-level secrets only True Persons should know, yet she told him everything.
What was she planning?
"Don't be so scared."
True Person Qingchen Feixue smiled at Lü Yang, but though she smiled, her laughter was cold as ice, like a snowstorm in midwinter, devoid of any warmth.
"I intend to grant you an opportunity."
Lü Yang dared not hesitate and immediately bowed deeply.
"Please instruct me, True Person."
"Now that Chong Guang is dead, I have no one else I can use. Besides, I've suffered considerable damage in this battle and need time to recuperate. Afterward, I will seal my Cave Heaven."
"I'll give you thirty years."
"If you can cultivate the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends to perfection within thirty years, together with the half-true treasure Hong Yun left behind, you will be qualified to become a Grand True Person."
"By then, you will be the next Acting Sect Master of the Primordial Saint Sect."
The moment she said this, Lü Yang held his breath, hardly daring to believe his ears.
Acting Sect Master? Me? Was she painting a pie in the sky for him?
However, thirty years... Lü Yang quickly furrowed his brows.
The Great Dao was difficult to tread. The cultivation progress of a Foundation Establishment True Person was measured in centuries, not something that could be achieved simply by finding a Heavenly Gang or Earth Fiend and refining it.
The key lay in Dao Attainment.
Only with high Dao Attainment could one sense and refine the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends into one's innate divine ability. Yet, he had just broken through to the middle stage—how could he possibly have the Dao Attainment to take another step forward?
Moreover, finding a Heavenly Gang or Earth Fiend required the support of merit and destiny. Yet, a third of his merit had just been drained by Chong Guang. It was already fortunate that he wasn't clouded by tribulation qi. How much merit did he have left to sense the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends? Wasn't this forcing him to do the impossible?
True Person Qingchen Feixue clearly noticed Lü Yang's doubts.
"Relax. Since I mentioned thirty years, I naturally have the confidence to back it up. Of course, you will need to take a small risk."
She then looked Lü Yang up and down again.
"What you lack to reach middle-stage perfection is nothing more than Dao Attainment and destiny. Both can be quickly remedied. First, your Dao Attainment."
"The second Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend of [City Head Earth] takes the form of [Yin Wood]."
"[Yin Wood] occupies the Earth Fiend position, but it shares the same nature as [Jia Wood] in the Heavenly Gang position. Both are Yang Wood, fully interchangeable."
As she spoke, True Person Qingchen Feixue pointed to a spiritual light beside Lü Yang—it was the spirit embryo [Everlasting Chinese Toon] he had obtained from Ye Guyue.
"Chong Guang's innate divine ability is also [Jia Wood]. The spirit embryo it transformed into contains Chong Guang's insights."
"I can invite another True Person to assist you."
"As long as you refine this spirit embryo into a great pill and consume it, your Dao Attainment will naturally increase, satisfying the requirement to absorb [Yin Wood]."
Lü Yang was utterly stunned.
Was this what it felt like to have a True Person backing him? A Dao Attainment obstacle that could have troubled him for a hundred years was resolved just like that? What a powerful backer!
"As for merit and destiny, that's even simpler."
True Person Qingchen Feixue spoke casually as she continued:
"Didn't you obtain the 『Heavenly Unity Law of Controlling All Worlds』? Go [harvest qi]. The more you harvest, the more heaven and earth will return destiny to you."
The essence of a second-grade true art was to plunder the fruit positions of other worlds to strengthen one's own, thereby gaining the favor of one's fruit position. Naturally, the more you harvested and the more you plundered, the more generous heaven and earth would be in rewarding you.
However, there were risks.
"The 『Heavenly Unity Law of Controlling All Worlds』 also touches upon the Pure Land of the [Myriad Martial World]. You have already become a thorn in their side."
"Disciple understands."
Lü Yang cupped his hands, knowing this was the "risk" True Person Qingchen Feixue spoke of. He had to face whatever troubles the Pure Land might bring head-on.
With True Person Qingchen Feixue about to seal her Cave Heaven, she would not be able to support him, at most providing deterrence.
In other words, only by relying on his own ability to withstand the pressure from the Pure Land and grow could he be considered a suitable candidate for Acting Sect Master of the Primordial Saint Sect.
'Chong Guang must have walked the same path back then.'
Lü Yang suddenly realized that while he now faced the Pure Land of Jiangxi, Chong Guang had once faced Daoist Hong Yun. This was the tradition of the Primordial Saint Sect.
"I hope I can still see you thirty years from now."
Seeing Lü Yang's understanding, True Person Qingchen Feixue nodded.
"The [Myriad Martial World] related to the 『Heavenly Unity Law of Controlling All Worlds』 has rarely been visited by anyone."
"If you want to learn more, you can seek out Miao Yin."
At this point, True Person Qingchen Feixue glanced at Ye Guyue not far away, showing a teasing look.
"After all, you seem to like that kind of thing."
"True Person, you misunderstand me!"
Concerned about his reputation, Lü Yang quickly explained, "This disciple does not indulge in women. It is all for the sake of seeking the Dao! This disciple is merely acting out of necessity."
True Person Qingchen Feixue laughed immediately.
"Truly worthy of being a descendant of the Founder!"
Suddenly, as if recalling something, she shifted the topic:
"By the way, I know you obtained the first-grade True Qi deduced by Mu Changsheng."
"However, the theory of empty verification is illusory and unreliable. Give it up. Don't delve too deeply into that."
Lü Yang was slightly startled upon hearing this but quickly realized that the "Mu Changsheng" she referred to must have been the original name of the Innate True Person.
"Please enlighten me, True Person." Lü Yang quickly asked for guidance.
True Person Qingchen Feixue did not give a direct answer. Instead, she casually revealed a secret.
"I just mentioned the [Netherworld], the place of reincarnation you are familiar with."
"What fruit position do you think the [Netherworld] corresponds to?"
In an instant, Lü Yang's pupils contracted!
Without a doubt, the [Netherworld] was not part of the Five Elements and had no relation to any fruit position. It was empty verification! Or rather, it originated from something external!
But if it was empty verification, then what happened to the one who verified it?
Where was the [Master of the Netherworld]?
Lü Yang instantly understood everything.
Indeed, first-grade true arts, or the method of empty verification, did directly point toward the Nascent Soul. However, it was also likely bait set by the Nascent Soul Dao Masters!
It was specifically designed to lure in external fruit positions like the [Netherworld]!
Once someone successfully verified the empty fruit position and the external fruit took the bait, they would immediately betray and destroy the verifier to prevent anyone from truly breaking through and standing as their equal.
'Simply beasts!'
Lü Yang couldn't help but curse the shamelessness of the Nascent Soul Dao Masters in his heart.
Under such circumstances, who would dare attempt empty verification? Unless someone could secretly take away the verified fruit position without being detected by any Nascent Soul Dao Master…
…Hmm?