At the Myriad Changes Society.
Realm Lord Tiantang returned, his aura profound yet restrained, exuding a rich vigor and vitality that commanded yearning admiration.
This was entirely different from the aura of decay that enveloped the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society.
"Greetings, Vice Society Master."
Many Realm Lords bowed in greeting, their eyes filled with awe.
In the Myriad Changes Society of today, the Society Master had gone mad and rarely showed himself to the world.
True authority lay in the hands of the three Vice Society Masters.
Perhaps because they had lived for far too long, two of the Vice Society Masters suffered from mental instability. More importantly, they were steeped in lifeless senility, utterly devoid of the bearing expected of Heaven-Opening experts.
Consequently, the one in the Myriad Changes Society who enjoyed the greatest acclaim at present was none other than Vice Society Master Tiantang.
Realm Lord Tiantang let his gaze fall upon Realm Lord Chunran and said calmly, "In this surprise raid on the White Xuan Palace, your contributions rank among the top three. From now on, you shall serve at Mount Tiantang."
In this scheme and deployment, Realm Lord Chunran had provided intelligence support.
However, this action had also exposed her identity as a double agent.
Continuing to remain in the "Spirit Awakening" project would stir discontent among some members and cause unnecessary trouble, so it was better for her to serve at Mount Tiantang.
"Thank you, Society Master Tiantang." Realm Lord Chunran bowed respectfully, an unwitting trace of admiration showing in her eyes.
Right then, a voice suddenly rang out: "Qi Yuan is still alive."
"Oh? Quite lucky. He carries some fortune with him, after all." Realm Lord Tiantang was not particularly surprised.
Hearing this, Realm Lord Chunran's expression changed slightly.
In this matter, she had done Qi Yuan wrong and harbored a sliver of guilt toward him.
Yet more than that, she had hoped Qi Yuan would never return and instead perish within Fenglingyun.
That way, she could have continued feeling guilty with peace of mind.
And yet, Qi Yuan had not died.
"The Palace Master of the Black Xuan Palace... is dead," the voice continued, carrying a tremor of shock.
The Realm Lords present were all visibly shaken.
The Palace Master of the Black Xuan Palace was a Heaven-Opening Realm titan whose strength was by no means inferior to Realm Lord Tiantang's.
One had to realize that every Heaven-Opening Realm Lord, given sufficient time without anyone to obstruct them, was capable of destroying a small universe.
An expert like the Black Xuan Palace Master, who wielded dozens of Dao Lord true scriptures, was even less ordinary.
Yet he had died in the Palace of All Saints. How could everyone not be astonished?
"Oh? Could an anomaly have occurred with the Buddha corpse, causing a backlash that killed the Black Xuan Palace Master?
"To think this plan yielded such an unexpected pleasant surprise. Splendid, truly splendid.
"For this achievement, I shall record a major merit for myself."
Realm Lord Tiantang beamed, looking immensely pleased and self-satisfied.
Seeing this, the surrounding Realm Lords voiced their congratulations one after another.
The Black Xuan Palace had always been hostile to the Myriad Changes Society.
Slaying the Palace Master of the Black Xuan Palace was an enormous accomplishment, one that might even allow him to assume the seat of Society Master directly.
Right at that moment, a languid voice suddenly sounded beside everyone's ears.
"I suffered an assassination attempt by the Black Xuan Palace. Shouldn't someone offer me an explanation?"
Qi Yuan appeared in his blood-red robe, his expression showing neither sorrow nor joy.
Beside him stood the fat old man, gnashing his teeth in furious indignation.
Upon witnessing this scene, Realm Lord Chunran's heart skipped a beat, and she took a quiet step behind Realm Lord Tiantang.
"Using you as bait to lay a trap against the Black and White Xuan Palaces was my scheme," Realm Lord Tiantang admitted straightforwardly, adding generously, "For this plot, you shall be credited with thirty major merits. Furthermore, these seven Dao Lord true scriptures may be lent to you for perusal."
