Pan Huang actually reacted.
It was just that by the time he reacted, Lingxiao had already struck down half of his body. Instantly, his main body in the [Heavenly Palace] stood up.
"Such audacity!"
Before his words fell, endless wonders thunderously poured from Pan Huang's main body into the Manifestation Body in [The Mortal World], causing the wonders on its body to increasingly expand.
The Investiture of the Gods Method differentiates between the Manifestation Body, the Karmic Body, and the True Body.
Previously, Pan Huang had always shown himself with the Manifestation Body. Triggering the wonders at this moment elevated it to the Karmic Body, which could display the vast majority of his strength.
The next second, a profound shadow lit up in the depths of Lingxiao's eyes. What entered his sight was a fist towering like a mountain, unbiased and unflinching, smashing over with an unstoppable momentum. Wherever it passed, all phenomena shattered. Furthermore, there was an intent that was difficult to shake and indestructible.
Seeing this, Lingxiao was unhurried and raised a single finger.
Fist and finger collided, yet it was the slender finger that won. The massively momentous fist print landed on the fingertip, but it was as if it had crashed into a wall of bronze and iron.
"Dharma Body Dao."
Lingxiao frowned tightly, but then shook his head: "No, it's not the Dharma Body, it's just purely hard. At the root, it's not the same thing."
Following that, he took a step back.
Behind his head, with the [Great Forest Wood] as the core, the radiance of five Dao Fruits was activated simultaneously, transforming into ring after ring of colorful light rippling behind his head.
And amidst the layers of colorful light, a palace hall slowly surfaced. It was the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace]. The moment it appeared, it immediately displayed an unparalleled overbearingness, instantly disappearing before Pan Huang's eyes. By the time it appeared again, it was already smashing down right on his head, making it impossible for him to evade.
Boom!
The illustrious Dao sound echoed inside and outside [The Mortal World]. Wherever it passed, the residual world realm fragments within [The Mortal World] were instantly crushed into dust on the spot.
Pan Huang had no power to fight back.
The doors of the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace] opened and closed, absorbing him inside. Following that, layer upon layer of colorful light fell, slicing away the wonders on his body like a death by a thousand cuts.
Wonders? Forgotten.
Spiritual Power? Gone.
Supreme Treasures? Unfound.
At this moment, Pan Huang's eyes were both obscured by a thin layer of haze. His consciousness sank into a stupor, seemingly about to be completely suppressed by Lingxiao.
But right at this crucial moment, at his waist, a one-handed axe abruptly shone brightly. The cold glint reflected on the axe blade resonated with him, briefly breaking through the bewilderment in his eyes. In a flash of lightning, he had already raised the hand axe into the air and forcefully chopped down, buying himself a fleeting moment of time.
In the next instant, his body vanished without a trace.
Only that hand axe flew out of the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace]. Before Lingxiao could intercept it, a large hand descended from the sky and grasped it anew.
"...Oh?"
Seeing this scene, Lingxiao held his chin with great interest. Yet he saw that Pan Huang, who had just been completely erased by him, had actually appeared entirely unharmed at this moment!
"An Incarnation? No, it's more brilliant."
Endless Light of Wisdom seemed to clash in the depths of Lingxiao's eyes, deducing the exchange just now: "Your main body is not in this place, which is why you aren't worried about being killed by me."
"But the death of your incarnation not without loss to you."
"At least the loss of an incarnation of that level just now is also a damage to you... But I have to admit, this is very suitable for preserving one's life."
The person who created this method must definitely have been pitted many times.
At the same time, Pan Huang had a solemn look on his face and said in a deep voice: "So, what exactly is Fellow Daoist's answer? You want to kill me, yet you don't use your full strength?"
As a former Heaven Treading Great Perfected Lord, Pan Huang knew best the gap between him and Lingxiao right now. To put it bluntly, if Lingxiao truly harbored killing intent toward him, that single finger strike just now could have completely poked him to death directly. Yet Lingxiao deliberately held back, and even intentionally tangled with him for a few moves.
This wasn't quite right.
To tell the truth, if Lingxiao had poked him to death with one finger, that would have been that. Having recognized the other party's attitude, Pan Huang wouldn't have bothered making useless conversation.
Yet Lingxiao held back.
