Regarding [Sky-shrouding], Lu Yang's feelings had always been very complicated. After all, this Great Perfected Lord had left him with a massive psychological shadow back in the day.
He had always kept a tally.
He had also thought of many ways to deal with [Sky-shrouding], such as using the [Divine Firmament Thunder] to transform into the [Overturned Lamp Flame] to invert Chen Earth, causing him to fall from the position of a Great Perfected Lord.
However, facts proved that it was useless.
The [Divine Firmament Thunder] could indeed alter concepts and reproduce all the profound concepts of the [Overturned Lamp Flame]. Yet, fundamentally, it was not an authentic Dao Fruit of the Immortal Nexus.
What was an authentic Dao Fruit?
The authentic Dao Fruits of the Immortal Nexus were connected to the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends of the Immortal Nexus. Like a massive net, they forged the entire Immortal Nexus to be as impregnable as an iron barrel.
The principle behind the [Overturned Lamp Flame] inverting Chen Earth was built upon this massive net, and the same applied to [Sky-shrouding]. However, Lu Yang was different. The [Divine Firmament Thunder] belonged entirely to him, detached from the Immortal Nexus, and was not bound to the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends. Therefore, no matter how much it transformed, it could not affect Chen Earth.
So, there were only two ways to deal with [Sky-shrouding].
The first was to help Hong Yun Seek the Golden Core. Only if he Sought the Golden Core and attained the [Overturned Lamp Flame] could Chen Earth be inverted, causing [Sky-shrouding] to fall from the position of a Great Perfected Lord.
This was also the best method.
Unfortunately, in this lifetime, because the First-generation Beast Taming Peak Master was awakened early, unexpected variables arose. [Sky-shrouding] decisively abandoned the Netherworld, resulting in this path being cut off.
Therefore, there was only the second path left:
Fight! Suppress him head-on.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang's gaze grew increasingly bright: Although the current [Sky-shrouding] hasn't fallen from his position, he absolutely hasn't reached his peak state from when he was in the Netherworld.
Because he lacked [Inversion] and didn't have the bolster of a Void Attainment Dao Fruit.
With only Five Elements Perfection, he's at most standing at the Immortal Bridge stage, and hasn't yet reached the Heaven Treading stage. If that's the case, it's not impossible for me to fight him!
He hadn't even used [Supreme Dao Transformation] yet!
Perfect timing. If he used [Supreme Dao Transformation] in conjunction with the Dragon-Banishment Ruler's profound wonder of opening the mind and enlightening wisdom, his state would inevitably reach the strongest it had ever been in history!
The best outcome is that I borrow [Sky-shrouding]'s hand to refine my Supreme Treasure, break through to the Immortal Bridge, and then defeat him, extracting his Golden Nature along with the concept of the [Great Forest Wood]. A slightly worse outcome is achieving only one of those. The absolute worst outcome is still refining the Supreme Treasure and retreating calmly from [Sky-shrouding]'s hands.
There was nothing to fear anymore!
Furthermore, since [Sky-shrouding] had already entered the world, Lu Yang's future schemes definitely wouldn't escape his notice. Whether they cooperated or fell out, they would have to deal with each other eventually.
Moreover, if I remember correctly... [Sky-shrouding] seems to have originated from Pill Cauldron Peak.
Could the inheritance of the First-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master that Daoist Child Baihe spoke of be on him? After all, how could a favored child of heaven like him not have some massive fortuitous encounters?
No sooner thought than done. Lu Yang immediately set off.
That old ghost is probably squatting in [The Mortal World] right now. Aside from the Netherworld, that's the only place he can serve his time. Lu Yang's figure shuttled through the void.
In an instant, he stepped into [The Mortal World]. Above his head, the dark side of the [Yin-Yang Insight Dao Fruit] faced outward, covering him and heavily sealing away his presence.
Then, he saw what [The Mortal World] looked like now.
What met his eyes was a boundless, vast expanse of smoky haze, so thick one couldn't see their own fingers. All divine sense also seemed to lose its connection to the outside world.
The karmic net?
Lu Yang tried to deduce for a moment, but the result was like scooping the moon's reflection from the water. A towering shadow seemed to have obscured the karmic net as well.
