The [Sea of Bitterness].
"Hahaha! So Senior Uncle actually knows how to play this game."
Lu Yang clapped his hands and laughed out loud, while simultaneously using his divine sense to record the entire process of Chong Guang channeling his inner drama king and playing Long Tu like a fiddle without hesitation.
"Senior Uncle's heart is still too black."
"I thought I would have to step in at the end to clean up his mess, but he resolved it himself... My effort in giving him a helping hand back then wasn't in vain."
At this thought, Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh in admiration inwardly.
Because Long Tu wasn't actually that incompetent.
His main flaws were his complete ignorance regarding inner demons and the fact that he fed a quarter of his divine sense to Chong Guang all at once. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up in such a miserable state.
"Strictly speaking, when I looked at the course of events earlier, it was highly probable that Long Tu would help Perfected One Subduing-Spirits out of his predicament, ultimately causing Senior Uncle Chong Guang's efforts to fall short on the verge of success."
"However, before I could even make any modifications, Senior Uncle Chong Guang adapted to the situation and played a trick on Long Tu, causing him to lose a massive amount of divine sense. After devouring it, as one side waned, the other waxed. This allowed him to secretly influence Long Tu using the inner demon divine ability, making him sink deeper and deeper, ultimately salvaging the situation."
If one had to say what mistake Long Tu made...
It was that he shouldn't have used a quarter of his divine sense in one go. He truly fed Chong Guang until he was stuffed; otherwise, Chong Guang might not have had the strength to influence him.
As a result, one wrong step led to a series of blunders.
At this thought, Lu Yang looked again at the event conceptual imagery within the [Sea of Bitterness], realization dawning on him. "I see. I am not the sole scriptwriter of this grand play."
"I can modify the script, but the people in the play can do the same."
"Just because something has the highest probability doesn't mean it will definitely happen. Conversely, even without my interference, changes with lower probabilities can still occur."
"...Human effort can achieve anything!"
In that instant, Lu Yang's eyes shone brightly. "The Great Dao unfolds fifty transformations; Heaven derives forty-nine, leaving one that escapes… I see. That is the variable—the inevitable variable that must exist within the sea of light."
Seeing the big picture through a small detail, glimpsing the whole leopard through a bamboo tube.
If a Foundation Establishment Perfected One could carve out a sliver of survival within the schemes of a Golden Core Perfected Lord, then by the same logic, a Golden Core Perfected Lord could also hope to forge a path to the Dao from the hands of a Nascent Soul Dao Lord!
The Great Dao is absolutely never a dead end; even within tribulations, there lies a chance for survival!
For a moment, Lu Yang felt his spirits soar. He seemed to have developed an even deeper unseen resonance with the [Tribulation], and the Great Dao in his eyes grew increasingly clear.
…
Jiangnan, Gantang Channel.
What appeared to be a lengthy clash within the sea of consciousness actually took only an instant in reality. In the blink of an eye, Chong Guang had completely seized control of Perfected One Subduing-Spirits's thoughts.
Long Tu was even more directly suppressed by him.
Furthermore, after eating Long Tu to the point of near annihilation, Chong Guang also discovered that his inner demon had benefited immensely, actually reaching major accomplishment straight away!
Looking out, within Perfected One Subduing-Spirits's sea of consciousness, the inner demon sat cross-legged, smacking its lips. A full five streams of dark, radiant light swirled around it, making it appear increasingly sentient. Its eyes exuded a profound cunning, and the seven emotions and six desires swirled within their depths, making it difficult for anyone to meet its gaze.
"It's becoming increasingly troublesome."
In the distance, Chong Guang sensed the changes in his inner demon across space, sighing inwardly. "Although I can still control it, its resistance has grown extremely strong."
"A slight misstep, and it will instantly break free from my control."
At this thought, Chong Guang didn't dare leave the inner demon inside Perfected One Subduing-Spirits's sea of consciousness any longer. Otherwise, with a single moment of negligence, Perfected One Subduing-Spirits might just be devoured by it.
"Come back."
"This person cannot be killed for now, but leave a backdoor so I can finish him off at any time... Also, bring that Perfected Lord's remnant soul back with you."
Chong Guang channeled his divine sense, even utilizing the Golden Nature he had condensed, to temporarily suppress the demonic thoughts, forcing the inner demon to obediently follow his orders. Only after the inner demon returned with the spoils of war did he have the spare capacity to examine the two new divine abilities it had gained after reaching major accomplishment.
The first was [Incarnation Outside the Body], and the second was [Overturn Mount Sumeru].