Hearing this, the Realm Lords present revealed envious looks.
To reap such lavish rewards after facing merely a minor brush with danger was truly enviable.
"Why haven't you thanked the Society Master yet?" a female Realm Lord beside Realm Lord Tiantang said, her tone arrogant and aloof.
"Just this?" Qi Yuan's voice remained calm.
Beside him, the fat old man could not help but snap, "Vice Society Master Tiantang, before formulating a plan to target the Black and White Xuan Palaces, couldn't you have notified Qi Yuan and obtained his consent first? Do you even know what he represents in the Myriad Changes Society?!"
He was furious.
What infuriated him was that Realm Lord Tiantang had designed such a plot without securing their agreement at all, placing Qi Yuan in grave danger.
"If the Society Master had given notice beforehand, the secret might have leaked out and failed to achieve such results," one Realm Lord remarked.
"Haven't you already been compensated?"
"Everything should prioritize the greater good. There is no need to squabble over minor details like this."
These Realm Lords chimed in one after another, most of them taking Realm Lord Tiantang's side.
Evidently, they belonged to Realm Lord Tiantang's faction.
"The greater good?" Qi Yuan stretched his arms lazily. "It has been quite a while since I last heard that phrase. However, your 'greater good' means nothing to me. My greater good... is the only greater good that matters.
"I must be given a satisfactory answer regarding this matter.
"Though I am Lawful Good, even a clay Buddha has a temper."
Granted, being betrayed and plotted against this time had brought more benefits than harm to Qi Yuan.
Even so, he did not appreciate being stabbed in the back.
"What you say is true," Realm Lord Tiantang said at that moment. "At our level of cultivation, morality and the greater good are nothing more than illusions and excuses.
"The reason I could devise this plan without notifying you...
"...is simply that I am stronger than you. Nothing more.
"I am stronger than you, and I possess greater power and authority than you, so I can bully you.
"You do have some strength, so I will not bully you outright; your compensation for this endeavor remains valid.
"It really is that simple.
"As for an explanation? The compensation given to you is my explanation."
Realm Lord Tiantang assumed an aloof, superior posture, not truly taking Qi Yuan seriously at all.
In this Universal Void Realm, there was not a single person truly worthy of his earnest regard.
Even the Society Master, whose strength surpassed his, failed to earn his respect.
After all, if someone who had reached such a realm possessed a mind so fragile and unstable that he wandered in madness, he was simply beneath consideration.
"And what if I am stronger than you?" Qi Yuan asked.
"Then naturally, you may plot against me," Realm Lord Tiantang replied directly.
The air between them was thick with gunpowder.
Seeing this, the other Realm Lords held their tongues.
"How about we trade a few blows to see?" Qi Yuan said.
He was very polite.
If the Myriad Changes Society were a company, Realm Lord Tiantang would be his superior.
Before killing his boss, he still had to solicit his boss's opinion.
"Why not?" Realm Lord Tiantang said, brimming with overbearing confidence.
The others all looked at Qi Yuan with pity.
After all, Realm Lord Tiantang held a purple jade pendant and was considered an absolute powerhouse even among purple jade pendant holders. He was not someone a newcomer like Qi Yuan could challenge.
"Right now?" Qi Yuan asked.
Since the boss had agreed to fight, beating him to death right now shouldn't be an issue, right?
Realm Lord Tiantang's gaze flickered, seemingly hesitating.
Right at that moment, an aged voice suddenly rang out.
"The Myriad Changes Dao Assembly draws near, and the Dao Lord may descend at any moment.
"To rashly start a battle within the Myriad Changes Society at such a time would be disrespectful to the Dao Lord.
"Wait until the assembly concludes before settling your duel."
A petite old man appeared. His back was hunched, and he stood less than five feet tall.
Yet contained within such a small frame was terrifying power.
He spoke to call a halt.
