Chapter 284: What a Feast!
[Flowing Water] descends!
How terrifying is the fall of a Fruit Position? Almost simultaneously, every cultivator in the world practicing [Flowing Water] felt an inexplicable sense of oppression.
Directly above the Foundation Establishment realm, the Sea of Suffering churned violently. Foundation Establishment True Persons looked up and saw a somewhat blurred, blazing white light resembling a crescent moon—illusory and indistinct, its true form unclear. Yet they could sense the vast, boundless divine ability imagery within it.
"Failed..."
Lü Yang shook his head at the sight. This was clearly not the phenomenon of successful Golden Core formation. Though Suo Huan had gambled on that one-in-ten-thousand chance to charge toward the Fruit Position...
Alas, it ended in failure.
Soon, Lü Yang spotted Suo Huan's figure within that arc of light. The man's expression was dazed, as if he had encountered something utterly incomprehensible.
Then, this great cultivator from beyond the heavens suddenly laughed—a shrill, hysterical laughter. His previously stable qi suddenly turned violently erratic, his pitch-black eyes tinged with a bloody crimson hue. Everyone could hear his frenzied roar:
"Too much! This is too much!"
"Why must you treat me like this? My [Huanxu Realm], I, Suo Huan... Hahaha! Suo Huan! Suo Huan! This Daoist name truly wasn't mistaken at all!"
"My lord! Come out!"
"I know you're watching!"
As he roared, centered around the slowly descending [Flowing Water], three Golden Core Dharma Bodies of cosmic grandeur manifested.
Suo Huan instantly recognized these three Golden Core True Lords—they were precisely the masterminds behind the Dao-Seizing War that destroyed the [Huanxu Realm]. His laughter grew even more tragic. Back then, he had thought he escaped with the help of the Realm Heaven. Now it seemed that wasn't the case at all!
"Gentlemen, the main course is served."
The True Lords' voices carried amusement, echoing in a realm imperceptible to True Persons:
"Amitabha... The Buddha is merciful. It was worth releasing this man back then. Today, merits are fulfilled at last, and we may guide this Blessed Land to its rightful place."
"His Metal Essence belongs to me."
"Saint Sect members, stay where you are! Don't act recklessly. Divide according to prior agreement, or if anyone flips the table, none shall partake of this feast."
"Tch."
The three Golden Core True Lords took their positions, their immense divine senses communicating. They had long since decided on the "distribution plan." Now, they simultaneously moved to restrain Suo Huan.
"The Pure Land provided me resources for the Blessed Land, so upon my failure, the Blessed Land returns to them. The Dao Court enhanced my cultivation, allowing me to refine Metal Essence—so after my death, it goes to them. As for the Saint Sect... they hoped I'd shake [Flowing Water], perhaps even intending to pull it under their control?"
This was a gluttonous feast.
He was the main course on the table, while the Pure Land, Dao Court, and Saint Sect were the diners... At this realization, Suo Huan's mad laughter gradually ceased.
He had anticipated this long ago.
From the moment he accepted support from these three factions, he had considered the possibility of failure. Thus, being devoured by them now came as no surprise.
What truly drove him to despair was someone else.
The next moment, Suo Huan surveyed his surroundings, looking at the three Golden Core True Lords, and suddenly smiled: "My lord, after scheming for so many years... what are you still waiting for?"
Boom!
In that instant, as if responding to Suo Huan's question, an indescribably vast aura suddenly surged from the direction of the Four Seas Sect and the Dragon Palace!
"Hmm?"
At this moment, the Foundation Establishment True Persons below all turned their heads, while even the three True Lords in the sky—who had been dividing Suo Huan—revealed expressions of astonishment:
"A Golden Core formation phenomenon?"
"Tian Qiu? No, wasn't he slain by Suo Huan? Without a physical body, how can mere soul seek Golden Core? What Fruit Position doesn't require a body..."
