The Immortal Nexus, the Netherworld.
Within the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace], [Sky-shrouding] stood with his hands behind his back, quietly observing the mortal realm. Deep wariness seeped from his long, narrow eyes.
Something isn't right...
Not long ago, he had suddenly sensed a peculiar fluctuation within the Netherworld. At that time, he had suspected that the Lord of the Netherworld wasn't dead, but was still holed up inside.
And now, he was absolutely certain of this fact, because the Netherworld, which used to only operate on rigid mechanisms, had recently become increasingly "smart." This "smartness" didn't mean the operational mechanisms had changed; on the contrary, at first glance, the mechanisms appeared entirely normal.
However, they had become more targeted.
He's looking for me...
[Sky-shrouding] understood in his heart that the Lord of the Netherworld had not only awakened, but his mind was also becoming increasingly clear, to the point where he faintly discovered his existence.
This wasn't even the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying part was that the other party was actually intentionally concealing his actions of probing for foreign objects. He appeared extremely cautious, so much so that even [Sky-shrouding] himself was almost deceived.
Fortunately, it seemed the other party hadn't completely taken control of the Netherworld yet, which was why he hadn't discovered him so far. However, looking at the current situation, it was only a matter of time.
What should I do?
Thinking of this, [Sky-shrouding]'s mood worsened considerably. If this continued, let alone executing Void Attainment for the Netherworld, he might even die outright inside it!
There are only two ways to respond.
Either I start attempting Void Attainment for the Netherworld right now... but I haven't completely mastered any Dao Fruit other than the [Great Forest Wood]; I'm only temporarily extracting their power.
Under these circumstances, the odds of succeeding in attaining the Netherworld were extremely low.
Not to mention, the Lord of the Netherworld was now awake and had faintly sensed something was amiss. He would definitely be on guard. Attempting Void Attainment for the Netherworld now was practically suicide.
So, there was only the second option.
—Abandon the Netherworld.
"..."
The moment this thought sprouted, [Sky-shrouding] felt a twinge of pain in his heart. For the sake of attaining the Netherworld, he had expended an unimaginable amount of effort and heart's blood back in the day.
And now he was just going to abandon it?
Was this a joke?
However, in the next second, [Sky-shrouding] suppressed all the unwillingness, anger, and various negative emotions. He began to evaluate the feasibility of this plan with absolute cold logic.
If I don't abandon the Netherworld, then I can only find a way to notify the Dao Lords and have them figure out how to exterminate the Lord of the Netherworld... That's highly unlikely. The Lord of the Netherworld hides too deeply. To kill him, they would have to completely shatter the Netherworld. If that happens, what is there left for me to attain? That's mutual destruction, completely useless for my pursuit of the Dao.
[Sky-shrouding]'s eyes were icy cold.
He never committed rash acts due to negative emotions. All his actions had only one core purpose: attaining the Dao and becoming a Nascent Soul Dao Lord.
Therefore, mutual destruction was not within the scope of his consideration. And if this path was a dead end, then for the sake of safety, he could only evacuate from Netherworld.
"Hmph!"
Thinking of this, [Sky-shrouding] couldn't help but let out a muffled grunt. Only then did he sever the pain and anger in his heart. Beneath his icy gaze lay a pure will to survive.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he would not give up.
But right now, the Lord of the Netherworld's condition was visibly improving. His chances were infinitely approaching zero, which was a completely different situation.
The prerequisite for Seeking the Nascent Soul was that he had to be alive.
As long as the green mountains remain, one needn't worry about firewood.
That being said, the problems still remained.
Firstly, once he abandoned the Netherworld, he could only attain Paramita. But there were so many Dao Lords and limited positions. Who would tolerate him ascending to Paramita?
Secondly, he had a mission in the Netherworld.
The old immortal of the Saint Sect told me to attain the Netherworld back then, probably hoping that I would perish together with the Lord of the Netherworld so he could reap the fisherman's profit.
Now that the Lord of the Netherworld has awakened, I have seen through his conspiracy. But even so, if I rashly abandon it and jump out of that old immortal's calculations, he will inevitably act against me. When that time comes, being out in the mortal realm, it will probably be very difficult for me to shake him off, and one misstep will reduce me to his pawn...
