This time, the great battle lasted for a full hour.
The result remained Lu Yang's victory. He lay contentedly on the sea of light, while beside him, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue was similarly sprawled out spread-eagle.
After a long while, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue finally caught her breath.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. Her fair, peerlessly beautiful face still bore the afterglow of the great battle. Looking at Lu Yang, she hummed softly, "This experience was much better."
"Your combat skills have improved significantly."
Having said that, she licked her lips, her full chest heaving slightly as if savoring the aftertaste. "What was that method just now? I feel like you're still holding back."
Hearing this, Lu Yang raised an eyebrow. The other party's intuition wasn't wrong; he was indeed holding back. After all, it wasn't convenient to deploy the profound wonders of the [Placer Gold in Sand] and [Wellspring Water] on the outside. At most, he could use the [Master of Great Tribulations] to modify the concept of the [Divine Firmament Thunder] into one of them.
'It can't be helped; there's still a gap between me and the black-robed man.'
'The other party can sketch Dao Fruit profound wonders out of thin air and then use them simultaneously. I can't do that. I can only make modifications based on the [Divine Firmament Thunder].'
Lu Yang didn't even hold out hope for achieving that.
It wasn't something that could be done with just Dao comprehension alone. It also required absolutely flawless control over spiritual power and natural talent. If it were Feixue, there might be a chance.
For him, the difficulty was simply too high.
It was still the math problem analogy—sometimes, if you don't get it, you just don't get it.
But even so, the power he displayed allowed him to defeat Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue much faster than last time, and it gave her a better experience as well.
At this thought, Lu Yang immediately got up.
'My hands were just itching earlier, so I came out to fight Feixue and verify my insights. Now that the fight is over, I should head back to [Responding to Emperors] first to see if there's a reward!'
"You're leaving already?"
Seeing this, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue raised a beautiful eyebrow, feeling somewhat dissatisfied. You just fought a world-shaking battle with me, and now you're patting your butt and leaving? Am I a joke to you?
But soon, her brow smoothed out, and she lay back down languidly. Considering she had enjoyed herself twice, she decided not to hold it against Lu Yang. Besides, she still needed his help, and there would be opportunities to cooperate in the future. There was no need to cause any unpleasantness over such a trivial matter.
'And this feeling isn't bad either.'
At this thought, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue couldn't help but lick her red lips again. She wished she could instantly recover her spiritual power and fight Lu Yang fiercely one more time.
[Responding to Emperors]
Lu Yang returned. This time, the place of darkness had undergone a completely different change. A massive hole had appeared within the darkness.
Boundless light from the sky poured down through the hole, illuminating Lu Yang's eyes... More precisely, it illuminated his right eye. At the very least, his right eye could now see things. In a daze, he seemed to spot a certain object from an extremely distant place, establishing an inexplicable connection with him.
'That's...'
Just then, a voice drifted into his ear: "That is the clear-stage reward of [Responding to Emperors]. However, you cannot obtain it right now."
Lu Yang whipped his head around.
Looking out, he saw the black-robed man standing beside him with his hands behind his back, his gaze completely calm. Seeing Lu Yang look over, his eyes crinkled in what seemed like a friendly smile.
"Fellow Daoist's aptitude is truly extraordinary."
"Forgive my poor judgment. When I first looked at you, I didn't see the light of wisdom and thought Fellow Daoist only possessed mediocre aptitude. Looking again now, I realize I was sorely mistaken back then."
Lu Yang: "..."
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang stiffly changed the subject: "Fellow Daoist said I can't obtain the reward for [Responding to Emperors] right now. Does that mean I didn't clear the stage?"
"Of course not," the black-robed man shook his head.
"Then how do I clear the stage?"
"By obtaining the reward of [Responding to Emperors]."
"Isn't that the reward for clearing the stage?"
"That is why you must clear the stage."
"Then how do I clear the stage?"
"By obtaining the reward of [Responding to Emperors]..."
