Because Lu Yang was listening so intently, he almost didn't register what he had just heard. It wasn't until Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue finished speaking that astonishment finally showed on his face.
The Beast Taming Peak Master was the Lord of the Netherworld?
The [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] was the foundation of the Netherworld?
Which piece?
In an instant, countless questions flooded his mind. However, very soon, a familiar sensation rapidly surged into his sea of consciousness, interfering with his thoughts and ideas.
Forbidden knowledge!
But the current Lu Yang was a seasoned veteran. Having experienced the baptism of various forbidden knowledges, he merely blanked out briefly before recovering his wits.
Then he saw Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue sitting before him, her beautiful eyes looking at him with a half-smile. She said softly, "To recover your clarity so quickly, it seems Fellow Daoist knows quite a few taboos as well. Tracing this back, Fellow Daoist should be of the same generation as [Sky-Shrouding], but not quite from the era of the first-generation Peak Masters."
...She's testing me.
Lu Yang understood. Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue was just probing him to see exactly how many secrets he knew, attempting to use this to determine his true identity.
Unfortunately, she won't be able to find out anything.
After all, no one could imagine that a wondrous treasure like [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] existed in the world. Since her fundamental premise was wrong, no matter how much she guessed, she would never arrive at the truth.
Thinking of this, he chuckled lightly:
"I'm just a nameless nobody. I didn't expect to warrant such attention from Fellow Daoist."
"Fellow Daoist is hardly nameless." Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue shook her head. "To single-handedly contend against the Pure Land and emerge victorious, Fellow Daoist's strength is extremely high."
"You overpraise me..."
Lu Yang waved his hand, casually agreeing with a few words, while internally calculating the value of the crucial intelligence Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue had just revealed to test him.
Comparatively speaking, I still came out ahead. After all, I basically got a piece of forbidden knowledge for free... Damn it, the four peaks of the Saint Sect really are full of talents. The Myriad Treasures Peak Master is suspected to be the World Honored One, the whereabouts of the Heaven-Mending Peak Master are unknown, and now she tells me the Beast Taming Peak Master is actually the founder of the Netherworld...
No wonder they all disappeared one by one.
If it weren't for the old monsters of the Saint Sect, it felt like every single one of these first-generation Peak Masters had the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage. In fact, the World Honored One had already attained the Nascent Soul Dao.
At this thought, Lu Yang suddenly felt somewhat fortunate.
Good thing I didn't choose the [Pomegranate Wood] earlier!
That thing is definitely a massive pitfall.
Damn it, the Myriad Treasures Peak and Beast Taming Peak are more absurd than the last. Even if the Heaven-Mending Peak can't compare to them, it probably isn't far behind.
However, looking at it from another angle, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue definitely wouldn't reveal any more intelligence. If he wanted to know more about the forbidden knowledge concerning the first-generation Peak Masters, he either had to trade with Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue or... he really had no choice but to step into the pitfall of the [Pomegranate Wood]!
After all, you only know how deep a pit is after you've stepped in it.
But I'll pass on doing it myself.
I'll wait until my next life, after I become a Great Perfected Lord. Then I'll nurture a talent who cultivates the [Pomegranate Wood] to step into the pit for me, while I observe using the [Marionette]...
Of course, that was a matter for his next life.
Lu Yang shifted his gaze to Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue before him. Without blindly seeking out the [Pomegranate Wood], he still had to figure out a way to deal with her.
"...Fellow Daoist, since we are going to duel, how about we make a wager?"
As soon as he said this, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue, who had been looking bored and twirling a lock of hair by her ear, suddenly looked up and smiled. "How does Fellow Daoist wish to wager?"
"You and I will fight with all our strength."
Lu Yang said deeply, "The limit will be one life. If Fellow Daoist loses, you must tell me all the forbidden knowledge you know regarding the first-generation Peak Masters."
Middle stage of the Golden Core: immortal and indestructible.
With this characteristic, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue simply couldn't be killed. So the limit could only be one life. Whoever died first would be considered the loser of the duel.
"That works."
Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue didn't mind at all and nodded readily. "I've said it, victory or defeat in the duel—as long as Fellow Daoist wins, everything is yours."
