The Primordial Saint was not the only one to realize the truth.
As the bait in this scheme, the other involved party, Lu Yang, also understood Sisui's underlying layout the moment he saw Dao Lord Xiu Zhen.
This is tossing a brick to attract jade!
The Primordial Saint's attitude was crystal clear. He desired his [Heavenly Destiny Reckoning], seemingly wanting to seize it, which was evidently related to that so-called [Transcendence].
And what about Sisui?
I once discussed the Dao with Sisui, and even handed the Investiture of the Gods Method to Xiu Zhen right in front of him... Sisui probably noticed the clues back then.
Hence, this layout.
Sisui anticipated that the Primordial Saint would definitely be interested in the [Heavenly Destiny Reckoning], and he also anticipated that the Primordial Saint would be willing to pay a considerable price to obtain it.
This layout... Sisui probably prepared it right when I successfully linked the Dao Lords and was about to attack the Primordial Saint! The goal was for this exact moment—for Dao Lord Xiu Zhen, who had slipped under the Dao Lords' radar, to strike and break the balance the instant the Primordial Saint paid the price!
The result was self-evident.
The instant the Long River of Time shattered, Sword Lord and the others, who had previously been persuaded by the Primordial Saint and retracted their wonders, immediately turned hostile and launched a full-scale attack!
Thus, the Primordial Saint failed.
He neither killed Lu Yang nor seized the [Heavenly Destiny Reckoning]. He also paid an immense price—the Long River of Time was shattered, and he even suffered more severe injuries!
What a move!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but praise inwardly. Striking the snake where it's most vulnerable. By using Dao Lord Xiu Zhen as a pawn, Sisui truly hit the Primordial Saint right where it hurts!
This was the true Sisui.
Completely different from Dao Tianqi, although he had a kind heart, he was equally adept at scheming and layout. Now, capitalizing on the information gap of having met Lu Yang first...
He dug a pit, and it was a deep one!
The Long River of Time gradually dimmed, revealing the Primordial Saint's figure. He retained his celestial appearance, elegant as an immortal, but his aura hadn't diminished in the slightest.
He had become stronger!
Not only that, but this time the concept of [Variable] on him could no longer be concealed. Dao Lords other than the World Honored One and Lu Yang could sense it clearly.
Sisui's move had indeed further damaged [Inevitable Fate], worsening the Primordial Saint's injuries. However, on the other hand, it also deepened his interpretation of [Variable]. His mighty power climbed even higher, stronger than when he first appeared in the world. It was enough to make even the Dao Lords feel oppressed!
"He's truly approaching the Ancestral Dragon..."
"No, he's still a bit short, unable to reach the Ancestral Dragon's level. But faintly, he's already surpassed the Sisui of the past. Incredible. To think such a method exists?"
"Not controlling [Variable], but creating the concept of [Variable] within [Inevitable Fate]. I'm afraid only he, who reached the pinnacle of [Paramita] back then, could achieve this."
Speaking up to here, Cang Hao said faintly,
"Not only that, I'm afraid it's also because of his name, [Taiyitian]. 'Yi' means change. He laid the groundwork for his own comprehension of [Variable] long ago."
Right then, Lu Yang spoke up.
"Hmph, he merely an arrow at the end of its flight!"
Although the Primordial Saint's aura grew stronger and stronger, he was also getting closer and closer to the "limit" where the balance would collapse. He was about to lose control of this boundary!
In short—
Although his stats were higher, his HP had dropped, making him more fragile.
This is probably Sisui's goal as well!
Lu Yang's gaze narrowed. Watching the Primordial Saint, he pondered, The Primordial Saint surely anticipated his own state. Does he have a hidden trump card to deal with it?
First of all, healing his injuries was impossible.
Because once his injuries healed, [Inevitable Fate] would become perfect, and the concept of [Variable] he created would cease to exist. His state would regress, rendering it meaningless.
So even if he has a backup plan, it won't be healing.
It should be a breakthrough!
At this moment, the Primordial Saint was infinitely close to the Ancestral Dragon's level back then, lacking only the final sliver. And this final sliver was no longer something human effort could resolve.
The [Paramita] fragments!
In this lifetime, the Primordial Saint had not explained the operational principles of the [Paramita] fragments to all the Dao Lords, including how gathering the sea of consciousness of sentient beings could restore [Paramita].
But I know!
That's right, the [Paramita] fragment is the external object the Primordial Saint needs. He needs a massive amount of the sentient beings' sea of consciousness to thoroughly restore himself to the Dao Lord level!
Lu Yang's mind raced, calculating rapidly.
In the life before his previous life, the Primordial Saint had not fallen into such dire straits, so his strength was actually inferior to now. Therefore, his requirement for the [Paramita] fragments was also massive.
