Overseas, Lone Heart Island.
Even in the remote outer seas, this island was a desolate wasteland. Spiritual qi was thin, human traces were nonexistent, and cultivators rarely ventured near its shores.
Suddenly, a white-robed youth shattered the void and stepped out, drifting with the grace of an immortal.
"This is the place, my Lord."
Suo Huan's figure emerged beside Lu Yang, chuckling. "Years ago, this is where I contacted the various factions. It seems the [False History] has not deviated in this regard."
"Indeed."
Lu Yang nodded. Golden light shimmered in his eyes as his gaze pierced through the layers of formations on Lone Heart Island, locking onto a figure identical to Suo Huan in appearance.
"Tell me, will he sense the impending danger?"
"Rest assured, My Lord, he won't!"
Suo Huan shook his head. "An unorthodox rogue cultivator wouldn't understand karma. Besides, your cultivation is so high that even standing right in front of him, he wouldn't perceive a thing."
...
"Finally, success."
Having received replies from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect, Suo Lan waved his fist in excitement. "If I can seek the golden core this time, there is hope for reviving the world realm..."
He had lived a hard life these past years.
This wretched place discriminated heavily against rogue cultivators to begin with, and he happened to belong to the most despised category among them—unorthodox rogue cultivators from the outer heaven.
Under these circumstances, let alone the Sword Sect and the Immortal Court, even the newly risen Yama Dao didn't care for him. Although they would accept him if he sincerely sought refuge, he would at best be destined to be a hired thug. Hoping to gain an opportunity to seek the golden core through them was hopeless.
For this reason, he had exhausted every possible method over the years.
It wasn't until recently, when Daoist Hong Tian of the Yama Dao took the initiative to approach him and offered to act as a bridge, that he finally saw a glimmer of hope.
After all, that man used to be a perfected lord!
Not only did he have the background of the Yama Dao, but it was said he had recently joined the Immortal Court, becoming the Grand Preceptor appointed by the Tianwu Imperial Family, with cultivation reaching the peak of perfection.
Such an opportunity was something one could only wish for, not seek.
Thinking of this, Suo Lan's mood improved. With Daoist Hong Tian making introductions and various factions offering support, he might actually have hope of seeking the golden core this time.
The good days were still ahead!
Suo Lan immediately began arranging the venue. Since he was meeting envoys from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect, he wanted to leave a good impression.
"I heard the Immortal Court values grandeur. I should gather some heavenly light to make this place appear more magnificent..."
Suo Lan frowned in distress. Gathering heavenly light wasn't easy; it required time to accumulate—time he didn't have.
Fortunately, at that moment, the white-robed youth who had been standing beside Suo Lan all along took a stream of heavenly light from his sleeve and thoughtfully handed it to him.
"Fellow Daoist, how is this?"
Suo Lan looked up in surprise. His eyes reflected the figure of the white-robed youth, yet he felt nothing amiss. Instead, he smiled as if suddenly enlightened.
"Perfect! Just what I needed!"
With that, he took the heavenly light from Lu Yang's hand and illuminated the originally crude reception hall, actually giving it the semblance of a palace.
Only after finishing all this did he clasp his hands, respectfully stepping aside to give Lu Yang the seat of honor. His eyes were clear as he quietly awaited Lu Yang's instructions.
[Marionette]!
Lu Yang flicked his sleeves and sat down, scrutinizing Suo Lan. His brows furrowed slightly. "Puppets are useful, but gathering intelligence from them is too troublesome."
Whether manipulated by [Marionette] or refined into a banner spirit by the [Myriad Spirits Banner] after death, the target essentially lost their sense of self. He had to ask pointed questions to get answers. If his questions weren't specific enough, or if he missed something, the puppet wouldn't tell the information.
"Forget it."
Lu Yang didn't want to waste time. He had communicated patiently with Chen Dao and his companion earlier because he was worried about making too much noise and attracting the attention of a golden core perfected lord.
But out here in the desolate seas, there were no such concerns.
Whoosh!
