Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Everything Has a Cause
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The Avici Sword, having accumulated power to its utmost limit, unleashed its true might in this instant. The blood-red sword light sliced Wu Cang in half at the waist with unstoppable force.
It was more than just a bisecting cut.
The sword light of the Avici Sword could only be described as savage. What it unleashed was less like sword qi and more like a violent flood bursting through a dam.
Thus, after cleaving Wu Cang in two, the sword light showed no sign of halting. It pressed onward, shattering the array Wu Cang had used to seal the interior and exterior. It burst out of Heaven Mending Peak and shot straight into the heavens, startling the several Primal Saint Sect Perfected Beings who had been lying in wait outside.
In that moment, the sky turned entirely crimson.
The several Primal Saint Sect Perfected Beings stood within Foundation Establishment territory, gazing remotely at the sword light. They could see nothing clearly, only sensing the surging destructive power within.
"What a Avici Sword!"
"This thing is actually this powerful? The previous sword masters weren't this ferocious—could it be because he used those two Divine Martial Sect Perfected Beings as sword sacrifices?"
"Incredible."
The onlookers exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes. They wondered if they themselves faced that strike, whether they too would suffer severe qi damage.
If it had been a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, they wouldn't have been surprised.
The same level of power had erupted several times from the Heaven Mending Peak Master during his tribulation crossing, when he faced heavenly thunder head-on—each instance even stronger than this.
But who was the Heaven Mending Peak Master?
A mid-Foundation Establishment Perfected Being pushing toward the late stage, outstanding even among mid-Foundation Establishment experts. It was only natural for him to unleash such a blow.
But Lu Yang?
A mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, less than a century since his breakthrough, yet he had unleashed such a stunning sword strike. This strength was enough to draw sidelong glances from the crowd.
Only after a long while did the sword qi finally dissipate.
By now, many Perfected Beings inside and outside the Primal Saint Sect had reacted, casting their gazes over.
They saw that in the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, perpetually shrouded in mist, one region had been cleared of clouds, revealing the majestic earth beneath!
It was a sword scar!
If this weren't the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, if Wu Cang hadn't borne the brunt of the damage, this single sword might have cleaved straight through thirty-six layers of astral clouds!
Under these circumstances, the scene within Heaven Mending Peak could no longer be concealed. Even Lady Ruo Xiang, Chen Shuqian, and Chen Xinan were roused from their states, manifesting their forms. In an instant, Heaven Mending Peak—which had been the height of buzz months prior—once again became the focal point for all Primal Saint Sect Perfected Beings.
"Hoo."
Under the crowd's watchful eyes, Lu Yang calmly recalled the Avici Sword hovering in midair. He then pinched a hand seal, rippling out a divine ability's brilliant glow.
[Distinguish Same from Different]!
The divine ability's light washed over his entire body, surging in through his seven orifices and out from his lungs and viscera, expelling the "Celestial Furnace Li Fire" that had nearly burned through him entirely.
At his brow, the Heaven-Scrutinizing Instrument's transformed dharma eye shone with treasure light, aiding him in locating every minute injury to ensure no hidden dangers remained.
In truth, the Heaven-Scrutinizing Instrument had contributed immensely in this battle as well.
Under its treasure light's illumination, all of Wu Cang's actions had been laid bare to his perception, allowing him to anticipate the enemy.
Without this heavenly secrets treasure's aid, Lu Yang could not have seized the timing so precisely, nor endured the parting fire to deliver a heavy blow to Wu Cang with one sword.
Even so, Lu Yang still hadn't slain Wu Cang.
In midair, the bisected Wu Cang didn't hesitate for a moment. He didn't even hurl any狠话, transforming directly into a beam of escaping light and vanishing into the distance.
Seeing this, Lu Yang made no move to pursue.
‘Mid-Foundation Establishment... so strong, too strong. Taking down someone above my level is still a bit much for me.’
This battle was a mutual wound!
He had taken a Celestial Furnace Li Fire head-on, with most of his dharma body burned through. Wu Cang's dharma body, meanwhile, had been bisected by him, even taking a sword to his Dao foundation.
But in the end, he had come out ahead.
Because that final sword had successfully triggered the Avici Sword's [Man-Slayer] wonder. A strand of scarlet blood light now rippled along the sword's body.
‘Though I failed to kill him, in direct combat I heavily damaged his dharma body and even severed a fragment of his Dao foundation—essentially taking half his life. And as the weaker party striking the stronger, it barely met the [Man-Slayer] standard, granting the Avici Sword's sword qi a significant boost.’
