Chapter 392: The Saint Sect Patriarch Is Too Ruthless!
Chapter 392: The Holy Sect's Founding Ancestor Is Too Ruthless!
Mu Changsheng!?
Few in the current world would fail to recognize this name—it unmistakably belonged to the Innate True Person who once created the [Heaven of Non-Existence]!
Why was he here?
Through the perspective of [Puppet on Strings], Lü Yang saw the spectral figure roaring in midair, and countless conjectures flashed through his mind in an instant.
'No... I remember when I was in the [Heaven of Non-Existence], the Innate True Person did say that what remained there was merely his consciousness, just like me now. His true soul had already reincarnated. So, is what appears in the Refinement Secret Realm his consciousness or his soul?'
Boom!
As Lü Yang pondered, the spectral figure in the air roared once more before slowly descending, revealing a pitiful appearance.
Despite his fierce curses, his soul was incredibly frail—not even reaching Foundation Establishment. Then, a halo of light dispersed, unveiling a face Lü Yang found somewhat familiar.
'This...'
The other party's appearance instantly awakened Lü Yang's memories.
He had been to the Refinement Secret Realm before—it was his first encounter with an enemy at the Foundation Establishment level. Had luck not been on his side, he might have been forced to restart there.
At the time, he entered the Refinement Secret Realm to cultivate the 《Saint's Theft》, only to be unknowingly schemed against by the reincarnated Yun Family Patriarch. If not for a local mortal in the secret realm pointing it out, he wouldn't have realized he had been manipulated—a debt of gratitude in some sense.
Thus, in one subsequent lifetime, he even went out of his way to guide that person out once.
'...Wang Boyuan?'
The familiar name surfaced in Lü Yang's mind, filling him with disbelief. He never imagined it would be connected to the Innate True Person.
For a moment, Lü Yang's thoughts were tangled like hemp.
Damn, I've been playing in low-tier matches for too long. Suddenly returning to high-level play, my brain's struggling to keep up...
Just then, the spectral figure seemed to sense something and abruptly turned its gaze toward the Yun Family Patriarch, sneering coldly:
"What Foundation Establishment cultivator is this?"
Lü Yang chose not to manipulate the Yun Family Patriarch with [Puppet on Strings], silently observing as the latter frowned and asked:
"...And who might you be?"
"Didn't you hear me just now?" The spectral figure sighed. "I am Mu Changsheng—the same Mu Changsheng from the [Heaven of Non-Existence]."
As he spoke, a look of suppressed frustration flashed in his eyes.
"Beast!"
Unable to hold back, he cursed again.
Having created the [Heaven of Non-Existence] and backed by the heavens' grand scheme for five thousand years, his plans were undeniably profound—almost as if he had the world's fate firmly in his grasp.
First, he used [Flowing Water] to fill the embryonic Fruit Position, evolving the [Heaven of Non-Existence]. Then, he spread the [Heaven of Non-Existence] far and wide, needing to do nothing more. With True Lords governing the world, the despair of seeking Golden Core would inevitably drive exceptional talents to take the path of the [Heaven of Non-Existence].
Regardless of their origins, anyone who walked this path and ascended to Golden Core would naturally become his ally. And just as he predicted, Chong Guang emerged.
From there, it was simple.
'Chong Guang inherits the [Heaven of Non-Existence], ascends to Golden Core, while my consciousness descends into the mortal world, finds my reincarnated soul, and overwrites it...'
Many had speculated that the Innate True Person would possess those who cleared the [Heaven of Non-Existence].
This was both right and wrong.
While he did intend to possess someone, his target was never an outsider—it was his own reincarnated soul, thousands of years later!
Otherwise, why would he develop a method to separate consciousness?
By isolating his consciousness and allowing his soul to reincarnate, he could cleanse the traces of the Great Dao from his being. Then, his consciousness could possess the new body and restart cultivation!