"However, similarly, if I win, it means the [Mark of Fulfilling Virtue] has no affinity with Fellow Daoist, and you must not force the issue. At the same time, Fellow Daoist must still follow my plan and have Chong Guang head overseas, using True Demon methods to force the monster race Great Sages to seek refuge with me, thereby helping me break through to the late stage of the Golden Core."
"Deal." Lu Yang nodded happily.
Then the two of them fell into a bizarre staring contest again—it all came down to that same saying: they were both Perfected Lords of the Saint Sect, and it was common knowledge that they didn't keep their promises.
What to do?
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang was the first to speak. "I have a method where we can swear an oath by the [Sea of Bitterness]. If the agreement is broken, the violator will be rejected by the [Sea of Bitterness]."
"Forget it."
Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue shook her head. "I know of this method as well; it's recorded in the ancient texts. However, predecessors painstakingly researched it and long ago figured out a way to break it."
Lu Yang: "..."
To think they actually dedicated research to finding ways to break promises... I can only say it perfectly aligns with outsiders' stereotypes. The Saint Sect's reputation was ruined by people like this!
"Please make a copy for me."
"It's no trouble."
The two exchanged methods and sat in silence for another moment. Finally, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue simply waved her hand. "Forget it, it's just a prize wager anyway."
"Whether we honor it or not doesn't really matter."
"Shall we begin?"
At this point, the stunningly beautiful classical lady licked her red lips, her expression thirsty, clearly eager to immediately determine superiority with Lu Yang.
On the other hand, Lu Yang was similarly moved. After all, to be honest, compared to [Sky-Shrouding], Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue's credibility was still quite high in his mind. Back when he was still at Foundation Establishment, she had assisted him. So now, he was also willing to extend her a bit of trust.
"...Very well."
Lu Yang nodded slightly. "However, the Mystic Spirit World Realm is not suitable for a battle between you and me, and it's also difficult to fight freely in my Grotto-Heaven. How about we change locations?"
"Oh? Where does Fellow Daoist wish to go?" Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue smiled.
Lu Yang thought about it. The best place for a duel was naturally the [Arctic Exorcism Court]. But if they went there, he, as the master, would have too great an advantage.
Moreover, Feixue's Dao comprehension is too high. She might actually see through the secrets of the [Arctic Exorcism Court].
It's better to keep some things hidden in this regard.
It's best if I can probe her depths without exposing my own... After all, over so many lifetimes, I've never actually seen her go all out.
Even head-on duels were rare for her.
In most cases, her mere appearance was enough to make others retreat. The only public duel she ever had was when she beat Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde to death.
—That didn't offer much reference value.
After thinking it over, Lu Yang finally suggested, "I know of a middle world realm that has birthed an Embryonic Dao Fruit. It's protected by a Rank 3 formation that can obscure heavenly mysteries."
He was talking about the Seven Luminaries Heaven.
There was a [Seven Luminaries Stabilizing the World and Preserving Truth Grand Formation] there, left behind by Hong Yun back when he was still [Perfected Lord Heavenly Fortune Bright Light]. It remained perfectly preserved to this day.
Being a Rank 3 grand formation, it was enough for Lu Yang and Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue to fight freely. As long as the two of them slightly restrained their aura and stature, at most they would just beat the grand formation to a pulp. At the same time, this formation could also obscure heavenly mysteries and karma, ensuring their duel wouldn't be perceived by outsiders.
The only drawback was that it was far from the Immortal Nexus.
Therefore, if one died, the Netherworld might not be able to receive them immediately, posing a certain risk... Of course, for Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue, it wasn't a major issue.
At her level, only a Great Perfected Lord could intercept her soul.
It was already very difficult for her to die.
Thus, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue only thought for a moment before decisively nodding and smiling. "Alright, we will do as Fellow Daoist says. You lead the way."
With that, she withdrew the spiritual light that had been enveloping them.
"Qiluo, I'm going to the outer heavens with Fellow Daoist Master of Tribulations. Come along too... Don't worry, I will give you an explanation regarding the True Demon later."
On the other side, Lu Yang also transmitted his voice to Chong Guang.
Immediately after, the four of them each rode a streak of light, entered the light sea, locked onto the coordinates, and arrived at the location of the Seven Luminaries Heaven in an instant.
Then, Lu Yang and Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue each chose a spot and took their positions.
The next second, without any hesitation, the two simultaneously unleashed their entire spiritual power. Like a needle against an awl, they crashed together with a thunderous boom!