Lü Yang admitted that he did panic for a moment.
However, in the next second, he regained his composure. As he often reminded himself, as long as his true form hadn't been captured, any suffering was merely endured by his avatar.
"[Tribulation Wave]!"
That said, Lü Yang still used the mystical power of [洞明] to scan himself several times. After taking a few deep breaths, he turned his gaze to Daoist Xiao Hai.
"It's actually quite simple."
With a calm expression and steady heartbeat, Lü Yang spoke casually, "I have some acquaintance with Mu Changsheng. It's not surprising that he would lend me his divine abilities."
"Really?"
Daoist Xiao Hai—or rather, the one wearing his skin, [Ang Xiao]—smiled slightly, almost voicing his disbelief. Clearly, he was skeptical.
"That [Void Heaven] is indeed interesting, but that's all. The True Lords won't allow Mu Changsheng to ascend with it. In fact, anyone can ascend—except him. His path was doomed from the start. So why would you associate with him?"
[Ang Xiao]'s eyes were filled with scrutiny.
He had long been curious about this fellow cultivator who not only uncovered his identity and schemes but also engaged in a remote confrontation with him, slightly gaining the upper hand.
On the other hand, Lü Yang remained silent.
'I'm not a True Lord; I don't know many secrets. The more I say, the more mistakes I might make. Better to stay silent and act mysterious!'
Krijg op elke leeftijd een erectie met deze oude truc! Tweemaal daags innemenOpen
"Won't you answer, fellow cultivator?"
Seeing Lü Yang's silence, [Ang Xiao] maintained a composed demeanor and smiled, "Or perhaps you're afraid to answer?"
Lü Yang smiled without speaking.
"Previously, I thought you were an incumbent True Lord. Now it seems I may have overestimated you. Are you a reincarnated True Lord, like that Hong Yun?"
"Speaking of which, there's something else I'm curious about."
[Ang Xiao] wasn't in a hurry. He slowly stood up, his eyes reflecting Lü Yang's figure, "I've been observing your battles for some time."
"From your fight with that Cheng Xian Immortal, to your killing spree within this [Southern Heavenly Gate], you've used [Sea of Sorrow], [Essence of All Flowers], [Master of Arms], [Stubborn Gold Duke], two Void divine abilities, and two innate divine abilities. Yet, in the end, you only feigned being a Great True Person."
"That's quite interesting."
At this point, [Ang Xiao] narrowed his eyes, as if spotting a prime prey:
"Earlier, I thought you were hiding your innate divine ability. After all, having two or three divine abilities at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage isn't unusual."
"But now, something doesn't add up."
"If you had one more innate divine ability, combined with the four I mentioned, you'd have five divine abilities in total. That should place you at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."
"So, what's your cultivation level?"
"Where is your innate divine ability?"
"As far as I know, no sect in the world delays cultivating their innate divine ability. The only exception is those born and nurtured by nature."
At this, [Ang Xiao] suddenly paused, a predatory smile appearing on his face:
"Could it be that you're an Immortal Spirit?"
Lü Yang continued to smile silently.
Even though [Ang Xiao] had exposed part of his secret, he remained unflustered, realizing that [Ang Xiao] was only attacking him verbally.
'As a True Lord, where are your methods?'
'Even if you don't search my soul, shouldn't you at least restrain me?'
Recalling the oppressive aura [Ang Xiao] had in his previous life—something he couldn't resist—he noted that the current [Ang Xiao] was different.
'Strange, yes, but not strong enough. What level is Daoist Xiao Hai? Just an early Foundation Establishment cultivator. How can he bear the might of a True Lord? In my past life, [Ang Xiao] was terrifying because he used Chong Guang Dao's sin as a vessel. This time, he's just a flashy but useless figure.'
All show and no substance!
Otherwise, why would he waste so many words? He could have just reached into my dantian, seized the Myriad Spirits Banner, and refined it instantly. Wouldn't that be more straightforward?
Why didn't he do that?
Is it because he doesn't want to?
'No, it's because he can't!'
With this realization, Lü Yang became even more composed. After a moment's thought, he decided to drop a bombshell: "You came to find me, but you've fallen into someone else's trap."
