Chapter 451: Opening with a Decisive Battle

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Gu Ying's figure shot from a streak of fiery light and smashed into a desolate star in Cosmic Deep Space with a heavy thud, spitting out a mouthful of bright qilin blood.

The blood splashed across the ground but did not seep into the surface. Instead, like living creatures, the droplets rapidly manifested into miniature exotic beasts upon landing.

In an instant, the blood's vitality drifted across the star.

If any other cultivators had been on this star, merely catching a whiff of this qilin blood's vitality would have extended their lifespans by a hundred years.

Intense heartache flashed through Gu Ying's eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, he snatched up the miniature exotic beasts formed from his blood and stuffed them back into his mouth. Taking deep, frantic breaths, he drew back the drifting vitality and forcefully swallowed his own blood.

"Phew..."

After a long moment, Gu Ying finally let out a long breath. He closed his eyes, silently sensed his remaining lifespan, and nearly ground his teeth to dust.

'Three years? Bastard!'

He had been ordered out on this trip for less than three days, yet his remaining lifespan of over nine years had been severed down to a paltry three and change!

It was an absolutely catastrophic loss!

His facial muscles twitched uncontrollably as he wished he could curse eighteen generations of True Person Chiming's ancestors for calling him out here. Yet in the next second, a beam of heavenly light descended, illuminating his corner of the landmass and instantly extinguishing all disrespectful thoughts in his heart. Not daring to hesitate in the slightest, the fire qilin from the Immortal Realm immediately prostrated himself, bowing heavily toward the light.

"Greetings, True Person."

Gu Ying's body went stiff as stone. He remained utterly motionless until a voice sounded from within the heavenly light.

"Rise. You did well."

Only then did Gu Ying raise his head.

Looking up, he saw a figure standing within the light, wearing a Crane Cloak Crimson Robe. The hem of the garment fluttered like flames, and a pair of demonic vertical pupils opened within the figure's eyes.

It was none other than True Person Chiming.

"Temporal transformations... Hmph. The sword art that wounded you was profoundly unfathomable. It is a temporal type of divine power, not something a cultivator at the Qi Refining Second Layer could possibly execute."

Having observed Gu Ying and Wang Ping's battle from beginning to end, he had naturally seen everything clearly. He could hardly conceal his excitement. 'It's the dharma body path! This deity transformation dao child actually cultivates the dharma body path as well, and has even achieved a certain level of mastery. He definitely has secret connections with that path opener!'

This was the greatest harvest.

Uncovering this secret was worth far more than Gu Ying losing a few years of his lifespan—even if the disciple had died on the spot, it would have been worth it to True Person Chiming.

'He must be in Heaven Defiance Palace!'

'That's right. This deity transformation dao child is a genius with exceptional comprehension, and he originates from the Water Qi lineage. If I were that path opener, I would contact him in secret too. Taking this logic further, the very reason this path opener awakened at this time might be due to this deity transformation dao child. Otherwise, why awaken right now, neither earlier nor later? And thinking a little deeper, which senior figure sent him inside?'

'Water Qi and Wood Qi!'

'If that's the case, this mysterious path opener might be entangled in the schemes of those two lineages. They intentionally sent someone in to awaken him!'

The thought alone was terrifying.

True Person Chiming felt he had seen through to the truth.

The answer was simple: as long as he found Wang Ping's turbid body inside Heaven Defiance Palace, he would very likely find that mysterious path opener!

At this thought, True Person Chiming continued to ponder.

'How strong is that path opener?'

It couldn't be a True Monarch; commanding the Pinnacle Station of heaven and earth, they wouldn't need to hide at all. Back in the day, Heavenly Banner Pardoning True Monarch had never hidden himself.

'It's highly likely to be a Dao Monarch or a True Person. However, even though the True Monarchs of the various lineages have broken through some of Heaven Defiance Palace's restrictions, the palace still shouldn't be able to accommodate a cultivator of that level. That is, unless this path opener received special permission from the Human Emperor and already possessed authority over Heaven Defiance Palace.'

'Or perhaps... it's a specific, special palace hall.'

Heaven Defiance Palace was no simple palace. It encompassed a massive number of halls from the peak era of the Great Rebellion, each one comparable to a Grotto-Heaven. Piled together, they formed the Human Emperor's Immortal Realm.

Naturally, a few extremely special halls among them could accommodate existences at the True Person level. The main hall of Heaven Defiance Palace definitely possessed this capability.

