Chapter 219: Defecting to Buddhism

Inside Zhalong Pass.

The Blood Filth Qi sent into the formation by Perfected One Yin Shan using Qi Refining cultivators in the previous battle had been completely cleared, and the Formation had returned to its perfect state.

Thanks to this, the mood of the various Perfected Ones had also improved significantly.

Except for the Treasure-Laden Youth.

Because he was now faintly isolated. Although Perfected One Five Elements didn’t say it out loud, he clearly still suspected him of being an undercover agent for the Demonic Sect.

This left the Treasure-Laden Youth with a bellyful of stifled anger and nowhere to vent it. He admitted the death of Old Man Dragon Angler had a tiny bit to do with him, but wasn’t that because the Demonic Sect was cunning and he had momentarily been careless and fallen for the trick? How could he possibly be an undercover agent? He had been robbed by the Demonic Sect back then! He had a blood feud with the Demonic Sect.

Everyone understood the logic.

However, prejudice in people’s hearts was like a great mountain. Once a certain fixed impression was formed, no matter how he explained, it would be difficult to remove.

Depressed, he could only seek out Sword Master Xuantie.

After all, among the Perfected Ones present, only Sword Master Xuantie was a newcomer. He held no prejudice against him and wouldn’t ostracize him, so they could at least chat a few sentences.

As for how to deal with Sword Cultivators, the Treasure-Laden Youth was considered experienced.

Just praise his sword.

“Fellow Daoist, can I touch your sword?”

The Treasure-Laden Youth got straight to the point and expressed his admiration for the [Shangxuan Sword Sect]. After some back and forth, he soon became familiar with Sword Master Xuantie.

“Actually, I felt Fellow Daoist Five Elements’ earlier statement was somewhat biased.” The Treasure-Laden Youth smiled. “Although that Yuan Tu is powerful, he is not invincible. With Fellow Daoist’s strength, and being a Sword Cultivator, although you may not necessarily be his opponent, exchanging a hundred moves should still be no problem.”

These words immediately scratched Sword Master Xuantie’s itch.

After all, Perfected One Five Elements’ words earlier had left him speechless. Now that he finally heard a “fair word,” how could he not be satisfied?

For a moment, he felt a few degrees more favorable toward the Treasure-Laden Youth.

“Fellow Daoist flatters me.”

Sword Master Xuantie waved his hand. “If that devil is truly as Fellow Daoist Five Elements described, then I fear only the Sect Master of my Sword Sect can fight him.”

“Perfected One Shangxuan?”

The Treasure-Laden Youth’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. After another round of praise, he said, “Speaking of which, I heard Perfected One Shangxuan is breaking through to the Late Stage this time.”

“This act is too dangerous, and the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation is hard to cross. Is Fellow Daoist not worried?”

“Hahaha!”

Sword Master Xuantie laughed loudly upon hearing this. “The so-called breakthrough to the Late Stage is just false news we deliberately released. How could the Sect Master be so reckless?”

“The Sect Master received support from the Sword Pavilion this time and plans to refine a supreme spirit sword. Once refined, he will immediately rush to support us… So I wasn’t worried about anyone sneaking up on Mystic Sword Mountain earlier because the Sect Master is not in a death seclusion to break through. In case of a crisis, he can take action at any time!”

“If necessary, I can even contact the Sect Master.”

Speaking to this point, Sword Master Xuantie took out a lamp from his sleeve and said, “Before I left, the Sect Master specially refined a Soul Lamp and gave it to me.”

“Inside the lamp is a strand of the Sect Master’s Divine Sense.”

“With the connection of Divine Sense, I can contact the Sect Master through the Soul Lamp at any time to understand the recent situation at Mystic Sword Mountain. What is there to worry about?”

As Sword Master Xuantie spoke, he realized something was wrong.

Because the Treasure-Laden Youth before him had unknowingly turned terrifyingly pale. His mouth was twitching frantically, and a finger pointed tremblingly at him.

“Fellow Daoist?”

Sword Master Xuantie was stunned. He looked at himself—intact clothes, extinguished lamp, intact spirit sword… no problem. What was wrong…

“…Hmm?”

Sword Master Xuantie froze.

In the next second, he blinked. Then, this Perfected One at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, supposedly unstained by dust, even unprecedentedly rubbed his eyes.

He didn’t see wrong… it was extinguished.

Extinguished!?

Clang!

The lamp fell directly to the ground and shattered, simply because the Divine Sense and spiritual power maintaining its existence had now completely dissipated.