Chong Guang's scheme!
'No good person in the Primordial Saint Sect—Uncle Chong Guang, pfft, old thief Chong Guang! Telling me to stay a bit longer in the [Southern Heavenly Gate] was clearly setting me up!'
Lü Yang was certain that Chong Guang had used some method to predict that [Ang Xiao] would follow him. That's why he deliberately made a deal with him, instructing him to linger in the [Southern Heavenly Gate], using him as bait. Now that [Ang Xiao] had taken the bait, Chong Guang had likely already begun his actions.
However, to Lü Yang's surprise,
After hearing his revelation, [Ang Xiao] didn't show any shock. Instead, he smiled, "Fallen into someone else's trap? Are you referring to Xue Feihong?"
"Speaking of which, I haven't settled that matter with you."
"You informed Xue Feihong of my identity, causing me considerable trouble. We have no enmity, yet you've made things difficult for me."
Lü Yang continued to smile silently.
Seeing this, [Ang Xiao] sighed, realizing that Lü Yang had seen through his bluff. He indeed lacked formidable means at the moment.
'This body... is still too weak.'
A mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator—it's already challenging to conceal it with the Obscuration of Knowledge. Any more, and the physical body might collapse.
Strictly speaking, he's not even Lü Yang's match now.
Otherwise, why waste time talking? He could have captured him first and interrogated him slowly. It's truly a case of willing but unable.
With this in mind, [Ang Xiao] stopped beating around the bush.
"Let's make a deal. If I'm not mistaken, you're aiming to use this body to attain the [Pomegranate Wood] and break through to the late Golden Core stage, right? I can assist you."
'He's mistaken.'
Lü Yang understood that in [Ang Xiao]'s eyes, he was undoubtedly a True Lord. But if he were already a True Lord, why seek other fruits?
There's only one answer: late Golden Core stage!
Only those at the late Golden Core stage need the support of other fruits. So, in [Ang Xiao]'s eyes, he had become a scheming True Lord aiming for the late stage.
'Makes sense.'
With this thought, Lü Yang finally spoke, "How do you plan to assist me?"
Seeing Lü Yang break his silence, [Ang Xiao] smiled, "Besides the [Pomegranate Wood], you've also joined the Sword Pavilion. I guess you're eyeing the [Sword Edge Gold] too?"
"But that's too slow and risky."
[Ang Xiao] spoke softly, "Both early and mid-Golden Core stages involve mastering one element. However, to break through to the late stage, one must master two elements."
"Because mastering three elements creates a cycle. If only two are mastered, it leads to mutual generation and restraint, causing conflict and eventually the collapse of the cave heaven. But that's just an inferior method. The superior approach is to master all five elements, aiming for perfection."
"But achieving five fruits alone is extremely difficult."
"Not only are there many variables, but it also easily attracts hostility from other True Lords. Across the world, there are fewer than five True Lords at the late Golden Core stage."
"And their methods are mostly peaceful."
"They don't monopolize the fruits but cooperate with other True Lords. For example, Xue Feihong—if I'm not mistaken, she used a similar method."
"After all, she's at the mid-Golden Core stage, and her cave heaven remains intact. If an early Golden Core True Lord collaborates with her, attaching their cave heaven to hers, they can also achieve the 'unfallen' effect. Even after a thousand years, upon reaching the end of their lifespan, they can quickly return and ascend again under her guidance."
"However, how can multiple collaborations compare to sole authority?"
At this point, [Ang Xiao] displayed a proud expression, "I don't need to master all five fruits. I just need to ensure that no one else can attain the other fruits!"
"Reversing the [Earth of the Stars] is my method."
"In this way, without needing to attain the fruits, I can easily complete the five-element cycle, without worrying about partners' betrayal. This is the true path!"
With that, he looked at Lü Yang, "What do you think?"
"If you're interested, I can share my method of monopolizing the five fruits through reversal, as long as you're willing to agree to one simple condition."
Lü Yang pondered for a moment, "...What condition?"
At this, a deep killing intent finally appeared in [Ang Xiao]'s eyes, "I wish to lure Xue Feihong into the [Netherworld] and kill her to eliminate future troubles!"