Chapter 380
Chapter 380
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 380
Chapter Title: Not Killing
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Thinking it over, Lu Yang knew from his ten lifetimes of cultivation one truth: action was essential. Dragging one's feet led nowhere.
'First up, the [Small Blessed Land]!'
Though it appeared to be an entirely new technique at first glance, upon reflection, Lu Yang realized it wasn't his first encounter with something similar.
'[Blood Demon Island]!'
That's right—the so-called [Small Blessed Land] was nearly identical to the [Blood Demon Island] he'd seen in previous lives, with the latter essentially a simplified version of the former.
'The [Small Blessed Land] allows one to hide within, evading Heaven and Earth's lock. Though [Blood Demon Island] is just the simplified version, it should inherit that effect too. That's how the Blood Demon Perfected Being hid inside, faking his death and entering slumber to survive millennia—far beyond an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.'
With a real example in hand, Lu Yang's confidence in the [Small Blessed Land] surged.
Only one issue remained: he didn't know how to refine it.
As a True Lord's personal inheritance, the [Small Blessed Land]'s refining method was profoundly esoteric. It wasn't that Lu Yang couldn't comprehend it, but it would take time to learn.
'At this point, I can only rely on my talent!'
'Listen to the Ancestor Master!'
Lu Yang shook the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, summoning Listen to the Ancestor Master once more. Without a word, he handed over the technique and the [Ten Thousand Calamities Indestructible Gilded Silkworm].
"You..."
After hearing Lu Yang's request, Listen to the Ancestor Master wore a helpless expression, his aura fluctuating to reveal mid-Foundation Establishment!
Though he hadn't been revived long, his recovery speed remained astonishing. Combined with his previous life's peak Foundation Establishment and his eternal divine ability—once proven, forever proven—he didn't need to hunt heavenly stems or earthly branches. Even doing nothing, he restored himself at a blistering pace.
It left even Lu Yang stunned.
'It seems Listen to the Ancestor Master could always recover to his peak; it was just that in previous lives, with the True Lord suppressing him, he never dared.'
Now, though, Listen to the Ancestor Master was likely stronger than his original self.
After all, under Lu Yang's nurturing, he'd consumed the [Dao Fusion Immortal Pill], merged with his true body, and elevated his comprehension and spiritual acuity to new heights.
"Cultivation isn't done this way."
Listen to the Ancestor Master looked at Lu Yang, advising earnestly,
"I can help you decipher the technique, but without understanding its principles yourself, it'll always be a liability."
"My things must remain mine."
"If you seek the metal virtue and aim to ascend the throne in the future, you need your own principles, your own insights. You can't expect me to handle your metal virtue quest too, right?"
"I understand."
Listen to the Ancestor Master meant well, and Lu Yang knew it.
"But Ancestor Master, you know my situation. I don't have time to waste! The longer I stay in this forsaken place, the more danger I'm in!"
The world's situation was shifting. Heaven and Earth had stripped him of his immortal spirit body, and under [Upper Chapter]'s devoted guidance, it wouldn't be long before they reached peak Foundation Establishment. On the other side, Buddha Child Guang Ming had emerged from the Pure Land, clearly plotting something grand. The undercurrents were about to surface.
And Heaven and Earth were targeting him specifically.
Once [Upper Chapter] hit perfection, they'd almost certainly come for him—unless he stuck to Demon-Quelling Perfected Being like glue. But how could he cultivate that way?
More crucially...
"My path is blocked now!"
His sword path avatar was powerful, bolstered by [Calamity Wave] to rival a great perfected being, even standing out among them.
But so what?
Sword path was toxic; rebirths couldn't carry it over. Elevating it was meaningless. His urgent priority was finding a cultivation path he could take with him!
Staying here meant starting from scratch, hunting heavenly stems and earthly branches anew—suicidal under Heaven and Earth's scrutiny. The only option was to head beyond the heavens, switch to an outer-heaven path!
'A stopgap to weather the crisis.'
