Chapter 323
Chapter 323
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: Unknown
Chapter Title: Outside the Ten Thousand Men Pit
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Jiangnan, outside the Ten Thousand Men Pit.
High in the vault of heaven, a majestic and vast ship hovered amid the clouds, its entire form completely shrouded by streams of spiritual light.
On the deck of the ship, a figure stood with hands clasped behind his back.
It was none other than Perfected Being Demon-Quelling, Ye Guangji.
Flanking him on either side were direct descendants of the Ye family, both at mid-Foundation Establishment, and old acquaintances of Lu Yang: Ye Guyue and Ye Xingfeng.
"Uncle, I think you're being too pedantic."
Ye Xingfeng spoke first.
"The Profound Spirit Realm is, after all, a major realm heaven with established fruition. We should try to capture it, not drive it away."
"Indeed."
Ye Guyue nodded as well.
"I know what you're worried about, Uncle. It's just that if the Profound Spirit Realm forces its way in, it might cause some damage in Jiangnan."
"Not some."
Before Ye Guyue could finish, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling turned his head and interrupted.
"Once the Profound Spirit Realm invades, to harvest qi, they will inevitably slaughter on a massive scale."
"At that time, centered on the Ten Thousand Men Pit, across the surrounding lands, how many of the billions of common folk will have families shattered, wives and children scattered?"
Ye Guyue nodded, her face full of understanding.
"After reincarnation, regenerating so many people would take decades. That's indeed not insignificant."
"But this is the karma they must bear."
"The Sword Pavilion has nurtured the people of Jiangnan for so many years precisely for a time like this."
"Use them as bait, and we can capture all the cultivators from the Profound Spirit Realm alive, or even counter-invade the Profound Spirit Realm. The gains would surely be greater!"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling did not reply. He merely shook his head.
"You haven't understood."
Ye Guyue's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Uncle, how have we not understood? Life and death are a cycle of reincarnation. Those common folk are ignorant and obtuse, unable to see through it. Surely you, Uncle, aren't still unable to see through it?"
"You can see through it?"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling looked helpless.
"If you died and reincarnated, unable to break the mystery of the womb, no longer yourself, could you truly let it go so easily?"
Ye Guyue's expression changed abruptly.
"How could that be the same!"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling countered.
"How is it different?"
"I am a Perfected Being!"
Ye Guyue's face grew solemn, as if expounding a profound truth.
"For common folk, the truth is unattainable; life is but an illusion, a grand dream of birth and death."
"But we have attained the truth, established our Dao foundation. Naturally, we are not the same as common folk!"
With that, Ye Guyue looked at Perfected Being Demon-Quelling with concern.
"Uncle, what's wrong with you? Have you encountered a deviation in your cultivation, birthing inner demons?"
". "
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling opened his mouth but said nothing more, for he could see that Ye Guyue's concern was genuine, from the heart, without a trace of falsehood.
Yet the more heartfelt it was, the more speechless it left him.
Fortunately, he did not need to respond, for in the next moment, he looked toward the outside of the ship. Ye Guyue and Ye Xingfeng also sensed something and turned to look.
In the clouds, a streak of escaping light was hurtling toward them.
"Has the Demon Sect discovered us?"
Ye Guyue frowned immediately, while Ye Xingfeng beside her shook his head.
"Its aura is pure and righteous, not like the Demon Sect. Instead, it carries the upright qi of our Sword Pavilion."
The next moment, the escaping light halted before the ship.
Then, the light parted to either side, and a handsome, elegant youth strode out from within. Sword qi brimmed fiercely between his brows, giving him the air of a righteous cultivator.
"I am Lu Yang, greeting the Sword Pavilion Perfected Ones!"
Before the ship, Lu Yang said with utmost sincerity.
"I am a loose cultivator from Jiangbei. I have come with important intelligence regarding the Jiangbei Demon Sect to present!"
Though he had no proof, Lu Yang suspected the Holy Sect was pitting him.
'They wouldn't be planning to use me as bait to lure the Profound Spirit Realm people, then kill in themselves to harvest qi, reaping the benefits, would they?'
But unless he gave up the Shen Gold, he couldn't escape this pit. And the Shen Gold was crucial to his cultivation; he couldn't possibly abandon it.
