Chapter 931 - 926: Ang Xiao’s Visit

Chapter 931: Chapter 926: Ang Xiao’s Visit

"Stop talking! Say no more!"

Lü Yang was almost scared out of his wits by Hao Yuan Shangzhen. He immediately retreated into the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness, while Hao Yuan Shangzhen smiled with a touch of wicked amusement.

"Now you should understand."

Hearing this, Lü Yang grew even more nervous. "Senior, do you mean this Star Soul Elder is actually also a World Honored One’s Avatar? How the hell does the Star Palace dare to use him?"

"How is that possible?" Hao Yuan Shangzhen shook his head. "Everything infected by the Bhagavat, whether person or object, is transferred to the home planet and physically isolated.

"The high concentration of the Bhagavat’s corruption is a major issue that the entire Star Palace society pays special attention to today. How to clean up the corruption, how to deal with being infected, and what daily measures to take to avoid it—these are all difficulties the Star Palace is currently overcoming. How could we let a World Honored One’s Avatar run around freely?"

"Then what about him?" Lü Yang glanced at Star Soul.

"He is different." Hao Yuan Shangzhen sighed. "Star Soul... Daoist, didn’t you glean anything from this name? We originally placed great hopes in Star Soul."

Lü Yang was taken aback.

Star Soul, Star Soul, the soul of the Star Palace? What did that mean? Who could bear such a grand title? It was practically looking down on the Master of Dao of the Dao of Arcane Power...

"Huh?" he thought.

In a flash, Lü Yang suddenly understood. He instinctively lowered his voice and said, "Star Soul is related to the Daoist Lord of Magical Power? Is he an entity enlightened by him?"

At this moment, Lü Yang thought of the Child he had seen in the Stain Sect in his Previous Life, the one who told him the Honorary Title of True Monarch of Radiant World. That entity was a treasure left behind by the Saint Sect Ancestral Master and the Artifact Spirit of the Heaven-Reaching Hall. He clearly knew many secrets and had a close relationship with the Saint Sect Ancestral Master.

Was Star Soul an existence of the same type?

He soon got his answer.

Hao Yuan Shangzhen first revealed a somewhat surprised expression before giving a slight nod. "That’s right. It seems you’ve also seen a similar spirit, Daoist."

"That doesn’t make sense." Lü Yang frowned. "If that’s really the case, why did you treat him like that earlier, Daoist? That didn’t look like the attitude one would have toward a senior."

Hao Yuan Shangzhen sighed again. "That’s the problem.

"After the Master of Dao enlightened him back then, Star Soul was specifically meant to govern the Star Palace and research array artifacts. He played an important role in developing the Star Palace to what it is today.

"After all, the Dao of array artifacts... you understand, Daoist. None of us dare to research it. Only Star Soul, with his profound background, has fewer reservations in this regard. Thanks to his research, we’ve gradually cultivated a group of Array Treasure Masters who won’t be corrupted by the Bhagavat through array artifact Knowledge.

"Unfortunately, it’s impossible to guard against." Hao Yuan Shangzhen couldn’t help but grit his teeth. "Whether it was us or the Master of Dao, we all underestimated the terrifying extent of the Bhagavat’s corruption at the time.

"Star Soul’s attainments in the Dao of array artifacts were too deep. In the end, he was influenced by the Bhagavat and fell into a capricious, almost completely unpredictable state of half-madness.

"The most ancient and taboo Knowledge used to forge Overlord-level Dao Weapons was also obtained during that time.

"With our help, he can briefly regain his sanity like he has now, but over a long period, he still loses control of himself.

"Eventually, even when he’s lucid, the Knowledge he spreads can cause people to succumb to cultivation deviation and exhibit symptoms of the Bhagavat’s infection. Left with no choice, we had to imprison him. As a result, the Star Palace’s array artifact technology has stagnated for many years since then..."

After hearing this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but shake his head.

No wonder the Star Palace had completely lost its collective mind when he threw the Time Shifting Device over to them earlier. It turned out they had always been plagued by the troubles brought about by the Bhagavat.

Alas, why was the Bhagavat so evil!

He then glanced at Star Soul again, only to see that the old professor seemed to sense something and suddenly smiled. "Don’t listen to his nonsense! I’m not crazy!"

