[Nourishing Life Master].
Lu Yang withdrew his gaze. In the depths of his eyes was an iridescent light that outsiders could hardly see. The feedback from the [Off-Stage Observer] made him stroke his chin in slight surprise:
"Mu Changsheng is somewhat vigilant."
"Even though I wiped his memories completely clean... interesting. As expected, I can't underestimate the people of the world. This is experience gained from being screwed over by Perfected Lords in the past."
Despite saying this, Lu Yang wasn't very worried.
Because he truly hadn't tampered with much; his only arrangement was the [Off-Stage Observer], and this arrangement was impossible to be discovered.
Let him act freely.
I've already handed the strategy guide to the old Dragon Lord. With his guidance, as long as Mu Changsheng follows the strategy from my previous life, he can at least reach Foundation Establishment perfection.
After that, as long as Mu Changsheng succeeded in usurping the throne and took charge of the Dao Court, even the Dao Lords would secretly cast their gazes down and place their pawns on him. If nothing unexpected happened, Mu Changsheng should ultimately walk his old path. Whether he succeeded or not in the end entirely depended on whether any Dao Lord was willing to uplift him.
The Sword Pavilion and the Dao Court are definitely willing.
Alas, the foundation of the [Heavenly Fire] is actually still firmly grasped in the hands of the Saint Sect's Ancestor. Without his nod, the hope of achieving it is simply too low.
Lu Yang had deep personal experience with this point.
Back then, he had clearly successfully governed the Immortal Nexus, but a false history had nearly strangled him to death. It looked like the odds of success were extremely high, but in reality, seeking it meant sudden death.
He didn't understand it back then.
Looking at it now, the [Heavenly Fire] contained the concept of Inevitable Fate. It was perfectly reasonable for it to be firmly controlled by the Saint Sect's Ancestor... This master simply managed way too much.
In the vast Immortal Nexus, or even the entire Light Sea, as long as it had even a little to do with him or posed the slightest threat, he had almost targeted it with pawns, keeping it firmly under control. There were likely only a scant few places outside his grasp. No wonder [Inevitable Fate] could have its current concept in his hands.
Amidst his thoughts, Lu Yang flicked his sleeve and stood up.
With a flash of a streak of light, he left the [Nourishing Life Master], driving straight into [The Mortal World] and landing in that tranquil, vast sea of fog.
In the next second, the sea of fog collapsed, converging in an instant, and finally manifested a humanoid silhouette. Those narrow, elongated eyes looked at Lu Yang with a hint of surprise.
"Fellow Daoist arrived rather quickly."
[Sky-shrouding]'s thoughts flickered. He seriously sized Lu Yang up, then smiled. "Could it be that you've encountered an unsolvable difficulty regarding [Great Forest Wood]?"
"Fellow Daoist worries too much."
Lu Yang shook his head. "It has nothing to do with [Great Forest Wood]. I came solely to inform Fellow Daoist of a piece of news... It should be of no small help to Fellow Daoist."
After speaking, he sent out a strand of divine sense.
Within the divine sense was exactly the information regarding [Pomegranate Wood], the dark tunnel he had seen, and the speculation about "Heaven-Mending intending to smuggle into Paramita."
Although he had pried into the secret of the first-generation Master of Heaven-Mending Peak, Lu Yang didn't plan to delve deeper in this lifetime. After all, his main goal in this lifetime was to smuggle himself outside the Light Sea, so his energy had to be focused on the Netherworld. Therefore, rather than exploring it himself, it was better to give it to [Sky-shrouding] and let him clear the mines for him.
Not to mention... this was certified forbidden knowledge.
Especially the fact that the "[Five Elements Great Dao] is the cornerstone of [Paramita] was an absolute secret. Even among forbidden knowledge, it was a high-tier existence.
Thus, when [Sky-shrouding] took the divine sense and briefly read through it, his pupils instantly shook violently.
Almost at the exact same time, Lu Yang made his move!
An opportunity.
The massive forbidden knowledge shocked even someone of [Sky-shrouding]'s cultivation and stature for a split second. And this split second was a heaven-sent opportunity to extract Golden Nature!
