Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Captive
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When it came to preserving his life, Guang Ming did have some insights.
As early as when Guang Hui met Lu Yang, and Lu Yang didn't dodge or evade but instead met him head-on, he had keenly sensed that something was off.
Unfortunately, the "Shared Heart Life-Binding Talisman" could only be used once in a short time.
Moreover, with Guang Hui—this fellow sect brother who knew him inside and out—present, there was no way he'd get a chance to use the "Shared Heart Life-Binding Talisman" to escape in the heat of battle.
So when Guang Hui gathered all the Buddhist cultivators and manifested the "Dragon-Elephant Vast Power Vajra," he chose not to join in. Instead, under the cover of the Buddhist light, he decisively burrowed into the ground and fled, using Guang Hui and the others as shields just like before.
Admittedly, this approach worked very well.
He had nearly escaped once again.
However, this time, his flight was keenly spotted by someone who had been observing the battle all along but hadn't found an opportunity to show off.
Qin Tianhe!
As a true disciple of the Saint Sect, Qin Tianhe also cultivated great divine abilities. Coupled with the奇宝 "Void-Piercing Heaven-Escaping Black Shuttle," his strength was actually not weak.
After all, he had previously managed to carve out a path to survival while being pursued and blocked by over a dozen Buddhist cultivators led by Guang Ming. It only seemed like he was weak in comparison to Lu Yang. Qin Tianhe himself understood this point well, so he was extremely proactive, eager to demonstrate his value and cling to a powerful backer.
Thus, Guang Ming hadn't gotten far before Qin Tianhe caught up and dragged him back.
Now, with things at this point, Guang Ming had no choice but to beg loudly for mercy in hopes of survival: "Don't kill me! I can serve the Demon Sect, serve the Saint Sect too!"
"You want to surrender?"
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of surprise: "Under the watch of the True Lords, you dare to surrender?"
This Dao-Seizing Battle was personally overseen by True Lords from all three sides. Though they wouldn't interfere, how could the events possibly be hidden from them?
Under such circumstances, who would dare surrender?
In the Saint Sect, if you dared surrender and somehow survived, your flesh body would be taken by a True Lord to light a flesh lantern. If you died, your soul would be taken to light a soul lantern.
Not even reincarnation!
"The superiors may not know, but our Pure Land has its own rules here. It can't be lumped together."
Guang Ming lowered his voice, speaking cautiously: "For us, surrendering isn't a big deal. As long as you survive, there won't be any blame."
"Oh?"
Lu Yang's eyebrow twitched slightly, then he smiled ambiguously: "Then what if I send you back as a spy to deal with the remaining Pure Land Buddhist cultivators for me? Would you be willing?"
"Uh, that..."
Guang Ming's expression froze at the words. He opened his mouth, then whispered even softer: "...It's really hard to explain to the Pure Land. How about the Dao Court instead?"
Lu Yang was even more astonished, bursting into laughter: "Sure!"
At these words, Guang Ming immediately relaxed and hurriedly said: "Actually, this monk has long been displeased with those Dao Court people. I'm willing to serve the superior!"
At the same time, outside the battlefield realm-heaven.
The three True Lords exchanged glances. The previously silent Perfected Being Clear and Pure Flying Snow finally spoke, her voice a pleasant chime like silver bells.
"The Pure Land Buddhist Sect lives up to its reputation!"
"...Demon, don't try to sow discord!"
Feeling the piercing gaze of the Dao Court True Lord beside him, the Pure Land True Lord could only keep a straight face and send a mental message: "Fellow Daoist, don't overthink it."
"Mere posturing, a temporary expedient!"
"Besides, Guang Ming is just a pawn. The true leader is still Guang Hai, disciple of Fulong. For the greater good, he won't act rashly."
"Hmph, hard to say!"
The Dao Court True Lord remained skeptical of the Pure Land True Lord's explanation, clearly not fully believing it.
Because the Pure Land's origins weren't clean.
It was said that the Supreme World Honored One who founded the Pure Land had been a shameless opportunist back in the day, rising to the Dao Lord's position purely by playing all sides.
That World Honored One's style was no different from the current Saint Sect!
