[Sea of Bitterness].
Water of infinite Concepts surged, reflecting colors like chaos. [Sky-Shrouding] stood upon it, seeing the sky-climbing light not far away at a glance.
"This is... forging a path."
A trace of surprise surfaced in the depths of [Sky-Shrouding]'s eyes: "Could it not be the Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual... No, forging a path is itself his Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual?"
His expression quickly became solemn.
Dao Fruit Sublimation Ritual sounded like the Golden Core-Seeking Ritual—something that could succeed as long as aptitude was good, background was deep, and preparations were diligent.
But in reality, it was absolutely not so.
The difficulty of the two was not on the same magnitude at all. One of the most important indicators was achieving [Unprecedented in History] to possibly gain recognition.
In other words: "The Great Dao this person is opening, or the method of forging the path, has never been done by anyone before him, and it also extremely fits the concept of the Dao Fruit in his hand."
This made [Sky-Shrouding] somewhat curious.
But soon, this curiosity turned into killing intent and indifference. If it were another cultivator, he wouldn't mind forming a good relationship with them.
After all, after so many years, his fellow Daoists from back then were mostly dead.
Just right to make another one.
However, thinking that the other party was very likely in cahoots with that nameless bastard, strong killing intent immediately arose in [Sky-Shrouding]'s heart.
I cannot let this person succeed!
Otherwise, if he succeeds in forging the path and completes the critical transformation before becoming a Great Perfected Lord, it will be almost impossible for me to kill that nameless bastard.
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding] looked around again.
Where is he?
When calculating karma earlier, he clearly saw that guy. But now he was nowhere to be found. Could he have run away? Or perhaps—
Splurt!
Before [Sky-Shrouding] could react, a slender hand reached into the present world from the cracks of logic, piercing through his chest casually.
Lu Yang made his move!
His tactic was simple: dive into the cracks of logic like before, making himself invisible to [Sky-Shrouding], then launch a surprise attack when least expected.
The effect was significant.
[Sky-Shrouding], who previously dug out his heart and lungs for him, was finally having his heart and lungs dug out by him now. This made Lu Yang feel the two were even closer.
Rumble!
In an instant, rolling black qi exploded from the palm Lu Yang used to pierce [Sky-Shrouding]'s chest, turning into a mysterious circle cutting through space.
Wherever the mysterious ring passed, the smoke around [Sky-Shrouding]'s body was infected black together. The originally hazy, ethereal, colorless, and odorless smoke suddenly became pungent and putrid. As the mysterious circle turned, it seemed there was a miserable wail, causing one's divine sense to be turbulent and soul to lose control.
[Great Might Kui-Gang Righteous Qi!
Up to this day, Lu Yang naturally wouldn't waste time talking nonsense with [Sky-Shrouding]. Acting meant a killing blow. Save whatever you have to say for after I kill you!
However, the next second, Lu Yang felt his head become heavy.
What was I doing just now?
Eyes closed and opened, all memories of sneak attacking [Sky-Shrouding] were erased. Along with it, what just happened was forcibly turned into nothingness.
[Sky-Shrouding] was unscathed.
"Interesting..."
A voice drifted faintly, clearly [Sky-Shrouding] intending to say some heart-punishing words. However, before his voice fell, the smoke on his chest exploded abruptly.
Boom!
Amidst the dispersing smoke, a fishy red light appeared faintly. That was [Sky-Shrouding]'s blood. Although these injuries were wiped away by him using [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] the next second, it was undeniable that Lu Yang's shameless sneak attack worked. Though not fatal, it made him consume a bit more spiritual power than expected.
Those narrow eyes also turned cold because of this.
"...You didn't forget?"
With [Sky-Shrouding]'s high Dao comprehension, he instantly judged the reason for the injury: [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] did not completely erase Lu Yang's memory of the sneak attack just now.
Why was it not erased?
He had absolute confidence in his [Knowledge-Perception Barrier]. The only way to be immune to [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] was to have a higher stature than him. Lu Yang was obviously not in this category.
Since that was the case—
"I did not use [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] on you fully.... No, It is not that I held back deliberately. It is that you can break it." He narrowed his eyes further. "Is it [Heavenly Fire]?"
Lu Yang didn't answer.
But [Sky-Shrouding] indeed guessed the truth. The reason he could avoid [Sky-Shrouding]'s [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] lay in the rule he just inscribed for himself.
Still a logical paradox.
Original logic: I forget a matter = I don't have the memory of this matter.
New logic: I forget a matter = I have the memory of this matter.
This kind of rule targeting oneself was not only easier to inscribe than rules targeting the outside world but could also display stronger power when taking effect.
