I am not sure exactly what method Shan Liangyi used to achieve this effect, but I can clearly observe what the effect is.

This is a temporal effect. Shan Liangyi has summoned the damage he caused in the past to the present. Since the Water Navy Xuanwu was previously harmed by his mana, it now must endure that same type of damage dozens or even hundreds of times. Just one instance of it is enough to inflict serious injury, let alone so many. Death is the inevitable result.

Neither Meng Zhang nor I can stop Shan Liangyi's actions. We can't harm him, nor can we shield Water Navy Xuanwu from the internal attacks. We don't even have time to mourn. Right after the Water Navy Xuanwu died, something seemed to quickly move from that spot to behind Shan Liangyi.

On the enormous dark yellow wheel, two of the blank rings began to shine with new light. One was a deep black, while the other was a sharp silver-white. Clearly, the Xuanwu Seed and the White Tiger Seed had transferred to him.

There was a growing darkness in Meng Zhang's eyes.

The situation now seemed utterly beyond redemption.

In the past, when successive Liangyi inheritors grew stronger, Shan Liangyi changed his hunting order to prioritize obtaining the Vermilion Bird Seed instead of the White Tiger Seed, which counters the Green Dragon Inheritor. This might be because earth can generate metal, meaning Shan Liangyi wasn't entirely restrained when facing the Green Dragon Inheritor. As long as he strengthened the Yellow Dragon Seed with the Vermilion Bird Seed, he could enhance the Gold Element Magical Power he transformed himself with as well.

Yet even if he could transform Gold Element Magical Power, it was undeniable that he previously only had the Yellow Dragon Seed, and in some ways, he might still not effectively suppress the Green Dragon Inheritor. The reason Meng Zhang managed to evade his assault earlier was undoubtedly due to his extraordinary strength and speed at the time, coupled with the fact that the Gold Element Magical Power didn't display its usual accuracy.

But now, that shortcoming no longer existed. The Xuanwu Seed completely restrained me, and the White Tiger Seed completely restrained Meng Zhang. Shang Liangyi, having recovered two power seeds, not only has a massive advantage in attributes but also saw his mana fluctuations soar.

I can say with certainty, disregarding the essence of his third door, that purely based on raw strength, Shan Liangyi was weaker than my Crown Form and the normal Meng Zhang. He reached parity with us through the combat power boost from the Gold Element Magical Power, only to then suppress us with attribute advantages. Now, he truly and completely surpasses both me and Meng Zhang, creating a special effect.

I clearly sensed that the Flame Magic Power, which had only briefly disobeyed me, was now fiercely refusing my command. The more hostility I bore against Shan Liangyi, the more my power seemed to refuse to serve me. The flames forming my Crown Form body seemed on the verge of disbanding.

Moreover, I was already badly wounded, my mind scattered to a degree that impaired my control over power, further inhibiting my movements. Merely maintaining the Crown Form body consumed most of my strength.

It's hard to believe that one strike could leave me in such a state, but perhaps this is how true battle should be. There aren't eight hundred rounds of grand conflicts; the outcome is always decided in an instant.

Yet, I cannot give up hope just yet. I must find a way, or else I'll end up as fish on a chopping board... But what can be done now? Even joining forces with Meng Zhang, coming up with a plan to defeat him seems unlikely.

The odds of winning a direct confrontation are absolutely zero, so what about escape? That's probably not possible either, considering he is an Impermanence adept at time and space power.

Still, I cannot give up thinking. Since I've chosen the tumultuous adventure as my life's ultimate dream, I should not speak of giving up lightly in the face of danger. Quickly, think. Even in a seemingly hopeless situation, there might be a narrow path to survival hidden within.

Perhaps because my power is disturbed by the "source" of Shan Liangyi, or possibly due to my current slightly dazed mental state, I vaguely sensed something deeper.

In the depths of my soul, it seemed there lay a beam of red light akin to a tangible object, resembling a glowing seed upon first glance.

