483: Chapter 499 I got scammed!

"Someone from the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect?"

Lu Ming knit his brows while looking at the Black-robed Man, his gaze falling upon the faint, deep vortex surrounding him. His voice was filled with uncertainty, but his heart was already convinced.

Although the opponent had only made two moves so far, the level of cultivation he displayed was enough to make one's hair stand on end.

If the previous "So Close Yet So Far" Space Law technique wasn't enough to pin down his identity, then this method of devouring heavenly thunder completely confirmed his suspicion.

This person was either from the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect or had a very deep connection to it.

The reason Lu Ming was so certain was that not long ago, he had killed a Personal Disciple of the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect—Bone Underworld.

That guy was not only a Personal Disciple of the Sect but also a direct Disciple of the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord.

Although Lu Ming was temporarily unable to digest all the fruits of that victory due to some accidents, it didn't stop him from browsing Bone Underworld's memories in advance.

In Bone Underworld's memories, besides his own cultivation insights, the most precious thing was the secret scripture of the Sect that pointed directly to the Law of Devouring—the "True Interpretation of Soul Devouring Return to Void."

Lu Ming couldn't help but recall the records in the "True Interpretation of Soul Devouring Return to Void."

"The world has a Return to the Void, the end of all things. The soul-devourer swallows all things to nourish themselves. The returner to the void contains the heavens and earth within a grain of millet. Devour all things, return to nothingness. All Laws can be swallowed, all things can be devoured..."

That overbearing sense of swallowing the heavens and devouring the earth, even if it was just words, left a deep impression on him. And what Bone Underworld cultivated was precisely this technique.

Only then did Lu Ming realize in hindsight that if they had been in a place with abundant Spiritual Qi in the outside world, even if he could have won his duel with Bone Underworld, it would never have been so easy.

Unfortunately, that unlucky guy had plunged straight into a spiritless land like the Jiling Wasteland, where most of his skills were rendered useless, leading to his eventual end.

But then again, who exactly was this Black-robed Man?

If he was someone sent by the Soul Devouring Demonic Sect to investigate Bone Underworld's death, it was a bit too fast.

Moreover, looking at his appearance, he didn't seem to be here for an investigation.

This person was extremely goal-oriented, clearly aiming for the core secret land.

What concerned Lu Ming even more was that he could find no trace of this person in Bone Underworld's memories at all.

As a direct Disciple of the Demonic Lord, Bone Underworld held a very high status in the Sect, and there were few secrets he didn't know.

Yet this person was like someone who appeared out of thin air, completely outside his scope of knowledge.

The more Lu Ming thought about it, the more mysterious and unpredictable he felt this person was, and his heart grew increasingly heavy.

However, this didn't stop him from continuing to attack. No matter who the opponent was or what their purpose was here, since they stood in his way, he would simply push through.

Lu Ming was still relatively confident about this because he had noticed a detail.

Almost from beginning to end, the Black-robed Man had been fighting passively and had never taken the initiative to attack.

Lu Ming didn't know why, but he didn't want to dwell on the issue.

It was best if the opponent didn't attack; with the other's unfathomable strength, if he really did attack, Lu Ming would truly be a bit intimidated.

By now, Lu Ming no longer held even a hint of contempt.

This person was definitely the most terrifying person of the same rank he had encountered since stepping onto the path of immortality.

The most crucial point was that this was only a phantom.

Lu Ming could hardly imagine what his fate would be if he faced the original body.

He took a deep breath, and the power of Law within him began to surge.

Tiangang Law, Xun Wind, and Yin and Yang—three Laws were activated simultaneously.

Gold, green, and black-and-white light swirled around him, illuminating the entire dim space with bizarre colors.

This time, he would definitely not hold back and was prepared to go all out.

This was both to pass the trial and to test the Black-robed Man's depth.

If he couldn't even beat a phantom, he felt it would be better to be sensible and head home early, letting whoever wanted this Opportunity take it.

"Three Mysteries Returning to Origin Divine Light!"

Lu Ming gave a low shout and formed hand Seals, the power of the three Laws intertwining and merging in his palms.

The golden Tiangang power was fierce and overbearing, the green Xun Wind power was agile and elegant, and the black-and-white Yin and Yang power was deep and unpredictable.

Three completely different powers condensed in his palm into a tri-colored pillar of light.

Within the light pillar, the sun, moon, and stars could be seen faintly rotating, and mountains and rivers rose and fell, as if it were a miniature world.

This was a Divine Ability he had created himself by combining the three Laws. Although it was still only a prototype, its power was already enough to crush any Peak Third Tier Spell.

*Whoosh—*

The light pillar blasted out, heading straight for the Black-robed Man's face. If it hit, Lu Ming was confident it would obliterate him.

However, the Black-robed Man just slightly raised his hand, and the deep vortex met the attack, making a move to swallow the Three Mysteries Returning to Origin Divine Light.

"Hmph, still trying the same trick!"

Lu Ming snorted coldly. Having sensed the opponent's intention, he didn't give the Black-robed Man a chance to catch his breath.