In the Myriad Changes Society, a Dao Lord descended once every epoch to lecture on the Dao, an event known as the Myriad Changes Dao Assembly.
This epoch's assembly could begin at any moment, which meant the Dao Lord's avatar might descend at any time.
A clash between Realm Lords could easily take ten thousand years to decide a victor.
Thus, this old man intervened to prevent Qi Yuan and Tiantang from missing the Dao Lord's descent.
Furthermore, the foundational purpose of the Myriad Changes Society was to discuss the Dao and pursue change.
Igniting strife right before the Dao Lord's arrival was exceedingly unwise.
Upon seeing this newcomer, reverence surfaced in the fat old man's eyes.
"Vice Society Master Shenji, you are awake."
"Greetings, Vice Society Master Shenji."
The other Realm Lords bowed one after another as well.
Vice Society Master Shenji was one of the three Vice Society Masters.
He had lived for an extraordinarily long time, and no one truly knew how many Dao Lord true scriptures he commanded.
Normally, he remained in a muddled stupor, regaining clarity only on rare occasions.
In Realm Lord Tiantang's eyes, this was merely a sign that Vice Society Master Shenji's Dao heart was unstable.
"Since Vice Society Master Shenji has spoken, this battle... shall be postponed," Realm Lord Tiantang replied.
Just as Qi Yuan was about to say something, Vice Society Master Shenji suddenly said, "Don't you wish to visit the other lands of opportunity? How about granting this old man some face by accepting my suggestion? I will help you enter the remaining seven lands of opportunity."
There were thirty-six lands of opportunity in the Universal Void Realm.
Qi Yuan had already visited twenty-two of them.
Seven were held by the Black and White Xuan Palaces, while Qi Yuan had never had the chance to enter the other seven.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked at Vice Society Master Shenji. "Old man, I'll give you this face."
Originally, gaining entry to those seven lands of opportunity would likely have required a heavy price and completing numerous missions for the Myriad Changes Society.
Now, merely delaying his killing of Realm Lord Tiantang for a period granted him access to all seven.
Why not take such a deal?
Realm Lord Tiantang looked at Qi Yuan with a confident demeanor. "Splendid. You can use those seven lands of opportunity to bolster your strength a little. Otherwise... I fear you might lose too quickly, which would render this battle meaningless."
"You really have a foul mouth." Qi Yuan stretched his arms lazily once more.
Had he not promised Vice Society Master Shenji, he feared he might not have held back his strike.
"Qi Yuan, come with me," Vice Society Master Shenji said.
"Sure."
Qi Yuan's figure vanished.
Realm Lord Tiantang's gaze shifted as thoughts churned in his mind.
A strange look crossed the female Realm Lord's eyes. "Vice Society Master Shenji has grown too old. He's gone senile."
The other Realm Lords sighed in agreement.
The current Vice Society Master Shenji was frail with age and feeble in his Dao heart, resembling a Rule Realm or Myriad Things Realm Lord whose divine heart might crumble at any moment.
...
Inside a withered, decaying immortal cave.
Vice Society Master Shenji rested his cheek upon a hand that resembled desiccated tree bark, looking as though he might doze off at any second.
"Old Underpants told me he saw you in the Cosmic Spirit Sea." He opened his eyes, which were heavy with a lifeless aura.
"Old Underpants?" Qi Yuan found the moniker quite distinctive.
"The Society Master. That old fellow who keeps asking where his underpants went." At the mention of this, a rare chuckle crept onto Vice Society Master Shenji's face.
"So it was him," Qi Yuan replied offhandedly.
"Alas... he and I have little time left of being lucid. Who knows when... we will have to step into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm." Vice Society Master Shenji sighed with melancholy.
He had lived for far too long.
In fact, some Dao Lords might not even have lived as long as him.
"You are quite interesting. Though you are as crazy as the rest of us, your true spirit remains lucid and pure. Truly rare... It seems you have a chance to bypass the fourth tier of the Yang God realm and step into the fifth." At this, envy surfaced in Vice Society Master Shenji's eyes.