At this thought, True Person Chiming immediately looked at Gu Ying.

"Go back."

Gu Ying looked up in bewilderment.

Yet the True Person's next words made him feel as if he had plunged into an icy abyss.

"Return to the Grotto-Heaven. Enter Heaven Defiance Palace and find that Water Qi dao child's turbid body for me."

Gu Ying clenched his jaw, unable to stop himself from whispering, "True Person, that grand array counters your disciple too severely. Unless there is a way to handle it, going in would just be delivering my life into his jaws. Your disciple truly doesn't have much lifespan left. Could we ask other senior brothers from the Immortal Realm to..."

"Hm?"

True Person Chiming cast him a sidelong glance, and Gu Ying's voice abruptly ceased. He felt as if a heavy mountain had landed on his shoulders, forcing his newly raised head back down.

"This disciple... this disciple..."

Gu Ying's voice trembled.

Seeing this, True Person Chiming pondered briefly before softening his tone.

"Relax. I am not telling you to fight your way back. You can play by the rules."

Rules? Handing over money?

Only then did Gu Ying remember the rules of Bright Light City. A hint of joy flared in his heart, yet he couldn't help but voice his doubts.

"But this disciple has already forged a grudge with him..."

"A grudge?"

True Person Chiming suddenly laughed.

"To those demons of the Water Qi lineage, there is no such thing as a grudge. As long as you provide enough benefits, not a single bit of resentment will remain."

In short, just pay more money!

"Didn't he say he requires you to circulate his divine power for twelve hours before entering Heaven Defiance Palace? Ask him what he wants and compensate him."

Speaking up to this point, True Person Chiming suddenly froze.

"...Hm?"

Raising his head, the True Person's gaze abruptly pierced the torrent of destiny. In a daze, he saw a scene linking together with him. Karmic traction.

Someone was vibrating destiny, silently transmitting a message to him. This method left no traces; they clearly didn't want to expose their identity. Who could it be?

True Person Chiming narrowed his eyes, his gaze locking onto that scene. His expression abruptly shifted, first flashing with shocked anger before morphing into profound incomprehension.

"To think such a thing exists..."

Plain Treading Realm.

Atop a jade platform as large as a mountain, the towering profound body of Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch sat cross-legged, his sun-and-moon-like eyes quietly overlooking the Cosmic Deep Space.

"...Interesting."

Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch stroked his chin. Wang Ping's [Supreme Law Immortal-Transcending Peerless Edge] continuously replayed within his eyes as he dissected all of its profound mysteries. Dharma body path? Temporal transformations?

Some of the concepts behind this technique... why did they feel somewhat similar to the Myriad Treasures Great Abundance Vault? Linking this to the bizarre disappearance of his own Light of Myriad Treasures...

"Could it really be the Heavenly Armory? The key I destroyed back then wasn't the only one; the Great Rebellion had a second. It's in the hands of this path opener. He connected to the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary through the Heavenly Armory, stole the Light of Myriad Treasures, and used it to comprehend time and create the dharma body path?"

The Daoist voice rang like clashing metal.

In a single thought, Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch had combed through all possibilities. Ultimately, he was certain that his guess was extremely close to the truth.

"No wonder Mingxing's dao child handed over the Light of Myriad Treasures so readily. It turns out they wanted to take the money here and steal the goods right back from the other side."

Thieves robbing thieves!

The more Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch thought about it, the more it made sense. Furthermore, it perfectly fit the Water Qi lineage's style of doing things. He just didn't know who exactly this path opener was.

From which Daoist tradition?

"If it's a True Person from the Great Rebellion era, then so be it. But if it's a Dao Monarch... could they be tied to those Ancient Cultivators in the Star Grave Sand Sea?"

Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch felt a headache coming on. Heaven Defiance Palace's entrance into the world had undoubtedly disrupted the Immortal Gate's overarching plans. It was only because the Brahma Nation had recently lost a Bodhisattva and was still lying low; if they had meddled as well, the situation would be even more chaotic.

"...Hm?"

At this thought, the True Monarch, known as the number one figure of the metal qi lineage, suddenly paused.

"If that is so, the reason Mingxing attacked the Master of Secret Traces previously..."

Was she seizing this exact timing?

'Back then, the Living Buddha severed himself from the Kan Trigram and established the authority of the Master of Secret Traces. I suspect Mingxing has reclaimed a significant portion of it this time through Shuofang's hands.'

