Chapter 379: No Killing
Once the thought occurred to him, Lü Yang acted immediately. Through ten lifetimes of cultivation, he had learned one fundamental truth: action was paramount. Procrastination never led to achievement.
'First, the [Minor Paradise]!'
Though this concept appeared entirely new at first glance, upon reflection, Lü Yang realized it wasn't his first encounter with something similar.
'[Blood Demon Island]!'
Indeed, the so-called [Minor Paradise] was nearly identical to the [Blood Demon Island] he'd seen in previous lives—if anything, the latter was merely a simplified version of the former.
'The [Minor Paradise] can conceal its occupant, shielding them from celestial detection. Though [Blood Demon Island] is a simplified version, it likely retains this effect. That's how True Person Blood Demon survived for millennia within it—far exceeding an ordinary Foundation Establishment lifespan—by hiding inside and entering suspended animation.'
With this concrete example, Lü Yang's confidence in the [Minor Paradise] surged dramatically.
Only one problem remained: he didn't know how to refine one.
As a technique personally transmitted by a True Lord, the method for refining a [Minor Paradise] was profoundly esoteric. It wasn't that Lü Yang couldn't comprehend it—he simply needed time to study it properly.
'At this point, I'll have to rely on my innate talent!'
'Ancestor Nether Whisper!'
Lü Yang shook the Myriad Spirits Banner, summoning Ancestor Nether Whisper once more. Without preamble, he handed over both the method and the [Myriad Tribulations Indestructible Gilded Silkworm].
"You..."
After hearing Lü Yang's request, Ancestor Nether Whisper wore an exasperated expression. The fluctuations of his qi revealed he had already reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment!
Despite having only recently revived, his recovery speed remained astonishing. Combined with his original peak Foundation Establishment cultivation from his previous life—where innate divine abilities, once mastered, remained mastered without needing to seek Heavenly Gang or Earthly Fiend essences—his power was rapidly returning even without active effort.
This left Lü Yang somewhat stunned.
'It seems Ancestor Nether Whisper wasn't incapable of recovering to his peak in past lives—he simply didn't dare under the suppression of True Lords.'
In fact, the current Ancestor Nether Whisper might surpass his original self.
Thanks to Lü Yang's nurturing—including consuming the [Combined Dao Immortal Pill] and merging with his original body—his comprehension and spiritual wisdom had clearly ascended to new heights.
"Cultivation isn't done this way."
Ancestor Nether Whisper looked at Lü Yang with patient concern. "I can help you decipher the method, but if you don't understand its underlying principles, it will always remain a hidden danger."
"What's mine remains mine."
"If you seek the Golden Core realm—and aspire to higher positions in the future—you must develop your own understanding and insights. You can't expect me to help you achieve Golden Core as well, can you?"
"I understand."
Lü Yang knew Ancestor Nether Whisper meant well.
"But Ancestor, you're aware of my current situation. I don't have time to waste—the longer I stay in this wretched place, the more danger I'm in!"
With the world's circumstances shifting—the heavens having stripped him of his immortal physique—[Upper Petition], under their full nurturing, would likely reach peak Foundation Establishment soon. Meanwhile, Buddhist disciple Guang Ming had emerged from the Pure Land, clearly with grand schemes afoot. The undercurrents were about to surface.
And the heavens were targeting him specifically.
Once [Upper Petition] reached perfection, there was a ninety percent chance they'd come for him—unless he shadowed True Person Dangmo everywhere, which would make cultivation impossible.
More importantly...
"My path forward is currently severed!"
Though his sword path avatar was formidable—with [Tribulation Wave]'s enhancement granting him combat power rivaling a Grand True Person, placing him among the elite of that tier—what did it matter?
The sword path was poisoned. It couldn't be carried through rebirths, making further advancement meaningless. His urgent priority now was finding an alternative cultivation path that could persist across lifetimes!
Staying here would mean starting from scratch—seeking Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend essences anew. But attempting that while being targeted by the heavens? That was practically suicide. His only option was to venture beyond this world, adopting an external cultivation path first.
'A temporary measure to overcome this crisis.'
By cultivating an external path to elevate his strength, he could later return to bolster his original cultivation—letting the advanced pull up the foundational. This approach would yield twice the results for half the effort.