Advance via an outer-heaven path first, then return to bolster this world's cultivation. Let the prior cultivate the latter for twice the results with half the effort.
To that end, refining the [Small Blessed Land] was urgent.
'From Hongyun's memories, the [Small Blessed Land] serves as a vessel, enough to escape this wretched place and reach the realm-heaven Hongyun discovered.'
He had the coordinates, after all.
Though the [Small Blessed Land] could only linger beyond the heavens briefly before self-destructing, Hongyun's calculations confirmed it would suffice to reach the destination.
"Please, Ancestor Master."
Lu Yang bowed solemnly. Listen to the Ancestor Master sighed, shaking his head with a look of 'you're really in a bind':
"I'll do my best."
"Thank you!"
Watching his talent dive into comprehension, Lu Yang finally exhaled. He then surfaced his consciousness, directing his sword path avatar forward.
There lay an ancient longsword, its grid embedded with Heavenly Stem North Dipper array patterns, hilt wrapped in five-colored shark silk to draw lightning, sheath clad in mystic turtle shell-back leather, tassel knotted from Supreme Taiyi green millet fruits—the Demon-Quelling Perfected Being's [Not Killing Sword]. With a thought from Lu Yang, the blade unsheathed abruptly.
"Clang!"
In the crisp sword cry, Lu Yang entered [Sword Heart Illumination] again, meticulously sensing the sword intent flowing from the [Not Killing Sword].
This might be sword path's sole benefit.
More than raw sword cultivation, Lu Yang valued [Sword Heart] and [Sword Intent]—mental realms that greatly boosted his combat prowess.
Meanwhile, at the Sword Pavilion's Extreme Heaven Cliff.
As Lu Yang began comprehending the [Not Killing Sword], Demon-Quelling Perfected Being sat before the cliff, his consciousness sinking quietly into his storage pouch.
What greeted him: myriad heads.
Each chattering away, each holding forth eloquently. Atop them all floated a beautiful woman's head.
"Amitabha."
Her face bore a compassionate smile. Though just a head, she seemed utterly serene, her vermilion lips and white teeth plump and glossy.
As if truly alive.
Spotting Demon-Quelling Perfected Being, she spoke at once,
"Benefactor Ye, you've upheld not killing your whole life—our ideals align perfectly. You should convert to our Pure Land teachings."
"Benefactor must know: our Pure Land folk are guarded by myriad arhats and bodhisattvas. They labor diligently by day, chant sutras silently by night, uphold precepts, and attain supreme bliss. Everyone has hope of buddhahood; our cultivators never slay or harm the people. Doesn't that match your vision perfectly?"
"Who under heaven rivals our Pure Land?"
"The Saint Sect thrives on the law of the jungle; Sword Pavilion weakens and fools the masses; the Dao Court herds people like cattle, fattening them only for slaughter."
"Only our Pure Land is bright and righteous—everyone a dragon!"
Demon-Quelling Perfected Being shook his head at the woman's exposition,
"Pure Land Buddhism is hollow form, puppets of the World Venerable at its core."
"That's slander!"
The woman's head shook,
"We lesser cultivators—what could the World Venerable covet? He doesn't possess us; he cherishes us!"
"Cultivation is harder than ascending to the azure heavens, yet in our Pure Land, all have greater cultivators' protection, easing the path's trials. Back then, blessed by a dharma image, I roamed the world—even true lords overlooked me. Without the World Venerable's care, how could I have reached this point?"
"Even if you beheaded me, Benefactor, it wasn't your strength!"
"It was because you gained favor from Sword Pavilion's true lords—and that Sword Lord. Without that, you couldn't have killed me!"
"I didn't kill you."
Demon-Quelling Perfected Being replied earnestly,
"I'm not like you people."
"Ridiculous!"
The woman's head laughed heartily, then glanced at the thousands of still-living heads around,
"Benefactor, you are exactly like us!"
"The whole world is like us!"
"Not killing? If you cling to that creed, one day you'll come to our Pure Land!"
(End of Chapter)