Mystic Spirit World Realm, Heavenly Court.
Inside the cave abode, Lu Yang wore an accommodating smile, respectfully passing a cup of tea to the figure radiating smoke across the table: "Senior, this is excellent tea."
[Sky-shrouding]: "...Hmph!"
Lu Yang certainly hadn't wasted these thirty years. Relying on his talent, he had completely mastered the [Time-Reversing World Dao Fruit] imparted by the World Honored One.
This was truly relying on himself.
Thirty years. It took him a full thirty years of time, and this was only because he possessed the Dao comprehension of a [City Rampart Earth] Perfected Lord. Otherwise, it would have taken even longer.
But regardless, he had finally mastered it.
And on the very next day after mastering the [Time-Reversing World Dao Fruit], Lu Yang invited [Sky-shrouding] over again to discuss borrowing the [Overturned Lamp Flame].
Although this was actually a matter of no consequence to Lu Yang, if he truly did nothing, the World Honored One would inevitably grow suspicious of him. Thus, he still had to keep up appearances. However, keeping up appearances was one thing; if [Sky-shrouding] wanted to use this opportunity to extort him, that was absolutely impossible.
"Senior, I'll just say one thing."
Setting down his teacup, Lu Yang smiled faintly: "This is a matter of mutual benefit. You just saw it for yourself. You should understand without me needing to say more."
He had already demonstrated the [Time-Reversing World Dao Fruit] to [Sky-shrouding].
This Dao Fruit Secret Method was the greatest proof. Lu Yang didn't need to explain; [Sky-shrouding] instantly understood that this was the result of the World Honored One placing a piece on the board.
And the World Honored One stood on his side.
In other words:
"Helping me is actually helping yourself, Senior."
Speaking of this, Lu Yang put on a look of total justification: "So, I'm here to help you, Senior, yet you actually ask me for benefits."
"It should be Senior giving me benefits instead."
[Sky-shrouding]: "..."
The logic held up, but it was just so infuriating! For a moment, [Sky-shrouding] even saw traces of the Sword Pavilion's style in Lu Yang's words and actions.
"...Fine."
After a moment of silence, [Sky-shrouding] suddenly let out a cold laugh. "I agree to this matter. You may temporarily borrow the [Overturned Lamp Flame]."
"That's more like it."
Lu Yang nodded upon hearing this, then abruptly changed the subject: "So, where are my benefits?"
'Sword Bastard!'
This time, [Sky-shrouding] didn't even have the interest to reply. He felt that even taking one look at Lu Yang brought bad luck. With a flash of smoke, he instantly vanished from the spot.
After watching [Sky-shrouding] leave, the smile on Lu Yang's face gradually faded. He sat as still as a stone statue. After an unknown amount of time, a streak of light landed outside the door, and someone pushed it open and entered. It was exactly the Mystic Spirit World Realm Supreme. The face of this Unorthodox Dao Perfected Lord was filled with apprehension:
"Fellow Daoist, the people from the Star Palace are here again."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist." Lu Yang looked up and smiled kindly: "Your escape plan can be put on the agenda now. Leave this place of trouble as soon as possible."
"..."
Hearing this, the Mystic Spirit World Realm Supreme frowned deeply. In the end, he couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Aren't you fleeing together, Fellow Daoist? The light sea is vast; there's always a way."
Lu Yang's smile remained unchanged, but he merely shook his head:
"I cannot escape."
If he truly wanted to escape, where couldn't he go? He could just restart with [The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]; even Dao Lords wouldn't be able to stop him. But his ambitions lay higher, so there was nowhere to run.
"Besides... I don't want to escape."
Lu Yang flicked his sleeve and stood up. Thirty years of quiet meditation hadn't left a single trace on him; he was still that same dashing young man.
"Huu..." Lu Yang exhaled audibly.
For a moment, his breathing became ragged.
This certainly wasn't out of fear. In fact, it was the exact opposite—he was about to do something massive, and instead fell into a state of excitement, his entire body trembling slightly.
On the other side, the Mystic Spirit World Realm Supreme was also somewhat dazed.
His eyes happened to meet Lu Yang's, and within Lu Yang's eyes, he saw a speck of scarlet, like a ball of fire that could explode into an inferno at any moment.
A second later, Lu Yang bypassed him and walked out of the cave abode.
Outside the Heavenly Court, Exalted One Hao Yuan stood with his hands behind his back. At a glance, he saw Lu Yang pacing over. He similarly froze for a moment before his brow furrowed.
