I must have looked really cool just now.
After closing the heavy doors, Lu Yang threw a forceful punch to vent his hidden delight. Then, he reverted back to his profound expert persona, standing with one hand clasped behind his back.
Why was this the profound expert persona?
Because this was exactly how [Sky-shrouding] acted.
Immediately after, he secretly divided his divine sense and began observing the reactions of the Mystic Spirit World Realm and even the Immortal Nexus—that's right, he had live-streamed that battle just now.
Are you kidding? This was an absolutely perfect opportunity to promote the Righteous Dao's thunder techniques! Of course, he wouldn't let it slip by. Especially the final moment where the thunder talisman slew the Heavenly Demon, and he, the Immortal Lord, didn't even turn around to look at the explosion—a classic scene that he gave a close-up treatment the entire time. The goal was to highlight the absolute suppressive effect of thunder techniques on inner demons.
And the result was just as he expected. The promotional effect was fantastic.
As the Primordial Heavenly Demon was reduced to flying ash by the lightning, all the Golden Core Perfected Lords who witnessed this fell into an indescribable state of shock.
He just died like that?
That Primordial Heavenly Demon, who had wiped out the Dao Court's four Golden Cores with unmatched momentum and seemed practically unstoppable at first glance, actually just died like that?
At this moment, the Mystic Spirit World Realm was filled with cheers.
Although they didn't know how strong the deceased Primordial Heavenly Demon actually was, the Immortal Lord currently oversaw the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, and he was known to be petty. So, it was best to cheer and applaud enthusiastically.
In contrast, the Immortal Nexus fell into silence.
Sword Pavilion, Extreme Heaven Cliff.
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao furrowed his brow tightly. He gazed up at the Mystic Spirit World Realm for a long time before withdrawing his sight and looking at Perfected One Subduing-Spirits, whose face was pale, beside him.
'Too fast.'
His heart was incredibly heavy, and he couldn't help but ponder—
'Ever since that Immortal Lord Master of Tribulations and Ferryman of Karma appeared, the entire Immortal Nexus has been stirred up by him. With the situation changing so rapidly, I don't have time to wait for [Sword Edge Gold] anymore. I must resolve the hidden danger within me as quickly as possible.'
How severe was the hidden danger within him?
One must understand that although he could currently only maintain the cultivation of a Middle Stage Golden Core, he had essentially gathered three elements and was capable of unleashing Dao Fruit Secret Methods!
Yet, he couldn't do it.
This was the consequence of choosing the wrong combination during his Dao Fruit proportioning. He simply couldn't unleash any Dao Fruit Secret Methods and could only rigidly use the Dao Fruits' profound wonders.
'But how can I solve this?'
In Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao's mind, the scene Lu Yang had just live-streamed flashed subconsciously. He had seen the profound wonders and methods of the [Master of Great Tribulations].
'Could that be used on me?'
'A profound wonder capable of modifying concept... If he could change the conflicting concepts of [Furnace Crucible Fire] and [Rooftop Tile Earth] for me, I might be able to recover immediately!'
At this moment, Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao's heart pounded with excitement.
Then came the regret.
He had been careless. He had turned hostile too early.
If you had this kind of method, you should have said so earlier! If you had said so, wouldn't I have treated you with respect and kindness?
Meanwhile, in the Jiangxi Pure Land, countless monks, over a hundred Arhats, and three Bodhisattvas chanted in unison, causing the Primordial Heavenly Demon to awaken from his coma.
'Thank goodness, thank goodness...'
Feeling the weakness emanating from his body, the Primordial Heavenly Demon recalled the earth-shattering thunder talisman he had endured, and a hint of terror surfaced in his eyes.
'That was... a Dao Fruit Secret Method!'
'Was that a trump card he left behind before his reincarnation? Damn it, what is his exact background? Why didn't the World Honored One tell me anything about this beforehand?'
Facing that single thunder talisman, his four painstakingly refined demonic artifacts were shattered and obliterated before they even got a chance to debut.
He regurgitated all the harvest he had gained from devouring the Dao Court's four Golden Cores.
If he hadn't left a backup plan here in the Pure Land, combined with the inner demon's life-preserving abilities, he really would have been struck dead!
'What should I do?'
The Primordial Heavenly Demon's headache worsened the more he thought about it. After all, even the Dao-protecting supreme treasure the World Honored One had refined for him, the [Time Reversing World Instrument], had been snatched away by that Immortal Lord.
