He consumed more than I did.
Lu Yang exhaled deeply, the taste of blood filling his mouth, but he wasn't panicked: After all, I seized the initiative and caught him off guard.
After several rounds of exchange, his spiritual power consumption is definitely higher than mine. Previously using [Sever All Evil], I couldn't compete with him in the field of spiritual power, but now it's different. With one waning and the other waxing, I might be able to surpass him in both spiritual power and techniques simultaneously, thereby inflicting a minor injury on him.
Unfortunately, this should be the limit.
[Sky-Shrouding] is not a fool. If I use this to injure him once more, he should realize the spiritual powerissue and stop using [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] to recover.
To put it bluntly, [Sky-Shrouding] had been trading spiritual power for health.
But once [Sky-Shrouding] realized this approach would only be counterproductive, he would inevitably change tactics. At that time, it would be Lu Yang's turn to fall into a predicament.
After all, ultimately, [Sky-Shrouding] was a Grotto-Heaven Method Perfected Lord.
Grotto-Heaven unfalling, he was also immortal and indestructible!
Compared to that, Lu Yang was still at the early stage of Golden Core in the Grotto-Heaven Method. Although the Dharma Body Dao had the stature of the mid-stage, it lacked immortality after all.
Comparing the two—
If we truly leave no room for each other and fight to the death, the result will likely be me dying on the spot, and [Sky-Shrouding] heavily injured and incurable.
Lu Yang's thoughts raced, analyzing the situation.
However, [Sky-Shrouding]'s reaction was faster than his. He took a step back, smoke becoming hazy, and disappeared from Lu Yang's field of vision in the blink of an eye.
He actually retreated actively.
Of course, [Sky-Shrouding] couldn't know the effect of [Sever All Evil], but at his level, with divine intuition, he always had the ability to foresee disasters.
This time, having lost the initiative to Lu Yang, his condition clearly declining, and his all-out killing move failing to achieve success, he naturally wouldn't continue to waste time with Lu Yang now. Even if the probability of him winning in the end was high, there was no need for it. He couldn't truly fight Lu Yang to the death.
....
"That bastard..."
In the present world, the Immortal Nexus.
The [Sea of Bitterness] opened, and [Sky-Shrouding]'s figure walked out. His narrow eyes, the only part exposed outside the smoke, were full of solemnity.
...Too resilient.
What Lu Yang could judge, he naturally could too. It was just that in [Sky-Shrouding]'s judgment, the situation was actually even worse.
Because there was one thing no one knew.
The current me no longer has the immortality of Grotto-Heaven unfallen!
It's the evil consequence left from before. The current Netherworld has blacklisted me. If my soul enters the Netherworld, I will undoubtedly die!
That was why back in the [Mortal World], he tried to ask Lu Yang for [Sun-Moon Profound Fluid], a life-extending item unique to the Star Palace. The reason was that after leaving the Netherworld, he had lost the ability to reincarnate. The current him was actually the same as Lu Yang; they both had only one life!
If not for this, why would he keep trading spiritual power for health?
The reason he constantly used [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] to wipe away injuries was ultimately because he couldn't afford to be injured. Once heavily injured to the point of death, he would truly die!
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding] couldn't help but sigh again.
I can't block it anymore...
At this point, relying on himself alone to maintain the current state, it was already impossible to strangle the other party. He could only seek change by allying with others.
Fortunately, he had planned ahead.
Just at this moment, a steak of light suddenly flew over. Inside was a dragon body, which transformed upon approach into a young man with a prominent forehead and horns.
It was Tian Qiu!
"Welcome, My Lord..." Tian Qiu said cautiously.
He knew what [Sky-Shrouding] went to do, but the problem was that [Sky-Shrouding]'s current aura, several times weaker than before, didn't look like a triumphant return.
Could it be he lost?
Thinking of this, Tian Qiu's pupils trembled slightly.
