Immortal Nexus, Overseas.
A Golden Nature soul shuttled through the Netherworld, completing the reincarnation process in the blink of an eye, and opened its eyes within a school of fish in the deep waters of a remote sea area.
Boom!
In an instant, the Golden Nature soul communicated with the Grotto-Heaven and merged with the Dao Fruit. The newly born small fish grew instantly. A carp leaping over the dragon gate, it actually transformed into a dragon body.
However, immediately after, this towering True Dragon that had just revived showed no intention of revealing its aura. Instead, without a word, it dived deeper into the sea area, dug a hole, and buried itself. Only attaching divine sense to the surrounding sea beasts, it carefully explored the situation outside.
After a long time, the Old Dragon Lord breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't chase after me...
True, no matter how powerful that nameless Perfected Lord is, he is not without opponents. Leaving aside other things, that fellow Gangxing must want to fight him desperately right now.
It's fine. I won't die!
However, before the Old Dragon Lord could fully catch his breath, suddenly, the physical body that should have completely recovered after reincarnation revealed cracks again.
Crack crack!
In an instant, clear cracks spread around the Old Dragon Lord's dragon body. Scales shattered, blood dispersed, causing his expression to change involuntarily.
Th-th-this, what kind of method is this? A curse technique? But it shouldn't be, I've already reincarnated! Unless it's a Great Perfected Lord's method, otherwise how could there be injuries that can't be healed even after reincarnation... No, wait, wrong. Its not can't be healed, but haven't fully healed.
Soon, the Old Dragon Lord seemed to sense something.
The next second, he didn't hesitate to explode his Dharma Body again, committing suicide to return to the Netherworld, crossing reincarnation, and reviving within another school of fish.
Just like this, he repeated it a full four times.
Phew!
After four times, the Old Dragon Lord was reborn again, finally spitting out a mouthful of dark blood containing a putrid smell. Cracks and wounds no longer appeared on his body.
The Netherworld was still reliable.
After four reincarnations, the original heavy injuries had been mostly thrown off. Although inevitably a bit weak in qi and body, he had stabilized his condition after all.
Recalling the heavy blow he just suffered, a trace of resentment surfaced in the depths of the Old Dragon Lord's eyes:
Mu Changsheng actually didn't wipe away that 'dharma ending light' for me back then, but suppressed it instead, causing it to intensify! If not for this, how could I be heavily injured to this extent?
Thinking of this, the Old Dragon Lord gnashed his teeth.
You a mere Unorthodox path...!
Being defeated by Lu Yang was not unacceptable to him. A Saint Sect Perfected Lord—not only controlling [Heavenly Fire] but also cultivating Ancient Method Golden Core concurrently.
Losing wasn't shameful.
But Mu Changsheng? What kind of trash was that! Something like a dog of heterodox paths, yet he was actually plotted against by him. Simply a humiliation!
The more the Old Dragon Lord thought, the angrier he got, and his face became increasingly ugly. The towering dragon head, an old face, even flushed a bit due to this intense humiliation.
After all, Mu Changsheng had pitted him too miserably.
At the moment [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] exploded, his realm and mana both experienced a temporary regression, his foundation affected by that dharma ending power.
Of course, this was actually within Lu Yang's calculations.
If not for this, he couldn't have surpassed the Old Dragon Lord in the three fields of spiritual power, realm, and Dao Fruit simultaneously, thereby achieving the effect of heavy injury in one fell swoop.
Calculating it, he was actually only stronger than the Old Dragon Lord in Dao Fruit.
This wasn't because [Vast Ocean Water] couldn't compare to [Heavenly Fire], but because the Water-element Supreme position had shifted, causing [Vast Ocean Water] to inevitably suffer some damage.
But winners are kings and losers are bandits.
The Old Dragon Lord naturally wouldn't know so many inside details. He only knew he was beaten into heavy injury by Lu Yang in one move—not fully recovering even after reincarnating four times.
But the more it was like this, the heavier the ferocity in the depths of the Old Dragon Lord's eyes.
Yes, he regretted it. Regretted choosing to attack Lu Yang in the [Nourishing Life Master] that day. But regret wouldn't change his current decision.
