At this moment, [Sky-shrouding] was somewhat surprised.
Because the current [Gantang Channel] had long been shrouded by his [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] and hidden away. Theoretically, no one should have noticed this place.
This person is unaffected by [Knowledge-Perception Barrier].
This was understandable. After all, his main body was in the [Netherworld], and casting spells across space didn't exert much power. If someone was dead set on believing there was a problem with the [Gantang Channel]...
Then it was normal for the other party not to be affected.
But the problem was, in [Sky-shrouding]'s perception, the person before him was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, not even at Great Perfection. This was very surprising.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to escape the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] at my current output, he must have at least a superior spirit treasure specifically for cleansing spiritual sense and breaking illusions, and of extremely high quality. Moreover, his Dao comprehension cannot be too low... Interesting. Who is this person? Could it be theIncarnation of some Perfected Lord?
In an instant, [Sky-shrouding]'s thoughts turned a hundred times.
On the other side, Lu Yang pocketed that small piece of Grotto-Heaven fragment, then dared not stay too long. With a flash of his figure, he disappeared from the spot.
"Hmm?"
Almost simultaneously, also located in the [Gantang Channel], a man with soaring sharpness suddenly sensed something in his heart and looked from afar at the position where Lu Yang disappeared.
He captured Lu Yang's aura almost instantly, but the next second, this aura dissipated out of thin air, as if hidden by someone, preventing him from continuing to track... Then, not long after, a mighty power fell from the void, revealing a graceful female figure.
"Interesting..."
[Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue] looked around, her gaze examining the huge [Gantang Channel] like a torch. Finally, she remembered what she had just forgotten.
She forgot Chong Guang!
She and Chong Guang coming to the Gantang Channel together before. But after the great battle, she had enjoyed herself and forgotten about Chong Guang within Gantang Channel.
This was obviously abnormal.
And not just him. Even the Perfected Lords of the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] seemed to have forgotten there was such a person as Chong Guang, and didn't even glance at the Gantang Channel.
So it's not my problem, but the entire Gantang Channel has been tampered with. Chong Guang was implicated only because he happened to land inside the Gantang Channel... Such a divine ability, why does it feel so familiar to me? it seems like I've seen similar means in the sect record before.
But exactly which record... she can't remember.
This was undoubtedly problematic. Especially since even with her Dao comprehension, she could still be affected, indicating the person acting in secret might have even stronger Dao comprehension than her.
Hong Yun... Impossible.
Then who could it be?
[Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue] intended to investigate, but as she returned to Jiangnan, there was aura sensing again from the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion], making it impossible for her to stay longer.
"...Leave first."
As her voice fell, [Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue] immediately scooped up Chong Guang and vanished from the spot instantly. She gained quite a lot from this battle, but also suffered considerable injuries. She needed to go back and recuperate first.
As for the Gantang Channel, it was ultimately in the land of Jiangnan; better leave it to the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] to get a headache over.
...
Meanwhile, in a remote mountain forest.
Lu Yang landed in the forest leisurely with his hands behind his back. First, he opened up a temporary cave abode, then took out the Grotto-Heaven fragment inside the cave abode.
"Many thanks for Senior's help."
Lu Yang cupped his hands, a sincere smile on his face. Just now, if not for [Sky-shrouding] using [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] to cover him, he would have been found by Chong Guang.
The next second, a faint light appeared on the Grotto-Heaven fragment. Then, a figure shrouded in smoke, indistinguishable in gender or age, emerged from the faint light. Although the aura was very weak, gestures and movements carried a calm demeanor of controlling heaven's secrets.
"Fellow Daoist... you have a great courage."
[Sky-shrouding] looked at Lu Yang, revealing no emotion in his heart, and chuckled slightly: "How could you be certain I would definitely help you mask your aura?"
This was just one of [Sky-shrouding]'s questions.
There was another question he didn't ask— How was Lu Yang certain that the Grotto-Heaven fragment he resided in wasn't completely destroyed in the Gantang Channel?
If Lu Yang hadn't found him, or if he was unwilling to help, Lu Yang would have been immediately exposed to Chong Guang. Although the final result was good, the process was undoubtedly a huge gamble. It was precisely this attitude that made [Sky-shrouding] quite curious. The other party seemed to understand him very well?
