Chapter 418: The Choice Given to Suo Huan
Chapter 418: The Choice Presented to Suo Huan
North of the river, the sky-reaching sea of clouds.
As a streak of escaping light descended, Xiang Ye, Hong Ju, and Lü Yang landed one after another on the Sacred Fire Cliff. Lü Yang took the opportunity to survey the scenery of the Saint Sect.
As expected, wherever he looked, he saw a scene brimming with vitality—a flourishing competition among all living things.
He even spotted an old acquaintance.
'True Person Yinshan.'
The True Person remained completely oblivious to his gaze.
Seeing this, Lü Yang couldn't help but feel a surge of reflection. The once-unreachable Foundation Establishment True Person now seemed insignificant in his eyes.
'And... the Innate True Person!'
Lü Yang hadn't forgotten the scene he had witnessed through the [Puppet on Strings]. The Innate True Person, Mu Changsheng, was still trapped within the Refinement Secret Realm.
This man had been thoroughly deceived by the Founding Ancestor of the Saint Sect. After painstakingly creating the [Heaven of Non-Existence], he had believed he stood a chance at attaining Golden Core. Yet, at the critical moment, his soul was seized by the invisible hand of the Saint Sect's Founding Ancestor and cast into the Refinement Secret Realm. The result? Five thousand years wasted—all his efforts rendered futile.
'Hmm, better keep my distance from that unlucky fellow.'
Wouldn't want his blood splashing on me.
As Lü Yang pondered, Xiang Ye was also sizing up this so-called "celestial wanderer," inwardly scoffing: 'Celestial wanderer? What nonsense!'
Did he think Xiang Ye couldn't see through it?
'This guy entered the sky-reaching sea of clouds as if it were his own home and immediately pinpointed the Sacred Fire Cliff's location. If he isn't a True Person of the Saint Sect, I'll eat my hat!'
'He's trying to sever ties.'
Xiang Ye stroked his chin: 'But where did our Saint Sect suddenly produce such a Grand True Person? It's as if he popped out of thin air...'
Cultivation was never a solitary endeavor.
Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Blessed Lands, Metal Essence—each required resources, interactions, competition, and struggle.
Mentors, fellow cultivators, enemies—logically, every cultivator should have these three. Early or mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators might escape notice, but a late-stage or perfected Foundation Establishment Grand True Person? Such figures inevitably left their mark on the world.
How could no one recognize him?
'I must know this person!'
Xiang Ye prided himself on his seniority—even Chongguang couldn't match him. Among the current Saint Sect, only Hong Ju had lived longer.
'...Hmm?'
Suddenly, Xiang Ye paused.
'If I don't recognize him, that's one thing. But Hong Ju is different... This man, connected to the [Heaven's Fortune Bright Light True Lord], has lived for at least five thousand years.'
A perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator undergoing five reincarnations would only span fifteen hundred years.
By all logic, Hong Ju had witnessed several generations of perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators come and go in the Saint Sect. If this were truly a returning Grand True Person, how could he not recognize him?
Unless...
'He needs to conceal it?'
'Who could compel him to do so?'
Xiang Ye unraveled his thoughts like peeling layers of an onion, and soon, a conjecture surfaced:
'...Hong Yun?'
At this realization, his first reaction was:
'Impossible!'
The legends surrounding Hong Yun were well-known among the Saint Sect's True Persons. If the sect had a "Top Ten Jokes of the Year," Hong Yun's story would undoubtedly take first place.
Thus, when Xiang Ye thought of "Hong Yun," he instinctively dismissed the idea. Yet, after eliminating all other possibilities, he couldn't help but reconsider: 'Could it really be Hong Yun? Well, he is a True Lord's reincarnation—shouldn't underestimate him.'
While inwardly deliberating, Xiang Ye maintained an unreadable expression:
"Fellow Daoist, you've only just arrived and have recently battled the Buddhist disciple. Why not rest here for now, recuperate, and we can discuss matters further at a later time."
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist."
Lü Yang clasped his hands in gratitude before retreating to the cave abode Xiang Ye had arranged for him. With a thought, he summoned the Myriad Spirits Banner once more.
As the banner unfurled, Suo Huan's figure materialized.
"Greetings, my lord."
Suo Huan bowed respectfully, his eyes betraying a hint of anticipation.
Lü Yang's expression turned solemn as he spoke gravely: "Regarding the issue plaguing you, Fellow Daoist, I have two solutions. The choice is yours."
"Please enlighten me, my lord."
When possible, Lü Yang always honored his promises.
