Jiangbei, Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea.
"What a magnificent spectacle."
Lu Yang stepped out of the Cave Abode, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked up at the sword light traversing north to south above his head, and the figure corresponding to it instantly surfaced in the depths of his pupils.
It was precisely Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao.
This Great Perfected Lord of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, who usually conducted himself with elegance and calm, appeared much younger. previously middle-aged, he had now reverted to the appearance of a young man.
Clearly, for this battle, he had adjusted his condition to its absolute peak. Facing the foundation of a Great Perfected Lord—even though Lu Yang now stood on the threshold of the First Grade, he couldn't help but feel immense pressure. However, he showed none of it; his expression remained tranquil.
"Fellow Daoist seems confident."
Seeing this, Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao chuckled faintly. "Although I don't know how Fellow Daoist attained [Heavenly Fire], you don't seem to possess mid-stage cultivation."
"Fellow Daoist also cultivates the Ancient Method."
"Unfortunately, the Ancient Method has long been eliminated, rendering it far inferior to the Grotto-Heaven Method. If my guess is correct... if Fellow Daoist dies, you truly die, correct?"
"Indeed so." Lu Yang nodded frankly.
"It seems Fellow Daoist is confident in blocking my sword?" Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao raised his eyebrows.
The power of a Great Perfected Lord's sword strike was unquestionable. Not only was it sufficient to instantly kill a mid-stage Golden Core, but it would also leave injuries difficult to erase even after reincarnation.
And if it were an Ancient Method Perfected Lord?
Undoubtedly, an Ancient Method Perfected Lord with only one life was almost completely countered by Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao. If they truly fought, one sword strike would mean certain death.
If not for this, he wouldn't have been able to visit the Star Palace so arrogantly back then, with no one in that vast realm daring to fight him. The Grotto-Heaven Method prevailing in the Immortal Nexus, despite its many problems and hidden pitfalls, still held obvious advantages over the Ancient Method.
"Senior is welcome to try," Lu Yang said calmly.
"..."
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao didn't speak, but simply looked at Lu Yang. Lu Yang made no move either. Both sides seemed to be waiting for something.
Above the sky dome.
A mass of chaotic clouds and mist hung in the sky, undulating, collapsing, and expanding as if breathing. Each cycle felt as if a World Realm were being opened within it.
As the spiritual qi of heaven and earth whistled over to be swallowed completely, the scale of this cloud mass grew larger and larger, expanding in all directions. It eventually covered the sky dome, obscuring the sun, moon, and stars of the Immortal Nexus, casting a massive shadow upon the ground below.
Yet, such a wondrous sight went unnoticed by the world.
In the eyes of mortals, Qi Refining cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even Golden Core Perfected Lords, the sky remained the sky, and the sun and moon remained the sun and moon.
However, just as the clouds and mist were about to cover Jiangbei—
Rumble!
Accompanied by the deafening sound of rushing currents, a Heavenly River of immeasurable length crossed layers of void, blocking the advance of the clouds and mist.
The Heavenly River connected head to tail, with no end in sight, shielding the entirety of Jiangbei below. It refused to let the clouds and mist claim all the glory, blocking them steadily.
In front of the Heavenly River, clouds and mist were vast, with World Realms being born and destroyed within them.
Behind the Heavenly River, the territory of Jiangbei remained peaceful and quiet.
Such a profound scene was strangely undetected by anyone. Instead, this invisibility further highlighted the power of the confronting parties, who seemed to exist beyond the mortal world.
Soon, figures emerged.
From within the clouds and mist walked a figure wreathed in smoke. It was [Sky-Shrouding], whose aura and stature had undergone a qualitative change compared to before.
Late-stage Golden Core—Great Perfected Lord.
On the other side, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue stepped out of the Heavenly River. Her long, snowy-white legs strode forward, her skirt fluttering, a cold smile playing on her lips.
At this moment, heaven and earth were bright.
In the [Sea of Bitterness], a full six Dao Fruit stars lit up one after another, reflecting into the present world and triggering malice among all subordinate cultivators toward each other.
[Great Forest Wood], [Heavenly River Water], [Wall Earth].
[Ravine Stream Water], [Mulberry Wood], [Abyssal Sea Gold].
Looking around, six Dao Fruits each held a side, and their liege lords gazed calmly at each other, separated by the collision of the Heavenly River and the chaotic clouds.
"Fellow Daoist indeed broke through as well."
[Sky-Shrouding] sighed softly. "That old loach is useless. If not for his humiliating defeat, Fellow Daoist might not have been able to break through so quickly."
