Chapter 642: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; Hong Yangzi, harboring ulterior motives; the death of the King of Yin Land.
The golden Asna pointed ahead, directing towards a barren land on the horizon, his smile waned, and his expression grew stern.
After days of pursuit, the trail had fractured several times, but fortunately, both he and Bo Xun's avatars were well-versed in their arts. Through their divine skills, they finally located the lair of the King of Yin Land.
Seeing the direction Asna pointed, Bo Xun's black and white dual bodies also turned solemn, and in unison, they said:
"If that's the case, then let's go assess the strength of this King of Yin Land who's stirred such great storms."
"With the combined strength of our six avatars, if we can slay him, it will be once and for all. If not, our alliance can surely withdraw with ease and devise new strategies."
"Indeed!" Asna nodded slightly, glanced back with no hesitation, and stepped onto the endless barren land ahead.
Now, in a distant underground cave of a valley, fire lights flickered.
Eight figures lingered afar behind the golden Asna and his group. Upon seeing the dots on the magic compass start to move, a towering figure with a monk's tonsure scar on his head stood up abruptly, excitement in his voice:
"Everyone, it seems Asna and his group have begun to act. Let's prepare to depart."
The firelight mirrored on the tall monk's face, resembling the gentle countenance of the Buddha Emperor.
The eight figures were, in fact, the team dispatched by the Taoist Emperor, Buddhist Emperor, and Demon Emperor to besiege Asna and Bo Xun's avatars in Yin Land, aiming to contain the King of Yin Land.
Both Taoist Emperor and Buddhist Emperor dispatched three avatars each, while the Demon Emperor, due to issues with his cultivation technique, sent only two.
Seeing this, a look of joy spread across everyone's faces.
"Marvelous, marvelous, fellow Buddha's divination skill and tracking method are truly extraordinary. I am impressed. Since that's the case, what are we waiting for? Let's hurry." said the leading Taoist Emperor's avatar, nodding with a smile.
This journey through Yin Land had been much smoother than they anticipated so far.
During a search for clues about the King of Yin Land, the Buddha Emperor inadvertently discovered a trace left by Asna and his group. With the profound foundations of the Taoist, Buddhist, and Demonic sects, along with several major magic treasures they carried, they reached this point.
"Indeed, with Asna and his group probing that enigmatic King of Yin Land for us, it saves us some trouble."
"Have they not heard, like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?"
"If we wait until they're both weakened, we can charge out together, hehe..."
The leading Demon Emperor's avatar gave a cold laugh, his face revealing a malevolent grin, and eagerly set off.
The heavenly wind was fierce.
In a valley opposite to where the eight avatars of the Taoist, Buddhist, and Demon Emperors were located.
A figure in a black robe removed his hood, revealing a pleased expression.
In the daylight, his face was illuminated; it was indeed Asna's visage.
This was not an avatar but his true self.
Even the Taoist Emperor, Buddhist Emperor, and Demon Emperor did not realize that three days earlier, Asna had already absorbed numerous elites under his command into his 'Heaven and Earth Divine Bridge', the Supreme Ultimate Artifact of the Cosmic Sea, taking them along to descend into Yin Land.
"Indeed, I, Asna, am never wrong. My previous speculation was indeed correct."
"The Taoist Emperor, Buddhist Emperor, Demon Emperor, and members of our Holy Alliance are not mediocre. Even with my astonishing talent in cultivation, I have felt the barrier before us, insurmountable for so long."
"Therefore, if I, Asna, am never wrong, it is the heavens and the earth itself that are flawed."
"Haha, how laughable, who could understand that the key to Dao Fruit Ascension, reaching the Other Shore, was to come to this Land of Fall in Yin Land?"
"To break through within the Yangshi World compared to breaking through in Yin Land, the difficulty between these two realms is vastly different."
During these three days, aside from contacting his avatars, Asna was sensing and capturing the mysterious opportunity in the Yin Land.
At this moment, he had already realized the key to ascending to the Other Shore.
First, his cultivation must elevate to a realm overlooking all heavens, with the Three Dao Fruits achieving perfection, reaching the limit, and having a high degree of compatibility.
The higher the compatibility between the Dao Fruits, the smoother the ascension to the Other Shore.
Second, the location for ascension must be away from the Yangshi World, intentionally falling into Yin Land to significantly lower the difficulty of Dao Fruit Ascension.
This is the most challenging aspect of ascending to the Dao Fruit Realm, as reaching this state of cultivation, intentionally falling into Yin Land is akin to suicide; it is to seek life within death.
Even with Asna's courage, he dared to risk proving his hypothesis only after crafting the Heaven and Earth Divine Bridge.
Third, for true ascension, a massive sacrifice of spiritual nature is required as fuel for the ascension.
This is why Asna, up until now, had not actively ascended.
With his current cultivation, the Desire Dao Fruit in Yin Land is as empowered as having wings to a tiger. Even if the Taoist Emperor stood before him, he would have seventy percent certainty of defeating him. Who in Yin Land could obstruct him, who could stop him?
Asna extended his great hand, looking at the eternally overcast sky of Yin Land, yet his heart was brighter than ever.
This time, his intentional descent, along with compelling countless elites under his command to be refined and sealed within the Heaven and Earth Divine Bridge, was indeed a winning gamble.