Chapter 2169: Each Sets a Trap

"Commander Wu said it was originally just a fragment, but in the Emperor's hands, it suddenly became whole?"

He Lingchuan withdrew his hand, and the godhead floated steadily in mid-air. The golden serpent continued to devour its own tail.

"Exactly. It's fortunate that it was originally a fragment; otherwise, its power would be too immense, and the Lu clan's Immortal Ancestor wouldn't have been able to use it at all."

Even Wang Xingyi couldn't contain his curiosity. "What exactly is this?"

"A godhead."

Wang Xingyi was visibly startled. "A godhead? The so-called godhead of the Sky-demons?"

He was well-informed and experienced, but had never seen a godhead before.

This was not something from the mortal realm, nor would Immortals or Demonic Immortals form such a thing.

Wang Xingyi, with his steady temperament, quickly recovered from his surprise and looked up. "Godheads come in various forms, so what is this one?"

"Destiny." He Lingchuan also looked at the golden serpent holding the ring. "There were once three Holy Gods in the Demon Realm, and this is the godhead of the Ancient God of Destiny."

"The Destiny Godhead?" Wang Xingyi's breathing hitched slightly. "Wait a moment, isn't the Destiny Godhead in Nairuo Heaven's possession?"

This secret, the Decision Makers of Ling Mountain naturally had the right to know.

"The Destiny Godhead split into two fragments: one was acquired by the Lu clan's Immortal Ancestor, and the other by Nairuo Heaven. Nairuo Heaven then proclaimed itself the 'God of Destiny' based on it," He Lingchuan said calmly. "It wasn't until I returned to my ancestral clan that the two fragments reunited and became whole again."

Wang Xingyi pondered the meaning of his words, and it wasn't hard to deduce. "Are you saying that Nairuo Heaven's fragment has been in your possession all along?"

"Grand Tutor Wang should already be aware of the relationship between Nairuo Heaven and me, shouldn't he?"

Wang Xingyi did not explicitly state it, but vaguely replied, "I'm unaware of the specifics."

He Lingchuan's father, He Chunhua, had destroyed Yuanjianshen. Ling Mountain naturally knew that behind He Chunhua stood Nairuo Heaven, the Great Celestial God of Xaritala.

He Chunhua, who had once been utterly destitute, how could he have obtained such extensive assistance from Nairuo Heaven? Sky-demons do nothing without benefit, and Wang Xingyi easily thought of the phrase 'Child of Destiny.'

Nairuo Heaven was the 'God of Destiny,' and He Lingchuan was the Lu clan's Child of Destiny, making him seem like a divine vessel tailor-made for Nairuo Heaven. Therefore, the bargaining chip He Chunhua used to impress Nairuo Heaven was very likely his own son!

Nairuo Heaven wouldn't have been interested in anything else.

However, if Wang Xingyi were to admit he knew, he would first have to acknowledge a premise, namely, that he was aware He Lingchuan was the Lu clan's 'Child of Destiny.'

He had spent a lifetime in politics; how seasoned he was! He figured all this out in an instant.

He would not easily fall into the trap He Lingchuan had casually set for him.

He Lingchuan smiled, understanding the reason for Wang Xingyi's evasiveness, and thus spoke evasively in return. "In any case, Nairuo Heaven's godhead fragment unexpectedly fell into my possession, and it just so happened that Lu Zhensheng used the other fragment of the Destiny Godhead to conspire against me. Wouldn't that be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—never to get it back?"

As for how Nairuo Heaven's 'accident' occurred, he did not elaborate. But Wang Xingyi recalled recent rumors from the Demon Realm claiming Nairuo Heaven seemed to have lost some of its divine power, and it was quite possible this was the reason:

Its godhead had been taken by He Lingchuan.

Though this sounded incredible.

Wang Xingyi said seriously, "How does Your Majesty prove this is the Destiny Godhead?"

"No proof is needed," He Lingchuan crossed his legs. "Its specific type of godhead is irrelevant. The crucial point is that I was able to make the Lu clan's lost treasure whole again!"

