Scheming
Jin Buhuan's shout had just been uttered when he suddenly felt a chill.
He was not surprised but delighted.
This coolness was the effect of my father's gaze.
Sure enough, he suddenly felt a pulling sensation, and his vision blurred. In front of him appeared a man with a blurry and constantly changing face, as well as the Green Mountain God's fierce tiger form that was hundreds of miles tall.
"Greetings, Father! Greetings, Devouring Sky Swallowing Demon Lord!" Jin Buhuan hurriedly bowed, his enormous tiger body mimicking human gestures as he made a bowing gesture.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord stepped forward, then reached out to support Jin Buhuan, saying, "Nephew, there's no need for such formalities. Let's get down to business. You just came from the Sacred Flame Realm. What was the situation inside?"
Upon hearing this, Jin Buhuan glanced at his father beside him.
But then the image began to collapse, and soon transformed into a burly man with a tiger's head and a human body. He was strong and muscular, with tiger whiskers and round eyes. He was extremely robust, but he was wearing an elegant robe, which covered up his fierce aura and made him look somewhat refined.
"Speak frankly when the Demon Lord asks a question," said the Green Mountain God.
Upon hearing this, Jin Buhuan cupped his hands and said, "Demon Lord, Father, Li Qi is currently staying in the Sacred Flame Realm. He is still accompanied by that fifth-rank official, but he has not made any preparations or arrangements."
"No preparation or setup? They're so confident? Or is it just that you didn't see the setup they made?" Green Mountain God frowned, clearly somewhat disbelieving.
"Father, it's absolutely true. During my imprisonment, although I couldn't move, that fifth-rank official hardly moved either. I saw her hardly move at all. Every day, besides cultivating, she would Li Qi a terminal, but I couldn't hear the details of their conversation, so I don't know what they discussed," Jin Buhuan said quickly.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord then spoke up, "Nephew, you may not know the power of a fifth-grade being. If he has practiced illusion techniques, then what you see is probably all what they want you to see. Your perception is no longer up to you."
"Of course I know that, but from what I've observed, those fifth-rank cultivators practice the methods of Daoism, which emphasize seeking the truth and returning to the source. Although they don't talk much, often only uttering a single sentence every few weeks, their words are truthful and they never tell a lie. I think they can be trusted," Jin Buhuan then said.
"The methods of cultivation in Daoism? What else did you see? What were the specific details? What unusual phenomena occurred during her cultivation?" the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord pressed.
This might allow us to deduce some of the other party's background.
For example, Daoist True Person never speak falsehoods.
In a duel between two generals, the side that knows the other's strengths and weaknesses has at least a 30% higher chance of winning.
"It is a Daoist method, and a legitimate one at that, unlike the wild Daoist I've seen before. Her method was extremely profound; I couldn't discern its origins, but I could vaguely sense the immortal energy within it. It definitely comes from a method of some great grotto-heaven. Demon Lord, please take a look," Jin Buhuan said.
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and a variety of mixed energies appeared in his palm. These energies began to circulate, and they were the aura around him and the strange phenomena that arose when he clumsily imitated Shen Shuibi's energy circulation.
However, in Jin Buhuan's hands, countless yin Yin Qi were generated, and then they revolved around a certain lunar cycle.
That is the path of the moon, a branch in the middle of the great path of the sun and moon.
"Wait, this aura... it feels a little familiar." The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord frowned.
Then, he personally took action, simulating Jin Buhuan, to familiarize himself with the flow of energy and try to deduce the Cultivation Method and Dao Lineage within.
Green Mountain God Jin Chi wasn't good at this kind of thing, so he just watched from the sidelines.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord began to push back the extremely blurry aura in Jin Buhuan's hand.
This is not just imitation, but deduction, constantly tracing back from this aura, trying to imitate the 'original'.
This is an ability similar to divination.
The ability to deduce the original state of extremely incomplete clues, descriptions, or even hearsay and a tiny bit of information.
Ordinary people can also do this. For example, many constables have this ability. They only need a few vague descriptions of an eyewitness to draw the fugitive's appearance, and they can achieve an 80-90% similarity.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord began his deductions.
But then he saw the energy in his hand gradually change in the direction of Daoism, and even begin to have the air of an immortal, gradually becoming unfathomable, and reaching the realm of "quiet inaction, forgetting one's form".
Soon, the Taiyin Qi in his hand gradually transformed into a Yin circle, which began to rotate in a mysterious arc.
Under the influence of the moon, one finds tranquility and detachment, cleansing oneself of desires.
