Chapter 334
Chapter 334
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: Unknown
Chapter Title: A Deal at the Southern Heavenly Gate
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Compared to the soul-searching methods of the Heavenly Mother Transformation Profound Light combined with the Mending Heaven True Scripture, transforming banner spirits with the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner could actually achieve a similar soul-searching effect.
However, the latter had a flaw: it lacked autonomy.
Unless it was someone like Chen Xin'an or the Listening Shade Ancestor, who had willingly entered the banner while alive to become banner spirits, most banner spirits would only act on commands.
Thus, soul-searching them required a "questioning" approach.
Yet this easily led to a vicious cycle.
Lu Yang: "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Banner spirit: "You didn't ask."
Lu Yang: "How could I ask if I didn't know?"
Banner spirit: "How am I supposed to know if you knew or not if you don't ask?"
And then it was awkward.
So compared to the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, Lu Yang still preferred sending Chen Xin'an into the fray. After all, this concerned cultivation—putting him through a bit of hardship was something he could surely understand.
Jiangnan, Ten Thousand Men Pit.
This was where the Heavenly Court fragment had fallen, clearly orchestrated by the Sword Pavilion True Lords, who had conveniently uprooted this nail the Primal Saint Sect had planted in Jiangnan.
Seeing this, Lu Yang felt a twinge of emotion. In so many previous lifetimes, though the Jiangnan Ten Thousand Men Pit had changed hands several times, it had always been reclaimed by the Primal Saint Sect with minimal damage. But in this life, under his influence, this wonder had been eradicated root and stem, leaving not even a trace of fur or hair.
'But the Primal Saint Sect probably didn't suffer much loss either.'
The reason Celestial Immortal Minghua and the others had approached him was undoubtedly the Primal Saint Sect's doing. They were likely the first force to storm into the Mysterious Spirit World.
In such circumstances, the Primal Saint Sect must have profited handsomely.
The Sword Pavilion, on the other hand, had taken a loss.
Otherwise, the Primal Saint Sect would never have stood by while the Sword Pavilion filled in the Ten Thousand Men Pit. No doubt, deals had been struck between their True Lords—understandings unspoken yet mutual.
"Hm?"
As they neared the Heavenly Court fragment, Lu Yang realized someone was already waiting there. The leader had an ordinary appearance, but his brows radiated sharp vigor.
'Chongguang!?'
At almost the same moment, Chongguang noticed Lu Yang's gaze and looked over.
"Hm?"
This avatar of Lu Yang's hadn't changed its appearance. After all, it had been modeled on this face from the start—altering it would only make it more suspicious.
Thus, Chongguang recognized him at a glance.
Lu Yang frowned slightly at this, but he wasn't concerned. To Chongguang, he was now a mole leaning toward the Primal Saint Sect. Chongguang wouldn't expose him.
And even if he did, Lu Yang didn't care.
After all, Chongguang was a Primal Saint Sect True Lord.
Who would believe a Primal Saint Sect True Lord's word?
So despite Chongguang's gaze, Lu Yang met it calmly, exuding the poise of an upright gentleman—which actually caught Chongguang off guard.
'Interesting. Is he really a mole?'
Chongguang pondered inwardly, his expression unchanging as he naturally shifted his gaze from Lu Yang to Perfected Being Demon-Quelling.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Demon-Quelling."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling returned the courtesy.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Chongguang."
Even so, a flicker of doubt appeared in Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Chongguang to show up here at this moment.
'Shouldn't he be in Jiangbei?'
The Mysterious Spirit World's Heavenly Court had shattered into four pieces, with the Primal Saint Sect gaining the most and thus becoming the target of all sides. Various factions had sent forces to contest the fragments with them.
In this situation, Chongguang, as the Primal Saint Sect's acting Sect Master, had chosen not to hold the fort in Jiangbei. Instead, he'd come all this way to Jiangnan to oppose the Sword Pavilion—a move that inevitably raised suspicions about his motives. Yet Chongguang's composure was impeccable, his face as still as a placid ancient well, revealing no clues.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang also furrowed his brow.
Because among the people Chongguang had brought from the Primal Saint Sect, one gaze was fixed unabashedly on him, making him feel uneasy.
