At this moment, Lu Yang's face had no emotional fluctuation.
Even his gaze didn't waver in the slightest, staring at [Sky-Shrouding] ten meters away like this, as if he hadn't perceived his existence at all.
He came so fast!
That [Sky-Shrouding] would appear here was within his expectations. After all, inside [The Mortal World], there was still a residual image left by [Sky-Shrouding] when he challenged the trial back then.
This showed that [Sky-Shrouding] also knew this place.
The problem was that it shouldn't be this fast... If [Sky-Shrouding] was determined to find trouble with Hong Yun, he should have at least gone to the Seven Luminaries Heaven first.
That was the place with the greatest karma connection to Hong Yun.
Normal process should be [Sky-Shrouding] first deducing Hong Yun's karma, then deducing it to the Seven Luminaries Heaven, then going there to find nothing.
Then continue deducing, but always failing to find Hong Yun's location. Only then associating it with [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness], and coming here to take a look... By then, I would have long refined Hong Yun, finished the cleanup, and even used [Magpie's Nest] to possess a Supreme Imperial World rogue cultivator and hide.
However, [Sky-Shrouding] came early.
Not only that, the next second Lu Yang saw [Sky-Shrouding] blink his smoke-hazy eyes, then suddenly walked towards his direction.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps echoed in the sea of light, yet didn't attract even a trace of fluctuation from the [Two Polarities Birth and Destruction Profound Light], as if it were just a dream.
In fact, it was indeed so.
To the surrounding [Two Polarities Birth and Destruction Profound Light], the current [Sky-Shrouding] was non-existent, illusory, and shouldn't be perceived at all!
The footsteps are wrong!
This is probing me. Are the footsteps something I can hear? If I hear them, wouldn't it be exposing that I can perceive his existence?
With this thought, Lu Yang's expression became increasingly natural.
He is suspecting me!
Suspecting I'm related to Hong Yun and [Overturned Lamp Flame]!
After all, only [Overturned Lamp Flame], which focused on "revelation," could see through the Knowledge-Perception Barrier. If he could do it too, in [Sky-Shrouding]'s eyes, it would be equivalent to self-exposure.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang simply acted ruthlessly.
His gaze was calm, moving directly past [Sky-Shrouding]'s body as if just glancing casually, then immediately cut off [Overturned Lamp Flame].
In an instant, [Sky-Shrouding]'s figure disappeared from his eyes.
However, the next second, Lu Yang's expression changed.
Because the footsteps didn't disappear because he cut off the sensing of [Overturned Lamp Flame], but instead became more intense, echoing in the light sea just like that.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
This time, Lu Yang's expression finally couldn't hold.
I am exposed...
He already understood [Sky-Shrouding]'s operation. The other party didn't conceal the footsteps from the beginning. A normal person should actually show surprise.
However, because of a guilty conscience, he subconsciously forced himself to be calm.
The result exposed himself instead. After all, you clearly could hear the footsteps but pretended not to know. If this wasn't having a guilty conscience in your heart, what could it be?
"...Sigh, impossible to guard against."
He sighed crisply, then no longer concealed, looking directly towards [Sky-Shrouding]'s direction, cupping his hands solemnly and bowing: "Greetings, Senior."
As his voice fell, Lu Yang directly urged the [Past Life Aspect], operating the [Overturned Lamp Flame] wonder, illuminating the hidden and subtle, revealing [Sky-Shrouding] again.
Only until this moment did [Sky-Shrouding] finally speak: "In front of Fellow Daoist, I dare not be called Senior."
"After all, Fellow Daoist borrowed Hong Yun's hand to make me suffer a huge setback. Now that your cultivation has greatly advanced, it seems you killed the donkey after it finished the job and eliminated Hong Yun?"
Hearing this, Lu Yang tilted his head: "What Hong Yun?"
Before his voice fell, [Sky-Shrouding] had already acted. The entire [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] trembled under his wrath. Rolling azure-green light galloped out.
Looking over, it was like billions of forest leaves.
These forest leaves spread out. Shaking in unison, they made rustling sounds. Climbing the branches and trunks, having the might to shake the wind; clustered twigs having the height to prop up the moon.
At this moment, Lu Yang's eyes only had this [Great Forest Wood] rising from the ground before him. All other thoughts, all distracting ideas, whether the thought of casting technique or the idea of counterattacking, seemed to be gently wiped away by a hand, completely immersed in the forest wood before his eyes.
"[Overturned Lamp Flame] only has a little restraint against the Knowledge-Perception Barrier."
"Ultimately, it's not a Supreme Dao Fruit. In a real fight, it's still far off! Otherwise, back then it wouldn't have been me killing Hong Yun, but Hong Yun killing me!"
Before his voice fell, a palm had already pressed lightly on Lu Yang's chest.
Bang!
A dull explosive sound rang out, causing Lu Yang's body to shake for a moment. However, the next second, [Sky-Shrouding] let out a soft exclamation of doubt.
Huh?
Lu Yang was safe and sound.
The monstrous spiritual power sufficient to crush a Golden Core Perfected Lord, making even the soul hard to reincarnate, clearly hit Lu Yang directly, yet it seemed to fall into a bottomless abyss.
Even more than that, even the influence from [Great Forest Wood] was completely severed at this moment. The originally dull Lu Yang also resumed thinking. His empty eyes refocused. Looking at [Sky-Shrouding] close at hand, without another word, he raised his hand and smashed out a punch with full force!
Boom!
Lu Yang's punch was by no means ordinary. The brute immense force generated by his sturdy body was almost equivalent to a concept, hitting [Sky-Shrouding]'s face squarely with the force of toppling mountains and overturning seas!
In an instant, [Sky-Shrouding]'s head tilted back!
Even the smoke around his body was solidly dispersed quite a bit by Lu Yang's punch. This made Lu Yang pleasantly surprised in his heart, even unable to believe it.
I fought back?
Facing [Sky-Shrouding]'s Knowledge-Perception Barrier, not only did I withstand it, but I even had strength to spare for a counterattack... With this thought, Lu Yang almost shed two lines of clear tears.
I have my day too! I've finally made it!
The principle of him breaking free from [Sky-Shrouding]'s method was very simple. It was the [Future Life Aspect] sensing autonomously, diverting all attacks he received.
This was precisely the wonder of this Dharma Body's [Three Lives Primordial Qi Method]!
All attacks are in the future.
The current me is unscathed!
At the same time, [Sky-Shrouding], who took Lu Yang's punch hard, retreated a few steps lightly, then stood still to size up Lu Yang.
A moment later, he spoke again: "Fellow Daoist, let's join hands."
"...Join hands?" Lu Yang's mouth opened slightly.
[Sky-Shrouding] was very calm, saying indifferently: "Correct. After all, Fellow Daoist is now also a target of public criticism, similar to me. Perfect to join hands."
Hearing these words, Lu Yang gradually frowned.
This feeling was very subtle.
How to say it... [Sky-Shrouding] seemed very calm. Not pretending, nor suppressing anger, but truly calm, almost without anger.
But he shouldn't be this calm.
I plotted against him, causing him to lose the Netherworld, lose his realm, and suffer a heavy injury tantamount to being crippled below the eyebrows. If it were me, would I still be in the mood to join forces and cooperate with my enemy?
Choosing to fight to the death would count as calm!
[Sky-Shrouding]'s reaction is wrong!
This didn't look like the reaction a person with a severed Dao path should have.
For a person with a severed Dao path—look at Perfected One Warding-Evil back then to know. Compared to him, [Sky-Shrouding]'s reaction was clearly full of anomalies.
Simply like—
Does he still have a backup plan outside the Netherworld?