Although full of ambition, Lu Yang still had self-awareness.
If he wanted to compare himself with [Sky-Shrouding], he would at least need to attain the late-stage Golden Core with [Heavenly Fire]. Even that might not be enough; the gap was just that huge.
No rush. One step at a time.
Besides, although [Sky-Shrouding] made his move early and looked glorious, there are consequences... At the very least, he'll likely find it very hard to interfere with the mortal world again!
At this moment, the world's Perfected Lords might still be immersed in the shock of [Sky-Shrouding] fighting everyone alone and suppressing all heroes.
However, for Lu Yang, who knew [Sky-Shrouding]'s trump cards well— Yes, [Sky-Shrouding]'s strength was indeed shocking, but the more shocking it was, the easier he was to deal with.
He is trapped in the [Netherworld] after all.
Or rather, for the sake of his own Dao path, [Sky-Shrouding] voluntarily trapped himself in the [Netherworld]. In this situation, he was almost destined never to walk out.
And now, he had blown up his [World-Retribution Incarnation].
The [Primordial Dao Sin] had become [Wu You Heaven]. The hidden danger on Suo Huan had been removed by Lu Yang himself. Martial Uncle Chong Guang had not yet seek the Golden Core, and Daoist Hong Yun had already died.
What did the current [Sky-Shrouding] have left?
The one truly in a predicament is actually him!
After this wave of glory passes, the only window he can use to contact the mortal world is this small fragment of the Grotto-Heaven currently sealed by me.
Lu Yang quickly clarified his thoughts.
He had to admit, [Sky-Shrouding]'s decisiveness allowed him to avoid the outcome of losing everything, but it only bought him a chance at a minimum guarantee.
He snatched [Silted Sand Earth] and [White Wax Gold] into the [Netherworld], completing the three elements... This way, even if I reverse the Zhixu Earth again, he won't fall from the late-stage Golden Core. Although reversing Zhixu Earth can still be used to threaten him, he now has room to bargain.
If he fell from the late-stage Golden Core, [Sky-Shrouding] would undoubtedly die.
He could hide in the [Netherworld] entirely because of his late-stage Golden Core cultivation combined with the Supreme Dao Fruit [Great Forest Wood]. Without his cultivation, he definitely couldn't stay hidden.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang felt a bit of pity.
After all, this was likely a way to quickly get rid of [Sky-Shrouding] without shedding blood, but now it had gone up in smoke due to [Sky-Shrouding]'s decisive action.
From this point of view, [Sky-Shrouding]'s realm isn't actually stable.
How did other Golden Core Perfected Lords break through to the late stage? They found like-minded Daoist friends, matching multiple Dao Fruits together—essentially a collaborative effort.
But [Sky-Shrouding] ruled alone.
By reversing the [Zhixu] Earth so that no one could attain the corresponding Dao Fruit, he indirectly monopolized it. One had to admit, this method was actually very brilliant.
Other late-stage Golden Cores needed to find like-minded Daoist friends.
But once the other party betrayed them or stopped relying on them, their realm would immediately fall... But what if one operated according to [Sky-Shrouding]'s method?
The answer was: Unsolvable!
To reverse Zhixu Earth, one must be a Perfected Lord who attained the corresponding Dao Fruit. But to become such a Perfected Lord, one must obtain Zhixu Earth that hadn't been reversed... The two contradicted each other. It was simply impossible to achieve. The late-stage Golden Core achieved this way could be said to have no flaws at all!
—However, plans can't keep up with changes.
[Sky-Shrouding]'s method was perfect, yet the appearance of one person left a stain on his blueprint and also left him with a flaw.
Daoist Hong Yun.
I can't really call it a flaw. [Sky-Shrouding] probably had Daoist Hong Yun in the palm of his hand. He just didn't expect me to disrupt the game...
The flaw left by Daoist Hong Yun was negligible.
However, Lu Yang's existence, coupled with Patriarch Nether Whisper's [False Holding Golden Stature Method], tore this flaw completely open, turning it into a fatal wound.
With this thought, Lu Yang took out the Grotto-Heaven fragment from the banner.
But after pondering for a moment, he didn't rush to unseal it. Instead, he first picked an unlucky guy and used [Marionette] to turn him into a puppet.
Immediately after, Lu Yang took out the [Myriad Spirits Banner].