Lu Yang raised his hand and swung a fist right at him. The black-robed man smiled and dodged, shaking his head. "Look at you, getting anxious again. This kind of personality is unacceptable."
Following that, he explained, "According to the rules, Fellow Daoist defeated me once just now, earning you one opportunity to comprehend the reward object. If you successfully establish a connection with it, you naturally can take the reward. If you fail... then you can only try to find a way to defeat me again."
"However, I must remind Fellow Daoist."
"If you challenge me again, I will no longer only use Dao Fruits. Fellow Daoist has many methods, and I will also replicate more of Fellow Daoist's methods for the battle."
"Therefore, the difficulty of defeating me will only increase."
"Furthermore, Fellow Daoist only has a maximum of six opportunities. If you comprehend it six times and fail every time, then I advise Fellow Daoist to choose to give up."
"Oh? Is there no seventh time?"
The moment these words were spoken, the black-robed man's tone instantly turned eerie and somber: "It seems times have changed, and the allusions of the past are no longer known to anyone today."
"Does Fellow Daoist know why this place is named [Hundun]?"
Lu Yang shook his head, his eyes completely clear.
Following that, the black-robed man spoke in a deep voice: "[Hundun] was the Emperor of the Center. He was born without the seven orifices. In his desire to see, hear, eat, and breathe, he attempted to carve out the seven orifices."
"So, he carved one orifice each day."
"On the seventh day, Hundun died."
As the final word fell, the place of darkness seemed to vibrate slightly, carrying the black-robed man's voice. "The seventh time is a guaranteed death."
"So Fellow Daoist had best not attempt it."
"I see." Lu Yang nodded slightly, his expression remaining calm. Instead, it was the black-robed man who felt uncertain upon seeing this.
Is this Fellow Daoist not nervous?
Only six chances, and the seventh means death.
This should instill a strong sense of urgency, shouldn't it? Why is he acting as if he doesn't care at all, as if he actually has countless opportunities for trial and error?
"Does Fellow Daoist wish to attempt it now?"
The black-robed man said helplessly, "Sensing serendipity is not that easy. I advise Fellow Daoist to prepare well and only attempt it when your essence, qi, and spirit have reached their peak state."
"No need, right now is fine."
"...Alright."
The black-robed man pointed to the sole hole of heavenly light in Lu Yang's vision. "Fellow Daoist only needs to direct your divine sense towards that beam of light. When the time comes, a connection will naturally arise."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist." Lu Yang cupped his hands, then smiled:
"Right, Fellow Daoist mentioned earlier that you would tell me your esteemed title after I won. Since I can be considered to have won once, Fellow Daoist should be able to tell me truthfully now, right?"
"...After you finish sensing it, you will naturally know."
Lu Yang nodded upon hearing this and didn't ask further.
The next second, his gaze landed on that beam of heavenly light. He felt as if the heavenly light had transformed into a bridge, guiding his divine sense toward the profound hole.
The object became clearer.
The distance was closing.
'Is that... a painting? A piece of paper? Or a book?'
Lu Yang pushed his vision to the limit, desperately trying to sense the nameless object. Finally, he faintly saw something. Several patterns and lines of writing gradually surfaced before his eyes.
The patterns were highly abstract and difficult to comprehend.
At first glance, it appeared to be a sphere, but within it were countless intertwining and chaotic lines. Different lines formed differently shaped spheres.
The writing, conversely, was clear and direct.
It was a passage:
"I wish to forge the Netherworld, establish the foundation of the mortal realm, and save the [Paramita] from collapse. Thus, I have no choice but to take the wondrous object from within [Responding to Emperors], leaving behind an item as a substitute."
"I ask myself, the effect of this item for cultivators should far surpass what was here before."
"The eminent senior who originally forged [Responding to Emperors] had a slightly flawed consideration; I have attempted to remedy it. If a junior disciple clears the stage and takes this item, they may come to the Netherworld to find me."
"This item, I name it—[Nascent Light Sea]"
"Primordial Saint Sect, Master of Beast Taming Peak."