The moment the World Honored One revived in his body, Lu Yang had already formulated a plan.
Under normal circumstances, it's impossible for me to pass the [Sky-Shrouding] projection's trial. If this old beast doesn't let me pass, I can't get the opportunity of this trial.
So he had to find another way.
Thus came Lu Yang's active retreat, allowing the World Honored One's incarnation to take the leading role. To put it bluntly, it was driving a tiger to swallow a wolf, using this to force [Sky-Shrouding] to yield.
Of course, there were significant variables in this.
For example, the appearance of Sisui's remnant thought. Although Lu Yang had guessed at the other party's existence, he had no solid proof. Forcing out a hidden danger could be considered a pleasant surprise.
Next, it depends on the old bastard's choice.
Although he said that, there was actually no suspense. Judging others by himself, Lu Yang knew very clearly that the [Sky-Shrouding] projection would definitely make the correct choice in the end.
He just needed a little help.
With this thought, Lu Yang suddenly voluntarily gave up fighting for [Heavenly Fire] with the World Honored One's incarnation, allowing the incarnation, which should have been dormant, to revive once again!
At the same time, the newly awakened remnant thought of Sisui was also oscillating violently, frantically extracting power from Lu Yang's consciousness sea to interfere with and influence the [Sky-Shrouding] projection. This further spurred the revival of the World Honored One's incarnation. Under the combined pressure of both, the [Sky-Shrouding] projection instantly couldn't hold on.
"Sigh... I lost."
Seeing this scene, the [Sky-Shrouding] projection sighed deeply, feeling an indescribable mix of helplessness and admiration. The next second, he voluntarily took a step back.
Boom.
Almost simultaneously, [The Mortal World] trembled violently. With the [Sky-Shrouding] projection's voluntary surrender, the final guardian of this trial declared defeat.
Lu Yang cleared the level!
In an instant, Lu Yang, who was originally the weakest party in the three-way struggle yet vaguely directed the entire chaotic battle, suddenly felt a mighty force crash down.
In a trance, Lu Yang seemed to see something flowing with colors, both real and illusory, in the unseen world, as if it would fall into his embrace the next second.
The opportunity of [The Mortal World]!
However, just at this moment, the World Honored One's incarnation, previously suppressed by the [Sky-Shrouding] projection, awakened once again, also noticing the change in the checkpoint.
"Divine Intent Essence..."
The World Honored One's incarnation had a cold gaze. Then, it actually formed a hand seal. The dense Buddhist light on its body instantly retracted, and its aura changed along with it.
"Same as me, not me, all are me."
"Not me, same as me, all are not me."
At this moment, the World Honored One's incarnation actually changed back into "Lu Yang," causing the mighty force originally locking onto Lu Yang to suddenly stall, seemingly falling into confusion.
Of course, Lu Yang was prepared for this:
"Sky-Shrouding!!!"
As his voice fell, the [Sky-Shrouding] projection gritted his teeth, cursing Lu Yang in his heart, but dared not hesitate in his actions. After all, the World Honored One's incarnation was already fierce enough. If it obtained the opportunity of [The Mortal World], it would truly become unstoppable. So no matter how unhappy he was, he could only act.
The next second, he formed seals again.
[Knowledge-Perception Barrier]!
But this time he didn't attack the World Honored One's incarnation, but targeted Sisui's remnant thought, causing the latter to freeze in Lu Yang's consciousness sea, unable to move for a long while.
Although Sisui's remnant thought was in a state far inferior to the World Honored One's incarnation, it helped the incarnation distract the [Sky-Shrouding] projection's energy. Therefore, to salvage the situation, the [Sky-Shrouding] projection had to forcefully act to temporarily suppress Sisui's remnant thought, only then freeing up mental energy to deal with the World Honored One's incarnation.
"[Veiled Truth Immortal Method]!"
The Immortal Method that obliterated the True Self hit the World Honored One's incarnation again. At the same time, Lu Yang cooperated fully, acting to wrestle for control of the body with the opponent.
"Ami...tabha..."
At this moment, the World Honored One's will was also oscillating violently, but not in an attempt to break free from the [Sky-Shrouding] projection's suppression. Instead, it aimed at Sisui's remnant thought!
"Wake up!"
With a Buddhist chant, Sisui's remnant thought, which had just been suppressed by the [Sky-Shrouding] projection, was reawakened by the World Honored One's incarnation, finally recovering its ability to think.
Then he saw the World Honored One's incarnation.
"It's you. Bald donkey!"
