Chapter 281: Suo Huan Seeks Golden Core, Lu Yang Battles Buddhism

Lu Yang’s words were filled with chilling killing intent that startled even Suo Huan, who gave him a deep look filled with surprise.

However, a look of understanding soon surfaced in his eyes.

“I appreciate your intentions, Fellow Daoist, but I have no way to help you.”

Suo Huan shook his head. Lu Yang dared to offend the Pure Land, but he lacked that confidence. He could only sigh. Seeing this, Lu Yang pondered for a moment.

After some thought, he spoke up, “Fellow Daoist, pardon my bluntness, but your attempt to [Seek Golden Core] this time…”

Before Lu Yang could finish, Suo Huan interrupted him calmly, “I’ve been clinging to life overseas for six hundred years; I’ve actually thought of everything.”

“This time is merely a desperate gamble.”

Reaching this point, a nostalgic look appeared in Suo Huan’s eyes. “I understand what you mean, Fellow Daoist. The various factions helping me [Seek Golden Core] all have their own profit to gain.”

“I’m afraid none of them have good intentions.”

“But this is already the best method I could think of. If I don’t do this, and if all sides intend to stop me, then I truly have zero chance.”

“When I escaped from the [Universe Ruins Realm] back then, I received the favor of the Heavenly Dao. Before it collapsed, it turned into the [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land] and even deduced a Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture for me as my method to [Seek Golden Core]. As long as I devour a Dao Fruit with this secret technique, I can revive the [Universe Ruins Realm].”

This was Suo Huan’s obsession, and also his helplessness.

“Unlike you, Fellow Daoist, I don’t have a Dao Foundation to speak of, nor can I reincarnate to cultivate again. Although one lifetime is long, I only have this one true self.”

“Your methods of [Seeking Golden Core] are all useless to me.”

“Only this Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins Dao Scripture is my path upward, not to mention it can restore my homeland… So I must walk this path!”

Since things had come to this, Lu Yang could only cup his hands. “Then I wish you success, Fellow Daoist.”

Suo Huan nodded silently, then waved his hand.

The next second, Lu Yang felt the world spin. He had actually been sent out of the Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain. Blinking again, he found himself in the Foundation Establishment realm.

Looking out, he saw a cluster of Buddhist light.

Lu Yang raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled. Although Suo Huan claimed he couldn’t help, he had secretly given him a hand.

He had sent him right in front of Venerable Vimalakirti.

Immediately after, in the physical world, a dazzling brilliance pierced through the sky from the direction of the Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain, shooting straight into the Foundation Establishment territory and rising even higher.

“Suo Huan has started [Seeking Golden Core]!”

“An outer heaven cultivator… he’s the first!”

For a moment, all the Great Perfected Ones stationed in the Foundation Establishment territory looked sideways. The experience of every [Seeker of Golden Core] was worthy of their attention.

Inside the Essence Magnetism Divine Mountain, Suo Huan stood with his hands behind his back.

Above his head floated an official position woven from talisman scripts, named [Sea-Quelling Border-Ordering Duke Protector], a Rank 1 position of the Dao Court!

It was precisely with the boost of this official position that he could display the combat power of Foundation Establishment Perfection. Relying on formations and means, he had slain the physical body of the Dragon Palace’s Eldest Prince, [Tian Qiu]. And it was precisely because of this official position that he could stand before the threshold of [Seeking Golden Core] and take the most crucial step:

Condensing [Golden Nature]!

The next second, a speck of golden pattern appeared on Suo Huan’s forehead, shaped like a hooked moon. Compared to Chong Guang’s back then, it carried an obvious illusory quality.

This was normal.

After all, he was condensing it with external force, while Chong Guang had obtained it through self-cultivation. The foundation of the two was worlds apart. It was already a heavenly fortune that he could condense it at all.

“Fortunately, I have other means to compensate…”

Suo Huan exhaled deeply, looking up at the sky above, as if seeing several colossal Dharma Bodies quietly looking down at him.

He had no hesitation.

He took down the [Sea-Stabilizing Pearl] from his waist and communicated with it via his Divine Sense. The next second, a dazzling bright star lit up for him in the sky.

[Eternal Flowing Water]!

Seeing this, Suo Huan immediately took out a jade bottle. After uncorking it, a dense Water Qi instantly filled the air from the bottle.

[Heavenly Virtue Benevolent Divine Water]!

Almost simultaneously, Suo Huan clearly felt the many gazes falling on him suddenly become sharp, vaguely revealing a hint of killing intent.

“[Sky-shrouding], you really made a move!”

