Chapter 331: Did I Forget Something?
"[Heaven-Sundering World Annihilation]!"
Four simple words, yet their underlying meaning sent chills down one's spine. In an instant, the Immortal Minghua in True Person Dangmo's hand trembled violently.
"Impossible... Supreme One..."
Immortal Minghua still wanted to convince himself. After all, the [Mystic Spirit Realm] still had a Supreme One. He had witnessed the Supreme One's might firsthand—it was utterly unstoppable.
"No—!"
The next second, an enraged roar filled the heavens.
The roar unmistakably came from the phantom of the celestial court suspended in the sky. At the center of its layered pavilions and towers, atop the Lingxiao Hall, stood a towering figure whose face remained indistinct.
The Supreme One of the [Mystic Spirit Realm].
Strictly speaking, within the [Mystic Spirit Realm], this Supreme One was exceptionally powerful—this was his domain, after all. In a one-on-one fight, he feared no True Lord.
Yet the problem was that no one intended to fight him alone. True Lords attacked from all directions—east, west, north, and south—while several more lurked in the shadows, observing. The sheer numerical advantage was overwhelming, like Mount Tai crushing an egg, leaving the Supreme One of the [Mystic Spirit Realm] with no hope of turning the tide.
He couldn't even comprehend it.
Why hadn't he fled immediately upon discovering that this world possessed thirty Fruit Positions, far surpassing the [Mystic Spirit Realm] in strength?
Had he lost his mind?
Even more absurd was that not only did he not flee, but he had also attempted to retaliate, dispatching Immortal Minghua and others, thereby exposing the location of his own realm.
The result? No sooner had Immortal Minghua and his group arrived than the True Lords, long prepared, traced their path back and launched an assault. The [Mystic Spirit Realm], originally distant from this world, was forcibly dragged over by the combined efforts of the True Lords!
"A tribulation..."
Witnessing this, True Person Dangmo sighed once more. "...So that's why. No wonder they paid no heed to my actions."
His journey to the mass grave had been intended to prevent all of this.
With his sword intent, he could have severed the connection between the [Mystic Spirit Realm] and this world. Yet he hadn't realized that the [Mystic Spirit Realm] had long been marked as prey by the True Lords.
How could a mere perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator defy the will of multiple True Lords?
In the end, he accomplished nothing. Worse, he became a tool used by the True Lords to maintain stability, preventing Immortal Minghua and his group from wreaking havoc.
"...Never mind."
True Person Dangmo took a deep breath, swiftly dispelling the myriad distracting thoughts in his heart. "At least I saved a few lives. It wasn't a complete loss."
With that, he retrieved his storage pouch.
Undoing its opening.
Lü Yang, standing beside True Person Dangmo, stole a glance inside—and instantly, his pupils contracted violently. Within the pouch, he beheld a horrifying sight.
—Heads.
Countless heads, densely packed, severed yet not dead. They moved and spoke animatedly, conversing among themselves!
The sheer eeriness of the scene seized Lü Yang's full attention.
Only when the heads of Immortal Minghua and the three Earth Immortals fell inside, finally placed upon a shelf, did he snap back to reality.
Looking up, he met True Person Dangmo's gaze.
His eyes were filled with tranquility, devoid of any malice.
"I apologize for startling you."
True Person Dangmo gave a bitter smile. "Those are all individuals I've slain—though I didn't kill them outright. Yet releasing them would be like freeing tigers back to the mountains, so I had no choice but to keep them with me."
"After all... a living dog is better than a dead lion."
Hiss!
Something was off! This True Person Dangmo was nine-tenths suspicious! Though he appeared righteous inside and out, something just didn't sit right!
Yet Lü Yang couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.
Despite his inner turmoil, Lü Yang maintained a composed expression, even adopting a look of reverence. "Your benevolence is admirable. The Sword Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation as the leader of the righteous path."
"You flatter me."
True Person Dangmo shook his head and turned his gaze back to the heavens.
