Chapter 307: Nothingness Contains Existence, Existence Returns to Nothingness
Chapter 307: The Illusory Becomes Real Where Reality Is Illusory
As the words fell, the [Nether Envoy] opened its massive maw.
Within that blood-red mouth stretched a tongue like a river of gore, its jagged teeth formed from piled white bones. A piercing shriek erupted as if ten thousand vengeful spirits had cried out in unison.
"Boom!"
In an instant, sound transcended hearing—the terrifying brilliance of divine ability violently shook Lü Yang's sea of consciousness. Streaks of golden light swiftly shielded his divine sense.
[Stubborn Gold Duke]!
This innate divine ability was a quintessential life-preservation art. Under its protection, neither blade nor axe could leave a scratch—it could even defend the sea of consciousness itself!
Yet the [Nether Envoy]'s power clearly far surpassed Lü Yang's. After all, it had been crafted by [Ang Xiao], starting at the level of a late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand True Person.
Almost immediately, the golden light of [Stubborn Gold Duke] shattered under the [Nether Envoy]'s shriek. The horrific sound waves reverberated through Lü Yang's sea of consciousness like rolling thunder, churning his mind, divine soul, and memories into chaos before finally ceasing.
But in the next second—
"Hmm?"
A flash of golden light appeared before the [Nether Envoy] could react. A sword radiance erupted from the shattered sea of consciousness, slashing toward it!
"Still alive?"
The [Nether Envoy] blocked the sword light with astonishment, only to find its dharma body disintegrating like melting snow under its glow!
[Lord of War]!
Lü Yang naturally wouldn't entrust [Tribulation Wave] to an avatar. Instead, he wielded the transformative aspect of [Lord of War]—the principle of "Revolution."
Revolution signifies change.
At extremes, transformation occurs!
This divine ability could alter the nature of substances—turning gold to iron, iron to mud. Under its influence, the [Nether Envoy] felt its once-light ethereal soul grow unbearably heavy, its intangible divine sense gradually acquiring the tangible sensation of metal!
"How... is this possible?"
The [Nether Envoy] widened its eyes in disbelief. "After enduring my [Malevolent Yin Screech], with your sea of consciousness shattered... how can you still fight?"
The answer was simple.
'The avatar's sea of consciousness shattered—what does that have to do with my true body? As long as the soul isn't scattered and [Puppet on Strings] remains, I can force it to battle!'
Despite this, Lü Yang inwardly cursed.
'Where's Hong Ju? Where's True Lord Qingcheng Feixue? Why haven't they acted? Can't they see this massive [Nether Envoy] invading my mind?'
Teammates! Teammates! A little help here!
Meanwhile, the [Nether Envoy] seemed to read Lü Yang's thoughts and sneered, "Don't hold onto hope. No one can aid you now."
"The moment I awoke, I unfurled the [Scorching Stone]. Within your sea of consciousness, even ten million years pass as but a single breath outside. Perhaps someone has already tried to save you—but by the time they reach you, the solitude here will have long broken your will."
Expecting terror from Lü Yang, the [Nether Envoy] instead met eyes blazing with greed.
'Such a divine ability exists...'
Lü Yang marveled inwardly. Compressing ten million years into a single thought—the [Nether Envoy]'s techniques clearly abandoned the physical form, specializing in assaults against the soul.
Which fruit position did this correspond to?
'...[Netherworld]!'
The realization stoked Lü Yang's excitement. No cultivator in the current era practiced the [Netherworld] path—this was the first he'd encountered!
How had it been achieved?
'This creature's magic power feels peculiar. Though unnoticed earlier, our clash revealed traces of familiarity.'
It resembled a celestial spirit!
'Damn it... Could this be a celestial spirit born of [Netherworld] qi? Not just Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends—even the [Netherworld] can spawn celestial spirits!?'
Lü Yang instantly recalled his golden-tier talent, [Innate Celestial Spirit]. If the [Netherworld] truly could produce such beings, perhaps he too could attain an empty fruit position. This concerned the Nascent Soul Dao Lords—it might be his path to the pinnacle!
Yet he quickly regained composure.
'Not necessarily. This creature is clearly [Ang Xiao]'s contingency within Yu Suzhen—possibly artificial. The [Netherworld]'s nature remains unclear.'
As for the [Nether Envoy]'s threat, he dismissed it entirely.
Ten million years in a single breath?
Simple.
With a thought, Lü Yang severed the [Puppet on Strings] connection. After that breath passed, he reconnected to the avatar.
