Ever since Lu Yang implemented the puppet dynasty system and took charge of Jiangdong, [Sky-Shrouding] knew in his heart that the time for the Chen Earth to be reversed was getting closer and closer.
However, he also discovered the key point within it.
It is said to be reversing Chen Earth, but there is a rigid condition... That is, he must seek the Golden Core first, or seek the Golden Core immediately after reversing the Chen Earth.
Because once the Chen Earth was reversed, Chong Guang would definitely start to attain the golden position immediately.
In this situation, if Lu Yang also ascended the throne and attain the Golden Core at the same time, Chong Guang would become his staunchest ally, and the result would naturally be everyone happy.
But what if Lu Yang couldn't seek the Golden Core at that time?
In case of that, if Chong Guang became a Perfected Lord but he didn't, the situation would be different. Heaven knows if Chong Guang, having become a Perfected Lord, would turn hostile?
Unless Lu Yang was willing to trust the moral character of a Saint Sect Perfected One.
Otherwise, he would absolutely never let Chong Guang seek the Golden Core before him. It was best if he sought the Golden Core first, then helped Chong Guang, or at the very least both sides attain the Golden Core simultaneously.
Since this was the case, the answer was clear:
As long as I can stop this demon dragon from seeking the Golden Core and cut off his Dao path, then [Overturned Lamp Flame] is actually not in danger, and it will be much easier to deal with afterward.
Even taking ten thousand steps back, even if the Chen Earth was reversed in the end and [Overturned Lamp Flame] was attained by Chong Guang, as long as Lu Yang didn't attain [Heavenly Fire], one less Supreme Dao Fruit meant one less great enemy. When the Perfected Lords manifested in the world, he could just re-plan.
However, the idea was beautiful, but how to do it?
Undeniably, Lu Yang had gauged [Sky-Shrouding]'s state quite accurately. At this moment, he indeed had little spare power to interfere with the present world.
So he could only borrow external force.
With this thought, [Sky-Shrouding] turned to look at Mu Changsheng, opened his mouth, and was about to say something... However, the next second, only an explosion was heard—
Bang!
Xiao Shiye exploded.
To be precise, it was the fake body of Xiao Shiye created by Lu Yang using Dao Fruit power. Just as [Sky-Shrouding] was about to speak, he decisively chose to cut ties.
The reason was simple:
Intuition tells me, something is wrong.
[Sky-Shrouding]... this old beast definitely has a trick!
Lu Yang formed hand seals. The brilliance transformed from [Coiled Dragon Root] flowed at his fingertips, resolving baleful aura and driving away ominousness. Coupled with the mystery of sensing fortune and misfortune from [Rise and Fall Matters].
The combination of the two made him incredibly sensitive to danger.
In the past, [Sky-Shrouding] could still rely on [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] to deceive his perception, but the current [Sky-Shrouding] no longer had that ability.
Therefore, the instant he sensed danger, even with [Marionette] as a safety net, Lu Yang cut off the observation of the [Refining Arts Secret Realm] without hesitation. After all, the opponent was that [Sky-Shrouding]; one could never be too cautious. Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately moved his mind:
Boom!
The [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] crashed down, firmly protecting him in the center. According to Empress Xiao, this could ensure his soul and divine sense remained unaffected.
After doing all this, Lu Yang nervously poked his head out and looked around.
Where was the danger?
Lu Yang almost rubbed sparks from his fingers. Streaks of divine ability illusions appeared, attempting to calculate the source of danger. However, the next second, his expression changed abruptly:
'No... Damn it, I shouldn't have calculated this!
Helplessly, it was too late. The moment this thought emerged, massive amounts of information had already followed the great web of karma and been easily calculated by Lu Yang!
Reverse application of the Dao of Karma!
Lu Yang instantly understood [Sky-Shrouding]'s method: Ordinary people tried every means to obscure heavenly secrets and cover up karma, but he went the opposite way.
Not hiding karma, but actively providing it.
Lu Yang failed to investigate for a moment, and by the time he reacted, he had already calculated the causes and consequences. The unease in his heart intensified abruptly, but doubts also welled up:
What exactly does he want to do?
Although the dao of karma was powerful, it ultimately lacked substantial killing power. Even if he fell for the trap, [Sky-Shrouding] couldn't possibly use this to kill him from a distance.
In other words—How are you going to win?
Just as Lu Yang was pondering, the causes and consequences he had just deduced also emerged in his heart, only to find that it was a simple dialogue.
The two parties in the dialogue were exactly [Sky-Shrouding] and Mu Changsheng. The content was only a few sentences.
