Chapter 305: Ang Xiao's Move!
Yu Suzhen, who had once been an outer sect disciple of the Saint Sect just like Lü Yang, shared a deep friendship with him. The guardian deity Su Nu had been refined using her as material.
Yet no matter how one looked at it, she shouldn't be appearing here at this moment!
And her cultivation...
Lü Yang's eyes widened as he saw Yu Suzhen within the Immortal Alliance headquarters, her aura vast and majestic—she had actually become a Combined Dao grand cultivator of the Biyang Cultivation World!
What level was this?
The Biyang Cultivation World had been passed down by the Innate True Person, cultivating not positional attainment but only refining true qi. Though Combined Dao grand cultivators were theoretically still at Qi Refining Perfection, the strength of their true qi could rival second-grade true qi. If they further borrowed the [Imperial Palace Golden Seal True Edict], they could even temporarily hold Foundation Establishment!
If Yu Suzhen had reached this realm, Lü Yang could understand.
After all, in one previous lifetime, Lü Yang had once crafted her into a "Destined Maiden," during which Yu Suzhen's performance had left him in awe.
A veritable superhuman.
Yet no matter how superhuman she was, Yu Suzhen absolutely shouldn't be appearing here now—let alone possessing cultivation at the Qi Refining Perfection level!
Because it had only been three years.
Only three years had passed since his restart. For an ordinary outer sect disciple to become a Combined Dao cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection in such a short time?
Completely unreasonable!
Immediately after, Lü Yang saw Yu Suzhen silently arrive at the spacious hall within the Immortal Alliance headquarters where the [Imperial Palace Golden Seal True Edict] was stored.
"This should be the place..."
Her expression was tense yet secretly excited. Then, with a flick of her delicate hand, she took out a banner flag from her sachet that Lü Yang knew all too well.
The [Myriad Spirits Banner]!
'She obtained the Innate True Person's inheritance from Liu Xin's hands? That makes sense—in that previous lifetime, she was the one who forced Liu Xin to his death through sheer effort.'
Lü Yang suddenly understood why Yu Suzhen had come to the Biyang Cultivation World. Yet even so, he couldn't explain her drastic improvement in cultivation at all. Reaching Qi Refining Perfection in three years was simply too exaggerated. Even he, starting cultivation anew now, couldn't progress that quickly.
"Fellow Daoist? What happened?"
Seeing Lü Yang suddenly lower his head and fall silent, Hong Ju, who was traveling with him, showed a puzzled expression before also glancing at Yu Suzhen inside the hall.
Out of habit, he performed a quick divination.
Yet Hong Ju's expression also turned peculiar, for he found he couldn't divine anything—the woman actually possessed a supreme treasure capable of concealing heavenly secrets.
'What secrets does this woman hold?'
'Wait, that banner flag... the Innate True Person?'
Out of caution, Hong Ju didn't act either. Instead, he simply stood quietly in the hall with Lü Yang, watching as Yu Suzhen held the Myriad Spirits Banner and began chanting incantations.
After all, one was at mid Foundation Establishment while the other had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. Even if Yu Suzhen was already at Qi Refining Perfection and had means to temporarily hold Foundation Establishment, the gap between them was still overwhelmingly vast. By merely restraining their auras and standing there, Yu Suzhen couldn't perceive them at all.
"Innate Primordial Qi, Seal and Command the Myriad Spirits!"
Yu Suzhen channeled all her magic power before violently shaking the Myriad Spirits Banner. The unfurled banner manifested a vast, boundless illusory space.
This space merged with the [Imperial Palace Golden Seal True Edict].
Almost simultaneously, the [Imperial Palace Golden Seal True Edict] suddenly erupted with infinite radiant light, within which a blurred figure distinctly appeared.
'The Primordial Dao Calamity!?'
Seeing this, Lü Yang recalled the intelligence he'd gained when slaying the Primordial Dao Calamity in his previous life and finally understood what Yu Suzhen was attempting now.
'This is a contingency left behind by the Innate True Person—using the Myriad Spirits Banner to summon the Primordial Dao Calamity, then controlling it through the banner's absolute dominance to extract the Metal Essence within its body. With this, one could cultivate the first-grade true art he deduced. The design is flawlessly interconnected...'
At this thought, Lü Yang's pupils constricted sharply!
