358: scapegoat!

Unbelievable! Incomprehensible!

The Calamity Fiend Profound Light, which emitted terrifying Evil Qi and was "destined" to strike Lu Ming's glabella, suddenly reversed direction without warning in the Void Realm, just a hair's breadth away from Lu Ming!

There was no change in trajectory, no sense of stagnation whatsoever, not even a ripple of energy collision.

It was as if Lu Ming had never been its intended target.

It immediately began its "return journey," following the exact path it had taken to arrive.

This time, its locked target was none other than the caster, Zhuge Mingyi himself!

"Why!!!"

The expression on Zhuge Mingyi's face—a mix of madness, glee, and ferocity—instantly froze solid.

It was as if his entire being had been instantly drained, his mind turning blank, leaving him rooted to the spot like a wooden chicken.

As the caster of the "Calamity Fiend Profound Light," he shared the most direct and profound connection with this attack.

Yet at this moment, he clearly perceived that the "Calamity Fiend Profound Light," which should have carried his will, had completely escaped his control!

Its "result" had been forcibly altered in a way he could neither comprehend nor explain using his existing knowledge!

"Is this... Karma backlash?"

"No... that's wrong! This is definitely not Karma backlash!"

Various thoughts flashed through Zhuge Mingyi's chaotic mind. Then, seeming to realize something, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"The fixed number has been altered. This is... Reversing Cause and Effect!"

Once this thought appeared, it rooted itself deeply in the depths of his consciousness like a maggot attached to bone, bringing an icy chill.

But Zhuge Mingyi's reason told him that this was impossible!

Their Zhuge Family had specialized in the Dao of Heavenly Secrets and Karma for millennia, making them authorities in this Domain.

The ancestors of their Family had indeed speculated on the ultimate Realm of the Dao of Karma, so theoretically, supreme mysteries like "Inverting Karma" and "Reversing Cause and Effect" did exist.

But those were merely theoretical deductions made by the ancestors based on the existing Great Dao Principles!

This was like playing chess; as long as the calculations were meticulous, the result could be guided indefinitely toward the desired direction.

However, [Reversing Cause and Effect] was completely different!

This almost violated the underlying logic of the Law!

First cause, then effect—this is the Supreme Truth of Heaven and Earth. How could it be easily inverted?

Achieving it was nearly impossible!

However... the absurd scene before his eyes struck Zhuge Mingyi's Worldview like a heavy punch, utterly shattering it!

This person had actually done it!

Yet reality did not grant him more time for shock and thought.

Because the "Calamity Fiend Profound Light" that he had personally cast had silently submerged itself into the exact center of his glabella!

Unavoidable, unstoppable!

"Ugh..."

Zhuge Mingyi's body shook violently, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer.

All vitality in his wide-open eyes rapidly faded away like an ebbing tide, leaving behind only boundless emptiness and deathly silence.

His entire body swayed like a puppet with cut strings before falling straight backward.

"Holy crap! Don't die!"

Seeing Zhuge Mingyi in such a wretched state—barely breathing and about to have his soul return to the heavens.

Lu Ming, who had initially been feeling somewhat playful, had his heart sink, and he immediately cursed himself for going too far.

Zhuge Mingyi was the "special talent" he had been coveting for a long time.

If he accidentally killed him like this, the loss would be immense!

Even the body of a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator was a rare resource, but it couldn't compare to the value of him being alive.

He was still counting on extracting knowledge of Heavenly Secrets and Karma from the man's brain.

"He should still be salvageable... right?"

Lu Ming did not delay. He immediately seized the moment before the profound mystery of the "Calamity Fiend Profound Light" fully erupted inside Zhuge Mingyi, and before his Luck and vitality completely vanished.

His mind once again sank into his Sea of Consciousness, focusing on the golden book.

At this moment, the radiant pattern manifesting Zhuge Mingyi's name was violently fluctuating, flickering erratically, looking as if it might disperse at any moment, causing Lu Ming's mouth to twitch.

"Tsk, looks like I need to find a scapegoat."

Thinking this, Lu Ming quickly scanned the names inscribed on the golden book.

Since Murong Jingyang was currently working for him, the Tianli Cult had been stirring up trouble and making enemies everywhere, resulting in many new names being added to the golden book recently.

Lu Ming only gave them a rough glance and realized he didn't recognize a single one.

"You'll do. You look quite substantial."

Curling his lip, Lu Ming was too lazy to scrutinize them closely and randomly selected a newly listed Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Using his Intent as a fine brush, he skillfully made a light stroke over the chosen name, replacing Zhuge Mingyi's position.

As for who this unlucky person was, where they were, or whether they were good or evil, Lu Ming didn't care.

Having completed all this, Lu Ming immediately withdrew his mind from the Sea of Consciousness.

In reality, Zhuge Mingyi, who was on the verge of completely losing all vitality and having his Dao and Soul Scattered, suddenly twitched imperceptibly.

In reality, Zhuge Mingyi, who was on the verge of completely losing all vitality, suddenly twitched imperceptibly.

The power of "Calamity Evil" that was about to erupt inside him vanished without a trace the next moment.

Although it didn't fully erupt, Zhuge Mingyi was still affected slightly by the residual "Calamity Evil."

Coupled with the terrifying backlash from the Forbidden Technique he had cast earlier, Zhuge Mingyi paid a heavy price.

His dao foundation was a mess, and his Meridians were shattered inch by inch.

His Golden Core was covered in cracks, and its radiance was dim.

His Divine Soul, due to excessive depletion and the impact of the backlash, fell into a deep coma.

Fortunately, that last sliver of faint vitality was forcibly sustained... Meanwhile, countless miles away, at Yuanhu Mountain, the headquarters of the Tianli Cult.

This place had just experienced a fierce Battle of Spells, but the situation could only be described as one-sided.

The hollowed-out mountain interior was a mess, and the vast cavern was littered with traces of Spell bombardment and scattered severed limbs.

"Hmph, Tianli Cult? They are nothing but a bunch of rats who hide their heads and tails and only know how to mislead people!"

A middle-aged Cultivator, dressed in brocade robes, with a dignified face, and radiating the powerful Spiritual Pressure of the Late Golden Core Stage, stood suspended in the air.

He looked down upon the people below with unconcealed contempt and disgust.