I really was a fool, truly.
Back when Ming Feng had her epiphany and let out that first "Ah!", I should have reacted. As a native of the Immortal Nexus, how could I be so careless!
At this moment, Lu Yang's mind was filled with nothing but profanities.
However, his expression didn't waver in the slightest. Despite the sheer panic gripping his heart, his demeanor remained composed and natural. He nodded.
"It's a good name. Let's go with that."
"I'm glad you like it, Fellow Daoist."
Ming Feng smiled again—a compassionate smile that made his scalp tingle. "Then I'll arrange for people to report this to the higher-ups immediately."
"Wait here for a moment, Fellow Daoist. I'll be right back."
With that, Ming Feng turned and left the laboratory. She even hummed a light, cheerful tune as she walked, clearly in an excellent mood.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang's blood ran cold.
He couldn't help it. Everything that was happening right before his eyes had completely exceeded his expectations. It shook his very soul, sending a chill straight from the soles of his feet up to the crown of his head.
Only one question remained in his mind.
Why.
This makes no sense.
This is the Star Palace! It's far away from the Immortal Nexus, and it's presided over by the Dao Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao! Given all that, why the fuck am I running into the World Honored One here!?
What the hell was the Dao Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao even doing?
To Lu Yang, even though there were four Dao Lords in the Immortal Nexus, he had always only been intensely fearful of the World Honored One. This wasn't because the World Honored One was the strongest.
In fact, it was the exact opposite. Precisely because the World Honored One was the youngest and weakest among the four Dao Lords, the oppressive pressure he exerted on lower-tier cultivators was the strongest. After all, the other Dao Lords didn't care about the meager scraps in the mortal world. Only the World Honored One would consistently and meticulously scheme and plot in the mortal realm.
Simply put, he loved smurfing in low-level lobbies.
It was the same in the Celestial Court. Si Sui's remnant consciousness schemed for ages, paying a massive price, only to discover that his main consciousness had long since been molded into the shape of the World Honored One.
And now, it's the exact same thing in the Star Palace! He's like a lingering ghost!
Is there no justice left in this world!?
After a brief moment of panic, Lu Yang forced himself to calm down. No, wait... that doesn't make sense. The Dao Lord of the Star Palace isn't a crippled remnant like Si Sui.
With the World Honored One acting like this, there's no way he wouldn't have noticed.
Unless...
At this thought, an even more terrifying hypothesis sank Lu Yang's mood to rock bottom. ...The World Honored One and the Dao Lord of the Star Palace have some sort of private deal!
This hypothesis was far more terrifying.
Because Lu Yang couldn't help but recall his previous battle in the Star Palace, where he had stomped the Chamber Sun Rabbit Star Lord to death for all to see.
Lu Yang wouldn't worry about the other Dao Lords; merely displaying his Dharma Body wouldn't be enough to draw their attention. But the World Honored One was different. That guy was clearly a maverick who loved nothing more than snatching opportunities from juniors. A Nascent Soul Dao Lord stealing a Qi Refining cultivator's spiritual treasure? He'd probably do it without batting an eye.
Being targeted by the World Honored One was absolutely the worst luck a cultivator could have in eight lifetimes!
No, I need to stay calm.
At the very least, the World Honored One shouldn't have made a move against me yet. I haven't sensed any consciousness tampering from him, and my Perfected Dao Heart hasn't given me any warnings.
Lu Yang was already very familiar with the World Honored One.
Including the World Honored One's terrifying "One Mind" technique. After experiencing it so many times, and even personally enduring it, he had summarized the underlying rules.
First, the World Honored One's consciousness tampering isn't done casually.
It has prerequisites.
Based on my experience, this prerequisite should be karma. For instance, inheriting a cultivation technique, or obtaining a fortuitous encounter. The most typical example of the former is cultivation techniques.
In the Pure Land, regardless of who they were or what cultivation base they had before, as long as they submit to the Pure Land and practice the Buddhist cultivation technique, the [Mahayana True Enlightenment Fundamental Sutra], they will be converted into Buddhists and become a part of the World Honored One. This is karmic inheritance. Once you receive the World Honored One's inheritance, you belong to the World Honored One.