Thus, refining the [Minor Paradise] couldn't wait.
'According to Hong Yun's memories, the [Minor Paradise] can serve as a vessel to escape this wretched place, transporting me to the celestial realm Hong Yun discovered.'
After all, he possessed the realm's coordinates.
Though the [Minor Paradise] could only endure in the external void for a limited time before disintegrating, Hong Yun's calculations suggested it could last long enough to reach the destination.
"I leave it to you, Ancestor."
Lü Yang clasped his hands solemnly. Seeing this, Ancestor Nether Whisper could only shake his head, regarding Lü Yang with a look that said 'you poor thing.'
"I'll do my best."
"Thank you!"
Watching his innate talent diligently begin deciphering the method, Lü Yang finally relaxed. He then surfaced his consciousness, directing his sword path avatar's gaze forward.
There lay an ancient longsword—its guard inlaid with Heavenly Dipper constellation patterns, its hilt wrapped in five-colored mermaid silk to channel lightning, its scabbard clad in black tortoise hide bearing mystical diagrams, its tassel knotted with Taiyi green millet fruits. This was True Person Dangmo's [No Killing Sword]. At Lü Yang's mental command, the blade slid from its sheath with a resonant ring.
"Clang! Clang!"
Amidst the clear sword chimes, Lü Yang re-entered the [Sword Heart Clarity] state, carefully contemplating the sword intent emanating from the [No Killing Sword].
This was perhaps the sword path's sole redeeming quality.
More valuable than mere sword cultivation were mental states like [Sword Heart] and sword intent—they offered significant combat enhancements.
Meanwhile, at Sword Pavilion's Ji Tian Cliff...
Just as Lü Yang began contemplating the [No Killing Sword], True Person Dangmo sat meditating at the cliff's edge, his consciousness sinking into the storage bag at his waist.
Within it lay countless severed heads.
Each head chattered incessantly, holding forth on various topics. Towering above them all was the exquisite head of a woman.
"Amitabha."
The woman's face bore a compassionate smile. Though reduced to just a head, she radiated serenity—her vermilion lips and white teeth full and lustrous, as if still alive.
Noticing True Person Dangmo's arrival, she immediately spoke: "Patron Ye, you've upheld no killing throughout your life—a philosophy identical to our Pure Land's. You truly belong among our Buddhist cultivators."
"Patron surely knows that in our Pure Land, all beings are protected by arhats, bodhisattvas, and dharma protectors. By laboring diligently by day and silently reciting scriptures by night—maintaining discipline—they attain supreme bliss. Everyone harbors hopes of Buddhahood. Our cultivators never kill or harm living beings. Doesn't this align perfectly with your vision?"
"Under heaven, who compares to our Pure Land?"
"The Saint Sect reveres survival of the fittest; Sword Pavilion advocates weakening and dulling the people; the Dao Court herds its subjects like livestock—fattening them only for slaughter."
"Only our Pure Land is righteous and luminous—where all may become dragons!"
True Person Dangmo shook his head at the woman's words. "Pure Land Buddhists are mere facades—essentially puppets of the World-Honored One."
"Slander!"
The woman's head shook vehemently. "What could we lowly cultivators possibly possess that would interest the World-Honored One? When the World-Honored One inhabits us, it isn't possession—it's benevolence!"
"Consider how arduous the cultivation path is—harder than ascending to heaven. Yet in our Pure Land, all receive protection from higher cultivators, easing countless hardships along the way. When I was blessed by the Dharma Appearance and traveled the world, even True Lords could only turn a blind eye to me. Without the World-Honored One's care, how could I have reached this state?"
"Even if Patron beheaded me, it wasn't because you're stronger!"
"Rather, it's because you gained favor from Sword Pavilion's True Lords—even that Sword Master himself. Otherwise, you could never have killed me!"
"I didn't kill you."
True Person Dangmo responded earnestly. "I'm not like you people."
"Nonsense!"
The woman's head laughed heartily, then gestured to the thousands of living heads surrounding her. "Patron, you are exactly like us!"
"This entire world is filled with people like me!"
"No killing? If Patron clings to this philosophy, the day will come when you too join our Pure Land!"