Without that as a meeting gift, Shuofang could not have entered the Deity Transformation Realm.

Her methods were truly formidable.

Not only had she achieved her own objective, but she had also drawn a Water Qi True Monarch back to the lineage, conveniently forcing the Brahma Nation out of the struggle for Heaven Defiance Palace.

Three birds with one stone.

Atop the jade platform, the True Monarch—who had always been known for sizing up situations and latching onto powerful backers since ancient times—quickly reached a decision.

Right at that moment, however...

"Hm?"

Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch shifted his gaze, looking into the torrent of destiny. A scene immediately reflected in his eyes.

'Oh ho... what is the meaning of this?'

Soon, the True Monarch's tone became somewhat playful.

"The human heart is prone to change; it truly is the ultimate truth of the cosmos. Even Ancient Cultivators cannot exempt themselves."

"This has certainly become interesting."

...

In the Dao and Virtue Grotto-Heaven, Wang Ping calmly landed back inside the [Heavenly Glutton Lifespan-Devouring Profound Array]. With a sweep of his large sleeve, the dense array patterns surrounding him immediately vanished into the depths of the void.

Every cultivator who witnessed this transformation firsthand couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts. 'Fuck me, how could such an insidious array exist? It's one thing to devour lifespan, but it can actually turn invisible? What if someone accidentally steps into it?'

This was especially true for Mingyou.

To him, methods involving lifespan were the most detestable. Fortunately, having just observed it, he figured he wasn't completely without means to counter it.

There was no unbreakable technique in the world.

The [Heavenly Glutton Lifespan-Devouring Profound Array] was certainly insidious, but it could only truly display its full divine might on its first use. Caught off guard, no one could block it.

However, now that it was exposed and blatantly set up out in the open, the various lineages would be prepared. There were always ways to evade an array's life-severing and soul-reaping abilities.

Wang Ping was naturally well aware of this, but he didn't care in the slightest. This grand array had, after all, been personally inscribed onto the array disc for him by Fu. Its quality was extremely high and its profundities extraordinary. Although someone of Mingyou's level had ways to deal with it, the vast majority of Qi Refining practitioners and Tribulation Transcending cultivators lacked such methods.

That was enough. Ultimately, Wang Ping only planned to use this grand array to maintain order and make everyone obediently line up to pay. Intimidating the vast majority was already a success.

"Everyone, follow the rules."

Wang Ping looked around and smiled faintly.

"Twelve hours of operating my divine power! Once you complete it, you can enter Heaven Defiance Palace. I conduct honest business with everyone!"

"..."

After a brief silence, seeing that not even the Immortal Gate's True Persons were making a move, the crowd of immortal cultivators chose to submit before the gleaming golden Heaven Defiance Palace.

Wang Ping was happy to see this. Entrusting the twenty-four Ancient Cultivator Daoists to maintain order, he mounted a beam of light and flew toward the Dao Tomb once more. His own Grotto-Heaven couldn't block the gazes of True Monarchs; only the Dao Tomb, overseen by the eight Dao Monarchs, possessed the ability to isolate them.

The next second, the world spun before Wang Ping's eyes.

"You did well."

Fu's voice drifted over quietly.

"I watched from the sidelines. It is that True Person Chiming. He was moved; our target will highly likely be him."

"Good...!"

Wang Ping grinned.

On the other side, Yang's figure also emerged, though his brows were tightly knit.

"We are still one step short. According to what you said, we must find where Tiankong is."

"No need to search."

Wang Ping shook his head. "Tianhou will come find us."

He reached into his sleeve and pulled out an egg the size of a human head. With a light tap, the shell shattered, and Xuanzhi drilled out.

Resurrected at full health!

The trauma brought on by the previous deduction seemed to have never occurred. Xuanzhi emerged from the eggshell in high spirits and shook its feathers, looking completely unscathed.

"Need to trouble Brother Chicken again?" Xuanzhi raised its head high.

"Yeah."

Wang Ping cupped his hands in salute. "I must ask Daoist Friend Xuanzhi to contact Tianhou for me. The two of you have depended on each other for survival for many years, so you must have a way to reach him."

This address made Xuanzhi extremely comfortable. Moreover, Wang Ping had even saluted. Such a respectful attitude caused Xuanzhi's little tail to perk up immediately. It said smugly, "But of course. Tianhou and I are full brothers from different mothers and fathers. We refined a mental blood seal between us."

"As long as I use the blood seal to call him, he will definitely sense it and come."

