The silence lasted for a very long time.
Finally, the Primordial Saint slowly exhaled:
"...So that's how it is."
"Xuande—he came specifically for this."
Previously, the Primordial Saint had always harbored a doubt— why did the cultivator named [Xuande] insist on setting traps and plotting against him?
To travel all the way from beyond the heavens just to overthrow him.
It didn't make sense.
Especially after deducing that Lu Yang possessed that supreme power capable of starting everything over, he found Lu Yang's motivation even more incomprehensible.
After all, from the perspective of a regressor, even the greatest of grudges become meaningless once you start over; the myriad phenomena of floating life are but dreamlike illusions. A regressor should prioritize interests. Yet this Xuande, from the very beginning of the current life, had opposed him with a singular, stubborn focus.
He couldn't wrap his head around it before.
But now, he understood: "He came for the eighth secret realm... What he obtained is the legacy left by that supreme Deity Transformation being, [Jun]!"
All clues converged in the Primordial Saint's mind at this moment.
Some were true, some were false; they required careful discernment.
'He said he came from beyond the heavens and is the junior of a Deity Transformation being—that should be true. That explains how he can master that supreme power of restart; it's perfectly logical.'
After all, that supreme power was originally extracted from the [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record] by that Deity Transformation being.
'And the [School of Names] and [School of Forms] were mortal enemies of that Deity Transformation being. Since he is the successor of that being, it is only natural for him to be an enemy of me, who obtained the legacies of those two schools.'
'It makes perfect sense.'
'As an outsider, the reason he traveled so far to the Light Sea was for the eighth secret realm—for transcendence. That is his true motive!'
It matched. Everything matched.
After all, if this wasn't long-premeditated, why had the eighth secret realm failed to appear for so many years, only to suddenly manifest precisely after he arrived?
It couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
"This is too much of a coincidence..."
Looking at the brilliant Daoist talisman of the character [Jun] floating before him, Lu Yang instinctively reached out, only to grasp at empty air, unable to touch it.
In the next second, he gnashed his teeth.
He regretted it!
Had he known it was something this important, he would have "kept quiet and made a fortune" in silence. Why would he allow such an opportunity to be broadcasted to the entire Light Sea? It was a complete waste of natural resources.
However, he soon sighed again, knowing this was just wishful thinking. This talisman was something that supreme Deity Transformation being had left for the entire Light Sea; no matter the method, once it appeared, it was destined to broadcast to the whole world. This was designed by that person before their transcendence.
"...I understand."
At this thought, Lu Yang turned to look at the drooling Dao Tianqi, a clear realization dawning in his heart: 'Dao Tianqi's Light of Wisdom—it truly wasn't granted by heaven.'
It was pre-designed!
After all, Light of Wisdom was created by that person. Since that was the case, deciding who would obtain the greatest Light of Wisdom in the Light Sea was just a matter of a single thought from that being.
'The greatest Light of Wisdom in the Light Sea, yet he possesses a pure and kind nature?'
'It's the other way around! It is likely because Dao Tianqi's nature is pure and kind that he was granted the greatest Light of Wisdom; he is the Guide chosen by [Jun]!'
Then the question was:
Why did Dao Tianqi, as the Guide, lose the relevant memories?
'No, it's not amnesia.'
Lu Yang shifted his thinking. If he weren't here, under what circumstances would Dao Tianqi have discovered this talisman hidden within his own Light of Wisdom?
The answer was beyond doubt.
When he was strong enough—strong enough to need to mobilize all his Light of Wisdom to comprehend and pursue something. And there were likely not many things that could push him to that extent.
To be precise, only one thing.
[Transcendence].
'In the layout of [Jun], Dao Tianqi, possessing the greatest Light of Wisdom, was undoubtedly destined to become the strongest cultivator in the entire Light Sea.'
'And when the strongest cultivator begins to comprehend [Transcendence], to the point of exhausting their Light of Wisdom for it, it means the cultivation of the entire Light Sea has reached a standstill... At that moment, this talisman would activate, revealing the eighth secret realm and pointing a way forward for the cultivators lost in confusion.'
The entire layout was actually quite good.
The only flaw was Dao Tianqi's resulting amnesia, but that was likely intentional by [Jun]; Dao Tianqi was merely the Guide, not the operator.
If everything went smoothly, the final development would have been exactly as [Jun] designed.
However, the Primordial Saint was born.
The Primordial Saint's existence directly interrupted Dao Tianqi's growth. Forget about [Transcendence]; even his path as a Dao Lord had barely begun before he nearly died.
Thus, everything came to a sudden halt.
'No, even without the Primordial Saint, there was still the Ancestral Dragon destroying the world. At the very least, as recorded in the Primordial Saint's [First Life], the eighth secret realm did not manifest in the world.'
Dammit, two bastard.
They've done every bad deed imaginable!
Just then, Lu Yang felt a resonance and looked up, only to see a gaze descending from the heavens. It seemed to want to enter the Netherworld but was blocked outside.
In the next second, time grew disordered.
In a daze, Lu Yang seemed to return to the "point in time" where he previously confronted the Primordial Saint. Memories that didn't exist began to take shape in his heart.
Of course, he could tell this was an illusion—an concept constructed by the profound wonder of [Time]. He could dispel it with a single thought. But after a moment's consideration, he didn't do so; instead, he withdrew his own mysteries and allowed himself to be pulled into the influence of time.
Soon, the memory solidified.
In the memory, the Primordial Saint was no longer silent. He spoke slowly: "Let us cooperate. I can provide [Supreme Grandmaster] and reconstruct the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]."
Straight to the point.
However, before Lu Yang could respond, another figure burst into this segment of time. It was the World Honored One, who sneered mockingly as soon as he appeared:
"What, you know how to regret now?"
"Too bad—it's useless!"
"Reconstruct the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]? You're not part of the Gatekeeper lineage; how are you going to reconstruct it? The Gatekeeper lineage was slaughtered to extinction by you years ago!"
The Primordial Saint's tone was calm as he continued:
"It's just illusions. If he can bring back Pill Cauldron, I can naturally bring back the Gatekeeper lineage. As long as we gather the seven trials, this is not an issue."
Lu Yang understood clearly.
'He wants [Carefree Wander].'
Among the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness], only this trial remained under Dao Tianqi's control. No one knew its coordinates; the Origin Jade used to build the Netherworld came from there.
"This is a matter where cooperation benefits both sides." The Primordial Saint's gaze fell directly on Lu Yang. Believing he had grasped Lu Yang's motive, he said deeply: "We join forces to open the eighth secret realm. I only want the method of transcendence. We can establish a contract, swearing by the [Paramita]; if violated, the [Paramita] shall collapse!"
Before transcendence, various grudges were unimportant.
Hearing this, Lu Yang also showed a look of interest: "Really? You are truly willing to sign a contract, guaranteeing you only take the method of transcendence and are willing to share it?"
"Naturally."
The Primordial Saint said decisively: "It is merely a technique at most, not a treasure. Sharing it is of no great consequence. You came for this as well; it benefits you as well."
"That is true." Lu Yang nodded.
"Then—"
"But I refuse!"
Before the Primordial Saint could finish, Lu Yang shifted his tone and sneered: "Want me to help you? Dream on!"
The Primordial Saint knit his brows: "Why..."
Lu Yang was too lazy to respond and simply flicked his sleeve, scattering the scene of time.
I can't explain it to a person like you who doesn't have cheats.
With [Successor of Deity Transformation] in hand, I don't need to piece the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] back together at all. I can simply go to the Ancient Era and enter the eighth secret realm directly from there!
(End of Chapter)