Above the [Paramita].
Standing at an infinitely high point, an incredibly tiny figure let out a soft sigh. His gaze, hollow and deep, looked out toward the exterior of the Light Sea.
'He has spoken with Myriad Treasure.'
The Great Karmic Net was the World Honored One's private domain; and Primordial Saint could not hear the content of the conversation between those two, but he could capture the abnormal fluctuations of [Karma].
That being said, he wasn't particularly worried, because he could see that the World Honored One had proactively sought out that Dao Ancestor Xuande. This indicated that the World Honored One was the one leading the matter. Since that was the case, there was nothing to worry about; after all, this disciple of his was within his palm from start to finish.
The focus remained on that Xuande...
"RUMBLE!"
Just then, a solemn Daoist chime suddenly rang out without warning. It seemed to come from an extremely distant place—faint, yet inexplicably clear.
The closer a living being was to death, the more deafening this chime became in their ears as their limit approached. This was the summon from the Netherworld. Birth, aging, sickness, and death; reincarnation and the cycle of life—whether you were a high-ranking Perfected Lord or a mediocre mortal, all were equal before it.
The Primordial Saint snapped his head around.
His eyes of [Supreme Forgotten Emotion] once again manifested thoughts. Ever since that Dao Ancestor Xuande appeared, the variables lying dormant within the Light Sea seemed to erupt one after another.
"Attain the Netherworld—now."
A chilling gaze fell upon the current world, directly locking onto that straight silhouette standing at the [Ghost Gate], who had reached the absolute limit beneath the rank of a Dao Lord.
[Sky-shrouding].
At this moment, the haze shrouding this number one Perfected Lord of the age seemed to thin, revealing the outline of his figure and his slender, pale hands.
He slowly pinched a hand seal.
[Great Forest Wood].
At first, it was only a speck of cyan light, like a sprout breaking through the soil, planted within the haze of [Sky-shrouding]'s palm. Then, it rapidly began to expand and explode.
Thus, towering forest trees rose from the ground, stretching out freely wherever they passed. They clearly exceeded the scope of ordinary vegetation; their scale was so vast they nearly blotted out the sun. Beneath the cyan radiance was an inexpressible depth of gloom; [Sky-shrouding] hid beneath it, appearing to merge with the darkness.
"...Come."
His narrow eyes slightly narrowed. With the [Great Forest Wood] as the center, four stars in the current world were lit one after another, casting their gaze toward the Netherworld.
[Overtuned Lamp Fire], [White Wax Gold].
[Eternal Flowing Water], [Silted Sand Earth].
The Five Elements Dao fruits reflected each other, their radiance gathering entirely upon [Sky-shrouding] alone, merging into one. From within, infinite profound and majestic power emerged.
In the next second, he stepped forward.
Boundless radiance blossomed beneath his feet, spreading out like a broad highway rising from the [Ghost Gate] and extending toward the Netherworld Lord's Palace.
At this moment, the movements of the Netherworld could no longer be hidden. Not only the various Dao Lords, but even the Perfected Lords and Great Perfected Lords of the current world saw the scene.
Yet, they had no reaction.
Unbeknownst to them, an infinite fog had already enveloped the entire Netherworld. Everyone who tried to observe the Netherworld could not avoid looking directly at this fog.
[Knowledge-Perception Barrier].
Thus, despite the earth-shattering momentum of the Netherworld, everyone who looked toward it unconsciously had a layer of shadow added to their eyes.
And so, they forgot.
Or rather, they subconsciously "ignored" the commotion of the Netherworld. They saw it but could not understand it, to the point where they did not include it in their scope of thought.
This act of "deceiving everyone under heaven" also accumulated a massive concept upon [Sky-shrouding], allowing the already peak [Great Forest Wood] to take a further step. This caused the Netherworld, which should have reacted to his aura, to strikingly fall into silence and tranquility.
Inside and outside the Netherworld, all was still.