"Amitabha."
Just then, Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer spoke up. Then, the three Bodhisattvas simultaneously projected light and shadows, from which a young monk walked out.
[Tathagata Ratnasambhava of the Vajradhatu]!
This Tathagata of the Vajradhatu, who had previously fought a battle with Lu Yang and was ultimately defeated, actually manifested in the world once again. However, this time, it was merely an illusion of light and shadow.
"It's you?"
The Primordial Heavenly Demon was stunned, then looked at the other party warily. "Is there something you need? Or does the World Honored One have a Dharma decree to impart to me?"
[Tathagata Ratnasambhava of the Vajradhatu] shook his head. "You are different from us, Fellow Daoist. The World Honored One does not favor you, so naturally, he will not interfere with your thoughts... Regarding your action of devouring the Dao Court's four Golden Cores, the World Honored One is very pleased. But you lost [City Rampart Earth], and the World Honored One is not happy about that."
"I..."
The Primordial Heavenly Demon opened his mouth, trying to defend himself, but couldn't think of any reason to refute. He could only grit his teeth. "So what exactly do you want to say?"
"You don't need to worry about the [Time-Reversing World Divine Instrument]."
"The World Honored One constantly has a gaze fixed upon it. Even if it falls into the hands of another, it's no big deal. If the other party uses it, it will suit the World Honored One's intentions even more."
"The problem lies with you."
"There is no longer a place for you in the Immortal Nexus. You should leave."
Upon hearing this, the Primordial Heavenly Demon's eyes widened. "What? Leave the Immortal Nexus? No, absolutely not! Wouldn't I just become an Unorthodox Dao cultivator then?!"
[Tathagata Ratnasambhava of the Vajradhatu] shook his head. "You are no match for that Immortal Lord Master of Tribulations and Ferryman of Karma, and you have lost the help of the [Time-Reversing World Divine Instrument]. Remaining in the Immortal Nexus will only make your path difficult. Sometimes, you should learn to jump out. The outer heaven might just offer a vast sky and boundless ocean."
After speaking, he separated a sliver of divine sense.
"This is..." The Primordial Heavenly Demon took the divine sense. After sensing it briefly, he discovered that it contained a coordinate within the light sea, and his brow furrowed deeply.
Soon, he knew the answer:
"Celestial Court."
[Tathagata Ratnasambhava of the Vajradhatu] smiled faintly. "The World Honored One has other arrangements in this realm, and the Saint Sect also has people stationed there. You should head to this realm in advance."
The Primordial Heavenly Demon's frown deepened.
He knew of the Celestial Court. After all, this was the third task he was supposed to accomplish upon his birth: travel to the Celestial Court and help completely resolve the hidden dangers left behind by the Dharma Body Dao.
But it was too early.
'Do you think I don't know? The Celestial Court is fraught with danger. Even with my inner demon body, which is excellent at self-preservation, going there is still a near-certain death!'
'I was originally supposed to consider going to the Celestial Court only after eliminating the Master of Tribulations, stirring up a Heavenly Demon disaster in the Immortal Nexus, and taking the opportunity to advance to Great Perfected Lord. Now that things have turned out like this, I fear my humiliating defeat has made the exalted figures above think my value isn't that high anymore...'
At this thought, the Primordial Heavenly Demon ground his teeth tightly.
Seeing this, [Tathagata Ratnasambhava of the Vajradhatu] shook his head. "Do not be indignant, Fellow Daoist. To have this poor monk guide you is already your good fortune."
"If it were someone without a background, do you know what the outcome would be?"
"The Ancestor of the Saint Sect would act directly, driving you to the Celestial Court like a dog, and then having the Saint Sect Perfected Lords there squeeze dry every last bit of your value!"
"And you would be used as a dog without even knowing it!"
The Primordial Heavenly Demon regained his composure, but sneered inwardly: 'How is that any different from my current situation? The only difference is that I know I'm being treated like a dog!'
'Bastard!'
However, the will of Heaven was hard to defy. In the end, he nodded. "I understand. Once I rest for a while and recover from my injuries, I will head to the Celestial Court."
Thinking on the bright side, this was also his chance to stage a comeback.
"Immortal Lord Master of Tribulations and Ferryman of Karma..."
Thinking of the culprit who had reduced him to this state, the Primordial Heavenly Demon ground his teeth in hatred. "When I return from the Celestial Court, our next meeting will be your time of death!"
(End of Chapter)