Lu Yang's words had barely fallen.
"RUMBLE!"
In the unseen depths, infinite waves seemed to manifest instantly within the Netherworld, revealing a vast power that threatened to pour over this place and annihilate it into flying ash.
However, before Sky-shrouding could even give in to fear, Lu Yang casually flicked his sleeve, dissipating all the power into nothingness. Simultaneously, the profound wonder of the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace] where they stood skyrocketed ten million-fold, appearing as if it had truly achieved transcendence from the world.
All things and events were receding.
Between heaven and earth, only the young Daoist before him remained. He slowly turned around, revealing a refined face, and cast a smiling gaze toward Sky-shrouding.
"Swoosh..."
In an instant, the hazy smoke surrounding Sky-shrouding collapsed entirely, revealing a handsome face and a deeply hidden true name.
[Perfected Lord Ling Xiao the Eastern Sovereign].
The once-sealed memories resurfaced at this moment, yet they triggered no further concept, not even the impact that usually accompanied such a recovery.
At this moment, Lu Yang slightly raised his eyebrows, watching the profound mysteries surging outside the [Dao-Attaining Hidden Profound Palace], he then looked up toward the zenith, where a tiny figure seemed to be looking down, scrutinizing him and trying to fathom his true intentions.
He can no longer sit still.
Lu Yang laughed inwardly. As the saying goes, hit a snake at its seven-inch mark—its vitals. For the current Primordial Saint, that vital point was undoubtedly Sky-shrouding.
To be precise, it was the Netherworld.
After all, the primary choice for his Deity Transformation ascension plan isfor Sky-shrouding to collide with and kill Dao Tianqi, then dismember the Netherworld to use it as resources for ascension.
Under these circumstances, the fact that Lu Yang's first stop upon entering the Light Sea was to find Sky-shrouding naturally touched a nerve.
However, this has nothing to do with me.
It was the World Honored One who manipulated karma to find Sky-shrouding,and he deliberately showed me his hand to lure me here. I am merely beating him at his own game.
Truth be told, Lu Yang had not intended to seek out Sky-shrouding or alarm the Primordial Saint so early. However, since the World Honored One had proactively extended an olive branch, he would naturally not refuse. It was a way to follow the World Honored One's lead while simultaneously testing the Primordial Saint's reaction.
The World Honored One's move was indeed a brilliant stroke of chess.
However, he himself likely doesn't know the details of the Deity Transformation ascension; it was a pure accidental success. He probably just hopes I can give Sky-shrouding a hand.
After all, seeking the Netherworld was extremely difficult.
Previously, there were no other paths to choose. But now that this new path of his had appeared, the World Honored One would naturally choose the more reliable one.
What bad intentions could he have?
At this moment, the World Honored One likely justwants Sky-shroudingto achieve the rank of Dao Lord to help him... it just happened to hit the Primordial Saint's vital point.
Lu Yang felt the Primordial Saint likely thought the same way, which was why he didn't explode immediately but chose to restrain himself and wait. Or rather, because Lu Yang hadn't gone too far yet, the Primordial Saint was still in a state of hesitation.
Looking at it this way, he could press a bit further.
With that thought, Lu Yang turned his gaze toward Sky-shrouding, who was frowning in disbelief at his offer to take him as a disciple.
"Have you considered it?" Lu Yang spoke again.
"I have three thousand Dao Arts and eight hundred unorthodox branches. I can teach you all of them, allowing you to attain the status of a Dao Ancestor, gaining the benefits of the Paramita without suffering its harms."
Having said that, he looked around with a hint of disdain on his face:
"Though this [Netherworld] is original in its approach, it is ultimately influenced by the Paramita, and its materials are far inferior. It is not even equal to the Paramita."
"Relying on external forces makes the Great Dao difficult to seek."
"But if you practice my method, you can roam the Dark Void freely. Is that not more joyful than being trapped in this Netherworld? You should make your own decision."
The Netherworld shook.
Lu Yang's voice was not just for Sky-shrouding but also for the Primordial Saint. While speaking, he did not forget to observe the Light Sea of this life.
So that's how it is...
Wherever his gaze fell, the Netherworld—which once seemed mysterious and full of the Dao Lord's schemes—now held no secrets and could not hide anything from him.
Dao Tianqi is here as a genuine Dao Lord; his Primordial Spirit is anchored to the Netherworld. As long as the Netherworld does not collapse, he will not die. And as long as he lives, the Netherworld will not easily fall. Back then, the reason Sky-shrouding could kill him was that Sky-shrouding was seeking to attain the Netherworld, and he succeeded.
Because he succeeded, he was no longer viewed as an "external force" by the Netherworld.
That was why he could kill Dao Tianqi.
If he had failed, it would have had no impact on Dao Tianqi, much like the other Dao Lords outside the Netherworld who could at most force Dao Tianqi into a slumber.
In addition to this, there was another place.
[False History].
Lu Yang raised his eyes. In his sight, the originally vast Immortal Nexus appeared like two sides of a mirror, presenting the light and shadows of two worlds— one real and one illusory.
Interesting.
Lu Yang's gaze narrowed. To be honest, after reclaiming the lost page of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, he had some doubts about the world after the restart.
After all, he was 100% certain that the lost page would not be restored by a restart. Although he harbored some hope—as copying it might have allowed him to infinitely replenish lost pages—reality is often disappointing.
Therefore, he was certain:
At this moment, that page of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes within the [False History] must have vanished, leaving at most an empty shell of the Heavenly Scripture refined by the Primordial Saint.
However, the [False History] had not collapsed.
At most, its concealment has weakened significantly... Sky-shrouding could recover his memories regarding the [False History] so quickly is because of this change.
But why?
Lu Yang rubbed his chin. According to his deduction, without the remnant page as a foundation, the [False History] should have faced a massive collapse.
Could it be because the Primordial Saint is propping it up?
Lu Yang's eyes suddenly moved.
At the apex of the Paramita.
The tiny, unreachable figure was looking at the Netherworld with unprecedentedly grave thoughts while reaching his hand into the void that was both real and illusory.
"RUMBLE."
Deep within the [False History], the sounds of bombardment that had not ceased for a hundred thousand years suddenly grew violent. The once-sturdy prison cells became fragile overnight.
Xuande...
The Primordial Saint stared fixedly at the young Daoist in the Netherworld. Ever since this visitor from beyond appeared, the [False History] had undergone this change. This caused him to attribute the cause to the other party without hesitation. Coupled with the fact that the other party actually wanted to take Sky-shrouding as a disciple...
Every move he makes hits my vital points.
True, he sought out Sky-shrouding because Myriad Treasure was guiding him... but his willingness to go along with it is also problematic. The resulting outcome is unfavorable to me.
There is definitely a problem!
At the very least, this person knows me very well!
The Primordial Saint reached this conclusion almost by intuition. Then the question was— why would a self-proclaimed visitor from beyond know so much about him?
Either there is a conspiracy! Someone is directing him!
Or—
As a certain thought surfaced uncontrollably in his mind, the Primordial Saint's eyes—usually in the state of Supreme Forgotten Emotion—suddenly twitched. Subsequently, he revealed a rare sense of urgency.
Ancestral Dragon.
I can't wait ten more years. I must have him return as soon as possible to maintain the ritual of the [Heaven-Seizing Name Method], and while he's at it, have him take a good look for me.
Take a look at that book.
(End of Chapter)