Chapter 356: Guang Ming, the Buddhist Disciple!? (Fourth Update!)
Chapter 356: Guangming, the Buddhist Child!? (Fourth Update!)
Above the vault of heaven, clouds surged like rolling waves.
This was supposed to be a place untouched by the four seasons, yet now, eerie frost and snow drifted through the air. The world was shrouded in gloom, and even the sound of wind had ceased.
A great stillness descended.
At the center of the cloud sea sat a young man in resplendent robes, legs crossed in meditation, hands forming a seal as he held aloft a radiant full moon that cast threads of cold light.
This moon was the focal point of the frost-laden winds. The chilling radiance swirled around him like illusory mist, giving fleeting form to visions of osmanthus trees, jade plates, ice toads, and other imagery—each appearing only to vanish instantly before being drawn back into the moon, making it shine ever brighter and illuminating his silent countenance.
'[Solemn Profound Frost]!'
This divine ability was Lü Yang's third, following [Lord of War] and [Stubborn Gold Duke]. It belonged to the Xin Metal category, manifested through [Law Holding].
Now, it rested in Lü Yang's palm.
Without any deliberate action, streams of moonlight flowed forth, resonating with heaven and earth as they pressed down steadily upon a young monk below.
"Which Saint Sect fellow Daoist is this!?"
Fulong Arhat raised his head with a shrill roar, utterly baffled that his attempt to lure a Qi Refining cultivator had backfired—instead, he had been the one ensnared!
His opponent's cultivation was clearly superior.
And yet, this person had the audacity to set traps and ambush him! Given that they were north of the river, Fulong Arhat had no doubt this was the work of a True Person from the Saint Sect!
Even worse, this person's divine ability countered him perfectly!
'Xin Metal manifests as frost, bringing the desolation of heaven and earth, withering plants and trees. Fortunately, my [Blazing Fire Dragon] belongs to Jia Wood—otherwise, I'd already be dead!'
With this realization, Fulong Arhat dared not slacken for even a moment. His lips parted continuously, spewing torrents of blazing flames that took the form of dragons, resisting the descending curtain of profound frost. Yet his efforts were akin to a lone firepit in the depths of winter—warm for now, but doomed to extinguish.
"Fellow Daoist! Senior! What grudge do you hold against me?"
"If this is just the Saint Sect's routine plundering, you need only say so—why resort to violence?"
Fulong Arhat's pleas grew increasingly desperate, laced with indignation. After all, he had always been amicable—he truly had no enemies to speak of.
Where had this person come from?
Yet Lü Yang paid him no heed, merely observing him quietly before a cold smile flickered in his eyes.
In the past, his cultivation had been shallow, and he hadn't noticed anything amiss.
But now, he could see through Fulong Arhat's imposing exterior—beneath the veneer of an Arhat lay a cowardly core, devoid of true confidence.
The reason was simple.
"The first innate divine ability you cultivated was actually [Jia Wood]!"
Fulong Arhat practiced the [Nine Transforming Dragon Art], with a Dao Foundation pointing toward [City Wall Earth]. His first innate divine ability should have been [Wu Earth] to align with the imagery.
Why was it [Jia Wood]?
Lü Yang's thoughts raced, and the truth dawned on him: "A rogue cultivator through and through—greedy for quick progress, swallowing without chewing, only to sever his own path!"
If Lü Yang's deduction was correct, Fulong Arhat had likely stumbled upon a [Jia Wood] during his days as a rogue cultivator and swallowed it without hesitation. By sheer luck, [Jia Wood] and [Yin Wood] shared similar properties, allowing his Dao Foundation to accommodate it without exploding on the spot.
But survival came at a cost—his path forward was severed.
'No wonder the Pure Land showed no reaction when I killed him in my past life. Fulong Arhat was a Buddhist cultivator, yet the Pure Land cared more about me.'
From the very beginning, Fulong Arhat had been a discarded pawn!
Otherwise, if the Pure Land truly sought to achieve [City Wall Earth], why would they neglect Fulong Arhat to the point where his cultivation stagnated at mid Foundation Establishment?
Having pieced everything together, Lü Yang chuckled:
"Fellow Daoist Fulong, it seems no one will come to your rescue today. In fact, some might even be hoping for your death so they can elevate someone else in your place!"
As his words fell, the world filled with profound frost—a scene of desolation where the void was sealed, spiritual energy withered, and all laws decayed, painting a true image of an era of Dharma decline. Fulong Arhat summoned his power repeatedly, attempting to break through the frost, but only succeeded in battering himself bloody against it.
