At the end of the [Paramita].
The tiny figure rippled slightly, and the consciousness cast into the Netherworld returned in an instant. His aura did not fluctuate in the slightest due to Lu Yang's decisive refusal.
'He has other methods.'
The Primordial Saint would never believe that anyone would ignore the path right in front of them, especially since, in his view, Lu Yang's purpose in coming to the Light Sea was specifically for the eighth secret realm.
In fact, the recent appearance of the eighth secret realm was highly likely triggered by him. Since he had gone to such lengths yet was unwilling to cooperate in reconstructing the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness], there was only one possibility—he had another way to enter the eighth secret realm without cooperation.
This was a good thing.
After all, reconstructing the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] was actually a last resort for the Primordial Saint; he was resolutely unwilling to share such an opportunity with others.
Since there was a way to find a loophole.
Then things became easier.
He only needed to keep staring at the Netherworld. No matter what they intended to do, they had to leave the Netherworld eventually; at that time, they would not escape his sharp eyes.
With this thought, the Primordial Saint continued to cast his gaze.
Immediately, his pupils snapped shut.
In the boundless Dark Void, Lu Yang's main body sat cross-legged. The ring of the Great Dao behind him rotated slowly, defining myriad phenomena and opening a "heaven beyond heavens" outside the Dark Void.
In this process, the ring of the Great Dao—which originally symbolized neither increase nor decrease and was perfected without flaw—strikingly manifested a very subtle state of distortion. At a certain linking point of the ring, the front and back sides of the Dao seemed to undergo a flip, causing infinite aura to surge and gallop within.
"RUMBLE!"
The sound of Dao-chimes echoed. In this process, the [Dead Cycle]—which was originally destined for no further progress—strikingly manifested a tendency toward breakthrough.
However, in the end, none of this happened.
Because just as it flipped to forty-five degrees, Lu Yang felt a clear sense of crisis; it seemed the [Dead Cycle] was about to break completely.
He immediately stopped his movements.
'...A pity.'
Although he had nearly sucked Dao Tianqi's Light of Wisdom dry earlier, it was still impossible to push the second qualitative change of a Dao Lord's essence out of nothing.
He needed a guide.
'I decisively refused the Primordial Saint earlier. He will surely think I have another way to enter the eighth secret realm and is likely staring at me fixedly right now.'
This was perfect.
Some things were meant for him to see.
The nearly distorted ring of the Great Dao instantly returned to normal. Lu Yang's eyes were half-open and half-closed, his gaze hollow and deep, looking far off toward the Great Karmic Net.
Light Sea Immortal Nexus, Jiangnan. Sword-lights shuttled through the clouds. Looking across, countless floating islands strikingly surrounded a towering divine peak.
It was the Jiangnan Sword Pavilion.
At the top of the divine peak lay the Extreme Heaven Cliff. Since the various Perfected Lords were in secluded cultivation, the Sword Pavilion was currently presided over by [Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde], who sat atop the Extreme Heaven Cliff.
At this moment, with a sword chime, the gates of a cave-dwelling on the floating island closest to the Extreme Heaven Cliff swung open. A spirited young man paced out, his face full of smug satisfaction: "After years of seclusion, I suddenly felt a resonance. From this day forward, I too am a Great Perfected One."
Almost simultaneously.
An aged voice, which only he could hear, rang in his ears: "Do not be smug. Until you attain the rank of Perfected Lord, you will never amount to anything."
"I understand."
The young man nodded slightly, then looked up at the sky with a curious expression: "Speaking of which, Senior, do you know what happened earlier..."
"Watch your words!"
Upon hearing this, the aged voice grew tense and interrupted him directly: "Such Supremes are not for the likes of you to fathom."
The young man was none other than the Perfected One Subduing-Spirit, a direct-line Foundation Establishment disciple the Sword Pavilion was truly cultivating with care. Hearing the aged voice act so solemnly and cautiously, the smile on his face faded significantly. After all, he knew well that his Senior Long Tu was a remnant consciousness of a Perfected Lord; for even him to call them Supremes...