In that fleeting moment, the external world had transformed.
"Boom!"
Hong Ju had acted.
In truth, Hong Ju had struck the instant the [Nether Envoy] appeared—only time had been infinitely stretched by the creature's divine ability.
By disconnecting, Lü Yang escaped the [Nether Envoy]'s influence, reducing its claimed ten million years to a mere instant. Only after Hong Ju extracted the [Nether Envoy] from the avatar's sea of consciousness did Lü Yang resume control.
Through this maneuver, all damage fell upon the avatar.
Lü Yang's true body remained unscathed!
Simultaneously, [Ang Xiao], observing covertly, noted the shift with disinterest. 'It seems our fellow Daoist chooses not to intervene?'
The [Nether Envoy] lived.
This meant the hidden figure had relinquished the Primordial Dao Calamity to [Ang Xiao] rather than reveal their identity.
Had Lü Yang heard [Ang Xiao]'s thoughts, he'd have sighed helplessly.
'Do I not wish to kill the [Nether Envoy]? I simply can't!'
Suddenly, an immense force descended—True Lord Qingcheng Feixue, stationed overseas, had finally acted.
The [Nether Envoy]'s uniqueness had drawn her attention.
Yet [Ang Xiao] remained unfazed.
The [Nether Envoy] wasn't truly powerful—merely crafted from traces of [Netherworld] qi. Impressive in appearance, but valueless.
The true key lay elsewhere.
'Now, who remembers the Myriad Spirits Banner?'
Knowledge-Perception Obstruction!
The [Nether Envoy] served as bait to divert attention, enabling him to cloak the banner through this very obstruction.
'The Primordial Dao Calamity is mine.'
In that moment, all sounds ceased.
An intangible shroud expanded, veiling the numinous terrace and dulling perception. None recalled—or if they saw, instinctively overlooked—that the Myriad Spirits Banner still channeled the Primordial Dao Calamity!
Previously interrupted by Lü Yang, the process had silently resumed, yet no one noticed this glaring change.
Except Lü Yang.
The Knowledge-Perception Obstruction affected the avatar, making it overlook what it saw. But Lü Yang, witnessing through [Puppet on Strings], remained unaffected!
Yet seeing didn't equate to stopping.
"Myriad Spirits Banner!"
Lü Yang's warning went unheard, his voice likewise obscured. With no response, he could only watch events unfold.
'In his past life... he likely seized Chongguang's Dao Calamity the same way—under the True Lords' gaze!'
'Unlike against Foundation Establishment cultivators, he couldn't fabricate ignorance before True Lords. Distraction was his tool!'
'Diverting the True Lords' attention!'
'Last time, it was a great battle. This time, that creature. Like fishing.'
'Once True Lord Qingcheng Feixue took the bait, his Knowledge-Perception Obstruction made her overlook everything else.'
'Too sinister!'
Lü Yang sighed inwardly. The Primordial Dao Calamity had been his target—he'd hoped to use the Innate True Person's metal essence to manifest another talent.
Now, he had to abandon it.
But then—
"Crack!"
A crisp snap echoed in everyone's ears, shattering an invisible barrier and dispelling the Knowledge-Perception Obstruction!
"Hmm? Who's there?"
Instantly, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's voice resounded, her vast divine sense locking onto [Ang Xiao] as he prepared to claim the Primordial Dao Calamity.
The channeling was complete.
Yet [Ang Xiao] frowned.
Not only had his obstruction shattered, revealing him to True Lord Qingcheng Feixue—but the Myriad Spirits Banner in his grip felt unnaturally heavy.
'This weight...!?'
Something was wrong!
The previously ordinary banner, after absorbing the Primordial Dao Calamity, had undergone an unforeseen transformation!
Then, a calm voice drifted through the air:
"When falsehood is taken as truth, truth becomes false; Where reality is illusory, the illusory becomes real."
"Mu Changsheng leaves the [Heaven of Non-Existence] here, for posterity."
In that instant, even [Ang Xiao]'s unshakable composure faltered—for he recognized that voice all too well:
"...Innate True Person Mu Changsheng!?"
In a flash of insight, [Ang Xiao] understood the banner's newfound weight.
'This... is the heaviness of a fruit position!'
In his twilight years, the Innate True Person sought first-grade true qi and "empty attainment," dying in pursuit of [Flowing Water]. [Ang Xiao] had assumed he'd faded into obscurity.
Yet now—
'He succeeded back then!?'