Lu Yang wasn't surprised that [Sky-shrouding] would come looking for him.
After all, he had broadcasted Sky-shrouding's heroic deeds across the entire Immortal Nexus. If he hadn't come looking, Lu Yang would have suspected he'd already been taken out by a Dao Lord.
However, Lu Yang didn't respond immediately. Instead, he chuckled lightly: "Please wait a moment, Senior."
Before his voice faded, the five divine abilities Lu Yang had just refined immediately converged, transforming into a beam of light seeking the Golden Core that shot straight up toward the firmament!
Almost simultaneously, at the very peak of the sky, the Dao Fruit star of the [Pine & Cypress Wood] lit up. Its qi resided in the due east, towering over the earth and sky. It manifested scenes of natural disasters—wind, rain, and snow—swirling around it. Yet, the fiercer and grander these scenes became, the more upright, majestic, and brilliant that starlight grew.
The next second, Lu Yang decisively elevated his Dao Foundation.
Rumble!
The five divine abilities smelted the Dao Foundation, instantly refining it into a Blessed Land. Then, the Blessed Land soared upwards, inching its way toward the [Pine & Cypress Wood].
Furthermore, what astonished many observing Perfected Lords was that, in the face of this Golden Core-seeking light, the [Pine & Cypress Wood] showed absolutely no intention of resisting or rejecting it.
"How can this be?"
"He didn't even set up a Dharma Ritual for Seeking the Golden Core... Could it be that he was the Perfected Lord of the [Pine & Cypress Wood] in the past, and now that he has returned from his tribulation, he is simply reclaiming his position?"
"That shouldn't be possible. As far as I know, the [Pine & Cypress Wood] has always been in the Pure Land and has never left. If he truly is the former master of the [Pine & Cypress Wood], then he must be a Bodhisattva. But he just had a falling out with the Pure Land... Could it be that this person's origins trace back to before the Heavenly Upheaval?"
Meanwhile, in the Netherworld.
Within the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace], a mist-shrouded figure stood before the hall. His narrow eyes gazed toward the mortal world, a look of melancholy surfacing in their depths.
"[Pine & Cypress Wood]..."
For a moment, [Sky-shrouding] felt the seal of the Knowledge-Perception Barrier deep within his sea of consciousness tremble slightly, as if resonating with something.
"...Interesting."
"Is this the Dao Fruit I controlled back in the day before taking charge of the [Great Forest Wood]? The [Pine & Cypress Wood]... I see. It does fit my past experiences quite well."
Regarding his sealed memories, [Sky-shrouding] wasn't completely ignorant. Sometimes, he could actually guess the contents of certain memories. For instance, he had just guessed that he was the former master of the [Pine & Cypress Wood]. But how exactly had he jumped from the [Pine & Cypress Wood] to the [Great Forest Wood]?
[Sky-shrouding] abruptly halted his train of thought.
He couldn't think about it anymore. The memory seal was already issuing warnings. Intuition told him that if he truly recalled anything, it would actually be detrimental to his plans.
Realizing this, he immediately shifted his gaze.
"Withering only after the year turns cold, possessing an unyielding nature."
"To be able to seek the attainment of the [Pine & Cypress Wood] without a Dharma Ritual... it seems this person has endured countless hardships and perils to achieve what he has today."
Thinking of this, his anticipation regarding Lu Yang grew even stronger.
Perhaps this person and I will get along very well. It just so happens that my Fellow Daoist of the past have all withered away. I really should recruit some new Fellow Daoist to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang's seeking of the Golden Core had already concluded.
The entire process lacked any suspense, going so smoothly it even surprised him. It was primarily because he hadn't expected the [Pine & Cypress Wood] to actively cooperate without a Dharma Ritual.
But now, he understood.
'I see. The [Pine & Cypress Wood] favors the cold of the turning year, hiding beneath Metal, and enduring long periods of wind and frost. Only those who have weathered immense suffering yet maintain a towering, unyielding integrity can seek the attainment of this Dao.'
'Looking at it this way, the [Pine & Cypress Wood] really should favor me.'
Not gonna lie, in the current era, there probably wasn't a single cultivator who could compare to him when it came to weathering immense suffering. To give the simplest example:
I saw the World Honored One descend to the present realm back when I was at Foundation Establishment.
Can anyone else claim that?
As for unyielding integrity, that goes without saying. Even after suffering so many crushing blows, I still dare to dance back and forth right on the bottom lines of the Dao Lords.
If not me, then who?
Amidst his sighs, the Blessed Land had already taken control of the [Pine & Cypress Wood]. The aura of a Perfected Lord instantly permeated heaven and earth, while Lu Yang himself exhaled a deep breath of foul air.
'Finally... perfection!'