Under these circumstances, attaining Paramita was even more of a pipe dream.
Unless... I have no choice.
It's not that I don't want to attain the Netherworld, but because an uncontrollable accident forced me to leave. Only then will it make sense.
And only then can I continue to maneuver under that old immortal.
Otherwise, advancing was death, and retreating was also death. It could only be described as certain doom... As this thought crossed his mind, [Sky-shrouding] suddenly thought of Hong Yun.
It's him!
The only cultivator in the current world unaffected by the inversion of Chen Earth. Once he returned to the position of a Golden Core Perfected Lord, he could immediately shatter his state of Five Elements Perfection.
Wasn't this the biggest unexpected variable?
With this accident, his departure from the Netherworld would be a textbook case of being forced by circumstances. No one would be able to find any fault with it, and even the old immortal of the Saint Sect wouldn't be able to say anything!
Unbelievable... [Sky-shrouding] sighed inwardly.
Thinking back to the past, Hong Yun was the only variable in his plan to attain the Netherworld, because the moment he returned to the [Overturned Lamp Flame], his own Five Elements Perfection would inevitably be broken.
But what about now?
He actually turned into my path to survival, becoming the variable that breaks my checkmate. The Light Sea truly leaves a sliver of vitality in all myriad things!
Right at this moment.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, [Sky-shrouding] raised his head and looked toward the mortal realm with a sense of premonition. Immediately after, a trace of unconcealable astonishment surfaced on his face.
Hong Yun... is Seeking the Golden Core?
Is someone secretly sponsoring him?
At this moment, [Sky-shrouding] almost laughed out loud. He was just thinking about how to secretly go easy on Hong Yun and give him a chance to return to his position.
Yet before he even lifted a finger, someone else had already set a scheme in motion on Hong Yun's side.
Now he was truly entirely innocent. He hadn't pulled any little tricks at all; everything was someone else's conspiracy. He was merely careless for a moment.
Good, good, good!
Regardless of who secretly plotted this layout, from today onward, you are my brother. Once I get out, I absolutely must have a good discussion on the Dao with you!
The Immortal Nexus, Jiangbei.
The Old Dragon Lord held the "[Sky-shrouding] Strategy Guide" Lu Yang had given him, preparing to entirely replicate the operations within it to drive [Sky-shrouding] out of the Netherworld.
Chong Guang Seeking the Golden Core, notifying the Pure Land, various parties entering the fray... Everything went very smoothly.
After [Sky-shrouding] sensed the crisis, his reaction had no issues either. But right at the final step, when Hong Yun was Seeking the Golden Core—the entire situation instantly collapsed.
Boom!
At this moment, a boundless, vast darkness rapidly floated up from the bottom of the mortal realm. Then, a figure enveloped in smoke slowly walked out from it.
In a flash, an unparalleled aura enveloped the Immortal Nexus! The Light Sea trembled!
High up in the firmament, five Dao Fruit stars were simultaneously ignited, cheering for their sole lord. Infinite radiant light draped over his body like a robe.
Not an incarnation, nor a strand of divine sense, but his true, unmistakable main body.
The Number One Perfected Lord in the World, the true body of [Sky-shrouding]!
For a time, heaven and earth lost their voice. All the Perfected Lords of the Immortal Nexus, including Hong Yun who was still Seeking the Golden Core, and even the Old Dragon Lord, all stood completely dumbfounded.
Even Lu Yang inside the [Nourishing Life Master] had his mouth wide open, his face full of disbelief.
"Ah?"
This was a butterfly effect that even he hadn't anticipated at all.
Merely waking up the First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak earlier actually caused [Sky-shrouding] to abandon the plan he had expended countless efforts on and stop clinging to the Netherworld!
The result was that the biggest variable beneath the Dao Lords in the current Light Sea had entered the world.
This time, [Sky-shrouding] was no longer fighting a proxy battle using the [World-Retribution Incarnation]. Instead, he had directly and brazenly walked out of the Netherworld with his main body at peak state!
(End of Chapter)