Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Lu Yang finally turned his gaze toward the corner of [Nourishing Life Master]. There, Mu Changsheng, hiding in the shadows, revealed an ingratiating smile.
"Congratulations, Senior! Your cultivation has advanced further!"
Before his voice had even faded, Mu Changsheng decisively gave Lu Yang a grand salute. As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances, and he was undoubtedly a talent of the current age who knew how to adapt.
"Rise."
Lu Yang raised his hand, his gaze shifting slightly. "Fellow Daoist is courageous. Even the Old Dragon Lord left, yet Fellow Daoist didn't leave, and even dared to stay here."
"Senior misunderstands."
Hearing this, Mu Changsheng's expression became solemn. "Here I must emphasize: I have no relationship with the Old Dragon Lord. It was just a coincidence that we were on the same path."
"The reason he didn't kill me was actually out of consideration for the Heavenly Lord's face. Don't look at him defecting to the Mysterious Wall now; in reality, he's still a fence-sitter. He helps whoever wins. How could he really kill me and offend the Heavenly Lord? At most, he vented some anger. I endured it, and it passed..."
As soon as these words came out, Lu Yang raised his eyebrows instantly.
"Heavenly Lord..."
Once upon a time, this name was his nightmare, forcing him to flee to a foreign land. But looking at it again now, he had a new realization.
The so-called Heavenly Lord, although foolish and dull, was essentially very likely related to this Super World Realm, the Immortal Nexus. Maybe it was the Heavenly Dao of the Immortal Nexus. Or perhaps something else...
With this thought, Lu Yang recalled the structure of the Immortal Nexus again. Four domains of East, West, South, and North, plus the Overseas. A vast world pieced together by five World Realms formed the Immortal Nexus. However, would such a World Realm, practically hand-crafted by Dao Lords, really have a so-called Heavenly Dao?
I have many similar clues.
For example, after the trip to the Celestial Court back then, I also guessed that the reason the Heavenly Lord was so foolish was because, among the six part of eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and intent, it lacked the most crucial 'intent'.
The Celestial Court was a Dao Lord's corpse transformed into a world.
However, because Sisui's remnant thought was suppressed, lacking the most critical 'intent', such a World Realm was actually controlled by Great Perfected Lord Immortal Venerable Taiyin.
Could the Immortal Nexus be the same?
After all, the Celestial Court was the masterpiece of the World Honored One and the Saint Sect's old monster. It could completely be replicated on the Immortal Nexus.
The five World Realms piecing together the Immortal Nexus might just be a facade. Essentially, it is also a form of suppression, used to suppress the Heavenly Lord's 'intent', rendering it foolish and dull?
But if I follow this speculation... it extends to the initial question again. What exactly is the Heavenly Lord? To make four Dao Lords almost join forces to build a World Realm to suppress it... Could it also be a Nascent Soul Dao Lord? But wouldn't that be the same as Si Sui? Why would it need four Dao Lords to suppress it?
Lu Yang rubbed the center of his eyebrows, feeling a slight headache.
Ultimately, insufficient intelligence made his thoughts run wild. One guess after another surfaced in his heart uncontrollably, causing his spirit to scatter somewhat...
Hmm? Spirit scattered...? Not good!
In an instant, inside [Responding to Emperors], Lu Yang's true body frowned abruptly, looking at the sword marks all over his body that couldn't be erased.
These sword marks had been with him for fifty years. Although they provided an excellent environment for the [Mystic Gate Spirit-Refinement Art], accelerating the nurturing of [Divine Firmament Thunder], the downside was also obvious:
My Dao Heart is shaking... If this continues, and if I don't restart within ten years, my perfect Dao Heart will probably be shattered by these sword marks.
Lu Yang looked solemn, alert in his heart.
Dao Heart perfection was a means sufficient to mediate under a Dao Lord's gaze, but this didn't mean Dao Lords really had no way to deal with it.
At most, it was just troublesome. The Sword Pavilion Dao Lord could use these sword marks to torture him for fifty years, shattering his perfect Dao Heart step by step. The World Honored One could probably do the same... From this, it can be seen that if the World Honored One really revives on him, spending a few decades could still cause him to distort completely.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang hurriedly bolstered his Dao Heart.
