The Old Dragon Lord's mood at this moment was one of total collapse.
However, as an ancient True Dragon who had survived this long by clinging to life, his personality differed from that of normal people.
Most cultivators were brave and daring when emotionally stable, but greedy for life and fearful of death when they broke down. The Old Dragon Lord's style was the exact opposite.
When emotionally stable, he was greedy for life and fearful of death.
When he broke down, he was brave and daring.
Therefore, in this moment, his dragon face gradually twisted, revealing a hint of malevolence. Even the conceptual imagery of the [Vast Ocean Water] around him began to shift.
"...Be careful."
[Sky-Shrouding] whispered upon seeing this, "Don't think this old loach used his full strength before. He hasn't used the Supreme Dao Fruit profound wonder of [Vast Ocean Water] yet!"
Whether it was the [Myriad Rivers Converge — Radiance of Pure Clarity] or the [Abyssal Yin — Light of Profound Darkness], they were fundamentally just parts of [Vast Ocean Water] and didn't fully represent this Dao Fruit. Or rather, these were merely the profound wonders of [Vast Ocean Water] after it had fallen from the Supreme Position. The Old Dragon Lord was still hiding a killing move.
"I know."
Lu Yang nodded slightly. He didn't relax his vigilance just because of the Old Dragon Lord's terrible state. As for [Sky-Shrouding]'s warning, he had anticipated it long ago.
In the end, [Vast Ocean Water] just lacks impact.
Yes, the variation of clarity and turbidity the Old Dragon Lord displayed earlier was strong. If [Sky-Shrouding] hadn't intervened, Lu Yang would have been forcibly suppressed.
But so what?
Compared to [City Rampart Earth] which changes karma, [Sword Edge Gold] which slays the future, and [Heavenly Fire] which sets rules, it's still too ordinary.
Simply put, it wasn't overpowered enough!
If it were the previous [Vast Ocean Water], that would be one thing. But now that [Vast Ocean Water] had re-ascended to the Supreme Dao Fruit position, how could it lack a rule-breaking profound wonder?
"Have you seen it, Senior? The fundamental profound wonder of [Vast Ocean Water]?" Lu Yang asked in a low voice.
[Sky-Shrouding] shook his head. "I don't know. When I came into the world, [Vast Ocean Water] had long since been knocked down from the Supreme Position, and the relevant information had disappeared."
Lu Yang frowned tightly at these words.
In spiritual combat, there were three things he wouldn't fight: enemies with higher cultivation bases, enemies stronger than him, and enemies he knew absolutely nothing about.
"How about... you fight him, Senior?" Lu Yang proactively suggested.
"There's no need. It's better to leave such opportunities to a young man with more courage like you." [Sky-Shrouding] chose to refuse without hesitation.
Because he found something a bit off about Lu Yang.
This bastard... although he's relying on the [World-Retribution Incarnation], the strength he's displaying seems a bit too high. What did he put inside?
Generally speaking, the [World-Retribution Incarnation] was driven by inserting a strand of divine sense, along with a massive amount of spiritual power and conceptual profound wonders. He had done the same before... but he discovered Lu Yang's situation seemed somewhat different. Indistinctly, Lu Yang even seemed to slightly surpass him!
This instantly made [Sky-Shrouding] wary.
Although I don't know what method he used, could he be thinking of relying on this method to snatch my [World-Retribution Incarnation] at a critical moment?
Although this was just a suspicion, [Sky-Shrouding] quickly rationalized it.
Whether he is or isn't, I'll assume he is!
With this thought, [Sky-Shrouding] was naturally even less willing to act. He was eager for the Old Dragon Lord and Lu Yang to fight with real fire, thereby weakening Lu Yang's state.
And this mindset—Lu Yang naturally discovered it as well.
You evil old ghost!
Lu Yang cursed inwardly, but he had no intention of compromising with the Old Dragon Lord either. Instead, he mustered his spiritual power, preparing to have a real, hard fight with the Old Dragon Lord.