"[Incarnation Outside the Body], as the name implies, allows the inner demon to manifest into millions of incarnations. Furthermore, there is no distinction between the divided inner demons and the main body; any of them can be the main body."
"This is a superior incarnation method, and also a brilliant life-saving divine ability."
"As for [Overturn Mount Sumeru], it draws upon the meaning: 'If there is no attachment to the self, Mount Sumeru overturns on its own.' It is an offensive divine ability designed to annihilate the true self, leaving a person's soul intact but extinguishing their consciousness."
Chong Guang nodded in satisfaction.
Between these two divine abilities, the former further enhanced the inner demon's already abnormal self-preservation capabilities, while the latter filled in the inner demon's lack of methods for direct, head-on combat.
However, on the other side, Lu Yang, who was constantly keeping an eye on Chong Guang, was stunned.
"To think there is such a divine ability...!"
Chong Guang was, after all, only at Foundation Establishment. With the limited perspective of a lower-tier cultivator, he had entered a mountain of treasure without recognizing it. However, how could Lu Yang not understand the sheer value of the [Overturn Mount Sumeru] divine ability?
"This divine ability... targets the Dao Heart!"
Such a divine ability, placed in the current era where Dao Heart methods were virtually extinct, was simply a super ultimate move. It would hit its mark every single time, practically rivaling the World Honored One's One Mind!
"It's a pity he's only at Foundation Establishment..."
Lu Yang rubbed his hands together, his anticipation for Chong Guang's growth intensifying. After all, with [Disciple Becomes the Master's Standard], he could synchronize everything Chong Guang gained.
"If Senior Uncle can truly seek the Golden Core using the inner demon, the inner demon divine abilities that serve as his foundation might also undergo a qualitative transformation. When that time comes, the [Overturn Mount Sumeru] divine ability might even be effective against Golden Core Perfected Lords. If that's the case, Senior Uncle will probably be able to defeat Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde the moment he breaks through!"
While Lu Yang was sighing with emotion.
Inside Gantang Channel, Perfected One Subduing-Spirits finally snapped back to reality. Yet, he didn't feel the slightest bit of discomfort. In fact, it felt as if he had just woken from a deep sleep, experiencing an unprecedented level of mental clarity.
It was just that he had completely forgotten about Long Tu.
His soul remained entirely intact, only veiled by a thin layer of dark light. Like a giant hand, it silently plucked at the shifts in his thoughts.
And then, he looked at Hong Ju, who had just entered Gantang Channel.
"Fiend!"
The thought of retreating from just a moment ago was instantly tossed to the back of his mind, leaving only a chest full of hot-blooded courage. Before his voice even faded, Perfected One Subduing-Spirits had already drawn his sword.
Clang!
Sword light erupted. The Life-Bound Divine Ability corresponding to the [Sword Edge Gold] attached itself to the blade. Carrying the power to sever the future, a single strike of this sword was guaranteed to hit its target!
"Hm?"
With a single glance, Hong Ju realized his opponent was only at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Although the divine ability was formidable, he didn't pay it too much mind. After all, the difference in their statures was plain as day.
However, the very next second, his expression changed drastically.
Because as Perfected One Subduing-Spirits approached him, a dark light abruptly flared in his eyes. Subsequently, his original stature at the late stage of Foundation Establishment suddenly experienced an explosive surge!
It was Chong Guang!
He hadn't possessed Perfected One Subduing-Spirits. Instead, through the connection of the inner demon, he had transferred his own stature of Foundation Establishment Perfection, temporarily granting it to Perfected One Subduing-Spirits!
And with the gap in stature eliminated, the profound wonder of the [Sword Edge Gold] severing the future instantly manifested. Unable to evade, Hong Ju took the sword strike directly to the head. He exploded on the spot into a flurry of flowing light and fierce wind, rapidly widening the distance between himself and Perfected One Subduing-Spirits before reforming his physical appearance.
Si Fire Divine Ability, [Heaven-Connecting Path]!
Si represents a major relay, while Fire represents the smoke and fire of the mortal realm, symbolizing unhindered passage. Therefore, although the divine ability belonged to the Fire element, it also carried a bit of the concept of the [Great Relay Earth].
Hong Ju had relied on this very divine ability just now to evade disaster, narrowly dodging Perfected One Subduing-Spirits's full-powered sword strike.
"Courting death!"
The next second, believing he had met a worthy opponent, Hong Ju didn't hesitate. Unleashing all five of his divine abilities to their absolute limits, he violently smashed them toward Perfected One Subduing-Spirits before him.
And then—Chong Guang withdrew his enhancement from Perfected One Subduing-Spirits.