"This entire arrangement was made for [Ang Xiao]!"
At this moment, Lü Yang's thoughts had never been clearer. As numerous clues connected together, he finally understood the full story up to now.
"The origin... was the [Mystic Spirit Realm]!"
"In order to devour the [Mystic Spirit Realm], the True Sovereign of the Sacred Sect took the lead, followed by other True Sovereigns. Many of them went beyond the heavens and destroyed the Mystic Spirit Realm."
Only one person had not been invited.
And that was [Ang Xiao]!
"Being in the Netherworld, [Ang Xiao] naturally couldn't go with the True Sovereigns to the [Mystic Spirit Realm], and thus had no way of knowing what they did beyond the heavens."
"If my guess is correct, the True Sovereigns didn't merely kill the Supreme Beings of the [Mystic Spirit Realm]. Most likely, True Sovereign Qingcheng Feixue took the opportunity to reveal [Ang Xiao]'s identity! That led to the later division of the Heavenly Court into four fragments—these fragments were bait meant to lure [Ang Xiao]!"
"And, as expected—"
"[Ang Xiao] fell for it. He voluntarily entered the Heavenly Court fragments. The consciousness he had originally used to observe the current world was thus sealed, severing his perception of reality!"
"And then—"
At this thought, Lü Yang looked again toward Jiangbei. He understood the arrangement made by Chong Guang to seek the Metal element. But the timing was too early for Chong Guang.
In other words—
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"It was Hong Yun!"
To be able to openly seek Metal in Jiangbei like that, he must have had the tacit approval of Chong Guang and Qingcheng Feixue. This completely exceeded [Ang Xiao]'s expectations!
"This matter must be considered on three levels."
"The first layer is the trap set by Chong Guang and Qingcheng Feixue using the Heavenly Court fragments. This might not have been completely unforeseen by [Ang Xiao]."
"Therefore, the second layer is the trap [Ang Xiao] laid on top of that."
"And this trap is most likely within that fragment of the cave heaven beneath the waters of Gantang Dao. If Chong Guang and Qingcheng Feixue thought they had trapped [Ang Xiao]'s consciousness and swaggered into that cave heaven fragment, they would surely fall into the trap—if not die, at least be severely wounded!"
"Beyond that is the third layer."
At this point, Lü Yang couldn't help clapping his hands with laughter:
"Not only did Chong Guang and Qingcheng Feixue not go to that cave heaven fragment, they even pulled the rug out from under him and directly allowed Hong Yun to seek Metal!"
Now that was a killing blow!
Because doing so brought no benefit to Chong Guang, yet it dealt a devastating blow to [Ang Xiao]—a truly spiteful move that harmed others with no gain.
"However, [Ang Xiao] must have realized something was wrong."
"Because he discovered he couldn't leave the [Southern Heavenly Gate] and sensed the existence of a trap, he was desperate to contact his main body outside."
"And so, he appeared before me."
With the wondrous blessing of [Clarity of Insight], Lü Yang's thoughts became even sharper:
"His words just now, part probing, part suggesting cooperation—but ultimately, his real goal was only one: to have me kill him!"
"Whether it was to anger me or to incite rebellion within me, those were just tactics. What he wanted was the result—to use me to complete his suicide!"
The influence of the [Netherworld] was omnipresent.
As long as one remained within this world, the soul would inevitably enter the [Netherworld] after death. This was the key for [Ang Xiao]'s consciousness to return.
"He probably couldn't commit suicide on his own."
That was Lü Yang's guess.
Otherwise, why would [Ang Xiao] go to such trouble to have him do it? Wouldn't it be easier to just cut his own throat? There had to be interference from a True Sovereign!
At this thought, Lü Yang manipulated his avatar inside the [Southern Heavenly Gate] to tentatively extend a hand.
"Ugh!"
His movement suddenly halted—he couldn't proceed any further. Just now, he had intended to self-detonate, but that action had been forbidden.
".As expected!"
Raising his head, Lü Yang seemed to see an invisible force like a great net enveloping the entire [Southern Heavenly Gate], revealing a line of talismanic script:
[Suicide is forbidden in this place!]
"This is... the power of the [Mystic Spirit Realm]'s fruit position! A True Sovereign had influenced it, leaving behind this rule within the [Southern Heavenly Gate]!"
Thus, the act of suicide to return to the Netherworld was completely blocked for [Ang Xiao]!
This was definitely not the work of Qingcheng Feixue.
More importantly, this rule was deeply hidden—at least on the outside, [Ang Xiao] hadn't noticed anything. Otherwise, he would have sensed the irregularity.
And this layer of concealment was an entirely different method.
In addition, the seal that isolated the [Southern Heavenly Gate] from the outside world didn't seem to be Qingcheng Feixue's doing either—it was clearly someone else's work.