'Dao Lords?'
Just mentioning those two words made Subduing-Spirit feel as if an electric current was running down his spine; that was the ultimate pursuit of all cultivators.
Do I have hope? At this thought, a fire nearly ignited in Subduing-Spirit's heart.
Of course there is, definitely! After all, I am cultivating for a Supreme status. Once I succeed and attain the [Sword-Edge Gold], I will surely have more hope of becoming a Dao Lord than the other Perfected Lords, right?
Just then, a streak of light fell.
Subduing-Spirit caught it and was momentarily stunned: "It's from [Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde]... The Great Perfected Lord has not yet emerged from seclusion, so he is the one receiving me."
When mentioning the Great Perfected Lord, Subduing-Spirit's expression was incredibly reverent but also held a hint of pride. After all, in the current Immortal Nexus, the only one who could be called a Great Perfected Lord was the Sword Pavilion's [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao], who was also his greatest supporter. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one person in the Immortal Nexus.
Compared to him.
[Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde]... that title was nothing but a name. Even Subduing-Spirit knew that this person had merely "picked up a bargain" back then.
That being said.
A Golden Core Perfected Lord was still present, and the sword-strike that annihilated the Shaman Ghost Dao years ago had shaken the Immortal Nexus. Therefore, Subduing-Spirit still did not dare to be perfunctory.
In the next second, Subduing-Spirit transformed into a sword-light and flew all the way to the Extreme Heaven Cliff. There, he saw a youth with red lips and white teeth sitting cross-legged, a long sword resting on his lap. His appearance was extremely young, yet his eyes held the vicissitudes of the rotation of years.
As soon as Subduing-Spirit landed, he hurried to prostrate himself.
Only then did the youth turn around, looking deeply at him before smiling: "Little friend has caught a good time. With your talent, you've broken through so quickly."
"The Perfected Lord overpraises me."
Subduing-Spirit waved his hand modestly: "It was merely luck."
This was only surface-level respect. Knowing the cultivation of this [Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde], Subduing-Spirit held very little respect in his heart.
He even had the leisure to converse with Long Tu in his mind while dealing with the man.
'Senior, could you have defeated this man at your peak?'
Hearing this, Long Tu sneered: 'No matter how far I've fallen, I was a Perfected Lord of the Gatekeeper lineage. This fellow before you appears to be only in the early Golden Core stage.'
'If this were back then, I could kill him like a chicken!'
At this point, Long Tu appeared quite arrogant, but he quickly grew dejected again: 'But things are different now... I currently cannot compare to a Perfected Lord.'
'Unless you can help me recover my physical body and reconstruct my sea of consciousness.'
'I understand.'
Subduing-Spirit nodded in his heart: '[Responding to Emperors], right? As long as I can enter that trial and send you into the [Samsara Pool] within.'
Long Tu's tone also fluctuated with emotion as he sighed: 'Correct, the [Samsara Pool]... that is the supreme treasure of my Gatekeeper lineage, the foundation of the trials within [Responding to Emperors]. Never mind a remnant consciousness like me; even if only a True Spirit remained, there would be hope of living out a second life after being sent in...'
Subduing-Spirit and Long Tu chatted away.
Little did they know that on the other side.
The youth-looking [Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde] was currently watching him with a hollow, indescribable gaze. Immediately, he strikingly asked in a low voice within his own heart:
"Patriarch, what do you think?"
Soon, a tall, straight figure manifested within his eyes—a figure whose face and gender were indiscernible, but behind whom the brilliance of heaven and earth seemed to converge.
The figure took a serious look at Subduing-Spirit, its gaze like a torch, appearing to pierce through his sea of consciousness to see Longtu in his remnant state.
"...Not bad, he is a talent."
(End of Chapter)