Overseas, Lone Heart Island.
Lu Yang's main body had already fled far beyond the ninth heaven. With his current cultivation, although he was still no match for a perfected lord, it was enough for him to hide and protect himself.
A foundation establishment perfected one at his level actually had the qualification to be regarded highly by a golden core perfected lord, who would not view him as an ant. After all, even a golden core perfected lord might not have reached the state of peak foundation establishment before attaining the golden stature. Such a state was something one could only encounter by luck, not seek.
Only a single [Marionette] was left behind.
Looking at it, Daoist Hong Tian remained silent for a long while, simply performing divination within his sleeves. Only after a long time did a trace of amazement appear on his face.
Cannot be divined!
He recognized the [Immortal Court Ocean Pacifying Commissioner] being controlled by Lu Yang and knew the man had a clean background. Such behavior meant he must have been refined into a puppet.
But if that were the case, the karma should be extremely heavy.
It involved life and death, and the victim was a late foundation establishment cultivator. Unless a perfected lord had acted, how could someone be refined into a puppet without leaving a trace of karma?
Yet Lu Yang had done it.
Thinking of this, he looked up at the [Wall-Top Earth] above the dome of the sky, then turned his ear slightly as if listening. A moment later, a look of disappointment appeared on his face.
The Perfected Lord couldn't calculate it either...?
"Remarkable."
Hong Tian sighed, finally abandoning the idea of capturing this "person from the outside world" alive. Instead, he spread his hands. "Please, Fellow Daoist, let us enter and talk."
As his voice fell, brilliance emerged from Daoist Hong Tian's palm. Within the light stood a miniature palace, expanding in the wind. Lu Yang looked closely and saw concepts of "concealing form and body, internal and external non-interaction" flowing over it. It was clearly a Dao Fruit treasure corresponding to the [Wall-Top Earth].
"This is the [Hidden Mystery Hall]."
Hong Tian smiled faintly and gestured with an open hand. "As long as we talk inside the hall, no one can calculate the content of our conversation, nor will any karma remain."
"Good."
Lu Yang nodded upon hearing this and strode inside. Seeing this, Hong Tian also rode a streak of light and entered the [Hidden Mystery Hall].
Boom!
As soon as the two entered, the hall gates closed. Concepts flowed, as if reopening a great universe, instantly severing all connection with the world outside the hall.
Almost simultaneously, Hong Tian formed a hand seal in front of his chest. Infinite divine ability phantom colors roared within his body, causing his eyes to be nearly enveloped by the colors. Heavenly light seeped from his tightly closed lips, yet not a shred of aura leaked out. Only when he was close to Lu Yang did he suddenly open his mouth:
"Wake up!"
This thunderous sound exploded from Hong Tian's mouth. It was truly like thunder piercing the ear, a blow to the head, capable of dispelling almost any method of soul manipulation.
However, when it landed on Lu Yang, he seemed completely unaware:
"Fellow Daoist, why bother?"
Hong Tian fell silent immediately. Then he flicked his sleeves, acting as if nothing had happened, and chuckled lightly. "Just testing. Fellow Daoist indeed has extraordinary methods."
Despite his words, the dread Hong Tian felt toward Lu Yang had soared to the extreme.
It must be known that this [Hidden Mystery Hall] was no ordinary treasure. It possessed the wonders of the [Wall-Top Earth], isolating the inside from the outside, capable of severing almost all remote manipulation techniques.
He had initially assumed that Lu Yang and the [Immortal Court Ocean Pacifying Commissioner] hadn't met long ago. Even if the latter had been refined into a puppet, he shouldn't be beyond saving. That was why he deliberately brought out the [Hidden Mystery Hall], attempting to break the puppet technique. Yet the result proved that all his efforts were in vain.
Still hasn't been beaten enough by the World-Honored One!
Seeing this, Lu Yang smiled and shook his head. It's only because this [False History] has no Pure Land. If this were the present world, he would have knelt down long ago and shouted praise the 'World Honored One'.
"Please sit."
