Chapter 428
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: The Blood-Clad Demon-Queller Descends the Mountain
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Perfected Being Demon-Quelling, clad in blood-red robes, descended the mountain.
Lu Yang, meanwhile, controlled his sword dao avatar to follow closely behind, like a sword-bearing attendant cradling the [Non-Killing Sword]—now transformed into a crimson blood hue—in both hands.
In an instant, countless people sensed it.
How many years had it been?
Aside from a few with deep seniority who had lived long enough to remember, many couldn't even recall the last time Perfected Being Demon-Quelling had left Jiangnan.
The Southern Frontier didn't count, of course.
After all, in the eyes of the Sword Pavilion back then, the Southern Frontier had no True Lord in residence and lay conveniently south of Jiangnan, making it essentially their backyard. But other places—the Northern Rivers, Jiangxi, Jiangdong, even overseas—all had True Lords stationed there. He couldn't go to those.
It wasn't fear of him dying.
It was fear that he might achieve dao outside. If the [Sword Dao Fruit Position] formed beyond the Sword Pavilion's bounds, True Lords would take notice, and plenty in the world would harbor ill intentions.
Especially the Primal Saint Sect across from them.
Sword Pavilion ancestors? True Lords? The Primal Saint Sect's Perfected Beings wouldn't care about any of that—seize it first, talk later. You have backers? So do I.
Thus, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling hadn't left Jiangnan in a very long time.
Yet this time, he strode openly out of the Sword Pavilion's gates, adopting the clear posture of departing Jiangnan entirely. How could anyone accept this?
'Stop him!'
Perfected Being Yet Evil shot to his feet at once, grinding his teeth. "Ungrateful wretch. The sect raised him, nurtured him, and when it comes time to use him, he shirks every duty. And now, not only does he disregard all favors owed, he insists on forcing his way out, stirring trouble for the sect! He just can't... he just can't..."
—Can't go die obediently?
Perfected Being Yet Evil had even prepared the scapegoat, stuffing evidence of Mo Shiyuan's collusion with the Northern Rivers' demonic path into Jimu City's archives.
As soon as Perfected Being Demon-Quelling died, using his life to manifest the [Sword Dao Fruit Position]...
He would step forward immediately, set things right, eulogize this greatest Foundation Establishment Perfected Being in Sword Pavilion history, and declare undying enmity against the demonic path that slew him.
What a perfect script?
The Sword Pavilion benefits, he benefits, and even the Ye family—who contributed greatly this time—would be handsomely rewarded. After all, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling had no heirs, so rewarding his kin was as good as rewarding him. No one loses.
But such a flawless script, ruined by Perfected Being Demon-Quelling.
He just wouldn't die!
And now he even wanted to leave Jiangnan for other regions. If that led to the [Sword Dao Fruit Position] falling into another faction's hands...
Ten lives wouldn't be enough to compensate!
At this thought, Perfected Being Yet Evil could no longer hold back. He rose abruptly, summoning an escaping light and hurtling toward the Sword Pavilion's outer gates.
At the same time.
"Amitabha!"
With a Buddha's proclamation, a beam of Buddha light streaked across the path ahead of Perfected Being Demon-Quelling and Lu Yang, landing squarely before them.
From the Pure Land: Venerable One Vimalakirti.
This late Foundation Establishment great arhat wore a bitter expression. As soon as he appeared, he bowed his head. "This humble monk Vimalakirti, under orders from the Buddha's Son, pays respects to Perfected Being Demon-Quelling."
"Ching!"
His response was the ring of a sword.
The next second, Venerable One Vimalakirti's head parted from his body. He hadn't even registered the strike, his mouth still forming polite words.
Only as the world spun before his eyes did realization dawn: "Ah?"
"Boom!"
After a muffled thud, brilliant Buddha light flared, his golden body shattering. Unlike those in the past whom Perfected Being Demon-Quelling had beheaded yet survived, Venerable One Vimalakirti perished outright. A spectral soul drifted out, drawn by a ray of Pure Land Buddha light for guidance back to the Release Land for reincarnation and recultivation.
But just then.