In a flash, countless thoughts raced through the True Lords' minds until they arrived at one conjecture simultaneously. Just then, the Dragon Palace's gates swung wide open, unleashing a tidal wave of deathly qi. At its center was a faintly discernible dragon silhouette, slowly opening a portal.
[Netherworld]!
What Fruit Position in this world doesn't require a physical body? Naturally, it's the Netherworld—the realm overseeing the cycle of reincarnation! Those with physical bodies inherently struggle to enter the Netherworld!
Only souls may pass through!
Yet while ordinary souls are directly absorbed by the Netherworld upon reincarnation, Tian Qiu was currently attempting to open a gateway leading into it!
"What is he doing?"
"Seeking Golden Core while opening the Netherworld... It's Ang Xiao! He intends to drag a [Fruit Position] down using the Netherworld! Suo Huan was merely bait to mislead us?"
"Tian Qiu is the true target of this scheme!"
At this moment, the three True Lords clearly saw that as Tian Qiu's aura erupted, a celestial star blazed brightly in the heavens—the Water Element Fruit Position [Heavenly River Water]. This Fruit Position was renowned as "Qi ascending and descending, residing in the exalted fire position, where water surges forth as rain to nourish the water within fire—only the heavens possess such."
Among Water Element Fruit Positions, this reigns supreme!
This sudden change immediately unsettled the True Lords. They simultaneously struck at Tian Qiu, only to be firmly intercepted by another majestic dragon form.
The Dragon Lord of the Four Seas Sect!
This one was a noble born of ancient times—mid-stage Golden Core, with an Unfalling Cave Heaven. His existence spanned so long that he could trace back to the founding days of the Four Great Sects.
Just how much weight did that carry?
To put it bluntly—he had even met a Dao Lord!
Given that current Dao Lords remain unseen, the vast majority of Golden Core True Lords have never laid eyes on one, some even uncertain whether they're male or female.
Yet the Dragon Lord had met one.
Though over these many years, under suppression from all sides, the Dragon Lord remained at mid-stage cultivation without breaking through to late-stage, this didn't mean he was weak by any measure.
Now, as the Dragon Lord made his move, his towering dragon form stood like an endless wall separating the True Lords from Tian Qiu—dividing heaven and earth in an instant. Across the overseas regions, boundless seawater resonated in response. Another Fruit Position star shone brilliantly in the sky above.
[Great Sea Water]!
In ancient times, the True Dragon Clan governed rivers, lakes, and seas. Of the six Water Element Fruit Positions, four were under their control, with [Great Sea Water] reigning supreme among water positions.
Yet after the heavenly changes, the dragons' majesty faded.
Not only did [Great Sea Water] lose its position as water's supreme Fruit Position—yielding to [Heavenly River Water]—but other positions were likewise lost. Of the four Dragon Lords, only one remained.
To call this blood-soaked hatred would be an understatement!
"Stake everything!"
Now that the Dragon Lord had acted, he was truly prepared to gamble everything. He understood clearly—the Dao Lords of the Four Great Sects wouldn't intervene in such matters.
With his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, and if aided by that [Ang Xiao], there might yet be a chance!
Just then.
As Tian Qiu opened the [Netherworld] gate, amidst endless deathly qi, a tall figure with hands clasped behind his back quietly emerged from within.
His build suggested masculinity, yet his face was obscured by a hazy mist, rendering it indistinct. Unlike other entities of the [Netherworld], he possessed a physical body! Though his vital energy wasn't apparent, that immovable solidity was unmistakably corporeal—no mere soul could manifest such presence.
"What a feast."
He smiled faintly, his voice—neither clearly male nor female, neither old nor young—resounding thunderously: "Why not let me partake as well?"
[True Lord Angxiao Biri]!
After so long, True Lords across the world sensed his presence once more.
In that instant, countless True Lords turned their gazes, attempting to pierce through the hazy mist veiling the mysterious True Lord's face beyond the Netherworld gate.