Seeing this, [Sky-Shrouding] smiled, then actually nodded directly: "That person has indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Below the Great Perfected Lord level, no one can kill him."
He had his own pride and naturally wouldn't deny facts.
As his voice fell, Tian Qiu's breathing stagnated instantly. Although he had guessed in his heart just now, hearing it from [Sky-Shrouding]'s mouth was another experience entirely.
Horror? Shock?
In the end, it could only turn into speechlessness.
At the same time, [Sky-Shrouding] pondered in his heart:
I already have [Heavenly River Water] now. As long as I fetch another Earth-element Dao Fruit, first gather three elements and return to the position of Great Perfected Lord, then we'll see.
Attaching to a Grotto-Heaven, this was originally the method he disdained the most, because while borrowing others' Dao Fruits, he would also be controlled by others. However, now the situation was stronger than people. He must go further. Without the freedom of choice, since that was the case, he could only try to choose some harmless partners.
Specifically, someone like Tian Qiu.
High aspirations but little talent, not much ability, yet having considerable ambition. Best if there was also a crisis of approaching lifespan limit, allowing him to use this to coerce the other party.
So who fit this description?
[Sky-Shrouding] soon had an answer in his heart and smiled faintly: "Let's go, we're going to Jiangnan... Some things, perhaps we should talk about."
He didn't choose the Saint Sect.
Although he came from the Saint Sect, he had no interest ties with Perfected Lord Feixue and the others; instead, there were conflicts. The one who truly had interest ties with him—
Is actually Gangxing.
[Heavenly Fire] was suddenly attained. That old thing is probably about to go crazy right now. Perfect... he won't refuse cooperation this time.
Relying on himself alone, he could no longer kill Lu Yang.
If adding that mysterious person forging a path in the Sea of Bitterness... once the other party succeeded, there would be another powerhouse. On the contrary, he might be the one besieged and killed.
He needed some fellow Daoists.
With the world situation like this, that bastard whose name I don't know has already caused too many variables. This might not necessarily align with the expectations of all Dao Lords.
Maybe there are Dao Lords who want to suppress these variables.
But how to suppress?
The answer was undoubtedly: Great Perfected Lord!
Using Mid-stage Golden Core, no one can suppress that bastard. Then late-stage Golden Core... In the near future, the restrictions on Great Perfected Lords will inevitably be lifted!
In [Sky-Shrouding]'s view, the world situation of the Immortal Nexus was actually very interesting.
Besides him, there was only one Great Perfected Lord in the current age, and a half-crippled one at that... However, in reality, many people were at the critical point of mid-stage Golden Core.
The Precious Lotus of the Pure Land, Jiayou of the Dao Court, Feixue of the Saint Sect, the old loach overseas... really, if counting them down, these four all have hope of charging for late-stage Golden Core. They are just restricted in their Dao path by the Grotto-Heaven Method, never able to gather the Dao Fruits for breakthrough, so they have always stopped at mid-stage Golden Core.
Could this situation have formed accidentally?
Undoubtedly, it must be intentional!
Various Dao Lords intentionally facilitated such a situation to restrict, because the variables caused by a Great Perfected Lord would inevitably be greater than ordinary Perfected Lords.
In the expectations of the lords, the time point for these people to break through to Great Perfected Lord should be during the Thousand Year Great Tribulation, which is also when variables are most numerous. After all, Great Perfected Lords are the best chess pieces... However, with that nameless bastard disrupting the situation, this time point has to be advanced.
Exactly how much in advance, [Sky-Shrouding] couldn't calculate.
But preparing in advance and planning for a rainy day was always right. This was also his biggest advantage compared to that nameless bastard.
I can quickly break through to the late stage and become a Great Perfected Lord.
And that bastard is still far away. If he dares to learn from others and recklessly try to break through upon gathering three elements, he will undoubtedly die without me even needing to act...
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding] instantly felt much calmer.
Not a big problem!
The situation is still under my control!