At the same time, on the other side of the light sea.
Unlike the Long River of Time where the Primordial Saint resided, this domain was completely "locked down". Myriad concepts had coalesced, creating a scene like light trapped in amber.
[Heavenly Dao].
The profound colors within the amber no longer flowed but remained in a state of absolute stillness. Hanging high above these layers of color was a towering, majestic lock.
[Heavenly Heart Seal].
This was the Ancestral Dragon's Dao artifact and the foundational object of the [Heavenly Dao]. It now sealed all heavenly secrets, forming a secret realm that similarly isolated all external prying.
Within the hazy light and qi, the three figures of the Sword Lord, Cang Hao, and Myriad Laws sat cross-legged. They simultaneously opened their eyes, having just concluded their conversation with Lu Yang and withdrawn their divine senses. For a time, they looked at one another, each seeing unspeakable thoughts and calculations in the others' eyes.
After a long silence, the Sword Lord was the first to speak:
"Since the wager has been set, I will enter seclusion for the next three days. You two should withdraw for now. Regardless, everything will be decided three days from today."
Cang Hao and Myriad Laws nodded slightly.
Shortly after, their figures vanished into the light. However, not long after that, one figure returned.
It was Cang Hao.
"A wager... Heh."
Simultaneously, a cold, mocking laugh echoed faintly through the space. "Cang Hao, how much sincerity do you think the other side has? Is the wager real or a sham?"
Cang Hao responded in a low voice:
"Whether real or fake, as long as he swears upon the [Heavenly Dao], he cannot renege. Besides, this is an opportunity for you to return to your position as a Dao Lord."
"Yes, an opportunity for me to return."
The Sword Lord raised her eyes, looking calmly at Cang Hao. "But that is only for me. I can return to my position, but what about you? What will you do?"
Cang Hao did not hesitate: "I will continue to assist you."
"Just as I have all these years."
"Yes, just as you have assisted me all these years..." The Sword Lord sounded sentimental, but her tone suddenly shifted. "However, you have only assisted me."
"It is true that the [Heavenly Dao] is my foundation—a treasure I cannot abandon. But to you, it is not actually that important."
"The only reason you support the [Heavenly Dao] is to assist me. Inherently, you have no vested interest in it. Therefore, if necessary, Cang Hao, you could abandon the [Heavenly Dao], couldn't you? You could trade it for something greater, something more important to you."
"For instance... my sea of consciousness."
BOOM!
In an instant, the Sword Lord's words rang out like thunder within the domain governed by the [Heavenly Dao]. A terrifying killing intent immediately locked onto Cang Hao's position.
"You also hold a fragment of the [Paramita]."
"Rather than slaughtering trillions of living beings under Sisui's nose, it would be better to kill me and fill the fragment with my sea of consciousness to restore your cultivation."
"A very profitable trade, is it not?"
The Sword Lord's voice was ice-cold. "That Lu Yang likely guessed your thoughts, which is why he proposed the wager and is intentionally playing along with you."
"When I duel him, regardless of whether I win or lose, I will inevitably be heavily wounded."
"If I win, you launch a sneak attack and kill me. The contract becomes void, Sisui doesn't have to sacrifice the masses for me, and he ends up owing you a favor."
"If I lose, killing me will be even easier. After all, you don't care about the fate of the [Heavenly Dao] anyway."
"So, either way, you don't lose."
The analysis made the atmosphere increasingly heavy.
"A very fine plan."
"We have supported each other for many years, and I do indeed trust you to some extent. You can use that trust to strike me down at a critical moment."
"..."
Cang Hao listened patiently to the Sword Lord's words, then suddenly smiled. "I have to admit, after the Primordial Saint, that trick isn't as effective as it used to be."
Cultivate trust, then cash it out.
The Primordial Saint was the first to do this—not only did he trap the Ancestral Dragon, but he also sealed Sisui, establishing his absolute dominance in the era of the Dao Lords.
But once bitten, twice shy. After the Primordial Saint, everyone familiar with his deeds began to guard against this "trust cashing" method. Some even suspected that Sisui was actually a villain, playing the "nice guy" for years just to pull off one massive betrayal.
The moral standard of the light sea had been corrupted because of it.
Similarly, despite Cang Hao assisting her for years, the Sword Lord had always harbored a sliver of suspicion, which she now revealed without reservation.
Even more ironic was the fact that Cang Hao actually did have the intention of cashing out his trust. Even toward the Sword Lord, his companion of many years, he seemingly showed no mercy.
"What do you plan to do?"
Cang Hao asked in a relaxed tone, smiling. "Do you want to fight me before the wager? If we must decide a winner in advance, I can accept that."
"..."
The tension reached a breaking point. Both Dao Lords stood ready, appearing as if they would turn on each other in the next second.
However, in the end—
"...Forget it."
Suddenly, the Sword Lord sighed as if letting something go. She withdrew all her killing intent. "We have been companions for many years; there is no need for this."
"I spoke of this only to let you know that I am on my guard."
"Therefore, in this wager, if I emerge victorious, I will not give you any opportunity for a sneak attack. I will return to my position as a Dao Lord and seize my chance at survival."
"So, do not act."
The Sword Lord looked directly at Cang Hao with her cool, clear eyes.
"Judge a person by their actions, not their heart. As long as you do not proactively attack me, I will let bygones be bygones. I also need a Dao companion who can continue to walk beside me."
As she spoke, her cold voice seemed to gain a touch of warmth.
Cang Hao remained unmoved, merely asking calmly:
"And if you lose?"
"Theoretically, it is impossible for me to lose."
The Sword Lord said plainly, "If I lose, it must be because you moved against me in the shadows. But if you can achieve that while I am on my guard..."
"I accept it."
"It would only mean your methods are superior. If I lose my hope of returning to my position as a Dao Lord... then I will give you my life."
"Beneath the Dao Lords, all are but ants. If I cannot return to my position, I will inevitably fail to survive the coming upheavals. Furthermore, if I lose, the [Heavenly Dao] must be surrendered. My lifelong pursuit of the Dao will be gone. At that point, life and death are meaningless."
"It would be better to help you return to your position."
"You do not use the [Heavenly Dao] as your foundation, so you still have room to change your path. If you can restore your cultivation, perhaps you will have a chance to climb the path of the Dao in the future."
"Consider it a final favor between us."
At this point, the Sword Lord seemed to lose interest in the conversation. With a wave of her sleeve, heavy layers of light shielded everything, leaving Cang Hao standing alone.
His eyes were deep, his expression unreadable.