A lone smoke in the desert rises straight; the setting sun over the long river is round.
Clearly it was high in the heavenly dome, amidst boundless clouds and wilderness, yet at this moment, a plain-burning great fire was ignited, as if a scarlet picture scroll was paved all the way from the southern sky to the northern sky.
Looking out, the burning spread as far as the eye could see.
However, this very scene of burning plains did not shine brilliantly like [Heavenly Fire]. The color it projected was instead a gloomy, inexplicable sinking darkness.
[Mountain Peak Fire].
This single Dao Fruit simply hung in the canopy of heaven, wantonly unbridled. Coupled with the vast and mighty profound sound, it instantly spread throughout the massive Immortal Nexus, announcing it to all cultivators in the world.
[Perfected Lord Yuji Siming]!
What entered their sight was only the setting sun and remnant twilight. And everyone bathed in the heavenly light, regardless of whether they were mortal or immortal cultivator, heard this supreme and extremely noble profound title.
For a time, an unknown number of Qi Refining cultivators and Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones bowed in salute. Even Perfected Lords in secluded cultivation successively walked out of their cave abodes at this moment, nodding in acknowledgment from afar towards the direction of the Dao Fruit. He was a Perfected Lord after all; even if he was merely a newly advanced person, he still stood in a position of honor.
Meanwhile.
Within the [Laojun Temple], Lu Yang, who had completely walked out of the jade stone, stood with his hands behind his back. Countless cultivators inside the mountain currently swarmed towards him in disbelief.
"Paying respects to the Virtuous Immortal."
The one leading them was exactly Perfected One Yu Hua. This old Perfected One's face was full of wild joy at this moment. Without a second word, he knelt prostrate on the ground and heavily kowtowed a ringing kowtow.
Behind him, the rest of the cultivators also successively did the same.
Seeing this, Lu Yang smiled calmly, and then waved his sleeve robe. Immediately, heavenly light like a tide, like a raging fire, swept away the demonic miasama within a radius of thousands of miles, clearing it entirely.
Thus, the cheers grew even louder.
Many cultivators who had survived the disaster even directly raised their hands with faces full of fanaticism, looking excitedly like 'the Virtuous Immortal's kindness can never be fully repaid'.
However, Lu Yang gradually frowned.
...It's not right. Where is Lingxiao?
Borrowing the momentum of attaining [Mountain Peak Fire], he had spread his aura throughout the entire false history Immortal Nexus. If Lingxiao was also here, it was impossible for him not to have noticed.
Since that was the case, why didn't he come?
Or to say, he couldn't come?
Thinking of this, a trace of heaviness instantly surfaced in the depths of Lu Yang's eyes. He immediately withdrew his wonders, transformed back into the hoary-faced old man, and returned into the temple.
Now that I have obtained the status of a Perfected Lord, I can let go of some constraints.
With a slight thought from Lu Yang, his consciousness instantly connected to the Heavenly Palace outside that false history. Then, borrowing [Mountain Peak Fire] as cover, he brought over a wonder.
[Dripping Essence of Heaven]!
Instantly, Eight Trigrams patterns surfaced between Lu Yang's fingers, followed by the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The two collided, calculating future karma.
Before long, two hexagram images surfaced.
Lu Yang fixed his eyes on it and instantly frowned: The Five Elements use [Wood], the Eight Trigrams take [Gen]. [Wood] corresponds to Lingxiao, [Gen] is his current situation.
Wood combining with the Gen hexagram: Auspicious in spring and summer, unfavorable in autumn and winter. It is best to match the right time.
Lu Yang stroked his fingers, a look of realization gradually surfacing deep in his eyes: In other words, the reason Lingxiao hasn't come is because he hasn't echoed the auspicious time.
"His time of entering the false history is different from mine!"
Although he, Lingxiao, and that disciple of the Dao Arts Dao Lord were all sent into the false history, and were all locked onto one hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred years ago.
However, this was only an imaginary number.
