Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Primordial Magnetism Divine Mountain
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The Primordial Magnetism Divine Mountain shimmered with five colors and ten hues.
This divine mountain was unlike ordinary objects. It had formed after a True Lord's cave-heaven merged into heaven and earth upon his death, shedding all the original attributes of that cave-heaven.
One must know that every True Lord's cave-heaven pointed toward a specific fruition. Thus, a fragment of cave-heaven generated by heaven and earth itself, bearing no such direction, was unimaginably rare. Not to speak of anything else, just its ability to aid cultivators in ascending to blessed lands and seeking the Golden Core was something no other cave-heaven could achieve.
Otherwise, why would the Dragon Palace's crown prince, Tian Qiu, set his sights on it?
If any cave-heaven could assist in seeking the Golden Core, someone of his status could simply break through directly in the Dragon Lord's cave-heaven, with no need for such trouble.
However, this divine mountain was currently of no use to Lu Yang.
He required only the Earthly Fiend [Yin Wood Qi] derived from within the divine mountain. Absent that, he never would have collaborated so sincerely with Suo Huan.
Everyone knew this as well.
Almost the instant Lu Yang entered meditative trance, outside the divine mountain, Hui Ku and the other Buddhist cultivators—who had previously concealed themselves using spirit treasures—immediately revealed their forms.
"Amitabha!"
These Buddhist cultivators all wore joyful expressions. Hui Ku laughed loudly.
"Benefactor Yuan Tu, today you face your destined tribulation—perfect for entering our Pure Land!"
As his words fell, the group pinched hand seals and chanted Buddha's name.
"We respectfully invite the [Vast Strength Heavenly Dragon Temple]!"
As their words fell, vast Buddhist radiance suddenly rose within the Foundation Establishment realm. Amid the light manifested a majestic temple, borne upon auspicious clouds, a golden statue standing within.
Had Lu Yang not yet entered trance to refine the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend, he surely would have recognized this temple. It was none other than the former [Dragon-Subduing Temple], merely altered in form. The golden statue within was no longer the Fu Long Arhat, but a Buddha identical in appearance to Lu Yang.
"Hahaha!"
Only now did Hui Ku finally burst into full-throated laughter. The stifling humiliation from moments ago—when Lu Yang's single sword had scared him into hiding—finally eased somewhat.
No matter how profound your divine abilities, what could you do?
Would you not still surrender without a fight?
Yes, in Hui Ku's eyes, Lu Yang had accepted his fate and planned to surrender. After all, one had no power to resist whatsoever while refining Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend energies.
"Still knows when to yield."
"Otherwise, a real fight would cost lives before it ended. Since this demon is willing to surrender, that's boundless merit."
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Hui Ku even felt a twinge of envy. With Lu Yang's cultivation, once he finished refining the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend energies to reach peak mid-Foundation Establishment, entered the Buddhist path, and claimed the seat of [Vast Strength Heavenly Dragon Arhat], he would not be far from Pure Land Venerable status at the Great True Person level.
Though by then, there would be no more Lu Yang.
At this thought, Hui Ku grinned uncontrollably. The twenty-three Buddhist cultivators behind him revealed extremely similar smiles.
However, at that very moment.
"Imperial edict arrives!"
A proclamation rang out from the distant horizon. In an instant, a majestic force scattered the Pure Land's Buddhist light. Looking over, one saw a long procession of carriages.
"Hm? The Dao Court?"
Hui Ku frowned but said nothing. The Bodhisattva in the Pure Land had already warned him beforehand: the Dao Court would claim its share.
Soon, several Capital Heaven Department guards from the Dao Court arrived before them.
Their leader was an old acquaintance, just like Hui Ku—one who had once appeared in the [Cave Yang Blessed Land] seeking treasures: a proper third-rank Dao Court official.
[Capital Heaven Department Commander] Hou Lan.
[Administration Commission Commissioner] Cheng Tinggui.
The two jointly held a golden scroll and declared solemnly.
"By His Majesty's immortal edict, we conscript Lu Yang of Jiangbei to enter court as an official, granting upper third-rank position!"
Hui Ku paid it no mind.
The Pure Land and Dao Court had already reached an agreement beforehand. The Pure Land would take Lu Yang's Dao foundation, dharma body, and entire cultivation base. The Dao Court would take his soul.
