Chapter 272: No Escape!
Chapter 272: No Escape!
What a wretched place—terrible, just terrible!
This was the only thought echoing in Lv Yang's mind. Honestly, he had almost activated the Ten Thousand Lives Scroll through self-destruction moments ago.
'It must be Ang Xiao!'
'Even though I used a clone, I didn't split my Divine Consciousness. Instead, I directly infused my main consciousness into it—yet it became a conduit for the True Monarch to influence me!'
Lv Yang's expression twisted with bitterness. By choosing to control his clone with his primary consciousness rather than fragmenting his Divine Consciousness—a precaution against the clone developing independent betrayal—he had inadvertently created a channel for the True Monarch to strike him from afar.
The realization itself was terrifying enough.
Everything before had felt dreamlike, his decisions and words obscured by a haze. He hesitated even to recall those moments.
'Have I lost my mind?!'
'I actually thought that by coming to the Overseas Dominion and finding the Celestial Vanguard Terrestrial Sha to break through to Mid-Stage Perfect, I could challenge a True Man.'
Was that truly me?
'Forget whether I could win—why fight at all? Why not just use the strength of a True Monarch to crush Foundation Building Mid-Stages and Early-Stages like insects?'
The more Lv Yang pondered, the more his scalp prickled.
Yet soon, a deeper question surfaced: 'Why me? What claim does a mere Foundation Building Mid-Stage cultivator have to warrant such manipulation?'
As the fog of cognition lifted, clarity struck. Ang Xiao's intent became clear—Lv Yang had been forced to seek the Yuan'ci Magnetic Mountain.
'Good thing... good thing!'
His grip tightened on the Sword Core as he recalled his decision to "strengthen his power first." A flicker of relief crossed his eyes.
Old habits die hard.
Even under the True Monarch's influence, his instinct to play it safe had prevailed—seeking Suo Huan to forge Spirit Treasures, an accident that ironically jolted him awake.
'Wait... maybe it wasn't an accident.'
'Would a True Monarch allow such variables to exist?'
Turning to Suo Huan, Lv Yang's voice dropped low: "Fellow Daoist, be honest—do you truly have full confidence in forging these treasures?"
Suo Huan's bitter smile surfaced. "Full confidence? For ordinary Spirit Treasures, yes. But the artifacts you provided—how could I possibly refine them alone? Only a True Monarch's intervention might succeed. At best, we depend nine-tenths on fate."
His voice trailed off.
Lv Yang glanced at the Sword Core again, feeling as though grasping a burning coal. Tossing it away seemed impossible.
Forging dependent on fate unless a True Monarch intervened.
And yet it had succeeded?
Who could believe no True Monarch had interfered? If it was Ang Xiao, why bother freeing them from the haze?
Or perhaps...
'Could there be a second True Monarch?'
'Are Suo Huan's and my experiences just collateral in a duel between True Monarchs?'
Rubbing his aching temples, Lv Yang felt the bitter helplessness of a mortal caught in a storm beyond his control—watching his fate manipulated while unwittingly cheering.
Back when Ultimate Monarch Qingcheng Feixue still roamed freely, would he ever have been reduced to this?
"Senior? Master?"
Zhong Ming's bewildered voice cut through. He glanced between the two men. "Aren't you both heading to the Yuan'ci Magnetic Mountain?"
"Bang!"
Zhong Ming's eyes rolled back as he collapsed. Suo Huan remained impassive. "Fellow Daoist, try that sword light on him too."
Shaking his head, Lv Yang replied, "No use. The sword's Divine Essence helps, but his cultivation is too shallow. Though only caught in my wake, the backlash lingers deeper than mine. Unless the True Monarch withdraws their ability or another intervenes, he won't wake."
Silence settled between them.
Lv Yang instinctively calculated their odds, then stopped. What was the point? Any attempt would only be twisted by the True Monarch's design.
'Can we abandon this and return to the Sky-Connecting Sea of Clouds?'
His first impulse was flight. Then cold realization struck—he'd left the Holy Sect unimpeded!
He doubted any True Monarch had missed Ang Xiao's influence on him. Yet he'd exited the Sky-Connecting Sea of Clouds seamlessly, no obstacles. At the time, he'd felt nothing amiss. Now, the implications chilled him. Had the Holy Sect... relinquished him?
Unsurprising, really. To most, he was a ruined True Man—his talent meaningless, his existence expendable.
'If greater priorities exist, sacrificing me is only natural.'
'But what greater purpose? What role must I play? What effect does the True Monarch behind the scenes desire?'
His head snapped toward Suo Huan, who turned simultaneously, a bitter smirk tugging his lips. Their minds raced in unison.
'Just like in the Myriad Martial Realm—I was secondary. Suo Huan was the target!'
'Ang Xiao's true aim was Suo Huan, manipulating me to lead him to the Yuan'ci Magnetic Mountain? But Celestial Vanguard Terrestrial Sha benefits him not at all.'
Under the sword's glow, Lv Yang's thoughts crystallized.
His gaze dropped to the Sword Core.
'Forging this blade required secret True Monarch intervention. And because of it, Suo Huan and I awoke!'
'I see! That's my purpose!'
"My role was to awaken Suo Huan!"
Understanding dawned in his eyes. "Wrong! All wrong! The hand behind the scenes isn't Ang Xiao!"
Previously, he'd believed Ang Xiao lured them into a trap, only for a mysterious True Monarch to rescue them. Now the truth reversed.
Ang Xiao was the rescuer!
'Suo Huan was trapped, unaware. Ang Xiao used me to draw him out, forging this Sword Core to break the haze.'
Perfect sense.
His expression soured: "If true... we're now bound together."
The Sword Core's Divine Essence freed them both. Separation would mean Suo Huan relapsing. Would Ang Xiao allow his departure?
'If my guess holds, I've already drawn deadly enemies... the Four Seas Sect! Killing Dragon King Chong Ying (True Dragon) hid the Karmic Causality beneath the Ultimate Heaven Instrument. But now? If they calculate it, stranded here, only Suo Huan protects me. Fleeing means death by dragon kin!'
What "Karmic Causality"? Just another name for a True Monarch Duel!
Lv Yang studied Suo Huan.
"Senior... what exactly did you do?"
Suo Huan glanced back, bitterness deepening. "Seeking a path to survive. Alas... someone denies even this."
"My apologies for dragging you into this."
"Don't mention it."
The die was cast. No blame served. They were now grasshoppers on a single blade of grass—bound together.
(End of Chapter)
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