'The other party harbors malice.'
Though well-concealed, Lu Yang—with his Sea of Pouring Sorrow cultivated— was extremely sensitive to thoughts and emotions. He quickly pinpointed the source.
'. Hm?'
Looking over, a familiar figure entered Lu Yang's view.
Mending Heaven Peak Master, Chen Taihe!
Lu Yang's eyes narrowed at the sight, a thrill stirring in his heart.
'It's him? Talk about enemies on a narrow road. But perfect timing!'
In his previous life, with weak cultivation, he hadn't dared face Mending Heaven Peak Master head-on. He'd only ambushed him during his heavenly tribulation crossing, killing him that way. It had avenged being crushed by a single finger, but it still felt unsatisfying. Now was the perfect chance to send him to reunite with Chen Xin'an!
With that thought, Lu Yang wasted no time on courtesy and called out righteously,
"Fiend, what are you staring at?"
His words targeted Mending Heaven Peak Master directly, startling him slightly. He clearly hadn't expected Lu Yang to notice his covert scrutiny.
But he had his own pride.
Since he'd been called out, he stopped hiding. Stepping forward, his lips moved as he sent a transmission.
"You cultivate Pomegranate Wood?"
Oh ho? Exposed?
Lu Yang didn't respond, but he pieced it together inwardly.
'Looks like this guy has been here a while. He saw the remnants of my divine ability after clashing with Qi He?'
Cultivators of the same fruit position were natural dao rivals!
This conflict wasn't pronounced in early Foundation Establishment, merely sharp in mid-stage. Most Foundation Establishment True Lords rarely fought over it.
But for an ambitious cultivator like Mending Heaven Peak Master, aiming for Great True Lord status, it was deadly serious!
He couldn't ignore it.
Especially since he'd noticed Lu Yang's qi mechanism was even more complete and pure than his own. Given time, Lu Yang might truly surpass him!
How could he tolerate that?
That's why he'd volunteered to stay in Jiangnan for this operation contesting the Heavenly Court fragment with the Sword Pavilion—to eliminate Lu Yang amid the chaos!
"What did that fiend say to you?"
At that moment, Ye Guyue spoke softly beside Lu Yang.
"Don't hide it. I sensed the transmission fluctuation from that fiend just now."
"Uncle, they must be colluding!"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling glanced sideways.
'It was definitely that old Mending Heaven Peak Master bastard doing it on purpose!'
Lu Yang cursed inwardly but kept his expression calm.
"Senior, for this venture into the Heavenly Court fragment, I offer all gains to the Sword Pavilion. I only seek to join."
"Don't change the subject!"
Ye Guyue frowned.
"I asked what that Jiangbei fiend transmitted to you."
"Senior Sister misunderstands."
Lu Yang looked aggrieved.
"That fiend said nothing to me. He just feigned a transmission to sow discord."
Ye Guyue naturally didn't believe him.
But before she could press further, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling waved it off.
"Enough, Guyue. It's not important. I trust Lu Yang's sincerity."
Of course he didn't believe it.
But the key wasn't whether he believed—it was that Lu Yang had shown his stance: risking entry into the Heavenly Court fragment and handing over all proceeds afterward.
Wasn't that enough?
With that attitude, whether he'd exchanged transmissions with Mending Heaven Peak Master was a minor detail. In Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's eyes, Lu Yang was now unwaveringly loyal.
Had Perfected Being Demon-Quelling ever doubted Lu Yang? Naturally. No one was a fool—they couldn't unconditionally trust a rogue cultivator who defected. But again, Lu Yang had demonstrated his attitude and actions, leaving no flaws. What was there to nitpick?
Boom!
At that instant, at the former Ten Thousand Men Pit site, a beam of spiritual light shot into the heavens, illuminating the firmament and projecting a majestic, resplendent portal silhouette.
Above the portal, three bold characters danced like dragons and phoenixes:
Southern Heavenly Gate!
In a flash, streams of escaping lights soared skyward.
Lu Yang hurriedly summoned his own escaping light. But just as he entered the Southern Heavenly Gate, Chongguang's voice suddenly sounded in his ear:
"Fellow Daoist, care to make another deal?"