Chapter 340: It’s All Thanks to Myself
Chapter 340: All By My Own Efforts
'This entire scheme was prepared for [Ang Xiao]!'
At this moment, Lü Yang felt his thoughts clearer than ever before. Numerous clues connected together, finally revealing the full picture of events up to now.
'The origin... lies with the [Mystic Spirit Realm]!'
'To devour the [Mystic Spirit Realm], the Saint Sect's True Lords took the lead, followed by True Lords from other factions. Many True Lords went beyond the heavens and annihilated the Mystic Spirit Realm.'
Only one person wasn't invited.
That was [Ang Xiao]!
'[Ang Xiao], being in the Netherworld, naturally couldn't join the True Lords in traveling to the [Mystic Spirit Realm], and thus couldn't learn about their actions beyond the heavens.'
'If my deduction is correct, the True Lords didn't just kill the Mystic Spirit Realm's Supreme Being—True Lord Qingcheng Feixue likely took the opportunity to expose [Ang Xiao]'s identity! Hence, the subsequent division of the Heavenly Court into four fragments, which served as bait to lure [Ang Xiao]!'
'The outcome was as expected.'
'[Ang Xiao] fell into the trap, actively entering the Heavenly Court fragment. His consciousness, originally used to observe the mortal world, was thus sealed off, cutting off his perception of it!'
'Then...'
Thinking this, Lü Yang looked again toward the north bank of the river. He knew of Chongguang's arrangements for seeking gold—this timing was far too early for Chongguang.
In other words—
'...It's Hong Yun!'
Only Hong Yun could so brazenly seek gold on the north bank, surely with Chongguang and True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's tacit approval. This was absolutely beyond [Ang Xiao]'s expectations!
'This matter should be viewed in three layers.'
'The first layer is the trap Chongguang and True Lord Qingcheng Feixue set using the Heavenly Court fragments. [Ang Xiao] might have anticipated this.'
'Thus, the second layer is the trap [Ang Xiao] set atop this foundation.'
'As for this trap, eighty percent of it lies within the fragment of the cave heaven beneath the waters of the Dao of the Sweet Pear Tree. If Chongguang and True Lord Qingcheng Feixue thought they had trapped [Ang Xiao]'s consciousness and boldly entered that cave heaven fragment, they would undoubtedly fall into his trap, suffering grievous harm if not outright death!'
'Above this is the third layer.'
At this thought, Lü Yang couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh:
'Chongguang and True Lord Qingcheng Feixue not only refrained from going to that cave heaven fragment but even chose to cut the ground from under [Ang Xiao]'s feet by allowing Hong Yun to seek gold!'
This was the killing blow!
Because doing so held no benefit for Chongguang, yet it dealt a fatal blow to [Ang Xiao]—an act of pure spite.
'However, [Ang Xiao] must have noticed something amiss.'
'Unable to leave the [Southern Heavenly Gate], he sensed the trap's existence and urgently sought to reconnect with his original body in the outside world.'
'That's why he appeared before me.'
Under the wondrous enhancement of [Dongming], Lü Yang's thoughts grew ever sharper:
'Just now, his words contained probing intentions, offers of cooperation, but ultimately, his fundamental goal was singular: to have me kill him!'
'Whether provoking me or deliberately inciting my resistance, these were merely means to an end—he wanted the result: to use my hand to commit suicide!'
The influence of the [Netherworld] was omnipresent.
As long as one remained in this world, the soul would inevitably enter the [Netherworld] after death—this was the key to [Ang Xiao]'s consciousness returning.
'As for why he couldn't kill himself...'
This was also Lü Yang's speculation.
Otherwise, why would [Ang Xiao] go through such trouble to use Lü Yang's hand to return to the Netherworld? Slitting his own throat would be simpler—there must be interference from a True Lord!
Thinking this, Lü Yang manipulated his avatar within the [Southern Heavenly Gate] to tentatively extend a hand.
"Mm!"
His movement abruptly halted, unable to proceed further. Just moments ago, he had intended to self-destruct, but this action was forbidden.
'...As expected!'
Looking up, Lü Yang seemed to see an invisible, mighty force like a vast net enveloping the entire [Southern Heavenly Gate], displaying a line of talismanic script:
[Suicide is forbidden here!]
'This is... the power of the [Mystic Spirit Realm]'s Fruit Position! A True Lord exerted influence to leave this rule within the [Southern Heavenly Gate]!'
Thus sealing off [Ang Xiao]'s ability to suicide and return to the Netherworld!
This was definitely not True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's doing.
More importantly, this rule was deeply concealed—[Ang Xiao] outside hadn't noticed anything amiss, or he would have realized something was wrong.
And this layer of concealment employed an entirely different method.