Only [Sky-shrouding] remained, walking step by step toward the deepest parts of the Netherworld. The sound of his footsteps echoing in the gloom synchronized with the incessant chiming.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
He walked past the [Yellow Springs Road], past the [Bridge of Helplessness], past the [Home-Viewing Terrace], past the [Three Lives Stone]... only then did he finally stop his pace with his hands behind his back.
"What are you waiting for?"
[Sky-shrouding] finally laughed.
The laughter echoed through the Netherworld, appearing to be an invitation—carrying a sense of detachment and calm, yet also breaking the tranquility. It finally touched the Dao Lords who had originally been bystanders.
[Paramita].
The Primordial Saint kept his eyes closed, appearing to have pondered for ten million years in a single instant. When he reopened his eyes, they were filled with deep doubt.
'Why now?'
'With the Five Elements incomplete, rashly seeking to attain the Netherworld is a death sentence. No Dao Lord would strike for this... unless they truly hope [Sky-shrouding] can succeed.'
Throughout the entire [Paramita], only the World Honored One likely held such a mind. The other Dao Lords would not allow a lower cultivator to successfully ascend the [Paramita]. Therefore, as long as the World Honored One moved, the other Dao Lords would inevitably strike to block him. The World Honored One would be isolated and without support; [Sky-shrouding]'s attainment would have no chance of victory.
'Unless... I strike.'
At this thought, the Primordial Saint could not help but glance at Lu Yang outside the Light Sea: 'Is he using Myriad Treasure's hand to test my true attitude toward [Sky-shrouding]?'
'Has he perceived the clues of the [Paramita]?'
Outside the Light Sea, Lu Yang watched his nose and his heart, appearing as if it "had nothing to do with him." He even proactively withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at all.
Right now, only one fact lay before the Primordial Saint.
[Sky-shrouding] was about to attain the Dao.
With insufficient preparation, it was a death sentence... he needed help—not just from the World Honored One, but from the Saint himself. Otherwise, this chess piece would be wasted.
And once [Sky-shrouding] was wasted, the plan to use the Netherworld for ascension would go bankrupt. He would then have to choose the even more complex and tedious Nascent Soul Pill.
'How about it? Will you help [Sky-shrouding]?'
Lu Yang remained silent on the surface, but laughed inwardly. He had already reached a judgment on the Primordial Saint's choice: 'There is no suspense; he will definitely help [Sky-shrouding].'
On other matters, the Primordial Saint might weigh the pros and cons.
On this matter alone, he would have no second choice.
Because he was a [One whose goal is transcendence]; his Primordial Spirit and his obsession all lay there.
'[Sky-shrouding] attaining the Dao—the simplest and purest hope for ascension—is right before his eyes. It is impossible for the Primordial Saint to give it up. If he gave it up, he wouldn't be the Primordial Saint!'
As expected.
In the next second, the heavens of the Light Sea opened, and the outline of the [Paramita] emerged. A bright celestial light fell from the infinite heights, as if someone were taking up a pen and writing words upon the Light Sea.
[Sky-shrouding can attain the Netherworld.]
Six bold, magnificent characters—like the sun and moon, like the stars—displayed their majesty, arriving before [Sky-shrouding] and illuminating his face.
In an instant, [Sky-shrouding]—who originally had a thin foundation despite his grand momentum because he had not completely controlled the other four element fruits—instantly filled all his deficiencies. His aura surged, and simultaneously, the gazes of the various Dao Lords atop the [Paramita] turned toward the Primordial Saint!
"Primordial Saint, what are you doing?"
"You actually want him to attain the Netherworld?"
"This is truly..."
Except for the World Honored One, who had received a hint from Lu Yang, all the Dao Lords revealed looks of surprise... and then moved like a pack of wolves smelling blood.
An opportunity!
Every Dao Lord realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If they didn't find a way to strike the Primordial Saint ruthlessly, they wouldn't be Dao Lords!