[The Mortal World].
Among all the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousnesses], [The Mortal World] could be considered the most special one to some extent, because it was not an individual.
Unlike [Nourishing Life Master] which was simply a library, or [Responding to Emperors] which was a pavilion plus a trial space, [The Mortal World] occupied a footprint-shaped area of the Light Sea. Within it were quite a few World Realm fragments, and even a minor World Realm with living beings like the Supreme Imperial World.
This was all thanks to the World Honored One.
Because of that kick descending from the heavens, [The Mortal World] was forcefully stomped flat, which was what allowed its scale to expand into the outer regions of the Light Sea.
Supreme Imperial World.
Lu Yang and [Sky-shrouding] arrived together, selecting an isolated island to land on. Then, by gathering earth into a mountain and kneading creation, they produced a tea pavilion out of thin air.
"This fellow Daoist... I wonder how I should address you."
[Sky-shrouding] spoke first. Although his entire body was shrouded in smoke, the outline of a young man could still be seen. His narrow, elongated eyes carried an expectant smile:
"Ancestral Dragon? Saint Sect? Sisui?"
Evidently, [Sky-shrouding] had come prepared this time. Having seriously pondered the anomalies surrounding Lu Yang, he fired off three guesses in one breath.
The mastermind behind the old Dragon Lord.
The insidious fighting methods.
The powerful dharma body.
Three anomalies, corresponding to three guesses. After speaking, [Sky-shrouding] stared straight at Lu Yang, only to see Lu Yang shake his head: "I am merely a rogue cultivator."
A rogue cultivator?
"Fellow Daoist is lacking sincerity now."
[Sky-shrouding] shook his head and chuckled lightly, but didn't press the issue. Instead, he changed the subject: "Fellow Daoist was attempting to take a step further just now, but returned without success, right?"
"This is also normal. Fellow Daoist cultivates the ancient method. To take a step further, one can only head to the [Sea of Bitterness]. Doing so will inevitably expose you to the Dao Lord's gaze... However, even if Fellow Daoist switches to the Grotto-Heaven method, that is like drinking poison to quench thirst. It is discarding your future Dao path in exchange for temporary power."
Hearing this, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes.
This series of guesses was incorrect. At the very least, [Sky-shrouding] hadn't guessed his arrangements for the [Arctic Exorcism Court], but the underlying principle was the same.
With the Dao Lords above, cultivation is out of one's own hands...
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang suddenly spoke:
"I previously escaped into the Dark Void, attempting to forge a new path to break through, only to find that within the Dark Void, the [Heavenly Dao] had long since sealed off the entire Light Sea."
"...What?"
As soon as these words were spoken, [Sky-shrouding] was instantly stunned: "The Light Sea is sealed by the [Heavenly Dao]? To think such a thing happened, but why seal the Light Sea..."
He actually knew many secrets.
Below the Dao Lords, perhaps only the old Dragon Lord knew more than him.
However, on the matter of the Netherworld, aside from the First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak, he was the clearest on it in the present age. Therefore, he immediately formed quite a few conjectures:
The reason the Light Sea is sealed is because someone could do something in the Dark Void. The Dao Lords are guarding against a similar possibility... It can only be the Netherworld, because the Netherworld is built upon the Dark Void! Are the Dao Lords guarding against a second Netherworld? If that's the case, then the plans of the person before me...
[Sky-shrouding]'s gaze instantly changed.
"Fellow Daoist, what grand ambition."
Lu Yang said calmly:
"You overpraise me. It is ultimately just a concept that has yet to succeed. Not to mention, I am currently trapped in a dilemma... May I ask what guidance Fellow Daoist can offer this humble one?"
"I wouldn't dare offer guidance."
[Sky-shrouding] shook his head and subsequently fell into deep thought. After a long while, he spoke faintly: "The key still depends on how much Fellow Daoist is willing to reveal to me."
Lu Yang didn't hesitate and directly handed over the [Supreme Void Resonance Chapter] he had created. Although he had made some deletions and alterations, the essence of the scripture remained unchanged. With [Sky-shrouding]'s dao comprehension, it would be very easy for him to infer the causes and consequences. By taking this step, he was actually already being open and honest.
However, he wasn't worried about this.
