A Sudden Malice

"Lord Lu Ya?" Qu Jiuniang asked, half doubtful and half bewildered.

She'd heard the name Lu Ya mentioned by people in the Investiture of the Gods World while completing a Reincarnation mission, but he was basically a character from a "story." She didn't know his exact realm or what abilities he possessed. She'd only heard that he'd made quite a splash during the Investiture of the Gods War, an outstanding figure just below several famous bigwigs.

Qu Jiuniang simply couldn't accept that such a person had suddenly turned out to be the Lord of Six Paths Samsara. In her mind, Six Paths was powerful and omnipotent, and she'd assumed he would be a major figure on the level of the Three Pure Ones, Amitabha Buddha, or the Heavenly Emperor—not some inexplicable nobody.

Great Green Root shook its branches, seemingly nodding emphatically. "Which survivor of the previous era is an easy mark? Besides, Lord Lu Ya was the son of the ancient Haotian Shangdi, the essence of the Li Fire. He knows many hidden secrets and commands numerous secret arts. He's one of the foremost figures beneath the various Sect Masters. And besides, besides, after all these years, no one knows what realm he's reached. Perhaps he's nearing the 'unknowable and undiscussable' Dao Fruit Realm? I was afraid, and didn't dare cross such a big shot. That's why I kept concealing the truth."

"Now that Master has entered Jade Void Palace and obtained the Heart of Origin Seal, with the Sect Master Great Lord's influence clearly behind him, I finally dared to risk revealing it."

It looked as though it expected praise for its service. There wasn't the slightest trace of guilt or unease over all its previous lies and omissions. Meng Qi could only marvel at its shamelessness.

"The unknowable