Meanwhile, the celestial court's vast phantom, suspended high in the sky, grew increasingly distinct, even acquiring a tangible presence.
Beneath it, faint outlines of smaller realms—bubble-like in appearance—could be seen one by one severing their connections with the celestial court before vanishing entirely. Finally, the celestial court solidified completely, manifesting in this world!
Boom!
In an instant, a deafening roar erupted from within the celestial court, followed by its gradual disintegration—until it split into four massive fragments!
Each fragment bore a celestial gate.
The four celestial gates, each dragging a quarter of the celestial court's remnants, descended upon the four regions: Jiangnan, Jiangbei, Jiangxi, and Jiangdong!
"The [Mystic Spirit Realm]... is finished!"
Witnessing this, True Person Dangmo couldn't help but close his eyes. "With the True Lords taking action, that realm likely no longer harbors any living beings."
"Another realm destroyed."
"As for the current state of affairs, the True Lords have feasted, leaving the scraps for minor cultivators like us to nourish our subordinates."
Before he finished speaking, True Person Dangmo suddenly furrowed his brows. Beside him, Lü Yang felt his hairs stand on end as an inexplicable pressure weighed upon his mind. Though no anomalies manifested, his rich experience allowed him to swiftly deduce:
'A True Lord is watching this place!'
Moreover, Ancestor Nether Whisper within the Myriad Spirits Banner seemed to sense something as well. Yet he dared not reveal himself, only allowing a trace of deep-seated hatred to flicker in his eyes:
"It's him... [True Virtue]!"
[True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]!
Lü Yang kept his eyes downcast, not daring to speak. Fortunately, the True Lord's gaze held no interest in him, not even lingering for a moment.
The next second, True Person Dangmo reopened his eyes and looked at him:
"Hand over the [Shen Metal]."
"As you command, Senior."
Lü Yang promptly retrieved the [Shen Metal]. True Person Dangmo lightly tapped the hilt of his [No Killing] sword, releasing a streak of sword light.
In an instant, the sword light penetrated the [Shen Metal], illuminating its interior. Only then did Lü Yang see that within what should have been pure Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends essence lay a crimson speck, vivid as blood. The sword light swept over it, erasing the speck and restoring vitality to the previously lifeless [Shen Metal].
"...Done."
After completing this task, True Person Dangmo returned the [Shen Metal] to Lü Yang. "I've erased the imprint. You need not worry about hidden dangers within it."
"My gratitude, Senior!"
Lü Yang accepted the [Shen Metal] with a reverent expression, yet a thought nagged at him: Could there be another new imprint inside?
Hard to say!
'What a hot potato!'
Lü Yang inwardly groaned. This strand of [Shen Metal] qi was something he sought, yet he couldn't be certain whether it carried hidden traps left by others.
'The [Shen Metal] alone would be manageable, but the bigger concern is myself.'
'Could there be hidden traps left by a True Lord on my person? If so, even if the [Shen Metal] is clean, I wouldn't be able to deliver it to my original body.'
'In that case... reincarnation is urgently needed!'
After much deliberation, Lü Yang concluded that only the [Netherworld] could thoroughly cleanse this soul fragment of his. After all, the cycle of reincarnation treated everyone equally.
Just then, True Person Dangmo suddenly spoke:
"A fragment of the celestial court from the [Mystic Spirit Realm] has descended upon Jiangnan, soon to transform into a new Wonder. The True Lord has ordered me to lead an expedition to explore it."
"Fellow Daoist Lü, would you care to join me?"
A fragment of the celestial court from the Mystic Spirit Realm?
Lü Yang's eyes gleamed with calculation. Without hesitation, he clasped his hands and replied, "I would be honored to assist you, Senior."
The opportunity had arrived!
Die in battle within the Secret Realm, reincarnate the soul fragment, cleanse his identity, and join the Sword Pavilion—in an instant, Lü Yang pieced together his plan!
However...
'Did I forget something?'