[Sky-Shrouding] was aware of the wonders of [Wellspring Water].
However, he was not a Water-element Perfected Lord after all. His so-called understanding was only superficial, knowing that the wonder of this Dao Fruit was to take on injuries for others.
So he didn't take it to heart.
His main focus was on Lu Yang's [Future Life Aspect], ready to deal with the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] at any time. In his opinion, that was more threatening.
However, he miscalculated.
He never expected that Lu Yang actually didn't use [Tribulation Evil Profound Light], but instead switched to a wonder that reflected the received injuries onto him!
The change happened in an instant.
[Sky-Shrouding] attacked with full force, his spiritual power surging recklessly within Lu Yang's body, shattering all his internal organs into fragments.
And in this process, Lu Yang's [Past Life Aspect] had already formed a hand seal. The shattered internal organs had long turned into streams of Azure Spiritual Water, rolling and flowing, directly attaching to [Sky-Shrouding]'s arm that pierced through his body, and rapidly crawling toward [Sky-Shrouding]'s torso.
Hmm...
In the blink of an eye, [Sky-Shrouding] reacted, directly withdrawing his arm. But alas, the Azure Spiritual Water had already climbed to his elbow.
Seeing [Sky-Shrouding] respond, Lu Yang was equally decisive.
"Change!"
With a Daoist shout, the originally deep Azure Spiritual Water instantly reversed, turning into Yellow. Golden brilliance instantly illuminated [Sky-Shrouding]'s Dharma Body.
Rumble!
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the yellow brilliance rose like a rising sun in the [Sea of Bitterness], illuminating every inch of seawater with shimmering radiance.
Lu Yang's body staggered several steps in the air before he slowly exhaled a breath of bloody air. His face pale, spiritual water gathered within his empty Dharma Body, channeling away all injuries. His internal organs regenerated. Only after three breaths did he recover, having the spare energy to observe his surroundings.
Then he revealed a look of excitement.
Because [Sky-Shrouding] was not far away at this moment. His figure also staggered, and amidst the surging smoke, blood light faintly shuttled through. Clearly, he wasn't much better off.
And that was indeed the case.
I Miscalculated...
[Sky-Shrouding] looked down at the large hole in his chest, and the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys joyfully jumping out from it, unable to help but sigh.
In battles between Perfected Lords, intelligence was paramount.
And in his view, the most troublesome thing about Lu Yang was that his strength improved too fast. The intelligence changed every day, and always able to bring out novel tricks.
Last time he suffered a big loss because of this, and unexpectedly, he suffered again this time.
However, before he could catch his breath, a hazy gray psychedelic color filled his pupils again, causing a strong sense of crisis to arise once more.
[Tribulation Evil Profound Light]!
[Azure Water] absorbed injuries, [Yellow Water] reflected injuries onto [Sky-Shrouding], and [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] finished the job. A whole set of combos flowed smoothly!
In an instant, [Sky-Shrouding] narrowed his eyes.
With just this one action, the feeling he gave Lu Yang changed completely. The smoke surrounding his body became thinner than ever before at this moment.
Lu Yang could even vaguely see his outline.
...Male? No, a naturally flat-chested female has a similar outline... Damn it, I still can't distinguish completely.
Of course, this wasn't Lu Yang's curiosity acting up.
In fact, after getting hints from Patriarch Nether Whisper, he understood: The smoke around [Sky-Shrouding] seemed very important to him.
Or rather, once [Sky-Shrouding] exposed his true gender, appearance, name, and even origins... it might cause heavy damage no less than breaking away from the Netherworld, possibly even directly shaking his control over [Great Forest Wood]. This was the real reason Lu Yang was obsessed with this.
While pondering, Lu Yang also raised full vigilance.
The thickness of the smoke around [Sky-Shrouding] directly determines the intensity of his output... To reach this step, he probably really intends to go all out!
The next second, brilliance bloomed.
The first to disappear was the injury on [Sky-Shrouding], followed by [Sky-Shrouding] himself. He disappeared under Lu Yang's nose.
"If I make heaven and earth forget me, I naturally transcend."
[Tribulation Evil Profound Light] fell into empty space... Although this move was powerful, if it used too many times, [Sky-Shrouding] was long prepared.