In an instant, Sisui's remnant thought rioted violently, almost immediately about to attack the World Honored One's incarnation, but stopped upon discovering his own predicament.
Immediately after, the World Honored One's incarnation's voice drifted out:
"If you want to live, help me."
"Why should I?"
Sisui's remnant thought raced: "The one they want to deal with is you. My true body has long been destroyed. Even if I live, it has no impact on them."
"Just because you are rooted in someone else's consciousness sea!" The World Honored One's incarnation sneered: "This strand of your divine intent is rooted in Lu Yang's consciousness sea, destined to drain everything from him. As long as he isn't stupid, he will inevitably kill you. The reason he hasn't acted yet is purely because I am standing in front of you."
"I don't think so."
Sisui's remnant thought disagreed: "That junior is merely a Golden Core Perfected Lord. How can he see through my methods? As long as I hide, he can't discover me."
"Is that so?"
Seeing this, the World Honored One's incarnation had a thought. The next second, Lu Yang, who was still wrestling with him for the body, suddenly had a flash of insight, and a technique appeared before his eyes.
[Great Derivation Spirit Refining Art]
World Honored One's incarnation: "Now he can discover you. Don't worry, I also told him the method to completely destroy you, guaranteeing you'll die without a burial place."
Sisui's remnant thought: "..."
Shameless bald donkey!
The exchange lasted only a split second. The next second, Sisui's remnant thought made the most correct choice, rationally throwing all grudges to the back of his mind.
In an instant, Lu Yang's consciousness sea was turbulent, once again distracting the [Sky-Shrouding] projection's energy, forcing him to divert part of the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier]'s profundity to suppress Sisui's remnant thought. Meanwhile, the World Honored One's incarnation took the opportunity to catch a breath and continued to fight Lu Yang for the opportunity of [The Mortal World].
However, the next second, the World Honored One's incarnation was stunned.
Because just as he was fighting Lu Yang for the opportunity, Lu Yang actually voluntarily gave up, turning to regain dominance over the body instead. Then, without a word—
Boom!
Lu Yang self-destructed!
Dharma body, spiritual power, consciousness sea—all exploded mercilessly the moment he regained dominance. Blazing blood light instantly filled heaven and earth!
And not only that.
After self-destructing, Lu Yang was still forcefully suppressing the [Heavenly Fire], preventing the World Honored One's incarnation from establishing rules to resurrect, utterly posturing for mutual destruction!
"This... madman!"
At this moment, the World Honored One's incarnation didn't hesitated, instantly abandoning the opportunity of [The Mortal World] and turning to fight with all his might for the [Heavenly Fire].
He didn't want to die!
Seeing this, Lu Yang instantly chuckled.
Without any hesitation, he immediately gave up the [Heavenly Fire], turning to steady his mind and sensing the opportunity of [The Mortal World] with all his might.
This time, there were no more obstacles.
Under Lu Yang's traction, that formless substance quickly fell into his heart, then melted, merging with him as one, giving birth to countless realizations in his heart.
However, he had no time to sort them out.
Because at the same time, the World Honored One's incarnation had already used the [Heavenly Fire] to resurrect, wearing a cold sneer: "So what if you snatched it? It's ultimately futile."
Rumble!
In an instant, [The Mortal World] trembled violently!
The [Sky-Shrouding] projection looked up in response. In a trance, he seemed to see a magnificent figure, whose full appearance was hard to behold, looking down from outside the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness].
The World Honored One! The Main Body!
He had come down from the [Paramita]!
It's over...
At this moment, the [Sky-Shrouding] projection looked helpless. He simply gave up suppressing, looking at Lu Yang with a hint of mockery, his meaning self-evident.
You played yourself, didn't you?
Blindly taking risks indeed brought huge returns, but the risks were equally huge. Whether one could succeed depended entirely on heaven's will. Even if one succeeded, whether one could clean up the mess was also extremely critical.
In his view, although Lu Yang succeeded, he was powerless to clean up the mess.
Even if he obtained the greatest opportunity and the greatest breakthrough, what use was it? All is empty when one dies. In the end, it was just busy work for nothing.
However, the next second, he was stunned.
Because he didn't detect the slightest panic in Lu Yang's thoughts. Instead, they were filled with ecstasy. He even had the mood to manifest a figure and wave at him:
"Goodbye~"
As his voice fell, Lu Yang decisively detonated the remaining one-third of his Dao Heart, annihilating his self. His true consciousness instantly plunged into darkness.
And in the boundless darkness, a grand voice resounded:
"[The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]!!!"