Dark Void in the Sea of Light.
Endless [Two Polarities Birth and Destruction Profound Light] collided constantly within the void. While the power of destruction surged, the qi of creation was also being nurtured from within.
Suddenly, a faint, illusionary color emerged.
Within the illusion, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] appeared dressed in green robes, wearing a crown and hair bound properly. He walked upon the light sea as if it were flat ground, looking every bit the refined scholar.
However, at this moment, his expression was extremely serious. He showed none of the casualness he had displayed before the cultivators of the [Star Palace]; instead, he looked ahead with solemnity.
In the next second, waves rose within the light sea.
A beam of light and shadow descended from the [Dark Void], drawing a response from the surrounding light sea. Before long, a hazy mist began to drift around the light and shadow.
"...[Sky-Shrouding]!"
[Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] narrowed his eyes. Unlike the uncertainty and numerous guesses during their previous meeting, this time his heart was filled with certainty.
The reason was simple: only the real [Sky-Shrouding], that former Number One Perfected Lord Under Heaven, could cause such intense fluctuations in the dark void of the light sea just by appearing. Although Gangxing himself could achieve something similar, the scale was far inferior to what [Sky-Shrouding] could incite.
With this thought, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] laughed loudly:
"Fellow Daoist is here again."
At these words, [Sky-Shrouding]'s heart skipped a beat, though his face didn't pause for even a moment. He smiled and replied, "It seems Fellow Daoist has already got what he wished for."
A watertight answer.
[Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] pondered internally. The person before me is undoubtedly [Sky-Shrouding], but what about the previous one? Was that also [Sky-Shrouding]?
Or was it someone else in disguise?
Forget it. Regardless of whether both were [Sky-Shrouding] or if they were two different people plotting against me, this trip is imperative for me.
Thinking this, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] said immediately, "Correct, I have obtained the [Gatekeeper's Seal]. Fellow Daoist has also given me the coordinates. There is no need for haste. Once I have rested and regulated my qi, I will naturally make a trip to [Nourishing Life Master] to meet with Fellow Daoist."
As a Great Perfected Lord, he was by no means a fool.
having just returned from the [Star Palace] and unleashed a sword strike at the level of a Great Perfected Lord's stature, he was clearly in poor condition. Naturally, he wouldn't risk action at a time like this.
Moreover, he was very suspicious of [Sky-Shrouding]'s motives.
If the Old Dragon Lord invited me, I could understand, but [Sky-Shrouding]... A Saint Sect Perfected Lord inviting me? Could they be planning to ambush me?
It wasn't impossible!
With this thought, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] smiled simply and said, "Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist is in such a rush to find me... you wouldn't happen to be harboring ill intentions towards me, would you?"
"Fellow Daoist has misunderstood."
[Sky-Shrouding] chuckled upon hearing this. His long, narrow eyes took a deep look at [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] as he said, "Killing Fellow Daoist brings no benefits."
As his voice fell, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] raised an eyebrow. The two sides remained in a stalemate on the spot. After a long while, [Sky-Shrouding] spoke again:
"Since that is the case, I won't disturb Fellow Daoist's recovery."
"I await Fellow Daoist's arrival in [Nourishing Life Master]."
After speaking, the mist dispersed, and [Sky-Shrouding]'s figure vanished abruptly, leaving only [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] standing alone, his expression shifting.
[Nourishing Life Master].
With a ripple in the mist, [Sky-Shrouding] opened his eyes. He then stood up abruptly and walked toward Lu Yang. Almost simultaneously, Lu Yang opened his eyes as well.
Their gazes met.
In the next second, [Sky-Shrouding] flicked his sleeves, stood up, and took the initiative to walk over, transmitting his voice: "Fellow Daoist, I have some bad news I must tell you."
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow. "Senior, speak freely."
"The old loach has already met with Gangxing," [Sky-Shrouding] whispered. "The ambush plan might be exposed."
At these words, Lu Yang reacted immediately: That evil old ghost... he really did secretly go find [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]!
He wasn't surprised by this. After all, cooperation between Saint Sect Perfected Lords always involved each person calculating their own petty gains. Everyone had their own ideas. Being able to cooperate on the general direction was hard enough; messing around with the small details was expected. Talk of sincere unity was just ghost stories used to fool people.
But... [Sky-Shrouding] seemed to have gotten something wrong?
He likely went to see [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] and learned that someone had met with him beforehand, so he guessed it was the [Old Dragon Lord].
But actually, that person was me.
Wait... is he testing me?
Lu Yang pondered in his heart but remained impassive on the surface. "So what? The ambush plan was an overt plot from the start. It doesn't really matter if it's exposed or not."
The more complex a plan, the easier it was to fail.
Take [Sky-Shrouding] for example. His plan to seek the perfection of the Five Elements Dao Fruits was so perfect, with one backup plan after another, yet wasn't it still overturned by Lu Yang himself?
Truly effective plans were the simpler the better.
For instance, the plan to ambush [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] had no fancy bells and whistles. It was just one sentence: Do you want the opportunity in [Nourishing Life Master] or not?
If you want it, you have to step into the trap.
If you don't, then I won't kill you.
Under these circumstances, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] actually had no room to choose. The only difference lay in whether the combat power on Lu Yang's side was prepared.
"That said," [Sky-Shrouding] shook his head, "when it comes to the details, there is still room for manipulation. I think we can start with the old loach, controlling his actions within a scope we can prevent. Otherwise, if we let him act freely, the variables are simply too great."
Lu Yang didn't refute him. "So what does Senior plan to do?"
[Sky-Shrouding] chuckled and proposed a plan: "We pretend to be Gangxing and initiate a meeting with the old loach, making him follow our instructions!"
"Oh?"
Lu Yang raised his eyebrows instantly. "Senior means to deceive the [Old Dragon Lord]? The current [Old Dragon Lord] is not like the past; how can he be so easily deceived?"
"Although difficult, it is not impossible."
[Sky-Shrouding] pointed at himself, then at Lu Yang. "With my [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] and Fellow Daoist's profound wonders, there is actually hope to try."
"I don't expect the old loach to defect and join us. We just need to guide him slightly, so that when he turns traitor, he switches targets."
"...Elaborate."
"It's actually very simple," [Sky-Shrouding] said faintly. "I plan to pretend to be Gangxing and have the old loach kill that shrew [Feixue] first when he betrays us!"
At these words, Lu Yang instantly fell into silence.
Seeing this, [Sky-Shrouding] continued to explain, "That old loach has always been a fence-sitter. Once he really turns traitor, he will inevitably choose the most critical moment."
"However, that moment is also where our chance for victory lies."
"Let [Feixue] attract the firepower while you and I seize the opportunity to slay Gangxing. Afterwards, we can even eliminate someone who would split the loot with us. Isn't that beautiful?"
It sounded very reasonable.
Logical and convincing.
This time, Lu Yang's silence lasted a very long time, as if he were undergoing an intense internal struggle. It wasn't until a long while later that he nodded gently:
"We can try."