Chapter 752 - 747: The Great Show Begins
The Nourishing Life Master.
Inside the colossal pagoda, amidst rows upon rows of bookshelves, the Old Dragon Monarch was immersed in an ocean of knowledge, constantly flipping through the vast, sea-like collection of Fruit Position Books.
But just then, he suddenly felt a stir in his heart.
’...Is this my imagination?’
Just a moment ago, he had discovered that the Jade Scroll he kept most deeply hidden—the one used to contact True Monarch Gangxing in times of need—had suddenly trembled.
But looking at it now, it seemed as if nothing had happened.
It was as if it had been a mere illusion.
However, he soon felt the same sensation again. He subconsciously began to divine the karmic links; for a Perfected Lord, this was the most secretive method of communication.
If the Great Net of Karma Links was a massive database, a Foundation-Stage Cultivator would have junior access to view a small portion of the data, and a Perfected Lord would have senior access to view most of it. Then there was a top-tier level of access: the ability to call upon the data and leave a message directly within the database.
Only someone with the cultivation of a Great True Monarch Level could achieve this.
In other words, anyone who could leave a message on the Great Net of Karma Links—even anchoring karmic links for him to eventually decipher—had to be a Great Perfected Lord of the current age.
Who else could it be besides True Monarch Gangxing?
’Hm? No, that’s not right. It feels like there’s someone else... Oh, right, right, there’s no one. Heh, it seems I’m really getting old. My mind has been getting so cluttered lately.’
The Old Dragon Monarch’s eyes were clouded, with a faint haze swirling within them, but he was neither aware of it himself nor was it noticed by others. He remained focused on the matter at hand.
A classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees.
Soon, a message materialized before the Old Dragon Monarch’s eyes:
"Dragon Palace. Let’s meet."
Seeing this message, the Old Dragon Monarch’s anxious heart was finally put at ease. He silently rebuked himself for being overly cautious and almost missing something important.
........
「Overseas, in the Dragon Palace.」
As the Old Dragon Monarch’s consciousness descended, a dragon-shaped statue deep within the Dragon Palace suddenly came to life, its jade eyes becoming nimble and alert.
’Sigh, a pity my true body can’t leave.’
The Old Dragon Monarch sighed internally. Ang Xiao and Lü Yang were guarding him so strictly that he clearly wasn’t allowed to run around. He could only make do with an avatar for now...
"Daoist, it has been a long time."
"...HISS!"
The sudden voice made the Old Dragon Monarch suck in a sharp breath. He felt extremely disoriented, inwardly cursing the poor quality of his avatar and its weak sensory abilities.
If his true body were here, it would be impossible for someone to get this close without him noticing. For instance, when Lü Yang came to the Dragon Palace before, he had detected a clue despite the Profound Mysterious effect of Night Exorcism obscuring his figure. His avatar, however, was clearly not up to the task in this regard.
Then, he turned around.
What he saw was a refined, middle-aged man with a sickly look on his face, yet the Sword Intent emanating from him made the Old Dragon Monarch take notice.
It was True Monarch Gangxing!
Seeing him, the Old Dragon Monarch hastily bowed. "Greetings, Daoist. My true body is currently unable to appear. May I ask why you have summoned me?"
"For the Nourishing Life Master!"
True Monarch Gangxing gave a cold smile. "Ang Xiao came to see me earlier. I heard that you, Old Dragon Monarch, are also inside the Nourishing Life Master, where the opportunity lies?"
At these words, the Old Dragon Monarch was greatly alarmed.
’So fast!?’
’The Saint Sect is acting far too efficiently! I was still hesitating about whether to betray them and how to do it, but they’ve already started to implement their plan!’
At this thought, the Old Dragon Monarch hesitated no longer. After all, siding with the Sword Pavilion was a necessary choice he had already made after long deliberation. He quickly said in a low voice, "Daoist, do not fall for it. It’s true that there’s an opportunity within the Nourishing Life Master, but it is also a trap set by Ang Xiao to ambush and kill you!"
"Besides him, there is also a mysterious Saint Sect True Monarch, the one who previously controlled the Dao of Arcane Body..."
"Say no more. I am already aware of the situation."
True Monarch Gangxing said faintly, "However, this is an open conspiracy. I have no choice but to go... If that weren’t the case, why would I have made a special trip to find you?"
