Chapter 279: How Can This End Peacefully!
Chapter 279: How Could I Let This Rest!
Just as Lü Yang had anticipated before entering meditation, the Grand True Persons overseeing the battlefield from the Pure Land, Dao Court, and Sword Pavilion were indeed regretting their decisions now.
"If we'd known this would happen, we shouldn't have allowed him to slaughter so freely!"
"This demon from Jiangbei, that spirit treasure banner that collects souls and refines them into puppets, along with Nether Whisper... they're far too troublesome. It would've been better to let Suo Huan handle the killing!"
"What do we do now?"
"If we intervene now, we'd be breaking the rules. While the Demon Sect might not pursue it, any advantage we gain here would mean concessions must be made to Suo Huan's faction."
"Venerable Vimalakirti has already made his move—what else can we do? After losing his golden Dharma Body in the [Kingdom of Qing], he only managed to return because he'd comprehended the Three Meanings of the Pure Land and had a Bodhisattva protecting him. His forced intervention now clearly indicates he's acting under a Bodhisattva's orders. Let's just observe."
Within the Foundation Establishment realm, several divine senses exchanged messages.
In the physical world, a white lotus platform hovered in the sky, upon which sat a Dharma Body with a fleshy topknot, holding ritual implements, displaying the thirty-two marks of perfection.
"Audacious fiend! How dare you act so recklessly?"
Venerable Vimalakirti bellowed, unleashing boundless Buddha light that descended like a crushing force. As he spoke, both hands moved—one striking toward Lü Yang, the other toward Ancestor Nether Whisper.
Boom!
In that split second, Ancestor Nether Whisper didn't hesitate. He immediately suspended the [Yama Palace] above Lü Yang's head, shielding him from the colossal Buddha palm.
With that single strike, the already damaged [Yama Palace] shattered completely. Ancestor Nether Whisper's aura plummeted, and the Banner Spirits comprising the [Yama Palace] disintegrated one after another, turning into streaks of white light that flew back into the Myriad Spirits Banner. They wouldn't be summonable again anytime soon.
"Stubborn fool."
Though Venerable Vimalakirti's expression remained compassionate, his eyes brimmed with cold killing intent. He raised his palm again, this time enveloping both Ancestor Nether Whisper and Lü Yang!
Seeing this, Ancestor Nether Whisper could only sigh helplessly: "Ah... what a pity. My strength is spent."
In his current state, maintaining a mid-stage Foundation Establishment facade was already his limit. The status of a late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand True Person was beyond what he could uphold.
Had it not been so, how could he have been overpowered by a mere Pure Land Venerable?
The next moment, Ancestor Nether Whisper was crushed beneath the Buddha palm, his True Spirit transforming into white light that merged into the Myriad Spirits Banner—severely wounded, just like the other Banner Spirits.
Yet at the same time, Venerable Vimalakirti's expression abruptly changed.
"...Where is he!?"
Lifting the Buddha palm, he saw that Lü Yang, who had been beneath the [Yama Palace], had vanished without a trace. What he had just crushed was merely a shell.
An Immortal Embryo clone!
This was Ancestor Nether Whisper's final act—using a technique to mimic Lü Yang's [Tethering Closeness], teleporting Lü Yang's true body to another location while covering the escape with the clone.
Lü Yang and his clone shared one mind, their auras nearly identical. Combined with Ancestor Nether Whisper's interference, this had momentarily deceived Venerable Vimalakirti.
Of course, imitation was still imitation. Moreover, Lü Yang was still refining the Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends within the Magnetic Divine Mountain, so Ancestor Nether Whisper couldn't send him too far.
The next moment, Venerable Vimalakirti's divine sense swept outward, quickly locating Lü Yang within the mountain's core. He immediately raised his palm again to strike—
But it was already too late!
Clang! Clang!
In an instant, a majestic and righteous sword light rose from the mountain's depths like the sun ascending in the east, slashing directly at the descending Buddha palm!
Venerable Vimalakirti's expression flickered.
Though his Buddha palm appeared ordinary, it was actually a superior Dharma Body technique—its palm contained the profound mystery of reducing Mount Sumeru to a mustard seed. No ordinary True Person could withstand it.
Yet now, he felt as though his palm had encountered an indestructible boulder. Though he could still firmly grasp it, he couldn't shatter it. Worse, applying more force sent waves of stinging pain through his palm, dimming the Buddha light significantly.
'How is this possible...'
Before Venerable Vimalakirti could react, the sword light in his palm abruptly expanded like a tempest, forcibly scattering his fingers apart!