The Innate True Person went to such lengths precisely to ensure that the [Heaven of Non-Existence] would draw away the world's True Lords, creating a perfect cultivation environment for his reborn self. With the heavens' support, he wouldn't even need to worry about Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends—ascending to True Lord status was practically guaranteed!
What a flawless plan.
Yet, as Chong Guang ascended via the [Heaven of Non-Existence], his consciousness detached and, following the prearranged Ritual Formation, located his reincarnated soul.
And then, he snapped.
"Refinement Secret Realm... Refinement Secret Realm!"
The Innate True Person muttered under his breath, his eyes brimming with resentment—an exceedingly rare sight for a cultivator of his caliber.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang finally pieced everything together.
Five thousand years ago, the Innate True Person laid countless contingencies, arranging everything meticulously. Yet, the Holy Sect needed only one move to render all his efforts futile.
They threw his soul into the Refinement Secret Realm!
'Wang Boyuan is the reincarnated soul of the Innate True Person, Mu Changsheng... So, from the very beginning, Mu Changsheng's soul never actually reincarnated.'
Instead, this soul became bait to lure out the Innate True Person's consciousness. The result? After painstakingly securing a second chance, the Innate True Person's soul was now trapped in the Refinement Secret Realm—forget ascending to Golden Core, he couldn't even restore his Foundation Establishment!
'No wonder he's cursing so furiously...'
For a cultivator like the Innate True Person, whose Dao Heart remained unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, any insult could be endured with equanimity.
Except this one.
The feeling of scheming for millennia, finally glimpsing the hope of a fresh start and Golden Core ascension, only to realize it was all an illusion...
'...The ultimate insult!'
It was the ultimate insult!
At this thought, even Lü Yang couldn't help but sigh. Moreover, this ultimate insult was even more devastating for the Innate True Person.
Because, for him, his Dao foundation was shattered by the Holy Sect, his legacy seized by them, and even the [Heaven of Non-Existence] handed over to their people.
And the result?
His hope for rebirth—his soul—was tossed into the Refinement Secret Realm by the Holy Sect, where for five thousand years, it had been helping their disciples cultivate Divine Abilities day and night!
'Too beastly!'
This is just absurd!
Having recently developed the human resources industry in the Seven Luminaries Heaven, Lü Yang couldn't help but feel a twinge of shame. This was the true definition of "use until death"!
Who did this?
'In the Innate True Person's plan, soul reincarnation should have been the most stable part—after all, he likely personally sent his soul into the Netherworld.'
Without entering the [Netherworld], soul reincarnation would be subject to variables.
But once in the [Netherworld], like Daoist Hong Yun in the past, even [Ang Xiao] could at most tamper with the soul—never prevent its reincarnation.
From this perspective, the Innate True Person's failure to anticipate the fate of his own soul was understandable.
So, the question remained: Who could defy the pressure of the [Netherworld], forcibly retrieve his soul, and toss it into the Refinement Secret Realm?
'The Holy Sect's Founding Ancestor...'
The answer was self-evident.
'...The Holy Sect's Dao Lord! Yes, it must be him! Only a Dao Lord would possess the power to forcibly seize a soul from the [Netherworld]!'
Lü Yang finally understood everything.
'The Innate True Person created the [Heaven of Non-Existence] to draw away the world's True Lords—this undoubtedly aligned with the heavens' grand scheme. But would the Dao Lord simply stand by?'
'The World-Honored One's intervention was superficial, only manifesting after the fact to bomb the waters.'
'The Holy Sect's Founding Ancestor acted without leaving a trace! Had I not seen Mu Changsheng in the Refinement Secret Realm, who would have guessed he had intervened?'
At this realization, Lü Yang could only marvel.
With just one move—executed five thousand years ago—the Holy Sect's Founding Ancestor completely dismantled the Innate True Person's plans, leaving him here to rage impotently.
'The Holy Sect's Founding Ancestor is too ruthless!'