Chapter 1345: The Strongest in the Future

As Lu Yang reappeared in the world, Yun Zhi, who had previously been merely a projection, returned to her original form. Her cultivation level dropped, stabilizing at the Half-Step Hedao realm.

“Senior Sister, did you need something?” Lu Yang chuckled softly. He appeared before Yun Zhi with a relaxed demeanor, a stark contrast to the battlefield's atmosphere of shattered stars and scattered immortal blood.

“You…” Yun Zhi was surprised, sensing an unprecedented confidence in her Junior Brother.

Lu Yang's eyes were bright and clear, but his gaze, when it fell upon the mastermind, felt impossibly heavy, unbearable.

“You… you've achieved omniscience?!” The mastermind's eyes widened in disbelief.

He felt no oppressive aura of cultivation from Lu Yang, yet Lu Yang's all-seeing gaze was more terrifying than any such pressure.

He recalled Immortal Immortal's words, realizing he truly was 'the strongest in the future'.

“Mastermind… or should I call you Fuxi?”

“Speaking of which, you are everyone's senior; I should pay my respects.”

With that, Lu Yang genuinely cupped his hands and bowed respectfully, his movements precise and sincere: “Junior Lu Yang greets Senior Fuxi, the founder of the Qi Cultivation realm and the first Primordial Immortal Body.”

Jiang Ping'an and Meng Junzi were greatly astonished upon learning the mastermind's true identity. They had not expected his origin to be so earth-shattering, dating back to an unverified ancient era as the founder of the Qi Cultivation realm, meaning he was also the creator of the entire cultivation system.

Lu Yang stood up with a smile and continued: “Jianmu, Shaohao, Shi Huang, Huozheng, and the other eight sages were your friends, Senior. It was also based on your foundation that they created numerous realms like Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, protecting humanity and safeguarding them from demonic encroachment.”

“Your deduction of the Dao Fruit system and sharing cultivation methods with other sages was also a selfless act, Senior.”

“Later, Senior, you also discovered the realm beyond Dao Fruits—Transcendence—and the method to reach it.”

With every sentence Lu Yang uttered, the mastermind's cultivation level would tremble and uncontrollably plummet.

Listening to Lu Yang expose his true name and recall ancient history, especially the part he regretted most, the mastermind's face twisted in pain as he roared:

“Stop talking!”

Lu Yang ignored him, continuing to help him recall the past.

“Jianmu condensed the Timeline Dao Fruit, Shaohao the Heavenly Tribulation Dao Fruit, Huozheng the Five Elements Dao Fruit, Shi Huang the Soul Dao Fruit… and Senior Fuxi, you condensed the Devouring Dao Fruit.”

“To achieve Transcendence, you first devoured Shi Huang and his Soul Dao Fruit, and then successively devoured the Dao Fruits of others.”

“Don't say another word!!!” The mastermind roared, hysterical, never having lost his composure like this before.

Lu Yang remained deaf to his pleas, responding in an equally loud voice: “Senior Fuxi, from the very beginning, you condensed Dao Fruits with the sole purpose of devouring your friends to achieve Transcendence. Your single-minded pursuit of the Dao is something this junior truly admires from the bottom of his heart!”

“Don't say another word…” As Lu Yang revealed Fuxi's deepest, most sordid thoughts, Fuxi staggered back several steps, his once invincible aura dissipating. He was like an old man whose spine had been removed, no longer able to stand upright.

After achieving Transcendence, he felt no joy, but rather an immense emptiness; all those he knew were gone.

He began to frantically indulge in life, experiencing different existences.

He was like a gust of wind; after it passed, not a trace was left in the world, and the emptiness in his heart could never be filled.

That is why he envied the friendship of the Five Ancient Immortals. During the late years of the Xinghuo Dynasty, he deliberately possessed Immortal Ying Tian, causing the other four ancient immortals to become suspicious of each other.

In the old timeline, after encountering Immortal Immortal in the Lunar Laurel Immortal Palace, he recalled their ancient friendship. He restrained his murderous intent, wishing to continue living disguised as Immortal Ying Tian.

However, the Lu Yang of the old timeline disrupted his careful plans. To survive, he had no choice but to come to the new timeline.

“In a way, it's also thanks to Senior Fuxi that I achieved omniscience.”