Only when he felt his thinking become active again and his intent concentrate did he refocus his attention on the incense incarnation, looking at the apprehensive Mu Changsheng.
"It seems... Fellow Daoist seeks something from me?"
Hearing this, Mu Changsheng let out a long breath instantly, as if he had been waiting for a long time, and hurriedly nodded. "I only beg Senior to give this humble one a way to live!"
"What do you want?" Lu Yang asked.
"This humble one wants nothing, only asking Senior to allow this humble one to temporarily reside in [Nourishing Life Master] to avoid disaster, letting this humble one endure until this Great Tribulation passes."
Mu Changsheng sighed. Although he was now considered an Orthodox Perfected Lord, and had even successfully opened a path in the [Sea of Bitterness] relying on [Pseudo Void Attainment], his cultivation was ultimately still at the early-stage Golden Core. Without the characteristic of immortality and indestructibility, placed in the current Thousand Year Great Tribulation, he was still a cannon fodder-like character.
Since that was the case, he could only flee.
After all, if he couldn't afford to fight, he could always afford to hide. So just now, even when Lu Yang fought the Old Dragon Lord and talked with [Sky-Shrouding], he had no intention of leaving.
He was sticking here today!
Of course, he also knew the nature of a Saint Sect Perfected Lord. Therefore, after stating the need to avoid disaster, he immediately volunteered: "This humble one should also be useful to Senior."
"With Senior's cultivation, your ambition must be in this Thousand Year Great Tribulation. However, Senior's current state is probably not very good, powerless to observe external changes... On this point, this humble one might play a role. To tell the truth, this humble one specially refined an incarnation and hid it in the Immortal Nexus."
"This humble one's divine sense can connect with it at any time."
"Once the Great Tribulation begins, this humble one can grasp the progress and changes of the Great Tribulation in real-time through the incarnation. At that time, this humble one is willing to inform Senior of everything."
Mu Changsheng offered his bargaining chip.
Undeniably, he chose this bargaining chip quite well. Clearly, he had done enough homework before coming, and indeed hit Lu Yang's itchy spot.
I indeed need such a person...
Lu Yang pondered in his heart. The current him had all channels connecting to the outside world cut off by the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord. Regardless of the incarnation's aura, it was almost instant death upon showing up.
In this situation, he couldn't see the outside world at all, and was naturally unable to know how [Sky-Shrouding] sought to attain the Nascent Soul.
However, if there was Mu Changsheng broadcasting, he would no longer be a blind man in the dark, able to watch a good show from the safest place.
Thinking of this, a sincere smile instantly surfaced on Lu Yang's face. "Eh, Brother Changsheng's words treat me like an outsider. With the relationship between you and me, why the need for this?"
"From now on, just stay in [Nourishing Life Master]."
After speaking, he even patted Mu Changsheng's shoulder, causing him to show a flattered expression as he hurriedly cupped his hands. "Many thanks for Senior's great grace!"
Inside [Responding to Emperors].
Lu Yang rose slowly. His gaze seemed able to pierce through heaven and earth, straight into the Immortal Nexus, looking down at the present world, seeing that figure completely covered by mist.
Almost simultaneously, in the Immortal Nexus.
[Sky-Shrouding] sensed something in his heart, suddenly looking up at the sky. A smile instantly surfaced in the narrow eyes, the only part exposed outside the smoke.
Perfected Lord Yuji Siming... You are looking at me, right?
Very good, just watch like this.
Just watch me.. watch how I overturn this chessboard!
With this thought, [Sky-Shrouding] withdrew his gaze, turning to look into the distance. He was currently located at the Overseas—at the end of the earth, the place closest to the Netherworld.
Where his gaze passed, there was a bottomless abyss.
Immeasurable seawater poured into the abyss constantly. That was the proof of the Netherworld's existence—like a black hole, devouring all living things.
The next second, [Sky-Shrouding] strode forward, walking over calmly.
(End of Chapter)