Jiangbei, Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea
Clouds rolled and unrolled. At this very moment, what was widely known in the true history as a demonic cave was still a scenic immortal realm—and the "Saint Sect" was even still a complimentary term.
However, right at this moment, colorful clouds converged.
"Rumble!"
Rolling thunderous sounds, resonating with the Dao and startling the profound, surged from Jiangxi. Carrying a vast majesty similar to the Heavenly Lord's, twelve stars lit up one after another at the zenith of the firmament.
Water and fire became a disaster.
The overwhelming light intertwined in two colors, vast and boundless. Without bias or favor, it triggered immeasurable spiritual qi and crashed down upon the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea with a loud bang.
Almost simultaneously, two figures surfaced on the Sacred Fire Cliff.
"He's finally here."
The first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's expression was calm. Not only did he show not the slightest panic, but he even revealed a bit of eagerness to try, staring straight at those twelve stars.
"He is clearly not the master of the Dao Fruits, yet he can mobilize their profound wonders."
"What an excellent method."
While the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master praised, Bu Tianque had already activated the grand formation. The sea of clouds tumbled, and the light of the formation instantly illuminated the inner and outer heaven and earth.
Looking out, one saw the formation crisscrossing thirty-three ways, all-encompassing, vast and boundless. It transformed into a chessboard. All external forces falling into the Go board instantly turned formless, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple, only able to evolve into black pieces crisscrossing on the Go board, competing in Dao comprehension in this manner.
[Thirty-Three Heavens Intersecting Go Grand Formation]!
Once the Go board was set up, what the two opposing sides competed in was no longer the strength of their cultivation or the height of their stature, but the amount of their Dao comprehension; whoever had higher Dao comprehension held the advantage.
However, there are always exceptions to everything.
In the next second, the twelve stars on the zenith slowly rotated. Finally, eleven retreated, and one advanced. Immeasurable profound wonder violently crashed into the Go board.
[Illustrious Law]!
In an instant, unmatched brilliance swept through the inside and outside of the chessboard. This light was neither bright nor overbearing, yet it carried the imagery of illuminating all secrets.
"It's [Overtuned Lamp Fire]..."
Seeing this, the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's gaze stirred slightly. This Dao Fruit most strongly restrained hidden secrets. The formation was naturally among them, possessing no power to fight back.
Wherever the light passed, like a blazing lamp fire, it clarified all things. It actually illuminated all the formation nodes, operating patterns, and even flaws and defects of the entire [Thirty-Three Heavens Vertical and Horizontal Go Grand Formation]. Immediately after, the other eleven Dao Fruits closely followed and crashed down.
"Rumble!"
Amidst the earth-shattering noise, the formation of the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea persisted for less than three breaths before violently disintegrating, revealing the figures of the two first-generation Peak Masters.
"Good timing!"
The first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master swept his sleeve and stepped out. Seeing the twelve Dao Fruits turning heaven and revolving the sun, he wasn't afraid in the slightest. Instead, he laughed loudly and strode towards the sky vault.
Looking out, beneath the stars stood a handsome young man braving the wind. His dark robes fluttered, and his eyes looking at him were filled with icy coldness and indifference.
"Let me test Fellow Daoist's profound wonder!"
The profound voice echoed. Before the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's voice faded, he had already reached out and gently pushed the Dao crown on his head, raising a grand and brilliant clear light.
[Mystic Heaven Orthodox Crown]!
Mystic light filled the sky, stabilizing and grasping myriad phenomena.
For a time, even the twelve Dao Fruit stars on the sky vault seemed to experience a brief stagnation, their light also freezing in this instant.
However, precisely in this instant, the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's figure drifted and scattered like clouds and smoke. Entering from the present world, stepping out from nothingness, he had already passed through the interception of the Dao Fruit's light and arrived before Lu Yang in a single step. The long sword at his waist was brazenly unsheathed, reflecting a supreme pure white radiance.
[Eight Negations Wisdom Sword]!
This sword did not sever the body, nor did it sever the Dharma; it only severed thoughts in the mind. Before the sword even arrived, the bright sword light reflected in Lu Yang's pupils, turning his eyes blank.
Almost simultaneously, a bronze three-legged cauldron abruptly appeared.
