Lu Yang's expression instantly turned serious.
Of course, this was deliberately shown to Exalted One Hao Yuan. With such a distinct change in expression, Exalted One Hao Yuan naturally wouldn't pretend not to see it.
"Fellow Daoist. What happened?"
Lu Yang immediately let out a sigh. "To tell you the truth, an emergency report came from the Mystic Spirit World Realm. It seems they've encountered danger and are asking me to return immediately for reinforcement, but they didn't specify the details..."
"An emergency in the Mystic Spirit World Realm?"
Upon hearing this, Exalted One Hao Yuan's eyes narrowed.
Although he considered the Mystic Spirit World Realm to be a backwater place, it was undeniably on the larger side among the backwaters.
Looking across the entire sea of light, how many world realms could pose such a threat to the Mystic Spirit World Realm that they couldn't even escape and had to send out a distress signal? The answer was really just the four super world realms! The [Mysterious Wall] went without saying—they had locked down their realm and rarely concerned themselves with outside affairs, making it impossible for them to do anything to the Mystic Spirit World Realm.
That meant...
The Immortal Nexus?
Exalted One Hao Yuan quickly reached a conclusion. In the past, he might not have thought much of it, as it was perfectly normal for the Immortal Nexus to capture Unorthodox world realms.
But this time was different.
Just moments ago, the Radiant Nebula Belt around the mother star triggered the highest-level Dao Heart alarm, highly likely caused by an anomaly from the World Honored One.
Under these circumstances, the Mystic Spirit World Realm suddenly reports an emergency.
Could it be that the World Honored One is also interested in this Du Ye's Dharma Body and wants to use him to track down the Dharma Body Dao? It's entirely possible. The [Celestial Court] is still stuck over there, after all.
Watching the fluctuations in Exalted One Hao Yuan's divine sense, Lu Yang maintained a look of panic and ignorance on the surface, but his mind was incredibly calm, his eyes flashing with a cold glint.
If I'm not mistaken, he'll link this to the World Honored One as well. As long as the [Star Palace] still needs something from me, they have to protect my life this time.
This was an opportunity!
Wealth is sought amidst danger. As long as I pull off this heist, I'll take the investment and run. The worst-case scenario is I just hide in [Responding to Emperors] afterward. If all else fails, I'll just restart.
With this in mind, Lu Yang already had a plan.
The next second, a look of determination crossed his face. "Senior, the Mystic Spirit World Realm is my home. Now that my home is in peril, it is absolutely impossible for me to sit idly by."
"I agree to your previous request."
"I will extract ten thousand years of my lifespan for you, Senior. I only ask that you lend me a helping hand!" With that, Lu Yang offered a solemn bow.
Hearing this, Exalted One Hao Yuan was instantly overjoyed.
"It's a deal!"
As soon as he spoke, Lu Yang saw a syringe-like artifact-formation land in front of him. Then, Exalted One Hao Yuan explained with a hint of impatience:
"This item is called the [Lifespan Needle]. Fellow Daoist, you only need to pierce it into your Dharma Body, and it will automatically extract your lifespan. Ten thousand years is just one injection."
At this point, Exalted One Hao Yuan was also pondering inwardly.
Perfect. This is also an opportunity for verification. Extracting lifespan isn't something you can just do to anyone. Otherwise, with the vast territory and abundant resources of the Star Palace, why would I go through so much trouble? Just raising a planet full of humans like livestock would be much simpler.
The problem is that our loss of lifespan was caused by the collapse of the Dharma Body Dao.
This is an injury to the Dharma Body.
Therefore, to make up for it, we must absorb the essence of a powerful Dharma Body. If this person's Dharma Body is fake, then his lifespan will be completely useless to us.
On the other side, Lu Yang accepted the [Lifespan Needle], then shook his head.
"Senior, I am currently only here as an incarnation; I cannot extract my lifespan. My main body is currently located in a remote area just outside the Mystic Spirit World Realm."
"If you truly wish to help me, Senior, why not accompany me there?"
Lu Yang phrased it very tactfully.
Exalted One Hao Yuan also caught the underlying meaning.
He wants me to help him first before he's willing to extract his lifespan. He won't release the falcon until he sees the hare.
Despite this, Exalted One Hao Yuan didn't mind.
As long as he could obtain enough lifespan to walk out of this stone statue, he didn't care in the slightest about expending the Star Palace's material resources to win Lu Yang's favor.
