Chapter 423: The Show Begins
Sword Pavilion, Extreme Heaven Cliff.
This was the highest peak in Jiangnan, where one could gaze upon the sun, moon, and stars above while surveying mountains, rivers, and valleys below. At eye level, rolling clouds painted a magnificent scene.
Lü Yang rode his escape light to the cliff's summit and immediately spotted True Person Dangmo seated at the precipice. Despite not displaying the slightest hint of magic power, he effortlessly commanded all the brilliance between heaven and earth, with wind and clouds naturally gathering around him.
'What immense fortune.'
By now, the fortune of this world's foremost sword cultivator had grown so vast that even mortals below Foundation Establishment could easily perceive it.
"Completed your cultivation?"
The next moment, True Person Dangmo's voice drifted over. Lü Yang dared not delay and promptly replied, "Thanks to Master's guidance, this disciple has inherited the sword technique."
"What's its name?"
Lü Yang didn't conceal it: "The Newly Forged Dao Feather Nirvana Sword Technique."
True Person Dangmo nodded in satisfaction before turning to look at Lü Yang, his gaze still that of someone examining prime cultivation material and a rare treasure.
"Master, I have urgent matters to report!" Lü Yang clasped his hands and spoke rapidly, "Having mastered this sword technique, my sword intent has ascended further, sharpening my sensitivity to qi fluctuations. I faintly detected familiar Buddhist cultivation energy in the direction of Piercing-Earth Abyss—likely the Pure Land's doing. I beg Master to investigate."
He didn't reveal the full truth outright.
After all, reporting required methodology. Moreover, what credibility did an ordinary mid-stage Foundation Establishment True Person like him have to accuse Evil-Banishing True Person and Buddhist Son Guangming?
'Better let Dangmo handle it directly.'
Through the Yun Family Patriarch, Lü Yang confirmed Evil-Banishing True Person and Buddhist Son Guangming remained in Piercing-Earth Abyss. If True Person Dangmo investigated, they'd be caught red-handed.
Yet True Person Dangmo's response stunned him.
"Oh."
The sword cultivator showed no surprise upon hearing Lü Yang's report, merely shaking his head. "My time grows short. Let them be."
Let them be?
Lü Yang's eyes flickered as he realized that compared to decades ago, True Person Dangmo had increasingly withdrawn from affairs, solely guarding Extreme Heaven Cliff.
Once, disciples from the Ye Family had attended him here. Now, the vast cliff summit held only the solitary figure of True Person Dangmo, robes fluttering, his simple and low-profile appearance utterly unlike a direct descendant of the Ye Family—a Golden Core lineage within Sword Pavilion.
'This won't do!'
Lü Yang grew alert. According to his intelligence, this was a joint scheme between [Ang Xiao] and Buddhist Son Guangming, using Evil-Banishing True Person to target True Person Dangmo.
Why report it?
Personal vengeance was secondary. As a proper Saint Sect True Person, he never acted without benefit. How could he do something that harmed others without profiting himself?
'If I don't report, True Person Dangmo won't prepare. Without preparation, how can they fight to mutual destruction? Without their mutual destruction, how can I profit as the third party? True Person Dangmo's Metal Essence... the Metal Essence of the world's foremost sword cultivator... Obtaining it would be an absolute windfall.'
With this thought, Lü Yang hastily spoke up, adopting a fearful expression:
"Master, Pure Land Buddhists trespassing into Sword Pavilion worries this disciple. I fear they intend harm against you and fellow disciples..."
True Person Dangmo glanced at him before shaking his head. "Rest easy."
"That Buddhist cultivator likely targets me—scheming against me is perfectly normal. Nowadays, probably everyone under heaven wishes to scheme against me."
Clearly, True Person Dangmo had grown accustomed to such attention.
Simultaneously, Lü Yang grasped the subtext—indeed, in today's world, True Person Dangmo stood as everyone's thorn.
Because he was number one!
Not the kind of honorary first place propped up by flattery, but the genuine article, with an insurmountable lead over second place.
'Such deterrent power—while not quite matching a True Lord in today's world, the gap isn't large. Even if I killed Tian Qiu overseas and defeated Buddhist Son Guangming's avatar head-on, I'd still pale before this nominal master. The higher you rank, the more others want you dead!'
Lü Yang considered himself somewhat fearsome now.
But so what? Xiang Ye still dared invite him to the Saint Sect. Though wary of his strength, Xiang Ye had his own confidence, not truly afraid.
Yet if it were True Person Dangmo?
Would Xiang Ye dare invite him into the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds? Likely the entire region would lock down before True Person Dangmo even approached!
'Even Sword Pavilion itself...'
Lü Yang inwardly shook his head. Precisely—even Sword Pavilion feared True Person Dangmo, for his style made him an outlier here!
No wonder True Person Dangmo remained unmoved by reports of Pure Land collusion against him. This was simply expected! From his perspective, the fact that opponents waited until his lifespan neared its end to act showed excessive caution.
As Lü Yang pondered, True Person Dangmo suddenly spoke: "Yan Xiao."
"Your disciple is here."
Lü Yang looked up to find True Person Dangmo studying him, eyes bright as if wanting to say something, only to frown at the last moment:
"...Who?"
True Person Dangmo shifted his gaze beyond Sword Pavilion. Moments later, Lü Yang's divine sense faintly caught clamoring voices.
Then a figure came speeding on escape light, landing atop Extreme Heaven Cliff—none other than Ye Family head Ye Shaoying, his face tense. The moment he landed, he addressed True Person Dangmo in hushed tones: "Outside Sword Pavilion... some reckless rogue cultivators have come."
"Rogue cultivators?"
Lü Yang froze. Since when did Jiangnan's rogue cultivators grow so bold as to approach Sword Pavilion? Had they tired of living?
Even True Person Dangmo seemed surprised: "Rogue cultivators... why come here?"
"They seek you."
Ye Shaoying cautiously glanced at True Person Dangmo before explaining swiftly, "Their leader is Mo Shiyuan, city lord of Jimo City..."
True Person Dangmo immediately frowned.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang secretly performed a divination, quickly piecing together the backstory.
Mo Shiyuan—city lord of Jiangnan's rogue cultivation faction [Jimo City], which historically supplied Sword Pavilion with magic talismans and cultivation resources.
More importantly, he shared history with True Person Dangmo.
This traced back to the Pure Land's previous Buddha-Daughter Jingguan, who entered Jiangnan to spread teachings, leading True Person Dangmo to behead her in three sword strokes.
Their violent conflict originated when Jingguan forcibly converted Jimo City's cultivators and commoners against their will, provoking True Person Dangmo's intervention. The original [Jimo City] was destroyed, with only one survivor.
That survivor was Mo Shiyuan.
Without True Person Dangmo, Mo Shiyuan's entire lineage would have perished, leaving him no hope for vengeance—likely becoming a Buddhist cultivator himself.
From this perspective, True Person Dangmo had greatly benefited him.
"...Let's meet them."
True Person Dangmo's eyes flickered briefly before regaining composure. Beckoning Lü Yang to follow, he summoned escape light and flew toward Sword Pavilion's mountain gates.
Simultaneously, within Piercing-Earth Abyss.
Evil-Banishing True Person and Buddhist Son Guangming sat facing each other across a board, black and white stones locked in fierce combat.
"Clack!"
Evil-Banishing True Person slammed a black stone onto a corner, securing victory, then remarked impassively:
"The show... begins."