"I'm going to die, I'm going to die..."
At the former site of Mount Beifeng, Qing Kui, the spy planted by the Dao of Dao Arts in this ghost domain, felt a massive amount of pressure. He felt as if he had walked right into a trap.
"I'm taking the fall for someone again."
"Did the mastermind do this on purpose? Did they guess I was coming to Mount Beifeng, so they deliberately made the whole mountain disappear just to frame me?"
That can't be, right?!
The mastermind is a Great Perfected Lord, after all. What do they gain from framing me? Besides, with my meager cultivation, I can't even shoulder a blame this big.
Unless—ah.
The next second, Qing Kui's train of thought froze. That's right. Aside from making me take the fall, there's another possibility. With this whole setup, if nothing else, they've successfully dug me out from my extremely deep cover. If they're waiting in ambush nearby right now...
Qing Kui raised his head and his mouth fell open slightly.
The sky and earth were gone.
All he could see was a single bright lamp. It illuminated the outside world but cast a cluster of darkness right where he stood, instantly submerging his consciousness.
By the time he came back to his senses.
Qing Kui found himself standing in a vast, hazy expanse where no scenery could be seen, save for a towering mountain sitting right in the center.
Mount Beifeng.
The missing Mount Beifeng was right here, and he was currently standing on its summit. Before him stood a figure with hands clasped behind his back, robes fluttering in the wind.
In front of this figure was a surging, roaring sea of pill fire. It was extremely scattered, but under the empowerment of a boundless and matchless spiritual power, it was gradually converging. The pill fire flowed like a river, slowly showing signs of condensing into physical form. Just looking at this scene made Qing Kui's chest burn with searing heat.
The [MyriadRefinements Blood Pool].
Formed from a drop of Lord Sisui's true blood. How did it end up in his hands? Where is Emperor Cang's incarnation? Did he kill him? Is he an Immortal Bridge realm Great Perfected Lord?
For a moment, Qing Kui's mind went completely blank.
To be honest, he wasn't surprised that the mastermind was a Great Perfected Lord. However, an Immortal Bridge realm Great Perfected Lord was on a completely different level from other Great Perfected Lords!
A Great Perfected Lord at this cultivation level could practically be said to have the qualifications to Seek the Nascent Soul. Although the odds of success were incredibly low—theoretically only a sliver of hope—they were qualified nonetheless. Even in the Netherworld, this ghost domain teeming with death spirits and gathering more than half the elite from the ancient era...
There were only about five Immortal Bridge realm Great Perfected Lords!
For many Great Perfected Lords, this step could only be described as an uncrossable chasm. Yet now, one had suddenly appeared, and such a powerful one at that!
How did he do it?
Just who is he? Outside the ghost domains, the reception of true spirits into the Netherworld is supposed to be controlled by the Dao Lords. Just think of the heavy price we paid to smuggle ourselves in...
Qing Kui knew some of the inside story.
However, precisely because he knew the inside story, he was even more terrified. To deceive the Dao Lords, he must have the backing of a Dao Lord! But... but how is that possible...
With this thought, Qing Kui even felt a little dizzy.
That was, until a voice reached his ears:
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist. I'm one of the good guys."
Lu Yang turned around, a gentle smile on his face. "I just want to negotiate a trade with the Great Perfected Lord backing you. I wonder if you could contact them for me?"
Qing Kui finally snapped out of his daze. He took a deep breath and pulled out a palm-sized miniature human statue made entirely of precious jade from his sleeve. As Qing Kui poured more than half of his spiritual power into it, the statue instantly came to life. A vigorous burst of spirituality appeared in its previously dull eyes.
Immediately after, a voice echoed from the statue:
"Qing Kui? Perfect timing, I also have... hmm?"
The voice abruptly cut off.
Almost simultaneously, Lu Yang felt a heavy gaze cross through the void, using the statue as a medium, and land squarely on him.
"A nameless nobody greets you, Fellow Daoist."
Lu Yang smiled slightly. The bright lamp above his head radiated brilliant, flowing colors, completely concealing his aura, appearance, and stature, leaving only a blurry silhouette.
At the same time, the candlelight also fell upon the statue, revealing some of the other party's background.
A Spiritual Power Dao Great Perfected Lord.
