Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Unknown]
Chapter Title: Karmic Pursuit
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At this moment, Guang Ming desperately wished Lu Yang were here.
After all, if Lu Yang were present, with his strength, he could easily handle Wu Cang. There would have been no need to bring Guang Ming along, and none of this would have happened.
'What the hell is this thing?!'
'That Wu Cang... he's at mid-Foundation Establishment! And he got taken over just like that? Who is this guy? A True Lord reincarnated? A peak Foundation Establishment great cultivator?'
In this instant, Guang Ming's thoughts were in utter chaos.
Until [Wu Cang] turned his head to look at him, and that Imperial Mansion Golden Seal Tushita True Edict gradually dimmed, reverting to the form of a talisman.
"You're quite interesting yourself."
[Wu Cang] smiled faintly. "The biggest strand of karma coiled around you points straight to that Lu Yang. Looks like he's made quite a few enemies. From the Primal Saint Sect?"
Only [Wu Cang] himself knew how difficult it was to awaken, to borrow a body for rebirth, and break free from the barriers set by the Innate Daoist. After all, back then, the dying Innate True Person had unleashed his lifebound divine ability at full power, using grand karma to forge a prison on the ground and seal it away.
Without the right karma and karmic ties, it could never leave.
And that karma led to the Innate True Person's inheritor. Only if he held the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner and used it to guide the way could it emerge unscathed.
But in doing so, it would have to allow itself to be refined by the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner.
Given the banner's domineering nature, once refined, it would be enslaved forever—that was precisely the outcome the Innate True Person had aimed for.
However, things had taken a new turn now.
Wu Cang's arrival gave it a second option, for Wu Cang was no longer a match for Lu Yang, yet the two had already forged a karmic fate.
[Wu Cang kills Lu Yang]
In this situation, Wu Cang needed external aid.
And it was that aid. As long as it was willing to assume Wu Cang's identity and take on the karma of killing Lu Yang, it could escape the Innate True Person's bindings.
How could it pass up such a heaven-sent opportunity?
The next second, [Wu Cang]'s gaze fell on Guang Ming. Then, to Guang Ming's horror, golden radiance began to bloom from his own body.
"This is your karma."
Perhaps because it had finally broken free, [Wu Cang] seemed eager to chat. "The Bodhisattva who sent you here was quite kindhearted—went out of her way to amplify your karma."
"At least two True Lord-level methods were used here. One delivered this Wu Cang right to me, aiding my escape. The other brought you to me, ensuring I could lock onto my target the moment I broke free. Now, I'm actually looking forward to meeting that Lu Yang."
Curiosity was written all over [Wu Cang]'s face.
After all, even in the talent-rich Primal Saint Sect, not many cultivators could pull this much hatred and orchestrate such an elaborate kill plot.
"Come with me."
The next instant, [Wu Cang] reached out with one hand, lifting Guang Ming while yanking the brilliant karmic thread from his body.
Karma as the guide, tracking across ten thousand li.
Then, [Wu Cang] took a single step forward—
"This [Danger] is getting bigger."
On the vast, boundless sea, Lu Yang piloted the Void-Crossing Golden Ship, streaking like a beam of light, churning up massive waves as he fled toward the inland at breakneck speed.
Yet the [Danger] hovering over his head showed no sign of fading. Instead, it grew even more crimson.
"This change... did I make the wrong choice?" Doubt flooded Lu Yang's mind. If he hadn't made a poor decision, why was the crisis drawing ever closer?
What exactly had happened?
For the first time, Lu Yang felt a twinge of helplessness, as if he were back to his Qi Refining days—unable to divine karma, reduced to a pawn at others' mercy.
But the next second, he shook off all distractions. Compared to back then, he was a world apart now. Even if he couldn't pinpoint the crisis's source, he wasn't powerless. With that thought, the Imperial Mandate Jade Token bestowed by Heavy Light True Person was already in his grasp.
Yet, perhaps from sheer tension, his hand trembled, and the Imperial Mandate Jade Token slipped from his palm.
