Chapter 563 : Desperate Predicament

Next ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍time, it would become reality.

As ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the words fell, the Manifested Tathāgata suddenly crumbled apart and dissipated, vanishing without a trace, as if it had accomplished its goal and departed from this segment of the 【Pseudo-History】.

However, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lü Yang did not move.

Even ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍though the Manifested Tathāgata had left, and he had to return to the present world as quickly as possible through the entrance of the Zouyu descendant, he still remained motionless, his true body’s qi completely concealed.

At ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the same time, above the Zouyu Ruins—

Although ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it appeared to have left, the Manifested Tathāgata had merely cast a misleading illusion and was, in fact, still hidden, lingering silently in the skies above the Zouyu Ruins. It let out a sigh:

"Truly a member of the Sacred Sect—hard to trap. Forget it."

Having said that, it then completely dispersed its form.

Three days later——

A sudden flash of golden light—Manifested Tathāgata emerged once more, a surprised look on its face. Yet it no longer spoke aloud and instead mused internally: ‘Could he have already left?’

Was he really that clever?

The Manifested Tathāgata couldn’t help but shake its head. If it could, it would have loved nothing more than to squat at the Zouyu Ruins for several centuries. It refused to believe Lü Yang wouldn’t show up.

After all, this was heaven-sent. If it could resolve Lü Yang directly in the 【Pseudo-History】, it could monopolize all the rewards—why return to the present world? The present was far more troublesome than the 【Pseudo-History】. Even the World-Honored One had to make numerous compromises and concessions just to bring it down.

‘Unfortunately, the circumstances won’t allow it.’

‘This form of Tathāgata carries too much karmic weight. It's fine for now, but if I linger too long, this segment of 【Pseudo-History】 might completely collapse.’

‘I have no choice but to leave.’

The Manifested Tathāgata sighed inwardly, though its face remained inscrutable and profound. Before leaving, it even formed a hand seal and left behind an image to remain here.

If I can’t find you—then I’ll scare you!

The longer the delay, the more time the World-Honored One has to prepare. When I descend again from the present world, I’ll be stronger than I am here.

Overseas, Lonely Heart Island.

One of Lü Yang’s 【String-Pulled Puppets】 quietly arrived, broke through the array formation outside, and soon stepped into the island’s cave dwelling.

Within the cave’s depths, in a tranquil secret chamber, lay a wooden box, carved with the lingering aura left behind by Hong Tian before his death.

Lü Yang paced forward and opened the box.

Inside lay a jade token, with a jade slip beside it. With a sweep of divine sense, Lü Yang immediately understood what it was:

‘A Life-Binding Token?’

This jade token was linked to someone’s life. If the token shattered, that person would die accordingly—it was essentially Lü Yang personally killing them.

‘Under these conditions, the future possibilities tied to that person would also fall into my hands!’ Thinking this, Lü Yang instantly understood Hong Tian’s intent in leaving this behind: ‘He believed that the person tied to this Life-Binding Token might have future potential that could be of use to me?’

With that thought, Lü Yang didn’t hesitate and crushed the token directly.

The next second, the token burst forth with resplendent light. In Jiangnan, a sword cry rang out—and then abruptly dimmed, vanishing into silence.

At the same time, a flash of light appeared in Lü Yang’s hand.

‘This is...’

Lü Yang narrowed his eyes, and immediately an understanding blossomed in his heart: this was the counterpart of the Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing in the 【Pseudo-History】—the possibility of True Person Xuanwu!

‘True Person Xuanwu’s life path resembled that of Master of Demon‑Cleansing. Both were cultivated to attain the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】. But due to the absence of the World-Honored One in the 【Pseudo-History】, the lack of the 【No-Kill Sword Intent】 made Xuanwu much weaker than Master. Thus, he failed to attain the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】.’

‘But he survived.’

‘After failing to attain the Sword Dao Fruit Position, he received Hong Tian’s aid and locked his life using a Life-Binding Token, allowing him to live for three more years.’