This ambiguous attitude instead caused doubt in Pan Huang's heart. This was why he cooperatively exchanged a few moves with Lingxiao, only opening his mouth to ask at the very end.
Seeing this, Lingxiao nodded slightly.
Not bad.
Although he doesn't seem to have much Light of Wisdom and is a bit ugly, he's not a fool.
If Pan Huang had just flicked his sleeves and left directly because of his proactive attack, then he would have had nothing to say. Cooperating with a fool would only result in being pitted to death by the other party.
As for whether this would offend the Lord behind him, Lingxiao wasn't worried at all. The Lords in the sky only ever cared about whether a chess piece was useful or not, and whether it could be used. How could they be influenced by such trivial matters? As long as he was useful, even if he cursed them directly, they would still use him all the same.
However... it's still not enough.
Lingxiao let out a deep breath. Although he intentionally held back and exchanged a few moves with Pan Huang, he hadn't seen through the roots of the Dao Lineage he cultivated as he had hoped.
But his attitude had already been expressed.
Could that Lord see it, and how would he respond?
...
At the same time, inside the [Heavenly Palace].
Lu Yang sat properly on the Dao platform of [Da Luo Heaven]. The entire battle between Pan Huang and Lingxiao just now had been taken in by his eyes. At this moment, a smile was already in his eyes.
"He's testing me."
"He wants to see if I, this buyer, have sincerity, and whether I am willing to offer him a price... is it because I haven't told him a clear Dao path?"
Lu Yang understood Lingxiao's thoughts very well.
The so-called questions of whether the buyer was reliable and whether the price was high enough, to put it plainly, boiled down to one sentence— Could he point out a practical and feasible Dao path to the Nascent Soul for him?
If he could, then the price was high and he was reliable enough.
If he couldn't, then he was here to scam and had no sincerity.
The degree of this was very hard to measure, because Lingxiao was a member of the Saint Sect. And as a member of the Saint Sect, suspicion had long been deeply rooted in his survival instincts.
The last buyer he recognized was the World Honored One.
Why was the World Honored One recognized? Because both sides had shared interests. Lingxiao could see it and touch it, and he knew it in his heart. That was why he recognized the World Honored One.
What about himself?
Lingxiao's meaning was very simple— How high of a price can you offer to make me willing to hand over my Golden Nature, cut off my path in the Grotto-Heaven Method, and walk down this single path with you until the end?
Thinking of this, the smile at the corner of Lu Yang's mouth grew wider and wider.
This question was very easy to answer.
"Although I have to take a bit of a risk, and it goes against my original intention... but forget it, plans can't keep up with changes. This evil old ghost is worth this price."
The next second, Lu Yang moved.
...
Almost simultaneously, inside [The Mortal World].
Lingxiao abruptly widened his eyes, only to see a figure suddenly appear beside Pan Huang. He was incredibly ordinary, as if he had been standing there from the very beginning.
His appearance was strikingly handsome, his stature tall and imposing. Behind his head hovered a round halo like a setting sun, within which layers of multicolored light and shifting visions unfolded: ten thousand gods standing in majesty, Bagua patterns interweaving, countless waves of tribulation surging, a single hand veiling the heavens—until, at last, all of it condensed into a single, dazzling crimson.
His aura was undisguised.
His stature was abundantly clear.
Instantly, Lingxiao's pupils shrank abruptly. A touch of shock finally climbed onto his face. Yet he saw the young man before him lift the corners of his mouth slightly, carrying a smile as he said softly.
"Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, I have already answered your question."
The easygoing tone hid an unquestionable decisiveness and overbearingness.
"However, since I have answered this question, there is no way to retreat anymore. If Fellow Daoist still hesitates, I will have to come and personally take your Golden Nature!"
Lingxiao fell silent.
At this exact moment, only one thought remained in his heart.
Not a Dao Lord... He's actually not a Dao Lord!
Someone who opened up a new Dao Lineage, poached the foundation of the Grotto-Heaven Method, and had such high methods, was actually not a Dao Lord, but an Extreme Dao Great Perfected Lord just like himself!
Was he disappointed?
Of course not!
In fact, it was the exact opposite. A Dao seeker who was the same as him, or even a cut above—this was simply the most perfect buyer. He could offer the highest price!