As [Sky-Shrouding]'s voice faded, Lu Yang fell into immediate silence.
[Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] was not dead.
No, that's wrong!
In an instant, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly, an internal alarm ringing in his heart. According to [Sky-Shrouding], he met [Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] five thousand years ago. This meant that regardless of the other party's origins, they had lived until at least five thousand years ago.
And since this [Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] was qualified to meet [Sky-Shrouding], his cultivation must have been at least mid-stage Golden Core, possibly even that of a Great Perfected Lord. But with such cultivation, living until five thousand years ago as a Saint Sect Perfected Lord... without a Knowledge-Perception Barrier, how could no records of him have been handed down?
Thinking of this, Lu Yang took a deep look at [Sky-Shrouding].
Either this evil old ghost had a deal with [Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] and used the Knowledge-Perception Barrier to erase the other party's records, or [Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] possessed that ability himself.
Relying on mysterious means distinct from the Knowledge-Perception Barrier to erase all information about himself... Damn, the more I ponder it, the more this feels like the World Honored One.
Lu Yang's expression shifted, and he spoke directly.
"Senior has already said this much. If [Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] truly isn't dead, where would he be now? What schemes is he planning?"
Hearing this, [Sky-Shrouding] smiled faintly.
"This is actually not hard to guess."
"In this entire world, there are few people who can make me keep my mouth shut repeatedly, daring not to mention much. They can be counted on one hand. With Fellow Daoist's insight, you surely wouldn't fail to guess."
Lu Yang: "..."
No doubt about it!
The so-called [Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light] was, in all likelihood, an alternate identity created by the World Honored One when He was studying in the Saint Sect back then. That was why [Sky-Shrouding] was so wary!
With this thought, Lu Yang immediately recalled the changes from five thousand years ago. In the false-history, the Dao Court's transition of power occurred five thousand years ago. The World Honored One destroyed the Zou Yu Imperial Family of the Dao Court, seized [City Rampart Earth], attained the Nascent Soul, and then severed time, leading to the existence of the false-history.
However, the present world was different.
The Zou Yu Imperial Family of the present world perished as early as fifteen thousand years ago. [City Rampart Earth] was also lost at that time, falling under the control of the Pure Land.
Yet, the Pure Land was not established fifteen thousand years ago.
The establishment of the Pure Land could be traced back to one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years ago—that War of Dao Lords which determined the current state of the Immortal Nexus and affected the Light Sea.
Intense temporal disorder.
This disorder existed not only in the history of the Pure Land but also in the time spanning from the last Thousand Year Great Tribulation to the present. The so-called "five thousand years" was actually just an approximate figure.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang raised his head and suddenly asked, "Does Fellow Daoist know exactly how many years have passed since the last Thousand Year Great Tribulation?"
"...Hmm?" [Sky-Shrouding] raised his eyebrows abruptly.
This was a probe!
This was intelligence Lu Yang had grasped only through the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]. On the surface, the last Thousand Year Great Tribulation occurred five thousand years ago, but reality was different. In truth, within those five thousand years, at least three thousand years had been erased out of thin air. The actual time passed was, at most, around a thousand years!
The missing three thousand-plus years had actually become the foundation for constructing the [False-History].
Lu Yang's mind quickly recalled intelligence regarding the World Honored One, the Pure Land, and the false-history. Layers of thoughts gradually cleared, and he soon sorted out the sequence.
The entire timeline seemed chaotic.
But in reality, there was a crucial node: five thousand years ago! What exactly happened during that Thousand Year Great Tribulation five thousand years ago?
Thinking of this, Lu Yang scrutinized [Sky-Shrouding]. After all, intelligence regarding this era belonged to standard forbidden knowledge. In his previous life, [Sky-Shrouding] had taken the initiative to tell him in order to entrap him. Looking at it now, this evil old ghost had definitely held something back!
"...Heh heh."
Facing Lu Yang's scrutiny, [Sky-Shrouding]'s eyes showed no fluctuation. Shrouded by the hazy smoke, Lu Yang couldn't see his expression change either.
A moment later, [Sky-Shrouding] spoke again.
"Fellow Daoist knows more than I imagined."
As his voice fell, a strange glint surfaced in [Sky-Shrouding]'s eyes. If it were before, perhaps he would still be curious and confused about Lu Yang's odd question.
However, it was different now.
As the Thousand Year Great Tribulation approached, the memory seal in his sea of consciousness had automatically unsealed. All sorts of secrets from the past had returned to his control at this moment.