At that time, he killed the World Honored One and used his sea of consciousness to fill the gap, thereby restoring his Dao Lord stature.
So what about now?
He is stronger now, closer to being a Dao Lord. So he probably doesn't need to kill powerhouses to seize their sea of consciousness anymore. The sea of consciousness of the weak is enough.
However, the Light Sea was now under his control. As long as he didn't allow it, the Primordial Saint couldn't take a single drop of the sentient beings' sea of consciousness. This path should have been sealed off by him...
...Huh?
Wait! That's not right!
Thinking of this, a flash of insight seemed to streak across Lu Yang's mind. Besides the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness], there is one other place outside my control!
The Refining Arts Secret Realm!
In that Secret Realm created entirely by the Primordial Saint, there were 140 million living people! Each one possessed a pure soul, meticulously selected by the Primordial Saint!
This quantity was completely sufficient to fill the [Paramita] fragments!
Almost simultaneously, the Primordial Saint spoke.
"Realm, come."
Rumble!
In an instant, within the Light Sea, at the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea of the Saint Sect, a small, glazed, and colorful World Realm rose up, piercing through the Immortal Nexus and speeding toward the Dark Void!
It was precisely the [Refining Arts Secret Realm]!
In the next instant, Lu Yang reinforced the Light Sea's blockade, and Ling Xiao and other Heaven Treading Great Perfected Lords within the Light Sea also took action, attempting to intercept it.
This scene made the Primordial Saint look over again.
"Fellow Daoist... you are truly clever."
He shook his head.
The next second, the magnificent Long River of Time roared into existence behind him. And at the source of the river, everyone saw a bright brilliance.
[Supreme Grandmaster]!
As one of the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness], it was a loophole in the Light Sea under Lu Yang's control—a part he couldn't touch. At this moment, it became a channel.
The glazed brilliance transformed from the Refining Arts Secret Realm seemed to possess sentience. Traveling through the [Supreme Grandmaster], it proceeded unimpeded, ignoring Lu Yang's blockade, leaping into the Dark Void, and finally landing in the Primordial Saint's hand. The sea of consciousness of 140 million living people poured entirely into the [Paramita] fragment.
It refined in an instant!
In a flash, the Primordial Saint's figure rapidly distanced itself. His celestial appearance blurred, all coercive pressure completely dissipating, leaving only an unreachable loftiness.
He ascended!
The 140 million living souls, all selected from the very beginning when the Refining Arts Secret Realm was created, accurately filled the final flaw at this moment.
The Primordial Saint, restored to the Dao Lord stature!
The next instant, Lu Yang felt an overwhelming mighty power crash down, instantly shattering his blockade and forcing the gates of the Light Sea wide open.
"Go."
An ethereal voice descended from the sky, carrying a smile. "Nian Yao, Cang Hao, Myriad Laws, Du Xuan... you also have [Paramita] fragments. You should understand."
"Go and kill to your heart's content."
"Slaughter the Light Sea, plunder the sentient beings, and you too can restore your Dao Lord stature."
Once these words were spoken, Lu Yang immediately realized that the alliance to besiege the Primordial Saint could no longer be maintained. Sword Lord and the others couldn't possibly refuse the Primordial Saint.
Facts speak louder than words.
With almost no hesitation, Sword Lord was the first to move. The sword light transformed from the Long River of Destiny instantly rushed toward the Light Sea, about to declare the fated death of all sentient beings.
Until a palm stretched out out of thin air.
The Primordial Saint returning to the Dao Lord stature and breaking the Light Sea's blockade was certainly terrifying, almost completely solidifying the situation. But it also exacerbated the backlash of [Variable].
Therefore, the false history and true history, which were previously intertwined, suddenly completed their final divergence.
At the source of the false history, an illusory figure instantly solidified.
Then, distinct from the Primordial Saint's loftiness, a heavy and powerful voice rumbled.
"[Destiny] reveals the fate of all things. It was originally a Dao with a grand future, and you possessed this potential as well. Yet, you ruined your own Dao path, losing your state of mind from back then."
"Nian Yao, I am very disappointed in you."
The hand was slender and fair, yet it seemed to surge with incalculable, majestic, and immense power. It casually flicked Sword Lord's forehead.
Bang!
Amidst the sound of thunderous Dao resonance, Sword Lord, who had charged toward the Light Sea at top speed, flew backward at an even faster speed, crashing heavily into the Dark Void.
Dead silence—
The Dao Lords who were also about to charge into the Light Sea halted their steps. With complex gazes—some wary, some solemn, some joyful—they looked at the newcomer.
From the false history, he strolled out!