Chapter 419: Ang Xiao Makes Another Move
To be fair, [Ang Xiao] was slightly startled—just a tiny bit.
However, this fleeting reaction didn't show on his face and quickly subsided. With his level of insight, he naturally recognized what was happening.
Narrowing his eyes, [Ang Xiao] scrutinized the aged soul before him, shimmering with Buddhist radiance. The soul itself certainly wasn't the "Guangming" it claimed to be. Instead, someone had cleverly borrowed this soul's form to establish a connection between the mortal realm and himself, who resided in the [Netherworld].
As far as he knew, only two types of beings in this world could achieve such a feat: one was naturally the World-Honored One of the Pure Land, and the other was a Buddha's Child granted authority by the World-Honored One.
'Yet the World-Honored One couldn't possibly be interested in me.'
[Ang Xiao] was absolutely certain of this. He understood that at the Nascent Soul level, the only thing that could provoke intervention from a Dao Lord was matters concerning heaven and earth.
And what he sought was the [Netherworld].
Strictly speaking, there was no fundamental conflict between him and the four Dao Lords. As long as he didn't cross certain boundaries, no one would act against him.
In that case—
'Has the World-Honored One descended another Buddha's Child to mingle with the lower cultivators?'
This didn't surprise [Ang Xiao] either. It had happened before—old history, really. Besides, the current opportunity was even better than the last.
The previous time a Buddha's Child descended, the True Lords were still present. Though they dared not obstruct openly out of respect for the World-Honored One, they weren't entirely passive either. Otherwise, that Buddha's Child wouldn't have been beheaded in three strikes by True Person Dangmo. This time, however, even the True Lords had withdrawn into seclusion.
'Could it be that this Buddha's Child hasn't yet achieved invincibility?'
As Ang Xiao pondered, he noticed the aged soul ripple with Buddhist light as Guangming Buddha's Child's consciousness linked from the mortal realm.
This was the wonder of [Mind-Reading Divine Ability].
Turning "another's mind" into "one's own."
Soon, Guangming Buddha's Child's voice drifted faintly: "Having been forced to lie dormant for nearly thirty years, does the venerable senior wish to break free sooner?"
"Oh? You wish to help me escape?"
Guangming Buddha's Child nodded. "Precisely."
"Heh."
[Ang Xiao] chuckled at the affirmation. At his level, few secrets of this world remained hidden from him.
In his eyes, a Buddha's Child was nothing like the World-Honored One. Superficially similar, yet fundamentally different. Had the World-Honored One spoken those words, he wouldn't have doubted for a second. But coming from a Buddha's Child? He had reservations.
"The senior doesn't believe me?" Guangming Buddha's Child frowned slightly.
"Speak your plan."
Rather than outright denial, [Ang Xiao] gestured for Guangming Buddha's Child to continue: "How do you intend to help me escape? And why would you?"
"Amitabha."
Guangming Buddha's Child first chanted the sacred name before solemnly stating: "I seek to achieve the [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth]. Currently, three of my disciples remain unaccounted for."
"One among them is a celestial spirit, hiding in the Jiangnan region."
Before Guangming Buddha's Child could finish, [Ang Xiao] burst into laughter.
Jiangnan? He didn't even need details to understand. "So the Buddha's Child has been blocked again by Sword Pavilion's kind-hearted elder?"
"...The senior sees clearly."
Guangming Buddha's Child remained unruffled by [Ang Xiao]'s deliberate mockery. "This humble monk seeks the senior's assistance in eliminating Dangmo."
For him, the four disciples required to achieve the [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth] should hail from Jiangnan, Jiangbei, Jiangdong, and overseas. Currently, only Prince Wu Tai'an of the South in Jiangdong had taken his place. Two attempts in Jiangbei and overseas had failed, with the overseas battle even costing him a crucial avatar.
Now, Lü Yang and Xiang Ye were holed up in the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds.