"Then I will trouble you."

Wang Ping sweet-talked left and right, coaxing Xuanzhi until the whole chicken was dizzy with pride. It barely hesitated before complying with his request and calling out to Tianhou.

The group waited for another moment.

Suddenly, Fu raised his brows. Looking outside the Dao Tomb, he reached out and struck. Layer upon layer of the void instantly shattered, revealing the light and shadows of the outside world.

Wang Ping looked closely and saw a large dog stretching its neck to peek from a region of the Star Grave Sand Sea, still quite a distance from the Dao Tomb. It hadn't expected the void in front of it to suddenly shatter. Before it could even react, Fu's large hand grabbed it by the throat.

"Woof, woof, woof!"

Tianhou barked in terror, but it was to no avail. Fu dragged him straight through the void into the Dao Tomb and slammed him heavily onto the ground.

"Spare me! Senior, spare me!"

Seeing that the other party possessed such a major divine ability, how could Tianhou dare bare his teeth? He immediately took advantage of the momentum to lay flat on the ground, sticking his rear in the air and wagging his tail frantically.

"Xuanzhi and I are brothers!"

"I know the layout of the various halls in Heaven Defiance Palace! I can guide the way for you, Senior, and collect fortunate encounters for you! My meat doesn't taste as good as Xuanzhi's either..."

Wang Ping was struck speechless at the sight.

This felt so practiced. This wasn't his first time, was it?

However, with serious business to attend to and little time to spare, Wang Ping couldn't be bothered with nonsense. He simply said, "Senior Tiankong, it's been a long time."

"...Hm?"

Only then did Tianhou react. Discovering that a junior had actually mixed in alongside two great Almighties, he fixed his gaze on Wang Ping.

Immediately afterward, the dog's face twisted as he seemed to recall something, though he remained somewhat confused.

"Are you that young man who entered the Incense-Draped Hall at the very beginning? No, the cultivation doesn't match up. You have already achieved the Third Layer Heaven Breaking stage, while that young man hadn't even broken the first heaven."

"Are you his father?"

Wang Ping: "..."

"Senior must be joking." Wang Ping released his aura and smiled. "I am that young man. I just had a minuscule, insignificant breakthrough recently."

Tianhou: "???"

Tianhou remained stunned for a good while before finally reacting. He nearly laughed out loud.

"Daoist Friend, why must you deceive me with such nonsense?"

'Did he look like a stupid dog?'

'How long has it been since I escaped the Incense-Draped Hall? Has it even been a month? Are you saying you went from not even the First Layer Heaven to the Third Layer Heaven in a single month?'

'Not even the Human Emperor was that fast!'

With this thought, Tianhou stopped asking. Instead, he widened his dog eyes, preparing to look directly at Wang Ping's trajectory of destiny and expose his lies.

Then, his eyes gradually widened further.

Because when he gazed at Wang Ping's destiny, the four merits of [Free and Easy Wandering], [In the World of Men], [Losing the Dao Is Perilous], and [Heaven Has Forsaken Me] immediately surfaced.

Of course, the [Great Grandmaster Rank] was hidden by Wang Ping; it was his only merit capable of concealing itself from outsiders. Even so, the massive light of the other merits nearly blinded Tianhou. Though his combat power had reached the Eighth Layer Heaven Breaking stage, and he had seen countless heroes during the peak era of the Great Rebellion, he still couldn't help but rub his dog eyes as if looking at a completely illogical existence.

After a long silence, he finally spoke faintly.

"...Your Majesty?"

Hearing this, Wang Ping raised an eyebrow. "Senior misunderstands. My name is Wang Ping, a cultivator under the Water Qi Daoist Lineage. I have nothing to do with the Human Emperor."

"Impossible!"

Tianhou decisively shook his head. "To go from beneath the First Layer Heaven to a major cultivator at the Third Layer Heaven Breaking stage in such a short time—I have never seen anyone so fast!"

"You've seen one today." Wang Ping smiled.

"Talk about business!"

Fu snapped irritably. 'This brat has already acted tough in front of me so many times, yet he's still at it. I really don't know what's so fun about posturing.'

Wang Ping hurriedly coughed. Looking at Tiankong, he said, "Inviting Senior here this time is primarily to borrow an item from you."

Tianhou was immediately shocked. "Could it be you want the dog head on my shoulders?"

Wang Ping: "..."

"Senior thinks too much. I merely wish to borrow Senior's doghouse to take a route into the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary. Senior, please do not refuse."

