Chapter 112: Fishing in the Beginner's Village
Chapter 112: Fishing in the Beginner's Pool
The moment the foremost cultivator—a Buddhist practitioner who had forged a golden body—collapsed with a thunderous crash, Guang Ming at the rear instantly reacted.
"If I were to become a Buddha, and the beings in my land did not all attain true golden bodies, I would not accept supreme enlightenment."
This was the "Great Mantra of the True Golden Body," one of the forty-eight great mantras in the Root Sutra of Mahayana Right Enlightenment, and Guang Ming's primary divine ability mantra.
As Guang Ming's voice resonated, golden radiance shimmered across the bodies of all Buddhist cultivators present, as if each had been blessed with a golden body. These golden bodies then interconnected, forming a vast golden canopy that spread outward in all directions!
This was a protective mantra.
Under its blessing, even those who had not cultivated golden body techniques could temporarily gain golden body power. Moreover, the more people present, the stronger the enhancement.
Yet, in the blink of an eye—
Boom!
Under Guang Ming's stunned gaze, the mantra's light, which he had poured his full strength into activating, lasted less than a second before being effortlessly shattered by a sword beam.
Another Buddhist cultivator's head flew through the air.
"This can't be... a Foundation Establishment True Person!?"
Guang Ming's pupils contracted sharply. His "Great Mantra of the True Golden Body" also carried positional authority. Logically, even a grand divine ability shouldn't have broken through it so easily.
Moreover, he could clearly see Lü Yang's Blood Sun Sword Pill—barely qualifying as a superior-grade magical treasure, not even top-tier among such treasures, let alone comparable to spirit treasures. A sword pill of this material theoretically shouldn't have been able to slash through his protective mantra.
Unless... the opponent's positional authority far surpassed his own!
"To think I'd have a day like this..."
As sword light scattered, Lü Yang exhaled in exhilaration. After enduring so many high-stakes battles, he had finally encountered a beginner's pool.
Guang Ming's guess was accurate.
Lü Yang hadn't employed any divine abilities or techniques. With his current near-Foundation Establishment positional authority, even pissing in Guang Ming's direction would have been lethal.
"Utterly devoid of challenge."
"But... that's exactly what I love! What's the point of cultivating to higher realms if not to crush weaklings? Fishing in the beginner's pool is my favorite pastime!"
The next moment, a vajra pestle came crashing down.
Lü Yang raised an eyebrow but didn't dodge. He calmly watched as the pestle struck his forehead with a thunderous impact—without so much as scratching his skin.
The disparity in positional authority was like the difference between heaven and earth. In cultivator battles, unequal positional authority was akin to someone at a mountain's base trying to attack someone at its peak—utterly impossible. Thus, even a vajra pestle capable of splitting mountains and rocks felt like a gentle breeze to Lü Yang.
It couldn't even hinder his movements.
In an instant, Lü Yang transformed into sword light once more, cleaving through the air as he descended upon another Buddhist cultivator, sending yet another head flying.
Yet, at this moment, Guang Ming's eyes lit up.
He swiftly produced a jade vial and hurled it toward Lü Yang. The vial exploded midair, unleashing billowing crimson flames that spread rapidly.
Where the flames passed, a bottomless abyss seemed to form, voraciously devouring the surrounding spiritual energy. Several Buddhist cultivators standing near Lü Yang were merely grazed by the flames—yet without even time to scream, they combusted into wisps of green smoke, leaving no trace behind.
Guang Ming recoiled as if from a venomous serpent, retreating swiftly after releasing the flames.
For this fire was known as the "Six Harmonies Dust-Cleansing Flame." It fed on spiritual energy—impossible to extinguish as long as spiritual energy remained. Once it latched onto a cultivator, it clung like a malignant parasite.
More importantly, its positional authority was sufficiently high.
