It should be said that Lu Yang still underestimated Bu Tianque's line of thought too much.
However, there was one point he didn't misjudge: as a member of the Saint Sect, and the type with the highest purity at that, Bu Tianque's ability to take action couldn't be underestimated either.
When he said he would do it, he did it.
Before his voice even faded, Lu Yang only felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows. A strong sense of crisis swept over his entire body. The radiance behind him abruptly rippled, transforming into a sea of dust.
[Mortal Dust Tribulations]!
Almost simultaneously, Bu Tianque had already arrived before him. His fair and tender small hand, like a lover's caress, casually rested on his face.
Instantly, Lu Yang felt the world spin before his eyes. Yet even so, his body remained unmoving and unswaying. He merely shook his shoulders, and all the profound wonder applied to his body was shaken off like clothing, sinking into the vast ocean of light behind him and instantly vanishing without a trace.
However, in the next instant, Bu Tianque opened his mouth.
"Ah woo..."
Red lips and white teeth, a cherry-like small mouth, a red tongue curling slightly. With just a single open and close, the [Mortal Dust Tribulations] surrounding Lu Yang instantly dimmed, astonishingly disappearing just like that.
[Heaven-Mending Dao]!
This Great Dao was similarly attained out of thin air by Bu Tianque, possessing both internal and external applications. What Bu Tianque executed at this moment was exactly the internal profound wonder.
Swallowing external qi to mend oneself!
Almost simultaneously, Bu Tianque struck again. Swallowing the [Mortal Dust Tribulations] not only didn't weaken his momentum, but was like a massive tonic, taking him to a higher level!
Immediately after, Bu Tianque slowly extended a single finger. Endless white light gathered at his fingertip, pouring out completely as he pointed. This was exactly the external application method of the [Heaven-Mending Dao]. Having mended himself internally, he naturally needed to vent. And this venting carried the momentum of a thunderbolt!
"Rumble!"
In a split second, Lu Yang lost the protection of the [Mortal Dust Tribulations], yet his movements weren't slow in the slightest. He merely stomped his foot, immediately causing heaven and earth to rumble violently.
[Divine Offering]!
In an instant, grand and resonant sounds of chanting rose and fell in succession, as if singing praises and extolling virtues, manifesting the phantoms of various gods, governing heaven and controlling earth, commanding the universe and all directions to heed the decree.
In the next instant, the profoundly wonderful white light that was originally condensed into one was torn apart out of thin air, transforming into hundreds of thousands of thin rays of light that fell around Lu Yang.
"...Hm."
Seeing this, a hint of surprise surfaced in the depths of Bu Tianque's eyes, but he didn't hesitate. He rapidly withdrew and retreated, only to realize in shock that the heaven and earth around him had abruptly solidified.
"Fellow Daoist, having eaten mine, you still want to leave without spitting it out?"
Lu Yang sneered. He knew how sinister Bu Tianque was. The [Mortal Dust Tribulations] he had just swallowed, if given enough time, could possibly be completely refined by him!
Instantly, Bu Tianque discovered that the surrounding heaven and earth were gradually manifesting a shape. Looking out, it was astonishingly a broad and thick palm that was slowly closing.
'Not good.' Bu Tianque completely retracted his previous teasing expression. A strong warning sign told him that if he really let this palm close around him, he would not be able to escape... At this thought, he finally stopped holding back. He opened his mouth and let out a long breath.
"Rumble!"
The [Mortal Dust Tribulations] broke free and returned, astonishingly carrying a bit of profoundly wonderful concussive force, causing Lu Yang's fluid movements to abruptly pause, revealing a sliver of a flaw.
'This place is his home ground; a protracted battle is disadvantageous... Leave!'
Bu Tianque took a step back. Using the external application of the [Heaven-Mending Dao], he opened a passage within the grotto-heaven. Subsequently, with a leap of his body, he vanished from his spot.
In the next instant, Lu Yang suppressed the turbulence and caught his breath.
'...Worthy of being a first-generation Peak Master.'
'Even though I occupied the geographical advantage, wanting to single-handedly kill him at the same cultivation realm is still too difficult. At most, I can only gain the upper hand like just now.'
