Chapter 492: Chapter 492: Ang Xiao: Bhagavat?

Though ambitious, Lü Yang knew his own limits.

If he wanted to compete with Ang Xiao, he would need to at least reach the Late Stage of Golden Core using the Fruit of Celestial Fire—and even that might not be enough. The gap between them was simply that vast.

’No need to rush. One step at a time.’

’Besides, Ang Xiao made his move early. While it looked glorious, it came with consequences... At the very least, it’ll probably be very difficult for him to interfere with the Current World again!’

At this very moment, the Perfected Lords of the world were perhaps still reeling from the shock of Ang Xiao single-handedly overpowering all his rivals. To Lü Yang, however, who was intimately familiar with Ang Xiao’s trump cards, it was a different story. Yes, Ang Xiao’s power was certainly shocking, but the more shocking it appeared, the easier he was to deal with.

’He is, after all, trapped in the Netherworld!’

Or rather, Ang Xiao had willingly trapped himself in the Netherworld for the sake of his own Dao path. Under such circumstances, it was practically guaranteed he could never walk out of there.

And now, his Earth-Walking Avatar had been destroyed by his own hand.

The Primal Daoist Evil had established No Heaven, the hidden threat of Summon had been personally removed by Lü Yang, Master Chong Guang had yet to attempt Seeking Gold, and Fortune had already met a sudden death.

What did Ang Xiao have left now?

’The one who’s truly in a tight spot is him!’

’After this wave of glory passes, the only window he’ll have to connect with the Current World is that small Grotto Heaven Fragment that I have sealed.’

Soon, Lü Yang had sorted out his thoughts.

Indeed, Ang Xiao’s decisiveness had allowed him to avoid a future where he lost everything, but it had only managed to secure him a safety net.

’He snatched the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth and the Fruit of Pewter Metal into the Netherworld, allowing him to gather Three Elements... This way, even if I reverse the Earth of Chen again, he won’t drop from the Late Stage of Golden Core. Although reversing the Earth of Chen can still be used to threaten him, he now has room to negotiate.’

If he fell from the Late Stage of Golden Core, Ang Xiao would undoubtedly die.

His ability to hide in the Netherworld relied entirely on his Late Stage of Golden Core Cultivation combined with the Emperor Fruit, the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood. Without his Cultivation, he definitely wouldn’t be able to stay hidden.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang felt it was a pity.

After all, this had been a potential method to quickly deal with Ang Xiao without a fight, but it was now ruined because of Ang Xiao’s decisive action.

’From this perspective, Ang Xiao’s Realm isn’t actually stable.’

How did other Golden Core Perfected Lords break through to the Late Stage? They would find like-minded Daoists and match multiple Fruits with each other—it was essentially a cooperative effort.

But Ang Xiao’s method was one of sole dominion.

By reversing the Earth of Chen, he made it impossible for anyone to achieve the corresponding Fruit, indirectly seizing it for himself. One had to admit, this method was actually quite brilliant.

Other cultivators at the Late Stage of Golden Core all needed to find like-minded Daoists.

But if their partners betrayed them and no longer lent their support, their Realms would immediately plummet... But what if one operated according to Ang Xiao’s method?

The answer was: it was foolproof!

To undo the reversal of the Earth of Chen, one must become a Perfected Lord of the corresponding Fruit. But to become that Perfected Lord, one must obtain the un-reversed Earth of Chen... The two were mutually contradictory, a fundamentally impossible task. A Late Stage of Golden Core achieved this way could be said to have no flaws whatsoever!

—However, the best-laid plans often go awry.

Ang Xiao’s method was perfect, but the appearance of one person left a stain on his blueprint, creating a vulnerability.

Fortune.

’Well, you couldn’t really call it a vulnerability. Ang Xiao probably had Fortune completely under his thumb. He just never expected me to show up and throw a wrench in the works...’

The vulnerability left by Fortune was insignificant.

However, the existence of Lü Yang, combined with Progenitor Tingyou’s Fake Golden Position Method, tore that vulnerability wide open, turning it into a fatal wound.

At this thought, Lü Yang took out the Grotto Heaven Fragment from his banner.

But after a moment’s thought, he didn’t rush to unseal it. Instead, he first picked out an unlucky soul and used Puppet to turn him into a marionette.

Immediately after, Lü Yang took out the Myriad-Soul Banner.