Any divine ability, dao art, wonder, or concept was like this.
There is no unbreakable technique in the world. The most powerful means are always unknown. Once known, flaws and breaking methods will always be found.
Lu Yang quickly shifted his gaze, looking around.
Where is he?
[Sky-Shrouding] disappeared. Its not simple [Knowledge-Perception Barrier]; at this stage, simple [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] could no longer deceive his sight.
Then what was it?
In a trance, Lu Yang seemed to see a pair of eyes—[Sky-Shrouding]'s narrow eyes, looking down at him from some higher dimension.
Everything was as he said—
If I make heaven and earth forget me, I naturally transcend—he transcended, not between heaven and earth, but located in some bizarre place distinct from other dimensions.
The next second.
The pair of narrow eyes in Lu Yang's perception slowly closed, no longer looking at him. In [Sky-Shrouding]'s vision, his existence was lost.
!!!
In an instant, an unprecedented strong sense of crisis swept through Lu Yang's whole body, causing his pupils to constrict abruptly... Because as [Sky-Shrouding] closed his eyes and his figure disappeared bit by bit from his eyes, his own body was actually becoming transparent, illusory, and then disappearing along with it!
This wasn't even an injury.
Therefore, neither [Future Life Aspect] nor [Wellspring Water] could reverse this bizarre change. He could only watch helplessly as all this happened.
Time stagnated again.
Lu Yang calmed his mind, his heart cold and tranquil.
This move... it can't kill me.
Because he will eventually open his eyes. This is just a seal, forcing himself to leave with me, falling into some kind of transcendent state.
If this state lasts long, I might die.
But the current [Sky-Shrouding] can't do it.
Unless he is still a Great Perfected Lord and able to kill me with a glance based on stature. But he isn't, so he used this move just to stall me temporarily...
His target isn't me!
With this thought, Lu Yang's originally cold and calm eyes finally cracked, then revealed raging anger: He wants to bypass me and attack the Patriarch!
You're seeking death!
In an instant, Lu Yang, who was originally confident he wouldn't die and thus didn't resist fiercely, suddenly had his aura run wild.
[Inscribing Heavenly Chapters] operated to the extreme.
This time, he didn't borrow other Dao Fruits.
The next second, the rioting firelight, boiling spiritual power, divine sense, and many anomalies were all restrained by him at this moment. At first glance, it seemed he had given up struggling.
His figure was erased inch by inch. Feet, knees, thighs, waist, chest, hands, shoulders and back, mouth and nose, ears, eyes... Until finally, that single point at his brow—at the Niwan Palace, in the center of the sea of consciousness—Lü Yang's soul finally raised its head, revealing a hint of ferocity.
Immediately, sword light blazed forth.
Because he was in extreme disadvantage yet consistently held back, Lu Yang's [Unyielding Sword Intent] had long been boiling. At this moment, it received the enhancement of a wonder.
[Sword Dao].
The wonder of this void attainment Dao Fruit was very pure—nothing it couldn't cut. Because of its purity, it was powerful. As long as it existed, there was nothing it couldn't cut!
Not to mention Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon had no rejection of Lu Yang's borrowing, even actively cooperating, allowing him to fully utilize the power of [Sword Dao], and enhancing it with his own mid-stage Golden Core Stature. It could be said that at this moment, [Sword Dao] in his hands was even more powerful than in Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's!
Clang!
The sound of sword humming rang out. Then, in less than a ten-thousandth of an instant, the majestic sword light had already crossed the invisible boundary that should have been absolutely impossible to cross.
Clang!
Like a white colt crossing a crevice, with the dashing spirit of never returning, it forcibly tore open [Sky-Shrouding]'s eyes that were about to close, forcing him to see!
Boom!
The brilliance shattered, the eyes in the unseen disappeared, and smoke resurfaced, then gathered, turning into [Sky-Shrouding]'s figure—but much thinner.
On the other side, Lu Yang's figure also recovered. He wasn't completely erased in the end. However, a strong sense of weakness swept through his whole body because of this. Clearly, [Sky-Shrouding]'s action just now wasn't meaningless. At this moment, he felt his previously erased body was somewhat empty.
The next second, the two locked eyes.
—A draw?!