Chapter 276: Dharma Body Captures the Dragon, Charge Forward!
Chapter 276: Dharma Body Seizes the Dragon, Breaking Through!
"You—stay away from me!"
Seeing Lü Yang approaching step by step, Sui Ling's face twisted with fear and fury. Recalling the infamous reputation of this "Yuan Tu," she instinctively tightened her legs together.
Yet Lü Yang had no intention of wasting words on her.
With a hand seal, the [Tribulation Wave] behind him transformed into a dazzling sword light that shot forth, slashing directly toward the dragon maiden.
Gritting her teeth, Sui Ling swiftly shifted back to human form—her true dragon body was far too massive, making it an easy target for flying swords. She then retrieved a luminous pearl and raised it above her head, releasing a cascade of moonlight that formed a resplendent canopy, shielding her securely beneath it.
This treasure was called the [Moon Tassel Pearl], a gift from Tian Qiu.
The seemingly delicate moonlight radiance was, in reality, as unyielding as iron. For a moment, it genuinely withstood the slashes of [Tribulation Wave], sparks flying in all directions.
Witnessing this, Sui Ling froze momentarily before a gleeful expression spread across her face. "So that's it—you can't unleash a second strike like that!"
She had been terrified out of her wits earlier, fearing Lü Yang could deliver such devastating blows at will, almost mistaking him for a Grand True Person of the Saint Sect!
Lü Yang responded with a cold smirk. Indeed, that previous sword strike hadn't been casual—it was the fourth divine wonder of [Tribulation Wave], [Proclaiming Might], amplified by his profound magic power. It had taken considerable time to charge before execution, making it impossible to replicate immediately.
But so what?
"Do you truly believe I need such a strike to kill you?"
As Lü Yang spoke, his hand seals shifted. The single dazzling sword light abruptly multiplied, flickering until it split into hundreds of sword rays!
[Disrupted Harmony Magnetism]!
This was a divine ability Lü Yang had originally planned to cultivate only upon reaching mid-stage perfection—the very reason for his journey to the Magnetic Divine Mountain. Yet now, he had manifested it prematurely!
In an instant, each of the split sword rays emitted an eerie magnetic force, transforming into strands of [Primordial Magnetic Separation Divine Light], capable of dismantling the five elements. With a single sweep over Sui Ling's [Moon Tassel Pearl], the cascading moonlight was peeled away layer by layer like a shell!
Sui Ling shuddered in horror and hastily activated another divine ability.
[Heavenly River Mouth]!
In the next moment, a dragon's head materialized through her spell, opening its maw to inhale Lü Yang's sword rays, swallowing them whole!
The same divine ability manifested differently depending on the cultivator's depth of cultivation.
When wielded by Sui Ying, [Heavenly River Mouth] was an offensive technique that unleashed a celestial river. But in Sui Ling's hands, it became a sealing and suppression art.
Her plan was simple: once the sword rays were swallowed, they would be submerged in the celestial river within her belly, embodying the principle of [Water Chills Metal], which countered the metallic essence of flying swords. No matter how extraordinary the sword, it would inevitably drown, rendered useless within moments.
Yet the very next second, Sui Ling's expression twisted in shock.
For Lü Yang's sword rays, now deep within her body, didn't drown—instead, they grew increasingly frenzied.
The sword rays rampaged wildly inside her, thrashing in all directions.
Agonizing pain wracked Sui Ling's abdomen until a sword tip pierced through her flesh, forcing her to throw back her head and unleash a deafening roar.
"Roar—!"
The delicate maiden had been skewered clean through by Lü Yang's sword, vanishing instantly. In her place, a colossal true dragon plunged toward the sea.
She was fleeing!
Yet Lü Yang only laughed at the sight. "Trying to run?"
As he spoke, dark flames erupted behind him, blazing fiercely and casting the shadow of a towering, three-headed, six-armed figure with a ghastly visage and fanged teeth.
The phantom took a step forward—and in that instant, it solidified. The dark flames behind its head formed a blazing halo, reflecting countless rings of light. Its six arms seized the dragon's neck, spine, tail, and vital points—pinning Sui Ling's transformed dragon body firmly in mid-air!
[Heavenly Dominion Omniscient Dharma Body]!
This was Lü Yang's first time deploying this second-grade true art since mastering it. Its might was unparalleled—suppressing a true dragon through sheer brute force!
Without hesitation, Lü Yang gathered energy in his chest and unleashed a thunderous command: "Halt!"
The wonder of the Dharma Body—[Heavenly Dominion]!
His life essence divine ability—[Clarify Right and Wrong]!