"Then it's settled!"
With that, Exalted One Hao Yuan manifested a long list right in front of Lu Yang. With a single glance, Lu Yang spotted familiar terms.
Five-Element Star Essence, Sun and Moon Profound Liquid... all good stuff. Besides that, there are many other materials, mostly unique products of the Star Palace that can't be found anywhere else. Many of them are even necessities for refining Star Charts. Moreover, there are cultivation techniques and Dao Arts. It really has everything one could ask for...
Looking at the list, Lu Yang blinked.
"So, Senior, how many items can I take from here?"
Hearing this, a sense of displeasure instantly emanated from Exalted One Hao Yuan's divine sense. "Fellow Daoist, you really need to find a way to correct this Unorthodox mindset of yours."
"You actually only plan on taking a few?"
"With an attitude like that, what do you take our Star Palace for? Some impoverished backwater of the sea of light? My Star Palace has mountains of gold and silver—more than we could ever spend!"
Following that, Exalted One Hao Yuan declared cleanly and crisply:
"Take whatever you want!"
Lu Yang: "..."
Mystic Spirit World Realm.
While his Incense Offering incarnation was taking full advantage of the list provided by Exalted One Hao Yuan, Lu Yang's main body stepped out of his previously sealed cave abode.
"Something's not right..."
Lu Yang frowned deeply. He immediately activated the [Penetrating the Void and Pacifying Karma Jade Scripture], establishing a deep connection with the Mystic Spirit World Realm to sense the overall situation of the world realm.
The conclusion was that the Mystic Spirit World Realm was indeed in a state of critical emergency, because he could already see the black hole-like manifestation of the Immortal Nexus in the sea of light.
However, bizarrely, instead of trying to flee in this situation, the Mystic Spirit World Realm was actually accelerating toward the Immortal Nexus.
"Why is this happening?"
"They were just sending out distress signals a moment ago..."
Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately activated the [Marionette] technique, remotely controlling a Heaven Immortal of the Mystic Spirit World Realm and flying toward the Heavenly Court.
He had carefully selected this Heaven Immortal.
His position was that of a close attendant to the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm, and he was quite favored, allowing him to see the Supreme at any time. Now was the perfect time to use him to gather intelligence.
Soon, inside the Heavenly Court.
Controlling the puppet, Lu Yang saw the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm discussing matters with a group of immortals in the great hall. Yet, there was not the slightest atmosphere of tension.
"Supreme!"
Lu Yang didn't waste time and stepped forward immediately, his tone urgent. "Crisis is upon us. You previously sent out a distress signal, Supreme. May I ask if there are any other measures in place?"
When he spoke those words, Lu Yang had anticipated many possible responses. However, the next second, the Supreme's answer made his hair stand on end.
"What crisis?"
In the great hall, the Supreme of the Mystic Spirit World Realm tilted his head, looking utterly confused. "I am currently discussing with the immortals. We discovered a bizarre world realm."
"There seem to be dozens of Perfected Lords in that world realm. It's a massive catch. I'm certain it boasts vast territory and abundant resources. So, everyone is preparing to invade that world realm, see if we can score big, and then leave. Don't worry. With my strength, are you still not at ease? What's there to fear from a mere few dozen Perfected Lords?"
Lu Yang: "..."
It's hopeless. Just wait for death.
The next second, he severed the Marionette connection without hesitation, then watched helplessly as his puppet transformed into a pitiful yes-man as well.
Is the World Honored One making a move again?
No, their Dao Hearts haven't been altered... This method is more like 'Inevitable Fate.' The process is being forcefully guided toward a specific outcome!
Why could the Immortal Nexus continuously capture world realms?
One had to know that the outward appearance of this dump called the Immortal Nexus in the sea of light was exaggeratedly terrifying—a textbook supermassive black hole. Any normal world realm would naturally steer clear of it.
Yet, world realms frequently blundered into the Immortal Nexus.
And with extremely high frequency.
This could no longer be described as a coincidence, especially looking at the frankly brain-dead actions currently displayed by the Supreme and the other cultivators of the Mystic Spirit World Realm.
Does this mean that regardless of what world realm it is, as long as it gets within a certain distance, it will be guided by 'Inevitable Fate' toward the inevitable outcome of falling into the Immortal Nexus?
This is the terror of the Immortal Nexus... No, this is the method of the Saint Sect's old... old but vigorous Ancestor!