If a Perfected Lord falls into this place, it would be like a drop of water falling into the ocean. They wouldn't be able to feel anything, nor sense fortune or misfortune, or foresee calamity or blessing. However, unlike the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] I've seen before, this smoky haze doesn't have any killing intent. Instead, it's incredibly tranquil... It can actually be used this way?
Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
All along, whenever he saw [Sky-shrouding] use [Knowledge-Perception Barrier], it was always in a battle—either to hide himself or to rip someone's heart out.
But this time was different.
Although the smoke enveloping the entirety of [The Mortal World] was still grand, it was incredibly peaceful and stable, giving off a wondrous feeling of "recuperation and rejuvenation."
In this state, worldly distractions and entangling karma were all obscured, leaving only the purest essence of the Great Dao. It was as if one had returned to the innate state within the mother's womb. Without these entanglements, comprehending the Great Dao became much easier, and cultivation speed naturally elevated by a whole tier.
Even for Lu Yang.
Being in this environment, he actually birthed some comprehensions out of thin air. The effect was even considerably better than the Dragon-Banishment Ruler's profound wonder of opening the mind and enlightening wisdom!
Incredible... Is this also a Dao Fruit Secret Method? Lu Yang had a look of sheer amazement on his face.
No wonder that guy [Sky-shrouding] has unbelievably high Dao comprehension. It turns out the [Great Forest Wood] can actually be used in reverse to catalyze such a perfect cultivation environment.
This guy really is a cheater too!
Right at this moment, the originally peaceful smoky haze suddenly churned violently, as if it had discovered something. A massive divine sense abruptly swept toward Lu Yang's direction.
However, within the smoky haze, this divine sense was "hidden" extremely well. Even if an ordinary cultivator were thoroughly scanned from head to toe by it, they probably wouldn't even notice its existence. Yet, the moment it approached Lu Yang, he had already formed a hand seal, and a candlelight-like spark suddenly lit up at his fingertip.
[Yin-Yang Insight Dao Fruit]!
The dark side flipped, and the bright side faced outward. In an instant, brilliant light shone everywhere, lifting the concealing intent of the smoky haze and illuminating the divine sense that was closing in on Lu Yang.
Rumble—!
In a flash, heaven and earth trembled!
Amidst the endless smoky haze, the firelight at Lu Yang's fingertip was simply like a single speck of pure white in the darkness, triggering a riot of darkness aiming to snuff out Lu Yang's firelight!
"Fellow Daoist [Sky-shrouding], times have changed!"
Lu Yang looked up at the sky and let out a long laugh. Under the illumination of the firelight, he seemed to see a pair of cold, emotionless, long, and narrow eyes looking down at him from above the endless smoky haze.
The next second, those eyes slowly closed.
Here it comes!
Lu Yang didn't hesitate in the slightest. Radiant colors burst forth behind him, and the [Arctic Exorcism Court] soared out, immediately merging together with the [Yin-Yang Insight Dao Fruit].
"The qi and form flourish on the earth, the momentum stabilizes the high ridge!"
Blazing light instantly erupted endlessly from Lu Yang's body. Wherever it passed, the smoky haze transformed from the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] was completely swept away.
It was like sunrise, the sunlight illuminating the earth.
At the same time, this intense light forcefully propped open those long, narrow eyes, making it impossible for them to close again. Subsequently, they dispersed along with the surrounding smoky haze.
Up to this point, heaven and earth finally revealed their true form.
It was still [The Mortal World], still that World Realm with bizarre temporal turbulence. However, there was an additional entity that Lu Yang had never seen before.
It was a palace.
Five-colored light lingered around the palace, evaporating into clouds and mist. Various scenes continuously manifested within the mist—the mortal world, immortals and gods—resembling an illusory World Realm.
At the main gate of the palace, a plaque hung high.
[Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace]
With just one look, Lu Yang had already reached an epiphany: This is... [Sky-shrouding]'s Grotto-Heaven, a creation refined only after integrating the Five Elements Dao Fruit Secret Methods!
This was exactly what [Sky-shrouding] relied on to usurp the Netherworld with the body of a living being!
(End of Chapter)