The Pure Land hoped to use Lu Yang's cultivation to activate the [City Wall Earth]. The Dao Court planned to induct this world's sole True Person cultivating [City Wall Earth] into official service, bending him to submission, thereby seizing its conceptual image to usurp the [City Wall Earth] as the supreme earth-element position.
The two claims did not conflict.
Thus, upon meeting, the parties showed no tension whatsoever. Instead, they were harmonious, all chummy and agreeable.
Moments later, another sword light streaked in.
"The Sword Pavilion has arrived!"
Hui Ku laughed. The sword light arrived, and from it stepped a handsome youth. His cold gaze fell immediately on Lu Yang.
This overseas purge was the affair of the Pure Land, Dao Court, and Primal Saint Sect—truly unrelated to the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion. But once Lu Yang entered the picture, the Sword Pavilion could no longer sit idly by. Especially the Ye family, direct descendants of the former True Lord, harbored bone-deep hatred for Lu Yang and yearned to kill him.
"I am Ye Tao."
The youth cupped his hands toward the Pure Land and Dao Court contingents. He then gazed at the [Calamity Wave] beside Lu Yang and spoke gravely.
"I have come for this sword."
"This demon is a commoner by birth, rootless in his prior life. Such a divine sword in his hands is a pearl cast before swine."
"Once my Sword Pavilion reclaims it, we will grant it to a disciple of noble background and extraordinary prior life. Only then can this sword shine as it should."
They had even settled on the recipient.
It was the [Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord], reincarnating decades hence. Absent that, Ye Tao—as a Ye family elder—would not have come personally.
"Excellent!"
Hui Ku smiled, unconcerned. [Calamity Wave] was a fine sword indeed, but the Pure Land had few sword cultivators and cared little for it.
Meanwhile, Hou Lan of the Dao Court glanced about and asked curiously.
"No one from the Demon Sect?"
Hui Ku shook his head.
"They've staked their main claim on that Suo Huan. The more we take here, the larger their share there."
"I see."
Cheng Tinggui nodded.
"Since everyone's assembled, let's proceed. Finish quickly to avert dreams too long."
With that, all eyes turned to Lu Yang atop the mountain.
The next second, the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner beside him swayed. Banner spirits emerged one after another, auras flaring—it was the seven Foundation Establishment demonic beings from before.
Yet no one took them seriously.
Which among Ye Tao, Hui Ku, Hou Lan, and Cheng Tinggui on site lacked mid-stage cultivation? To them, seven early Foundation Establishment were mere clay chickens and tile dogs.
"I'll go first!"
Hou Lan sneered coldly. He immediately sacrificed his official seal of office. The [Capital Heaven Department Commander] talisman-script bloomed rosy light, shining down toward Lu Yang.
But in the next second.
"Ah!"
Hou Lan, charging at the fore, halted abruptly. His terrified scream halted Hui Ku and the others mid-advance.
What was this?
Then they saw it: from the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, a palm suddenly thrust out of nowhere, rolling with yin fiend energy, clamping directly onto Hou Lan's neck!
Without pause, the palm twisted slightly—as if snapping a twig—effortlessly breaking Hou Lan's neck. Endless yin fiend energy wrapped him like a spider web, igniting into blazing fiend fire that instantly refined him to flying ash!
"Impossible!"
Cheng Tinggui—who like Hou Lan hailed from the Dao Court—cried out first in shock. Hui Ku and Ye Tao betrayed stunned expressions as well.
True, Dao Court cultivators were somewhat weaker.
But however weak, that was still proper third-rank, comparable to mid-Foundation Establishment. How was he crushed to death by a mere hand? Was Lu Yang still awake?
Soon, they saw the hand's owner.
"Getting old, not what I used to be."
The Ten Thousand Spirits Banner swayed as a figure strolled out, rubbing his shoulders with a sigh.
"Back in my day, one glare and he'd drop dead."
Uttering such words, the emerger was a handsome youth.
Hui Ku and Cheng Tinggui did not yet recognize him.
Only Ye Tao, studying his features, seemed to recall something. His eyes widened abruptly.
"You are... that Witch Ghost Dao remnant, Tingyou!?"
At those words, Ancestor Tingyou turned his gaze sharply.
"Who are you calling a remnant?"