After much deliberation, Lu Yang made his decision.
'Damn it, I'm joining the Sword Pavilion!'
'I had no choice before, but now I want to be a good person!'
With this thought, after leaving the Ten Thousand Men Pit, Lu Yang had locked onto Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's position via the Yun family ancestor and others, then hurried over at full speed.
'This is actually an opportunity!'
'An opportunity to truly join the Sword Pavilion!'
With this in mind, Lu Yang produced his bargaining chip.
"I understand the Sword Pavilion's rules and am willing to reincarnate once, washing away all karma before joining!"
". Oh?"
At these words, Ye Guyue, who had been frowning about to say something, froze. Then, admiration appeared in her eyes as she looked at Lu Yang.
"You're... quite impressive!"
The Sword Pavilion had a set of rules for recruiting Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings from outside Jiangnan.
Just like how the Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord had recruited Ancestor Tingyou in the past, the first step to joining the Sword Pavilion was to be slain by a Sword Pavilion Perfected Being's sword.
Once dead, reincarnate.
The Sword Pavilion would then use secret arts to guide them back, bound by the mystery of the womb, severing ties to their past life. Only then were they truly of the Sword Pavilion.
Only those recruited this way could receive the Sword Pavilion's true inheritance. But which Perfected Being would willingly accept such a thing? Thus, such recruitment was often forced: kill them, then ferry them into the sect—consider it their fortune.
Lu Yang was the first to volunteer for it.
How could Ye Guyue not admire him?
Little did she know, for Lu Yang, reincarnation was no big deal. After all, it was just a soul fragment reincarnating—what did it have to do with his immortal spirit true body?
For others, a reincarnated soul fragment might develop independent consciousness, beyond control.
But for Lu Yang, as long as the String-Pulling Marionette remained, no matter how many lives the soul fragment lived, it would still be his alt.
He could even use this chance to have the Sword Pavilion cleanse the karma of the Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord from his clone, shaking off any possible surveillance from the True Lord in one go!
Lu Yang's plan was perfect.
But before he could continue, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling suddenly waved his hand.
"No need for that. Cultivation is arduous; do not speak lightly of reincarnation."
"Uncle!"
Ye Guyue frowned at once.
But Perfected Being Demon-Quelling paid it no mind and continued.
"As long as your intelligence is valuable and your intent to join is sincere, I can vouch for you."
". " Lu Yang was stunned.
This Perfected Being Demon-Quelling was so... normal!
Real or fake?
Doubts swirled in Lu Yang's mind, but his face showed no hesitation. He directly produced the qi of Shen Gold, then laid out his speculations about the Holy Sect.
Though all guesses, Lu Yang projected from his own perspective and deemed the likelihood extremely high.
"The Demon Sect uses the Shen Gold as bait, letting us battle the Profound Spirit Realm while they invade to harvest qi, profiting as fishermen."
After hearing Lu Yang's account, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's brows furrowed slightly.
Meanwhile, Ye Guyue's face filled with fury.
"To use us righteous cultivators as bait for greater gains—utterly shameless!"
". "
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling glanced at her upon hearing this, then withdrew his gaze and looked to Lu Yang.
"This intelligence is indeed useful. From now on, follow me."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Without another word, Lu Yang offered up the Shen Gold.
"My virtue is insufficient to hold this treasure. I gift it to Senior; please accept it."
'Right now, the Shen Gold still bears the mark from the Profound Spirit Realm. It's useless to me. Better give it to this Perfected Being Demon-Quelling to cleanse the mark... Anyway, he's already perfected in divine abilities and doesn't lack spirit treasures. The Shen Gold is useless to him; he'll eventually grant it to someone else. Then I can scheme to take it back.'
In an instant, several plans formed in Lu Yang's mind.
But the next moment, they all shattered.
"No need." Perfected Being Demon-Quelling said solemnly.
"The qi of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha is a cultivation essential. You obtained it by fate; do not force it upon me."
"I understand your concerns."
"In this battle, I still need you to lure the Profound Spirit Realm people. After it's over, I will clear the mark left on the Shen Gold for you."
At this, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling smiled warmly.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang could scarcely believe his ears. Could people from this damned place really say something so upright and righteous?
A real good guy?
There must be a conspiracy!