The more it is like this, the less I can retreat.
Now that I've been dragged into this overall situation, given the style of the Saint Sect Perfected Lord, he will absolutely never let me off. I can only fight that person to the end!
Only one path to walk!
Thinking of this, the Old Dragon Lord immediately split out a divine sense, broke through the void, and dived into the Four Seas Sect. The result was meeting a big mountain head-on.
Precisely speaking, a tortoise shell.
Immediately after, a slightly slow voice sounded calmly: "So it is the Old Dragon Lord... This old man is getting on in years, so I won't specially come out to welcome you."
"Yuan Xu..."
Hearing this, the Old Dragon Lord seemed to think of something. His expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly looked around, asking in a deep voice: "Where are Xuan Yuan and Ming Zhu? Where did they go?"
"Gone, all gone."
Great Sage Yuan Xu said helplessly: "Old Dragon Lord, [Vast Ocean Water] dimmed for an instant. You wouldn't treat that humiliating defeat just now as if it never happened, right?"
"Tian Qiu has already chosen a fine tree to roost. Xuan Yuan and Ming Zhu aren't fools either. Since you, Old Dragon Lord, have no way to give them enough sense of security, they naturally have to seek another path. This old man is loyal, so I wasn't willing to leave, but I also have no intention of getting involved in your grudges anymore, Old Dragon Lord."
"..."
The Old Dragon Lord fell into a long silence upon hearing this, understanding in his heart that neither Great Sage Xuan Yuan nor Great Sage Ming Zhu could return to the Four Seas Sect.
This was Overseas; this was the Four Seas Sect.
On the surface, with three mid-stage Golden Core cultivators presiding over it, the Sect appeared powerful enough to stand as an equal to the four major forces. In reality, however, it was merely a tray of loose sand.
When the winds were favorable, they could ride the momentum.
But now, facing headwinds, before he could even make a move, these teammates surrendered one after another. Truly mud that cannot support a wall!
The hope of quickly advancing to Great Perfected Lord was completely shattered. The Old Dragon Lord sighed helplessly, forced to change his plans and flee far away toward Jiangnan.
What? Great Sage Yuan Xu? Of what use is an Unorthodox path now!
…
Jiangbei, Great Fortune Dense Forest.
The [Sea of Bitterness] opened, and Lu Yang stepped out. Returning to his small wooden house, he retrieved the Righteous Dao Banner and vanished into the rolling purple qi.
Upon entering the Righteous Dao Banner, Lu Yang saw a pale-faced Patriarch Nether Whisper.
"Patriarch! Are you alright?"
Lu Yang realized that Patriarch Nether Whisper's stature had fallen back to its original level. He hurriedly approached to check on him, breathing a sigh of relief only after confirming there were no serious injuries.
"Rest assured, I am fine."
Patriarch Nether Whisper smiled slightly. "Moreover, this time I have already laid the foundation. The next time I climb stature, I won't need to waste so much time."
Simply put, the casing of the propulsion rocket had already been constructed. This casing was the Great Dao that Patriarch Nether Whisper had opened using [Heaven of Carefree]. With this framework, the subsequent climbing of stature would happen in the blink of an eye... From now on, he would have a First Grade Perfected Lord presiding over his command!
Lu Yang gave a brilliant smile.
However, his expression soon turned serious. "If nothing unexpected happens, [Sky-Shrouding], the Old Dragon Lord, and Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao will likely join forces."
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao sought [Heavenly Fire].
The Old Dragon Lord and [Sky-Shrouding] were his mortal enemies.
Yet, for someone like [Sky-Shrouding], while he might usually consider the grudge between the Sword Pavilion and the Saint Sect, when it truly concerned his Dao path, interests would undoubtedly come first.
"Given time, the Sword Pavilion will inevitably become powerful."
"Gangxing and the Old Dragon Lord are one thing, but [Sky-Shrouding]... He has already absorbed Tian Qiu. If he absorbs one more, he can return to being a Great Perfected Lord!"
"Therefore, the crisis has not been averted."
Speaking to this point, Lu Yang's face was solemn as he announced his plan: "In this time of crisis, I have decided to bring my talent back to the Saint Sect!"