"Crack!"
A crisp shattering rang out across Vimalakirti's dazed soul. The Pure Land's Buddha light descended, yet it poured through like water over a sieve riddled with holes.
As much fell, as much leaked away.
"Whoosh!"
The next instant, a gust of wind scattered Vimalakirti's soul to the winds, leaving only the Pure Land's guiding light lingering in place, plunged into eerie silence.
On the other side, Lu Yang watched in trepidation.
He could achieve the same feat too, but through the wondrous karma-severing of [Calamity Wave], rendering the Pure Land's guiding light unable to find its target.
It was a clever trick at heart. Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's method, however, was brutally direct. The moment Vimalakirti was struck by his sword, body and soul had already been obliterated—his consciousness simply hadn't caught up yet. Thus, the Pure Land's Buddha light proved utterly useless!
'[Non-Killing] to [Killing]... such an extreme shift!'
'But why? Why, after the [Non-Killing Sword Intent] shattered, did it evolve into something so terrifying, its power even greater than before?'
Lu Yang pondered inwardly.
Just then, from that Pure Land Buddha light faintly emerged a towering dharma image, hands pressed together in a sigh.
"Amitabha... Benefactor, was this necessary?"
It was Buddha's Son Guang Ming.
"Fellow Daoist, please refrain from wandering about." Perfected Being Demon-Quelling replied calmly. "I intend to visit the Pure Land. Heed my sword's cry."
"..."
The Buddha light winked out.
But before Perfected Being Demon-Quelling could take another step, another escaping light appeared, racing toward them—Perfected Being Yet Evil, face twisted in fury.
"Halt!"
Perfected Being Yet Evil hovered in the air, eyes locked on Perfected Being Demon-Quelling. His [Sword Intent] cultivation surpassed Lu Yang's, so he perceived even more, and the more he saw, the greater his shock. "A single sword intent, yet manifesting inner and outer transformations... How did you accomplish this!?"
"This is the sword."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling chuckled lightly. "The sword may sheath its edge or bare it to the world—naturally, it has inner and outer aspects. [Sword Intent] should be no different."
With those words, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's brand-new [Sword Intent] erupted forth.
If the heavens had life, this sword could slay!
If the earth had life, this sword could slay!
If the dao laws had life, this sword could slay!
Ruthless to the utmost, the polar opposite of [Non-Killing], this [Sword Intent] bespoke only annihilation—to reduce all to nothingness!
Under divine sense scrutiny, both Lu Yang and Perfected Being Yet Evil spontaneously comprehended its name:
"[All-Slaying]."
Sheathed within: [Non-Killing].
Bared without: [All-Slaying]!
"No—not right!"
Perfected Being Yet Evil's face contorted in horror. "This isn't a single sword intent. The sheath and blade are merely the means by which you unify them."
"In essence, these are two sword intents!"
Here, even Perfected Being Yet Evil doubted his own judgment.
[Sword Intent] was the culmination of obsession, intertwined with one's very life—much like golden nature in its way.
If so, how could one person possess two sword intents?
"Which one is yours?"
Perfected Being Yet Evil demanded piercingly, but Perfected Being Demon-Quelling merely shook his head, a trace of ineffable bewilderment crossing his face.
"Fellow Daoist Yet Evil, why have you come seeking me?"
"...Naturally, to escort you back to the sect."
Perfected Being Yet Evil furrowed his brow, replying as if it were obvious. "The True Lord previously issued a verbal decree: to prevent any lapse in the [Sword Dao], you must not leave without permission."
"The True Lord's decree?"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling glanced around. "Where is the True Lord?"
At those words, Perfected Being Yet Evil's face darkened. "Ye Guangji, you've indulged in enough willfulness this time. Cease this reckless folly!"
"Reckless folly?"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling gazed at him, eyes profound. "I'm truly curious."
"You incited Shiyuan, leading to his death; you secretly sabotaged my [Sword Intent]. And now you come to me, demanding I return and await death obediently?"
"You even think it justified. The Sword Pavilion's logic has always eluded me."
"Aren't you afraid... that I'll kill you?"