Lu Yang hadn't expected this outcome either.
Emperor Cang's incarnation definitely still had the power to fight. The sheer force of the [Myriad Refinements Blood Pool] self-detonating gave even Lu Yang a strong sense of impending crisis.
Yet, despite possessing such immense power, Emperor Cang's incarnation didn't use it to attack his enemy, nor did he use it to protect himself. He didn't even plan to use the momentum to heal his injuries. Instead, he was entirely focused on running away. As a result, he crashed headfirst into the rock wall inside Mount Beifeng, exploding into a mist of blood and light.
Lu Yang burst out laughing on the spot.
The main body of Mount Beifeng was the product of condensed Void Concepts, genuine materials of the [Paramita]. Let alone the fact that Emperor Cang's incarnation was only an Immortal Bridge realm Great Perfected Lord...
Even if he had treaded the heavens like [Sky-shrouding]...
Crashing into it like that wouldn't have changed the outcome one bit. He would still end up battered and bloody. In fact, because of a higher cultivation base, the end result might have been even more miserable.
This is what happens when you lack Dao comprehension.
Lu Yang shook his head. This incarnation of Emperor Cang has cultivated in Mount Beifeng for so many years and still hasn't discovered the profound wonder within. As expected of someone cultivating the Dharma Body Dao.
"Fellow Daoist, you are taking things far too hard."
Before his voice faded, the [Dao-Conquering Tianhun Diagram] unfurled once more, and the [Arctic Exorcism Court] pressed down. This time, meeting no resistance, it successfully suppressed him.
The next second, four true treasures appeared one after another.
At the same time, with the [Myriad Refinements Blood Pool] detonated and not yet re-gathered, Emperor Cang's incarnation was undoubtedly at his absolute weakest, entirely incapable of fighting back.
Therefore, when the Dragon-Banishment Ruler smashed down heavily onto his head, he only felt something being injected into him. It brought a comforting warmth, as if he had returned to the womb—to that chaotic, innately perfect state. An uncontrollable thought sprang into his mind:
"Mommy."
No, it wasn't just one thought. It was a whole chorus!
His hands, his eyes, his heart, his internal organs, his facial features, and his seven orifices unexpectedly all developed their own self-awareness, crying out "Mommy" in unison.
The [Vast Ocean Water]?!
Emperor Cang's incarnation was instantly horrified. He hastily focused his mind, desperately trying to resist and suppress all the spiritualities inexplicably born within his body due to the Dragon-Banishment Ruler.
Then, he heard a reprimand coming from "himself."
"Little brother, how can you act like this!"
"Child, stop resisting."
"How can you be so disrespectful to Mommy? I don't like big brother anymore!"
"Hubby, you're in the wrong here..."
The chaotic jumble of thoughts threatened to tear both his consciousness and body apart. He shook his head violently, trying with all his might to maintain the stability of his Dao Heart.
Normally, the Dragon-Banishment Ruler alone couldn't have had such a massive impact on him. However, he had just detonated the [Myriad Refinements Blood Pool] and needed time to re-gather it. During this window, his stature had visibly plummeted, allowing Lu Yang to press the advantage and make the profound wonder take effect.
Immediately after, a streak of sword light flashed past.
Wherever the sword light passed, future scenes emerged, only to be slashed apart. Every future where "Emperor Cang's incarnation breaks free from his restraints" vanished into nothingness.
"Ah!"
With a miserable shriek, Emperor Cang's incarnation was finally and completely suppressed. His blood qi gradually fell silent, and his consciousness struggled amidst the countless newly born spiritualities.
Seeing this, Lu Yang changed the hand seals he was holding.
The next second, boundless purple qi filled the sky, shaking the universe with deafening thunderclaps. Countless talismans flashed and danced within the light, finally converging into a single mass.
The [Divine Firmament Thunder]!
The thunder accumulated, and destructive power continuously brewed and boiled within the light. Emperor Cang's incarnation had absolutely no doubt that this strike would completely obliterate him.
Yet, this wasn't the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying part was that, even with a lethal crisis staring him right in the face, his intuition still told him: Don't worry, it's very safe, you won't die...