What heavy killing intent!
That's right. At this moment, Lu Yang's entire aura was fierce to the extreme, like a desperado about to gamble everything he had. It simply couldn't be concealed.
Or rather, he never intended to hide it in the first place.
"Fellow Daoist..." Exalted One Hao Yuan said softly.
"There is no need to say more, Senior. I know what I'm doing." Lu Yang waved his hand and smiled: "Is the Dao Soldier finished? If it is, let's set out immediately."
Hearing this, Exalted One Hao Yuan fell somewhat silent.
'Does he... know?'
According to their agreement, after receiving the Overlord-Level Dao Soldier this time, Lu Yang would have to join the Star Palace in attacking the Celestial Court. It seemed like a simple transaction.
However, in reality, there were hidden motives.
Attacking the Celestial Court?
No! Attacking the Celestial Court was just a front. What kind of place was the Celestial Court? It was formed from the remnant body of Sisui, the Dao Lord of the Dharma Body Dao, and was controlled by the Saint Sect. How could they give it up easily?
'The Star Palace's true goal isn't to attack the Celestial Court at all. It's to use the momentum of attacking the Celestial Court to prematurely trigger the thousand-year great tribulation decades in advance! Because the Celestial Court is a place the Saint Sect absolutely must save. This is to force the Immortal Nexus to abandon their home ground advantage and reinforce the Celestial Court, while the Star Palace waits at their leisure, besieging the point to strike the reinforcements!'
This was the prelude to the thousand-year great tribulation!
At a critical juncture like this, whoever stuck their neck out first would die the fastest. That was why the Star Palace demanded that Lu Yang lead the vanguard when they attacked the Celestial Court.
Did he think an Overlord-Level Dao Soldier was that easy to take?
Having taken the Star Palace's benefits, he naturally had to exert himself for the Star Palace. At the same time, this was to make Lu Yang completely cut ties with the Immortal Nexus and stand in the same camp as them.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang glanced at Exalted One Hao Yuan again and sneered inwardly.
Why would this Great Perfected Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao personally come to escort him to the Star Palace?
He figured that if he backed out now and said he didn't want the Overlord-Level Dao Soldier anymore, Exalted One Hao Yuan would instantly turn hostile and eliminate a future problem first.
'The sea of light... the people in this wretched place are all the same!'
Their hearts are all black!
'Fortunately, I never planned on backing out. In fact, this suits my intentions perfectly. If I don't lead the vanguard, how can I become the tide-rider and subsequently gain the favor of the [Tribulation]?'
Moreover, this was a variable he had brought about himself.
'If I hadn't provided a massive amount of lifespan to those Spiritual Power Dao Perfected Lords in the Star Palace, allowing them to end their slumber, they wouldn't have been so proactive.'
'The thousand-year great tribulation is set by [Inevitable Fate]. However, the Star Palace proactively attacking the Celestial Court and triggering the thousand-year great tribulation early can, to a certain extent, weaken the momentum of [Inevitable Fate]. This is likely beneficial in the clash between Dao Lords. From this perspective, this chess move is actually quite good.'
And it went even further than that.
'Going to this extent shows that the Dao Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao has at least decided to completely fall out with the Ancestor of the Saint Sect. Therefore... I can actually be a bit more unbridled!'
Up until now, Lu Yang had intentionally limited his output.
Even when battling Perfected Lord Feixue, he had only used [Divine Firmament Thunder] as his core. He had only revealed a portion of his Dharma Body and hadn't used a single True Treasure.
But things were different now.
At this critical juncture where the Dao Lords had fallen out, he could completely go all out. As for the pressure from the Ancestor of the Saint Sect, he could largely leave that to the Dao Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao.
After all, regarding the issue of the Dharma Body Dao, he was a thorn in the eye and a pain in the flesh to the Ancestor of the Saint Sect. But to the Dao Lords of the Spiritual Power Dao and the Dao Arts, he was a highly sought-after prize. Coupled with the World Honored One acting as a double agent, he was actually much safer than he imagined.
'At this point, there's no need to hide the profound wonders devoured by the Dharma Body. I can just use [Divine Firmament Thunder] as a cover.'
'I can use the True Treasures, too. Even if the Dao Lords grow suspicious, they couldn't possibly act personally just because of that. After all, I'm not even a Great Perfected Lord yet.'
This time, the light sea would witness his full power!