Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Setting the Trap for Fulong
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In the end, Su Nu and the Insect King unanimously decided to send the spawned Qi-devouring insects into the valley to scout ahead. There were plenty of them anyway, so no need to worry about casualties.
However, mere moments later, both the girl and the insect were stunned.
Because in the very next second after the Qi-devouring insects swarmed into the valley, a plume of smoke descended upon them. It seeped unstoppable through their mouths and noses, brushing right over them—
And nothing happened.
Not only were Su Nu and the Insect King taken aback, even the smoke itself seemed momentarily baffled. It swept down once more, but the result was the same: nothing at all.
"It's the soul."
Outside Gourd Island, Lu Yang saw through the trick. "The offspring of the Qi-devouring insects have no souls, only instincts. The entire hive's consciousness is actually concentrated in the Insect King... Since the smoke has no effect on the Qi-devouring insects, it means it's harmless to the fleshly body. Its main target is the soul?"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
"You shameless Perfected Being!"
The voice came from the heart of Gourd Island, crisp and melodious, with a hint of childishness. Though laced with anger, it came out sounding almost like coquetry.
Immediately after, a thunderous boom echoed.
Within the Gourd Island valley, the red glow split in two, revealing the valley's true form: an altar, upon which rested a blood-red remnant sword.
The red light filling the valley was the radiance of sun and moon reflected off the sword, illuminating everything. Merely perched atop the altar, it exuded boundless killing intent, as if nothing under heaven could escape its edge. Etched upon its blade was a depiction of infernal realms.
In the next instant, the red light on the sword coalesced into a strand of qi.
A little girl in a red padded jacket, with her hair tied in twin buns reaching for the sky, about seven or eight years old in appearance, hopped merrily out from the long sword on the altar.
"I'm talking to you! Bad Perfected Being!"
The girl planted her hands on her hips, chin raised high, shouting loudly at Lu Yang outside Gourd Island. "You've come all this way—surely you know the rules here?"
"If you had no intentions, why come seeking me out?"
"Hoh."
Lu Yang's brows lifted slightly, but he noticed that as the girl manifested, the previously inscrutable heavenly secrets suddenly became clear. Enlightenment dawned in his heart.
"So that's how it is... There really are rules."
The girl—or rather, the blood-red remnant sword on the valley altar, and even the entire Gourd Island—was a spiritual treasure left behind by a great Perfected Being of the Primal Saint Sect.
Named Gourd Island, it truly was a gourd, harboring within it a strand of [Soul-Scattering, Spirit-Seizing Smoke]. Even a Perfected Being caught in this smoke would have their soul thrown into disarray. As for the blood-red remnant sword, it had been the personal blade of that great Perfected Being, nurtured for years with his innate divine ability until it transformed into a spiritual treasure.
With this realization, Lu Yang couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
"Two spiritual treasures. Though neither reaches the superior grade of possessing [Wondrous Properties] like the Heaven-Scrutinizing Instrument, they're still a significant boost for Foundation Establishment..."
But if so, why had no one claimed them?
Lu Yang felt no secret glee; instead, his vigilance sharpened. This was the Primal Saint Sect, after all—every opportunity here came with a pitfall!
Soon enough, he figured it out.
"The great Perfected Being who left Gourd Island behind was gravely wounded and nearing reincarnation. So along with the spiritual treasures, he also left behind a massive karmic tie."
"Whoever takes Gourd Island must guide his reincarnated self back."
The karma of such a great Perfected Being often involved profound positional fruits, weighty beyond imagination. Even fellow great Perfected Beings shunned it, lest they be dragged down with him.
"But... it's perfect for me!"
Lu Yang's eyes lit up in an instant. Joking aside, hadn't he taken on the karma of Ancestor You, who was also a great Perfected Being? What was one more?
Debts wouldn't crush a man already buried under them!
With that thought, Lu Yang let out a hearty laugh. "Why think that way, friend? Since I've come here, naturally I intend to invite you to lend me a hand."
At these words, the girl froze.
"Really? You actually want me?"
In a flash, her anger vanished, replaced by eager hope mingled with fear of being tricked. "No fooling? You truly don't fear taking on my karma?"
"Of course not!"
Lu Yang spoke with ironclad certainty. Before the words even faded, he felt a colossal karma, vast as a mountain range, suddenly manifest and crash down upon him. Even without a physical form, it weighed heavy on his heart—but soon he relaxed.