In other words——

‘This is the possibility of surviving even after failing to attain the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】! If used on Master of Demon‑Cleansing, this could be an immense opportunity!’

In his previous life, the Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing sacrificed himself for the sword, and upon attaining the 【Sword Dao Fruit Position】, his soul was scattered—unable even to reincarnate. But if he could survive, even with only a sliver of soul remaining, with his affinity to the Sword Dao Fruit Position, he could instantly merge and ascend to True Lord status!

As for True Person Xuanwu——

Even with the Life-Binding Token, he had only three years to live. Before leaving this behind, Hong Tian had explained everything, and the other had accepted it willingly.

‘Truly deserving to be the counterpart of Master of Demon‑Cleansing...’

Lü Yang’s expression grew complicated as thoughts churned in his heart:

‘It seems Hong Tian also knew he was a target of all forces. Any karma tied to him would be rooted out—nothing would be left behind.’

‘So he left behind the karma of True Person Xuanwu, who was unrelated.’

‘Perhaps he didn’t think this would help me much, but it was the most valuable thing he could leave behind.’

Lü Yang sighed softly.

Turning back, Lü Yang looked toward the projection of Manifested Tathāgata standing over the Zouyu Ruins and sneered: ‘Think I can’t see through this farce?’

It was a fake!

Just a scare tactic!

Controlling the 【String-Pulled Puppet】, Lü Yang boldly strode toward the Zouyu Ruins. Simultaneously, his true body awakened and emerged from seclusion.

"…Time to leave."

Lü Yang cast one last glance at the heavens of the 【Pseudo-History】. He had to admit, though brief, he had reaped immense gains from this place.

‘Hong Tian… I will never repeat your fate!’

Given time—he would return.

In the Flying Snow Bedchamber, amidst a flash of streaming light, Lü Yang stepped out from the Mirror of Descent, instantly sensing the stark difference between the 【Pseudo-History】 and the present world.

‘The present world has a tangible solidity.’

The earth, the sky, the spiritual qi—none bore the illusion of the pseudo-realm. Only those who had experienced the 【Pseudo-History】 could truly understand this sensation.

The next second, Lü Yang looked up.

‘【Heavenly Fire】… complete!’

Yu Zhou and the Zouyu descendants had all been left behind on Lonely Heart Island. He had placed formations to both protect and contain them.

Now, no longer affected by the Zouyu clan’s qi, his 【Heavenly Fire】 image had reached flawless completion. Nowhere beneath the heavens was beyond the reach of sunlight and moonlight, and within the Six Directions, none remained unknown. Compared to Hong Tian before the quest for the Golden Core, Lü Yang was considerably stronger!

‘However… my troubles are also greater than Hong Tian’s!’

After all, Hong Tian was only targeted by True Lords. Lü Yang, however, was being "served" by four Dao Lords—completely different leagues. The only future he could see was despair.

——What should he do?

With hands clasped behind his back, Lü Yang fell into deep silence. The scenes of Hong Tian being torn apart by various forces and ultimately self-detonating flashed across his mind.

Dao Court, World-Honored One, Sword Pavilion.

Three great tribulations—each an undoubted life-and-death trial. He would have to risk his life each time. Only by winning three times in a row could he seek the 【Heavenly Fire】.

And what did he have?

After venturing into the 【Pseudo-History】, aside from the one possibility of “surviving after attaining the Sword Dao Fruit Position,” he only had a pile of intelligence that might as well be worthless scrap.

Even if he used that possibility to elevate the Real Person of Demon‑Cleansing to Golden Core, the newly attained Fruit Position was too undeveloped—unlikely to be of great use.

Forget winning three times—he wasn’t even confident about winning once.

In a daze, Lü Yang seemed to glimpse an all-encompassing web.

Only this time—it was his turn to become the butterfly ensnared upon the web. All factions were watching like tigers eyeing prey, just waiting for him to seek the Golden Core—and then feast.