In the next second, a pure white light lit up on Lu Yang's fingertip. It was the utmost yin and softness, carrying an intent of inverting yin and yang and nurturing life.
[Celestial Mother Transformation Profound Light]!
At the same time, the [Myriad Spirits Banner] shook, and the banner spirits of the Heaven-Mending Peak Master and his son drifted down. Their expressions were starkly different.
Chen Xin'an looked rosy-cheeked when he first came out; clearly, life inside the [Myriad Spirits Banner] had been decent lately, and he had walked out of his previous psychological shadow. However, upon seeing the [Celestial Mother Transformation Profound Light] in Lu Yang's hand, his ruddy face instantly turned deathly pale again.
On the other side, the Heaven-Mending Peak Master hadn't quite grasped the situation yet.
What are we doing?
Then he saw Lu Yang toss the [Celestial Mother Transformation Profound Light]. Suo Lan, upon being hit, instantly became enchanting and seductive at a speed visible to the naked eye...
"Go!"
Lu Yang didn't say much more. With an old hand like Chen Xin'an responsible for guiding the rookie, he believed that given the Heaven-Mending Peak Master's excellent aptitude, he would learn quickly.
Father and son soldiers on the battlefield.
After giving the order, he walked out of the quiet room and thoughtfully closed the door.
One day later.
When Lu Yang re-entered the quiet room, Suo Lan lay collapsed on the ground, while not far away, the Heaven-Mending Peak Master and Chen Xin'an stood with bitter expressions.
"Well done."
Lu Yang recalled the two banner spirits without another word. He summoned Suo Huan and extended a hand. "Kill him. Let's see what changes occur."
Suo Huan glanced at the barely human form of Suo Lan and the corner of his eye twitched slightly.
"Don't mind the details."
Lu Yang shook his head. "If my prediction is correct, these likely aren't real people. Kill him first and observe the changes."
Suo Huan nodded and pointed a finger.
In the next instant, Suo Lan, who was lying on the ground, was blasted into ashes. However, the phenomena that should have appeared—the fall of a foundation establishment cultivator, the dispersion of spiritual qi—did not occur.
Suo Lan simply vanished.
It was as if he had never existed. In his place, Suo Huan's eyes suddenly widened, and his already powerful aura abruptly surged, rising significantly out of nowhere!
Lu Yang's gaze brightened as he watched. He asked in a low voice:
"Well?"
Suo Huan closed his eyes to sense the changes for a moment before looking at Lu Yang and bowing respectfully. "Reporting to My Lord, just now, this subordinate suddenly saw a future."
"Saw a future?" Lu Yang raised an eyebrow.
"To be precise, I can deduce a future through karma... It is very clear. As long as this subordinate follows the karma presented by that causal line, I will inevitably arrive at the corresponding future. Even if I don't follow it, it can help this subordinate patch up many previous errors and omissions."
Suo Huan's explanation brought clarity to Lu Yang's mind.
So that's it. This is the function of the [Origin] that Perfected Lord Feixue spoke of. A future, and all the karma required to reach that future!
Now, the question was—
Is this possibility only absorbable by killing one's own counterpart in the [False History], or... can it be anyone?
If it was the former, it had little value.
After all, the Saint Sect was gone. He wouldn't have a counterpart in this [False History], and even if he did, it wouldn't be of any help to him.
But if it was the latter...
Then the value is immense!
While pondering, Lu Yang used his authority as the banner master to review the memories Chen Xin'an and his father had extracted using the [Heaven-Mending True Scripture]. His eyes lit up slightly.
That Daoist Hong Tian contacted him, and even bridged the gap to invite people from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect, planning to help him seek the golden core and ascend to the position?
This really was getting exactly what he wanted without any effort.
Lu Yang immediately looked at Suo Huan.
"Wake all the banner spirits. Set up a formation here. One that can seal heavenly secrets."
As a newcomer, Lu Yang decided to keep a low profile.
I killed this Suo Lan. If the people from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect arrive and discover this, they will inevitably investigate extensively. That could be trouble.
Better to just kill them all.