The Buddha palm disintegrated, revealing the scene within.
Amidst the mountain forest, Lü Yang—who had been meditating moments ago—had now opened his eyes, risen with a flick of his sleeve, and placed a hand on his sword hilt.
Instantly, chaos erupted among the Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Not only the Grand True Persons from various factions, but even the lofty True Lords above cast surprised gazes toward Lü Yang.
"He broke through?"
"Impossible... Refining Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends couldn't possibly be that fast! Unless his cultivation depth is profound enough to have already grasped the mysteries of the Earth Fiend [Yin Wood]."
"Even so, it's still too quick!"
Lü Yang paid no heed to the murmurs. He merely sighed, gripping [Wave of Tribulations] in hand. The sword hummed joyfully in response.
His rapid refinement of Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends was naturally due to the divine wonder of [Wave of Tribulations]' [Law Holding]. This wonder had allowed him to master the innate divine ability [Disrupted Harmony Magnetism] early, bypassing all obstacles and bottlenecks effortlessly.
Boom!
The next moment, Lü Yang's body radiated with the brilliance of divine abilities. Beyond his Life Essence divine ability, two more luminous auras swirled around him.
[Embrace the Mountain]!
[Disrupted Harmony Magnetism]!
Yet this wasn't the end. As [Wave of Tribulations] in his hand activated, after a brief pause, a third divine radiance manifested upon the blade!
Assuming the status of a Grand True Person, his third innate divine ability!
Its name: [Kill in Power]!
Witnessing this, even Venerable Vimalakirti fell silent. Admittedly, Lü Yang had just broken through—in a direct confrontation, he still wouldn't be Venerable Vimalakirti's match.
But preserving his life? That was more than sufficient.
At this moment, unless a perfected Foundation Establishment Grand True Person intervened or several late-stage Grand True Persons joined forces, no one could kill Lü Yang!
Almost simultaneously, a shrill dragon's cry echoed from the distant overseas regions.
The Grand True Persons turned their gazes.
"Tian Qiu has been defeated!"
"Suo Huan truly lives up to his reputation—he actually overcame Tian Qiu! With his physical body slain, only his soul remains to flee... likely heading for reincarnation in the Netherworld."
"His Dao rival is dead—Suo Huan's pursuit of gold is imminent!"
Then, looking back at Lü Yang standing sword in hand, even Venerable Vimalakirti couldn't help but sigh before withdrawing.
"The situation is beyond salvage... He truly managed to carve out a path to survival."
Meanwhile, within the Magnetic Divine Mountain.
Lü Yang suddenly sensed something and glanced beside him, where an elegant young man materialized—his robes half-stained with blood, yet his vitality and spirit burned at their peak.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist."
Upon appearing, Suo Huan clasped his hands toward Lü Yang with a smile. "A single sword strike to sever the sea, capturing a dragon with your Dharma Body, and that Ancestor Nether Whisper... truly worthy of his reputation."
Lü Yang returned the gesture solemnly. "Fellow Daoist, are you about to break through?"
Suo Huan nodded. "Given the circumstances, I must stake everything on this attempt. Once I, like you, fight my way to survival, let us share a drink in celebration!"
"But before then... Fellow Daoist, will you depart?"
Here, Suo Huan smiled faintly. "This place is about to become my site for pursuing gold. With True Lords watching closely, remaining here may still pose dangers for you."
Lü Yang's gaze flickered slightly before he suddenly raised a hand, summoning the Myriad Spirits Banner. The supreme treasure now appeared dim, all its Banner Spirits dormant. The most severely injured was undoubtedly Ancestor Nether Whisper—his True Spirit teetered on the brink of collapse.
Lü Yang pressed his lips together, then shook his head. "...No need."
Suo Huan blinked in surprise. "Fellow Daoist, you won't leave?"
Storing the Myriad Spirits Banner, Lü Yang's expression turned icy. "Those who wished to kill me came freely—do they think they can leave just as freely after wounding my Banner Spirits? How could I let this rest?"
As he spoke, Lü Yang's gaze locked onto Venerable Vimalakirti's direction.
Among them, this Pure Land Venerable was in the worst condition—still recovering from injuries sustained when Hong Ju slew him in the [Kingdom of Qing]. In truth, their strengths were now comparable.
Having come this far, Lü Yang had nothing left to fear.
This man would make an excellent first target!
"They initiated this killing tribulation—but when it ends is my decision! Fellow Daoist, pay me no mind. Once I've slain a Grand True Person, then I'll depart!"