Chapter 312: Advising Feixue, Exposing Ang Xiao
Chapter 312: Warning Feixue, Uncovering Ang Xiao
Never before had Lü Yang missed his own extraordinary wisdom so keenly.
Alas, Ancestor Nether Whisper had suffered severe injuries in his previous life and remained in deep slumber, recovering. Not just him—the entire Myriad Spirits Banner was currently half-destroyed.
'If only I could find a new one to integrate...'
Almost instinctively, Lü Yang thought of the other Ancestor Nether Whisper still trapped in the Skeleton Mountain Secret Realm. But he quickly dismissed the idea.
'...Not yet.'
The Golden Core sword qi still hung over Skeleton Mountain, and at this point, Ancestor Nether Whisper hadn't escaped. Taking him away was impossible.
Though the Sword Pavilion's [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] wasn't the most talented among True Lords, he was still a Golden Core cultivator. That lingering sword qi would kill Lü Yang instantly even at his current perfected Foundation Establishment stage. By his calculations, they'd need to wait six or seven more years.
'No rush... Patience yields perfection.'
Lü Yang comforted himself inwardly. But just then, he suddenly sensed something and looked up in surprise.
An ordinary person wouldn't have noticed anything.
Yet Lü Yang had experienced this peculiar sensation not long ago and recognized it instantly: "[Heaven of Non-Existence] is expanding!?"
In a flash, Lü Yang entered the Foundation Establishment realm.
He wasn't alone—countless Foundation Establishment True Persons sensed it too, descending into their cultivation bases to gaze skyward.
'There's something... up there!'
Everyone could feel it—a new presence hovered midair in the Foundation Establishment realm. Yet no method could detect its existence. Those who swept the area with divine sense would involuntarily receive an implanted memory:
《Mystic Method of Grand Void Ritual》!
This technique for connecting to the [Heaven of Non-Existence] was now being widely disseminated, complete with extensive knowledge about the mysterious realm.
"Boom!"
Simultaneously, several celestial stars blazed brilliantly overhead—even True Lords couldn't remain unmoved by the [Heaven of Non-Existence]'s manifestation.
What shocked countless cultivators was that despite the Fruit Position starlight descending and True Lords' vast divine senses sweeping through, the [Heaven of Non-Existence] remained intangible. Like a mirage, it couldn't be captured or influenced by True Lords!
"What an extraordinary [Heaven of Non-Existence]!"
While seizing Fruit Positions was inherently difficult—let alone suppressing them—only the Pure Land had achieved such a feat over the millennia. But the [Heaven of Non-Existence] proved even more elusive.
What cannot be seen is called invisible.
What cannot be heard is called inaudible.
What cannot be grasped is called intangible.
These three cannot be separately described,
Therefore they merge into one.
Above, it is not bright;
Below, it is not dark.
Endless, it cannot be named,
And returns to nothingness.
Thus it is called the formless form.
After several attempts, the True Lords conceded defeat and withdrew. Below, Foundation Establishment True Persons who'd comprehended the [Heaven of Non-Existence]'s wonders through the 《Mystic Method of Grand Void Ritual》 grew visibly excited.
Meanwhile, overseas.
[Ang Xiao] also opened his eyes and sighed: "What a profound Fruit Position. Where did Mu Changsheng obtain this from beyond the heavens?"
Though the Innate True Person claimed the [Heaven of Non-Existence] was his own Empty Attainment, [Ang Xiao] didn't believe it—certain some external force was involved.
Because talent has limits.
Why was Empty Attainment considered illusory? Simple: How can one imagine something never before seen? It defied reason.
Thus [Ang Xiao] was convinced the Innate True Person must have stumbled upon extraordinary fortune—how else could he have achieved something as marvelous as the [Heaven of Non-Existence]? Even Ancestor Nether Whisper in his time only created methods to falsely hold Golden Positions, never achieving Empty Attainment of a Fruit Position.
Could the Innate True Person's talent surpass Ancestor Nether Whisper's?
Impossible!
'Pity. With the [Heaven of Non-Existence] disrupting things, my plan to refine the Dao Calamity into an avatar failed. The next opportunity won't come easily...'
[Ang Xiao] sighed inwardly.
The next instant, as crystalline light cascaded down like water, his form dissipated—replaced by the figure of True Lord Qingcheng Feixue.
"Tch... Ran fast enough!"
True Lord Qingcheng Feixue snorted coldly, her radiant eyes gleaming as she faintly sensed [Ang Xiao]'s terrifying depth. Her curiosity grew: 'Mid-stage Golden Core like me... No, possibly late-stage? How did he break through? Feels like he's among the strongest of late-stage.'
Yet she felt no fear.
If Chongguang succeeded in seeking gold, joining forces with her and [True Lord Zengcai Qiluo] to complete three of the Five Elements, she'd have confidence to assault late-stage Golden Core. And if he wasn't at late-stage? Even less reason to fear.
Xue Feihong had risen during the last great calamity five thousand years ago—meeting every enemy in battle and emerging victorious each time. Her combat talent was hailed as unparalleled in five millennia.
Late-stage Golden Core opponents gave her pause, but mid-stage? Bring them on!
With this thought, she glanced downward.
Lü Yang had already regained awareness, but Hong Ju remained entranced. Hong Yun hadn't come—leaving only Hong Ju, who posed no threat to her.
Suddenly, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue flashed Lü Yang a dazzling smile.
A crisp, melodious voice sounded in his ears: "From your reaction, you know who that was just now, don't you?"
"...His name is [Ang Xiao]."
Lü Yang answered directly without evasion. Thunder instantly rolled through the clouds—yet could do nothing about it.
Or rather, [Ang Xiao] had prepared for exposure long ago. With his momentum already established, what could True Lord Feixue do even knowing of his existence and the anomaly with [Chen Earth]? Nothing.
"Ang Xiao..."
True Lord Qingcheng Feixue indeed fell into contemplation, anger gradually surfacing in her eyes before her graceful figure vanished.
That single reminder had sufficed.
Just then, Hong Ju beside Lü Yang opened his eyes, face flushing crimson as his merit and fortune abruptly plummeted.
'Failed the tribulation?'
Lü Yang instantly recognized the signs—yet found it unbelievable. Hong Ju was at perfected Foundation Establishment! How could he fail even the first tribulation?
I passed it quite easily...
Meanwhile, Hong Ju wore an ugly expression as he sighed: "That Mu Changsheng... To survive such desperate circumstances without being drained to death..."
What horrors had he endured?!
The [Heaven and Earth Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Grand Formation], with 108 [Heavenly Maidens] attacking simultaneously—seven days of bloody battle only to be forced to death by his opponent.
'This first tribulation alone is insurmountable for most—unrelated to cultivation level since everyone enters as the Innate True Person at Qi Refining perfection. Only those with iron will and exceptional talent can break through. Perhaps Lord Hong Yun might have stood a chance...'
After a long while, Hong Ju finally regained his senses.
Noticing Lü Yang beside him, he recalled their overseas mission and immediately darkened: "How about alternative terms? Do you have other needs?"
"...There is one thing."
Lü Yang remained calm, having prepared for this: "If you can obtain Shen Metal qi for me, I'll still share the method."
Hong Ju's eyes brightened: "Easily done! Come with me."
Following Hong Ju, Lü Yang soon arrived at the causality-shielded mountain forest. With a wave of Hong Ju's hand—
A talisman book materialized.
Lü Yang's eyes narrowed sharply.
It was none other than the Fruit Position Treasure of [Overturned Lamp Flame]—the [Fate-Linked Karma Rewriting Talisman Book]!