Chapter 278: Devouring Yuan Tu?

The Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain radiated five-colored brilliance.

This divine mountain was no ordinary object. It was transformed from a Grotto-Heaven that had merged into heaven and earth after a Perfected Lord’s death, stripping away its original attributes.

It must be known that for any Perfected Lord, their Grotto-Heaven pointed toward a specific Dao Fruit. Therefore, a Grotto-Heaven fragment like this, naturally generated by heaven and earth without pointing to any specific fruit, was incredibly rare. Leaving aside other benefits, just its ability to assist cultivators in lifting their Blessed Lands and ascending to position to [Seek Golden Core] was something other Grotto-Heavens couldn’t achieve.

Otherwise, why would the Dragon Palace’s Eldest Prince, [Tian Qiu], focus on it?

If just any Grotto-Heaven could aid in [Seeking Golden Core], with his status, he could have simply gone to the Dragon Lord’s Grotto-Heaven to break through. There would be no need for such trouble.

However, this divine mountain was currently useless to Lu Yang.

All he needed was the Earthly Fiend [Yin Wood Qi] derived from within the mountain. Without it, he wouldn’t have cooperated so sincerely with Suo Huan.

This fact was also known to everyone else.

Almost the instant Lu Yang entered meditation, outside the divine mountain, Hui Ku and the other Buddhist cultivators who had previously hidden using Spirit Treasures revealed themselves.

“Amitabha!”

These Buddhist cultivators all looked joyous. Hui Ku laughed loudly. “Benefactor Yuan Tu, today you are destined to face tribulation and enter my Pure Land.”

As his voice fell, the group of monks pinched hand seals and chanted the Buddha’s name. “Respectfully inviting the [Vast Strength Heavenly Dragon Temple]!”

Instantly, vast Buddhist light rose within the Foundation Establishment territory. Within the light, a majestic temple appeared, supported by auspicious clouds, with a golden statue standing inside.

If Lu Yang hadn’t already entered meditation to refine the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends, he would surely recognize this temple. It was none other than the former [Fu Long Temple], only its appearance had changed. The golden statue standing inside was no longer the Arhat Fu Long, but a Buddha whose face was identical to Lu Yang’s.

“Hahaha!”

Only then did Hui Ku finally laugh out loud, feeling that the frustration of being too scared to show himself because of Lu Yang’s single sword strike was finally relieved.

No matter how high your divine abilities, what can you do?

Don’t you still have to surrender?

Yes, in Hui Ku’s view, Lu Yang had accepted his fate and intended to surrender. After all, one had absolutely no power to resist while refining Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends.

“At least he’s sensible.”

“Otherwise, if we really fought, it’d likely end with a few deaths. Since this demon is willing to surrender, it counts as immeasurable merit.”

Thinking this, Hui Ku even felt a twinge of envy. With Lu Yang’s cultivation, once he finished refining the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends and achieved the Perfection of the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, then entered Buddhism and took the seat of the [Vast Strength Heavenly Dragon Arhat], he wouldn’t be far from becoming a Great Perfected One level Pure Land Venerable.

Though by then, there would be no more Lu Yang.

At this thought, Hui Ku couldn’t help grinning. Behind him, the twenty-three Buddhist cultivators also revealed smiles very similar to his.

But just then.

“Immortal Decree arrives!”

A loud shout came from the distant horizon. In an instant, a mighty force dispersed the Pure Land’s Buddhist light. Looking over, one could see a long carriage procession.

“Hmm? The Dao Court?”

Hui Ku frowned but said nothing. The Bodhisattvas in the Pure Land had warned him beforehand that the Dao Court also wanted a share of the pie.

Soon, several Capital Skies Division imperial guards from the Dao Court arrived.

The leader was an old acquaintance. Like Hui Ku, he was a Rank 3 senior official of the Dao Court who had once appeared in the [Cave Sun Blessed Land] to hunt for treasures.

[Capital Skies Division Commander] Hou Lan.

[General Administration Division Commissioner] Cheng Tinggui.

The two of them held a golden scroll together and said solemnly, “By the Immortal Decree of His Majesty, we conscript Lu Yang of Jiangbei to enter the court as an official, granted a High Rank 3 position!”

Hui Ku didn’t mind.

The Pure Land and the Dao Court had agreed beforehand. The Pure Land would take Lu Yang’s Dao Foundation, Dharma Body, and cultivation, while the Dao Court would take Lu Yang’s soul.