"What does the senior want!?"
Realizing his predicament, Fulong Arhat abandoned all hope of mercy and spoke bluntly: "Whatever this humble monk can do, I will do it—only spare my life!"
"Heh..."
Lü Yang lowered his eyelids slightly, his voice drifting out like a whisper: "I've heard that within the Jiangbei Wonder [Palace of Su Heng], there lies a [Xin Metal]. Is this true?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Fulong Arhat answered without hesitation: "That Wonder was established by [Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva], and it indeed contains a [Xin Metal]!"
He then glanced at Lü Yang, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. After all, Lü Yang's [Solemn Profound Frost] was clearly already a [Xin Metal] divine ability—so why seek another? Was he planning to refine a spiritual treasure to complement it?
Lü Yang betrayed nothing, his expression calm as he asked: "Can you retrieve it for me?"
"I can! I can!"
Fulong Arhat dared not hesitate—the frost around him had already suppressed his flames completely, slicing into his physical form like countless blades.
Yet in his heart, another plan brewed.
'First, survive this ordeal. Once I escape, I'll simply hide in the Pure Land. No matter how fearsome this fiend is, what can he do to me then?'
Despite his thoughts, Lü Yang seemed to read his mind: "Fellow Daoist, empty promises are hard to trust."
"This humble monk can swear a Dao oath!" Fulong Arhat hastily offered.
Lü Yang shook his head: "Everyone knows the Pure Land excels at bullying the weak and cares little for such restrictive measures."
"Right now, it's clearly the senior bullying the weak..."
Fulong Arhat's lips twitched. This person, despite being stronger than him, had ambushed him—and now had the gall to accuse others of bullying the weak?
"Is that the same!?"
Lü Yang immediately shook his head, righteous indignation in his tone: "Fellow Daoist and I are both at mid Foundation Establishment—technically peers."
"It's just that I possess one more divine ability than you. How is that bullying the weak?"
At these words, Fulong Arhat's expression turned peculiar.
This feeling... something was off.
After a moment of silence, he tentatively looked at Lü Yang and whispered: "...Sword Pavilion?"
Lü Yang: "..."
"Enough nonsense!"
Lü Yang cut short the charade: "It seems Fellow Daoist hasn't grasped the situation. In that case, you're of no use to me. Time to send you to reincarnation—"
"There's a way! There's a way!"
Fulong Arhat hurriedly interjected: "This humble monk has a disciple—sharp and clever. I can have him retrieve the [Xin Metal] and deliver it to you!"
"...Disciple?" Lü Yang blinked.
Thinking Lü Yang doubted him, Fulong Arhat quickly explained: "His Dharma name is Guangming—you must have heard of him. He's the Pure Land's newly descended Buddhist Child! I was once his master, and he obeys me without question. With his status, obtaining a [Xin Metal] would be effortless..."
As Fulong Arhat elaborated, Lü Yang's brow furrowed.
'...Guangming.'
Lü Yang certainly hadn't forgotten that name. In his past life, this person had crossed paths with him—a cunning, talented Buddhist cultivator with a hint of fortune.
But... a Buddhist Child?
Haunted by his past encounters with the Pure Land, Lü Yang's mind swirled with conspiracy theories, even suspecting the involvement of the Pure Land's World-Honored One.
Yet the next moment, his expression smoothed over.
"Boom!"
Without hesitation, Lü Yang retracted [Solemn Profound Frost], sealing Fulong Arhat completely before tucking him into his sleeve. Then, he turned his gaze to the side.
There, a figure had appeared out of thin air.
A middle-aged man with a face as if chiseled from stone, his stern gaze fixed intently on Lü Yang.
Hong Ju.
Lü Yang showed no surprise—cloaked in Hong Yun's golden nature, he had sensed Hong Ju's approach long before.
The next moment, Lü Yang smiled faintly: "What's wrong? Don't recognize me?"
Before the words fully left his mouth, he released the aura of Hong Yun's golden nature. Sensing it, Hong Ju's furrowed brow relaxed, and he bowed deeply:
"Hong Ju pays respects to my lord!"
Yet witnessing this, Lü Yang's smile gradually faded.
'...Something's wrong.'
Despite Hong Ju's impeccable courtesy, Lü Yang—through the connection of Hong Yun's golden nature—detected subtle anomalies.
'Doubt in his heart, thoughts unsteady... Does he suspect me?'