Chapter 283: Fruit Position Falls!
Chapter 283: The Falling Fruit Position!
At this moment, within the Foundation Establishment realm.
Not far from the battlefield between Lü Yang and Venerable Vimalakirti, the Grand True Persons from the Dao Court, Sword Pavilion, and Saint Sect stood in a three-way confrontation.
To be precise, it was the Saint Sect's Grand True Person facing off against both the Sword Pavilion and Dao Court representatives.
Yet despite appearances, the atmosphere between the three parties wasn't particularly tense. None were willing to fight to the death for others' causes.
There was even a hint of spectator mentality among them.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, who do you think will prevail between Yuan Tu and Vimalakirti? The commotion is simply too great—I'd wager at least one will perish," remarked the Dao Court's Grand True Person, a second-rank official named Chen Ruzhen, who had previously represented the Dao Court in dealings with Suo Huan as the [Minister of Military Affairs of the Capital].
The Sword Pavilion's representative was Ye Shaoying, current head of the Ye family.
Ye Guyue was his daughter.
Thus, in all honesty, he was the one most eager to kill Lü Yang at this moment. Yet before him stood the Saint Sect's Grand True Person, blocking his path.
"Hmph!"
After brief consideration, Ye Shaoying sneered: "Venerable Vimalakirti has walked the Dao path for many years. Even if injured, how could that newly ascended demon possibly match him?"
This wasn't mere venting but reasoned analysis. Temporary elevation remained temporary—even achieving a Grand True Person's realm couldn't erase the fundamental gap. In direct combat, such imposters would inevitably fall. Even with Venerable Vimalakirti's compromised condition, there was no reason for a junior to slay him mid-battle.
"Fellow Daoist's words miss the mark."
Before Ye Shaoying finished speaking, the Saint Sect's Grand True Person laughed heartily: "Similar events have occurred before, have they not?"
"Nonsense!"
Ye Shaoying knew exactly what the other referred to—Chong Guang's feat of slaying enemies while temporarily elevated to Grand True Person status during his mid-stage Foundation Establishment perfection.
But who was Chong Guang?
An innate celestial spirit reincarnate, backed by a True Lord—such pedigree would warrant prioritized cultivation even in the Sword Pavilion. How could Lü Yang compare?
Yet at that moment—
"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion erupted from the distant battlefield, spiritual tides surging to simultaneously affect both the Foundation Establishment realm and the material world. The previously chaotic heavenly mechanisms gradually clarified.
The three Grand True Persons immediately turned their gazes.
First to catch their eye was Lü Yang, trapped within the [Immaculate Pure Land Temple], bloodied and gasping weakly—clearly at death's door.
Ye Shaoying's face lit with joy: "As expected, Venerable Vimalakirti prevails!"
Beside him, Chen Ruzhen of the Dao Court also brightened. If Lü Yang had truly lost, might the Dao Court's objectives still be achievable?
Meanwhile, the Saint Sect's Grand True Person darkened.
Named Jun Tong, he served under True Lord Zengcai Qiluo, who maintained close ties with True Lord Qingcheng Feixue. Thus he held considerable appreciation for Lü Yang—why else would he have voluntarily intercepted the Sword Pavilion and Dao Court forces?
Yet the current situation looked dire.
'Youthful arrogance after breakthrough... Vimalakirti remains a Grand True Person after all. Escaping alive would have been achievement enough—how could killing him be so simple?'
Jun Tong sighed inwardly:
'Still... I cannot let him enter the Pure Land!'
An ordinary True Person and a Grand True Person carried vastly different weight. Jun Tong resolved to strike the killing blow himself at the critical moment.
'This way, at least I can guide his soul to reincarnation. Talent like his—in our Saint Sect, only Chong Guang in the past millennium compares. His Dao path severed, this became his fate. Should I arrange five rebirths for him to start anew, he might yet become useful material...'
Having decided, Jun Tong prepared to move.
Yet the next instant, he froze mid-step, staring fixedly at the [Immaculate Pure Land Temple] encasing Lü Yang, brow furrowing:
'Where is Vimalakirti?'
Simultaneously, Ye Shaoying and Chen Ruzhen also noticed the anomaly, scanning their surroundings yet finding no trace of Vimalakirti across either realm.
Where had he died?
Then Lü Yang's original body suddenly opened its eyes and slowly rose. As he moved, an astonishing scene unfolded.
The [Immaculate Pure Land Temple]—collapsed!
Infinite Buddha light, dharma masters, monastic congregations—all crumbled like fragile tofu under Lü Yang's aura, shattering piece by piece!
Instantly, Ye Shaoying's face stiffened.
'Impossible!'
The [Immaculate Pure Land Temple] was Vimalakirti's fundamental Dao base. Its collapse could only mean his death—truly slain by Lü Yang?
Beside him, Dao Court's Chen Ruzhen paled in terror, subtly retreating behind Ye Shaoying—after all, the Dao Court's cultivators were notoriously weakest in combat. If Lü Yang could kill Venerable Vimalakirti, chances were high he could slay Chen Ruzhen too. How could this not terrify him?
Yet soon, both regained composure.
Ye Shaoying even shook his head: "Venerable Vimalakirti was injured after all. While defeated today, the outcome may differ once he recovers."
"Recover?"
A clear laugh interrupted as Lü Yang opened his eyes, summoning [Tribulation Wave] from the material world.
"Spare yourselves the delusion."
"From this day forth, there shall be no Vimalakirti!"
Lü Yang's voice boomed across the realm, leaving only his words echoing while others paled and instinctively began calculating.
Soon, Ye Shaoying's expression shifted to shock:
"No karma... how can there be no karma!?"
Pure Land venerables didn't enter reincarnation upon death—their karma drew them back to the Pure Land, making them notoriously difficult to kill permanently. Yet now, Vimalakirti's karma had vanished!
[Yuan Tu]!
The fifth mystical power of [Tribulation Wave]—this sword severed karma upon killing. None could trace its victims, who became beings without cause or effect.
Even the Pure Land couldn't retrieve them!
The only outcome—soul scattering!
With such an achievement, what did it matter if Lü Yang was grievously injured, barely clinging to life? Unless True Lords intervened, he now stood among the realm's preeminent masters of divine abilities!
Henceforth, heaven and earth would remember his name!
Suddenly, dazzling golden light erupted from the west—apparently just noticing the anomaly. An intangible gaze descended.
Instantly, all creation seemed to freeze. Countless splendors ceased movement as that invisible gaze scrutinized everything, gradually manifesting wrath that focused squarely on Lü Yang, instantly crushing his bones.
Yet even under such pressure, Lü Yang raised his head.
Defying the overwhelming force, he stood tall.
"What can you do to me?"
Boom!
Thunder cracked as the gaze's pressure intensified exponentially, only to be intercepted at the critical moment by another mighty power, dissipating into nothingness.
Two vast divine senses intertwined in the void:
"Fellow Daoist, chess is played by skill. Overturning the board upon losing pieces lacks magnanimity."
"Amitabha..."
The Saint Sect had acted!
Lü Yang didn't know who intervened, but regardless—temporarily attaining Grand True Person status and slaying Vimalakirti in battle had earned him a True Lord's personal protection!
Moreover, the True Lords now faced an even more pressing matter.
At this instant, all present—including Lü Yang—suddenly sensed something. Every gaze turned upward toward the Foundation Establishment realm's firmament, toward that stellar Fruit Position.
[Flowing Water].
Normally unremarkable.
Yet now, inexplicably, the lofty, untouchable Fruit Position suspended high above began to change.
It—was beginning to fall!