Chapter 485: Chapter 485: Desperate Minor Metal

To be honest, Lü Yang wasn’t the least bit flustered.

After all, his true body was lying low and secure in the Dao Court. With the buffer of an Immortal Embryo Avatar, he wouldn’t be afraid even if World Purger Fei Xue herself showed up.

The worst that could happen was his avatar suffering a bit.

And that’s what avatars were for.

So, rather than worrying about Chong Guang standing right before him, Lü Yang was more curious about how the man had managed to find this particular avatar. His thoughts raced:

’First of all, you lose the moment you believe a word from a Saint Sect Zhenren.’

Chong Guang’s one-sided story was just empty talk—it cost him nothing to deceive people. Anyone in the Saint Sect who would fall for it would never even reach Foundation Establishment, let alone the Final-phase of Qi Refining.

Compared to that, Lü Yang trusted his own judgment more:

’Leaving a mark on me? Even on an avatar, with my level of Cultivation, it’s impossible that I wouldn’t have noticed a mark left by Hong Yun.’

’However, Hong Yun must have indeed left behind some method to sense this avatar’s location, which was then transmitted to Hong Ju through their Heart Spirit connection... But I’ve already taken his Soul into the Myriad-Soul Banner, severing all karmic links. No one should be able to sense it. In that case, the only possibility is...’

After a moment’s thought, Lü Yang smiled.

He opened his palm, and a Divine Power Radiance blossomed within it, instantly evolving into a myriad of scenes—flowers, birds, fish, insects, and beasts of all kinds appeared one after another.

[Root of All Things]!

This Ability, which he had Deprived from Hong Yun, was ultimately an external object and thus couldn’t be freely switched between Lü Yang’s Immortal Embryo and his true body.

Therefore, it had remained with the Immortal Embryo Avatar.

"This item?"

Lü Yang looked at Chong Guang and chuckled. "Hong Yun... I underestimated him. He didn’t tamper with me, or even with this Ability."

That was why he hadn’t noticed a thing.

If he wasn’t mistaken, Hong Yun must have simply left Hong Ju a Secret Technique that could sense the [Root of All Things], or rather, the location of the Earth of Chen.

’After all, of all the Earth of Chen in this world, only the [Root of All Things] in my possession is of the yang attribute. It’s as conspicuous as a candle flame in the dead of night... Back then, I used the connection between the [Root of All Things] and Hong Yun to find his location. He simply gave me a taste of my own medicine!’

Besides that, something else surprised Lü Yang: Hong Ju.

’Based on my experiences from previous lives, Hong Ju should be able to sense when the Hongyun Gold Attribute changes owners. That being the case, I thought he would choose to pledge allegiance to me...’

After all, Hong Ju’s very life was tied to the Hongyun Gold Attribute.

That was why Lü Yang hadn’t been worried about Hong Ju at all and had even overlooked him... He never expected that Hong Ju would be the one to cause trouble in the end.

’Loyal to Hong Yun... Impossible.’

’Saint Sect Zhenren have always been opportunists, loyal only to whoever feeds them. What loyalty could there be? When Hong Yun died in the ninth life, didn’t he decisively switch his allegiance to Master Chong Guang?’

Then there was only one answer.

’He received the Heart Spirit message from Hong Yun, became convinced that Hong Yun was doomed to die and the Gold Attribute doomed to be destroyed, and so he contacted Chong Guang to switch patrons?’

It wasn’t that hard to understand. After all, his judgment was actually quite correct... Lü Yang was going to burn the Hongyun Gold Attribute sooner or later anyway. In his Previous Life, Hong Ju had pledged allegiance to him, but unfortunately, after he burned the Hongyun Gold Attribute, Hong Ju probably suffered some terrible luck and died a very miserable death.

This life, Hong Ju was clearly much smarter.

Ultimately, it was a problem of information disparity. In his final moments, Hong Yun had clearly recalled many past events and unreservedly transmitted all of it to Hong Ju.

With different information, Hong Ju’s choice was naturally completely different.

In a flash, Lü Yang had sorted out the cause and effect behind his avatar’s discovery, and the expression on his face grew even calmer.

"Daoist, your bluffs only reveal your weakness."

As the words fell, Chong Guang’s eyes narrowed. He then shook his head. "It’s not a bluff. I just wanted to see what you’re made of, Daoist."

Just as I thought!

Lü Yang sneered inwardly. ’That old fox, Chong Guang! I knew you were just trying to trick me, intentionally intimidating my avatar to scare my secrets out of me!’

The next second, Chong Guang continued:

"Although Daoist Hong Ju said you are an incarnation of [Ang Xiao], after careful examination, I believe this is all just a misunderstanding."

Chong Guang had his own judgment.

