"I understand."
Chen Jiuyang suppressed the chill in his heart, his expressionless face conveying his acknowledgment. He then turned and bid farewell to the 'eerie' Chen Jiuyang, slowly walking back towards Sheng Village.
His Dao name was 'Wu'. The village was filled with different 'Chen Jiuyangs', each being a part of 'Wu'.
This was the first layer.
Everyone had the opportunity to become the true 'Chen Jiuyang'.
This meant that these 'Chen Jiuyangs' might all be formed from Dao force.
However, they could also be traps set by the Dao Fruit.
The moment this realization dawned upon him, Chen Jiuyang felt that his destiny, divine soul, and primordial Dao had established a connection with the Dao Fruit.
It was called: Contending for the Dao!
If, according to the first layer's hypothesis, these 'Chen Jiuyangs' were all Dao force, then Chen Jiuyang would have to refine the Dao force through some method, only to be assimilated by the traps within and have the Dao Fruit replace him to be reborn.
The outcome of contending for the Dao was life or death, with no retreat or negotiation.
This was part of observing the situation.
However, Chen Jiuyang had not yet fully observed the situation, nor had he understood the meaning behind the existence of Deadland Village and the 'eerie' Chen Jiuyang.
Perhaps Sheng Village and the 'eerie' Chen Jiuyang were also part of the first primordial Dao, 'Wu'.
On the chessboard, the black pieces of the Dao Fruit could turn white pieces black.
Suddenly.
Chen Jiuyang understood how to obtain the first primordial Dao.
How many types of 'Wu' were there?
Using the identity of 'Village Chief', he could ascertain that the 'eerie' village was not formed by the 'Zhuang Wu' Dao Fruit.
This left Sheng Village and 'Deadland' Village.
There was also a false land outside the Dao Fruit.
It was a setup by the 'Zhuang Wu' Dao Fruit to refine and replace him.
Therefore, when Chen Jiuyang first descended upon this place, the Village Chief 'Chen Jiuyang' had spoken utter nonsense.
Talking about Sheng Village, Deadland Village, and eerie village.
Only one place was real.
Let's retrace now.
Firstly.
When he descended, he was not in the 'coffin' but in another place. It was only after the first black piece was placed on the board that he appeared in the 'coffin'. The Village Chief and others had deceived him, intending to bury him.
That coffin was problematic; it was meant to deceive him into being buried, to be refined. Then, the monsters from Deadland Village, wanting to kill him in Sheng Village, also caused the 'eerie' Chen Jiuyang to appear.
This forced Chen Jiuyang to investigate Deadland Village and the eerie village for clues.
The second piece was still meant to be turned black, meaning the Dao Fruit had not given up on refining him.
The Eighty-One Tribulation Dao Fruit possessed nine types of primordial Dao power. Why was 'Wu' placed first as a test? It was likely simply because the Dao Fruit wanted to refine him.
"Damn it..."
Chen Jiuyang had practiced martial arts for so many years, yet he had never encountered such a complicated situation.
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with sharp light: "Although this move is a bit dangerous, I'll do it anyway."
Contending for the 'Wu' Dao now, the chessboard had definitely been tampered with by the Dao Fruit.
Chen Jiuyang had already observed the situation, but he was still missing a crucial clue: how to be born from death?
To be born from death, to be born from death, there must be a path to survival.
If Chen Jiuyang could not find this sliver of hope, he would truly be devoured by the 'Dao Fruit'.
Where was the hope?
The moment Chen Jiuyang stepped into Sheng Village, he immediately left and went to find Princess Shile.
Chen Jiuyang reported his intention, and Princess Shile nodded slightly, her eyes flashing with sharp light as she said: "Your guess is correct, the contention for the first primordial Dao has been tampered with by the Dao Fruit."
"Your analysis of the situation is also good."
"You're still missing a little..."
"Think carefully about every detail of your meeting with the Dao Fruit. You should know where the Dao Fruit made its move."
"Only when you know where the Dao Fruit tampered with it can you fully observe the situation, and thus, perceive the path to being born from death."
"The so-called Sheng Village, Deadland Village, and eerie village are all manipulations of the Dao Fruit. Your constant running back and forth between them means you've fallen into the Dao Fruit's trap."
"If you are within the trap, how can you observe the situation?"
"Clang!"
Princess Shile's words were like brilliant Dao sounds, striking Chen Jiuyang with a powerful jolt.
Yes...
Where exactly did the 'Zhuang Wu' Dao Fruit tamper with things?
Chen Jiuyang immediately calmed his mind and began to ponder.
He recalled the memories frame by frame.
After half a day, his body suddenly trembled, his face paled, and cold sweat poured down: "It's truly insidious. I think I've gained something."
From beginning to end, he had been schemed against.
In this situation, Chen Jiuyang felt that Qi Wushuang's words might have some merit. For a Dao Fruit of the Eighty-One Tribulation Immortal Emperor level, if you wanted to refine it, you would need a helper.
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath and looked at Princess Shile: "Your Highness Shile, in a moment, I will bring a Dao force avatar for you. You must be prepared to help me."
"If I refine Dao force, I will naturally help you," Princess Shile replied.
Chen Jiuyang nodded slowly and said, "I'll be back soon. Princess Shile, please be prepared."
Previously, when he used 'The myriad races of the mortal world fear me like heaven' and 'Past and future, no immortals in this moment', he had been suppressed.
After Princess Shile's reminder, he felt something was wrong.
Now, he knew why it felt wrong.
Chen Jiuyang immediately returned to Sheng Village.
Outside Sheng Village were all sorts of terrifying ghostly monsters, likely Dao Ghosts, Dao Slaves, and so on.
Sheng Village, peaceful and stable, looked so out of place in this dark, boundless tomb of the netherworld.
Chen Jiuyang strode back into the Village Chief's wooden house.
He looked at the coffin before him with a solemn gaze.
He had placed the Village Chief Chen Jiuyang inside. If he became the Village Chief, then what about his own physical body?
Chen Jiuyang shoved open the coffin lid.
He saw his own true body, 'Chen Jiuyang', lying within. Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath: "As expected."
"Old schemer, this calculation is too ruthless."
If they wanted to refine him, then refining his physical body would suffice.
As for his consciousness, the Village Chief Chen Jiuyang was originally formed from Dao force. Chen Jiuyang's consciousness was within the Dao force. Without the 'Zhuang Wu' Dao Fruit refining it itself, Chen Jiuyang had dug his own grave and buried himself within.
"Fortunately, not much time has passed, and there's still a chance for remedy."
Chen Jiuyang exhaled heavily.
Then, he lay down in the coffin himself. The two physical bodies were not placed side by side; instead, the 'Village Chief' Chen Jiuyang's body directly merged into Chen Jiuyang's own within the coffin.
At this moment.
"Rumble!!!"
Chen Jiuyang circulated his Martial Dao Furnace and felt a trace of Dao force related to 'Wu' surge into his heart.
"Above the Nine-Five Supreme, is 'Wu'."
"'Wu' is immune to all methods, 'Wu's' Dao force is incorruptible, 'Wu' can split into myriad avatars, 'Wu' can command the Dao and rule the nine heavens!"
"'Wu' can transform into others! 'Wu' is indestructible through time!"
"'Wu' is the truth of the Dao, 'Wu' is the origin of the Dao!"
"'Wu' can transcend and become a Dao Ancestor!"
"'Wu', can achieve anything!"