The red light seed resided at the center of my soul, and it seemed all the mana I possessed was released with this as the center. If my mana were the ceaselessly flowing blood, then this light seed would be the constantly beating heart.

This is the "Vermilion Bird Seed" — I realized this instinctively.

At this moment, the Vermilion Bird Seed was trying to detach from my body, moving toward Shan Liangyi. Though it couldn't truly separate for now, it gradually shifted off-center, and its connection to the soul was peeling apart step by step. My soul instinctively reconvened its link, reaching a sort of balance with the Vermilion Bird Seed's drift. It felt like a tug of war.

I took a deep breath, fully restoring my body and soul, yet the tug-of-war between the soul and the Vermilion Bird Seed didn't become any easier. Perhaps it was only a façade. I had a vague understanding that a significant portion of the Vermilion Bird Seed was parasitic on my True Spirit Layer. Otherwise, in numerous past instances of being shattered and scattered, either the Vermilion Bird Seed should have been destroyed with me, or it would have detached from my soul.

And my changes didn't escape Shan Liangyi's notice.

"Indeed, it's just as I heard. Vermilion Bird, are you Manifesting… or should I say Innate Manifestation?" He focused intently on me, "Does such a being truly exist? One who can manifest and achieve the Dao innately, without any need for acquired cultivation…"

"No, this is impossible… Yet you undeniably possess the unique qualities of the Manifestation Realm; that much is certain…"

There was an intent in his gaze to seize me, one he didn't seem intent on hiding, blatantly displaying his naked desire.

"Shan Liangyi, where are you looking?" Meng Zhang said coldly, "Do you believe you've already won?"

"Oh?" Shan Liangyi turned to him, "Isn't that the case? Or do you have some insight?"

"I admit you're stronger than me now, but it's just my personal defeat; I still have 'Paradise'…" Meng Zhang said, "You just severed my connection to 'Paradise' with White Tiger Killing Power, right? But don't forget, 'Paradise' is still here. You think you can rest easy so soon? As long as the connection is reestablished—"

He looked up, shouting at the azure sun above, "Paradise, lend me your power… kill Shan Liangyi and Zhuang Cheng!"

Shan Liangyi made no move to stop him, just silently watched Meng Zhang.

Two seconds passed. 'Paradise' remained silent.

Its gaze was no longer fixed here.

Meng Zhang's face wore an expression of shock.

"Paradise… what's wrong with you?" he asked blankly, "Why aren't you responding?"

Shan Liangyi chuckled, saying, "Let me praise you, Green Dragon… no, Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang. Otherwise, I truly can't hold back. For you, no amount of praise is enough.

"'Paradise'... I must confess, no matter how much effort I expend, I could never create such a great miracle. It's truly the ultimate achievement that could over-fulfill the 'Dream' manifestation. You're a genius able to stand on par with me, Shan Liangyi. If the Vermilion Bird had not intervened, you might indeed have accomplished the creation of the universe.

"It was precisely because of the existence of 'Paradise' that I had to lie in wait, seizing the moment when its gaze momentarily fixed elsewhere to strike, accurately severing your connection with it on the True Spirit Layer using White Tiger Killing Power.

"And you, Meng Zhang, despite being its creator, you have always labored under a huge misunderstanding."

Meng Zhang stared at Shan Liangyi like a gambler who had lost everything, lowly growling, "Misunderstanding… what misunderstanding!?"

"'Paradise' is a self-contained universe, essentially a self-complete entity. It doesn't seek possibilities beyond itself, nor does it have an instinct to manifest in the external world," Shan Liangyi said, "In the end, how could a closed universe possibly interfere with another universe? It is you who, tapping into your own powers, caused its energy to manifest in this world."

"What are you talking about…" Meng Zhang growled through gritted teeth.

"If you cannot grasp this explanation, then let me put it simply," Shan Liangyi said, "It is no abnormality to create an infinitely beautiful dream to escape into for all those who suffer in reality. So why do you think that by combining countless human consciousnesses seeking to escape reality and pursue dreams, you could create a universe that wouldn't want to intervene in another universe?

"""