"Next time, this will become reality."
As his voice fell, the True Body Tathagata instantly disintegrated and dispersed, vanishing without a trace. It seemed He had achieved his goal and left this [False History].
However, Lu Yang didn't move.
Although the True Body Tathagata had left and he needed to return to the present world through the Zou Yu descendant's entrance as soon as possible, he still remained motionless, his main body's aura deeply hidden.
At the same time, above the Zou Yu Ruins.
Superficially having left, but in reality only using a blinding trick to hide his form and remain hovering above the Zou Yu Ruins, the True Body Tathagata sighed:
"Worthy of the Saint Sect... not easy to trick. Forget it."
With that, He truly dispersed his form.
Another three days passed—
Golden light flashed suddenly, and the True Body Tathagata drilled out again, looking surprised. He no longer spoke deliberately but pondered in his heart: Could he have left long ago?
Is he really that sharp?
The True Body Tathagata couldn't help shaking His head. If possible, He would have loved to camp at these Zou Yu Ruins for a few hundred years, refusing to believe Lu Yang wouldn't show up.
After all, this was a god-given opportunity. If He could solve Lu Yang directly in the [False History], He could swallow all the gains alone. Why bother going to the present world? The present world was much more troublesome than the [False History], and the World Honored One had made multiple compromises and concessions to get the chance to descend Him.
Pity, circumstances don't allow it.
The karma of my Tathagata body is too heavy. It's fine for a short while, but if I stay too long, it's very easy to completely crush this [False History].
I can only leave...
The True Body Tathagata sighed inwardly, but maintained an unfathomable expression on His face. Before leaving, He even formed a hand seal to leave an image permanently stationed at the spot.
If I can't find you, I'll scare you!
The longer the delay, the more sufficient the World Honored One's preparations will be. When I descend in the present world then, the power I can exert will surpass what I have here.
…
Overseas, Lone Heart Island.
One of Lu Yang's [Marionettes] quietly arrived at this place, broke through the formation stationed outside, and soon reached the cave dwelling within the island.
Deep inside the cave dwelling, in a quiet secret room, a wooden box was placed. Inscribed upon it was the aura Hong Tian left behind before his death.
Lu Yang paced forward and opened the wooden box.
Inside lay a jade tablet, with a jade slip placed beside it. Lu Yang swept it with his divine sense and instantly understood what it was:
[Life-Binding Tablet]?
This jade tablet was connected to someone's life. Once the tablet shattered, that person would die as a result, equivalent to Lu Yang killing them with his own hands.
In this situation... the future possibilities regarding that person will also fall into my hands!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang instantly understood Hong Tian's intention in leaving this item: He believes that the person corresponding to this Life-Binding Tablet... their future possibilities will also be useful to me?
Lu Yang didn't hesitate and crushed the jade tablet directly.
In the next second, the jade tablet burst into brilliance. In the Jiangnan region, a sword resonance rang out, then suddenly dimmed, vanishing into silence.
Simultaneously, a brilliance appeared in Lu Yang's hand.
This is...
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes, and enlightenment dawned in his heart—This was the possibility of Perfected One Xuanwu, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's counterpart in the [False History]!
Perfected One Xuanwu's life trajectory is very similar to Master Vanquishing-Demon's; both were cultivated to attain the [Sword Dao Fruit]. However, because the [False History] lacks the World Honored One and thus the [No-Kill Sword Intent], Perfected One Xuanwu's strength is far weaker than Master Vanquishing-Demon's, so he didn't manage to attain the [Sword Dao Fruit].
But he survived.
After failing to attain the [Sword Dao Fruit], he received Hong Tian's help and locked his life with the Life-Binding Tablet, enough to live on for another three years...
In other words—
This is the possibility of not dying after futilely attaining the [Sword Dao Fruit]! If used on Master Vanquishing-Demon, it might be a massive opportunity!
In the previous life, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon sacrificed his body to the sword. After attaining the [Sword Dao Fruit], his soul scattered, unable to even reincarnate. However, if he could survive, given his relationship with the [Sword Dao Fruit], even with just a remnant soul left, he could instantly merge with the Dao and ascend to the position of a perfected lord!
As for Perfected One Xuanwu...
Even with the Life-Binding Tablet, he only had three years of life left. Hong Tian had told him this before leaving the item, and he had agreed readily upon learning it.
Should I say... worthy of being Master Vanquishing-Demon's counterpart?
Lu Yang's expression was complex as he pondered:
It seems Hong Tian also knew he was a target for all. Any karma related to him would be dug out, and nothing would be left in the end.
That's why he left the karma of Perfected One Xuanwu, who was unrelated to him.
Perhaps he didn't actually think this would help me much, but it was already the most valuable thing he could leave behind.
Lu Yang sighed.
Turning back, Lu Yang looked at the image of the True Body Tathagata standing in the direction of the Zou Yu Ruins and sneered coldly: Subpar tricks... do you think I can't tell?
It was a fake!
Designed to scare people!
Manipulating the [Marionette], Lu Yang swaggered directly to the Zou Yu Ruins. Simultaneously, his main body awakened and walked out of the secluded place.
"...Time to leave."
Lu Yang took one last look at the world of the [False History]. Undeniably, although brief, he had benefited greatly from his time in this [False History].
Hong Tian... I absolutely will not repeat the same mistakes!
Given time, he would return.
Inside Feixue's bedchamber, accompanied by a burst of flowing light, Lu Yang stepped out of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. He instantly felt the difference between the [False History] and the present world.
The present world has a sense of solidity...
The earth, the sky, the spiritual qi—none had the illusory quality of the [False History]. This feeling was most profound for those who had been to the [False History].
In the next second, Lu Yang looked up.
The [Heavenly Fire]... is complete!
Yu Zhou and the group of Zou Yu descendants were conveniently left on Lone Heart Island by him. He also set up a formation to protect them while ensuring they were trapped.
So now, without the interference of the Zou Yu clan's aura, his [Heavenly Fire] concept was flawless and complete. Under the heavens, there was no place the sun and moon didn't shine; within the six directions, there was no person unknown. If judging solely by the state before seeking the golden core, he was actually quite a bit stronger than Hong Tian had been!
However... my troubles are also bigger than Hong Tian's!
After all, Hong Tian was only targeted by perfected lords, while he was being attended to by four Dao Lords. The two were not in the same weight class. The only future he could see was despair.
—What to do?
Lu Yang stood with hands behind his back, sinking into deep silence. Scenes of Hong Tian being feasted upon by the various factions and self-destructing flashed through Lu Yang's mind.
The Dao Court, the World Honored One, the Sword Pavilion.
Three great tribulations. Each one was undoubtedly a life-and-death hurdle. He had to gamble with his life. Only by winning three times in a row could he attain the [Heavenly Fire].
And what did he have?
A trip to the [False History] yielded nothing but the possibility of [Not Dying After Attaining the Sword Dao Fruit] and a pile of intelligence that might be useless.
Even if he used that possibility, at most it would allow Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon to become a golden core perfected lord. But with the [Sword Dao Fruit] newly attained and undeveloped, it might not be of much use.
Let alone winning three times in a row, he wasn't even confident about winning once.
In a trance, Lu Yang seemed to see a sky-covering net.
Only this time, it was his turn to be the butterfly on the spider web. The various factions were eyeing him covetously, just waiting for him to seek the golden stature so they could feast.