Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Heaven and Earth Fall Silent
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In this moment, heaven and earth fell utterly silent.
From Jiangdong, Jiangbei, Jiangxi, and Jiangnan, majestic dharma bodies rose towering from the earth in every direction, shattering the thirty-six layers of astral clouds as they gazed remotely toward the direction of Chongguang.
High in the firmament, the host of stars appeared.
These were no true celestial bodies, but manifestations of the fruit-position lords—some radiating Buddhist halos, others unleashing rampant sword qi. The Foundation Establishment cultivators were a chaotic tangle.
Yet in the next instant, a ferocious gale swept through.
Winds raced a thousand li, snow blanketed ten provinces. In a heartbeat, all the anomalous visions were severed. It was the work of the Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord, blocking every prying gaze.
Unnoticed by any, dazzling radiance had already begun to shimmer from Chongguang's body.
Nor was it just him. Across the length and breadth of Qing Kingdom—from high officials to lowly commoners—everyone began to glow. Faces filled with shock, they stared down at their own bodies.
This radiance, centered upon them, spread swiftly in all directions: Qing Kingdom's houses, its cities, its mountains and rivers. Even its cultivators were touched, from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, mid Foundation Establishment... not even the fleeing Five Elements True Person escaped.
“What is this?”
The Five Elements True Person's face was full of bewilderment. As a mid Foundation Establishment true person, unlike those clueless mortals, he could perceive far more of the truth.
He quickly pinpointed the source of the glow.
[Official Position].
He had long ago submitted to the Dao Court and received one of their ranks. And now, it was precisely that long-accepted [Official Position] emanating light.
“Something's off!”
In that instant, an ominous premonition surged in the Five Elements True Person's heart. He immediately circulated his mana, intent on casting off the [Official Position] clinging to him.
But could a Dao Court official rank be discarded so easily?
Instead, as the Five Elements True Person channeled his mana, the glow from the [Official Position] did not fade. It expanded further, accelerating with every passing moment.
Like lamps aflame.
A single lamp might seem trivial, illuminating only the tiniest patch. But a hundred lamps, a thousand, ten thousand... they could blaze with the brilliance of the sun.
“Pa!”
In the next breath, the lamps ignited.
The residents of Qing Kingdom's capital were struck first. Amid their dazed confusion, they erupted into raging flames—flesh melting to oil, bones forming the holders.
The conflagration spread with ruthless speed.
It began with mortals, then seized the cultivators. Houses crumbled, cities fell, until the whole of [Qing Kingdom] burned!
No one could resist. For they were mere [subjects], and Chongguang was their [sovereign]!
When the sovereign bids a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to perish!
Flames consumed all of [Qing Kingdom]. Wherever the radiance passed, nothing remained but heaps of white bone. Every soul became fuel for the blaze!
In that instant, countless astonished gazes pierced in from every quarter, settling upon True Person Chongguang, drawn to those gentle, serene eyes.
Even Lu Yang betrayed a flicker of surprise.
In the Primal Saint Sect, True Person Chongguang had always enjoyed a decent reputation—one of the less depraved sorts. To his subordinates, he was even a fine leader.
Yet now, he had done this.
A blood sacrifice of [Qing Kingdom]!
The vast spectacle lay desolate across the land, stripped of all life in a single stroke. He had kindled it entire, reducing millions of lives to ointment for his lamp!
Lu Yang had pondered this before. [Qing Kingdom], that Dao Court foothold driven into Jiangbei, was steeped in the influence of true lord fruit-positions. It could be overturned, but never fully purged. Reverse it today, and the Dao Court would reclaim it tomorrow—a pointless war of attrition.
Chongguang now provided the answer.
Overturning the rules was merely the first step. With [seizure of authority] complete, he had no intention of preserving [Qing Kingdom]. He aimed to end it once and for all!
Slaughter every soul, and [Qing Kingdom] would cease to be!
Others might brand it cruelty. In the Primal Saint Sect, we call it efficiency.
“Across the wide world, only the Dao Court apparatus can accomplish such a feat.”
True Person Chongguang smiled faintly. His gaze then shifted toward Lu Yang.
“But next, we'll have to trouble you a little, Yuan Tu.”
Lu Yang froze at the words.
“What?”
Boom!
Almost simultaneously, dark clouds gathered in the firmament above. Bolts of lightning rent the sky—it was heavenly tribulation! Yet its target was not True Person Chongguang.
It was Lu Yang!
“Why me!?”
Lu Yang's expression soured to the extreme. With the greater situation settled and Pure Clarity Flying Snow True Lord releasing the causal threads, he swiftly divined the reason.
*It's because True Person Chongguang is framing me!*
*[Qing Kingdom] is not just a Dao Court asset—it's woven into the fabric of heaven and earth itself, fused there by the Dao Court Heavenly Son of old.*
*But now, True Person Chongguang has blood-sacrificed the entire [Qing Kingdom], refining it into fuel for his true lord ascension. That's carving flesh from the body of heaven and earth itself—harming the cosmos to bolster himself. Far graver than shattering earth veins. How could such an act escape heavenly punishment?*
In a flash of insight, Lu Yang understood.
*That's why he had me kill the Qing King!*
*My slaying of the king enabled all this. I am the prime instigator—so he shifted every ounce of heavenly punishment onto me!*
Vile beast!!!
That whole good-leader act—escorts, treasures lavished without restraint—all to dig this colossal pit for him?
Is this how you lead!?
Lu Yang shot True Person Chongguang a glare. *I trusted you so completely! And this is how you betray a devoted subordinate?*
*—Lucky I prepared for it.*
Without a word, Lu Yang activated the Heaven-Cheating Great Law obtained from Blood Demon True Person, redirecting the descending tribulation entirely.
Onto those Jiangbei Foundation Establishment true persons who had received his lavish gifts before—countless divine abilities, techniques, and spirit treasures!
Karmic debts. Time to collect.
In a blink, the clouds locked onto Lu Yang halted, as if appraising something. Then they shattered overhead, splintering into more than a dozen smaller thunderheads that hurtled toward Dragon-Shearing Pass—leaving Lu Yang unscathed.
“Oh?”
Even True Person Chongguang betrayed surprise. He pinched his fingers to divine, then burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! Well played!”
“Worthy pillar of the Primal Saint Sect!”
As the words faded, Lu Yang watched the [Formless Sword] in his grasp bloom with splendor. A strand of metallic essence detached, drifting lightly into his palm.
“You've earned it.”
True Person Chongguang's voice drifted over, ethereal. Lu Yang accepted without qualm.
For only he grasped the true weight of those words: Why reward with metallic essence?
Guarded by metallic essence, reincarnation evades the fetal mystery's veil. In Chongguang's eyes, a heavenly punishment strike would doom him like Subduing Dragon Arhat of old—qi shattered, condemned to lifetimes as beast and cur. Thus the gift, to spare utter perdition.
When the calamity passed, a path back.
Likely Chongguang's scant remaining goodwill. Lu Yang was fine talent, after all—exceedingly useful.
Yet no punishment fell.
Thus, the metallic essence was pure reward, won by Lu Yang's own merit. Acknowledged in full by Chongguang.
“Enough. Withdraw.”
True Person Chongguang waved him off, signaling retreat. From first to last, no trace of malice or venom crossed his face—only calm serenity.
Serene in igniting [Qing Kingdom].
Calm in slaughtering all within.
Even Lu Yang he had shifted the punishment onto without hesitation, turning tool to use.
Though unspoken, every word and deed proclaimed one truth: *For my core fruition, your deaths serve a purpose!*