In that moment, everyone stood stunned.
Even the Sword Lord, Cang Hao, the Spiritual Power Dao Lord, and the Dao Arts Dao Lord—who were locked in a fierce battle within the First History—simultaneously halted their clashing wonders.
Every Dao Lord turned their gaze toward the Netherworld.
[How was this done?]
[The Primordial Saint... fell into the Netherworld?]
[What a brilliant method.]
Shock and agitation boiled in their hearts. Even the Dao Arts and Spiritual Power Dao Lords chose to stop and watch.
The situation had taken a sudden turn. The Primordial Saint, once so high and mighty, had been dragged down. Would his stature fall with him?
Was this the golden opportunity of a millennium?
With this thought, the four Dao Lords abandoned their struggle. With a silent understanding, they turned to lock onto the figure in the Netherworld.
Like a pack of wolves eyeing a wounded tiger, they were ready to swarm and tear a piece of flesh from him at any moment.
Save Sisui? They only wanted to save him because the Primordial Saint was too strong. If they could finish him now, his rescue could wait.
Inside the Netherworld, Lu Yang's eyes went wide. He had always been curious about the Primordial Saint's appearance, as the man had only ever shown himself as a tiny figure.
Was he male or female? Tall or short?
Lu Yang strained his vision, searching for answers, only to find he still couldn't see the truth.
The figure that had seemed so small on the [Paramita] underwent a complete reversal upon entering the Netherworld.
A towering presence now filled the heavens. Even straining his eyes, Lu Yang could only see a single eye—one filled with star-sized talismanic characters in constant collision.
He was so massive that the Netherworld could barely contain him.
To that figure, mountains and rivers were like dust, and oceans were mere puddles. Without enough cultivation, one could barely see the hem of his robes even with the best divine abilities.
But Lu Yang had seen it. Even if it was only the tip of the iceberg, he had finally seen the Primordial Saint's form.
And I didn't die!
Endless joy surged in Lu Yang's heart. He had looked directly at the Dao Lord's true body and suffered no ill effects. The Primordial Saint really had been weakened.
Dao Tianqi, the First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak, had opened with a killing blow.
By using the Netherworld to weaken the Primordial Saint, he had thrust him into the center of the storm.
Lu Yang was full of admiration. Conversely, Dao Tianqi seemed slightly dissatisfied. "What a pity. Master's stature is too high; there is no way to bring him down completely."
"It is already impressive," the massive figure replied, his tone perfectly calm. "I did not misjudge you. Among the four of you, you are indeed the most troublesome."
His immeasurable form filled the Netherworld. Even the [Netherworld Lord's Palace] where Dao Tianqi resided seemed to fit in the palm of his hand.
Five fingers, like pillars of heaven, slowly closed around the palace, and the sound of shattering and disintegration filled the air.
Dao Tianqi was powerless to stop it. Swapping the Primordial Saint down from the [Paramita] at the cost of the Netherworld's components had exhausted his profound wonders.
However, he didn't need to move anymore. Now that the high-and-mighty Primordial Saint had fallen from the clouds, no Dao Lord would pass up the chance to strike him while he was down.
"Boom!"
At that moment, sword cries rang out as a convergence of rosy light from thousands of Dao Arts, a heaven-toppling sea of spiritual power, and all-encompassing laws—along with a colossal foot—crashed down.
The five Dao Lords set aside their disputes, striking the Primordial Saint with perfect, silent coordination. The massive, heaven-like figure swayed, but that was the extent of it. A clear laugh, no longer distant but sharp and distinct, echoed through the Netherworld:
"Is this all? It is not enough!"
Thunderous roars rolled as the [Inevitable Fate] Dao Tianqi had interrupted began to reform, locking onto the [Nascent Soul Pill] still in Lu Yang's hands.
However, a calm voice cut through the chaos.
"No, it is enough."
The World Honored One, who had been sitting cross-legged upon the [Paramita], slowly stood up. His massive will echoed across the void.
"Lend me the [Heavenly Dao], and I will expel [Myriad Laws] and the others from the First History for you."
His condition was straightforward. A hazy brilliance descended upon the World Honored One, merging with the karmic halo behind him to form an unfathomable ocean.
"Everyone, my apologies."
The World Honored One chuckled and invoked the [Heavenly Dao]. With its power, his control over karma surged past its limits to an entirely new level. In an instant, the Dao Arts and Spiritual Power Dao Lords—who were mere steps from rescuing Sisui—felt the world shift.
The shadows of history began to fade as the World Honored One, acting as gatekeeper, forcibly expelled the two intruders.
[World Honored One... you tricked us?]
[You bald donkey!]
Ignoring their angry rebukes, the World Honored One drove them out while simultaneously focusing his vast power onto the Netherworld.
[What are you doing?] a voice like clashing metal demanded.
"This is no concern of yours," the World Honored One replied indifferently. "I am simply taking charge of the [Heavenly Dao] and handling my own affairs while I deal with Spiritual Power and Dao Arts. Do you intend to interfere?"
If you interfere and take back the [Heavenly Dao], then do not blame me if I lack the strength to expel the others. If they stay, they will continue their destruction and attempt to rescue Sisui.
"..."
After a brief silence, the Sword Lord weighed the risks and accepted the situation. The World Honored One allowed himself a small smile.
Everything was going according to plan. Using the other Dao Lords as bait to force the Sword Lord and Cang Hao to lend him the [Heavenly Dao] had been his goal from the start.
Dao Tianqi's trump card was the only surprise, but sending the Primordial Saint into the Netherworld had only made his own methods easier to deploy.
"Amitabha..."
The World Honored One pressed his palms together. The halo behind his head seemed to bridge the past and the future, manifesting towering figures one by one.
He was the World Honored One of the future, Di Muni.
He was the Perfected Lord Brilliant World Joyous Light of the present, Di Mituo.
And he was the First-generation Master of Myriad Treasures Peak from the past, a man whose name had been buried by history—
[Shi Tianyi]!
The World Honored One stepped down from the [Paramita], passing through the combined power of the Dao Lords with calm leisure until he stood before Lu Yang.
Lu Yang understood instantly and handed over the [Nascent Soul Pill]. The World Honored One took it as gently as if picking up a flower petal.
He smiled, then vanished like a dream bubble into nothingness.
Altering Cause, Changing Effect!