Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Endless Sea, Karmic Summons
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Overseas, upon an endless sea domain.
Lu Yang rode his escaping light, only to see a dazzling pillar of destiny qi blazing fiercely above his head. It soon transformed into an intangible intuition, guiding his path forward.
These were the merits and destiny of the Divine Martial Sect.
In his previous life, he had used these merits and destiny to locate the Biyang Cultivation World. But now that he had broken through in this life, they could serve a different purpose.
The next instant, a streak of red light drifted out from Lu Yang's sleeve. It coalesced into a figure—a petite, dainty girl clad in a red padded jacket with a bun hairstyle. She landed on Lu Yang's knee and snuggled affectionately into his embrace.
"Master, are you going to find the old master?"
"Indeed."
Lu Yang patted the girl's small head and smiled.
"The karma weighing on you is heavy. Drawn by the heavenly killing intent, it has manifested prematurely."
This was Lu Yang's new discovery.
When he had accepted the Avici Sword, he had also inherited a strand of karma from its original owner—a late Foundation Establishment great cultivator.
Having claimed the spirit treasure, he was obligated in the future to retrieve that cultivator's reincarnated self from the wheel of rebirth. Yet this karma was extraordinarily troublesome. Several previous wielders of the Avici Sword had perished because of it, which was why this superior spirit treasure had gone ignored in the Saint Sect.
Now that Lu Yang had advanced to mid Foundation Establishment, the karma had arrived.
"It shouldn't have come so soon. But first, I've broken through to mid Foundation Establishment. Second, the heavenly killing intent has accelerated it."
Karma propelled him—he had no choice but to go.
If he refused, the Avici Sword's spirit would depart under karma's influence, willing or not. It might even backlash his own destiny.
That was the insidious nature of heavenly killing intent.
It didn't spawn karma directly but hijacked existing strands, leaving no trace.
Though Lu Yang's strength had surged in this life, the crises would grow deadlier accordingly. Barring the unexpected, he would still meet a miserable end overseas.
But the unexpected? That was inevitable.
"Come, then. All of you, come."
Staring at the increasingly vivid red 【Danger】 overhead, Lu Yang grinned.
The True Lord nestled in his arms was the greatest unexpected of this overseas journey!
Whoever came, they were as good as dead!
Moments later, with most of the Divine Martial Sect's merits and destiny expended, the heavenly secrets clarified. Lu Yang pinched his fingers in calculation, grasping the full sequence of events.
The next instant, he arched a brow.
"They're not even bothering to pretend."
The Avici Sword's original owner—that great cultivator's reincarnation—was not only in the barren overseas wastes but entangled with the Dao Court?
". . . Hm?"
Just then, a sudden intuition struck Lu Yang. He looked up, peering into the distance, and spotted a majestic sword light hurtling toward him.
Overseas, Stellar Constellation Sea.
The spiritual energy here was far harsher than in the Turbulent Flow Sea housing the Biyang Cultivation World. It was desolate wasteland, utterly barren for cultivation.
Yet amid this perilous expanse loomed a colossal vessel the size of a mountain. Profound treasure light rippled from its prow like the rising sun, suppressing waves and calming seas wherever it passed while stabilizing the ambient qi. Crowded figures darted across its decks, armored and armed to the teeth.
"Marshal, all preparations complete."
A messenger's report brought a surge of excitement to the robust man at the bow. He wore a three-beam silver crown and an azure robe.
In the Jiangdong Dao Court, attire denoted rank.
The three-beam crown and azure silk robe marked him as fifth-grade—mere inches from the crimson robes of the court's fourth-grade elites.
And so he was.
Ying Tongshou, current Martial Virtue General commanding the Subduing Waves Navy. Bolstered by his fifth-grade rank, his cultivation rivaled early Foundation Establishment.
"Pass the order."
Ying Tongshou's face grew solemn.
"Seal the Stellar Constellation Sea. No one gets in. Remember—we're here on His Majesty's secret decree!"
"If the Celestial Observation Platform's divination holds, Blood Demon Island enters this sea in three days. We get there first, extract that Blood Demon True Person's soul魄, and haul it back to Jiangdong. The karmic ties will force that Demon Sect's True Person Yuan Tu to pay us a visit."
"Marshal, this won't be easy."
His deputy fidgeted beside him.
"You're only fifth-grade. Venturing onto Blood Demon Island is risky."
"No need for concern."
Ying Tongshou chuckled.
"Precisely because I'm fifth-grade—mere early Foundation Establishment, utterly obscure. No one will notice me setting sail."
"Once at sea, though—that's another matter."
With that, he drew a golden leaf from his bosom. His deputy peered at it and gaped in astonishment: a promotion edict!
"You're to be promoted, Marshal?"
The deputy beamed.
"Exactly!"
Ying Tongshou preened.
"His Majesty's secret decree arrived long ago. I'm to become fourth-grade Guangwei General—with mid Foundation Establishment cultivation to match!"
Such was the Dao Court's system. Attain the rank, and cultivation followed suit. A Qi Refining first-layer foot soldier could become a late Foundation Establishment powerhouse the instant a second-grade post was conferred.
Of course, most exploded from the strain.
Official ranks demanded merit and destiny to sustain them.
Plainly put: without the fate for it, you couldn't bear the position. Instead of soaring, you'd suffer backlash.
That was the genius of the Dao Court system.
Officials accumulated merit only through safeguarding realms and comforting the people. Promotion or not? A glance from the Celestial Observation Platform sufficed.
Abundant merit meant repeated feats.
Scarce merit meant malfeasance.
This was why the Dao Court ranked among the orthodox paths. Bluntly: of the four cardinal directions, its domains were the most stable.
But then—
Boom!
Thunder rolled across the firmament. A spiritual qi detonation soared skyward, birthing tidal surges that swept outward, painting the vault with rainbow hues.
"What is it?"
Ying Tongshou tensed.
The messenger who had just departed came scrambling back.
"Marshal! Someone's clashing in spell combat!"
". . . Spell combat?"
Ying Tongshou blinked.
Before he could press, another boom—closer now. The spiritual tide churned massive waves that slammed the Subduing Waves Greatship, jolting its treasure light.
Ying Tongshou's face darkened.
"Foundation Establishment early . . . no, mid-stage!"
"Such power— no mere overseas savage. This one's from the inland, rivaling even a Celestial Official in might . . ."
The deeper he probed, the more alarmed he grew.
"Who could this be?"
Scarce had the words left his lips when a third boom resounded.
This time, Ying Tongshou glimpsed the combatants from the horizon: one crimson, one white—gorgeous rays colliding in explosive fury.
"Witch-ghost heir, perish!"
A clear voice rang out as the searing white sword light slashed downward anew. The crimson escaping light wheeled and vanished.
Boom!
The sword plunged into the sea, carving a fathomless vortex that roiled the currents. Countless fish and shrimp perished in the chaos.
Nearby, Lu Yang materialized, utterly nonchalant.
From the Myriad Spirits Banner in his grasp, Ancestor Ting You's figure emerged—guilty of mien.
"Jade Pivot sword cultivator . . . I've dragged you into this."
"A trifle, Ancestor. No need for self-reproach."
What did Lu Yang have to fear now? He yearned for more foes—to lure them into the trap, gather the karmas, then slaughter them all at once!