Karmic debt? I'm the king of deadbeats!
Next, the girl in the valley let out a joyful cheer, her figure vanishing. In its place came a sword cry piercing straight to the heavens!
"Shriek—!"
The sword wail shattered metal and stone. Amid the cry, the entire Gourd Island disintegrated, shrank, spat out Su Nu and the Qi-devouring Insect King, and revealed the true forms of two spiritual treasures.
As his magic power circulated, Lu Yang instantly knew the names of the two treasures.
[Avici Sword]
[Three-Nines Soul-Melting Gourd]
Lu Yang reached out and caught them both, greatly satisfied. He casually hung the gourd at his waist, while the remnant sword turned to light and vanished into his sleeve.
At that moment, two streaks of escaping light suddenly flew in from afar.
Only when they neared Lu Yang did they finally halt and disperse one by one, revealing two figures—both old acquaintances of Lu Yang's.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Yin Shan."
Lu Yang first cupped his hands toward the first to arrive, Perfected Being Yin Shan, before turning to the man beside him with an equally amiable smile.
"...Greetings, Heaven Mending Peak Master."
In response to Lu Yang's salute, the Heaven Mending Peak Master replied with equal warmth. "Yuantu, you're being too formal. After all, you first joined the Primal Saint Sect under my Heaven Mending Peak."
"You're welcome at my Heaven Mending Peak anytime."
Here, the Peak Master's expression turned sly. "To be honest, my daughter Shu Qian has recently been rehearsing a piece called the Blissful Heavenly Demon Dance. If Fellow Daoist has time, do come watch. I guarantee it won't be a wasted trip—cultivation needs balance between work and play, after all!"
Old bastard, what do you take me for?
"Absolutely! Absolutely!"
For a moment, Lu Yang and the Heaven Mending Peak Master chatted like old friends, only stopping when more escaping lights arrived.
But soon, the later arrivals voiced their disdain.
"So this is the spiritual treasure manifestation? It's just Gourd Island."
"Someone actually dared to take on that karma?"
"It's the new Yuantu... The young ones are fearless."
"The last guy who took it is still reincarnating. How long before this one drops dead, you think? I bet a century—stake a Foundation Establishment rarity."
"Fifty years."
The group made no effort to hide their chatter, yet Lu Yang remained utterly composed, which only bored these beasts intent on intimidation.
Soon, the crowd dispersed.
Lu Yang had good reason to suspect: if not for Gourd Island's massive karma, these beasts might have tried to rob him outright!
"Yuantu, you were a bit reckless this time."
Once the others left, Perfected Being Yin Shan approached, frowning. "The karma behind Gourd Island is enormous... It'll definitely slow your cultivation."
Lu Yang shook his head. "Senior Brother, you're mistaken."
"Slowing cultivation is a future problem. My Dao foundation aligns with the fruit of the Pure Land—even if I cultivate swiftly now, proving the Golden Core later will be difficult."
"To prove the Golden Core, I must wait for Uncle-Master Heavy Light to ascend first, then have him support me... So why obsess over cultivation progress? I should pour all my effort into the task Uncle-Master assigned, sparing no cost to help him smoothly claim the throne and seek the Core!"
With that, Lu Yang specifically bowed toward Sacred Fire Cliff.
In short: loyalty!
Hearing this, even Perfected Being Yin Shan fell silent for a moment before patting Lu Yang's shoulder with a sigh. "Junior Brother, you have the makings of greatness."
Almost simultaneously, Perfected Being Heavy Light's voice transmitted from Sacred Fire Cliff.
"The extermination of the Divine Martial Sect this time—leave it to Yuantu."
"Whatever you need, just say the word."
—This was exactly what Lu Yang wanted.
A mere Divine Martial Sect couldn't sate his appetite.
With Perfected Being Heavy Light's approval, Lu Yang even had the authority to command other Foundation Establishment cultivators of the sect. With such an advantage, he naturally planned to make full use of it.
"By my calculations, Senior Brother Zhao should be attempting Foundation Establishment soon, right?"
"In this life, I meant for him to block a tribulation for me, but it went unused. Still, he's rare talent—can't let it go to waste."
Lu Yang's plan was simple:
Use Zhao Xuhe to lure out Fulong Arhat, then borrow the Primal Saint Sect's power to eliminate him in one stroke!
(End of chapter)