However, when the simulation reached this point, the Taiyin in his hand suddenly became unstable, as if it were about to explode, bumping and twisting, even bending and folding, turning into a strange shape.
This is a simulation of the Dao going out of control and unable to operate perfectly, causing the Qi to also go out of control. However, this is only a simulation, so it will not cause any damage or trouble to the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord.
When the simulation reached this level, that cycle of Taiyin (the Moon) was destroyed.
"... This is... somewhat familiar." The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord rubbed his chin and said.
The Green Mountain God then asked, "How many parts of the simulation are correct?"
"At most half a percent, or even less. This Cultivation Method is incredibly exquisite. With my level, a fifth-grade aura, I can at least deduce a 30-40% similarity. 30-40% is enough to barely discern some Divine Ability, but this... I can't see through it," said the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord.
"Not being able to see through it is also an answer. This is probably Cultivation Method of grade three or higher, which means that the other party does indeed have a powerful background," said the Green Mountain God.
"If they truly have a powerful background, why would they bother vying for Sixth-Rank World that has already been claimed by others? A fifth-grade person with a powerful background wouldn't even look at such a thing. They should be doing what I'm doing," the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord said, shaking his head.
This is indeed a point of contention.
Let's see what the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord does this time.
He used a set of array diagrams to attract several fifth-rank rulers, who were already comparable to the fifth-rank Green Mountain God. Then he spent a hundred years setting up the array diagrams to encompass an entire world group, and then divided it among themselves.
It should be noted that the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord himself benefited from this, including the Fifth Grade World.
A fifth-ranked member of a normal, powerful force would do the same.
Rushing into someone else's territory and seizing a Sixth-Rank World seems abnormal and inconsistent with a fifth-grade status and strength. Moreover, it would create enmity with other fifth-grade individuals, making it a huge loss.
What's the point? Why do it?
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord couldn't understand it.
"There's a possibility... you might say that Rank 5 isn't capable of developing a world cluster on its own?" Green Mountain God suggested.
"If she can't develop it on her own, then she must have friends, she must have powerful backers, she might even have a third-rank expert supporting her, it's impossible that she can't find anyone." The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord shook his head.
"I mean, assuming she really doesn't have the ability to develop it on her own, and can't find any friends, or even... no one is willing to support her?" Green Mountain God said.
"Hmm, if that's the case? Where can we find such a person?" the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord wondered.
"I observed the Demon Lord's deductions, and although he could only deduce less than half of the characteristics, some of them did coincide with the information I had received in the past," the Green Mountain God said thoughtfully.
"The information I received in the past? What information? Why didn't I receive it?" The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord frowned slightly.
"The Demon Lord naturally wouldn't have it. The information I'm referring to was a message that the Wushen Mountain once sent to the rulers of the Baiyue kingdoms and the leaders of many forces. It happened to concern the matter of the Sun and Moon Path. Since the Demon Lord was excluded by the Baiyue, the Wushen Mountain naturally wouldn't send you the message. No one else would dare to risk offending the Demon Lord by informing him, which is why the Demon Lord is unaware of it," Green Mountain God explained.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord was even more confused. "Too many people have ventured onto the Great Sun and Moon Path, what good will it do to investigate this?"
"Look, in the Human Path world, there are Yin -Yin-Yang School and Demon Race, such as the Great Historian. The Shaman Path also has the Golden Crow and Jade Toad clans who are skilled in this art. Even the true dragons have individuals who are skilled in chasing the sun and moon to influence the tides. Furthermore, the Buddhist sect has the Sun and Moon Lamp Buddha lineage, and the Long Āgama Sutra even includes the sun and moon within the scope of Mount Sumeru. The divine path has a special Yang Spirit and Yin Spirit, each in charge of their own affairs. They all take this very seriously. If you want to trace this path, the scope will be too vast."
Yes, the Sun and Moon Path is an extremely important road, and many Dao Lineage have a need for it.
In the Human Path, Yin-Yang School, School of Names, and even agricultural schools all require the Sun and Moon Path to establish 'rules' and use them as markers.
The Grand Historian among the Shaman Path is in charge of the six classics of establishing the state. He has the need to "rectify the year and order events," and therefore needs to use the movement of the sun and moon to regulate the year and arrange the order of events.
In Buddhism, there is also the Buddha of Sun and Moon Lamp, whose light illuminates all worlds and expounds the supreme Dharma. Wherever the light reaches, obstacles and sins are removed, and demonic thoughts are eliminated. It is a model of using the extensive power of the sun and moon to spread the Dharma.
