423: Chapter 427 The Beginning of the Scheme (2)

The pain and suffering brought by the backlash, and even the crumbling of his dao foundation, were all accepted and then digested by Lu Ming's soul fragment.

As long as his goal could be achieved, what did the sacrifice of a mere soul fragment matter?

After all this painstaking effort and going in circles, it seemingly only resulted in Jiang Wunian "swallowing a fake Murong Jingyang," making it look like a wasted effort.

However, this was precisely Lu Ming's deepest calculation.

As the saying goes: one who eats another's food is beholden to them, and one who takes another's gifts is soft-handed.

If Jiang Wunian had swallowed the real Murong Jingyang, it would have been nothing more than the Law of the jungle between two Demonic Path Cultivators; the Karma would be settled, and neither would owe the other.

But what he swallowed was a "soul fragment" personally fabricated by Lu Ming.

The difference therein was massive.

First of all, as soon as Jiang Wunian swallowed the soul fragment, his name was automatically recorded in the karma golden book.

Not only because he harbored malice toward Lu Ming, but also because an extremely profound connection had been established between him and Lu Ming.

This was firmer than any other Karma and far more difficult to sever.

Secondly, and more crucially, that soul fragment Jiang Wunian swallowed was essentially still a part of Lu Ming.

This meant that as long as Jiang Wunian did not completely slay Lu Ming's original body or dharma body, the "devouring" relationship between him and this soul fragment would always remain incomplete.

In professional terms: he owed a debt of Karma.

Jiang Wunian devoured the soul fragment, but he did not completely destroy the soul fragment's Origin.

That portion of the Origin still existed within Lu Ming's original body.

It was just like a person robbing someone of their wealth but failing to kill them.

Although the wealth was in hand, as long as the other party was alive, they could come to collect the debt at any time.

And what Lu Ming intended to do was slowly "collect the debt."

He didn't need to act immediately or resort to major violence. Given enough time, he could use the mysteries of the karma golden book and those inconceivable secret arts from the Heavenly Mandate Compilation and Fortune Diagram Record to erode Jiang Wunian's dao foundation bit by bit and permeate Jiang Wunian's Karma.

Ultimately, without Jiang Wunian realizing it, he would find that he was no longer "himself."

His consciousness, his memories, his everything—all would be quietly replaced, assimilated, and subjected to Possession by Lu Ming!

By then, what Lu Ming would harvest would not just be a Golden Core Perfection thug, but everything Jiang Wunian had accumulated over hundreds of years.

Cultivation, dao attainment, memories, Legacy, and most importantly: fortune!

After all, this Jiang Wunian only achieved the "Dao Realm" under Lu Ming's direct interference.

Thus, when he finally "fell," his entire providence should naturally belong to Lu Ming.

This was the natural cycle of Karma.

This was the true calculation behind Lu Ming's seemingly absurd act of "actively offering his head."

So, when Jiang Wunian swallowed that soul fragment of "Murong Jingyang" in one gulp, Lu Ming didn't feel the slightest bit of heartache; instead, he almost burst out laughing.

Because his scheme had succeeded!

And next, it was Yun Chenzi's turn.

Yun Chenzi had always viewed that "the dao-obstructing person" as a thorn in his side.

He had tracked this person for many days, even going so far as to force his way into the Zhuge Family to request Zhuge Xuanji to deduce the heavenly secrets.

Now that he had finally locked onto his target, he naturally wouldn't let them go.

But what he didn't know was that the true identity of that "the dao-obstructing person" was never Murong Jingyang.

The real dao-obstructing person had been Lu Ming from the very beginning.

And now, after Jiang Wunian swallowed the soul fragment, the Karma of the "the dao-obstructing person" that Yun Chenzi sensed would naturally be transferred.

The "Human Tribulation" Karma originally entwined around Murong Jingyang did not dissipate after Murong Jingyang's demise.

After all, the real dao-obstructing person was still alive and well, so the karmic thread naturally wouldn't break.

However, this Karma needed a "vessel."

By swallowing the soul fragment, Jiang Wunian took on all the Karma attached to it, including that "cause of dao-obstruction."

Thus, in Yun Chenzi's perception...

That dao-obstructing person changed from Murong Jingyang to Jiang Wunian.

What did this mean?

It meant that from this moment on, the conflict between Yun Chenzi and Jiang Wunian was no longer as simple as a matter of interests.

This was a Dao Struggle.

It was a fight to the death, a battle for survival where only one could walk to the end.

Both had already stepped into the Dao Realm and possessed unshakeable convictions in their own Dao.

When their paths to the Dao encountered an irreconcilable conflict, any compromise, concession, or evasion was impossible.

There was only battle.

Only when one side completely fell would this Dao Struggle be considered over.

Regardless of who won or lost in the end, Lu Ming would be the biggest winner.

If Yun Chenzi won, then Jiang Wunian would die, and the Karma and providence on Jiang Wunian's body would, under the intervention of the Laws of the Heavenly Dao, flow toward Lu Ming, who had the deepest connection with him.

Although looking at it this way, Lu Ming would lose a Golden Core Perfection thug who had stepped into the Dao Realm.

But to be honest, Lu Ming really didn't lack such a thug.

His own combat power was already infinitely close to this level.

Moreover, after devouring Jiang Wunian's fortune, Lu Ming's cultivation would likely be able to rival these two.

So in his view, this deal was not a loss.

Conversely, if Jiang Wunian won, then Yun Chenzi would die.

Then, as Yun Chenzi's true "Human Tribulation," the ultimate beneficiary could only be Lu Ming.

Not to mention, this Dao Struggle itself was planned, pushed, and facilitated by Lu Ming from start to finish.

Regardless of the final outcome, a significant portion of the fortune generated by this Dao Struggle would inevitably be shared with him.

This was Lu Ming's complete calculation!

Whether they lost or not, he would never lose!

Gazing at the distant battlefield, the curve of Lu Ming's lips deepened.

"Fight, fight..."

He whispered to himself, his tone full of ease and anticipation.

"Once you've decided the winner, I'll come to clean up the mess."

...

Above the Li Family's ancestral land.

Yun Chenzi looked at Jiang Wunian, feeling the faint dangerous aura emanating from him; his expression was incredibly solemn.

"This is troublesome."

He never expected that Jiang Wunian, whom he once didn't even care about, could now truly threaten him.

However, that was all it was.

Yun Chenzi was never an indecisive person. Moreover, now that his Dao Heart was in a state of Perfection, a slight fluctuation in mood could not affect his determination in the least.

No matter what, regardless of the cost, he must strangle this threat here today!

Otherwise, if left alone, with Jiang Wunian's own talent and the unfathomable Grotto-Heaven foundation behind him, he might truly be able to deal a fatal blow when Yun Chenzi attempted to break through to Nascent Soul.

Therefore, Jiang Wunian must die!

With this thought, Yun Chenzi's hands changed seal gestures as fast as lightning!

"Taiji gives birth to the Two Polarities, and the Two Polarities give birth to the Four Phenomena!"