Mount Luofu.
In the vast Netherworld, across the Four Great Ghost Domains, this was the last remaining territory of the Three Foundations. And even this final territory was constantly being encroached upon.
The atmosphere of the past—where everyone wore a smile and could discuss the profound Dao at any time—had long vanished. Every cultivator was travel-worn. Some had just retreated from the front lines, some were about to head there, some were still trying to boost morale, and some had completely despaired of the future.
A collapsing mansion.
Anyone who looked at the current Three Foundations would have this thought. Only this final spark remained of the brilliant ancient era.
And even this spark was about to be extinguished.
Not only did the death spirits of the Grotto-Heaven Method believe they were about to snuff out the Three Foundations' final spark, but even the Three Foundations themselves felt they were on the verge of perishing.
The only reason they hadn't collapsed yet, the only reason they were still putting up a stubborn resistance, was that whenever they looked up, they could still see that figure. A figure that burned across half the sky, that would never extinguish, and would never stop boiling. It was exactly that figure holding up the collapsing mansion.
"It's the [Supreme Law Body]!"
"Great Perfected Lord Upholding Origin has returned! Regardless of anything else, there's finally some good news. That group of Grotto-Heaven Method demons was finally thwarted by the Great Perfected Lord."
"I knew it..."
For a time, the crowd was buzzing with excitement. Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin's reputation was illustrious even in the ancient era, and he was the most senior among all the death spirits currently in the Netherworld.
Having been besieged by the Grotto-Heaven Method for so many years, he was the only cultivator left who had truly and completely experienced the glory of the ancient era. The Dharma Body Dao was completely wiped out, needless to say, and not even one in ten of the Dao of Dao Arts remained. The current Dao of Dao Arts was dominated by cultivators from the Mortal World's Mysterious Wall.
In the current Netherworld, there were five Immortal Bridge realm Great Perfected Lords.
Emperor Cang held three spots exclusively. The Dao of Dao Arts had a Great Celestial Master from the Mortal World. The last one was this Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin of the Spiritual Power Dao.
To many death spirits of the Three Foundations, he was their final pillar of support.
So this is it.
This Great Perfected Lord truly has quite the reputation.
Among the crowd, a young man in black robes looked up at the sky. Summarizing the intelligence he had gathered, a trace of deep suspicion couldn't help but surface in his eyes:
But is that really the case?
Lu Yang stroked his chin, feeling something was off. Everyone else is dead, and you're the only one left. Could it be that you earned this by selling out your teammates?
He looked up at the sky.
As far as his eyes could see, the figure that ignited the horizon stood majestically, as if holding up the overturned sky. His eyes hung high in the sea of clouds like the sun and moon.
His calm, solemn face revealed no emotion. However, every cultivator who entered Mount Luofu and approached the location of the Three Foundations' final spark would feel that eternally burning figure look down at them. Only after confirming there were no problems would the gaze move away.
An Immortal Bridge Great Perfected Lord personally standing guard.
For an expert of this level to personally do the work of a gatekeeper... Lu Yang was somewhat surprised, but fortunately, he came prepared.
Facing a mighty figure at the same level as himself, he couldn't use the [Overturned Lamp Flame] to conceal himself like before. It would definitely be easily seen through.
So this time, he had to use a more absolute, flawless method.
The [Colorful Talent: The Dove Occupying the Magpie's Nest]!
Lu Yang activated the talent and selected Qing Kui, the Dao Arts spy he had captured. Only then did he wear a calm expression and stride proudly into the territory of Mount Luofu.
"Hmm? Qing Kui?"
The next second, the figure burning heaven and earth cast his gaze downward. Unextinguishing flames surged in his pupils as his gaze was accompanied by a soft, surprised hum.
In an instant, the world spun.
Lu Yang didn't resist. He saw the scenery before him blur and shift, and he was plucked out of thin air from the edge of the territory, landing inside a towering palace hall.
Following that, a streak of flowing fire separated from that towering figure. Like a meteor, it plummeted from the sky, landing right in front of him. Its form shifted, and finally, a solemn, middle-aged man with facial features as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe stepped out. He looked at Lu Yang with a smile.
"Did that person send you back?"
Lu Yang didn't hesitate. He immediately smiled and nodded, wearing the expression of someone who had just survived a disaster. "Yes. This subordinate almost thought I wouldn't be able to see you again, Senior."
"Good, good, good!"
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin sighed emotionally.
"To send you back shows that his heart ultimately lies with the Three Foundations. And for him to pull off such a massive feat at Mount Baodu... it truly is tremendous news."
"Tell me about him."
The next second, the Spiritual Power Dao Great Perfected Lord asked with curiosity, "That inheritor of Lord Sisui... what kind of person is he?"
Hearing this, Lu Yang immediately replied, "I think he's a good person."
"Naturally."
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin nodded upon hearing this, looking as if it were a matter of course. "How could the inheritor personally chosen by Lord Sisui possibly be a bad person?"
Even though the other party had tricked him earlier—making him act as bait at Mount Beifeng while he went to sneak attack Mount Baodu—there could never be too much deception in war. Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin felt it wasn't incomprehensible. After all, those Grotto-Heaven Method demons were so evil; dealing with them required flexibility.
Exactly, exactly! You understand me so well!
Lu Yang was satisfied internally, while simultaneously realizing just how exaggerated Lord Sisui's reputation as the Dao Lord of the Dharma Body was. Isn't this guy's credit score a bit too high?!
He had only inherited a tiny bit of Sisui's legacy.
Yet Emperor Cang firmly believed he wouldn't detonate the [Dao-Conquering Tianhun Diagram], Sisui's relic. And Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin firmly believed he must be a good person.
"Oh, right."
The next second, Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin, who was still feeling emotional, suddenly snapped out of it and asked, "After he let you go, did he give you a way to contact him?"
"...He did!"
Lu Yang had prepared for this. He immediately nodded and said, "He left a jade pendant with me, saying it could be used to contact him... Do you want to contact him now, Senior?"
In his expectations, the only reason Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin would want to contact him was to recruit him into the Three Foundations' faction and play the sympathy card. For example, talking about how miserable the Three Foundations had been all these years, how incredibly difficult their situation was, and how desperately they needed his help.
Lu Yang had already prepared a counter-speech for this.
In short, he would offer all support except actual help. Trying to guilt-trip him into working for free was impossible.
However, when the moment came.
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin's expression shifted several times. In the end, he didn't say the recruiting words Lu Yang expected. Instead, he suddenly sighed:
"...Forget it."
"It must be hard for him too. The fact that he isn't willing to come back, and even deceived me earlier, mostly likely means he still doesn't trust us. Communicating now wouldn't have much meaning."
"I won't talk to him."
"Qing Kui, find a chance to tell him later... If he needs my help with anything next time, he doesn't need to try and deceive me."
"Just tell me, and I will definitely help him."
Lu Yang: "..."
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang kept his expression normal and hurriedly nodded. "This subordinate understands."
Just then.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin's figure, which constantly oversaw the entirety of Mount Luofu, seemed to have spotted unexpected arrivals and let out a soft hum of surprise.
Seeing this, Lu Yang blinked. "My Lord...?"
"We have guests."
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "You stay. Since you are from the Dao of Dao Arts, stay here and listen in. You can meet them while you're at it."
"Dare I ask, My Lord, the guests are...?"
"The [Pill Maiden] and the [Cauldron Boy]."
Perfected Lord Supreme Law Upholding Origin's tone was calm, but his eyes carried a hint of complex emotion. "They are Pill Cauldron's disciples."