Fortunately, another hand shot out in time, catching the falling token before it hit the deck. A light chuckle followed:
"Careful there, Dao Friend."
In that moment, time itself seemed to freeze. Only a handsome youth in flowing robes appeared out of nowhere, crossing ten thousand li in an instant to land beside Lu Yang!
Boom!
Before the youth could finish speaking, in this hair's-breadth moment, the Imperial Mandate Jade Token in his hand exploded outright. A figure stepped out from within.
Almost simultaneously, divine ability radiance flashed over Lu Yang.
[Determine Affinity]!
The next second, Lu Yang vanished from the spot, leaving only [Wu Cang] and the figure from the Imperial Mandate Jade Token staring at each other.
"Hm? Dao Fiend..."
The one who emerged from the Imperial Mandate Jade Token was a stern-faced middle-aged man. The instant he saw [Wu Cang], surprise flickered across his features.
But the next second, an indescribable mighty force crashed down. With a crisp crack, like a silver vase shattering, the middle-aged man's figure was erased in an instant. Correspondingly, the transcendent aura on [Wu Cang] plummeted to its lowest ebb.
For a moment, all things fell into illusory dimness.
A clash of power utterly beyond Foundation Establishment, ineffable and vast, plunged heaven and earth into silence. Only after a long while did a single figure reemerge.
"You bastard!!!"
[Wu Cang] hovered in midair, clutching the now-unconscious Guang Ming, his face twisted in rage. "Same as the Innate one—a lifebound karma ability..."
Originally, the moment he appeared, Lu Yang was doomed.
The Imperial Mandate Jade Token was powerful, but it required activation. Without that, it was just scrap metal. [Wu Cang] hadn't given Lu Yang the chance to activate it.
Yet Lu Yang's lifebound divine ability exceeded expectations, forcibly maintaining a split-second of clarity and activating the token in that instant. It shattered [Wu Cang]'s seal, landed a heavy blow, and allowed Lu Yang to slip away cleanly.
"You think you can escape?"
[Wu Cang]'s expression turned icy cold as he licked his lips. He continued to tug on the karmic thread from Guang Ming, locked Lu Yang's position, and took another step forward.
Whoosh—
This time, he was greeted by a towering sea of blood.
[Blood Sea Covering Heaven Grand Array]!
Billions of tons of seawater empowered the Avici Sword's stature, unleashing colossal waves crashing toward [Wu Cang]. Yet [Wu Cang] paid it no mind.
His gaze locked straight onto Lu Yang within the array.
In a flash, Lu Yang felt his consciousness sink under [Wu Cang]'s stare. In a daze, he seemed to see a massive hand reaching for him.
Wherever the hand passed, blood sea and sword qi alike melted away like snow, unable to endure. Clearly, the foes were leagues apart. As the hand neared, about to breach the array's barriers and clamp onto his neck, Lu Yang finally unleashed his divine ability.
[Distinguish Sameness]!
A cool qi swept through his mindsea, clearing Lu Yang's awareness once more. Divine ability radiance struggled to manifest, helping Lu Yang vanish from the spot again.
[Determine Affinity]!
Lu Yang's second disappearance finally wiped the confident smirk from [Wu Cang]'s face, replacing it with icy menace.
Meanwhile, nearly ten thousand li away.
"Wu Cang...?"
Lu Yang's figure emerged from the void amid divine ability radiance, shock still lingering on his face. He had already recognized the attacker.
But he couldn't comprehend it. Just days ago, this Wu Cang had nearly been bisected by him. Why had he suddenly become an unstoppable powerhouse overnight? Even a peak Foundation Establishment great cultivator couldn't compare. What in the world had happened?
Crack!
Like fracturing琉璃, a crisp sound rang out beside Lu Yang. Then he saw a rift, and on the other side—[Wu Cang].
"Please hold, Dao Friend."
The voice carried some bewitching quality. Despite his every reluctance, Lu Yang couldn't help but freeze in place, surrendering without a fight.
No way to heaven! No door to earth!
He was done for!?