Lu Yang remained motionless throughout the upheaval.
Elsewhere, rays of light surfaced around [Sky-Shrouding]'s body. Each ray was a dao arts, a desperate attempt to reverse his declining fate.
The Dao Lord of the Dao Arts!
Compared to the Dao Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao, the methods of the Dao Arts Dao were far more exquisite and versatile. Concepts and wonders flowed from His fingertips with ease. Under His enhancement, the [Inevitable Fate] binding [Sky-Shrouding] began to shake. However, the moment He attempted to erase the [Inevitable Fate] entirely, the lights of the dao arts instantly annihilated.
The process could be influenced, but the result remained unshakable.
That was the end of it. Yet [Sky-Shrouding] did not surrender. Instead, he reached into the remnants of his [Inversion] Great Dao, extracting the final dregs of its wonder.
[Decree Mandate].
His fingertips shimmered with light, not directed outward, but turned toward himself. In the next breath, his vitality reversed. Death qi soared to the heavens!
[Sky-Shrouding] died!
It was not a true death, but a reversal of his fundamental principle of life and death. He had achieved one of the conditions of the [Inevitable Fate] through a loophole.
Body perishes and falls.
In doing so, the chains of the [Inevitable Fate] relaxed slightly. But the law remained—what was influenced was merely the process. The result would not change.
"Di Muni!!!" [Sky-Shrouding] roared, his Dao sound rolling like thunder.
This was the World Honored One's true name. At this moment, it triggered a response from the Paramita high above the [Sea of Bitterness]. The World Honored One acted. [Sky-Shrouding]'s invocation of the true name intensified their karmic connection, effectively upgrading the "faucet" of power he could draw upon.
The World Honored One did not hesitate. While continuing to pin down the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord with time scrolls, He cast His gaze toward the Pure Land.
Almost simultaneously, inside a temple in the Pure Land, Yuan Tu—Lu Yang's main body in this life, transformed into a Life Form Body—opened his eyes. His aura erupted, revealing a state of Foundation Establishment Perfection. In his palm floated a Dao Fruit shimmering with karma.
[City Rampart Earth].
"...Amitabha," Yuan Tu chanted.
Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer, Bodhisattva Precious Vase Water Moon, Bodhisattva Great Might—a new Bodhisattva, and even Great Sage Xuan Yuan all bowed their heads in unison.
"Amitabha!"
The Zen singing thundered: "Excellent, excellent. The Dharma Ending Age is upon us. Our Buddha is merciful, descending to the Jambudvipa world once more to save all sentient beings!"
Yuan Tu's aura soared. Without a ritual, he triggered the response of [City Rampart Earth] and merged with it, vaulting over the Golden Core threshold. This was no ordinary seeking of golden core; it was the return of a fallen Perfected Lord ascending once more to his Golden Position!
The Pure Land Bodhisattvas gathered. Five Dao Fruits manifested around Yuan Tu: [City Rampart Earth], [Weeping Willow Wood], [Pine & Cypress Wood], [Ornamental Gold], and [Thunderbolt Fire].
"A pity... a Water element is missing."
Yuan Tu's eyes were bright as he looked toward the Overseas. "That little dragon... escaped? To the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]? But It is too late now."
He withdrew his gaze and raised [City Rampart Earth]. The other four Dao Fruits resonated. Buddha light stacked layer upon layer, forming a floating pagoda with [City Rampart Earth] at its peak, illuminating the universe.
In the land of Jiangxi, countless Zen masters, Arhats, and novices wept with joy. They sat upon the earth, faces alight with enlightenment, chanting the Buddha's name as they were consumed by the light. Their collective karma surged toward Yuan Tu.
[Buddhist Kingdom on Earth]!
In the Celestial Court, the Spirit Platform on the ninth layer awakened, abandoned Sisui's remnant soul, and crossed into the Immortal Nexus. It merged into the Buddhist Kingdom, acting as the final stroke of a masterpiece. The stature of the [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth] shattered the limits of a Great Perfected Lord.
It was not yet a Nascent Soul—it lacked the Water element—but its power was now infinitely close to the Paramita.
Yuan Tu urged the Supreme Wonder of [City Rampart Earth]: [Commanding Past and Present]!
The Immortal Nexus and the billions of World Realms in the Sea of Light distorted. The great net of karma fell into chaos. Karma was plucked and rewoven.
Every Golden Core Perfected Lord watching the battle held their breath. Even without calculation, the net of karma provided a new answer:
"This is not [Sky-Shrouding]'s true body. It is his [World-Retribution Incarnation]. The body revealed before was the true self, hiding until now after feigning death. Now the real [Sky-Shrouding] is in perfect condition, ready to seek the Nascent Soul at any moment..."
Change the Cause, Alter the Effect!
Inside [Nourishing Life Master], Lu Yang's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. Beside him, Mu Changsheng had long since poked himself blind, terrified of witnessing more.
In the Netherworld, the "first" [Sky-Shrouding] met his end. The sword hum penetrated the World Honored One's defense and slew him. All karma related to [Perfected Lord Sky-Shrouding Obscuring the Sun] vanished. He was dead beyond doubt.
Yet, a second later, a new figure appeared.
A handsome young Daoist with eyes like stars emerged—no longer shrouded in mist, but high-spirited and radiant.
"Past cause, today's effect... Ling Xiao, conduct yourself well."
The ethereal voice faded. The World Honored One withdrew His power.
The youth laughed. [Sky-Shrouding] was dead, but his final trump card had succeeded. Not in vain did I store my true name and title with the World Honored One!
"One more time!"
The youth burned his soul, body, and Great Dao, lunging toward the Netherworld Core. For one microscopic instant, he was free—freer than any Perfected Lord in existence.
Dazzling light erupted from the core. The youth melted into the radiance, ascending toward a loftier existence.
Then—collapse.
The youth solidified at the moment of his triumph. The light of the Netherworld stagnated. An incredulous remnant of a voice echoed:
"How is it possible... the Netherworld already has a master...?"
Rumble!
The light shattered. The youth's entry had destroyed the object that had occupied the core of the Netherworld for eons. In doing so, his own consciousness was obliterated.
His sacrifice had cleared the path. The Dao Lords, who had just been at each other's throats, instantly ceased their hostilities. They reached their massive hands toward the now-open [Netherworld], seeking to drag that sunken dimension back into the present world!
They were no longer merely projecting power from the Paramita. Several Dao Lords truly descended, damaging their own cultivation to pull the Netherworld into reality.
Silence fell.
The Netherworld swallowed the present world. All sentient beings met their end. Only the Perfected Lords remained for a fleeting moment, but those who looked upon the Dao Lords' true forms were instantly driven mad, their Seas of Consciousness bursting as they followed the rest into death.
Including Lu Yang.
"Book of a Hundred Lifetimes——!!!"
The Sea of Light annihilated. All phenomena became empty. A single shout resounded, drawing the gaze of the Dao Lords, but before they could react, everything was wiped away into nothingness.
(End of Chapter)