The true dragons also have the saying "two dragons playing with a pearl," which refers to two dragons chasing the moon. That "pearl" is actually the moon.
The Yin Spirit and the Yang Spirit need no further explanation; they are already very famous.
The Demon Race even fought a battle with the Human Race over this matter. In the past, there were ten golden crows in the sky, crossing all the paths of the sun, showing off their power. The human emperor at that time ordered a divine archer, Yi, to shoot down those golden crows, thus ending the Demon Race's idea of monopolizing the paths of the sun.
This thing is incredibly complicated. Everyone wants it, but no one dares to reach out. Whoever makes the first move will inevitably be attacked, so it has remained unresolved until now.
If we truly wanted to investigate by examining the Sun and Moon Path, we would have to search through all the Dao Lineage in the world, which is clearly unrealistic.
Perhaps only a closed-off Dao Lineage like Lingdao hasn't intervened.
"No, no, Demon Lord, consider the direction I mentioned before. It is the Sun and Moon Path, but it has no background. As a fifth-rank being, it cannot develop the world cluster on its own, and there is no longer a powerful figure standing behind it. If these clues are put together, it seems that we can find an answer, right?" Green Mountain God reminded.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord obtained this clue and pondered it carefully.
It is the foundation upon which the Sun and Moon Path.
It has a powerful background and possesses Cultivation Method of grade three or higher.
There is no powerful backer, or rather, the powerful backer is no longer reliable.
One cannot gather a global group on one's own, and one dares not tell others, nor can one even call upon friends.
"Mount Luofu?"
Mount Luofu.
The two demons exchanged a glance and simultaneously gave their answer.
However, the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord spoke in a questioning tone, while the Green Mountain God Jin Chi spoke in a definitive tone.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "It's very possible. If it really is a remnant of Mount Luofu, then everything makes sense."
Just then, the little tiger Jin Buhuan added from the side, "Father, Demon Lord, I fought that fifth-rank cultivator before, back in Clear Mist City. At that time, she was only a ninth-rank cultivator, yet she managed to hold off several eighth-rank cultivators with her ninth-rank strength. She even created a powerful array to protect Li Qi's rear, which is why I was intercepted by her..."
"You told me about this, so it's basically confirmed, right?" Green Mountain God looked at Sky Swallowing Demon Lord.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord nodded. "Then it's pretty much true. The remnants of Mount Luofu were previously at the ninth rank, but they dropped to the ninth rank due to severe injuries. Now they may have had fortuitous opportunity, or they may have spent all their remaining resources to forcibly restore their cultivation to the fifth rank."
"She had no chance in the world, so she chose to come to the outer realms. And she came so far away, directly leaving the star map territory of the world and extending her reach into this primitive world cluster, only to run into us."
"That's why she's outnumbered and outmatched. She has no choice at all. She might drop from the fifth rank to the ninth rank before her injuries have even healed. These injuries are practically the same as being dead. Even if she can recover, it will take at least several hundred years of recuperation, unless she uses a massive amount of heavenly materials and earthly treasures to forcefully heal her injuries. But if she had that kind of money, she wouldn't need to risk her life in the outer realms."
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord analyzed each point and became increasingly certain of his statement.
To forcibly heal an injury that has dropped to the ninth rank, what level of effort would be required?
It would require the intervention of several Rank 5 experts, along with countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
If it's a spirit beast or Demon Race... how much Imperial Flowing Sap would be needed?
Leaving aside other auxiliary materials and ingredients, the raw materials alone would require at least five or six Taiyin of the same grade to be broken up, right?
With that kind of money, why would you need to covet this Sixth-Rank World?
Therefore, the other party must have nothing at all, and even if they had something in the past, they must have spent it all to heal their wounds.
"The remnants of Mount Luofu... There's more to this story." The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord smiled, his gaze becoming profound.
"What are your plans, Demon Lord?" Green Mountain God pressed.
The Sky Swallowing Demon Lord said leisurely, "Mountain God, please take my nephew to a safe place first, and then the two of us will go to the Sacred Flame Realm. We can talk in detail on the way. However, Mountain God, you can consider this in advance. Tell me, which side of Wushen Mountain prefers, the remnants of Mount Luofu or the Tang Kingdom?"
The Green Mountain God took Jin Buhuan into his palm, then sealed him with Technique Method and threw him into the outer realm.
This Technique Method can send them to a safe place; there's no need to worry.
Upon hearing the words of the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord, he understood what the other party was thinking.
The destruction of Mount Luofu may be related to the Sun and Moon Path. Although the reason behind it is unknown, the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord is involved in some high-level matters.
He might know something else.