Chapter 187: The Truth About Zhao Huowang

Lu Yan’s expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with disbelief.

For a moment, he even thought he was hallucinating.

But when he focused again, the same three Longevity Version options still clearly appeared before him—real and undeniable.

Together, the three options spelled out the same sentence he had seen during the last version update:

【Little friend, what are you hesitating for?】

“How is this possible?”

Back in the previous version update, something had already gone wrong. An unknown will had infiltrated the version update interface, attempting to lure Lu Yan into choosing the Longevity Version.

He had thought that choosing the Demon Variant version had helped him narrowly avoid the trap.

Yet now, the Longevity Version was still relentlessly pursuing him—and worse, it had completely taken over all three update options.

This meant that no matter which one he selected, he had only one path—to enter the Longevity Version.

“Who is it?”

“The Dao of Longevity itself? Or a peak powerhouse possessing the Unique of This World trait?”

“What is its purpose in pursuing me?”

“Why must I enter the Longevity Version?”

Countless questions flooded Lu Yan’s mind, the looming danger stirring a deep sense of unease within him, making it nearly impossible to think clearly.

He had believed that dragging things out until the version update would guarantee a counterattack—once the update triggered, he would be able to reverse the situation and destroy the Peak Nether Abyss cultivator chasing him.

But with the sudden appearance of three Longevity Version options, that last glimmer of hope was shattered.

If he chose any of the Longevity Versions now, not only would he still have to face the pursuer from the Nether Abyss Realm, but he would also come under threat from the mysterious force behind the Longevity Version.

This wasn’t just a dilemma—it was a dead-end.

“No, wait! I still have a trump card!”

A flash of inspiration struck Lu Yan. He suddenly remembered the version authority he’d gained after acting as a surrogate for the heavens.

【Authority: Designate Version】 Once fully charged through version update progress, this authority allows you to select a previously encountered version to override current update options.

【Designate Version Charge: 2/2】

A line of text appeared in the upper left corner of his field of vision, immediately reigniting hope in his heart.

He had already gained one charge back during the last update. After fully charging it in the Demon Variant version, the authority was now complete—he could freely choose any previous version instead of being forced into the Longevity trap.

Soon, a list of version worlds appeared on the left side of the interface:

Spiritual Revival, Cyberpunk, Xianxia, Apocalypse, Eldritch, Education, Infinite, Ghostly Horror…

Designated Version options on the left. Three Longevity Versions on the right. Lu Yan fell into deep silence.

There was no question—this trump card could help him dodge the trap for now.

He could choose the lowest energy Spiritual Revival Version. Even if that Nether Abyss powerhouse followed him in with boundless cultivation, their power would be suppressed to the Qi Refining stage. Lu Yan could crush them with one hand.

But after killing them… what then?

The threat wouldn’t be over. The Longevity Version had already shown up in the last update. Now, it had taken over all three options. There was a high chance it would appear again in the next cycle.

And next time, Lu Yan would no longer have the Designate Version authority.

If three Longevity options reappeared then, he would have no way out.

The Longevity Version was like a ghostly shadow clinging to his back, impossible to shake off.

This was a complete deadlock.

“No matter what I choose… it’s a path to death.”

A heavy sense of despair began to creep over him. It was as though the moment he saw the Longevity Version appear again, everything had already been fated.

He stared blankly at the three options on the right. A single thought rose in his mind:

“If I’m going to face the Longevity Version eventually, why not just deal with it now?”

“Maybe the entity behind it doesn’t actually mean harm. Maybe I’m just scaring myself…”

His thoughts slowed. His body moved like rusted machinery, and his right index finger began to rise—aimed at the three options on the right.

Just then, the Supreme Dao Foundation within him suddenly quaked. It was like the thunderous roar of the Dao exploded in his mind, instantly snapping him back to awareness.

His fingertips were almost touching the option.

Realizing what had just happened, fury ignited in his chest.

“Longevity!!!”

The last time, when there was only a single Longevity Version option, he had also been affected by its seduction.

Now, despite having grown much stronger in the Demon Variant version, the three options had dramatically increased the strength of the mental lure.

Even Lu Yan had almost succumbed.

If not for the high-tier status of his Supreme Dao Foundation, he might’ve truly been manipulated into choosing the Longevity Version again.

But after the initial rage faded, Lu Yan began to feel something else—glee.

He had realized something critical.

If this were truly a complete deadlock, why would the Longevity Version need to manipulate him at all?

If it were inevitable, it could simply wait for him to finish the next version. He would have no choice but to fall into the trap.

“Since the Longevity Version is trying to seduce me now… that means there’s still a chance!”

Hope sparked.

Lu Yan began to organize his thoughts, his mind spinning at high speed.

“The version update interface exists because I, as an Unchanging One, guide the direction of updates. The existence inside the Longevity Version must be limited somehow. It can’t be powerful enough to directly overwrite the world’s version update process.