"You all, go with him."

Nine Banner Spirits emerged one after another. Blessed by the Incense of the Seven Luminaries Heaven, their Positions soared, and they instantly transformed into nine figures at Foundation Establishment Perfection, landing behind the unlucky fellow.

Then, Lü Yang had the unlucky fellow hide the nine Incense Fire Gods and leave the East.

’It’s Ang Xiao, after all. Better to be safe.’

Only after the unlucky fellow entered Jiangnan did he have him temporarily undo the seal on the Grotto Heaven Fragment, intending to have a talk with Ang Xiao.

"SHIIIIING!"

In the next instant, Lü Yang felt a fatal crisis wash over him, as if an Enchanted Sword hanging above his head was about to lop it off.

But just as quickly, the sense of crisis came to a sudden halt.

"Hm...?"

A soft, questioning sound was heard, followed by a moment of silence. Then, Ang Xiao’s figure emerged from within the Grotto Heaven Fragment.

His face was a mask of exasperation:

"My young friend, you are a bit too cautious. Was that really necessary?"

In that instant, if Lü Yang had been standing before him—even if it wasn’t his real body but a remotely controlled avatar—he could have dealt with Lü Yang directly!

Because the source of the crisis Lü Yang felt was the very same sword strike unleashed earlier by True Monarch Gangxing of the Sword Pavilion. Ang Xiao had hidden that strike away, but it had not disappeared. As long as Ang Xiao wished it, he could make that slash manifest again in the Current World at any time, and for his own use!

The power of a single slash from a Late-stage Golden Core Great True Monarch went without saying.

One strike was enough. Even if it hit an avatar, the attack could follow the connection and strike the main body directly. Ang Xiao had hidden this slash away precisely for this purpose.

His original intention was to deliver a devastating blow to the mastermind who had schemed against him.

Unfortunately, Lü Yang was too cautious.

The puppet controlled via Puppet had no karmic links to his real body. Even if it were slain, it would be of no great consequence to Lü Yang.

Ang Xiao had noticed this as well.

Of course, he hadn’t discovered Puppet; he had simply realized that the puppet was not connected to Lü Yang’s real body, which was why he had given up at the last second.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang was sneering inwardly:

’Ha! I knew it!’

’That old bastard was really trying to screw me over. Good thing I’m quick-witted!’

In the next instant, Lü Yang used Puppet to control the puppet, which said in a low voice, "Senior’s divine might is unparalleled. In your presence, one can never be too cautious."

As the words fell, the two of them met each other’s gaze.

’Little fox!’

’Old beast!’

Their expressions shifted, but neither spoke first. Both understood the importance of taking the initiative; in a situation like this, whoever spoke first would be on the back foot.

But Lü Yang didn’t just wait idly. He silently summoned the nine Incense Fire Gods he had brought with him. He then combined them, and a moment later, the nine Incense Fire Gods transformed into a majestic hall that rose from the ground. It was none other than the Yama Hall, and it radiated an oppressive Qi trace.

’This is...’

Instantly, Ang Xiao’s expression changed. With his level of Cultivation and shrewdness, just seeing the Yama Hall was enough for him to deduce the rest of the information.

"...It was you."

A second later, Ang Xiao let out a long breath. "You killed Fortune. You have his Gold Attribute. Can you now perform a Fake Holding of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire?"

Ang Xiao finally understood.

Besides that, there was a sense of relief, like having survived a disaster... It was a good thing he had reacted quickly. If he had really let the other party perform the Fake Holding of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, he would have been finished!

’So that’s it... That was the source of my sense of crisis.’

Thinking of this, a sense of indescribable amazement rose in Ang Xiao’s heart. He could naturally tell what it meant for Lü Yang to have accomplished this much:

’There’s no Perfected Lord backing this person at all!’

’He’s just a Foundation Establishment cultivator... yet he somehow pierced my secrets. With a deliberate plot against an unsuspecting target, he, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, almost destroyed my thousand-year stratagem!’

’But how could that be possible? A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could he see through my Veil of the Trees? And how did he know Summon was my backup plan? After thinking it through, there was only one possibility...’

The next second, Ang Xiao suddenly became reserved.

He cautiously glanced at the impassive Lü Yang. Then, lowering his voice and evening his tone, he uttered a single, probing word:

"Bhagavat?"