Bastard!
Emperor Cang's incarnation gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with disbelief. My previous sense of crisis was real... I was deceived... Just how did he do it?
With this thought, he suddenly spoke up. "Just who are you?!"
Holding onto his last breath, filled with immense unwillingness, he declared with certainty before Lu Yang could even answer: "It's him, isn't it? He sent you to kill me?"
"That must be it!"
"The [Dao-Conquering Tianhun Diagram]... I knew he wouldn't let me off even in death! Are you his inheritor? You've come to seek revenge and kill your senior brother?"
At this point, he suddenly burst into loud laughter. "It's useless! Useless! I'm just an incarnation. My main body can separate me out again at any time. If you kill me, you'll only make a mortal enemy out of my main body. Do you really think you can stand against the entire Netherworld all by yourself?!"
"Why not let me go and cooperate with me instead!"
Emperor Cang's incarnation spoke rapidly, as if grasping at the last straw. "You can rule the Netherworld alongside me, and we can look forward to reaching even higher realms!"
Hearing this, Lu Yang only smiled.
"Fellow Daoist, in that single sentence just now, you made three misunderstandings."
With that, he held up three fingers and said calmly, "The first misunderstanding: you cannot represent the entire Netherworld, nor have you ever ruled it."
"Second, you won't be looking forward to any higher realms."
"Third, yes, I do think I can stand against the entire Netherworld by myself... After all, the most troublesome person in the Netherworld is currently in the mortal world."
Saying that, he lowered his hand.
The [Divine Firmament Thunder], having long been charged to its absolute limit, crashed down. The Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation transformed into eighty-one blazing thunderbolts, slamming viciously into Emperor Cang's incarnation.
"Boom!"
Already in a weakened state, how could his dharma body possibly withstand Lu Yang's fully charged attack? It disintegrated on the spot, exploding violently. The newly regenerated flesh and blood turned into flying ash once more, and his unhealed bones completely shattered. All his profound wonders were swept clean by the thunder.
It was like a single stone kicking up a thousand ripples.
At the exact moment this incarnation completely dissipated, far away on the summit of Mount Bozhong in the [Four Great Ghost Domains], within the towering imperial palace at the center of the Dao Court's Youdu...
A streak of golden light suddenly shot into the sky!
The golden light dispersed the dark clouds, looking incredibly sacred, but it actually exuded a chilling, deathly aura. A voice, mixing shock and fury, echoed within it:
"Who is it?!"
The Blue Heaven Incarnation is dead!
Inside Youdu, a young man with glazed-colored eyes abruptly opened his eyes, his brow furrowed tightly. "Who killed Blue Heaven? That Master from the mortal world?"
"What exactly happened at Mount Beifeng?"
Meanwhile, a streak of light shot across the sky. It was the spy planted by the Dao of Dao Arts, in the Mount Beifeng ghost domain, the Death Spirit Perfected lord disguised as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He had come seeking a way to survive.
Since the borders of the ghost domain were already surrounded, he could only do the opposite and try his luck at Mount Beifeng, hoping to find an escape route.
Then, he froze.
"Strange... where is Mount Beifeng?"
Logically speaking, after flying for so long, I should have reached Mount Beifeng by now. Why is there only flat land as far as the eye can see? There's not even a shadow of a mountain.
After mulling it over, he reached a conclusion:
"I must have flown past it."
So, he turned back and began searching for Mount Beifeng again. However, it wasn't long before he stopped in his tracks, looking around to find that there was still absolutely nothing.
"Did I take the wrong path?"
"Am I under a blinding technique?"
"Is this an illusion created by a formation?"
"Have I experienced cultivation deviation?"
He went through this cycle of self-doubt dozens of times. Finally, the Dao Arts Death Spirit Perfected lord landed his streak of light on a vast plain, completely dumbfounded.
After countless moments of self-doubt and checking, he was now one hundred percent certain: this was Mount Beifeng.
But the question was: Where is the mountain?
Where did my massive Mount Beifeng go?!