Facing [Sky-shrouding]'s inquiry, Lu Yang just smiled faintly:
"I have confidence in Senior."
He didn't believe that with [Sky-shrouding]'s means, his Grotto-Heaven would be destroyed by [Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue] just like that. That was why he dared to venture to the Gantang Channel to try his luck.
Similarly, he believed [Sky-shrouding] could recognize the situation clearly.
After all, if [Sky-shrouding] didn't help him, he would lose at most an incarnation, but [Sky-shrouding] would inevitably be exposed, unable to keep even this last bit of Grotto-Heaven fragment.
Conversely, only by helping him mask could there be hope to save the fragment.
So [Sky-shrouding] would definitely act.
After all, it's not the first time I've coerced him. Can I not understand?... he is a veteran Saint Sect Perfected Lord, the purest profit-seeker.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang didn't waste words. He took out a divine ability shining with magnificent light. The moment he saw that divine ability, a trace of astonishment appeared in [Sky-shrouding]'s eyes...
Because within that divine ability contained an aura that should have long since disappeared from the world!
This divine ability was precisely [Root of All Things] which Lu Yang stripped from Hong Yun.
Yang Chen Earth!
But ever since he reversed the Yin-Yang attribute of Chen Earth, there should only be Yin Chen Earth left in the world.
Where did this Yang Chen Earth come from?
"...Hong Yun?"
[Sky-shrouding]'s thoughts turned rapidly, already guessing the origin of the divine ability in Lu Yang's hand. At the same time, his his keen insight also seeing through Lu Yang's Dao foundation and background.
"[Heavenly Fire]?"
This time, [Sky-shrouding] was truly surprised.
There was no doubt that no one had ever successfully attained [Heavenly Fire]; in fact, throughout history, no one had ever succeeded.
After all, the conditions were too harsh, even harsher than his [Great Forest Wood].
The cultivation methods under its rule were ridiculously rare. To make matters worse, the path forward was broken. Cultivating it did more harm than good. The result was gradual extinction with the passage of time.
Thinking of this, [Sky-shrouding] had already made a judgment.
This person is not a Perfected Lord.
Foundation Establishment... But his family assets are very substantial, and his background is not small. Otherwise, it's impossible to have Rank 3 True Arts pointing to [Heavenly Fire], and even cultivated it successfully.
Of the Five Great Supreme Dao Fruits, only [Heavenly River Water] was in poor condition.
Because the Water Element belonged to the True Dragon Clan of the past, and was also the only Supreme Dao Fruit among the five elements that had been altered. After the change of heaven, it suffered immense damage.
Lu Yang was clear about this point too, discovering it from Tian Qiu's memories. After all, if not for the [Heavenly River Water] concept being flawed, affecting all cultivators under its rule, Tian Qiu, a Foundation Establishment with perfected divine abilities, wouldn't have been so weak.
"Little friend has exceptional courage."
After seeing Lu Yang's true cultivation clearly, [Sky-shrouding] immediately changed his tone. Changing from "Fellow Daoist" to "Little friend," he was simultaneously scrutinizing Lu Yang—
"I just don't know, how did you recognize me?"
His [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] deceived everyone in the world, even Perfected Lords were no exception. Yet a small Foundation Establishment Perfected One seemed to know so much about him?
He was very interested in the secret behind this.
"Senior, you flatter me"
Lu Yang chuckled upon hearing this, saying calmly: "Junior being able to recognize Senior is also due to an elder in the family, not Junior's own ability."
Elder in the family?
Several names quickly surfaced in [Sky-shrouding]'s mind. He was a veteran Saint Sect Perfected Lord; his existence could be traced back tens of thousands of years!
When he took action to finish off Hong Yun five thousand years ago, he had already feigned death for a long time.
There weren't many people in the current age who had lived longer than him.
And those who had seen him with their own eyes and knew his prowess were even fewer. After all, without sufficient cultivation, one didn't even have the qualification to remember him. Ruling them out one by one...
"...Old Dragon Lord?"
After a moment of silence, [Sky-shrouding] suddenly spat out a name.
As expected of you!
Lu Yang praised in his heart. This was the benefit of talking to smart people. Just a slight hint, and he could guess the answer Lu Yang wanted him to guess!