Cultivation at the Immortal Bridge realm? As expected, the Spiritual Power Dao still has capable people. Those in the Star Palace were just the ones who managed to flee. The ones who didn't flee are the true elites.
This was normal.
After all, not everyone was like Lord Sisui, willing to risk their lives to save lower-realm cultivators. And judging by the results, the Dao Lord of Spiritual Power's decision couldn't have been more correct.
The next second, the voice from the statue spoke again:
"I am... Supreme Law. Was the incident at Mount Beifeng your doing, Fellow Daoist?"
The Great Perfected Lord backing Qing Kui was none other than [Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin], who had just fought one against three at the border. Therefore, he quickly guessed Lu Yang's identity.
Lu Yang laughed.
"It seems you've saved me the time of explaining. In that case, I won't waste words. Fellow Daoist, do you want to join forces with me and pull off something big?"
His tone was just like a bandit.
The Dharma Body Dao?
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin pondered this and said calmly, "You killed Emperor Cang's Blue Heaven Incarnation. Emperor Cang definitely won't let you off. You are in great danger right now."
"Oh? How dangerous?" Lu Yang asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin immediately formed a new judgment.
Did this person die recently? Otherwise, how could he not know Emperor Cang's strength... Are there actually still Dharma Body Dao Great Perfected Lords dying recently in the Mortal World?
"Nine chances of death, one chance of survival!"
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin said solemnly, "After Emperor Cang betrayed us, he became the Dao Court's First-generation Son of Heaven. Therefore, he can also mobilize the power of the Dao Court here in the Netherworld.
"Because of this, Emperor Cang is practically invincible in Mount Baodu and Mount Bozhong. Your timing in killing his Blue Heaven Incarnation was just right. The Blue Heaven Incarnation probably hadn't set up the [Heavenly Laws and Earthly Rules] yet. Otherwise, with the empowerment of the [Heavenly Laws and Earthly Rules], even if it was just an incarnation, you wouldn't have been able to win."
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
The [Heavenly Laws and Earthly Rules]... it seems this is the Netherworld's exclusive version of the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws].
Thinking of this, he continued:
"So, you're saying both Mount Baodu and Mount Bozhong have been completely taken over by the Dao Court?"
"...That's correct."
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin sighed. "Currently, only Mount Luofu, where we are based, is still resisting. We had already assumed Mount Beifeng had fallen as well."
"Fellow Daoist, your slaying of the Blue Heaven Incarnation has truly given us a massive breather." At this point, the Immortal Bridge Great Perfected Lord of the Spiritual Power Dao sounded incredibly sincere. "You mentioned earlier about pulling off something big. Did you mean setting an ambush at Mount Beifeng and joining forces with us to surround and kill the other demons?"
Lu Yang nodded slightly. "Do you think it's feasible, Fellow Daoist?"
Hearing this, Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin fell silent for a long time before answering in a deep voice, "The hope is slim, because Emperor Cang's main body will also come.
"Although Mount Beifeng doesn't have the [Heavenly Laws and Earthly Rules], and I am confident I can tangle with him...
"The odds of winning are very low.
"Even if we lay an ambush in advance and attack the unprepared, I'm afraid it will still be very difficult to kill Emperor Cang. At most, we could threaten Xin Ye and the others accompanying him..."
Lu Yang waved his hand. "Killing even one is good. It's a win no matter how you look at it."
"...That's true."
"So, it's a deal then?" Lu Yang smiled. "Then I will respectfully await your esteemed arrival at Mount Beifeng, Fellow Daoist. Please try to bring as many people with you as possible."
"I understand."
As his voice faded, the light emanating from the statue dissipated.
The next second, before Qing Kui could even speak, Lu Yang reached out a large hand, knocked him out, bundled him up, and sent him off to keep Bodhisattva Immaculate and the former Grand Preceptor company.
At the same time, Perfected lord Tai Hao walked over.
With a face full of excitement, she said passionately, "If we are going to set an ambush at Mount Beifeng, I think we can utilize the formation at the summit..."
Lu Yang paused, taken aback. "What ambush?"
Perfected lord Tai Hao was also taken aback. "Didn't you just say we were going to set up an ambush at Mount Beifeng..."
Lu Yang was left speechless.
"What Mount Beifeng! Didn't you hear him say Emperor Cang's main body is coming? Hurry up and execute a victorious retreat. We're heading to Mount Baodu and letting them fight like dogs!"