Under these circumstances, Jiangnan was his only remaining target—yet True Person Dangmo of Jiangnan outright forbade him from setting foot there.
How was he supposed to proceed?
'At least two disciples must be gathered before I can activate the ritual formation for the [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth]. By then, all Foundation Establishment Perfection True Persons in the world will be forced to emerge.'
More than half of the Great Contention Era had already passed.
Those seeking the Golden Core had made their preparations, gathered momentum—the world was a powder keg.
All it needed was a spark.
'Let True Person Dangmo's death ignite this era!'
Observing Guangming Buddha's Child, [Ang Xiao] maintained his composure while silently calculating. Finally, he shook his head. "What benefit would killing Dangmo bring me?"
"[White Wax Gold]!"
Guangming Buddha's Child's next words made [Ang Xiao] sit up straight. Like [Overturned Lamp Flame], [White Wax Gold] was a fruit position containing Chen Earth.
In other words—his exclusive domain.
Growing more confident, Guangming Buddha's Child smiled. "Does the senior know of Sword Pavilion's three inherited titles: Dangmo, Quexie, and Fuyao?"
"Dangmo speaks for itself. As for the other two, True Person Fuyao remains at Foundation Establishment late stage, while True Person Quexie has reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. The latter lives in seclusion, his reputation overshadowed by Dangmo's—so much so that few even know which fruit position he cultivates."
"He cultivates [White Wax Gold]?"
Guangming Buddha's Child nodded. "This humble monk has a method to make True Person Quexie willingly offer himself to the senior, drawing [White Wax Gold] into the Netherworld."
"Moreover, the Dao Calamity formed from his failed Golden Core pursuit can also serve the senior."
"While it won't fully free the senior, possessing a Dao Calamity body to interfere in the mortal realm shouldn't be difficult, correct?"
Of course it wouldn't be difficult!
Though Chong Guang claimed to have created a sixty-year Great Contention Era, Golden Core True Lords varied in strength—especially a Great True Lord like him at late-stage Golden Core.
An ordinary True Lord might need the full sixty years to reemerge, but for him, forty years would suffice. And if it were merely about using a Dao Calamity avatar to meddle in the mortal realm? He could do it now! Guangming Buddha's Child's offer had genuinely piqued his interest.
"...How do you plan to proceed?"
Guangming Buddha's Child pressed his palms together. "Due to the senior's existence, True Person Quexie's path was severed, forcing him to seek alternatives. This humble monk... assisted him."
"Oh? How?"
"I informed him of Innate True Person Mu Changsheng's current whereabouts."
Guangming Buddha's Child smiled faintly. Though Mu Changsheng's tragic fate might be hidden from the world, it was no secret before the World-Honored One—another Dao Lord.
Thus, he knew as well.
"Not long ago, True Person Quexie dispatched a reincarnated, long-deceased Foundation Establishment True Person to extract consciousness-severing techniques from Mu Changsheng."
A man of [Ang Xiao]'s caliber deduced Guangming Buddha's Child's entire plan the moment he spoke: 'The only covert way in or out of the Saint Sect's Refinement Secret Realm is through the [Netherworld]. And passing through the [Netherworld]... means crossing under my watchful gaze!'
Consciousness-severing techniques?
If [Ang Xiao] could locate that reincarnated Foundation Establishment True Person's soul, tampering with it to trigger fruit position collapse would be trivial!
As for Guangming Buddha's Child's own schemes? He couldn't care less. As long as [White Wax Gold] was pulled into the [Netherworld], he profited either way.
However—
"Are you certain you want Dangmo dead?"
[Ang Xiao] studied Guangming Buddha's Child. Dangmo was Sword Pavilion's heart—critical to the [Sword Dao Fruit Position]. Forget whether Guangming Buddha's Child could kill him.
Even if he could—would he dare?
"Killing him outright is impossible."
Guangming Buddha's Child shook his head. "But having him sacrifice himself—dying in pursuit of the [Sword Dao Fruit Position]—would suffice. The effect is the same."