If it could, it would’ve already transcended the Unique of This World constraint. It wouldn’t need to go through this whole manipulation process to get me to enter—it could just invade the Demon Variant version directly.

So if the Longevity Version is able to hijack the update menu like this, there must be a medium—either a specific action or a version it uses as a conduit.

That means the root problem… is the Demon Variant version itself?”

It was like thunder roared through Lu Yan’s mind. The fog lifted.

The shadow that had loomed over him all this time suddenly became clear.

All the lingering mysteries from the last update now made sense.

“Back then, there were three choices. The Ascension Version had too high of a power level and was eliminated. The Longevity Version was dangerous. The Demon Variant version seemed optimal, but it was actually a hidden trap.

Because the Demon Variant version… was already invaded by the Longevity Version!”

Ever since Lu Yan entered the Demon Variant version, he had noticed how abnormal its Heavenly Dao was—allowing all living beings to steal from the Dao, and allowing the Dao to devour all beings. A perverse cycle of demonic reincarnation.

Such a system shouldn’t have been permitted by a normal Heavenly Dao.

And there was more. All the interactions he had with the various thousand-year clans were suspicious in hindsight.

At first, their attack on the Li family had seemed like a bug in the system that the world was trying to correct.

But when it was over, Lu Yan realized—if the Demon Variant Heavenly Dao could act to correct such a minor issue, why did it allow the entire world to fall into such disarray?

The final and most crucial clue… was Zhao Huowang’s relic.

Lu Yan’s memory of it had been erased. He couldn’t recall what it even looked like.

Initially, he assumed it was something Zhao Huowang had written that offended the Dao, triggering a purge that wiped Lu Yan’s memory.

But now that he thought deeper, the Heavenly Dao governs grand trends—it’s restricted from directly interfering with individuals.

For the Demon Variant Heavenly Dao to erase his memory so directly was abnormal.

In fact, it was completely out of character.

Even the Treatise on the Dao Zhao Huowang left behind in the Xianxia Version hadn’t triggered any retaliation. Why would a relic in the Demon Variant version provoke such a reaction?

Erasing memory and the relic’s very existence… it reminded Lu Yan of one particular True Law.

Before the Scripture of Profound Womb Enlightenment appeared, the number three law on the Heaven-Dao True Law Ranking—later pushed to fourth place—was:

“The White Bone Bodhisattva Observes All Beings.”

This True Law could erase things from existence—memories, concepts, and all.

What Lu Yan experienced wasn’t a Dao punishment. It was the effect of that True Law.

Of course, much of this was speculation, but Lu Yan had managed to recover a fragment of truth from Zhao Huowang’s relic using his Supreme Dao Foundation.

【The Immortals took everyone and left—It has arrived!】

That phrase had puzzled him deeply.

Who were the immortals? Who was It?

He had found no answers—not even after enduring countless pursuits.

But now… if he connected It to the Longevity Version—everything clicked.

It has arrived—the Longevity Version invading the Demon Variant world!

Because of that invasion, the world decayed. The Dao began devouring people. The Demon Variant version fell apart.

While cultivating in the ruins of the Northern Mang Forbidden Zone, Lu Yan had read countless texts about the origin of True Laws and ancient legends.

They all said the same thing—True Laws were gifts from divine beings and buddhas. Before that, the age of cultivation was hardly mentioned. Only tales of cruel demons and human struggle remained.

But looking deeper, back before the first True Law was ever granted, the world wasn’t filled with demonic energy. It was a world of spiritual qi.

At that time, the Demon Variant world’s qi concentration was half that of the Xianxia Version—enough to sustain a flourishing cultivation system.

Then came the gods and buddhas, granting True Laws and establishing the True Law Rankings.

And with them, the contamination began—demonic qi mixed with spiritual qi.

Lu Yan boldly speculated:

The so-called gods and buddhas were the Longevity Version’s vanguard. They introduced Dao-thieving True Laws, rapidly boosting combat power.

In a world plagued by demons, such techniques became mainstream, supplanting traditional cultivation.

With time, the original system was wiped away. The True Law Rankings and “No Dual Cultivation” doctrine were established. The world fell into chaos.

All beings began chasing the Dao, and when they died, they were absorbed into it. Reincarnated. Eaten.

If the Longevity Version was the It Zhao Huowang warned of, then who were the Immortals?

Lu Yan remembered a striking detail—the ten great Xianxia sects had no presence in the Demon Variant world.

Even He Dongsheng, who had joined the Taiyi Sect, had vanished.

Putting it all together, Lu Yan arrived at a bold conclusion:

The ten righteous sects were protected by Immortals!

Sensing the Longevity invasion, the Immortals withdrew their people from the world, sparing them from corruption.

Zhao Huowang’s message was simple:

The Immortals took the ten great sects and left. The Longevity Version has invaded this world!

And the sliver of hope Zhao Huowang hinted at…

Was in the Xianxia Version!

(End of Chapter)