If one could bypass the fourth tier and step into the fifth, who would willingly let their true spirit fall into dim extinction just to enter the fourth?
"That little fellow Tiantang has some talent, but not much. In this lifetime... he has likely reached his limit.
"Alas, if he ever reached our state, why would he spend every day fussing over trivial matters like wrestling for power?
"However, one of his ancestors was once on good terms with me, so today, this old man put in a few words on his behalf.
"As for whether he can understand it and what he chooses to do, that will depend on his own fortune." Vice Society Master Shenji sighed. "The world is foolish. I view him as green and naive, while he views me as decrepit and senile."
Though many Realm Lords in the Myriad Changes Society believed Realm Lord Tiantang was stronger than the other two Vice Society Masters and would soon surpass the Society Master, in truth, compared to him and the Society Master, Tiantang was as green as a sprout.
Commanding Dao Lord true scriptures could indeed enhance a Heaven-Opening Realm Lord's strength.
Yet Dao Lord true scriptures did not represent everything.
"I feel he has already walked onto the path to his own death," Qi Yuan remarked casually.
"His ancestor's favor has been spent. This old man will not interfere in his life or death again," Vice Society Master Shenji said.
"Old man, are there many people like you in the Universal Void Realm?" Qi Yuan asked.
The Universal Void Realm was vast and boundless, containing far too many uncharted territories.
"Not many. Probably fewer than twenty. And who knows... how many will manage to achieve sudden enlightenment and clarity amidst madness to step into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm." Vice Society Master Shenji let out a long sigh.
This sigh was laced with helplessness and despair.
Who among those who reached their realm was not a peerless prodigy who had lived through magnificent, earth-shaking mythological sagas?
Yet at the culmination of the cultivation path, they had to step into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, their true spirits sinking into extinction.
Many cultivators likely found such an outcome impossible to accept.
Perhaps it was because they saw clearly the despair of the cultivation path, or perhaps because they were still desperately searching for a way forward, that they grew mad and unstable, retaining only fleeting moments of lucidity.
When the day came that they could no longer awaken, it meant they would either let their true spirits be extinguished to enter the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, or perish entirely.
Either outcome... ended in the obliteration of the true spirit and death.
Only by stepping into the fifth tier of the Yang God realm could one find a sliver of hope and a way to live.
Yet that path of survival was only for oneself.
For the beings within their Dao heritage and universe, the future was already set in stone, bound into an endless cycle.
"Strength itself is a calamity," Vice Society Master Shenji lamented.
"How interesting. I once heard those words from the mouth of the Great Tribulation," Qi Yuan said.
During the apocalyptic calamity that destroyed the Canglan Realm, he had heard the Great Tribulation say that strength was a calamity.
"The fourth tier of the Yang God realm is a dead end. Do not enter it. The fifth tier still holds a sliver of hope.
"In less than a hundred years, the Shamanic Dao Lord may descend. You can discuss the Dao with Him to seek a way to step into the fifth tier of the Yang God realm." Vice Society Master Shenji looked at Qi Yuan, his aged eyes brimming with envy.
He could not enter the fifth tier of the Yang God realm.
If a junior could achieve it, he would naturally be delighted.
As he spoke, the clarity in his eyes gradually clouded over, and his entire demeanor descended into madness once more.
"Who are you?!"
"Old dog, kneel before me!"
In his madness, he had drawn infinitely close to the fourth tier of the Yang God realm.
"Old man, I'm taking my leave." Qi Yuan slipped away at once.
After all, when encountering a lunatic, one had to keep their distance.
Even though he had a certificate himself, he had no desire to hang around a genuine mental patient.
Trading magic for magic like this was simply too much of a losing deal.
Before leaving, he tossed out one last remark:
"Old man, if I ever open an asylum in the future, remember to drop by and show your support!"
Chapter 581