Although the Perfected Lord dao comprehension of [Great Forest Wood] would be unlocked in thirty years, if there was a chance to extract Golden Nature and resolve it now, Lu Yang was naturally happy to see it happen. Besides, [Sky-shrouding] simply had too many secrets, which made his heart itch. If he could investigate him thoroughly, it would also be of great benefit to him.
However, in the next second.
Right at [Sky-shrouding]'s chest, Lu Yang's palm was only a hair's breadth away. The mighty power aimed to rip out his heart was about to erupt, but a flash of misty light swept past.
"Boom!"
Spiritual power fluctuated, but it failed to hit [Sky-shrouding]. Instead, it vented into empty space. The smoke-shrouded figure rode the light and escaped, landing a hundred meters away.
"What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist?" [Sky-shrouding]'s eyes held a smile.
Lu Yang chuckled upon hearing this. Pinched between his fingertips was impressively a wisp of the [Great Forest Wood] concept: "Nothing much. I just saw something dirty on Fellow Daoist."
"It's gone now."
"So you're saying I should thank Fellow Daoist?"
"You're welcome."
Both of them were full of smiles, but alas, one had ice-cold depths in his eyes, and the other's tone was indifferent. Faintly, concepts seemed to swell, and boundless spiritual power vibrated.
An unknown amount of time passed before [Sky-shrouding] spoke first, breaking the stagnant atmosphere: "The first-generation Master of Heaven-Mending Peak... to think she had such an arrangement, smuggling into Paramita... What Fellow Daoist said is not wrong. This is indeed extremely helpful to me. It might even be a second Dao path outside of Tribulation."
Lu Yang shook his head upon hearing this:
"I advise Fellow Daoist best not be impulsive. This path carries immense risk and is not easy to walk... It's better if Fellow Daoist asks the World Honored One first."
"Moreover, the World Honored One probably wants to know very much as well."
Hearing this, [Sky-shrouding] instantly narrowed his eyes: "Speaking of which... I had a conversation with the World Honored One previously. He seems to know the Lord of the Netherworld."
"Normal."
Lu Yang said indifferently: "The Lord of the Netherworld is the Saint Sect's first-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak, and the World Honored One is the first-generation Master of Myriad Treasures Peak. They were originally fellow disciples."
[Sky-shrouding] immediately furrowed his brows upon hearing this, only smoothing them out after a long time: "Interesting. I didn't expect Fellow Daoist to be able to figure out so many secrets."
The intelligence on the four first-generation Peak Masters was something not even he was clear about.
Yet this person rattled them off as if recounting family heirlooms, grasping everything.
How did he know?
Unless... he is originally from the same era as the four first-generation Peak Masters, and has merely managed to survive until now. If nothing unexpected happens, he must be an incarnation of the Ancestral Dragon!
With this thought, [Sky-shrouding] spoke again:
"Speaking of which, up until now I am still unaware of Fellow Daoist's title. Last time Fellow Daoist brushed me off, could it be you still intend to avoid the subject this time?"
Lu Yang smiled ambiguously: "Hasn't Fellow Daoist already guessed it?"
As the saying goes, the more you say, the more mistakes you make. Anyway, he would neither admit nor deny it. If asked, he'd play the riddler. Those who cared would naturally fill in the blanks and reach their own conclusions.
"The item has been delivered, so I won't stay long."
"Farewell!"
Before his voice fell, Lu Yang disappeared from within [The Mortal World].
He planned to enter the Netherworld.
Unlike [Sky-shrouding], I have the [Cycle of Life and Death Pill]. I don't need to deliberately hide at all. I can openly and boldly step into the Netherworld.
Of course, once he went, he definitely wouldn't be able to return.
[Sky-shrouding] could return to the mortal world because he was originally a living person. But after he took the pill and turned into a Death Spirit, the difficulty of returning to the mortal world would be much greater.
Therefore—
Opportunity knocks but once. Once I enter the Netherworld, the fortuitous encounter of the mortal world will have nothing to do with me. No matter what, I have to grab one last haul before leaving.
Lu Yang had even chosen the target.
I've already cleared [Responding to Emperors]. With Long Tu's secret method, I can also get my hands on the coordinates for the next stage, [Equality of Things]. It's the perfect time to plunder it thoroughly!
(End of Chapter)