The combination of the two was akin to decreeing reality itself. With that single word, Sui Ling's thrashing dragon body froze stiff in place.
Simultaneously, Lü Yang's Dharma Body flexed its arms violently.
"Rip—!"
Amidst the sound of tearing flesh, the six arms pulled outward in unison—rending Sui Ling's body into six bloody segments!
"Ah—!"
The agony of her physical form's destruction wrenched a scream from Sui Ling. Yet she dared not hesitate—in the next instant, her dragon scales shattered as a torrent of blood light erupted. She had detonated her entire dragon body without hesitation, using the explosion to shield her fleeing soul as it streaked toward the sea, intending to escape via water-escape.
But at the same moment, Lü Yang's Dharma Body opened its eyes.
[Omniscient Dominion]!
This profound function of the Dharma Body specialized in capturing souls and extracting memories. With a mere inhalation directed at Sui Ling's fleeing soul—
"Whoosh—!"
Instantly, Sui Ling's mind swam with dizziness. A soul without its physical vessel was as fragile as a mayfly—now, terror flooded her heart.
'He's going to kill me!? He actually dares kill me!?'
Sui Ying's death could be excused—he had ventured deep into the mainland, far from the dragon clan's reach.
But this was right outside the Four Seas Sect! The Dragon Palace was within sight! As a noble of the true dragon lineage, how could Lü Yang dare murder her under the dragon clan's very gaze?
"W-wait...!"
Fearing Lü Yang might not understand the gravity of his actions, Sui Ling hurriedly tried to explain. But Lü Yang gave her no chance—his massive hand descended like a falling mountain.
"Boom—!"
The impact shook heaven and earth into momentary silence. The surviving demonic soldiers and the hidden Buddhist cultivators all turned their gazes upward—only to see Lü Yang standing tall amidst the firmament, his Dharma Body ablaze, clutching the lifeless corpse of a mountainous true dragon.
"...Dead?"
Among the Buddhist cultivators, Hui Ku gaped in disbelief. "A mid-Foundation Establishment true dragon... torn apart alive by that demon?"
Yet soon, he regained his composure—even growing somewhat excited.
"Excellent, excellent! To think he's cultivated such a savage Dharma Body. He's perfectly suited to enter our Pure Land and cleanse his malice, paving his way to enlightenment..."
Rumble—!
At that moment, thunderous roars erupted in the distance, accompanied by draconic bellows brimming with fury: "Demon... you've gone too far!"
Yet the very next second, a clear laugh drowned out the voice:
"Fellow Daoist, why the haste? Our duel isn't over yet!"
It was Suo Huan.
This overseas rogue cultivator who had lurked for six hundred years actually kept his promise—intercepting late-stage and perfected Foundation Establishment Grand True Persons on Lü Yang's behalf!
But this was only the beginning.
Retracting his Dharma Body, Lü Yang retrieved the [Myriad Spirits Banner] and tossed Sui Ling's corpse into it. After refining it briefly with his magic power, he gave the banner a gentle shake.
In the next instant, Sui Ling emerged from the banner completely unharmed, resuming her human form. She bowed respectfully to Lü Yang—all traces of her previous hatred and fury erased, replaced by absolute loyalty: "Sui Ling pays respects to Master."
Not just Sui Ling.
The seven early-stage Foundation Establishment demonic creatures he had slain earlier—their mutilated corpses and souls—had all been absorbed into the banner as well.
Only then did Lü Yang, holding the [Myriad Spirits Banner], calmly descend upon the Magnetic Divine Mountain.
Despite killing Sui Ling and dismantling the 470,000-strong demonic army formation, he felt no relief.
Because he knew—the overseas demonic forces were mere distractions. Those truly coveting his life and cultivation base still lurked in the shadows, awaiting their opportunity.
"They're waiting for me to begin my breakthrough..."
Refining Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend essences to condense divine abilities was ordinarily a monumental task requiring peace and quiet. Yet now, no one would grant him that luxury.
The moment he began refining, those lying in ambush would emerge to claim his life.
But if he didn't refine, didn't break through—he remained trapped in this deadlock.
'Pure Land, Dao Court, Sword Pavilion... They all see me as a dish to be shared. Even the Saint Sect treats me as a sacrificial pawn.'
Even his slaughter of Sui Ling and the demonic army played right into the major factions' hands.
'But soon... they'll regret it.'
Seven early-stage Foundation Establishment, one mid-stage.
Including Chen Xin'an already within the banner—even disregarding Su Nu's pseudo-Foundation Establishment—he had now gathered nine Foundation Establishment banner spirits!
With a cold smirk, Lü Yang sat beneath the [Myriad Spirits Banner] without hesitation—and began refining the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend essences!