In the interval after the Three Mysteries Returning to Origin Divine Light was blasted out, he formed hand Seals again.

Nine Talismans flew out from his sleeve one after another, quickly arranging into a mysterious formation in the air.

The runes lit up one by one, and a massive Talisman array quickly took shape in the void.

This was the "Nine Nether Heavenly Net Array," all composed of Peak Third Tier Talismans such as the "Void-Forbidden Domain-Severing Talisman," "Azure Firmament Talisman," and "Mystic Nether Crimson Underworld Talisman" as the array foundation.

Each Talisman within it contained the power of Seal; some were specifically used to lock down the void and imprison enemies, while others could corrode magic power, making the enemy's magic power circulation sluggish.

Lu Ming came up with this method precisely to restrict the Black-robed Man.

When the array was completed, nine dark green pillars of light shot up from the Talismans, intertwining into a massive net of light that enveloped the Black-robed Man.

On the light net, countless fine runes flickered, each containing the power of sealing, corrosion, and interference.

Combined with the Three Mysteries Returning to Origin Divine Light, it was almost like sealing the heavens and locking the earth; the Black-robed Man had nowhere to escape!

Yet, facing this nearly violent offensive, the Black-robed Man remained expressionless.

He just raised his hand, and the deep vortex suddenly expanded, swallowing all the attacks together.

Seeing that it was about to repeat the previous mistake—being swallowed like a stone dropped into the sea, vanishing without a trace—Lu Ming frowned, unable to sit still.

"Wait, is he this overpowered? Truly no limits at all? That's a bit like cheating!"

Lu Ming felt it was unlikely. Everything must have a limit; if he could swallow anything, then what was the point of playing!

A cold light flashed through his eyes, and the Seal in his hand changed.

Just as the "Nine Nether Heavenly Net Array" was about to fall into the vortex, it suddenly exploded at that moment, turning into countless dark green chains that wrapped around the Black-robed Man from all directions.

However, the Black-robed Man just made a grasping motion with his fingers, and the vortex swallowed the aftershocks of the array's explosion in one gulp, then suddenly reversed, spitting out this violent energy again.

The swallowed power was refined anew, turning into an even more sharp attack that shot back toward Lu Ming.

Lu Ming's pupils shrank, and his figure flashed rapidly, narrowly avoiding the strike.

But by then, the Three Mysteries Returning to Origin Divine Light had already entered the vortex.

The vortex vibrated violently, emitting an overburdened hum.

The Black-robed Man obviously hadn't expected the digestion of the power of Law to be so difficult.

He used both hands to stabilize the vortex, slowly grinding down that tri-colored light pillar bit by bit.

A bright light flashed in Lu Ming's eyes, and he soon began to figure it out.

Just as I thought! He can't swallow the power of Law!

Or rather, he can swallow it but can't digest it!

The Black-robed Man's devouring power digested Law attacks extremely slowly, whereas it could instantly swallow, refine, and return attacks from Divine Abilities, Spells, and Talismans.

Those things were not only no threat to him but instead became a source to replenish his power.

In that case, why not use the power of Law to smash him until he can't take it anymore?

Lu Ming no longer hesitated and struck with both hands repeatedly. The power of the three Laws, as if it cost nothing, turned into tri-colored light pillars that blasted toward the Black-robed Man.

He was gambling—gambling that the Black-robed Man's devouring power had an upper limit.

As long as the speed of pouring it in exceeded the speed of his digestion, he could make him burst!

The Black-robed Man also seemed to sense this. He no longer passively devoured but took the initiative to attack, attempting to interrupt Lu Ming's offensive.

The Black-robed Man made a grasping motion. Lu Ming only felt the surrounding void suddenly distort, and an invisible force wrapped around his entire body, then suddenly dragged him toward some unknown place.

Lu Ming was startled; he felt himself being peeled away from this space.

"Is he trying to exile me into the void? It seems he's almost full and can't hold on anymore!"

Sensing the opponent's malicious intent, Lu Ming was not disappointed but instead became even more spirited.

No matter how crude or clumsy this plan was, as long as it worked, it was fine.

However, Lu Ming's expression soon turned sour.

He tried to use space teleportation to break free from the opponent's restraint, but the gap between the two in the Dao of Space was simply too large.

He was like a drowning person being sucked into a whirlpool, unable to break free no matter how he struggled.

"Fuck!"

Seeing the surrounding scenery begin to blur and the Black-robed Man's figure grow more distant.

Lu Ming knew that once he was exiled, God knows what kind of hellhole he would be thrown into.

He made a prompt decision, and a bronze ancient bell immediately flew out from his sleeve.

It was precisely the taixu ancient bell!

As soon as the ancient bell appeared, its body suddenly enlarged, enveloping his entire person.

Along with the ancient bell's hum, an invisible force field spread out, firmly suppressing the void around him.

The dragging force suddenly dissipated, and Lu Ming was forcibly pulled back from the edge of exile.

But facing this, the Black-robed Man remained expressionless, merely slowly closing his fingers, changing the exile into a crushing force.

