'He truly is one with many methods.'
Above the sky vault, the lightning was gone, leaving only a single dark cloud. And the World Honored One, or rather the first-generation Myriad Treasure Peak Master, [Shi Tianyi], stood within the cloud with his hands clasped behind his back.
His gaze looked down from above.
Meeting eyes with that [Perfected Lord Yuji Siming], he knew without needing words that the other party had already seen that he was not a residual trace or lingering shadow.
Or rather, as early as when he discovered Lu Yang didn't set his target on Jiangdong but instead ran to Jiangbei, he knew that Chong Guang's and his identities were eighty percent likely exposed. The other party had already discovered his schemes. Although he was mentally prepared for this, being discovered so quickly was still somewhat unexpected.
But this was even better.
'He is someone with scheming and methods. But beyond that, for him to see through my layout, there must definitely be a Dao Lord-level figure guiding him from behind.'
Sisui!
This was what truly made the World Honored One sigh with emotion; someone who clearly should have incredibly deep scheming and shrewdness actually managed to gain Sisui's approval.
This made things different.
'Being able to gain Sisui's approval means that although he is skilled at scheming, he still retains a measure of sincerity in his heart, unlike the Primordial Saint, the Sword Lord, and those people.'
This was the foundation for cooperation.
With this, the World Honored One was willing to take a gamble. To gamble that this mysterious cultivator he thought highly of and was about to place his bets on was not just another damn Primordial Saint.
However, having just this was not enough. In this wretched place, sincerity was the most expensive thing, yet also the most worthless. Scheming and planning were the most important things, yet inadequate for great tasks. Between cultivators, in the end, it still came down to speaking with fists. Strength was the foundation of everything.
So he chose to personally take the field.
The Primordial Saint had controlled the sea of light for 129,600 years, and his momentum was already established. To speak honestly, although he had prepared a lot, he was actually very pessimistic in his heart.
This wasn't a lack of confidence.
It was a rational judgment after clearly recognizing reality.
Precisely because of this, when he took the field this time, he utilized all the mighty power of the Heavenly Lord. It was equivalent to three-fifths of the Immortal Nexus' mighty power being entirely gathered upon his body.
In comparison, Lu Yang only had two-fifths.
In addition to this, there was the World Honored One's own experience and Dao comprehension as a Nascent Soul Dao Lord. To speak bluntly, he was leading Lu Yang in almost every aspect.
But so what.
'The gap between the Primordial Saint and me is even greater than the gap between you and me.'
'Only by winning against me can you prove you can fight the Primordial Saint.'
'If you want to cooperate with me, then let me see your ability to turn the tables in a desperate situation. If you cannot do it, then stop thinking about overturning the Primordial Saint's chessboard!'
A straightforward test.
The World Honored One didn't need to put these thoughts into words. The moment he personally took the field and stood before Lu Yang, Lu Yang had already understood his intentions.
Therefore, after a brief silence, Lu Yang simply tossed his hand, releasing the first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master, and then slowly walked towards the sky vault.
In the next second, the two stood facing each other and cupped their hands in unison.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist."
"Please!"
Before their words faded, Lu Yang had already made a move. His figure rapidly faded, replaced by layers upon layers of palaces, a vast and boundless scene with no end in sight.
Only by exhausting one's divine sense could one faintly see clearly. It was a structure supporting heaven and earth, a full ninety-nine tiers from top to bottom. Every tier was connected by profound stairs of white jade, progressing layer by layer, towering into the clouds, inhaling and exhaling an incalculable amount of spiritual aura. Numerous deities stood in great numbers, reaching straight into the zenith, instantly exploding a boundless sea of clouds.
[Heavenly Palace]!
For a time, whether it was Bu Tianque, Pan Huang, or the Great Sword Ancestor and Ling Xiao watching from afar, they all couldn't help but feel dizzy and spellbound.
"This, this..."
At this moment, even honored Great Perfected Lords couldn't hide the shock in their hearts, feeling the two's infinitely climbing, seemingly endless lofty stature.
On the other side, the newly freed first-generation Pill Cauldron Peak Master had a complex expression:
'They want to fight their way out of the Immortal Nexus?'
'Outside the Immortal Nexus, is it really the sea of light?'
He tried to observe, but couldn't see clearly at all. He could only watch helplessly as the two figures submerged deep into the sky vault, disappearing from everyone's field of vision.
Not just him, in the entire false history, aside from the Great Sword Ancestor who could still observe, everyone else could no longer reach the battlefield where Lu Yang and the World Honored One were. They could only faintly sense the two's auras, like the sun and moon hanging high above, towering over the sky vault, looking down at the myriad living beings below.
Meanwhile, outside the false history's heaven.
The [Heavenly Palace] Lu Yang transformed into stacked layer upon layer, practically turning the phantom into reality. At a glance, it was as if a super world realm had truly revealed its tracks because of it.