[Sky-shrouding]... is actually not an enemy.
Regarding this old rival, Lu Yang believed he understood him fairly well. His path didn't conflict with his, so it was impossible for him to oppose it; he might even strongly support it.
After all, he still needs me to draw enemy fire.
Thinking of this, understanding dawned in Lu Yang's heart:
Perhaps it is like this for all cultivators aiming to become Dao Lords. Everyone is a like-minded fellow Daoist. We can trust each other, and we must trust each other.
Including [Sky-shrouding]'s attitude, Lu Yang, who had dealt with him several times, could clearly feel that compared to before, [Sky-shrouding] was much more polite this time. He truly placed him on an equal footing for conversation. This was the respect brought to him by that pyrrhic victory not long ago.
Soon, [Sky-shrouding] finished reading the scripture.
He raised his head, his gaze filled with awe: "The world truly produces heroes in multitudes. If this concept succeeds, it will inevitably jump out of the Dao Lords' enclosure."
Lu Yang shook his head: "The problem is also extremely severe."
"Indeed."
[Sky-shrouding] didn't deny it, continuing: "However, Fellow Daoist perhaps hasn't noticed yet... Your design actually shares the same wonderful results with the [Heavenly Dao] through different means."
As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Yang instantly narrowed his eyes, feeling as if he had been enlightened: That's right, the Dao lineage I created actually imposes far greater restrictions on cultivators than the Grotto-Heaven method. Doesn't this perfectly align with the concept of the [Heavenly Dao]? In a sense, it could even be used to perfect the [Heavenly Dao].
But quickly, he shook his head again:
"Even so, it will only increase my risks for nothing. The Dao Lords won't cooperate with me because of this. It's more likely they will directly snatch away the fruits of my labor."
"Therefore, you need to conceal it."
[Sky-shrouding] smiled: "First, you cannot let the Dao Lords find this supreme treasure of yours, otherwise they will inevitably make a move to snatch it, and you won't be able to keep it."
"Second, you cannot let the Dao Lords discover your true intentions... That would be seen as a threat by the Dao Lords, and the result would inevitably be being strangled in the cradle. Therefore, you must make the Dao Lords believe you are still under control, believe you are manageable. Only then can you receive support... so you must jump out of the Light Sea."
"And you cannot let the Dao Lords find out."
Although the [Heavenly Dao] had sealed off the Light Sea, it wasn't completely without hope of passing through. The problem was, as long as one passed through, it would inevitably attract the Dao Lords' attention.
The key was: to remain undiscovered.
Hearing this, Lu Yang stood up and cupped his hands:
"What teachings does Fellow Daoist have for me?"
As soon as these words came out, [Sky-shrouding] finally changed his tone. A solemn look surfaced in his narrow, elongated eyes, and a deep, somber voice echoed between heaven and earth:
"I wouldn't dare offer teachings."
"But I do know of a path that allows one to leave the Light Sea without alerting the Dao Lords, and subsequently enter the vast and boundless Dark Void."
Lu Yang had also realized it by now, asking with a half-smile: "May I ask where this path lies?"
"The path lies in the Netherworld."
[Sky-shrouding] spoke with absolute certainty:
"Although the [Heavenly Dao] is strong, what it restricts is below the Dao Lords. The Dao Lords are unrestricted. The Dao Lords of [Paramita] are like this, and the same principle applies to the Netherworld."
"Inside the Netherworld, there are no restrictions from the [Heavenly Dao]. And on the outside, although the [Heavenly Dao] has deployed surveillance, it cannot spread into the deepest parts of the Netherworld, the region corresponding to the Dao Lords. That place is a black box to the [Heavenly Dao], and also the only region the Dao Lords cannot control."
"This is Fellow Daoist's opportunity."
"As long as Fellow Daoist enters the Netherworld Core, and then escapes from the Netherworld Core, you can silently enter the Dark Void without being discovered by any Dao Lords."
"So, Fellow Daoist..."
Speaking up to here, [Sky-shrouding]'s true intentions were finally revealed. His narrow, elongated eyes were filled with sincerity, sounding like a heartfelt earnestness spoken entirely for the other party's sake:
"Go attain the Netherworld."
(End of Chapter)