After reaching the Omniscient realm, Lu Yang not only had a complete view of the past and present of this timeline, but also knew everything about the old timeline.

He knew that his counterpart in the old timeline had revived Immortal Immortal, and had a much richer and more enviable experience than himself.

“Alright, I just broke through a realm, so I'm a bit happy and have spoken a little too much.”

“Now that the thanks are said, it's time to settle the score between us.” Lu Yang's expression gradually grew cold, no longer retaining his previous gentle and refined demeanor.

Lu Yang extended a finger and, across the void, pointed it at Fuxi's glabella.

Fuxi's body convulsed incessantly, his boundless life force rapidly draining away. He succumbed to the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, instantly aging into a withered skeleton, emitting a foul stench.

“Wait, you can't kill me! Otherwise, I'll modify the timeline back to the old one, and then all of you will disappear!” Fuxi shouted, facing a life-or-death situation, this was his last resort.

Lu Yang seemed to have heard something extremely amusing, and couldn't help but laugh.

He knelt down, gripping Fuxi's head, who was pleading incessantly—or perhaps threatening.

“Leaving aside the fact that you're unskilled with the Timeline Dao Fruit and can't use it in a short time,”

“even if you could use it, why would you think our timeline would disappear?”

“Wha—what…” Fuxi was stunned. What did this mean? Jianmu had told him there was only one timeline.

“Senior Jianmu told you there was only one timeline, didn't he?” Lu Yang said unhurriedly, having plenty of time.

“But did Senior Jianmu ever consider what would happen if someone merged with the Dao using their own body?”

“You did indeed create this timeline. Think carefully about what has happened on this timeline: Senior Sister merged with the Dao. Although her cultivation level has fallen, the fact that she once merged with the Dao is enough. She merged with the Dao using her own body, stabilizing this timeline.”

“The same principle applies to the old timeline; the Senior Sister there also successfully merged with the Dao during battle, stabilizing the old timeline.”

“Why do you think you can shake a timeline where a Dao Merger exists? Did your shortcut to Transcendence give you this confidence, or was it the Timeline Dao Fruit you're unskilled with?”

Lu Yang looked at the dazed Fuxi, who resembled a clown.

“So now you know: both new and old timelines exist simultaneously. When you use the Timeline Dao Fruit, it's merely your consciousness jumping back and forth between the two.”

“Presumably, in the old timeline, you're nothing but a corpse.”

“But I also have some good news for you.”

“What good news?” Fuxi's hope reignited.

Lu Yang said with a smile: “Senior Jianmu and the others died tragically, without even a tombstone. After you die, I will erect a monument for you. Rest in peace.”

“No—”

Fuxi let out a wail, and like a deflating balloon, rapidly shriveled and turned to dust.

“Done.”

Lu Yang clapped his hands, feeling quite pleased after solving a major problem for his counterpart in the old timeline.

“It's over?” Yun Zhi flew over and asked.

Lu Yang shook his head: “There's one last thing.”

“What is it?”

“Reviving Immortal Immortal.”

“Reviving Immortal Immortal?” Yun Zhi repeated instinctively.

“Senior Qilin Immortal and Senior Wu Yao made a deal to bring me here, all for the purpose of reviving Immortal Immortal.”

Lu Yang gave a mischievous smile as he looked at Yun Zhi: “Immortal Immortal also has a connection to you, Senior Sister.”

“However, reviving the Immortal is a bit troublesome,” Lu Yang scratched his head. “I already possess an Immortal Dao Fruit, occupying the rules of immortality, so her Immortal Dao Fruit cannot be used.”

“But it's just a small problem. I'll just discard my own Immortal Dao Fruit to make space. Don't worry, I won't drop in cultivation level.”

Yun Zhi was startled. Just as she was about to persuade her Junior Brother, she saw Lu Yang decisively discard his Immortal Dao Fruit and shout loudly.

“Immortal Immortal, Huang Doudou!”

Heaven and earth changed color as the power of immortality converged in the sky, finally solidifying into a beautiful soul.

“Hmm, I feel like I've had a very long sleep. Who are you two?” The beautiful soul yawned and rubbed her eyes, still appearing half-asleep.

“Immortal, it's our first meeting. My name is Lu Yang, and this is my Senior Sister, Yun Zhi.”