“I couldn’t trace the karma. When was it delivered to Suo Huan’s hand?”

“No matter. We have anticipated this. Since someone wants to verify [Eternal Flowing Water], he couldn’t possibly sit by and watch… Let’s see what other means he has.”

Infinitely high above, several vast divine senses intertwined.

Suo Huan knew nothing of this, nor did he care. He simply drank the [Heavenly Virtue Benevolent Divine Water] in one gulp, then channeled his spiritual power to refine it.

The [Heavenly Virtue Benevolent Divine Water] was a treasure of the [Eternal Flowing Water] Dao Fruit. It possessed the virtue of clarity and nourishment, and the wonder of benefiting the world through charity. Consuming it could bring life from a desperate situation, lead to prosperity and development, and bring merit to things. Its imagery perfectly matched his current situation. Instantly, the heavenly light of [Eternal Flowing Water] shone brightly!

“Rise!”

The next second, Suo Huan gathered his full spiritual power. Behind him, the [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land] appeared, reflecting Buddhist light. Then, it rose from the ground and flew toward the Dao Fruit!

Meanwhile, in the Foundation Establishment territory below.

“What do you think are Suo Huan’s chances of winning?”

Venerable Vimalakirti shook his head and sneered. “The lords are watching from the sky. How could they really watch an outer heaven cultivator [Seek Golden Core]?”

“You can’t say that. Since this is to verify [Eternal Flowing Water] and shake the foundation of that one in the Netherworld, the lords might not care about him being an outer heaven cultivator. At worst, they can kill him afterward, let him reincarnate with his [Golden Nature], and he can be a useful fighter in the future…”

“Leave it to your Saint Sect.”

During the conversation, Venerable Vimalakirti looked grim. For the Pure Land, the biggest goal of this trip was actually to convert Lu Yang.

But it fell short at the last moment.

Even his personal intervention achieved nothing. This would inevitably greatly affect his status in the Bodhisattva’s heart, causing him to harbor other thoughts.

Besides me, the Dao Court and the Sword Pavilion are also eyeing that Lu Yang covetously.

While Suo Huan is [Seeking Golden Core] and the Perfected Lords are focused on guarding against that one in the Netherworld, if I invite them to attack together, perhaps we can besiege and kill that Yuan Tu?

Thinking this, Venerable Vimalakirti’s mind became active.

“Gentlemen…”

He had only just opened his mouth, but before his voice could carry, he suddenly felt an indescribable force of suction descend upon him. His expression changed drastically. Venerable Vimalakirti’s reaction was remarkably swift. Almost the instant his instincts warned him of danger, he summoned a spirit treasure for protection—his lotus platform.

At that moment, a radiance of Buddha-light burst forth from the lotus platform, firmly shielding him at its center. Then, a shower of shattered sparks erupted against it.

“Who goes there?!” Venerable Vimalakirti’s gaze darted around, only to discover that the incoming assault consisted not of a single attack, but dozens upon hundreds.

At a glance, they were sword-lights hurtling forth with the force of thunder! ‘The Sword Pavilion… No, that junior!?’ Venerable Vimalakirti suddenly realized what was happening. Yet even as he did, a trace of disbelief appeared in his eyes.

He had never imagined that Lü Yang would actually dare come looking for him! Did he really think he was capable of killing him? For an instant, Venerable Vimalakirti was so enraged that he laughed.

He immediately poured his spiritual power into the attack, and a Buddha-palm manifested once more, sweeping aside the countless sword-lights and revealing what lay behind them.

Then he saw a towering silhouette of light. [Qian Heaven All-Governing Myriad Phenomena Dharma Body]!

The Dharma Body sat within the Foundation Establishment Realm, bearing three heads and six arms, its face blue and its fangs bared as it soared amid profound flames. One enormous hand, large enough to blot out the heavens, was fiercely reaching toward him!

“…”

At nearly the same moment, the several Great Perfected Ones who had been conversing merrily with Venerable Vimalakirti only moments ago had vanished without a trace, leaving Venerable Vimalakirti alone.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion rang out within the Foundation Establishment Realm. The enormous hand was blocked by Venerable Vimalakirti, while the rolling profound flames parted to either side, revealing the young Daoist behind the Dharma Body.

Seeing this, Venerable Vimalakirti immediately gritted his teeth. “Junior…”

Yet Lü Yang could not even be bothered to respond. Sword in hand, he formed a sign with his fingers, instantly conjuring a streak of yellow radiance that came crashing down upon Venerable Vimala with the force of mountains collapsing and toppling heavens!

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