And on the other side, the World Honored One did the same.
On the other side of the towering Heavenly Palace, a giant Buddha was seen sitting cross-legged, similarly vast and boundless, towering and magnificent. Immediately following that was a giant foot stepping down.
"Rumble!"
Thunderous sounds that startled the profound and shook the Dao rang out as the two collided, rising and falling in succession, like an endless stream. Every sound of thunder seemed like the exploding noise when heaven and earth first opened.
Lu Yang's intent galloped within the [Heavenly Palace], rapidly realizing the true body of this giant Buddha before him: 'This is... a spiritual treasure, and a supreme treasure at that!'
Simultaneously, the World Honored One's voice also echoed over: "Cultivators are not born different, they are just good at using external objects. Using external objects to make up for where one is flawed, this is inherently the Dao of Cultivation. I do not cultivate a dharma body, lacking a dharma body is a flaw, so I specifically refined this Buddha body to substitute for the methods of a dharma body."
"Back when I refined this body, I also asked Sisui about the Dao."
Before his voice had even faded, the golden-bodied giant Buddha had already stepped forward. A pair of Buddha palms, capable of seizing the sun and grasping the moon, reached out and clamped onto both sides of the Heavenly Palace that Lu Yang had transformed into—
—and then tore it apart with a violent pull.
Almost at the same moment, a warning flashed through Lu Yang's mind.
Not good!
"Crack!"
In the next instant, thunder roared and flames burst forth; palaces collapsed as endless visions shattered one after another. The once towering Heavenly Palace was forcibly ripped in half!
There was nothing ornate, nothing complex about it.
Only sheer, overwhelming force—power in the left hand, power in the right. Though he lacked the augmentation of the Dharma Body Dao, he still unleashed the terrifying brute strength possessed only by a Heaven-Treading true body!
In an instant, the Heavenly Palace dispersed.
The myriad halls vanished, dissolving into wind and cloud that filled the sky. They slipped through the gaps between the Buddha's fingers, pulling away, then swiftly reassembled once more.
[Star River Immortal]!
Above the Heavenly Palace, twelve Dao Fruit stars flickered in unison. Among them, the radiance of [Heavenly River Water] was the brightest; it was this profound wonder that had just displayed its might.
However, before Lu Yang could reorganize the Heavenly Palace, the World Honored One revealed a gentle, compassionate smile. Then, bringing his Buddha palms together, his ten mountain-like fingers swiftly formed a seal, shaping a precious vase. Within it, the light of a Dao Fruit shone brilliantly, faintly manifesting as a willow tree that gave Lu Yang a soft sway.
"Rumble!"
Thunder erupted. Between heaven and earth, a vast wheel seemed to emerge, split into two hues—light and shadow. The radiant half rested upon the World Honored One, while the dim half descended upon Lu Yang.
[Wheel of Life and Death]!
'It's [Weeping Willow Wood]'… Lu Yang realized in an instant.
Weeping Willow Wood embodies both flourishing and decay, rise and fall—holding within it the tomb of death and the vitality of Wood. It moves in accordance with the cycles of time: when one aligns with its season, it grants prosperity and longevity; when one falls out of sync, it brings decline and an early demise.
As the wheel turned, the World Honored One resonated with the [Time of Flourishing], his aura surging to its peak. In contrast, Lu Yang fell into harmony with the [Time of Premature Death]. The once smoothly operating [Star River Immortal] abruptly stagnated, its transformations faltering under the weight of decline.
Seizing this fleeting opening, the World Honored One struck without hesitation—raising his foot and bringing it down with crushing force.
Lu Yang, however, did not yield an inch.
Within the Heavenly Palace, the palaces erupted with divine light. These radiances intertwined and took shape, forming a colossal hand that upheld the heavens and blanketed the earth, forcefully pushing forward to meet the attack.
The sky vaulttrembled violently, nearly collapsing under the clash.
In the next instant, Lu Yang retreated another ten thousand li. Behind him, vast river currents surged into being, pouring in [Heavenly River Water] to restore the profound wonder diminished by the [Time of Premature Death].
[Inexhaustible River]!
This [Eternal Flowing Water] profound wonder emphasized boundlessness; the source of water in this Dao was endless. It was most suitable for amplifying other Water Element Dao Fruits, helping Lu Yang stabilize the situation.
Seeing this, the World Honored One nodded slightly:
"Your Dao comprehension is not bad."
High Dao comprehension in a single Dao Fruit was nothing much, but being proficient in the changes of the entire [Water Element] was different. Even if the Old Dragon Lord came, he would only be at this level.
"But, it is not enough!"
As his voice fell, the World Honored One withdrew the precious vase seal. One Buddha palm was held vertically in front of his chest, while the other pointed its index and middle fingers together at his glabella. He slowly spoke a phrase:
"Please reveal yourself, precious treasure."