It seemed the infection was already quite severe.

Similar symptoms were extremely common in the Pure Land. Everyone infected by the Bhagavat claimed they weren’t the Bhagavat, but in the end, the Bhagavat would still take control at the drop of a hat.

"That’s not right, is it?" Lü Yang frowned tightly and continued to send a telepathic message. "You’re having him forge an Overlord-level Dao Weapon for me. What the hell am I supposed to do if the Bhagavat leaves a hidden trap in it?"

At this point, Lü Yang’s gaze turned rather unfriendly.

Was the Star Palace trying to screw him over?

"Rest assured, Daoist!" Hao Yuan Shangzhen hurriedly explained. "In this regard, we will conduct multiple tests to ensure the final product is clean and free of corruption."

"It better be." Lü Yang nodded slightly, though he wasn’t too worried. After all, with the Immortal Core Survival Guide in hand, it would be impossible for him not to notice if there was truly a trap.

Next, he chatted with Hao Yuan Shangzhen for a bit longer. In the end, the other party took back the Star Gate he had given him earlier with a very uncompromising attitude. Coupled with the fact that Star Soul Elder’s symptoms were becoming increasingly obvious—he would suddenly let out an "EEK" halfway through a sentence—the two sides quickly ended their meeting.

"The Dao Weapon forging won’t take much time." Before leaving, Hao Yuan Shangzhen said in a deep voice, "Within thirty years, the Overlord-level Dao Weapon will be completed. At that time, please come and collect it in person, Daoist."

The implication was clear: avatars were not allowed.

"After that, you must immediately head to the Celestial Mansion with us to fulfill your promise, Daoist... Since you are from the Stain Sect, you should understand."

Lü Yang frowned at his words. "How many times do I have to say it? I have absolutely nothing to do with the Stain Sect..."

"Oh!"

Hao Yuan Shangzhen swaggered off, leaving Lü Yang to sigh helplessly. He couldn’t quite understand it. Was his Stain Sect aura really that obvious?

He completely didn’t get it.

"I’m clearly so kind-hearted. I’m even willing to provide the Star Palace with Thunder Talismans to shatter Heart Demons for free. Why can’t these people see my kindness?" he wondered.

After lamenting for a while, Lü Yang turned around to head back, only to see a figure that was both unexpected yet completely reasonable.

"Daoist, it’s been a long time."

What entered his sight was a ball of hazy smoke that faintly outlined a human figure. Its narrow eyes carried a hint of scrutiny and evaluation as it looked at Lü Yang.

Ang Xiao!

At this moment, Lü Yang’s first reaction was to wonder, "Could this old ghost have overheard my conversation with Hao Yuan Shangzhen and Star Soul just now?"

In a flash, countless memories of the past flooded his mind.

But soon, he regained his composure. "Absolutely impossible. The old thief’s Earth-Walking Avatar hasn’t reached the level of a Great Perfected Lord in the Current World!" he thought.

Hao Yuan Shangzhen was, after all, a Great Perfected Lord of the Dao of Arcane Power. Even if it was Ang Xiao or the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood, without the Position of a Great Perfected Lord, it would be impossible to act recklessly in front of Hao Yuan Shangzhen. Therefore, he definitely couldn’t have heard the contents of their conversation; at most, he was hiding in the distance and peeking.

"An innately evil old ghost trying to bluff me?" he thought.

Lü Yang was as familiar with Ang Xiao as one could possibly be. If Ang Xiao so much as stuck out his ass, Lü Yang would know exactly how loud a fart the old ghost was going to let rip.

Therefore, he quickly adjusted his mindset and smiled.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting, Senior.

"Oh, right, I’ve already solved your problem, Senior. Fortune is now at your disposal. Fei Xue has made another choice and won’t intervene anymore."

"You’ve worked hard, Daoist," Ang Xiao said with a smile, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"It was indeed hard work," Lü Yang nodded, then spoke with a similarly faint smile. "After all, it took me quite a bit of effort to persuade Fei Xue.

"Now that the matter is settled, where is my reward?"

When talking to Ang Xiao, one had to grasp the initiative in the conversation. Therefore, Lü Yang decisively asked, "Senior, you promised to answer my questions back then."