Perfected Lord Feixue laughed. "Timing, and luck."
"Fellow Daoist still believes in such things?"
[Sky-Shrouding] shook his head. "So-called fortune is nothing but a plaything in the hands of the four adults on the Paramita. It seems someone does not want me to return to the Netherworld."
Although he looked down on the Old Dragon Lord, [Sky-Shrouding] knew the dragon's strength very well. No matter how he analyzed it, the Old Dragon Lord shouldn't have been beaten into such a miserable state by Lu Yang. Especially after understanding the cause and effect, he became even more certain—A Dao Lord was targeting him!
If not for this, Mu Changsheng was merely an Unorthodox cultivator.
No matter how strong his Dao Fruit or how high his methods, how could he deceive the Old Dragon Lord? If even this could be deceived, the Old Dragon Lord wouldn't have survived for so many years.
So, there must be fraud involved!
Most likely, a Dao Lord secretly manipulated fortune, temporarily muddling the Old Dragon Lord's mind, which is why he failed to discover the hidden injury left by Mu Changsheng.
Using this to shake the situation Overseas.
Furthermore, prompting Feixue to use those few Demon Race Great Sages Overseas to break through, achieving the position of Great Perfected Lord, and finally blocking my way at this specific moment.
Everything was interlinked.
Perfected Lord Feixue just chuckled upon hearing this, noncommittal. As one of the parties involved, how could she not discover the coincidence?
What [Sky-Shrouding] could deduce, she naturally could too.
But compared to the targeted [Sky-Shrouding], she was the beneficiary. Why refuse benefits delivered for free? She wasn't the one suffering losses.
On the other side, [Sky-Shrouding] felt depressed.
Deliberately targeting me, preventing me from killing that nameless bastard and returning to the [Netherworld], yet helping this shrew Feixue... It can't be done by the Ancestor.
Could it be the World Honored One?
After pondering for a moment, [Sky-Shrouding] shook his head.
Doesn't seem like it either... This method is too brilliant—deflecting a strong force with a weak force, moistening things silently. If it were the World Honored One, He would be more direct.
For example, He would simply descend to challenge across levels.
The Sword Pavilion... also unlikely. I am in cahoots with the Sword Pavilion now. Even if they don't help me, they wouldn't go so far as to trip me up.
Then is it the Dao Court?
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding]'s frown deepened. The Dao Lord of the Dao Court, much like the Dao Court's positioning among the four major forces, was a standard wallflower—a transparent entity.
He possessed neither the well-known style of the World Honored One nor the ethereal and lofty strength of the Saint Sect Ancestor. Even the Sword Pavilion had a known setting of a blood feud with the Saint Sect, allowing a faint glimpse into the reality of their Dao Lord. But regarding the Dao Lord of the Dao Court, there was no intelligence information at all.
This was quite troublesome.
Because this transparent positioning made [Sky-Shrouding] unable to figure out why the Dao Lord of the Dao Court would target him and prevent him from returning to the Netherworld.
He couldn't even be sure it was the Dao Lord of the Dao Court who had acted.
Thinking carefully, considering his cooperation with the Sword Pavilion, it wasn't impossible for the Saint Sect Ancestor to have secretly taken action to punish him.
...Maybe I'm just overthinking.
Regardless, settling things in one go this time is probably impossible.
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding] sighed. The clouds and mist retracted instantly, dispersing all phenomena in the blink of an eye, returning the sky to Jiangnan.
Almost simultaneously, Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao, who was confronting Lu Yang below, frowned slightly. Then, shaking his head, he directly dispersed the sky-filling sword light.
Yes, he was indeed the one who had actively challenged for battle.
But a fair duel with Lu Yang?
People with such thoughts wouldn't survive in the Sword Pavilion, let alone in the wider Immortal Nexus.
According to the original plan, he should have acted as bait, allowing [Sky-Shrouding] to take action and slap Lu Yang to death with the sptature of a Great Perfected Lord.
However, looking at it now, [Sky-Shrouding] had failed.
Feixue exited seclusion and even broke through to the late-stage Golden Core? It must be thanks to those fur-wearing and horn-bearing creature Overseas... I have no choice, it seems we must plan for the long term.
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao withdrew very decisively.
After all, what he wanted was certain victory, not a fair duel. Pinning one's Dao path on a spiritual battle was irresponsible.
With Feixue present, [Sky-Shrouding] alone is not enough.
Since that is the case, the conditions of the Pure Land must be agreed to. Plus the Dao Court... Hmph, there's no need to talk about morality with the Jiangbei Demon Head.
Ganging up is the right way!