At this moment, Lu Yang's thoughts continued to race.
He didn't swiftly leave the spot like he had previously when arriving at five thousand years ago, nor did he display the slightest trace of his aura. He simply quietly surveyed his surroundings.
'Right now, I am a young novice monk.'
Unlike before, upon entering the karmic scene this time, even his appearance and identity had changed. This anomaly immediately put Lu Yang on high alert.
'Why is this happening?'
'Is this the World Honored One's arrangement? At this point in time, the World Honored One shouldn't be trying to harm me... So, disguising me as a young novice monk is a way to protect me?'
Lu Yang wasn't surprised that he appeared in the Pure Land. After all, he had arrived riding the World Honored One's torrent of time. Just like when he arrived at five thousand years ago, his first stop was the Saint Sect. This time arriving at seventy thousand years ago, his first stop should naturally fall within the Pure Land, which was related to the World Honored One...
'Hm? Not good!'
Lu Yang instantly experienced a sudden realization. This sort of thing wasn't considered profound; even with his level of Dao comprehension, he could deduce it. Could the Ancestor of the Saint Sect fail to deduce it?
'The Ancestor of the Saint Sect is currently staring at the Pure Land.'
Not just the Pure Land from seventy thousand years ago. Centered around this point in time seventy thousand years ago, the Pure Land from all surrounding time periods were likely all under his gaze!
The encirclement had shrunk further!
From seventy thousand years ago, it had narrowed down to the Pure Land of seventy thousand years ago... How much time had passed? With just one move, he had practically forced himself into a desperate situation!
If his previous self in the great karmic net was like a single spray of surf in the ocean, completely untraceable, then his current self was equivalent to a fish swimming in a pond. His level of concealment had drastically decreased. With the slightest abnormal movement, he would likely be discovered immediately, grabbed, and refined in an instant!
'That's why I am a young novice monk.'
'If I manifested my true body, it would be equivalent to a goldfish popping out of thin air in a pond full of red fish. It couldn't be more conspicuous, and there would be nowhere to run.'
'The World Honored One has already saved me.'
'At least turning me into this appearance of a young novice monk is equivalent to turning me into a red fish as well, allowing me to perfectly blend into this pond...'
Hm?
No! It still wasn't perfect!
In an instant, despite Lu Yang's steadfastness, a sliver of irrepressible shock and anger surfaced in his eyes: '[One Mind], I don't have [One Mind]!'
[One Mind]—this was the true underlying color of the Pure Land!
Without this, no matter how much his disguise resembled them, flaws would be seen through.
Using the same analogy: in this Pure Land pond full of red fish, his current self only looked like a red fish. Upon closer inspection, there were still differences.
'This difference isn't small, but it's not that big either. At least the Ancestor of the Saint Sect won't be able to see it that easily. However, given my current situation, as long as the Ancestor of the Saint Sect continues to investigate, he'll discover it sooner or later. Unless I join [One Mind], only then can I smoothly blend in...'
But joining [One Mind]?
What difference was there between that and fucking dying? It might even be worse than dying... World Honored One! Was this also within your expectations? You're taking advantage of my misfortune?
'World Honored One! World Honored One!!!'
Lu Yang instantly cursed loudly in his heart.
However, cursing was one thing; the problem still needed to be solved—with the Ancestor of the Saint Sect glaring like a tiger watching its prey in front, and the World Honored One taking advantage of his misfortune from behind, what should he do?
Right at this moment.
Clang—!
Another clear bell toll rang out. Following that, a voice drifted over from afar: "Master of Beast Taming Peak from the Saint Sect, come to the Pure Land to seek a friend and discuss the Dao."
"Senior Brother Myriad Treasures, are you still not coming down to see me?"
The voice carried a smile, even holding a hint of relaxed cheerfulness.
But on the other side, Lu Yang's blood ran cold: 'How could this happen? The first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak. The World Honored One said that old immortal is constantly watching this person...'
Him coming here meant the Ancestor of the Saint Sect was also looking over!
What was this?
'...Bait.'
A vivid analogy instantly flashed through Lu Yang's mind. That's right. This was the bait the Ancestor of the Saint Sect threw into the Pure Land to search for him!
'In this time period, it's the first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak; in other time periods, it might be someone else. Anyone who visited the Pure Land seventy thousand years ago would become the Ancestor of the Saint Sect's bait. I can even consider myself lucky. The bait is the first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak, and I know there's a problem with him...'
No, it wasn't luck.
'It's the World Honored One.'
Lu Yang lowered his eyelids. How could Dao Lords rely on luck? The only one capable of creating an "accident" in front of a Dao Lord was another Dao Lord!
'The World Honored One interfered with the great karmic net.'
'The issue with the first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak was something the World Honored One personally told me. Therefore, me landing now is highly likely the World Honored One's deliberate action as well.'
'This is to protect me.'
Because he had received a hint beforehand, he could realize the bait set by the Ancestor of the Saint Sect. Otherwise, he might have taken the hook without even knowing it.
However, at the same time—
'This is also screwing me over!'
With the first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak right before his eyes, rashly trying to evade would only lead to him being discovered faster. There was simply nowhere to run. The only method remaining was:
'One Mind!'
'This is forcing me. Making me accept [One Mind], otherwise I'll be discovered by the Ancestor of the Saint Sect. And the worst part is, I can only grit my teeth and swallow this loss...'
What a bastard!
Lu Yang once again couldn't help but curse loudly in his heart. But as the first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak's aura drew closer, he didn't dare to hesitate any longer. He immediately began silently reciting the [Mahayana True Enlightenment Fundamental Sutra]. Gradually, the [One Mind] he had experienced before merged into his thoughts, causing his emotions to be reined in.
"Alas..."
In an instant, a compassionate smile hung upon Lu Yang's face. Only the slight stiffness at the corners of his mouth and a hint of abnormality deep in his eyes indicated his state.
In this regard, he had experience.
'During the lifetime at the Celestial Court, I was possessed by the World Honored One. The so-called [One Mind] is not achieved overnight, especially for someone like me with a perfected Dao heart.'
Although after joining [One Mind], Lu Yang could clearly sense his perfected Dao heart being worn away bit by bit, this still required a certain amount of time. As long as he withdrew before his Dao heart collapsed, he could still preserve his sense of self, at most leaving behind the sequel of occasionally uttering "Alas..." from time to time.
However, Lu Yang didn't dare to relax in the slightest in his heart.
The reason was very simple: Heaven knew how long the Ancestor of the Saint Sect would search. For every day the Ancestor of the Saint Sect didn't give up, he couldn't break away from [One Mind] for a day.
Given enough time, he would eventually collapse!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang's mood grew increasingly heavy: 'This is boiling a frog in warm water... The Ancestor of the Saint Sect is ruthless, but the World Honored One is no saint either.'
This was a karmic battle!
The Ancestor of the Saint Sect was narrowing the encirclement step by step, while the World Honored One was helping him hide under the Ancestor of the Saint Sect's search, but also wanted to enlighten him.
His situation, experiences, and actions within the great karmic net—were all the result of the battle between both sides.
Formless, intangible, and indescribable, yet more terrifying than any battle he had ever witnessed. The chill in Lu Yang's heart grew deeper, as if he had plunged into an abyss.
'Treading on thin ice...'
Right at this moment, Lu Yang suddenly felt a stir in his heart.
He saw the temple doors before him pushed open. A handsome, heroic young man wearing a feather cloak strode in. Great Dao marks seemed to be born and destroyed within his eyes.
The first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak had arrived.
(End of Chapter)