Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: No Escape!
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What kind of godforsaken place is this, godforsaken place, godforsaken place?!
At this moment, that single thought echoed endlessly in Lu Yang's mind. Truth be told, just a moment ago, he had nearly detonated himself to activate the Book of a Hundred Lives.
'It has to be [Soaring Empyrean]!'
'Even though I was using an avatar, I hadn't split my divine sense—instead, my consciousness had taken control. Yet it was turned into a medium to affect my true body!'
Lu Yang's expression turned bitter. He hadn't split his divine sense to possess the avatar because he feared it might develop its own consciousness and betray him. Instead, he had used his primary consciousness to control it. Who could have foreseen this? The True Lord had influenced his true self remotely!
The haze had lifted, and clarity brought terror.
All his previous actions felt like a dream shrouded in illusion. Every decision and word was veiled in fog, to the point where Lu Yang didn't even dare dwell on the memories.
'Have I truly gone mad?'
'I actually thought that once I reached overseas and gathered the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends to break through to mid-stage completion, I could even fight a Great Cultivator.'
Is that really me?
'Forget whether I could win—even if I could, why would I fight one? Wouldn't it be simpler to use Great Cultivator power to bully those Foundation Establishment mid-stage and early-stage cultivators?'
The more Lu Yang thought, the more his scalp tingled.
But soon, an even greater doubt surfaced in his heart: 'Why me? What merit does a mere Foundation Establishment mid-stage like me have to be schemed against like this?'
When immersed, one is blind; the observer sees clear.
Once Lu Yang broke free from the barrier of perception, he instantly understood [Soaring Empyrean]'s intent: He wanted Lu Yang to seek out that Primordial Magnetism Divine Mountain!
'Thank goodness... thank goodness!'
Lu Yang glanced at the dharma sword in his hand, recalling his earlier decision to "first bolster his strength." A flicker of relief shone in his eyes.
Thank goodness his nature was hard to change, even if his habits shifted.
Even under the True Lord's influence, he had stuck to his "play it safe" mindset, seeking Suo Huan to refine a spiritual treasure. By sheer luck—or so it seemed—he had awakened.
'No... it might not be sheer luck.'
'Would a True Lord allow such a variable?'
Lu Yang turned his head to look at Suo Huan beside him and whispered, "Fellow Daoist, be honest with me. For refining that spiritual treasure, did you truly have absolute confidence?"
Suo Huan met his gaze and gave a wry smile.
"Absolute confidence? For an ordinary spiritual treasure, perhaps. But with so many spiritual treasures you provided, how could I possibly smelt them alone? Unless a True Lord intervened! To truly succeed, it would depend at least nine parts on heaven's will."
Suo Huan's voice grew quieter as he spoke.
Lu Yang stared at the dharma sword in his hand, feeling as if he held a burning coal—impossibly hot. He neither wanted to grip it nor toss it away.
Refining without a True Lord's aid relied entirely on heaven's will.
Yet it had succeeded?
Who would believe no True Lord had meddled behind the scenes? But if it was [Soaring Empyrean], why go to the trouble of letting them awaken from the illusion?
Unless...
'...Could there be a second True Lord?'
'So all Suo Huan and I went through was just True Lords clashing through us?'
Lu Yang rubbed his brow, experiencing for the first time what it felt like without a True Lord backing him. Everything was smoke and mirrors; he had been sold and still counted the coins for the seller!
Back when Perfected Being Clear Snow was yet to enter seclusion, would he have fallen this low?
"Senior Brother? Senior?"
At that moment, Chongming looked at Lu Yang in bewilderment, then turned to Suo Huan.
"Aren't you two in a hurry to head to the Primordial Magnetism Divine Mountain?"
"Bang!"
Before Chongming finished speaking, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted. Suo Huan remained composed.
"Trouble Fellow Daoist to shine that sword light on him too."
Lu Yang shook his head.
"I did. The sword light's wonder is impressive enough, but his cultivation is too low. Though only incidentally affected by me, the influence runs deeper than mine. Unless... that one withdraws the divine ability voluntarily, or a True Lord lends aid, I'm afraid he won't wake."
With those words, silence fell between them.
Lu Yang instinctively pinched his fingers to divine, then gave up. In a scheme clearly laid by a True Lord, what was the point? It might even mislead him further.
'Can I just not go and return to Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea?'
His first instinct was to flee, but soon a chilling realization hit: He had smoothly departed the Primal Saint Sect!
Lu Yang refused to believe no True Lord could detect [Soaring Empyrean]'s influence on him, yet he had left without hindrance, as if it were natural. It hadn't seemed odd at the time, but now it filled him with dread. Did this indirectly reveal the Primal Saint Sect's stance?
'They've abandoned me?'
It wasn't surprising. To most, he was a True Person whose path was severed—stunning yet expendable.
'If there's something more important, discarding me is only logical.'
'But what is that matter? What role do they want me to play? What effect does the True Lord in the shadows seek from me?'
At that thought, Lu Yang abruptly turned his head.
Almost simultaneously, Suo Huan glanced his way, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Clearly, his thoughts weren't slower than Lu Yang's.
'Just like back in the [Ten Thousand Martial Realm], I'm incidental—Suo Huan is the target!'
'[Soaring Empyrean]'s real aim is him, using me to draw Suo Huan to that Primordial Magnetism Divine Mountain? Impossible—the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends hold no value for him.'
Under the sword light's glow, Lu Yang's thoughts sharpened like lightning.
The next instant, he jerked his head down to the dharma sword in his hand.
'This spiritual sword could be refined because a True Lord secretly intervened. And because of it, Suo Huan and I awoke from the haze.'
'That's it! That's my purpose!'
"My purpose is to awaken Suo Huan!"
In that instant, realization dawned on Lu Yang's face. 'Wrong! All wrong! The shadow hand isn't [Soaring Empyrean]!'
Until moments ago, Lu Yang had assumed [Soaring Empyrean] lured them into the trap, only for a mysterious True Lord to save them.
But the truth was likely the reverse.
[Soaring Empyrean] was the one who saved them!
'Suo Huan was trapped without knowing it. Soaring Empyrean used me to pull him out, refining this dharma sword to awaken him!'
That made sense!
As enlightenment struck, Lu Yang's expression grew even more bitter. "If that's the case... then this means they want Suo Huan and me to act together!"
After all, both had awakened thanks to the sword's wonder.
If they parted, Lu Yang might be fine, but Suo Huan would plunge back into delusion. How could [Soaring Empyrean] allow that?
'If I'm right, I've already provoked a formidable foe... Right, the Four Seas Gate! Because I killed Dragon King Sui Ying! The Heaven-Scrutinizing Instrument should have concealed the karma—no one should divine it. But now, who knows.'
'If the Four Seas Gate has divined the karma, and I'm overseas now, perhaps only Suo Huan can protect me. If I leave him rashly, I'll die by dragon claws!'
Such karmic mysteries were just another form of True Lord clashes!
With that in mind, Lu Yang couldn't help looking at Suo Huan.
"Senior... what exactly have you done?"
Suo Huan met his gaze and smiled wryly. "Sought a path to survival. Sadly... it seems someone won't even grant me that."
"I've dragged you into this, Fellow Daoist."
"Not at all."
The deed was done—Lu Yang wouldn't voice complaints. Regardless, they were now grasshoppers tied to the same string!
(End of chapter)