The most typical example of the latter is me.
In the lifetime where I attained Void Attainment for the Heavenly Fire, because the Unorthodox Dao Fruits I devoured were all connected to the World Honored One, my Dao Heart was invaded and altered by his consciousness.
At this thought, Lu Yang suddenly jolted. Not good!
The World Honored One's inheritance... Since Ming Feng has already become a part of the World Honored One, could the tutorial she gave me be compromised too? Is the Patriarch in danger?
No, that doesn't make sense.
I've long developed the habit of scanning things with the Immortal Nexus Survival Guide first. When I received the tutorial earlier, it didn't show any issues.
Does that mean... the World Honored One arrived later?
When?
A specific scene rapidly surfaced in Lu Yang's mind.
That 'Ah!' she let out!
Right when I brought out the [Divine Firmament Thunder] and Ming Feng had her epiphany, the World Honored One descended... Because of the [Divine Firmament Thunder]? Why would it alarm the World Honored One?
Lu Yang was utterly baffled.
Just then, the laboratory door was suddenly pushed open. Ming Feng strode in, the compassionate smile still on her face. "Exalted One Hao Yuan has given his approval."
"All factories on the mother star have begun producing the components. The [Wondrous Seven Treasure Glazed Tree] Star Chart project is officially underway. We estimate the first prototype will be ready within three months. To repay you, Fellow Daoist, we can let you be the first to use it once it's finished. How about it? Are you happy?"
Lu Yang nodded hurriedly. "Happy, very happy..."
Ming Feng smiled gently. "Oh, right. Exalted One Hao Yuan sent word that the artifact-formation for extracting lifespan is ready. He requests that you go see him again."
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yang forcibly suppressed his wild joy and deliberately put on a look of dissatisfaction. "Extracting lifespan... Senior Hao Yuan is being a bit too impatient."
"Why? Do you not want to go?" Ming Feng asked with a light chuckle.
"That's not it."
Lu Yang shook his head. "He is a Senior, after all, and his cultivation base far exceeds mine. I must go meet him. Let's leave it at that. I'll return another day to seek further guidance on artifact-formations."
He didn't dare show the slightest abnormality.
Right now, he felt like a docile little lamb standing before a wolf in sheep's clothing, liable to be torn to pieces at any moment.
Right then, Ming Feng moved.
She suddenly raised an eyebrow. Her compassionate smile seemed to fade slightly. Without speaking, she narrowed her eyes and quietly scrutinized him.
"..."
Lu Yang didn't dare look away. He desperately kept his face neutral, counting silently in his head.
When he reached three, he tilted his head, displaying a puzzled expression as if asking, Why aren't you saying anything? He held Ming Feng's gaze just like that.
"Fellow Daoist?" Lu Yang initiated.
"Hehe..."
The next second, Ming Feng let out a light, silver-bell-like chuckle. Her beautiful eyes shimmered, and Lu Yang could even clearly see his own reflection in her pupils.
"It's nothing. My mind just wandered for a moment."
"Since Exalted One Hao Yuan has spoken, it truly would be improper for you not to go. As for the Dao of Artifact-Formations... I believe we will have plenty of time to converse about it."
"Go and return quickly, Fellow Daoist."
Forget it, I'm absolutely never coming back here!
While cursing inwardly, Lu Yang exchanged another pleasantry before quickly walking out of the laboratory, where he spotted Star Lord Fu Chen waiting outside.
Open the Stargate.
Leave the mother star.
It wasn't until he had truly stepped off the mother star, and that gaze—which felt like needles pricking his back—was blocked and dissolved by the boundless void, that Lu Yang finally let out a long breath.
"My Lord?"
Beside him, Star Lord Fu Chen looked confused. Seeing this, Lu Yang suddenly felt a surge of anger.
Damn it all, you guys are raising a ghost in your own house and you don't even know it!?
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang gritted his teeth and whispered:
"...Take me to see Exalted One Hao Yuan immediately!"