Thanks to this, Lu Yang could quickly break free from the influence of [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] and maintain the battle result of sneak attacking [Sky-Shrouding]. This was different from [Overturned Lamp Flame]. Facing [Knowledge-Perception Barrier], [Overturned Lamp Flame] could only treat the symptoms. Lu Yang was now treating the root cause, a method truly capable of contending with it!
Ultimately, influencing others and influencing oneself are not on the same level of difficulty.
Although a gap still exists between me and [Sky-Shrouding], I am influencing myself while [Sky-Shrouding] has to influence me. With one waning and the other waxing, it's considered a draw...
Lu Yang's thoughts raced, but his movements were not slow at all.
The next second, the aura around his body changed. He formed a hand seal, holding a wisp of golden radiance, and the Righteous Dao Banner emerged behind him.
"This is..."
[Sky-Shrouding] was stunned upon seeing this.
Boom!
In an instant, thunderous sounds resounded through the [Sea of Bitterness]. Radiance bloomed, taking the momentum of flashing lightning and golden snakes, the gallop of clouds driving iron horses, generating infinite prestige.
This was—[Thunderbolt Flame]!
Firelight appeared suddenly with a thunderclap. All nine heavens obeyed orders wherever it passed. Its fundamental wonder was named [General's Order], a wonder that enhanced subordinates.
The specific effect was simple.
Simply put, subordinates enhanced by the wonder could share the stature of [Thunderbolt Flame], and this enhancement was not limited by the cultivation base of the enhanced.
Even if you were just a mortal before, after receiving the enhancement of [General's Order], you could obtain a terrifying stature sufficient to participate in battles between Perfected Lords. Perhaps to a Golden Core Perfected Lord, you were just an ant, but under the enhancement of [General's Order], you also had the possibility of many ants biting an elephant to death.
More importantly, this stature could stack.
Simply put, the more "soldiers and generals" under the enhancement of [Thunderbolt Flame], the stacked stature could even possibly exceed [Thunderbolt Flame] itself!
The more soldiers under command, the stronger it became!
This is a Dao Fruit for 'leading troops'. If [Heavenly Fire] is the Emperor, the ruler, then [Thunderbolt Flame] is the leading general.
Of course, Lu Yang used it not because of how strong it was.
Mainly because of an idea he had.
The next second, the Banner Spirits within the Righteous Dao Banner swarmed out in full force, overwhelming the sky and covering the earth. At a glance, they occupied every inch of space around [Sky-Shrouding].
The light of [Thunderbolt Flame] climbed onto these Banner Spirits.
Under such changes, although each Banner Spirit was still not worth mentioning to [Sky-Shrouding], they were no longer dust that could be completely ignored.
"Attack!" Lu Yang waved his big hand.
Rumble!
With an order, all Banner Spirits attacked simultaneously, formed hand seals. Various dao arts and divine abilities poured out under the enhancement of [Thunderbolt Flame].
[Sky-Shrouding] was instantly submerged.
And beneath his feet, the huge [Sea of Bitterness] was directly blasted into a deep giant pit. The surrounding concept water turned into terrifying waves.
Yet even so, [Sky-Shrouding] was not moved in the slightest.
"Just looks impressive, that's all."
He even frowned, not understanding the meaning of Lu Yang doing this. Even to counter his [Knowledge-Perception Barrier], he should use some more targeted Dao Fruits.
Leaving aside [Thunderbolt Flame] itself.
You are just borrowing the wonder after all; the power can't compare to the original owner. And even for the original owner, Great Sage Xuan Yuan was worlds apart compared to him.
What use is this?
Just the second after [Sky-Shrouding] thought this... Suddenly, a strong, indescribable sense of weakness swept through his whole body.
What's going on?!
This change completely exceeded [Sky-Shrouding]'s expectations, finally causing a trace of astonishment to surface in the eyes of this former Number One Perfected Lord in the World.
Only Lu Yang knew the reason.
[Golden Talent: Sever All Evil]!
[You have stacked ten Severing Marks and detonated them.]
[Judgment: You only exceeded the target in the field of dao art. The opponent has fallen into a weakness state for the time of an incense stick...]
Looking at the information surfacing on the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], Lu Yang grinned.
Sure enough, my idea was right!
The Banner Spirits enhanced by [Thunderbolt Flame] are actually one with me. Their attacks, in the talent judgment, are actually my attacks.
So I can totally let them replace me, using their massive numbers to quickly stack the Severing Marks to ten layers and detonate them. I myself need not risk the slightest danger—just watch the Banner Spirits sacrifice themselves courageously!