After speaking, Wang Ping smiled and patted Tianhou's head.

"Otherwise, this junior doesn't really mind, but these two lords beside me might be a tiny bit unhappy. Tonight, we might just have to eat dog meat."

Before his voice had even faded, and before Tianhou could answer, Xuanzhi spoke up.

"Really?"

"Come to think of it, I haven't eaten Tianhou's meat yet. I've always been the one eaten by him. I wonder if it's chewy, if it's fragrant, if it's rich in nutrients..."

"I accept!"

Before Xuanzhi could finish, Tianhou stated decisively, "It's a mere doghouse! If you seniors need it, just use it! I absolutely won't utter a single word of complaint."

He brought his two front paws together, forming a surprisingly proper hand seal. Following a chanted incantation, an abundant treasure light opened up. A crack appeared, revealing the scene inside. It was much smaller than the Heavenly Armory, spanning a space of less than a hundred meters.

'However... it truly is the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary!'

Wang Ping was now somewhat familiar with this treasury of the Divine Weapon Courtyard. Having also obtained the fortunate encounter of the Light of Myriad Treasures, he naturally recognized the treasury's aura at a single glance.

"Seniors, the opportunity is here!"

Wang Ping rubbed his palms together in excitement.

Fu and Yang were also somewhat thrilled. Even Li, appearing as an old man, silently manifested and stared straight over.

They were rubbing their palms too! Ever since the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy fell into the Star Grave Sand Sea and was forced into a desperate defensive position, they had just been slowly waiting for death. They hadn't done anything major in ages.

This was their first time!

"Let's go!"

Hardly able to wait, Fu immediately grabbed Tianhou by the scruff of the neck, concealed all their auras, and strode right into the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary.

...

Divine Weapon Courtyard, Plain Treading Realm.

"Hm?"

Upon the jade platform, Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch suddenly raised his head, sensing something. He opened the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary and swept his abundant divine sense across it.

"An illusion... impossible."

He didn't know why, but he had suddenly felt a palpitation, as if a thief had broken into his house. Such sudden whims were exceedingly rare for a True Monarch like him.

'Could it be...'

Recalling the scene he had witnessed in the torrent of destiny and combining it with his earlier deductions, a bold guess surfaced in Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch's heart. He immediately pinched his fingers to divine it, and before long, he obtained the answer he sought.

'...As expected.' Tianhou had come out of that blasted doghouse.

A smile emerged in Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch's eyes.

After escaping from the Incense-Draped Hall, Tianhou had been cowering in that blasted doghouse. Even if the True Monarch dug three feet into the earth, he wouldn't have been able to find him.

But things were different now.

'That vicious dog's aura was left behind in the Cosmos. It came out of the doghouse for a while, but then it disappeared again... Did it return to that doghouse?'

'Or... was its trail concealed by other Almighties?'

At this thought, light abruptly bloomed in Immortal-Serving Orthodoxy-Treading True Monarch's pupils, and a melodious, clear sword chime resounded throughout the Plain Treading Realm.

'The Heavenly Armory, Heaven Defiance Palace, the doghouse, and the fact that the mysterious path opener might be related to the Ancient Cultivators, plus that sword strike from Wang Ping just now...'

'What gall!'

The sword chimes grew increasingly fierce.

However, very quickly, everything returned to peace.

The reason was very simple: 'This matter actually does not harm me in the least.'

If anyone was going to have a headache over this, it would be the Fire Qi lineage. If he stepped forward on his own initiative right now, it would be equivalent to taking the blame for them, and he would be the unlucky one.

Compared to that, it was better to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. It was a perfect chance to see just what grand acts those failures holed up in the Star Grave Sand Sea could manage. If their level was mediocre, he would engage in beating a dog that had fallen into water. If they proved to be an insect with a hundred legs that does not stiffen even when dead, he would let the Fire Qi lineage take the brunt of it at the front.

"Hehehe..."

Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary.

"It has retreated. Lead the way."

Fu carefully sensed his surroundings. Only after confirming that the divine sense originally saturating the inside and outside of the granary had retreated did he lead the group out from Tiankong's doghouse.

Wang Ping didn't dare be negligent. He immediately took the lead, doing his best to sense his turbid body inside the Heavenly Armory. Soon, they arrived before a mountain of treasures. Spiritual materials were piled up within it, and one corner had surprisingly been stacked into the shape of a doorway. Wang Ping immediately took out the Heavenly Creation Spiritual Treasure's Imprint.