Therefore, he smiled very naturally.
"That Great Tribulation from five thousand years ago? Of course I know. It's only been one thousand five hundred and thirty-seven years since then. Looking at it this way, time passes quite fast..."
Holy shit!
Such a precise number immediately made Lu Yang's expression solemn. This statement from [Sky-Shrouding] undoubtedly indicated the knowledge he possessed.
"That..."
Lu Yang's voice paused. Although he was currently inside [Nourishing Life Master], directly calling the World Honored One's name and discussing forbidden knowledge still made him somewhat uneasy.
Therefore, after a moment of silence, he decisively changed the address. "That Lord who is 'Not Ashamed to Ask Those Below Him' should be the mastermind behind the Thousand Year Great Tribulation five thousand years ago. Only, I still don't understand... when exactly did He attain the Nascent Soul? Five thousand years ago? Or over a hundred thousand years ago?"
Rumble!
Before Lu Yang's voice even faded, a strong sense of crisis instantly swept through his heart. Even the originally calm [Nourishing Life Master] trembled slightly at this moment.
Fuck, did the World Honored One discover it?
Lu Yang's eye twitched slightly. [Sky-Shrouding], however, chuckled upon seeing this. "Fellow Daoist, rest assured. It's just that Fellow Daoist's words were truly too shocking. Its a spontaneous response from the sea of light."
"Moreover, Fellow Daoist is very smart not to directly call that... um, that Lord who is Not Ashamed to Ask Those Below Him by His true name and title. Otherwise, there really might be risks."
As [Sky-Shrouding] spoke, he looked Lu Yang up and down with an unprecedented gaze, then suddenly asked, "Has Fellow Daoist been to that false-history?"
"...A coincidence."
Lu Yang looked calm, not surprised that [Sky-Shrouding] could guess it, nor did he elaborate further. He changed the subject. "Senior hasn't solved my doubts yet."
"You sure know what to ask."
[Sky-Shrouding] laughed. "In the whole world, probably only I can answer this question. Even that old loach knows nothing."
"But why should I tell you?"
"Oh, then I won't ask." Lu Yang spread his hands.
As his voice fell, [Sky-Shrouding]'s laughter stopped instantly. Then he said helplessly, "You slippery little fellow, I am increasingly curious about your origins."
"Knowing so many secrets, yet I can't trace your origins at all, as if you popped out of a thin air. I don't even know your name... How about this? If Fellow Daoist can tell me your title truthfully, without deception, I will answer Fellow Daoist's question."
"Don't think of fooling me."
"Living in this world for tens of thousands of years, I still have some skill in distinguishing truth from lies... At this point, Fellow Daoist, just satisfy my curiosity."
Lu Yang frowned slightly upon hearing this, then said in a deep voice:
"[Perfected Lord Yuji Siming]." (Perfected Lord Who Presides over the Supreme Throne and Commands Fate).
As soon as these words came out, [Sky-Shrouding] remained calm on the surface, but secretly hid his hand in his sleeve, calculating rapidly, trying to find the karma within.
However, he soon stopped his movements.
I can't calculate... No matter how I try, I can't calculate such a Perfected Lord. But observing his words and deeds, this title doesn't seem to be a lie.
Too strange!
Looking at [Sky-Shrouding] tilting his head in thought, Lu Yang remained internally calm. After all, he really hadn't lied; this was indeed his Perfected Lord title from a previous life.
What? You can't calculate it?
Then you can only blame yourself for lacking skill. If your Dao comprehension reached the heavens and could calculate karma from before the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] restarted, wouldn't you be able to find it?
"How about it?"
Lu Yang asked faintly. "Can Senior solve my doubts now?"
Hearing this, [Sky-Shrouding] curled his lips, tempted to break his promise. But considering the goal of this trip, he gave the answer in a low voice:
"That Lord who is Not Ashamed to Ask those Below Him... His true time of attaining the Dao was five thousand years ago, which is His [Present]. Subsequently, with the heaven-reaching divine wonder of inverting cause and effect, He influenced the [Past] of over a hundred thousand years ago, and influenced the [Future] leading up to this very moment!"
At this moment, [Sky-Shrouding]'s tone was incomparably solemn.
Every word spoken caused violent turmoil inside [Nourishing Life Master], like an earth dragon tossing and turning, growing more violent with each syllable.
"He...
Attained Dao in the Present.
Manifested from the Past.
Claimed Supremacy in the Future!"
(End of Chapter)