"Ninety percent chance of success, yet certain death!"
Shocking words spilled from Perfected Lord Feixue's mouth, but Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged. Only his face became slightly solemn, as if he had already anticipated such a answer.
Seeing this, the appreciation in Perfected Lord Feixue's eyes grew even stronger.
But in the next second, she restrained the complex emotions in her gaze and waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, get out. I look forward to calling you 'Fellow Daoist' in the future."
As soon as her voice fell, Lu Yang saw the surrounding clouds and smoke rising again, rolling and obscuring the myriad scenes of the domain. When the smoke and clouds dispersed once more, he was already standing behind the threshold of Feixue's bedchamber.
Looking back, he saw Chong Guang standing outside, a trace of surprise still lingering on his face.
...
He went in... and he's back in perfect condition?
Chong Guang did not doubt Lu Yang's strength. After all, the condition to enter the bedchamber was merely to last for one stick of incense; never mind Lu Yang, even Chong Guang himself could manage that.
The issue was being in perfect condition.
One had to know that every time Chong Guang fought with the projection in the mirror, he truly exhausted every means at his disposal, fighting until his spiritual power was utterly spent just to survive that single stick of incense.
Coming out, he would always be incredibly weak.
Yet Lu Yang was not like him. Not only was his aura full and perfect, but he even showed signs of reaching a higher level. Clearly, it hadn't been as simple as just "surviving" for one stick of incense.
Thinking of this, Chong Guang immediately cupped his hands.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist."
Lu Yang returned the greeting. "I must trouble Fellow Daoist to bring Yu Zhou and the Zou Yu family here. The perfected lord has already agreed to let them enter."
Chong Guang nodded upon hearing this and immediately pointed at a streak of light. Moments later, the light sped back carrying an apprehensive-looking Yu Zhou. In his hand, he held a high-grade spirit treasure—a round bead containing a mustard seed world, housing all the disciples of the Zou Yu family.
"Greetings, My Lord..."
As soon as Yu Zhou landed, he hurriedly tried to kowtow but was stopped by Lu Yang's outstretched hand. Immediately after, Lu Yang simply pulled the man into Feixue's bedchamber.
"Follow me."
"The entrance to that chaotic history is right here. I will take you back."
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhou instantly showed a strange expression, keenly grasping the key point in Lu Yang's words. "Taking... could it be that My Lord intends to enter with us?"
"Correct, I'm going with you."
Lü Yang nodded, his gaze bright. "Possibility... I want to see the possibility of seeking the Golden Core. After all, the waters in this wretched place are truly too deep."
Ninety percent chance of seeking the Golden Core, yet certain death.
Why?
Lu Yang pondered in his heart, unshaken, his mind dissecting the problem calmly.
It can only be external influence... As things stand, I am already the focus of the world. Although the Dao Lords haven't descended to the mortal world, they have cast their attention on me.
This was nothing new; in fact, it fit the concept of [Heavenly Fire] perfectly.
The problem lay in the attitudes of the various Dao Lords.
The World Honored One went without saying—an obvious enemy. The Sword Pavilion Dao Lord had made no moves so far. The Saint Sect Ancestor wanted him to go to the chaotic history created by the World Honored One.
What about the Dao Court Dao Lord?
Theoretically speaking, the Dao Court Dao Lord wants me to seek the Golden Core, because that way [Heavenly Fire] can be brought into the Dao Court. Why wouldn't he be happy about it?
But...
A shadow gradually cast over Lu Yang's face.
...What's important is only [Heavenly Fire] itself.
I, personally, do not matter.
The Dao Court Dao Lord only wanted [Heavenly Fire] to belong to the Dao Court. As for who attain it, who came to attain it, or whether they succeeded or failed, the Dao Court Dao Lord probably didn't care much.
In other words—
If my failure in seeking the Golden Core resulted in the [Heavenly Fire] falling under the Dao Court's control, then the Dao Court Dao Lord would absolutely destroy my attempt without hesitation!
Lu Yang had actually seen similar methods before. In his previous life, didn't [Sky-Shrouding] deliberately help Suo Huan to seek the Golden Core, then use the flawed Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture to make him fail, thereby dragging [Eternal Flowing Water] into the netherworld? Would the Dao Court Dao Lord not understand the same method?
If that is truly the case...
Thinking of this, Lu Yang sneered in his heart. I fear the Dao Court Dao Lord is playing the role of [Sky-Shrouding], I am playing Suo Huan, and [Heavenly Fire] is playing [Eternal Flowing Water]!