Despite this, Lu Yang wasn't very disappointed.
After all, he was originally never good at fighting those at the same realm. From the beginning of his cultivation until now, he had always fought many against few, using the strong to bully the weak. Fights at the same realm could be counted on one's fingers.
"Besides... I'm not in a hurry."
Lu Yang looked around. Bu Tianque and the Great Sword Ancestor had left one after another. At this moment, the only Heaven Treading Great Perfected Lord left within the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace] was Pan Huang.
This one was easy to deal with and didn't require much attention.
Aside from him, Lu Yang didn't plan on letting go of the remaining Great Perfected Lords, Perfected Lords, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators. He prepared to keep them all here to add bricks and tiles to the Investiture of the Gods Method!
But before that—
'Let's begin.'
Lu Yang sat down cross-legged on the spot. He first resealed the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace], ensuring no one could escape and no one could barge in again.
Following that, he called Patriarch Nether Whisper and Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon over again.
"Patriarch, Master, please stand guard for me."
After giving his instructions, he directly closed his eyes and began to sense the unseen [Heavenly Palace], his divine sense consciousness drifting towards the high and distant heights.
Soon, the towering palace was right before his eyes.
And at the very top of the palace, Lu Yang's main body also paced out. The two spirits stood facing each other—one strand of consciousness, one main body, both silent.
After a long time, Lu Yang let out a long breath.
"...Sever!"
No longer hesitating, the [Method of Traversing the Mortal Dust] he previously obtained from Sisui rumbled into operation, transforming into a crystal-clear sword that slashed right in the middle of the two bodies.
Like a silk thread snapping.
Instantly, Lu Yang's main body only felt his mind clear. On the other side, the consciousness also closed its eyes, then opened them again, a clear brightness manifesting in their depths.
In the next second, the two bowed simultaneously.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
Immediately after, Lu Yang's main body took a step forward. The soul and the consciousness swapped positions, causing the consciousness and the main body to unite as one, while the main body's soul replaced the consciousness.
From then on, the consciousness would reside outside the sea of light, while his main body would delve deep into the false history to personally lead the changing of heaven and earth. The two were completely disconnected, yet simultaneously held control over the [Heavenly Palace], not interfering with each other. Only when both achieved perfection at the end would they fight to decide who is primary.
"...Forgive my bluntness."
Right at this moment, the consciousness deep within the [Heavenly Palace] suddenly spoke: "Fellow Daoist's action is simply foolish to the extreme. If I were Fellow Daoist, I would absolutely not do this."
Lu Yang raised his head upon hearing this.
Within the towering palace, layers of divine light piled up, and boundless imagery gathered, jointly clustering around a supremely noble and honored figure, transcending the mortal world.
In the next second, he smiled:
"From this, it can be seen that Fellow Daoist should choose a new name for yourself from now on."
"I also have this intention."
The figure within the palace nodded slightly and said: "I am the lord of the Heavenly Palace, seated above all gods. Since that is the case, from now on, I shall be the [Heavenly Emperor]."
Lu Yang sensed it briefly, then smiled bitterly.
On the Heavenly Emperor, he could sense an incredibly clear, unwavering Dao thought. It was the purest thought of pursuing the Great Dao and being solely self-honored.
Heaven is great, Earth is great, but I am the greatest.
This was [Good].
On the contrary, his main body, delving deep into the false history, mingling in the mortal world, deeply plunging into perilous situations just to borrow the strength of ants, was a manifestation of disregarding oneself.
This was [Evil].
"...I became the Evil Consciousness?"
Lu Yang was somewhat surprised. Thinking about it, he suddenly understood Sisui's feelings back then a bit: "The so-called division of good and evil is actually just flipping a coin!"
"At first glance, this is splitting the self. But actually, the moment you toss the coin into the air, you already know the result you want."
All that needed to be done was simply defeat the unwanted one.
This was a competition of [Self]. Neither side would seek external assistance, because only by "relying on oneself" could they make each other perfect and finally forge the Primordial Spirit.
"Understanding the mind and seeing the true nature is nothing more than this."
At this thought, Lu Yang took one last look at the figure gradually fading into the [Heavenly Palace]. Harboring no more attachments, he turned around and returned to the false history.