After all, the closer to the time point of the Battle of the Dao Lords, the stronger the interference. Therefore, the point in time the three finally arrived in the false history would definitely have subtle differences.
Of course, the difference definitely wouldn't be too large.
Although it wouldn't be as much as a few hundred years, a few years at the least, or a few decades at the most, was still possible... In other words, Lingxiao might not have even come in yet!
Of course, this was the optimistic view.
Looking from a bad angle, Lingxiao might also have arrived earlier than him, but due to some unknowable reasons, fell into a predicament where he was unable to contact him.
...I have to investigate.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately had a slight thought. Before long, Perfected One Yu Hua, having received the transmission, walked briskly into the temple with a face full of gratitude.
Following that was a thump.
"Many thanks, Immortal, for saving my disciple's life!"
"Rise."
Lu Yang waved his hand and said faintly: "Your disciple's essence, energy, and spirit have suffered a severe deficit. He cannot withstand tonics right now. Let him sleep and recuperate peacefully for a month first."
"Many thanks, Immortal!" Perfected One Yu Hua kowtowed again.
"Alright. Compared to these worldly formalities, it's better to work attentively." Lu Yang said crisply and cleanly: "Collect a copy of the history of the past hundred years for me."
"Yes!"
Perfected One Yu Hua had no intention of questioning it whatsoever. He immediately nodded in agreement, then joyfully took his disciple with him and left the temple.
Leaving only Lu Yang alone, his expression changing between cloudy and clear.
Arriving early, arriving late.
If it's the latter, then fine, it's nothing more than waiting a period of time. But if it's the former... then the waters of this false history are probably deeper than I thought.
Jiangnan, Sword Pavilion.
Unlike the orthodox history, the false history's Sword Pavilion did not have that mountain gate shooting straight into the clouds like a divine sword. Instead, sword peaks stood in great numbers upon the great earth.
However, there was one location that was exactly the same as the true history.
It was exactly [Extreme Heaven Cliff].
This place was still the highest peak in Jiangnan. And on the edge of the cliff, a figure was seen sitting cross-legged, stroking his sword and looking at the sky, watching that scene of the setting sun and remnant twilight.
If Lu Yang were here, he would definitely be greatly surprised, because this person's appearance was exactly the same as Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon. At first glance, there was nothing special about him, as if he were a mortal visible everywhere in the mundane marketplace. At first glance, he even looked somewhat gloomy, his brows furrowed into a knot.
"...[Mountain Peak Fire]."
The next second, the man suddenly spoke: "Fellow Daoist, is this the person you are waiting for?"
After a brief silence, the whooshing sound of wind blew past the cliff, echoing a light chuckle: "Over so many years, this is the twelfth time Fellow Daoist has asked me."
"But I can't even see a thing. How can I distinguish for Fellow Daoist?"
"If Fellow Daoist truly wants to know, why not let me out for a moment so I can take a look? Perhaps I can even give Fellow Daoist an accurate answer."
Hearing this, the man shook his head:
"I do not trust demon."
As soon as these words came out, the voice in the wind instantly changed, full of innocence: "How many times have I said, I have absolutely no relationship with that whatever Primordial Saint Sect, Fellow Daoist is slandering me."
"Whether you are or not, I naturally have my own judgment in my heart."
The man's voice was indifferent. Then he shifted his gaze, looking towards the top of the heavenly dome. There, the anomaly named [Mars Lingering in the Heart] remained hanging high without falling.
"Pitiful, lamentable."
In the mountain wind, the voice sounded again:
"The whole world is turbid, and only I am clear—that's probably what Fellow Daoist is like right now... Your attainments in Dao Heart are actually a pain for you."
The man didn't speak a word.
Only after a long time passed did he withdraw his gaze, no longer looking at [Mars Lingering in the Heart]. Instead, he let out a long breath and said: "Fellow Daoist told me after all."
"Many thanks."
"It seems this great dream of mine is finally about to wake."
(Author's Note: End of chapter)