At this moment, Sword Master Xuantie actually hoped Perfected One Shangxuan was in seclusion attempting the Late Stage… because then he could comfort himself that the Sect Master failed the attempt, causing the Soul Lamp to extinguish. However, right now he could not deceive himself. There was only one possibility for Perfected One Shangxuan’s Soul Lamp extinguishing—

The [Shangxuan Sword Sect] was gone!

“Impossible… impossible!!!” Sword Master Xuantie’s eyes dimmed as he murmured in a low voice. Sword Qi erupted all over his body; his Sword Heart had actually failed to hold!

However, in the next second—

Smack!

A slap with full force landed heavily on Sword Master Xuantie’s face, waking him up. He looked blankly at the person who hit him.

It was impressively the Treasure-Laden Youth.

The Treasure-Laden Youth had also changed his appearance. His face was twisted with fear, but his eyes revealed clarity, even calmness to the extreme.

“Fellow Daoist, don’t panic.” The Treasure-Laden Youth said in a deep voice, “I have just blocked the aura. No one knows about the matter of the [Shangxuan Sword Sect] now… This is our chance! Taking advantage of this time difference, we must quickly find a way to slip away. There is no longer any need to defend Zhalong Pass!”

The Treasure-Laden Youth saw it very clearly.

The sudden destruction of the [Shangxuan Sword Sect] meant that the strongest reinforcement on the [Kingdom of Qing] side was gone. Zhalong Pass instantly became water without a source!

In comparison, the Demonic Sect’s morale was at its peak.

What was the point of fighting?

“Staying at Zhalong Pass is just waiting for death. Now, either find a new backer or run away. Or does Fellow Daoist Xuantie want to reincarnate?”

With life and death at stake, Sword Master Xuantie also came to his senses.

“Fellow Daoist… speaks correctly!”

After the destruction of the [Shangxuan Sword Sect], Zhalong Pass had become a dead place. If they didn’t run at this time, once the Demonic Sect went south and attacked, they wouldn’t be able to escape!

However, soon he became dejected again. “Even if we want to flee, where to?”

South? The south was the Sword Pavilion. The Sword Pavilion supported his [Shangxuan Sword Sect] precisely for him to risk his life at this time. How could they allow him to flee before the battle?

East? The [Kingdom of Qing] would definitely use them as an example to warn others.

North? Defect to the Primordial Saint Sect?

Thinking of this, Sword Master Xuantie’s look at the Treasure-Laden Youth instantly changed.

You brat… aren’t truly a Demonic Sect… no, Saint Sect undercover agent, are you?

At the same time, the Treasure-Laden Youth also noticed Sword Master Xuantie’s half-suspicious, half-expectant look and instantly understood his implication.

“I’m really not!”

The Treasure-Laden Youth looked helpless. He wished he were a Saint Sect undercover agent now, but he truly had no relation to that bunch of animals in Jiangbei.

“I meant go West, defect to Buddhism!”

Speaking to this point, the Treasure-Laden Youth reached into his bosom and took out a jade-carved Buddha statue. “To tell you the truth, the Pure Land has approached me.”

He indeed wasn’t a Saint Sect undercover agent.

He was a Pure Land undercover agent!

“The Great Arhat of the Pure Land promised me that as long as I bring people into the Pure Land during this great war, the higher my stature will be when I open a temple in the Pure Land in the future.”

The Treasure-Laden Youth whispered, “And Fellow Daoist Xuantie, you are the first Perfected One I’ve found. Joining the Pure Land at this time brings the greatest benefits. When the time comes, you can also recruit people. The more people you and I recruit, the more resources we will have for cultivation in the future after joining the Pure Land.”

“…”

Sword Master Xuantie fell into a brief silence upon hearing this. But thinking that his own Sword Sect was gone, what was there to hesitate about? He immediately gritted his teeth:

“How do we do it?”

The Treasure-Laden Youth was instantly overjoyed. “Just place your hand on the Buddha statue.”

Sword Master Xuantie immediately reached out his hand.

In the next second, he felt a Buddha light suddenly arise in his Sea of Consciousness, like a rising sun, instantly illuminating his thoughts.

Immediately after, a white lotus platform appeared within the Buddha light. On the platform sat a Dharma Body with the thirty-two marks of perfection, hair in a bun, holding a Dharma implement, and emitting magnificent light. His face wore a compassionate smile, and his demeanor was filled with a transcendence far surpassing ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfected Ones.

“Amitabha.”

A four-character Buddha chant projected from that Dharma Body, instantly soothing Sword Master Xuantie’s panic and fear from just now, making him also reveal a serene and peaceful expression.

Subsequently, he actually put his palms together and sighed with emotion:

“Alas, only today do I know I am me!”

“Amitabha!”

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