Chapter 315
Chapter 315
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: Unknown
Chapter Title: Gathering at Extreme Heaven Cliff
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Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, Extreme Heaven Cliff.
This was the secluded cultivation ground of the Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord. With the True Lord in residence, the atmosphere was naturally extraordinary. From afar, it exuded a soaring ambition that pierced the heavens.
At this moment, numerous Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings were converging on the site.
Among them were the Yun family ancestor and Perfected Being Xiuxin. Even Perfected Being Roaring Sea of the seafaring Li family had arrived. The two sides eyed each other with open disdain.
Soon, the crowd surged into a grand hall.
At the head of the hall, a Daoist with a gloomy countenance stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at a map hanging on the wall. It depicted the landscape of Jiangnan.
He wore a black robe, his beard unkempt, a standard-issue ancient sword hanging at his waist. Yet it showed no spiritual radiance, as if it were mere mundane iron. No aura emanated from his body either. At a glance, he resembled a down-and-out wandering swordsman one might encounter anywhere in the mortal realm.
He stared intently at the map.
In one corner of the map, a region he had prominently marked was none other than the location of the Ten Thousand Men Pit. The implication was self-evident.
"We have come to pay respects to Perfected Being Demon-Quelling!"
As the Foundation Establishment cultivators landed in the hall, their radiant halos dispersed. They all cupped their hands toward the Daoist at the head seat, their words carrying not the slightest hint of irreverence.
After all, this one was no ordinary figure.
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling, Ye Guangji, was the foremost expert in Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion beneath the Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord himself. He had long attended the True Lord in cultivation.
Late Foundation Establishment—a great Perfected Being!
And it was more than just late Foundation Establishment. The title "Demon-Quelling" was exclusive to Sword Pavilion, reserved only for those of exceptional divine abilities.
Ever since Ye Guangji had defeated all challengers with his sword two hundred years ago and claimed the "Demon-Quelling" title, no one had wrested it from him since. With such cultivation, such battle record, and the backing of the True Lord, his status in Sword Pavilion was self-evident.
The next moment, he slowly turned around.
"No need for formalities, everyone."
His calm voice rang out, each word resolute and clangorous, like the clash of metal. Even just hearing it felt like a blade scraping across skin.
At this moment, Lu Yang had also connected to the String-Controlled Puppet. Borrowing the gazes of the Yun family ancestor, Perfected Being Xiuxin, and Perfected Being Roaring Sea, he surveyed the hall.
'Strange... there are too few people.'
In the spacious hall, though the Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings numbered over ten, most were at the Early Stage. Shockingly, only two were at the Mid Stage.
And he even recognized both.
'Ye Xingfeng!'
Following the Yun family ancestor's gaze, Lu Yang looked toward the youth standing in the corner of the hall, radiating murderous intent. Memories flooded back of that time overseas when the other had hunted him down. Though he had ultimately died without a grave, the mental trauma inflicted was incalculable.
As for the other, their bond ran even deeper.
She appeared no older than seventeen or eighteen, with bright eyes and white teeth, delicate brows and phoenix-like poise, her skin like congealed jade fat. Her heroic bearing drew frequent glances.
'Ye Guyue.'
Lu Yang's expression remained neutral. Finally, he turned his gaze to Perfected Being Demon-Quelling Ye Guangji at the head seat, recalling the intelligence on him.
Immediately after, a strange look crossed his face.
'This Perfected Being Demon-Quelling... has quite the reputation in Sword Pavilion. Everyone thinks he's a good man—some even call him pedantic.'
It was said that though he practiced the sword, he abhorred killing.
As a Sword Pavilion Perfected Being, he had scarcely participated in any righteous-demon great wars, and his blade rarely tasted blood. For this, many in Sword Pavilion criticized him.
Yet his combat prowess was formidable, and his backing profound.
Thus, the criticisms remained mere whispers behind his back. No one dared voice them to his face. Most spoke of him with praise.
'Such a familiar style.'