If I fight now, the one getting damaged is the [World-Retribution Incarnation]. If it really gets wrecked, the one holding the heartache will be [Sky-Shrouding], and I can conveniently probe the depths of the Old Dragon Lord and [Vast Ocean Water]. But if I retreat now, it might be my main body fighting in the future, and I'd be the unlucky one then.
For a moment, the atmosphere became tense with drawn swords and bent bows once again.
However, just as both sides were about to engage in battle again, a sigh suddenly rang out: "Two Seniors, you have truly misunderstood me and the Old Dragon Lord."
As the voice fell, a figure emerged.
The [Sea of Bitterness] opened wide, and infinite conceptual water surged out. He stepped out from the [Sea of Bitterness], landing steadily in the Present World.
It was Mu Changsheng!
He was dressed in white, his long hair tied in a ponytail hanging behind his head. His figure appeared slightly illusory; though very faint, it made his aura difficult to capture.
"Hmph... you're willing to come out now?"
The Old Dragon Lord bared his teeth upon seeing this. After all, he had almost suffered an undeserved calamity because of Mu Changsheng, nearly entering a life-and-death struggle with Lu Yang.
Although a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator with an unfallen Grotto-Heaven had basically transcended death...
It would still hurt!
On the other side, Mu Changsheng gave a bitter laugh and explained with a face full of sincerity, "I have received great kindness from Senior; how could I let Senior block a disaster for me?"
This was a lie.
In fact, Mu Changsheng had previously been eager for the Old Dragon Lord and Lu Yang to fight, and the more fiercely the better. He had only changed his mind at the last moment.
Because just now, he suddenly felt a change in destiny. An indescribable impulse surged in his heart... He was all too familiar with this feeling. It was guidance from the Lord of Heaven who had bestowed destiny upon him and protected him all along. Clearly, the heaven did not wish for him to stand by and watch.
Is it out of consideration for the Dragon Race?
That makes sense... The True Dragon Race are the scions of heaven and earth, and the Old Dragon Lord is among the most ancient of them. It stands to reason that the Lord of Heaven wouldn't want anything to happen to him.
Amidst his thoughts, Mu Changsheng had already arrived beside the Old Dragon Lord.
"Harmony is precious in all things."
"Seniors, it is better to stop fighting. As for the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]... although I am untalented, I am willing to share the intelligence in my hands with everyone."
As his voice fell, he extended his hand.
He formed a seal and pressed it to his chest. Then, his Niwan Palace opened wide, and a streak of profound light sprayed out, finally transforming impressively into a Dao Fruit.
[Wú Yǒu Heaven]!
This wasn't the first time Lu Yang had seen this Unorthodox Dao Fruit that governed the change between illusion and reality. However, the [Wú Yǒu Heaven] in Mu Changsheng's hand at this moment was different.
In the next second, [Wú Yǒu Heaven] changed.
The Dao Fruit, which should have been illusory, now manifested a physical form. Looking closely, it was a round mirror with black and white sides, surfacing with infinite talismans.
Immediately after, Mu Changsheng tapped his finger lightly.
"Go!"
Almost simultaneously, the round mirror transformed from [Wú Yǒu Heaven] shifted. The black side aimed at the Old Dragon Lord, and a beam of mirror light shone down.
Then, a change occurred that made Lu Yang, and even [Sky-Shrouding], let out a soft sound of surprise: Under the illumination of the mirror light, the injuries on the Old Dragon Lord's body caused by the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] actually turned illusory in that instant. As the mirror light withdrew, they simply vanished into thin air!
This is...
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes instantly. Meanwhile, far away in [The Mortal World], inside the [Righteous Dao Banner] held by Lu Yang's main body, a strand of divine sense rapidly transmitted a voice.
"Dao Fruit profound wonder!"
"He used [Wú Yǒu Heaven] to cultivate a Dao Fruit profound wonder! But where does an Unorthodox Dao Fruit get a profound wonder? can you get his method? It would be of great use to me!"
It was [Patriarch Nether Whisper].
Hearing this, the look Lu Yang gave Mu Changsheng grew increasingly profound.
An Unorthodox Cultivation Method?