Having vowed to guide Suo Huan in this lifetime, he had already devised a plan. Moreover, in his current view, Suo Huan's predicament wasn't particularly difficult to resolve.
Lü Yang raised two fingers: "The first method—you abandon the [Blessed Land of the Numinous Ruins]. I will extract your consciousness and send your soul for reincarnation. Once your soul completes its cycle and sheds its celestial traces, I will return your consciousness. At that point, you can begin cultivating anew."
This solution was as thorough as they came.
With the [Puppet on Strings], Lü Yang could easily track Suo Huan's soul, detecting it swiftly even after it underwent the [Netherworld]'s cleansing.
Once cleansed by the [Netherworld], Ang Xiao would no longer pose a threat to Suo Huan.
Though extracting consciousness carried a high risk of failure—potentially resulting in instant death—Lü Yang could circumvent this using the [Sign of Fortune Drawing].
'Strictly speaking, I could even use this method to achieve soul immortality akin to a True Lord's reincarnation—without needing Metal Essence. If word got out, countless Foundation Establishment True Persons would covet it... Pity, it's utterly meaningless to someone like me who possesses the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes].'
And yet—
"This subordinate chooses the second option."
As expected, Suo Huan dismissed the first option without hesitation. He could never relinquish his hope of reviving the [Huanxu Realm].
Even if flawed, he would not abandon it.
Lü Yang shook his head: "The second option—you may retain the [Blessed Land of the Numinous Ruins], but you must cease cultivating the 《Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture》."
Suo Huan didn't object, though concern flickered across his face: "But without the 《Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture》, how can a celestial wanderer like myself hope to attain Golden Core?"
"Simply switch to another."
With a thought, Lü Yang retrieved a cultivation method from his divine sense and presented it to Suo Huan.
《Path of the Supreme Truth Governing Immortals》!
"This is..."
"This is the cultivation method corresponding to the [Mystic Spirit Realm]'s Fruit Position." Lü Yang grinned. "With the True Lords in seclusion, the Mystic Spirit Realm remains untouched."
Under normal circumstances, the four great powers would have already fully absorbed the [Mystic Spirit Realm]. However, Chongguang's sudden upheaval had drawn away all the True Lords, leaving the digestion process incomplete—its shell still intact.
Lü Yang's plan was straightforward.
Abandon the 《Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture》, tainted by Ang Xiao's schemes, and instead have Suo Huan devour the [Mystic Spirit Realm] to pursue Golden Core ascension!
Suo Huan's eyes brightened: "Can it succeed?"
"...There's hope!" Lü Yang declared with conviction—though inwardly, his thoughts were far less optimistic:
'Hope? More like hopeless!'
Had Suo Huan chosen the first option, Lü Yang would have gladly assisted. But the second option meant remaining within Ang Xiao's grand design.
And that was unacceptable.
After his journey through the Seven Luminaries Heaven, Lü Yang had come to a stark realization: sometimes, strategic retreat was necessary. Without stepping off the enemy's board, victory was impossible.
Thus, when Suo Huan opted for the second solution, Lü Yang silently wrote him off.
But it didn't matter.
By Lü Yang's estimation, once he restarted and used the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] to cleanse Suo Huan's soul and the [Blessed Land of the Numinous Ruins], the issue would resolve itself.
So why had he even proposed the second option?
The answer was simple: without Suo Huan pursuing Golden Core, how could he lure Ang Xiao out?
'Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, since your opportunity lies in the next life after choosing the second option... surely you won't mind if I make use of you in this one?'
Netherworld, an indescribable place.
Within a towering palace, [Ang Xiao] sat cross-legged, gazing serenely at the river of souls flowing past his doorstep as if admiring a masterpiece.
"Hmm?"
Abruptly, he raised his head.
Though he could no longer perceive the mortal realm—nor even extend his hand beyond this palace—the faint resonance transmitted through his Fruit Position furrowed his brow:
"The [Knowledge-Perception Obstruction] has been broken... Suo Huan?"
[Ang Xiao]'s expression darkened slightly. Suo Huan was a crucial pawn in his scheme to seize the Fruit Position and drag it into the [Netherworld]. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Yet it had.
The loss of control unsettled him deeply. Though he hadn't been idle these past thirty years, he lacked a pivotal opportunity to advance his plans... Just then, his gaze sharpened.
Before the palace gates, amidst the vast river of souls—
"Amitabha."
A Foundation Establishment soul, having died of old age and entered reincarnation, suddenly emerged. Bathed in Buddhist radiance, it proclaimed in a resonant voice: "This humble monk, Guang Ming, pays respects to Senior [Ang Xiao]."