"Click."

The next second, the stacked spiritual materials that merely resembled a doorway unexpectedly transformed into a real portal. The group swarmed inside, and the world before their eyes abruptly opened up.

The Heavenly Armory had been reached!

"Good methods..." Fu looked back and saw Wang Ping carefully shutting the large door. He couldn't help but praise him. "The Human Emperor is known as the one who mastered all schools of thought. The reputation is indeed fully justified."

With his level of Daoist attainment, he naturally saw through the profound change just now. It wasn't that the Heavenly Armory's main door was that exact door from a moment ago. The focal point wasn't the door either, but the key. As long as one had the key, anything that looked like a doorway could become the Heavenly Armory's entrance.

The Heavenly Armory simply had no fixed location.

Strictly speaking, it was just an invisible phantom wandering within the Hundred Treasures Great Abundance Granary. No wonder the metal qi lineage had failed to find it after all these years.

On the other side, Tianhou was completely dumbfounded.

'The Heavenly Armory?'

He was considered a battle-hardened dog. Back then in the Incense-Draped Hall, he had gone through life and death, even participating in the siege and killing of a True Person of the Immortal Gate. Of course, he had mainly been in charge of waving flags to cheer them on and collecting the corpse afterward.

But this didn't mean he hadn't contributed. At the very least, he was deeply involved in the various schemes before that Immortal Gate's True Person had fallen into the encirclement.

And now, a familiar feeling had returned!

"You guys are going to kill someone?"

Tiankong hadn't even finished speaking before he regretted it... because Fu, Yang, and Li almost simultaneously turned their heads, staring straight at him!

"I—I can cooperate!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Tianhou began wagging his tail again. "I can move the door of my doghouse over so it perfectly faces the door of the Heavenly Armory."

"That way, you guys can hide in my doghouse! Even if the target discovers the Heavenly Armory, they won't detect your presence. Once the other party falls into the trap, you can charge out directly from my doghouse. I guarantee you'll catch them completely off guard... The effect is very good!"

Tianhou was suddenly a bit excited!

He was familiar with this routine! During the siege of that True Person in the Incense-Draped Hall back then, they had laid in ambush inside his doghouse and caught the other party off guard.

Most importantly, this benefited him as well. As a deep participant, hunting a True Person was practically an all-encompassing supreme tonic for the Dao fruit he had cultivated.

He still reminisced about those days.

He hadn't expected to have another opportunity!

At this thought, Tianhou wagged his tail even more happily and suggested again, "Before we make a move, we can use Xuanzhi to predict things and ensure the target takes the bait."

"It won't die anyway, so there's no need to take pity on it."

Xuanzhi: "..."

As his voice fell, Fu and the others turned to look at Wang Ping one after another. However, Wang Ping rubbed his chin, his brows tightly furrowed, as he pondered a different issue.

'Just by seeing the Heavenly Armory, Tiankong could actually guess my siege plan. What about the other True Monarchs? Is it possible they might guess it too? After all, looking at this situation, Tianhou's doghouse is not much of a secret among the True Monarchs; even the Ancient Cultivators have some understanding of it.'

It didn't feel right! Existences at the True Person level were never easy to deal with. The main strategy relied on hiding in plain sight—exploiting the suddenness of unknown information to achieve merit directly with a single strike.

But if the other party anticipated it, or if information leaked, not only would the chances of success plummet, but there was even a possibility of being counter-schemed by the enemy.

And Tianhou's doghouse seemed to be known by everyone.

'Not to mention, there might be an informer...'

Wang Ping hadn't forgotten that, according to what Fu and Yang had said, among the eight Ancient Cultivator Dao Monarchs in the Dao Tomb, someone was unwilling to go to war right now.

Although his side had taken precautions and hadn't announced the siege plan—with only the three Dao Monarchs, Fu, Yang, and Li, participating from beginning to end—the eight Dao Monarchs of the Dao Tomb spent day and night together and were far too familiar with each other. It wasn't impossible for someone to deduce something through subtle clues.

Most importantly...

The intelligence that Fu could temporarily hand over the Heavenly Venerable True Mantra to Yang, restoring Dao Lord-level combat power—this point had already been grasped by others.

If the other party leaked this secret, the True Monarchs of the various lineages would be prepared. They could deliberately use True Person Chiming as bait to counter-scheme against the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy...