Hong Tian swept his wide sleeves, inviting Lu Yang to take a seat. Their eyes met, and a strange feeling suddenly arose within him: This person... is so similar to me.
Same divine abilities, same cultivation base.
Thinking of this, Hong Tian's heart moved slightly. He asked in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Lu comes from the outside world, yet you risk meeting me. May I ask for what purpose?"
Lu Yang grinned. "My purpose is the same as yours, Fellow Daoist."
Same goal!?
In an instant, Hong Tian's face turned dark. His goal could only be to attain the [Heavenly Fire]. If the other party was the same...
Then he is a Dao Enemy!
But a second later, Hong Tian regained his composure, frowning deeply. "No... Fellow Daoist harbors no killing intent toward me. Does my seeking the golden core not affect you?"
The Hong Yun of the present world possessed a secret technique to sense fortune and misfortune, allowing him to survive for five thousand years. The Hong Tian of the [False History] naturally was no exception. Relying on the wonder of sensing fortune and misfortune, he perceived that Lu Yang had no killing intent toward him—at least not at this moment. This surprised him greatly.
After all, for cultivators, dao enemies were people one would normally want to eliminate as quickly as possible.
Yet Lu Yang's attitude was starkly different.
The outside world... what kind of world is it? What exactly is its connection to this world? To know the answer, the person before me is likely the biggest clue.
At the same time, Lu Yang also sat upright.
Hong Tian felt Lu Yang was similar to himself, but for Lu Yang, looking at Hong Tian felt even more profound.
The method Hong Tian used just now to attempt breaking [Marionette]... seemed to be sword intent?
At this thought, Lu Yang suddenly narrowed his eyes. Without any visible movement, an indescribable soaring sharpness abruptly rose from his body.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of sword resonance surged like a tide, instantly filling the entire [Hidden Mystery Hall]. Under Lu Yang's deliberate pressure, a sword resonance actually rang out from within Hong Tian's body as well!
Two sword intents, like reflections on either side of a mirror, rose slowly from Hong Tian and Lu Yang. One was like steel refined a hundred times—the more it was hammered, the tougher it became, as if it could never be broken or destroyed. The other was like a lamp flame illuminating everything—though faint, it could pierce through all darkness.
For a moment, both fell silent.
Exactly the same. Even the goal is to attain the [Heavenly Fire]. Am I the reference? Did this person from the outside world come here for me?
Hong Tian lowered his eyelids, thoughts racing in his mind.
On the other side, Lu Yang's expression also darkened. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "Fellow Daoist wishes to attain the [Heavenly Fire]. I wonder how your preparations are?"
"The [Heavenly Fire] rules the world. How much have you achieved, Fellow Daoist?"
"What are your chances of success in seeking the golden core?"
Faced with Lu Yang's questions, Hong Tian frowned slightly but had no intention of hiding anything. After all, the [Heavenly Fire] was an open and upright Dao Fruit.
"As it stands, I should have a ninety percent chance."
Hong Tian listed his assets as if counting family treasures, whispering, "I am now the Grand Preceptor of the Immortal Court. For attaining the [Heavenly Fire] this time, I have gained the support of His Majesty and the Three Excellencies. As for the Sword Sect in Jiangnan, Perfected One Xuanwu is my good friend and has also promised assistance. I have also just concluded negotiations with the dragon race overseas."
Speaking of this, Hong Tian's tone carried a hint of pride.
He had attained the [Heavenly Fire] once before. That time, he failed because he didn't rule the world. So this time, he had considered almost every possibility.
Theoretically, he absolutely would not fail.
The so-called ten percent chance of failure was purely out of respect for the difficulty of the [Heavenly Fire] being a supreme Dao Fruit; Hong Tian didn't dare speak in absolutes.
However, in the next second, he saw Lu Yang shake his head with a grave expression.
"Although Fellow Daoist has a ninety percent chance of success, I'm afraid you will undoubtedly die!"
As his voice fell, Lu Yang's expression grew even more solemn. He thought to himself: This Hong Tian... he looks exactly like another me in the [False History]!