He had once again sidestepped the self-incrimination trap Wang Xingyi had set for him.

"Through the generations, any descendant of the Lu clan could confirm their identity as the Child of Destiny by passing the godhead fragment's authentication. I went a step further and personally made the godhead whole." He Lingchuan snapped his fingers, and the golden serpent ring floated over to Wang Xingyi. "If it didn't recognize me, how could it have come into my possession? Grand Tutor Wang, with all your knowledge, have you ever seen a godhead that could be suppressed and taken by a practitioner?"

Of course, Wang Xingyi could not; he couldn't even touch the object.

Naturally, he had come prepared today. At this, he said, "I have never seen a godhead, but someone else has."

He Lingchuan only asked him, "As long as this is confirmed to be a godhead, will Mu Kingdom have no further objection regarding the ownership of Bylieh?"

Wang Xingyi answered very directly, "A part of this godhead is the Lu clan's heirloom, specifically used for authentication. As long as Your Majesty gains the recognition of this godhead, our Great Mu will acknowledge your right to succeed as the Lu clan's patriarch!"

He Lingchuan smiled, and Wang Xingyi also smiled. In political negotiations, both were seasoned veterans.

He Lingchuan generously said, "Please."

So Wang Xingyi took out a statue from his sleeve, uttered, "Pardon my impoliteness," and then placed it on the table facing east.

At first glance, it looked like a clay doll crafted by a folk artisan, its surface worn with age, and even a bit of moss growing on its neck.

Wang Xingyi leaned down and scooped a small handful of damp earth from the garden, rolled it into a small ball, and gently placed it in the outstretched palm of the clay doll.

Then, Wang Xingyi bowed to it and announced loudly, "Welcome, Venerable Kungen."

No sooner had he spoken than the clay doll's palms suddenly closed, clutching the mud ball. It also opened its eyes and turned its head to look at the two men.

During this process, dust and dirt crumbled from its entire body, as if an outer, weathered clay shell was shedding, revealing a brightly colored figurine underneath.

He Lingchuan noted that Wang Xingyi had invoked 'Venerable Kungen.'

Immortals typically chose names associated with their divine powers, talents, or even accomplishments. For instance, True Man Qianhuan was a mirage demon, skilled in illusion arts, and Immortal Shou'an took his name from 'Shou'an Mountain.'

Venerable Kungen, on the other hand, was a great power of Ling Mountain who was still in seclusion. Its true form was not human, but an entire mountain that had become a demon and then ascended to immortality!

Throughout Ling Mountain, no Immortal was older than it.

This small clay figure was most likely formed from the earth and stones of Venerable Kungen's own body, acting as a small avatar capable of supporting long-distance communication. It seemed many Immortals and Sky-demons possessed such minor divine abilities.

The clay doll's gaze fell on He Lingchuan, but it spoke to Wang Xingyi. "You are in Bylieh."

According to Venerable Kungen's innate divine ability, as long as it touched the local soil, it would instantly know the clay doll's location.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Venerable One." Wang Xingyi was far more respectful towards it than to the Nine Underworld Emperor, his waist bent to a forty-five-degree angle. "The Nine Underworld Emperor possesses a Destiny Godhead, and this disciple wishes to ask you, Venerable One, to authenticate it."

In fact, Wang Xingyi didn't need to say more, as the clay doll had already turned its head to look at the golden serpent ring floating in mid-air.

Then it made a move no one could have predicted:

It presented the mud ball in its right hand and threw it towards the golden ring.

The mud ball still retained the shape it had when Wang Xingyi placed it there, but its surface was enveloped in a layer of black light, and it seemed to be embedded with fragments of quartz, some transparent, some yellowish-white.

When it reached the center of the golden ring, it also hovered there, with more and more quartz appearing on its surface, but its size gradually diminished. Finally, it shattered, turning into sand and dust that fell onto the tabletop, and became just ordinary soil again.