Outside the Mass Grave, in a secluded mountain forest.
Amid a burst of intense white light, more than ten figures emerged. They neither stood out nor appeared extraordinary—at first glance, they seemed no different from ordinary mortals.
These were the people of the Xuanling Realm!
Leading them was a Heavenly Immortal from the Xuanling Realm, the head of the current Three Immortal Officials, known by the Daoist title Minghua, who was also a close confidant of the Xuanling Realm's Supreme.
Following behind him were three Earth Immortals and seven Human Immortals.
After all, the Xuanling Realm's intent was to rob and flee, so only a third of its high-level figures had been dispatched, while the rest remained behind.
"How far are we from the Mass Grave?"
Before Minghua finished speaking, a Human Immortal stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Master, the position locked by the Inter-Realm Anchor is a thousand miles away."
This Human Immortal was named Chengxian.
Though only a Human Immortal, he was Minghua's direct disciple. Minghua's Daoist lineage traced directly back to the Xuanling Supreme.
If Minghua was the Crown Prince, Chengxian was akin to the Emperor's grandson.
Thus, none of the three Earth Immortals objected to his response. Instead, they each focused inward in silence.
Seeing this, Minghua nodded internally, quite satisfied with their deference. He then continued, "Well done, Chengxian. The Mass Grave formed from the Luofan Realm is too conspicuous. If we teleported directly there, and the enemy was prepared, we'd be in danger."
"Heavenly Official's insight is clear."
Only then did the Earth Immortals voice their agreement.
After reprimanding his subordinates, Minghua shifted topics. "Enough. Our targets this time are only two: Shen Jin and the traitor Yu Shao!"
The former was for harvesting Qi to nourish the Xuanling Realm.
The latter was to eliminate future threats, as the Xuanling Realm's plan was a smash-and-grab. Naturally, they had to prevent any locals from becoming informants.
"Both have been marked with the Taiqing Resonance Talisman."
"Together, we'll deduce their location—they won't escape!"
Under Minghua's command, everyone began casting spells and forming seals to track the two targets. However, they soon fell silent in surprise.
Minghua even raised an eyebrow. "The two targets are together?"
His senses told him that Shen Jin and the traitor Yu Shao were indeed in the same area, less than three thousand miles from their current location!
'A trap?'
The thought sprang to Minghua's mind but quickly passed. Even if it was a trap, so what?
'According to intelligence from Qi He, that Primordial Saint Sect rules the Jiangbei region. Its acting sect master is only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, about equal to me. Aside from that, they barely have any Grandmasters, let alone Earth Immortals. I can handle this. Worst case, I flee.' ℞𝙖ΝÒꞖÊṠ
Besides, he wasn't alone this time.
'I've heard nothing from Qi He about Yu Shao joining the Primordial Saint Sect, which suggests he's with the Sword Pavilion.'
'But with his strength, how many allies could he muster?'
'No matter what, we have one Heavenly Immortal, three Earth Immortals, seven Human Immortals... unless the Supreme himself intervenes, we have the upper hand!'
In Jiangnan, aboard a boat—
After being accepted by Daoist Dangmo, Lu Yang was granted permission to retreat in a secret chamber aboard the vessel, ready to digest his recent gains.
First, he sealed the chamber with a formation.
Ensuring that no one could probe with divine sense—and if they tried, he'd be alerted. Only then did he retrieve a storage pouch.
Inside, aside from Shen Jin, were the assets of Qi He True Person and most of his Secret Hall Street holdings. With Qi He now deceased, the inheritance had naturally passed to Lu Yang, who unceremoniously dumped it out and summoned a towering apparition.
Universal Sovereign Form of Heaven's Dominion!
The form ignited with mysterious fire like a pill furnace, ravenously devouring all the spiritual items Lu Yang laid out, refining them indiscriminately.
Gradually, a feeling of fullness surged.
'Reached the limit…'
Lu Yang realized that his form had hit its current ceiling. To advance, he'd need to harvest Qi again.
"According to the 'Universal Dominion Divine Law of Heaven's One Principle', cultivating the Universal Sovereign Form involves five steps. The first, which I've completed, is condensing the form itself. The next three involve refining its essence and discarding the dross."
"Step two, discard the 'Form'—"
"From then on, no longer bound by shape, the form can merge and separate from the body at will."
"Step three, discard the 'Universal'—"
"No longer confined to imagery, capable of myriad transformations."
"Step four, discard the 'Dominion'—"
"No longer forcefully controlling everything; instead, harmonizing with nature, with instant, natural responses."
"Step five, discard 'Heaven'—"
"Leaving only 'Sovereign'—that's the true attainment of the Wanwu Realm, fully drawing it into the main world!"
Five Qi harvests—each harder than the last.
Especially the final step, which provokes ferocious backlash from the Wanwu Realm—few peak Foundation Establishment Grandmasters could survive it.
This second-grade divine method was not for the faint-hearted.
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'Still, for me, it's just five resets. As for re-entering the Wanwu Realm… I may not even need the Saint Sect.'
'After all, I hold the corresponding "Universal Dominion Divine Law". If I give it to the Sword Pavilion, their True Person could extrapolate the Wanwu Realm's location. The only issue is that doing so would hurt the Saint Sect's interests—'
What? This lifetime I'm with the Sword Pavilion?
No problem then!
Lu Yang, satisfied, looked again at Shen Jin, stashed him away, and then took out the Myriad Spirits Banner.
On the banner, aside from Chen Xin'an, who had just awakened after devouring Gou Yue, was another banner spirit—Kui Gang, the brawny man from before.
'It's time.'
Lu Yang took a deep breath, then shattered the Kui Gang banner spirit, using his dissipating true spirit and innate Qi to nourish the still-slumbering Ancestor Ting You.
"Rise again! My world-shaking wisdom!"
Though the ancestor had once reached peak Foundation Establishment, he hadn't returned to that stage in his fifth lifetime, so a single Foundation-level spirit was more than enough.
Soon, a figure emerged within the banner.
".Hm?"
Ancestor Ting You appeared in light and shadow, his eyes first dazed, then suddenly enlightened. He looked at Lu Yang and sighed:
"The calculations are over?"
"Ancestor sees truly."
Lu Yang nodded. The Myriad Spirits Banner, refined by the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, allowed the spirit to retain all past memories—though its understanding had been altered.
To Ting You now, all past events with Lu Yang were merely predicted futures, not reality. This moment was the real present. Any inconsistencies had been smoothed over—the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes had patched every bug.
"Thank you for your trouble, Ancestor."
Lu Yang respectfully bowed, fully sincere, then laid out all the techniques he had acquired in this life.
『True Explanation of the Void-Observing Heaven and Earth』
『Brilliant Golden Cup and Jade Radiance』
『Mystic Rites of the Grand Void Sacrifice』
The first was for creating blessed cave-heavens, the second sensed the Overturning Lamp Flame, and the third connected to the Heaven of Non-Existence.
Each was of high quality and great value—yet Lu Yang suspected something was off, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
"…"
Staring at the three secret techniques in hand, Ancestor Ting You cast a helpless glance at Lu Yang, then shook his head. "Fine, let me study them first."
Lu Yang's face lit up. "Thank you, Ancestor!"
Good! My world-shaking wisdom is about to shine again!