Chapter 280: How Can I Let This Go?

Just as Lu Yang thought before entering meditation, the Great Perfected Ones responsible for observing the battle from the Pure Land, Dao Court, Sword Pavilion, and other major factions were indeed regretting their decisions now.

“If we had known this, we shouldn’t have let him slaughter so freely!”

“This Jiangbei demon, that Spirit Treasure that collects human souls and refines them into puppets, and [Patriarch Nether Whisper]… they’re too troublesome. We should have let Suo Huan do the killing instead.”

“What do we do now?”

“If we enter the field, we break the rules. Although the Demon Sect won’t pursue it, since we gain an advantage here, we’ll have to make concessions to Suo Huan’s side…”

“Venerable Vimalakirti has already made his move. What else can we do? He already lost his Golden Body Dharma Form in the [Kingdom of Qing]. If he hadn’t verified the Three Meanings of the Pure Land and had a Bodhisattva protecting him, how could he have returned? This forced intervention is clearly authorized by a Bodhisattva; he had no choice. Let’s just watch.”

Within the Foundation Establishment territory, several divine senses communicated with each other.

In the physical world, a white lotus platform hung in the sky. Seated upon it was a Dharma Body with fleshy ushnisha, holding ritual implements, possessing the thirty-two marks of perfection.

“Bold monster! How dare you be so presumptuous?”

Venerable Vimalakirti shouted in a deep voice. Peerless Buddhist light crashed down. As he spoke, both hands moved simultaneously—one palm striking toward Lu Yang, the other toward [Patriarch Nether Whisper].

Rumble!

In the blink of an eye, [Patriarch Nether Whisper] didn’t hesitate. He directly suspended the [Yama Hall] above Lu Yang’s head, blocking the giant Buddhist palm for him.

With just this one palm, the already damaged [Yama Hall] completely shattered. [Patriarch Nether Whisper]’s aura plummeted instantly. The banner spirits composing the [Yama Hall] shattered one after another, turning into white light and flying back into the Myriad Spirits Banner. They wouldn’t be summonable again anytime soon!

“Obstinate and foolish.”

Venerable Vimalakirti had a benevolent face, but his eyes were filled with cold killing intent. He raised his palm and struck down again, enveloping both [Patriarch Nether Whisper] and Lu Yang!

Seeing this, [Patriarch Nether Whisper] could only sigh helplessly. “Sigh… pity my strength is exhausted.”

In his current state, falsely holding the position of Middle Stage Foundation Establishment was his limit. The position of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Great Perfected One was beyond what he could bear.

Otherwise, how could he fail to defeat a mere Pure Land Venerable?

The next second, [Patriarch Nether Whisper] was crushed directly by the Buddhist palm. His true spirit turned into white light and fell into the Myriad Spirits Banner, clearly heavily injured just like the other banner spirits.

But at the same time, Venerable Vimalakirti’s expression changed drastically!

“…Where is he!?”

Lifting his Buddhist palm, he saw that Lu Yang, who was originally under the [Yama Hall], had vanished without a trace. What he had just crushed was nothing more than an empty shell.

[Immortal Fetus Incarnation]!

This was the last thing [Patriarch Nether Whisper] did. He used a spell to imitate Lu Yang’s [Determine Intimacy and Distance] and sent Lu Yang’s main body to another location.

Then he used the [Immortal Fetus Incarnation] to cover it up.

Lu Yang and his clone were of two bodies but one heart, their auras infinitely close. Coupled with [Patriarch Nether Whisper]’s influence, Venerable Vimalakirti was momentarily deceived.

Of course, an imitation was ultimately just an imitation. Plus, Lu Yang was still refining the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends on the Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain, so [Patriarch Nether Whisper] couldn’t have sent him too far.

The next second, Venerable Vimalakirti swept his divine sense and quickly found Lu Yang’s figure in the belly of the Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain. He immediately raised his palm to strike again.

However—it was too late!

Clang!

Instantly, a magnificent and upright sword light rose slowly from the mountain’s belly, like the sun rising in the east, slashing straight at the descending Buddhist palm!

In an instant, Venerable Vimalakirti’s expression changed slightly.

This Buddhist palm seemed ordinary, but it was actually a superior Dharma Body technique containing the wonder of [Mustard Seed Sumeringu]. It was definitely not something an ordinary Perfected One could block.

Yet now, he felt as if his palm had encountered an indestructible rock. Although he could still firmly grasp the opponent, he couldn’t crush him. If he used too much force, waves of stinging pain would come from his palm, causing the Buddhist light to dim significantly.

How is this possible…

Before Venerable Vimalakirti could react, the sword light in his palm expanded abruptly like a gale, forcefully blowing apart his five fingers!

