199: Fourth Generation: Overlord (95)

Li Beichen was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, but a meaningful smile soon appeared on his face.

"Emperor Shang is indeed meticulous and possesses keen insight." He clapped his hands in light praise, then retracted his smile, his expression becoming solemn as he spoke slowly:

"Correct! Ordinary Golden Core Cultivators, formed by defying the heavens, may gain a Lifespan of five hundred years—already Immortals in the eyes of commoners—but on the long path of the Dao, it is but a fleeting moment. They are still of mortal flesh, unable to escape the shackles of Lifespan."

"Even if they can use their Indestructible Golden Essence to undergo several Reincarnations, they will still suffer the calamity of being abandoned by the Dao."

"However..." He paused, his eyes erupting with a light that mixed longing and awe, "once the Golden Core reaches Perfection and a Dao Fruit is condensed, achieving the rank of Fruit Position True Person, that is 'attaining the Dao' in the truest sense! It is a massive leap in the level of one's life!"

"A Fruit Position True Person completely controls the authority of a branch of the Great Dao, harmonizing themselves with the Dao. They can receive a continuous flow of nourishment from the power of that Dao branch's Origin!" Li Beichen's tone carried absolute certainty. "Their Lifespan... will see an explosive increase!"

He extended five fingers, slowly spreading them before Xu Yuan, saying word by word:

"A Golden Core Perfection Fruit Position True Person... their Lifespan can reach at least five thousand years!"

"Five thousand years?!" Even with a mind as steady as a rock, Xu Yuan could not help but gasp, his eyes filled with shock!

Five thousand years!

What an incredibly long time!

It was ten times the Lifespan of an ordinary Golden Core Immortal Master!

It was long enough for an Imperial Dynasty to cycle from rise to fall several times, long enough for the blue seas to turn into mulberry fields!

This meant that every Fruit Position True Person who could live for such a long time would have accumulated foundations, mastered methods, and laid down hidden cards to an inconceivable degree!

To be their enemy, one would not only have to face their terrifying strength at their Peak, but also the massive network of connections, resources, and endless hidden trumps they had built up over thousands of years!

It was simply despair-inducing!

A long silence fell within the pavilion.

Xu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze deep as he looked at the churning sea of clouds outside the pavilion, thoughts colliding in his mind like stormy waves.

The deal Li Beichen proposed carried immense risk!

Assassinating a Fruit Position True Person within a Dao Lineage—one who had lived for an unknown amount of time and held countless hidden cards—was not just a narrow escape; calling it certain death would not be an exaggeration!

And the gains of success?

Li Beichen's favor, the secret techniques of the Yuwen Clan, information regarding the Tiangang Emperor... these were certainly enticing, but they were ultimately external forces, 'possibilities,' not a concrete path to directly increasing his own strength.

Even if everything went smoothly, Xu Yuan would still have to face the fundamental problem of how to break through the Bottleneck of his own 'Overlord Imperial Dao' and achieve the Fruit Position.

Creating a New Dao?

The hope was slim; those who had succeeded since ancient times were few and far between.

Killing to seize the position?

Facing the Tiangang Emperor and his Great Dao suppression, what were the odds of winning?

After thinking it over repeatedly, Xu Yuan realized that if he followed the conventional path, his hope of breaking through to Golden Core Perfection and achieving the Fruit Position in this life using his own power was... extremely slim!

The most likely outcome was exactly what Li Beichen said: exhausting his five-hundred-year Lifespan and eventually undergoing Military Dissolution for Reincarnation.

However... this conclusion did not make Xu Yuan feel dejected or hopeless.

Why... should he be obsessed with the achievements of a single life?

He possessed the ability of infinite Reincarnation; every cycle was an accumulation, a tempering!

If he could not break through in this life, then he would pave the way for the next life, and the life after that!

Li Beichen's move, though dangerous, was also a once-in-a-millennium... opportunity!

An opportunity to observe from up close, and even personally participate in a confrontation against an established Fruit Position True Person!

Every Fruit Position True Person was an existence who had walked a branch of the Great Dao to its absolute limit.

Their combat styles, their application of Great Dao power, their weaknesses and strengths, their methods of handling crises... this experience was an invaluable treasure for any Cultivator aspiring to the Peak of the Dao!

If Xu Yuan was destined to fail to achieve the Fruit Position in this life, then if he could use this battle to glimpse the reality of a Fruit Position True Person and understand their combat patterns and hidden cards—even if he ultimately failed—as long as his true spirit was not extinguished and he carried this precious experience into Rebirth... then in his next life, he would certainly be more prepared when facing a Fruit Position True Person!

Whether it was creating a New Dao or seizing a Fruit Position, the success rate would be greatly increased!

Using a possible 'failure' in this life to exchange for a higher probability of 'success' in countless future lives!

This deal... was worth doing!

Furthermore, forming an alliance with Li Beichen, if successful, would indeed provide a massive boost. Even if it was useless in this life, it could serve as an important resource in the next.

Even if it failed, as long as it was handled properly, it wasn't impossible to extract himself. At worst, it would just be ending this life early and starting the next cycle of Reincarnation!

The ability to undergo infinite Reincarnation was Xu Yuan's greatest source of confidence!

What did temporary success or failure matter?

What mattered was... whether he could accumulate precious 'experience' and 'resources' for the eternal path of the Dao!

At this thought, the last trace of hesitation in Xu Yuan's eyes completely vanished.

He slowly turned around to look at the long-waiting Li Beichen, his gaze as calm as water, yet carrying an unquestionable firmness:

"Envoy Li."

Li Beichen's heart tightened; from Xu Yuan's gaze, he sensed a completely different aura.

"Your proposal, I... accept."

Xu Yuan's voice was not loud, but every word was clear and carried weight.

A look of pleasant surprise erupted in Li Beichen's eyes, but before he could speak, Xu Yuan continued:

"But the details must be renegotiated. I can strike, but how will we approach Yuwen Shang? When will we act? How will we create a certain-death situation? After the strike, how will I retreat safely? If you successfully seize the Fruit Position, how will you ensure your promises are kept? There must be a foolproof plan for these. I... will not be a fool who dies in vain, nor will I be a discarded pawn."

Xu Yuan was not blinded by the massive benefits; instead, he began to plan the matter meticulously. He did not fear death, but he was unwilling to die without value.

"That is only natural!" Li Beichen suppressed his excitement and said solemnly, "I have considered the plan for many years and have a thorough arrangement! Emperor Shang, please listen to the details..."

Xu Yuan nodded slightly and sat back down, picking up the cup of slightly cooled spiritual tea. He looked at Li Beichen calmly, adopting a posture of listening attentively.

He appeared relaxed, but his mind was highly concentrated; every detail would determine the success and value of this endeavor.

Inside the pavilion, killing intent was hidden. Outside, the sea of clouds churned silently, as if witnessing a coming storm.

Li Beichen took a deep breath and began to state his scheme in a low voice:

"First, is the method of approaching Yuwen Shang."

He dipped his fingertip in the tea and began to sketch on the stone table.

"As the head of the Yuwen Clan and a Fruit Position True Person, Yuwen Shang usually lives in seclusion, mostly in closed-door cultivation within the Dao Realm Family Forbidden Ground. It is extremely difficult for outsiders to get close."

"But every sixty years, the Dao Realm 'Ten Thousand Laws Heavenly Pool' opens. The 'celestial heart lotus dew' born within has a miraculous effect on stabilizing the Divine Soul, and it must be refined within fifteen minutes of its birth. Therefore, Yuwen Shang will definitely go in person to collect it."

"This is the optimal timing!"