The Old Dragon Monarch immediately understood:
"Rest assured, Daoist. I have always been loyal to the Sword Pavilion. I have even kept the inheritance of the Fruit of Celestial Fire, just waiting for a chance to be of service to you!"
"Very good."
Only then did True Monarch Gangxing nod. He said coldly, "In that case, I need you to launch a sneak attack on that Mad Woman, Fei Xue, at the critical moment."
"As for the exact timing, I will give you a signal through the Great Net of Karma Links."
"...A sneak attack on Fei Xue?"
Hearing this, the Old Dragon Monarch’s brow furrowed, and he seemed to fall into deep thought. After a long moment, he nodded with a solemn expression. "Alright. I will act when the time is right."
Following that, the two discussed the details for a while longer.
A moment later, the Old Dragon Monarch dispersed his avatar. True Monarch Gangxing, meanwhile, drifted away, making his way to a remote island.
"WHOOSH!"
In the next second, the refined man who had been emanating Sword Intent collapsed and scattered, transforming into a billow of smoke and revealing the form of the Earth-Walking Avatar.
"I truly underestimated you, Daoist!"
Ang Xiao’s tone carried a hint of surprise as he looked Lü Yang up and down. "I didn’t expect you to possess Sword Intent as well, Daoist. That made this trip much easier."
"It was a small matter, not worth mentioning." Lü Yang’s tone was calm. "Your methods are more profound, Senior. Though both were avatars, you were able to use the Earth-Walking Avatar to exert nearly your full Divine Effect, while the Old Dragon Monarch’s spiritual perception was greatly diminished. If not for that, it would have been impossible to deceive him so easily this time."
After speaking, he gave Ang Xiao another deep look.
"The Veil of the Trees... It truly lives up to its reputation. Your development of it, Senior, is nothing short of masterful. May I ask how you managed to do it?"
The Old Dragon Monarch was no minor figure.
Ang Xiao’s cultivation had even dropped to the Middle Stage of Golden Core, yet despite this, he could still influence the Old Dragon Monarch’s judgment out of thin air.
’If I didn’t wield the highly specific Divine Effect of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, could Ang Xiao also easily influence my judgment of things?’
Faced with Lü Yang’s admiring yet wary gaze, Ang Xiao simply smiled.
"You flatter me, Daoist."
He didn’t answer Lü Yang’s question, instead changing the subject. "I previously asked you to go to the Saint Sect to invite Fei Xue and Hai Guang. Did they agree to act?"
"It’s all been arranged."
Lü Yang didn’t press the issue, smiling faintly. "No Perfected Lord would miss the opportunity within the Nourishing Life Master. They can join the ambush at any time."
"Good!"
Ang Xiao nodded. "With this, all preparations are complete. All that’s left is for Gangxing’s side to enter the Nourishing Life Master and obtain the Supreme Fruit Position Book."
........
「The Void Sea of Light.」
The real True Monarch Gangxing found a Little Realm Heaven and spent a full three months recuperating before he finally recovered from his sickly state.
"Haaah! Finally..."
True Monarch Gangxing exhaled deeply. Never before had he felt that his current, shackled state could drive him to the brink of madness.
When he had no other options, he had even grown accustomed to this half-dead, crippled state. But ever since learning of the Nourishing Life Master’s existence and the opportunity within, he could no longer tolerate it. To remain at the Middle Stage of Golden Core for even one more minute was a form of torture.
’The Celestial Human Residual Consciousness, the opportunity of a Master of Dao...’
True Monarch Gangxing sensed the void and quickly locked onto the location of the Nourishing Life Master. The Guardian’s Seal on his body also brought him a clear understanding:
’I’m not lacking anything now!’
Karmic links, coordinates—he had everything he needed. With a single thought, he could enter the Nourishing Life Master, obtain the Supreme Fruit Position Book, and solve all his problems!
’It’s fraught with danger.’
Although hope was right before his eyes, he remained clear-headed. He knew that within the Nourishing Life Master, a trap designed to encircle and kill him had already been laid.
It was just waiting for him to jump in.
However, just as Lü Yang had judged, this was an open conspiracy. He had to go to the Nourishing Life Master, and he had to step into the trap. Life and death would depend on their respective skills.
’So be it.’
Thinking of this, True Monarch Gangxing divined the karmic links for a moment longer, then chuckled. "Who is the prey and who is the hunter... that remains to be seen!"
The next second, he took a step forward.
Entering the Nourishing Life Master! The grand show begins!