The void began to collapse toward Lu Ming's position, squeezing in from all directions simultaneously.

That feeling was as if the entire space was shrinking, trying to grind him into powder.

The surrounding darkness began to distort and shatter, with countless cracks spreading toward Lu Ming, each containing enough power to tear a Golden Core Cultivator to shreds.

The taixu ancient bell hummed again, and the force field expanded outward, forcibly propping up that collapsing space.

The ancient bell vibrated violently, the runes on its body flickering crazily, emitting an overburdened hum.

Lu Ming gritted his teeth and poured magic power frantically into the ancient bell, fighting the space's compression while looking for a chance to counterattack.

He noticed that although the Black-robed Man's attacks were terrifying, they lacked variation.

Every move followed essentially the same pattern, as if restricted by some rule and unable to act freely.

Like a pre-programmed machine, although he could perform Divine Abilities and Spells with ease and use the Laws to perfection, it was all by the book, without any independent thinking ability.

It was precisely because Lu Ming keenly captured this point that he gritted his teeth and endured, fighting the spatial compression while continuing to blast the power of Law at the Black-robed Man.

He intended to disrupt the opponent's rhythm and find an Opportunity.

Having found the pattern, Lu Ming also quickly found the opponent's flaw.

Soon, this Opportunity came.

"Now!"

Taking advantage of the moment when the Black-robed Man's old strength had faded and new strength had yet to arise, Lu Ming no longer hesitated and pushed the three Laws to their limit simultaneously.

The gold, green, and black-and-white lights merged into one in his palm, turning into a gray pillar of light that blasted toward the Black-robed Man.

Light pillar Wherever it passed, the void distorted and space collapsed. That deep vortex also seemed to have reached its limit and was forcibly torn open.

The light pillar quickly entered the Black-robed Man's chest.

His body began to shatter.

Starting from the chest, cracks spread to his limbs and his head.

His expression remained calm and his gaze empty, as if it wasn't his own body that was shattering.

Then, he turned into countless points of light and dissipated into the air.

Lu Ming slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.

He looked in the direction where the Black-robed Man had dissipated, a complex emotion rising in his heart.

This person was too strong, so strong that just a phantom made him give his all.

If the original body were to arrive in person... he didn't dare think about it.

He struggled to his feet.

But just then, the gray-white mist rose again, churning and condensing into a human shape.

"No way, another one!"

Lu Ming's face finally changed. Dealing with one Black-robed Man was already so difficult; if another one came, he wouldn't be confident at all.

At this moment, Lu Ming already wanted to turn around and leave.

To hell with this bullshit trial, I'm not playing anymore!

Just as Lu Ming's thoughts were flying and he intended to give up on the trial and withdraw.

The mist dissipated, and a person walked out from it.

This person wore a green and white Daoist robe and had a handsome face.

If anyone else saw him, they would surely praise: what a handsome young lad.

"Huh!"

Looking at this familiar face, Lu Ming was stunned for a moment.

This person was none other than himself!

"Oh, I see!"

Lu Ming suddenly had an epiphany.

"The reason that Black-robed Man appeared earlier was probably that he also defeated the previous Gatekeeper, passed the trial, and was then selected as the new Gatekeeper.

And now that I've defeated him, I've naturally replaced him in his position."

Well, doing it this way was reasonable.

But Lu Ming soon thought of something, and his expression suddenly changed.

As if to confirm his thoughts, several extremely profound auras suddenly emanated from that figure.

It wasn't that this phantom was going to attack him, but Lu Ming's current state was not much different from being attacked. He stood there blankly, frozen in place.

After a long time, he suddenly roared with a distorted expression: "Fuck, I've been scammed!"

Becoming the Gatekeeper meant that every method he had revealed when killing the Black-robed Man was completely duplicated onto it.

Including those three Laws!

If this were seen by others, how much of a commotion would it cause?

Lu Ming simply didn't dare to imagine.

The Yin-Yang Law came from Yun Chenzi, the Tiangang Law from Yuan Tiangang, and the Xun Wind Law from Feng Wuji.

The deaths of these people were all related to him, and it wouldn't stand up to close scrutiny.

Lu Ming's face was ashen, and he was thinking about how to disperse this phantom or wait for a fated person to come and take his place.

But before he could research how to eliminate the hidden danger, the scene before his eyes suddenly changed.

When he opened his eyes again, Lu Ming was startled to find that he had already been teleported out and had arrived at another place.

And the phantom from just now had already disappeared; clearly, he had passed the trial!

"Forget it, what's done is done."

Lu Ming sighed deeply, and then the worry in his eyes turned into determination.

Since the matter was irreversible, he had to be prepared for the truth to be exposed.

Now the primary goal was to obtain the greatest Opportunity in the core land to improve his strength, and then see if there was a chance to erase his Gatekeeper phantom.

Even if he couldn't do that, hiding his face would be good.

But in any case, he had to have that kind of strength, and now it seemed the Black-robed Man had already entered ahead of him, and he was already one step late.

"I can't delay any longer."

Lu Ming didn't look back and continued to stride forward.