The Pure Land hoped to use Lu Yang’s cultivation to induce the [City Rampart Earth], while the Dao Court intended to make Lu Yang, the only current Perfected One cultivating [City Rampart Earth], enter the court and submit as a subject. They aimed to take his imagery and usurp the position of [City Rampart Earth] as the supreme Earth element.

The two goals didn’t conflict.

Therefore, upon meeting, instead of any tension, the atmosphere was harmonious—a picture of “hello, I’m good, everyone’s good.”

Shortly after, another streak of sword light flew over.

“The Sword Pavilion is here!”

Hui Ku laughed. The sword light arrived, and a handsome young man stepped out. His cold gaze immediately fell upon Lu Yang.

This operation to cleanse the overseas region involved the Pure Land, the Dao Court, and the Saint Sect. It really had nothing to do with the Sword Pavilion. But once Lu Yang got involved, the Sword Pavilion couldn’t sit still. Especially the Ye Family, the direct lineage of the former Perfected Lord, who hated Lu Yang to the bone and wanted him dead.

“I am Ye Tao.”

The young man cupped his hands toward the Pure Land and Dao Court representatives, then looked at [Tribulation Wave] beside Lu Yang. “I come for this sword.”

“This demon comes from the common people and had no background in his past life. For such a divine sword to fall into his hands is truly a pearl cast into dust.”

“After my Sword Pavilion reclaims it, we will select another disciple with a proper background and an extraordinary past life to bestow it upon. Only then can this sword shine with its brilliance.”

Even the candidate had already been decided.

It was the [Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde], who would reincarnate and return decades later. Otherwise, Ye Tao, as an elder of the Ye Family, wouldn’t have come personally.

“Good!”

Hui Ku smiled, not minding at all. [Tribulation Wave] was certainly a good sword, but the Pure Land had few sword cultivators, so they naturally didn’t care for it.

Meanwhile, Hou Lan of the Dao Court looked around and asked curiously:

“No one from the Demonic Sect came?”

Hui Ku shook his head. “Their main focus is on Suo Huan. Since we’re taking a bigger bite here, we’ll have to give them a larger share over there.”

“So that’s how it is.” Cheng Tinggui nodded and continued, “Since everyone is here, let’s make our move. Better to finish early to avoid complications.”

After speaking, everyone looked toward Lu Yang on the mountain.

In the next second, as the Myriad Spirits Banner beside him shook, banner spirits emerged one by one, releasing their auras. They were the seven Initial Stage Foundation Establishment demons from earlier.

However, no one paid them any mind.

Among Ye Tao, Hui Ku, Hou Lan, and Cheng Tinggui, who wasn’t at the Middle Stage of cultivation? Seven Initial Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were nothing more than chickens and dogs to them.

“I’ll go first!”

Hou Lan smiled coldly. He immediately deployed his official position. The talisman script of the [Capital Skies Division Commander] radiated rosy light as it shone toward Lu Yang.

But in the very next second.

“Ah!”

Hou Lan, who had rushed to the front, suddenly stopped. A scream filled with terror made Hui Ku and the others, who intended to follow, instantly halt their steps.

What happened?

Then they saw it. From within the Myriad Spirits Banner, a palm suddenly reached out from the void, carrying rolling Yin Baleful Qi, and clamped directly onto Hou Lan’s neck!

Without any pause, the palm twisted slightly, snapping Hou Lan’s neck as easily as breaking a twig. Boundless Yin Baleful Qi wrapped around Hou Lan’s body like a spiderweb, transforming into raging Baleful Fire, instantly refining him into flying ash!

“Impossible!”

Seeing this, Cheng Tinggui, who was also from the Dao Court, was the first to scream in shock. Hui Ku and Ye Tao also revealed looks of astonishment.

True, Dao Court cultivators were a bit weak.

But no matter how weak, he was a Rank 3 official, comparable to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. How could he be crushed to death by a single hand? was Lu Yang still awake?

Soon, they saw the owner of the hand.

“I’m old and useless.”

The Myriad Spirits Banner fluttered, and a figure walked out slowly, rubbing his shoulder and sighing. “In the past, he would have died from just a glare…”

Saying such words, the one who walked out was a handsome young man.

Hui Ku and Cheng Tinggui didn’t recognize him yet.

Only Ye Tao, looking at his face, seemed to recall something. His eyes suddenly widened. “You are… that remnant of the Shaman Ghost Dao, [Patriarch Nether Whisper]!?”

Hearing this, [Patriarch Nether Whisper] immediately looked sideways at him.

“Who are you calling a remnant?”

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