They weren't even called the Deep Joy Pure Land back then, but the Pure Land Heretical Sect!
Only after founding the Deep Joy Annihilation Dao did that World Honored One choose to whitewash his image—and succeed grandly. Out of respect for the venerable, no one dared mention it.
At this thought, a shadow fell over the Dao Court True Lord's heart. At the same time, he felt immense curiosity toward the suddenly emerged Lu Yang.
What was this person's background?
He was tempted to divine it, but with Perfected Being Clear and Pure Flying Snow right there, any attempt would be blocked, rendering it meaningless. He could only let it go.
In the end, Lu Yang spared Guang Ming's life.
From him and the group of Buddhist cultivators absorbed into the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, Lu Yang learned an unwelcome truth: they were already surrounded.
The Pure Land's eight divisions of Buddhist forces and a Dao Court guardian army—over a thousand Qi Refining cultivators combined—had assembled ahead of time, forming an encirclement. Arrays were set along the way, and all the Saint Sect's participating disciples had fallen into this trap, their living space steadily compressed.
"Arrays..."
As a seventh-grade array master, Lu Yang knew the power of arrays all too well. He wasn't afraid of numbers, but multiple arrays spelled trouble.
Especially since the Dao Court and Pure Land clearly had position-holders among them.
They might not outrank him, but as the saying went, many ants could devour an elephant. With heavy array augmentation, it would be tricky even for him.
Moreover, these two sides likely hid even stronger trump cards.
So in the end, he accepted Guang Ming's voluntary surrender. After planting a monitoring restriction in his knowledge sea, he let him go.
Of course, Lu Yang had considered directly converting him into a banner spirit with the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner. But unless it was someone like Chen Xinan or Su Nü—whose true bodies still existed in the present world, allowing causal linkage—ordinary banner spirits' auras differed greatly from living cultivators', making them hard to fool prying eyes.
"...Better to be cautious."
At this moment, Lu Yang reined in his overconfidence. Even if this was just newbie village fodder, he wanted to ensure zero mishaps and avoid capsizing in a gutter.
"If we were inside Skull Mountain with the earth veins' boost, no matter how many came, they'd all die. But away from Skull Mountain, relying on just Su Nü is a bit taxing. Though with full effort plus Ancestor Master Tingyou, victory is assured—it would still mean casualties."
That was the issue.
Lu Yang wanted to annihilate the enemy without losses, especially after discovering how invaluable Ancestor Master Tingyou was as a technical expert.
He'd feel the pinch even losing one.
With that in mind, Lu Yang silently turned to Qin Tianhe beside him.
As the saying went, war always involved sacrifice. But since he didn't want his own sacrifices, he'd just have to sacrifice others.
"Tianhe, how many from the Saint Sect came this time?"
Facing Lu Yang's amiably smiling face, Qin Tianhe felt no warmth—only a sudden chill that made him shiver, his whole body turning ice-cold.
Something's wrong!
But under Lu Yang's gaze, Qin Tianhe reconsidered. Something wrong? So what? As long as it wasn't him, who cared about the others?
"Including me, seven true disciples participated. Beyond that, eleven disciples at Qi Refining Great Completion without great divine abilities, and over a hundred more in late Qi Refining, each with one or two powerful divine abilities. I don't know how many remain now."
Qin Tianhe recited the details like a catalog.
"The Dao-Seizing Battle has been going for some time. I guess they've gathered too. Head deeper into the encirclement, and we're bound to find them."
"I see."
Lu Yang nodded, his smile even brighter.
Over a hundred late Qi Refining, eleven at completion, seven true disciples—this force wasn't inferior to the Dao Court or Pure Land; it was even superior.
Clearly, while the Saint Sect had fewer disciples than the Dao Court or Pure Land, those who stood out were undeniably top quality.
All talents.
Thereafter, Lu Yang followed Qin Tianhe's suggestion, letting him pilot the "Void-Piercing Heaven-Escaping Black Shuttle" to dart about. Soon, an array came into view.
Just as Qin Tianhe said.
The Saint Sect disciples might be wicked, but they weren't incompetent. Even caught off-guard by the Dao Court and Pure Land's joint purge, they had organized.
(End of chapter)