Lu Yang stroked his chin. The former Soaring Empyrean Sun-Obscuring True Lord had enjoyed the same reputation—a rare good man who never did evil, the last conscience of the Saint Sect.
Now it seemed, where was there no evil done?
Lu Yang strongly suspected the other had committed his evils and then used perceptual barriers to brainwash everyone, erasing memories of his misdeeds until he was seen as a good man.
Surely this Sword Pavilion Perfected Being wasn't the same?
"Fellow Daoists."
At that moment, Ye Guangji at the head seat spoke. His resolute voice held no emotion whatsoever.
"I have decided. Three days from now, we head to the Ten Thousand Men Pit."
The words sent an immediate uproar through the crowd.
"So soon?"
"The Demon Sect has recently bolstered defenses at the Ten Thousand Men Pit. Rumor has it a great Perfected Being is personally overseeing it. Charging in rashly to fight... that might not be wise?"
"Perfected Being Demon-Quelling, please reconsider..."
The crowd's reactions stunned even Lu Yang.
Were this the Saint Sect, Heavy Radiance issuing such an order would elicit only "As you command," not this chaotic barrage of questions.
But he quickly understood the reason. Upon the dais, Ye Guangji—this lofty Perfected Being Demon-Quelling in Sword Pavilion—did not display even a trace of a great Perfected Being's majesty. Instead, he nodded repeatedly, patiently hearing every doubt and addressing them one by one.
This was simply inconceivable.
The gulf in cultivation between Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings was vast to begin with, exaggerated beyond measure at the great Perfected Being threshold—like heaven and earth.
Under such circumstances, equal discourse?
Would a man dining consult the ants on what to eat?
'This isn't normal.'
Not normal in the Saint Sect—and evidently not in Sword Pavilion either. Lu Yang had already noted the impatient expressions on Ye Guyue and Ye Xingfeng beside him.
"Uncle."
Finally, Ye Guyue could not hold back and whispered a reminder. Only then did Ye Guangji pause, shifting the conversation.
"Everyone should be aware of the matter with the Profound Spirit Realm by now."
"There have been rumors outside that I set my sights on the Profound Spirit Realm."
"That much is not entirely wrong."
With those words, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling beckoned. Spiritual light flared in the hall, and a young Daoist emerged from within.
The young Daoist's aura differed utterly from the assembled Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Though possessed of flesh, he carried an unusual sandalwood scent. His body brimmed with vitality, yet somehow seemed faintly illusory, saturated with the qi of the red dust.
One must know that all Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings had forged their Dao foundation within the Foundation Establishment Realm, shedding mortality to ascend immortally. They had long transcended the mundane shell, existing on a wholly different plane from mortals. Yet this Daoist, though bearing a position akin to a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being, exuded a thick mundane flavor.
"Somewhat like the Heavenly Officials from the Dao Court."
"Who is this person?"
Amid the crowd's puzzled stares, the young Daoist gravely saluted.
"From the Profound Spirit Realm, Great Baochang Nation. Human Immortal Yu Shao pays respects to all fellow Daoists."
His words fell, and Lu Yang's pupils contracted sharply—along with everyone else's.
Profound Spirit Realm!
The great realm heaven suspected to harbor a True Lord!
At the same time, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling spoke again.
"The rumors outside claimed Fellow Daoist Yu assaulted me and was captured by me. The truth is the opposite."
Yu Shao gave a wry smile.
"You've all had a good laugh at my expense. What cultivation is Fellow Daoist Ye's? In the Profound Spirit Realm, he could be called a seated Celestial Immortal. How dare a minor cultivator like me challenge him in combat? The facts are reversed. Without Fellow Daoist Ye, I'm afraid I would long since have perished utterly."
'Oh?'
Hidden in the shadows, Lu Yang's gaze sharpened upon hearing this. He was not alone; the quicker-reacting Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings also betrayed surprise.
"Indeed."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling at last revealed the antecedents.
"Fellow Daoist Yu was not dispatched by the Profound Spirit Realm. He fled here as a refugee!"