The next second, brilliant golden lightning surfaced in Lu Yang's palm. Leaping with unparalleled joy, it transformed into streaks of golden snakes slithering between his fingers and palm.
The instant he completely mastered the [Pine & Cypress Wood], Lu Yang finally pierced through that final layer of window paper. Boundless comprehension surged forth like a bursting dam, making his thoughts flow like a spring. He wanted nothing more than to immediately return to the Mystic Spirit World Realm to enter secluded cultivation and fill in the final missing Wood element of the [Divine Firmament Thunder]!
And not only that.
As long as he wanted to, he could refine his main body into a Life Form Body right now. Then, he could devour the [Pine & Cypress Wood], bringing his Dharma Body to absolute perfection and reclaiming control of the Dharma Body Dao!
At that time, he would be a Great Perfected Lord of the Dharma Body Dao!
Furthermore, due to the re-emergence of the Dharma Body Dao—even though it was still in a fractured state—the lifespan of cultivators across the world would experience an initial recovery.
The foundation of the Grotto-Heaven Method would be shaken as a result.
What would happen then? Would the Saint Sect Patriarch be exceptionally angry? Would hiding in the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] be of any use? Would he be dragged out?
'Hiss... no, I have to hold back.'
At this thought, Lu Yang quickly suppressed his suicidal urge. Devouring the [Pine & Cypress Wood] was only a matter of time, but the moment he did it, he would absolutely not be tolerated by the Dao Lords.
'No rush. Good things take time.'
'Devouring the [Pine & Cypress Wood] is something I should only do when I decide to restart. It's meant for flipping the table on the Dao Lords. Right now, I can still live a little longer.'
Lu Yang took a deep breath, choosing to practice edging. He suppressed the urge to immediately become a Great Perfected Lord of the Dharma Body Dao and experience the thrill.
Next, he examined the [Pine & Cypress Wood] circling him, which felt incredibly close to him. He intended to first test the fundamental profound wonder of this Dao Fruit.
Its name was—
'[The Heart of Eternal Rectitude]!'
The usage of this Dao Fruit's profound wonder was highly unique. To sum it up in a single sentence: "What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger."
'Once I activate this profound wonder, the heavier the injuries I sustain, the faster they will heal, making it increasingly difficult for my life to be extinguished.'
'Building upon this, as long as the master of the Dao Fruit can maintain this profound wonder and keep themselves alive, not only will their injuries improve, but they will also gain a certain level of resistance. If they encounter the exact same attack next time, its power against the master of the Dao Fruit will be weakened by thirty percent out of thin air.'
'What's even more incredible is that this profound wonder stacks.'
'If I maintain this profound wonder while fighting someone, as long as they can't kill me, eventually, all their methods will lose all power against me!'
'And the effect isn't temporary.'
'As long as they have crossed blows with the master of the Dao Fruit and been recorded by this profound wonder, the effect is permanent! It will only reset if the master of the Dao Fruit perishes.'
Lu Yang's eyes shone brightly, feeling quite pleasantly surprised.
'The [The Heart of Eternal Rectitude] truly suits me. After all, I cultivate the Dharma Body Dao, and my greatest strength is my thick skin and sturdy flesh. With this, I can become even tankier!'
'Looking at it this way, the [Pine & Cypress Wood] probably has the potential of a Supreme as well. It's just that it requires a certain amount of time to scale, and frequent battles are an absolute must.'
Giving it to the Pure Land truly was a waste. Only I can draw out its true potential!
After pondering for a moment, Lu Yang finally hid the Dao Fruit star and stood with his hands behind his back in the sea of clouds. He spoke softly, "The matter is concluded. Senior may reveal himself now."
Before his words faded, a figure appeared.
Accompanying him was a hazy mist that covered heaven and earth, enveloping Lu Yang and making the world seem as if it were veiled in a thin layer of gauze.
Almost simultaneously, the various Perfected Lords who had been keeping an eye on this place suddenly blinked. Then, just like that, they naturally withdrew their gazes and stopped paying attention, as if they had completely forgotten about Lu Yang's existence. In this manner, he smoothly extricated himself from the observation of the Perfected Lords.
"Immortal Lord Du Ye, Master of Tribulations?"
[Sky-shrouding] spoke in a low, ghostly voice, his gaze scrutinizing. Clearly, he had come prepared; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to call out the honorary title certified by the Mystic Spirit World Realm.
"Greetings, Senior," Lu Yang smiled and cupped his hands.
However, [Sky-shrouding] had no intention of making small talk and cut straight to the chase. "Do we know each other, Fellow Daoist? How did you discover the matter regarding the Chen Earth?"
"If you don't want others to know, then don't do it."
Lu Yang narrowed his eyes and spoke softly, "Senior, you and I are friends, not enemies... However, this place is not suitable for discussing the profound Dao. Why don't we go to the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]?"