Of course, the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy would definitely be fine. The Star Grave acting as a strategic nuclear bomb still held deterrent power, and the True Monarchs of the various lineages were highly unlikely to truly deal lethal blows to Fu and the others. But things weren't so certain for a lower cultivator like himself. When the time came, the Ancient Cultivators would struggle to protect themselves, so how could they protect him?

At this thought, Wang Ping looked up and glanced at Li.

Even though his side also had a trump card—he himself could shoulder Li's Heavenly Venerable True Mantra, raising their Dao Lord-level combat power from one to two. But—

'Even if the True Monarchs of the various lineages can't guess that I am the path opener of the dharma body path, could they really fail to guess that the path opener might have connections with the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy?'

Not necessarily!

Because on the surface, he was clearly linked with the "mysterious path opener," and his backing was the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy. Linking the two together was actually not difficult at all.

'And if that informer also leaked the secret of Fu displaying Dao Lord-level combat power, would the True Monarchs of the Immortal Gate be unable to guess that the mysterious path opener could highly likely shoulder a Heavenly Venerable True Mantra as well? If that's really the case, even Li might not be much of a secret!'

The more Wang Ping thought, the colder his heart became.

"Phew..."

He exhaled a long breath. Although he considered all this, it could just be that things had gone too smoothly up to this point, making him unable to stop himself from considering the worst-case scenario.

Which meant he was just scaring himself.

However—it was better to believe it existed than to believe it didn't!

At the end of the day, the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy's foundations were too thin. Three Dao Lords sounded incredibly impressive, but in truth, they merely rivaled one of the Immortal Gate's Five Phases traditions.

With two Dao Lords, if they could launch a surprise attack, they might still have a chance of winning. But once they were predicted beforehand, it would probably turn into walking right into a trap instead.

"...Go back!"

Wang Ping abruptly raised his head and said in a deep voice, "Two Dao Lords might not be enough. Bring Senior Dao along as well. This time, we will accomplish everything in one decisive battle!"

When these words came out, Fu, Yang, and Li—who had been continuously observing the surroundings—all looked over, their expressions revealing hints of confusion and solemnity.

"Did some accident occur?"

"Just taking precautions, that's all." Wang Ping didn't hide anything, directly voicing all his misgivings before finally giving his own judgment:

"This matter is likely even more dangerous than I previously imagined. With the slightest carelessness, it could very well completely detonate the conflict between the Ancient Cultivator Orthodoxy and the Immortal Gate. Furthermore, it might not necessarily succeed. If you seniors have doubts in your hearts, it's better to give up. At worst, I'll just think of another way. The cart will find its way when it reaches the mountain."

Wang Ping spoke with utmost sincerity!

In fact, he had always been quite grateful for Yang and Fu's support, knowing that the majority of this True Person hunt was for his sake.

He firmly remembered this favor in his heart.

If the chances of victory were very high, he naturally wouldn't mind clinging to their coattails. But if the risks were extreme, he didn't want the Ancient Cultivators to sacrifice themselves for his benefit.

There was no need for that!

'With so many life tribulations and crises previously, hadn't I charged through them just the same? Even without this hunt, I can still turn danger into safety all the same!'

For a time, Fu fell into silence.

Yet Yang didn't have much hesitation, directly saying, "Even if we pull Dao over, what method do you have to let him return to the Dao Lord station as well?"

Hearing this, Wang Ping paused and gritted his teeth. "If the price is sacrificing my life..."

"Useless!"

Yang's retort was thoroughly impolite. "Shouldering a Heavenly Venerable True Mantra by sacrificing life requires an existence like me! I am a Dao Monarch! What use is a Qi Refining practitioner like you?"

"Your ability to shoulder a Heavenly Venerable True Mantra relies entirely on the dharma body path and the Long River of Memory. Unless you can pioneer another new path, there is no chance."

"A new path..."

Wang Ping froze, as if a spark of inspiration had sliced through the darkness.

Looking at Wang Ping's blank face, Yang's tone softened slightly. "You understand this is impossible. It is better for us to take our time and discuss this further..."

"I have one!"

Yang: "...?"

You have what?

"The Five Phases!" Wang Ping's eyes were bright as he spoke in a low voice. "The Great Dao of the Five Phases! If we use it, it should be able to shoulder a Heavenly Venerable True Mantra too!"