The Buddhist palm collapsed, revealing the scene within.

In the mountain forest, Lu Yang, who was originally in meditation, had opened his eyes at some point. He stood up, flicking his sleeves, one hand resting on his sword hilt.

Instantly, the Foundation Establishment territory fell into chaos!

Not just the Great Perfected Ones of various factions, but even the high and mighty Perfected Lords cast their gazes down, looking at Lu Yang with slight surprise.

“He broke through?”

“Impossible… how can refining Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends happen so fast? Unless his Daoist cultivation is profound and he had long comprehended the mysteries of the Earthly Fiend [Yin Wood].”

“Even so, it’s still too fast!”

Lu Yang seemed not to hear the doubts. He simply sighed and gripped [Tribulation Wave] in his hand. The sword immediately emitted a joyous hum.

The reason he refined the Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Fiends so quickly was naturally due to [Tribulation Wave]’s [Law Upholder] divine wonder. This wonder allowed him to master the Innate Divine Ability [Magnetic Disjunction] early on, meaning he didn’t need to take any detours or face any bottlenecks. The path was completely unobstructed.

Boom!

The next second, streaks of divine ability light surfaced on Lu Yang’s body. Besides his Life-Bound Divine Ability, two other lights swirled around him.

[Embrace and Guard Mountain]!

[Magnetic Disjunction]!

But this wasn’t the end. As he channeled [Tribulation Wave] in his hand, after a brief pause, a third divine ability’s brilliance emerged on the sword!

False holding the position of a Great Perfected One, the third Innate Divine Ability!

Its name: [Kill Those in Power]!

Seeing this scene, even Venerable Vimalakirti fell silent. True, Lu Yang had just broken through, and in a real fight, he still wouldn’t be his match.

But for self-preservation, it was more than enough.

At this moment, unless a Perfected One at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment acted, or several Late Stage Foundation Establishment Great Perfected Ones joined forces, no one could kill Lu Yang!

Almost simultaneously, a mournful dragon roar came from the distant sea.

The Great Perfected Ones immediately looked back.

“[Tian Qiu] lost!”

“Suo Huan is indeed useful. He actually won… [Tian Qiu]’s physical body was slain, leaving only his soul to flee. I’m afraid he’s going to the Netherworld to reincarnate.”

“His Dao enemy is dead. Suo Huan is about to [Seek Golden Core]!”

Following this, the Great Perfected Ones looked again at Lu Yang, standing with his sword. Even Venerable Vimalakirti couldn’t help but sigh, then withdrew his hand and retreated.

“It can’t be done… he actually managed to cling on to a path of survival.”

Meanwhile, inside the Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain.

Lu Yang suddenly felt something and looked to his side. A refined young man quietly appeared. Though half his body was stained with blood, his spirit and energy were at their peak.

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist.”

As soon as Suo Huan appeared, he cupped his hands to Lu Yang and smiled. “Slashing the sea with one sword, capturing a dragon with Dharma Body, and that [Patriarch Nether Whisper]… truly living up to your reputation.”

Lu Yang returned the bow and said seriously, “Are you about to break through, Fellow Daoist?”

Suo Huan nodded. “Things have come to this; I should risk my life for a chance. Once I carve out a path of survival like you, Fellow Daoist, I’ll come back to drink with you!”

“Before that… will you leave, Fellow Daoist?”

Reaching this point, Suo Huan smiled faintly. “This place is about to become my ground for [Seeking Golden Core]. With all the Perfected Lords watching, it might be dangerous for you to stay here.”

Hearing this, Lu Yang’s gaze flickered slightly. Then he suddenly reached out and summoned the Myriad Spirits Banner into his hand. This supreme treasure was now dim in spiritual light, and all banner spirits had fallen into a dormant state. The most heavily injured was undoubtedly [Patriarch Nether Whisper], whose true spirit was infinitely close to dissipating.

Seeing this, Lu Yang pursed his lips, then shook his head. “…No need!”

Suo Huan was stunned. “You’re not leaving, Fellow Daoist?”

Lu Yang put away the Myriad Spirits Banner, his expression cold. “Come if you want to kill me; leave if you don’t. After injuring my banner spirits, how can I let this go?”

As he spoke, Lu Yang was already looking in the direction of Venerable Vimalakirti.

This Pure Land Venerable was in the worst condition. His injuries from being beaten to death by [Hong Ju] in the [Kingdom of Qing] hadn’t healed yet. He was actually on par with Lu Yang.

Since things had come to this, he had no more scruples.

He would use this person to start his slaughter!

“They started the killing tribulation, but when it ends is up to me! Don’t mind me, Fellow Daoist. It won’t be too late for me to leave after I kill a Great Perfected One!”

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