[Sky-Shrouding] asked first: "Fellow Daoist Primordial, speaking of your fall into this [Refining Arts Secret Realm], calculating the time, it has probably been five thousand years, right?"
Answering him was Mu Changsheng's puzzled rhetorical question: "Five thousand years?"
"What are you talking about? I checked after my consciousness returned to my soul. My soul has been trapped here for at most about a thousand years..."
—What?
In this instant, Lu Yang was actually confused.
Because he completely didn't understand the significance of this dialogue, nor why it would become [Sky-Shrouding]'s killer move against him that made him feel dangerous.
Was there something wrong with this information?
Wait... I remember Mu Changsheng should have emerged during the great tribulation five thousand years ago, hid after the tribulation, and had his soul seized by the Saint Sect's Patriarch...
Hmm? Something seems wrong...
Foundation Establishment has five lifetimes, only fifteen hundred years of lifespan. If Mu Changsheng rose five thousand years ago, he must have sought the Golden Core three thousand five hundred years ago at the latest.
Seeking the Golden Core failed, soul captured.
According to this timeline, his soul should have been trapped in the [Refining Arts Secret Realm] for at least three thousand years! How could it be only a mere thousand years?
With this thought, Lu Yang was suddenly enlightened.
The moment he discovered the problem with this timeline, he seemed to hold a key, opening another treasure chest of memories sealed in his mind.
Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue... she's not right either!
As far as I know, she was also a figure who rose five thousand years ago. So like Mu Changsheng, she became a Perfected Lord three thousand five hundred years ago at the latest.
But one hundred years after attaining Perfected Lord, she fought with the Dao Court's previous Grand Preceptor.
In other words, this battle happened at least three thousand years ago... However, after the great war ended, the previous Grand Preceptor was purged by Emperor Jiayou.
Here lies the problem—
The Dao Court's Son of Heaven only rules for a thousand years. After a thousand years, he must ascend to heaven... In other words, Emperor Jiayou should be a Perfected Lord from within the last thousand years!
How could a Perfected Lord from within a thousand years appear three thousand years ago?
Boom!!!
The instant this doubt arose in Lu Yang's heart, a thunderclap rang out in the vault of heaven. Lu Yang looked up blankly, his pupils shrinking abruptly in an instant:
"Alas! Who would have thought I... I... I fuck your mother!"
The words about to be spoken were forcefully swallowed back by Lu Yang.
Calculating karma, Lu Yang clearly saw a Buddhist light clinging to his body like a maggot in the bone... It was exactly the Buddha Child's Buddhist affinity!
At this moment, Lu Yang finally understood: "Damn, its impossible to guard against!"
The crisis... is this piece of knowledge!
The secret of the timeline, the taboo of five thousand years... Even the Perfected Lords seem to rarely notice it. [Sky-Shrouding] used this knowledge to screw me over.
And judging from the reaction, this probably belonged to the World Honored One's secret!
However, the next second, Lu Yang forcefully shook off negative emotions like panic and fear, regaining his calm while looking towards the direction of Jiangxi from afar:
No, it hasn't reached the worst stage yet.
Admittedly, he knew some things he shouldn't know. However, he was now the Emperor Huan Ming of the Dao Court, with the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] blessing his body at all times.
I have people behind me too!
The Dao Court and the Pure Land had always been harmonious in appearance but divided in heart. Presumably, the Dao Court's Dao Lord would be very happy for him to disgust the World Honored One, and would definitely not let the World Honored One truly enter the stage.
As long as it's not the World Honored One's main body descending, he can't hook me away.
Buddhist affinity is, after all, just the Buddha Child's karma, not the real World Honored One. At most, it makes the Buddha Child notice me, adding more variables to my attaining the Golden Core plan...
...That's it. This is [Sky-Shrouding]'s plan.
Killing me isn't realistic, so he took a different approach, using a piece of taboo knowledge to achieve a great effect with minimal effort, wanting to use Jiangxi's hand to ruin my path of seeking the Golden Core!
The next second, Lu Yang's premonition came true.
"Amitabha!"
From the direction of Jiangxi, a Buddhist light rose from the ground. The chanting resounded through heaven and earth, and vaguely, a golden-bodied great buddha could be seen sitting cross-legged in the sea of clouds.
[Supreme Truth Enlightenment Tuoluo Heaven Manifestation]? No...
The golden-bodied great buddha manifesting at this moment, whether in aura or appearance, far exceeded the Dharma Aspect Lu Yang saw on Guang Ming in his previous life.
Undoubtedly—
The World Honored One didn't enter the stage personally, but He raised the stakes!