"You guys, go with him."
Nine Banner Spirits walked out one after another. Under the blessing of [Seven Luminaries Heaven] incense, their stature skyrocketed, instantly transforming into nine Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators landing behind the unlucky guy.
Then, Lu Yang had the unlucky guy hide the nine Incense Offering Deities and leave Jiangdong.
It is [Sky-Shrouding] after all. Better to be safe.
Only after that unlucky guy entered the Jiangnan region did he control the other party to temporarily lift the seal on the Grotto-Heaven fragment, intending to talk with [Sky-Shrouding].
Clang!
The next second, Lu Yang instantly felt a fatal crisis strike, like a precious sword hanging over his head about to chop it off.
But soon, this sense of crisis came to an abrupt halt.
"Hmm?"
A soft sound of confusion was heard, followed by silence for a moment. Then, [Sky-Shrouding]'s figure emerged from that Grotto-Heaven fragment.
His face was written with helplessness:
"Little friend, aren't you being too cautious? Is this necessary?"
Just a moment ago, if Lu Yang had stood in front of him—even if it wasn't his main body but an incarnation controlled remotely—he could have dealt with Lu Yang directly!
Because what made Lu Yang sense the crisis was precisely that sword slashed out by [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] of the Sword Pavilion earlier. Back then, that sword was hidden by [Sky-Shrouding], but it hadn't disappeared. As long as [Sky-Shrouding] wished, he could make this sword manifest in the mortal world again at any time and use it for himself!
The power of a sword from a late-stage Golden Core Great Perfected Lord naturally went without saying.
With one slash, even an incarnation would allow the strike to trace the connection and hit the main body directly. [Sky-Shrouding] hid this sword earlier to prepare for this.
His original intention was to deal a heavy blow to the mastermind plotting against him.
But Lu Yang was too cautious.
The puppet controlled by [Marionette] had no karmic connection with his main body. Even if it was slashed, it would still be harmless to Lu Yang.
[Sky-Shrouding] also noticed this.
Of course, he didn't discover the [Marionette]. He simply found that the puppet wasn't connected to Lu Yang's main body, so he gave up at the last moment.
On the other side, Lu Yang sneered in his heart—
Ha! I knew it!
This old thief really wanted to screw me over. Luckily, I'm sharp!
The next second, Lu Yang used [Marionette] to control the puppet, whispering, "Senior's divine might covers the world. Before you, no amount of caution is excessive."
As his voice fell, the two sides looked at each other.
Little fox!
Old beast!
Their gazes changed. Neither spoke first. After all, they both knew the importance of initiative. In this situation, whoever spoke first would be passive.
But Lu Yang didn't just wait. He silently called out the nine Incense Offering Deities brought along for this trip, then combined them together. A moment later, the nine Incense Offering Deities transformed into a towering palace rising from the ground—it was unmistakably the [Yama Hall], emitting an oppressive aura.
This is...
In an instant, [Sky-Shrouding]'s expression changed. With his Dao comprehension and shrewdness, just seeing a [Yama Hall] was enough to deduce the rest of the information.
"...It's you."
The next second, [Sky-Shrouding] exhaled deeply. "You killed Daoist Hong Yun. His Golden Nature is in your hands. You can falsely hold the [Overturned Lamp Flame] now?"
[Sky-Shrouding] finally realized the truth.
Apart from that, he felt a bit of relief like surviving a disaster—thankfully his reaction was fast. Otherwise, if the other party really falsely hold the [Overturned Lamp Flame], he would be finished!
So that's it... This was the source of my crisis.
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding] suddenly felt an indescribable sense of awe. Since Lu Yang had gone this far, he naturally could see:
There is no Perfected Lord behind this person at all!
He has only Foundation Establishment cultivation... yet somehow saw through my secrets. With careful planning against an unsuspecting target, he almost ruined my thousand-year setup with just a Foundation Establishment body!
But how was this possible?
How could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator see through his [Knowledge-Perception Barrier]? And how did he know Suo Huan was his backup plan? Thinking it over, the only possibility...
The next second, [Sky-Shrouding] suddenly became restrained.
He cautiously glanced at Lu Yang, whose expression was as calm as an ancient well. then lowered his voice, flattened his tone, and said with a probing tone:
"World Honored One?"