According to his speculation, for Yu Suzhen to reach Qi Refining Perfection in three years and even cross vast oceans to come to the Biyang Cultivation World, there must have been a mastermind behind her.
He just hadn't known who it was before.
But now he had the answer: if he couldn't guess who it was, then it must have been [Ang Xiao]'s doing!
'The key is the Primordial Dao Calamity... I remember the Innate True Person sought Metal Essence to Achieve [Flowing Water], and ultimately died due to issues with [Chen Earth]!'
In his previous life, Chongguang failed in seeking Metal Essence, and his Dao Calamity was refined by [Ang Xiao] into an avatar, granting him a freely roaming, invincible-under-True-Lords avatar that instantly elevated his control over the present world by several levels. Yet now, Chongguang hadn't even begun seeking Metal Essence.
Naturally, Chongguang's Dao Calamity couldn't be found anywhere.
'Before, [Ang Xiao] might not have cared, as his grand scheme was already established while he remained hidden in the shadows. His control over the present world didn't need to be that deep.'
'But this lifetime is different!'
'This lifetime, he encountered me—someone he mistook for a [fellow Daoist], an opponent hidden in the shadows like him with unknown true identity!'
Under such circumstances, how could [Ang Xiao] possibly remain idle?
Without a doubt, he desperately needed an avatar to roam the world on his behalf. And in the current era, the Primordial Dao Calamity was undoubtedly the most suitable raw material!
Yet the Primordial Dao Calamity had been trapped by the Innate True Person using the positional attainment power of [Flowing Water] before his death. Unless one stirred heaven and earth's killing intent or karma's pull, no one could rescue it. Of course, this wouldn't stump [Ang Xiao], but doing so would inevitably create significant commotion.
[Ang Xiao] didn't want to expose himself publicly.
'So he spent three years manipulating karma to accelerate Yu Suzhen's growth, all for harvesting the Innate True Person's Dao Calamity now!'
Yu Suzhen was Ang Xiao's move on the board!
The instant Lü Yang comprehended everything, he had already acted.
"Commanding Mountains and Moving Peaks True Method!"
Lü Yang's fingers formed seals, incantations were chanted, and profound points were indicated—three steps completed in one breath. Just as Yu Suzhen turned her head in response, his finger landed precisely between her brows.
The next moment, Lü Yang directly suppressed all of Yu Suzhen's magic power, simultaneously interrupting the Myriad Spirits Banner's summoning of the Primordial Dao Calamity with his spell.
"...Huh?"
At this moment, not only was the suppressed Yu Suzhen stunned, but even Lü Yang, who had acted decisively, froze on the spot, clearly not expecting his success.
Could [Ang Xiao] not observe this place?
To be honest, at this point, Lü Yang had assumed [Ang Xiao] would be closely monitoring Yu Suzhen. His attack was merely a probe to test the opponent's reaction.
Yet the result was his success.
Was [Ang Xiao] absent, or did he not dare appear?
In that lightning-fast moment, Lü Yang's thoughts raced, forming a conjecture: 'Could it be... that True Lord Qingcheng Feixue has actually been secretly watching this place all along?'
This was the only explanation.
Previously, Lü Yang had connected with Chongguang, planning to trap and kill Hong Yun in the Biyang Cultivation World. With Chongguang's cautious nature, he must have long invited a True Lord to observe from nearby.
Lü Yang had initially thought that since Hong Yun didn't come—only Hong Ju arrived—True Lord Qingcheng Feixue would surely lose interest and leave. Yet now it seemed the True Lord might never have shifted her gaze away, continuously watching this place and following him, which was why [Ang Xiao] dared not act!
'Excellent! This is my chance!'
Overjoyed, Lü Yang looked at the suppressed Yu Suzhen. He needed to know how many measures [Ang Xiao] had planted on this Senior Sister Yu.
'Pity the [Puppet on Strings] can only be used when my original body arrives...'
Even with temporary Foundation Establishment holding some characteristics of true Foundation Establishment, as a "True Person," Lü Yang couldn't recklessly perform soul searches on her.
'Seems I'll have to suffer a bit more myself.'
Those who accomplish great deeds don't fuss over minor details.
As his thoughts raced, Lü Yang had already made his decision:
Slay Yu Suzhen!