Beyond this, the seal isolating the [Southern Heavenly Gate] from the outside world also didn't resemble True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's handiwork—clearly the work of another.
'Three... at least three True Lords have acted here!'
'Enemies everywhere—truly enemies everywhere... [Ang Xiao] wasn't just schemed against by True Lord Qingcheng Feixue alone, but by all the True Lords under heaven!'
For a moment, Lü Yang felt endless reflection:
'Every single one of these individuals who became True Lords is no pushover. Even someone like [Ang Xiao] can be overturned by a single misstep!'
Hong Yun wasn't constrained by [Chen Earth]. Once he succeeded in seeking gold and regained control of [Overturned Lamp Flame], he would inevitably dismantle all of [Ang Xiao]'s arrangements, causing him to fall from his late-stage Golden Core position—this was an irreconcilable grudge of the Dao! [Ang Xiao] would surely spare no effort to stop this.
Could Hong Yun succeed?
'Unlikely...'
Lü Yang inwardly shook his head—not from lack of confidence in Hong Yun, but from confidence in [Ang Xiao]. This late-stage Golden Core Great True Lord's prowess was too formidable.
Yet it couldn't be denied.
After being schemed against like this, Hong Yun had seized the initiative. Where he previously had no hope of seeking gold, he now had at least a thirty percent chance!
'...There's just one question.'
What about Chongguang?
In this scheme against [Ang Xiao], True Lord Qingcheng Feixue and Chongguang clearly played major roles, yet the greatest beneficiary seemed to be Hong Yun.
What did they gain?
Jiangnan, Dao of the Sweet Pear Tree, Changyao Treasure Light Cave Heaven.
Just as Hong Yun sought gold and True Lords across the land watched, an ordinary-looking man with sharp, spirited brows arrived here with ease.
His body overflowed with resplendent light.
Countless rays of light converged upon him into a pure divine ability radiance, like a bright yellow lamp illuminating the lakebed and revealing the cave heaven's form.
"This must be the place."
The man smiled faintly and strode into the cave heaven without hesitation.
Inside, the towering serpent formed by [Si Fire] stretched freely. The palace at the serpent's head had its doors wide open, displaying its interior.
The palace's interior was strikingly simple—a chessboard table and two meditation cushions.
One cushion near the back already held a faint silhouette. The man didn't hesitate, walking directly to the outer cushion and sitting down calmly.
"My respects, honored one."
Chongguang's expression was tranquil as he studied the figure across the chessboard—a person entirely shrouded in mist.
"Remarkable."
The mist swirled as a voice emerged—impossible to define as male or female, old or young—carrying notes of admiration:
"The Saint Sect truly produces outstanding talents."
Originally, [Ang Xiao] had lain in ambush within the cave heaven, waiting for Chongguang and True Lord Qingcheng Feixue to take the bait, only to receive a warning from his divided consciousness in the [Southern Heavenly Gate].
Then he realized the changes outside.
Admittedly, he was now caught between a rock and a hard place. He still had ways to stop Hong Yun's current gold-seeking, but it would inevitably come at a great cost.
Thinking this, [Ang Xiao] arrived at the same question as Lü Yang:
"After exhausting such efforts to ruin my plans, only to hand victory to Hong Yun... what exactly do you seek?"
"Only to seek the Dao."
Chongguang's expression remained calm: "[Overturned Lamp Flame] can no longer be achieved. Honored one, as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, if you truly wish to salvage the situation, you still have methods."
"But clearly, honored one aims higher and is unwilling to pay the price."
"Everything depends on honored one's choice. If honored one can find another path for me to achieve a golden position, I can naturally help honored one resolve this situation."
[Ang Xiao] fell silent for a moment before understanding:
"Hahaha! So that's it, that's it! This wasn't your scheme—it was Xue Feihong's! You've been reduced to a discarded piece!"
True Lord Qingcheng Feixue only wanted a [Overturned Lamp Flame] True Lord—who it was didn't matter to her!
It could be Chongguang, or it could be Hong Yun.
Previously, she hadn't considered Hong Yun because he hadn't returned to his position in five thousand years, so she placed her hopes on Chongguang.
But now things were different.
Hong Yun had traded with Lü Yang for the "Dongxu Inner Observation of Heaven and Earth True Explanation" and "Upper Bright Golden Lamp Jade Light," recovering the foundation he once used to return to his position.
More importantly, he no longer suffered the hidden flaw of [Chen Earth].
"Compared to you, Hong Yun undoubtedly has greater hope of seeking gold. No wonder Xue Feihong discarded you, no wonder you've come to me alone now!"
Chongguang clasped his hands: "Honored one sees clearly."
Facing [Ang Xiao]'s intentional or unintentional barbs, his expression remained unshaken, the sharpness in his brows undiminished, ever keen as a blade's edge.
"All by my own efforts."