Because it had been bestowed by his master, Fulong Arhat, extracted from the Heavenly Gang Blazing Fire Dragon—a Foundation Establishment entity. Dealing with Qi Refining cultivators was child's play!
"This man is far too arrogant..."
Watching the crimson flames engulf Lü Yang's figure, Guang Ming's initial tension eased as he exhaled deeply.
"A pity. Once reduced to ashes, he can no longer be inducted into Fulong Temple..."
Yet the next second, he froze.
His eyes bulged as he saw Lü Yang standing leisurely amidst the sea of flames, only a pair of eyes glowing red through the inferno.
"...Not good!"
Before Guang Ming could finish—
Boom!
The crimson flames abruptly expanded in a deafening explosion, swallowing the surrounding Buddhist cultivators whole. Within the fire, a figure continued harvesting lives unimpeded.
The so-called "Six Harmonies Dust-Cleansing Flame" might not have been completely harmless to Lü Yang—but it was close enough.
After all, Lü Yang had encountered the actual Blazing Fire Dragon in his past life. How could a mere derivative flame possibly harm him?
With a casual corpse-shedding technique, Lü Yang shed his form and escaped effortlessly, shaking off all traces of the flames. Then, transforming back into sword light, he detonated the "Six Harmonies Dust-Cleansing Flame" himself, using the ensuing conflagration to fuel his slaughter. Heads soared skyward amidst sprays of blood.
The scene left the remaining Buddhist cultivators trembling in terror.
Guang Ming felt ice-cold dread seep into his heart. This was undoubtedly a direct disciple of a Saint Sect True Lord—how could he possibly contend with such a demonic overlord?
Yet, paradoxically, his mind had never been clearer.
Fleeing wasn't an option!
The opponent clearly excelled in sword-escape techniques. Running would only make him an easy target. Moreover, Guang Ming knew his own escape techniques was lacking—if they fled, he'd inevitably lag behind.
Wouldn't that mean certain death?
Thus, in that lightning-fast moment of deliberation, Guang Ming acted. He bellowed: "Do not panic, everyone! Witness my methods!"
His voice brimmed with confidence, as if everything remained under his control. As their leader, Guang Ming commanded some authority, instantly becoming the group's pillar of stability. Their crumbling formation momentarily steadied.
But Guang Ming knew this was temporary.
They obeyed him in hopes he could deal with the demonic foe.
Once they realized his bravado was a facade—that he couldn't possibly overcome this demon—they'd scatter regardless of his orders.
Whoosh!
Another sword flash, another Buddhist cultivator's head sent flying.
The survivors huddled together, desperately channeling their magic power to maintain protective Buddhist light while casting hopeful glances at Guang Ming.
Didn't you say we should watch your methods?
Why hesitate? Save us!
The next moment, Lü Yang materialized above them. He chuckled derisively before clenching his fist, conjuring a mass of dark clouds in his palm.
"Gathering together saves me the trouble of killing you one by one."
With those words, Lü Yang circulated his magic power and hurled the dark clouds skyward. In an instant, they blotted out the heavens, plunging the world into darkness.
Then, gale-force winds erupted as the churning clouds revealed countless sinister shadows colliding and grinding against each other, coalescing into golden serpentine bolts of lightning. These flickered and darted before Lü Yang flipped his palm downward—unleashing a cataclysmic bombardment!
The Secret Demon Yin Lightning of the Nine Heavens!
This divine ability required no skill—it relied solely on Lü Yang's superior positional authority and overwhelming magic power to crush his foes through sheer numerical dominance!
The next second, lightning cascaded like a waterfall from the heavens.
How could the gathered Buddhist cultivators withstand such ferocious bombardment? Their protective Buddhist light and golden bodies lasted mere breaths before fracturing under the relentless lightning.
Only after a full quarter-hour did Lü Yang retract his divine ability.
Beneath him, no trace of Buddhist cultivators remained—only a scorched landscape pockmarked with craters, barely recognizable from its former state.