Towards the end, Hong Yun had clearly become somewhat paranoid. But Chong Guang was different. As an outsider, he could view Lü Yang’s existence from a more rational perspective.

"You must be the one who sent me the Grotto Heaven intelligence back then," Chong Guang said lightly. "That Grotto Heaven Fragment was very strange. After we returned to the sect, we consulted the ancient texts but couldn’t find any related records. Not until we suddenly heard the name [Ang Xiao] from Hong Ju’s lips..."

And then it all clicked into place.

Only then did Chong Guang realize that the name [Ang Xiao] had appeared long ago in the texts he’d consulted; he had simply overlooked it every time.

World Purger Fei Xue had nearly gone mad with anger.

However, this made things very delicate... If the Grotto Heaven Fragment was related to [Ang Xiao], and Lü Yang was the one who sent him the intelligence, then there was a contradiction.

Therefore, Chong Guang concluded:

"You are not [Ang Xiao]. In fact, it’s quite the opposite... You must have some sort of grudge against [Ang Xiao], which is why you oppose him."

Lü Yang remained noncommittal, changing the subject. "You came looking for me this time... It seems you didn’t have World Purger Fei Xue providing support?"

"There was no need."

Chong Guang shook his head. "This matter is a tacit understanding between myself and the Perfected Lord. She is indulging me, giving me this one chance and not asking questions, which is why I was able to come find you, Daoist."

"So?" Lü Yang asked in return. "What do you want from me, Daoist?"

"This Earth God’s Divine Technique."

Chong Guang’s expression was calm as he pointed to the [Root of All Things] in Lü Yang’s hand. "It is a yang-attribute Earth of Chen. I wish to use it for Seeking Gold. Might I ask if you are willing to help me, Daoist?"

"I learned of your wondrous Abilities from Hong Ju. Since you can Deprive Abilities, you can naturally also bestow them. If you were to strip away my Earth God’s Divine Technique, [Shade Dragon Water], and then give me this [Root of All Things], perhaps I could erase the flaw upon my Dao Foundation."

Chong Guang proposed a bold plan.

It was a plan that even Lü Yang hadn’t considered. Using [Ming Monarch’s Rule] to swap Abilities for someone else? Was it possible? Lü Yang began to rapidly deduce the possibilities with his Cultivation...

’...It’s possible!’

In an instant, Lü Yang’s expression flickered. "Swapping Abilities... It’s not impossible, but in that case, you would have to be subjected to my Innate Ability."

This was no joke.

Given the domineering nature of the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], if he helped Chong Guang swap Abilities, it would mean Chong Guang would become his subordinate. Lü Yang would hold the power of life and death over him!

That was no different from entering the Myriad-Soul Banner.

Would Chong Guang be willing?

Under Lü Yang’s gaze, Chong Guang merely paused for a moment after hearing his words, then nodded. "I see. In that case, never mind."

He was not willing!

At that moment, Lü Yang’s feelings were suddenly a little complicated.

Because he understood:

Chong Guang’s appearance might have been frightening, and he had even found his avatar out of thin air, but the one who was truly cornered and had nowhere to turn was Chong Guang himself.

’There is no [No Heaven] in this life...’

Without the [No Heaven] appearing in the world, Chong Guang could only desperately struggle with the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire. If Lü Yang were in that situation, he knew he would have agreed to any condition.

But Chong Guang didn’t. He refused.

Just like World Purger Fei Xue, he too had his principles. He would ask for help, he would make deals, but his ultimate reliance would always be on himself.

’Of course. To be controlled by another, to pin his hopes on someone else—that was never in Master Chong Guang’s nature...’

In other words, Chong Guang would never accept entering the Myriad-Soul Banner.

If Lü Yang wanted to force him into the banner, he would have to kill him first. But what use was a dead Chong Guang, even as a Banner Spirit? Lü Yang had no shortage of such Banner Spirits.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang actually smiled.

’Now *that’s* the Master Chong Guang I know!’

The next second, just as Chong Guang turned to leave, Lü Yang spoke up. "If you are truly sincere, Daoist, I might have other methods."

Plans never keep up with changes.

According to Lü Yang’s original plan, he had intended to take Master Chong Guang as a Banner Spirit, and then, after successfully Seeking Gold, give him the Fruit of the Seven Luminaries Heaven.

As for the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], it was fine for threatening [Ang Xiao].

But to actually ruin [Ang Xiao]’s Dao path? The risk was too great... Lü Yang had always harbored a deep wariness for this Saint Sect Great Perfected Lord.

But now, he had changed his mind.

With that thought, Lü Yang’s Divine Sense took form, slowly condensing at his fingertip into a shimmering, iridescent Contract, which he gently floated over to Chong Guang.

Then, Lü Yang let out a soft chuckle.

"Daoist, let’s do something big."