Then, who or what was playing the role of the flawed Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture?
Lu Yang lowered his head and looked at his own palm. Ever since he ascended to the throne in the Dao Court, an invisible connection had clung to his body, impossible to shake off.
The Immortal Kingdom Dao Law!
In an instant, Lü Yang felt his heart clear, as if clouds had parted to reveal the sun. He finally saw clearly the layers of schemes placed upon him at this moment.
In the exchange just now, Perfected Lord Feixue seemed to constantly mention the World Honored One, implying between the lines that my entry into that chaotic history was targeting the World Honored One. But in reality, there was likely a hidden meaning in her words. There were some things she dared not say too much about because the Immortal Kingdom Daoist Law is still on my body!
The World Honored One's forbidden knowledge was just a smokescreen.
The truly valuable hint to him was actually that final sentence: "Ninety percent chance of success, yet certain death"—and she only said it because he actively asked!
Damn these four Dao Lords, not a single one is reliable!
Lu Yang cursed inwardly. If he hadn't suspected the Dao Court Dao Lord, Perfected Lord Feixue wouldn't have said a single word. That really was the Saint Sect's style.
If you are stupid and blindly trust others, what is there to say?
The Saint Sect doesn't raise trash!
Fortunately, having muddled through several lives in the Saint Sect, he had rich experience and knew that no one's words could be trusted—only what he decided for himself was reliable.
The Dao Court Dao Lord plots to seize the [Heavenly Fire] and might stab me in the back. The World Honored One doesn't want me to attain the Dao and will definitely kill me. Although the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord has been silent so far, since I cultivated the Unyielding Sword Intent, he may not necessarily be without plans. And the Saint Sect Ancestor has already made his move...
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but curse again.
Bastard!
I'm just seeking the Golden Core, dammit, not seeking the Nascent Soul! Why are the four Dao Lords waiting on me alone? These mighty figures have no shame whatsoever!
Was this the treatment for a Supreme Dao Fruit?
...Fine.
Lu Yang exhaled a deep breath of turbid air and regained his calm. It's nothing more than seeking survival in the cracks. For this, I must understand the schemes of each Dao Lord.
Only with intelligence could he find the flaws.
The World Honored One's scheme went without saying—shamelessly coming down to stomp the weak. No real sophistication there.
The key to the Dao Court Dao Lord's scheme lay in how he intended to seize the [Heavenly Fire], and whether that will truly cause Lü Yang to fail and die while seeking the Golden Core.
The Sword Pavilion side was acceptable; he had Master Vanquishing-Demon holding it down for him.
Finally, the Saint Sect Ancestor.
Thinking of this, Lü Yang rubbed his chin. If he didn't understand the Saint Sect Ancestor's thoughts before, he had some clues now.
Could the Saint Sect Ancestor be targeting the Dao Court Dao Lord?
It came back to that phrase: Balance!
After all, the World Honored One had already suffered a big loss this time. If he suffered more, the balance between Dao Lords would be unstable, so the scales needed readjusting.
The Saint Sect Ancestor's goal might just be to prevent the Dao Court Dao Lord from getting [Heavenly Fire]!
The more Lu Yang thought about it, the more likely this guess seemed. For the Saint Sect Ancestor, whether I attain [Heavenly Fire] or not might not be a big deal.
After all, there was still [Sky-Shrouding] above him.
The key point was not letting the Dao Court Dao Lord obtain the [Heavenly Fire] through his hand.
In other words—
In the Saint Sect Ancestor's calculations, I either don't seek it, or if I do, I must succeed! That's why he granted me the opportunity to go to the chaotic history.
After all, compared to the explanation that the Saint Sect Ancestor was kind-hearted and liked to cultivate his juniors, the reason of scheming against the Dao Court Dao Lord was undoubtedly much more reliable.
Instantly, everything became clear to Lu Yang.
Then my primary goal now, aside from returning the Zou Yu descendants, is to find a way to discover the Dao Court Dao Lord's method for seizing [Heavenly Fire]...
Knowing the method meant having the means to counter it.
As for clues, the Saint Sect Ancestor had already given them to him—
The chaotic history! That is the World- onored One's private reserve. The Dao Court Dao Lord's hand shouldn't be able to reach in there, nor can he monitor my every move.
Besides, the connection between that place and the present world is extremely deep, yet its future development is completely different. Someone has even tried to attain the [Heavenly Fire] there. So, the Dao Court Dao Lord's method for seizing the [Heavenly Fire] is a secret in the present world, but in that chaotic history... it might not be!