Holding the Avici Sword, Lu Yang could sense it clearly.
Since Wu Cang's Dao foundation was of wood element, and he had pierced it with the Avici Sword, the next time he faced a similar divine ability, the Avici Sword would hold a restraining power.
This was the wonder of [Man-Slayer].
Any divine ability, Dao art, or spirit treasure—once defeated once, the Avici Sword would form a restraint against its concept, granting absolute advantage in rematches.
Thus, the more foes one defeated with the Avici Sword, the more divine abilities across the world it could restrain, effectively gaining a special attack attribute. It could cleave through all within the five elements. At that point, even simple wild sword swings could break myriad arts with a single stroke.
‘As for these injuries, they're nothing much.’
Lu Yang exhaled deeply. At his heart, a cluster of [Azure Luan Noon Fire] ignited, birthing乙木 to nourish all things, swiftly mending his damaged dharma body.
Meanwhile, within Sacred Fire Cliff.
A streak of flowing light descended into a concealed meditation chamber. Then, a majestic Perfected Being emerged. He said,
"In the end, that Lu Yang won a miserable victory."
The man's features belonged to the young Perfected Being who had previously chatted amiably outside Heaven Mending Peak with an elderly Perfected Being, confidently declaring, "I could fight Lu Yang." His name was Hun Xu. Even after witnessing Lu Yang's heaven-shaking sword, he felt a twinge of alarm but remained composed.
Soon, a figure appeared in the hall.
As he manifested, the dim meditation chamber lit up with radiance. Points of lamplight pierced the night, illuminating a face chiseled like with knife and axe.
"Master's prediction was spot on."
Seeing this, Perfected Being Hun Xu hurriedly cupped hands in salute.
"That Yuantu is indeed a great foe of this disciple. No wonder Martial Uncle Chongguang values him so highly."
Though both were Foundation Establishment sovereigns, Hun Xu's demeanor showed no trace of negligence. He positioned himself entirely subordinate, for the other was named Hong Ju—not only his master from his Qi Refining days, but one of the Primal Saint Sect's scant few at perfected Foundation Establishment!
"As expected."
In the meditation chamber, Perfected Being Hong Ju leaned lightly against the lamplight, tone casual.
"That child has profound fortune. He must possess a superior heavenly secrets treasure."
"Ordinary causal arts can't touch him."
"Were it not for his audacity in exploding that eight-hundred-li earth vein at Skull Mountain, leaving a root of calamity, I wouldn't have found an opportunity to act against him."
With that, a booklet appeared in Perfected Being Hong Ju's hand.
The next instant, the booklet flipped open on its own, pages rustling with thunderous cracks, finally halting on one page. Stark black characters emerged:
[Wu Cang Kills Lu Yang]!
"This Shared Fate and Exchanged Luck Register Scripture was entrusted to me by the True Lord before his reincarnation. It's a fruition treasure of myriad wonders, capable of altering causal fortune."
"With this treasure, I linked Wu Cang and that Yuantu's causal fates. Annotating a [Kill] fixes the [Fruit] between them. Thereafter, no matter the [Cause], it will only lead to this [Fruit]. Under fate's pull, Yuantu will inevitably die by Wu Cang's hand."
Perfected Being Hong Ju shook his head regretfully.
"Only pity this treasure consumes merit and fortune too heavily to use freely. Otherwise, no need for such hassle—removing Chongguang would be a mere gesture."
"In any case, Master has achieved the goal this time."
Perfected Being Hun Xu said lowly,
"Everything stemmed from Wu Cang's initiative. No one will suspect us. And with Yuantu's heavy wounds, he'll be hard-pressed to leave the sect for at least a decade."
"Once the time passes, his breakthrough to mid-stage will be delayed."
"As long as he doesn't break through to mid-stage, Martial Uncle Chongguang can't venture to that realm, can't ascend and seek metal. Ancestor Hongyun still has a chance."
"Mm."
Perfected Being Hong Ju nodded slightly.
"Though Wu Cang is a rogue cultivator, hot-headed and clueless about causality, his divine abilities pack decent punch."
"Hit by his parting fire, that Yuantu should stay quiet for over a decade."
"Even if Chongguang intervenes for early recovery, as long as their fates remain linked, Wu Cang's hand will still remove Yuantu in the end."
"As for Wu Cang... rogue cultivator stock, no backing. Dead after the fact is dead. Hand him to Chongguang for venting rage—making full use of him."
(End of Chapter)