Hearing these words, Yang subconsciously shook his head. "Useless. Although the Five Phases were uniquely created by Yi Shentong and are stunning, they have no connection to today's orthodox Immortal Dao. And without the blessing of orthodox imagery, even the most formidable Daoist lineage could not withstand a Heavenly Venerable True Mantra and the aura of twilight..."

His voice grew lower and lower.

"...Ah."

There was no need for Wang Ping to open his mouth to explain; Yang had already understood. "Those Qi Refining practitioners in Bright Light City... are you talking about those five-phase divine powers?"

"Correct!"

Wang Ping swung his arm. "The current Five Phases have spread quite a few divine powers out to the Immortal Gate cultivators! It already has connections with the orthodox Immortal Dao!"

"There is still a problem."

Only at this moment did Fu finally speak up again. "The Five Phases are also laid out in plain sight. How can you be certain the Immortal Gate won't calculate this change?"

"This..."

Wang Ping opened his mouth, then helplessly lowered his head. Indeed, the Five Phases weren't exactly a hidden secret; the Immortal Gate's True Monarchs highly likely had precautions against them as well.

So even if all three Dao Lords came out in full force, they still might not necessarily achieve merit?

"How about pulling in the Water Qi..."

"It's useless."

Wang Ping decisively shook his head. He hadn't forgotten the earlier vibration of the Profound One Calamity-Crossing Ring. Nine times out of ten, his own Yuanjun was monitoring him with high intensity.

And since Yuanjun hadn't spoken or taken the initiative to participate, the Water Qi lineage's attitude was self-evident. If he sought them out, he would suffer a closed-door refusal eighty percent of the time.

The atmosphere solidified for a time.

Until not far away, Li, who hadn't spoken previously, suddenly said softly, "In other words, three Dao Lords might still be somewhat lacking."

"Yes."

Wang Ping sighed. "There must be a fourth Dao Lord who completely exceeds the expectations of all the Immortal Gate's True Monarchs. Only then will this plan have a hundred-percent chance of victory."

After all, the Immortal Gate had no fools, and the True Monarchs of the various lineages were even less likely to act like idiots and watch you rise little by little. They would only snuff out the bud with the force of a thunderbolt the instant you showed the potential to rise. Therefore, either you didn't act, or if you did, you had to be prepared to welcome a great battle.

Opening with a decisive battle!

"...I understand."

Li smiled faintly. "In short, as long as it exceeds the expectations of those bitch-born bastards, it will work. A fourth Dao Lord isn't actually a rigid requirement."

Wang Ping froze, then nodded immediately.

"There's no mistake in saying it like that."

"Then leave it to me."

Li's expression was incomparably indifferent. "Go back first and bring Dao along. As it happens... I also need a little time to prepare."

"Senior... are you truly decided?"

Hearing this, Wang Ping couldn't help but say, "This junior truly has no confidence in this matter. If the worst-case scenario occurs, our chances of victory might be less than fifty percent."

Immediately after, he looked toward Yang and Fu again, only to see that these two had also restored their initial steadiness, even nodding at him with a smile.

"Actually, you are a bit too pessimistic. While our Ancient Cultivators certainly have differences and there might even be an informer, could the Immortal Gate possibly be an iron monolith?"

"Furthermore, there is one thing you got wrong."

"You're worried that after this hunt, it will completely detonate the conflict with the Immortal Gate... but in reality, our feud with the Immortal Gate has long been a fight to the bitter end."

"Our Dao dispute has never ended."

"Up until now, it has merely been a temporary truce."

"And the reason we decided to hunt a True Person is not entirely for your sake either." Fu's tone carried steadfastness, revealing a strong aura of slaughter.

"Our era has faded away for far too long. Many have lost the resolve they possessed back then. They want to play it safe in all things, and the result is being relentlessly pressed by the Immortal Gate at every step. If this continues, we will only perish in silence... Thus, this battle is actually for our own sakes as well."

The Ancient Cultivators needed a grand battle.

A battle that would dye both friend and foe in blood—a battle that could allow the Ancient Cultivators to walk out of the Star Grave Sand Sea once more, step into the Immortal Gate's field of vision, and let the entire Cosmos know!

"So... don't overestimate yourself too much."

Speaking to the end, Fu suddenly gave a cold laugh. "Although your comprehension isn't bad and is about the same as mine, you aren't the only one we can rely on to achieve things."

"Exactly."

Yang laughed as well. "A mere lower cultivator like you just needs to patiently do your job as bait. The gambit at our level is not your turn to worry about."

"Leave it to us and rest assured."

Wang Ping: "..."