The cauldron body hung in the sky and flipped downwards. Instantly, purple-azure fire and surging flame light poured out, shining squarely onto Lu Yang's face.
[Purple-Azure Doushuai Fire]!
"Rumble!"
Instantly, the rolling fierce fire melted Lu Yang's face, then continued downwards, igniting his body, spiritual power, profound wonders, and concept altogether.
However, in the next second, heavy clouds and smoke rose from the boiling fierce fire. Drifting and flying, they effortlessly leaped out of the encirclement of the flame light, recondensing their form ten thousand li away. Then, with a shake of the shoulders, as if shedding an article of clothing, he easily wiped away all the firelight on his body.
'[Star River Immortal], [Mortal Dust Tribulations]...'
The first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's gaze was calm. Bu Tianque had fought Lu Yang once before and communicated with him afterwards; naturally, he wouldn't hide this intelligence.
'The former is the profound wonder of [Heavenly River Water].'
'The latter is unknown, it should be the Great Dao this person attained out of thin air.'
Before he could continue thinking, an indifferent profound voice descended from the sky. Accompanying it was a resplendent Dao Fruit that governed all directions and commanded everything, lighting up.
[Heavenly Fire]!
The moment this supreme sovereign of the Fire Element appeared, its aura was truly magnificent. It immediately became the co-master of the twelve Dao Fruits, emitting an ecstatic and profound Dao resonance.
Following that was a dharma decree:
[Imperial Decree: First-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master Lian Tiandou, commit suicide.]
In an instant, the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master only felt his divine sense perception abruptly darken. A certain irresistible rule descended upon him out of thin air.
'It's [Inscribing Heavenly Chapters]!'
'What a [Heavenly Fire], wanting me to commit suicide.'
In a split second, a jade horsetail whisk appeared in the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's hand. Without any visible profound wonder, he simply swept it casually.
"Whoosh!"
Instantly, the rule's concept was completely swept away by him, not touching his body in the slightest. He retreated calmly, returning to the Sacred Fire Cliff of the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea.
However, this was temporary.
Somewhere unseen, the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master's perception was distinct and clear. That rule ordering him to commit suicide hadn't dissipated; instead, it penetrated even deeper into heaven and earth.
"Pfft!"
In the next second, the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master took out a jade bottle, poured out a pill, and swallowed it in one gulp, preparing to alleviate the injuries from the clash of profound wonders just now.
However, soon enough, his expression changed drastically. He then opened his mouth and vomited. The pill he had just swallowed was vomited out exactly as it was, mixed with several streaks of crystal-clear blood light. And his originally relatively peaceful aura also abruptly fluctuated due to this unexpected event; he had actually suffered quite a serious injury!
"Senior Brother...?"
Seeing this scene, Bu Tianque frowned slightly. He subconsciously wanted to help the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master stabilize his aura. However, the moment he made a move, it was a killing blow!
"Rumble!"
Profound wonder swept over. The first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master waved the jade horsetail whisk again. While sweeping away the peril, he also hurriedly stopped Bu Tianque, simultaneously coming to a sudden realization:
'What a [Inscribing Heavenly Chapters]!'
'All actions targeting me, whether healing, protection, or anything else, their logical operating rules have been modified to killing me!'
Taking medicine to heal became swallowing poison to commit suicide.
Stabilizing his aura became a profound killing blow.
At this moment, no matter what he did, the final resulting outcome would become [Suicide], as if his own ending had long been completely fixed!
'Hm? Wait...'
Thinking of this, the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master was suddenly stunned: 'If this is truly the case, then why was I still able to use the [Jade Horsetail Whisk] to sweep away the profound wonder... Not good!'
He finally realized.
Using the jade horsetail whisk twice consecutively hadn't just swept away the external profound wonder; it had even swept away his own profound wonder. He was severing his own arms.
This was tantamount to [Suicide]!
At this moment, when he wanted to use the spiritual treasures and profound wonders on his body again, he discovered that all his means had fallen silent, actually not a single one responding to the call of his mind anymore.
"Hoo..."
The first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master let out a long breath and looked up at the sky.
Looking out, it was an all-heaven great hand seal, a giant hand encompassing the universe. With an unquestionable, irresistible overbearing posture, it grasped him within its palm.
[Heaven within Palm]
"Rumble!"