"Three... at least three True Sovereigns intervened here!"
"The whole world is the enemy. Truly, the whole world is the enemy. [Ang Xiao] wasn't being schemed against by Qingcheng Feixue alone—he was being schemed against by all the True Sovereigns!"
In an instant, Lü Yang couldn't help but feel deep emotion:
"Those who can become True Sovereigns—every single one of them—is no simple figure. Even someone like [Ang Xiao] could get overturned if he wasn't careful!"
Hong Yun had no shackles from the [Earth of the Constellations]. If he succeeded in seeking Metal and regained control of the [Overturning Lantern Flame], he would undoubtedly destroy all of [Ang Xiao]'s arrangements, causing him to fall from the late-stage Golden Core Realm. This was a deathless, irreconcilable grudge on the Dao path! [Ang Xiao] would stop it at all costs.
Could Hong Yun succeed?
"Highly unlikely."
Lü Yang shook his head—not because he didn't have faith in Hong Yun, but because he had faith in [Ang Xiao]. This late-stage Golden Core True Sovereign was of exceptional caliber.
Yet it couldn't be denied—
After all these calculations against him, Hong Yun had already seized the initiative. If seeking Metal had once been hopeless, now he had at least a thirty percent chance!
"...Only one question remains."
What about Chong Guang?
This whole arrangement against [Ang Xiao] clearly involved massive effort from Qingcheng Feixue and Chong Guang, but in the end, Hong Yun gained the most.
What did they get in return?
Jiangnan, Gantang Dao, Changyao Radiant Cave Heaven.
While Hong Yun sought Metal and True Sovereigns across the world watched, a man with an ordinary face but a piercing aura arrived calmly.
Radiance overflowed from his body.
These many rays of brilliance merged into a pure light of divine power on him, like a bright yellow lamp illuminating the lakebed and revealing the cave heaven.
"It seems this is the place."
The man smiled slightly and walked into the cave heaven without hesitation.
Inside the cave heaven, a massive serpent formed of [Si Fire] stretched its body. At the serpent's head, the temple's gate was wide open, revealing the interior.
The scene inside the temple was extremely simple: a chess table, two meditation cushions.
A blurry figure already sat on the inner cushion. Seeing this, the man didn't pause and calmly sat on the outer cushion.
"My lord, Chong Guang pays his respects."
Chong Guang's expression was calm as he looked across the chessboard. There sat a figure shrouded entirely in mist.
"Impressive."
Mist roiled, and a voice that sounded neither male nor female, old nor young, emerged with a tone of admiration:
"The Sacred Sect indeed produces many talents."
Originally, [Ang Xiao] had been lying in ambush in the cave heaven, waiting for Chong Guang and Qingcheng Feixue to walk into his trap. But then his avatar in the [Southern Heavenly Gate] had warned him.
Only then had he realized the changes in the outside world.
Undeniably, he was now in a difficult position. He still had ways to stop Hong Yun from seeking Metal—but it would cost him dearly.
At this, [Ang Xiao] had the same question as Lü Yang:
"After all this effort to ruin my arrangement, only to benefit Hong Yun in the end... what exactly do you want?"
"Only to seek the Dao."
Chong Guang's expression was steady: "The [Overturning Lantern Flame] can no longer be verified. You are, after all, a late-stage Golden Core True Sovereign. If you truly wish to turn the tide, there are still ways."
"But clearly, your sights are set higher—you are unwilling to pay the price."
"Everything depends on your choice. If you can help me find another path to verify the Golden position, I will naturally help you resolve this predicament."
Hearing this, [Ang Xiao] was silent for a moment before understanding:
"Haha, hahaha! So that's it! So that's it! This wasn't your scheme—this was Xue Feihong's! You've already been cast aside!"
True Sovereign Qingcheng Feixue only wanted a True Sovereign of the [Overturning Lantern Flame]—she didn't care who it was!
That person could be Chong Guang or Hong Yun.
She hadn't approved of Hong Yun before because he hadn't returned in five thousand years—she'd never counted on him, which was why she had placed her hopes on Chong Guang.
But now, things were different.
Hong Yun had traded with Lü Yang for the "True Explanation of the Inner Observation of the Void" and the "Golden Lamp and Jade Radiance of the Upper Firmament," regaining the foundation needed to reclaim his position.
More importantly, he had no hidden danger from the [Earth of the Constellations].
"Compared to you, Hong Yun's chances of seeking Metal are undoubtedly greater. No wonder Xue Feihong sees you as expendable. No wonder you came to me alone!"
Chong Guang cupped his hands: "Your insight is sharp, my lord."
Faced with [Ang Xiao]'s thinly veiled mockery, his expression remained steady, the sharpness in his gaze undiminished—still as resolute as a blade.
"It's nothing more than relying on myself."