Chapter 447: Troublemaker, Lü Yang!
Chapter 447: The Shit-Stirring Rod, Lü Yang!
Just as [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] fell into bewilderment, Lü Yang struck again—this time directly manifesting the phantom image of the [Yama Palace].
Then he charged headlong!
"Boom!"
This attack was no longer futile, for the [Yama Palace] was currently anchored to the [Overturned Lamp Flame], equivalent to using a Fruit Position as a sacrificial battering ram!
In an instant, the entire world trembled violently. Blazing flames evaporated clouds across ten thousand miles. This time, the layered palaces surrounding [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] seemed overstuffed, losing their previous composure. They swayed violently for a long moment before finally dissipating Lü Yang's impact.
"Pfft!"
The next second, Lü Yang spat blood and retreated. The [Yama Palace] returned to his brow, and the terrifying recoil instantly pulverized half his body into mush.
Yet he still smiled.
'After all, he's only at the early-stage Golden Core—not an insurmountable gap!'
Had [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] been at mid-stage Golden Core or even late-stage, he could have easily countered Lü Yang's strike despite momentary carelessness.
Unfortunately, he wasn't.
Not only was he not at a higher stage, but his condition was also at its absolute worst. Though his divine abilities and magic power remained undiminished, his crucial Dongtian was already riddled with holes.
Especially after that collision—while Lü Yang suffered severe injuries, he had also forcibly cracked [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]'s Dongtian. In the end, the True Lord came out worse, for physical wounds meant nothing to a True Lord.
Dongtian injuries were true Dao wounds!
"Again!"
Lü Yang spat blood, his sleeves fluttering as a radiant sword emerged, its sword light and magic power suppressed to the breaking point.
[Newly Forged Dao Feather Nirvana Sword Technique]!
Having endured consecutive heavy blows, each time taking them head-on, he had been stacking sword intent and sword technique bonuses. Now, he had finally reached his current peak.
"Slash!"
The sword light erupted, blending with the myriad wonders of [Tribulation Wave] as it cleaved once more into the layered palaces conjured by [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue].
"Useless. Human strength has its limits. No matter how formidable your Dao techniques or sword arts, how can they compare to the might of heaven and earth? In a True Lord's domain, Fruit Positions are everything!"
[True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]'s voice was icy.
Yet Lü Yang keenly noticed the strands of frost now mingling in the True Lord's wind-tossed hair and the wrinkles forming between his brows.
Clearly, his composure was merely superficial.
Thus, Lü Yang's strategy was simple: trade injury for injury, grinding away at [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]'s crumbling Dongtian with his own life!
And just as [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] barely withstood the onslaught, mustering his strength for a counterattack to finish Lü Yang in one strike—
"[Ang Xiao]!"
—a sudden haze would appear, forcing [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] to halt abruptly.
"Bastard!"
For a moment, both [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] and [Ang Xiao] cursed simultaneously.
Below, in Jiangxi's Pure Land.
[Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva] held a jade vase containing a willow branch, from which countless ribbons drifted down, slowly merging into the [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth].
Amid this process, a figure shrouded in misty smoke clashed against her, its tremendous power shaking violently as it attempted to tear apart the [Buddhist Kingdom on Earth] and rescue the trapped [White Wax Gold]. The two forces wrestled around Xiang Ye, reaching a delicate equilibrium.
"[Ang Xiao]..."
[Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva] wore a grave expression, recognizing the mist-shrouded figure as [Ang Xiao]'s once-ephemeral [World-Reporting External Body]!
This avatar had been deployed before to obstruct Hong Yun's pursuit of gold.
Yet when Chong Guang achieved the [Heaven of Non-Existence], causing True Lords across the land to retreat into seclusion, this avatar had been hidden away, remaining unusable.
For thirty years, [Ang Xiao] had sought to reactivate it.
Originally, another decade would have sufficed for its restoration without cost—but with the sudden shift in circumstances, he no longer had that luxury.
"Boom!"
Behind [Ang Xiao], his vast and majestic Dongtian now bore numerous fine cracks, with one corner even ablaze!
Burning his Dongtian!
Given [Ang Xiao]'s foundation, this degree of damage shouldn't have shaken his Dao base... yet the battlefield hosted another factor he couldn't ignore: a shit-stirring rod.
"[Ang Xiao]!"
Lü Yang's voice boomed forth.
Each time it came, [Ang Xiao] had to divert part of his focus to help Lü Yang obscure [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue], preventing further reversal of Chen Earth.
'Damn beast!'
[Ang Xiao] gritted his teeth in fury. Had [Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva] not been restraining him, he wouldn't have lifted a finger to aid Lü Yang—who was being pummeled by [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]—but would instead have added to his misery, ensuring Lü Yang died before he could reverse Chen Earth again.
But [Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva]'s presence changed everything.
This Pure Land Bodhisattva understood perfectly well that Lü Yang was stalling [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]. If Lü Yang perished, she would be next.
Thus, she cooperated.
She neither allowed [Ang Xiao] enough leeway to kill Lü Yang nor outright stopped him, forcing [Ang Xiao] to assist Lü Yang against his will.
And as [Ang Xiao] expended energy aiding Lü Yang, [Precious Vase Water Moon Bodhisattva] gained the upper hand.
Unbeknownst to all, Lü Yang had effectively allied with the Pure Land.
Meanwhile, [Ang Xiao]—who should have stood with [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]—was coerced by Lü Yang's control over Chen Earth into helping him!
'He's practically a shit-stirring rod!'
For a moment, [Ang Xiao] seethed with anger yet couldn't help but admire Lü Yang... for through this maneuver, Lü Yang had become the biggest winner on the field!
"Boom!"
Another deafening crash. Lü Yang staggered back, reforming his physical body, while [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]—poised to press his advantage—froze once more.
Now, at last, a trace of desolation and frustration surfaced on the Sword Pavilion True Lord's face.
"Unfair..."
Only he was taking a beating!
Though Lü Yang was no match for him, he'd had at least nine opportunities to kill him during their duel—yet each time, [Ang Xiao] had interfered.
The result? He'd paid a steep price, forcibly driving his already crumbling Dongtian to unleash Fruit Position marvels, yet failed to defeat Lü Yang. Instead, he was nearing his limit. His once-peak vitality waned, and his Dongtian showed signs of disintegration!
Witnessing this, [Ang Xiao] sighed.
'He can't hold on any longer!'
"Like this, how could the [Sword Dao Fruit Position] ever acknowledge you?" In his final moments, [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] glared at Lü Yang, voice thick with resentment.
Lü Yang laughed uproariously. "Since when has the [Sword Dao] been so inflexible?"
For other sword intents, this might indeed hold true—after all, from start to finish, he'd never been [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]'s equal, relying solely on tenacity.
But he was different!
'My sword intent... was forged from defiance!'
Temporary victory meant nothing. He who laughed last laughed best. Lü Yang's tactics aligned perfectly with his current [sword intent]!
"Boom!"
Never one to shy from bullying the weak, Lü Yang now hurled the [Yama Palace] once more, finally smashing through the layered palaces.
[True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] vomited blood and was sent flying. Behind him, the [Yuqie Bao Gui Paradise] had mostly shattered, barely held together by his waning vitality. Its complete collapse was only a matter of time. In contrast, though severely wounded, Lü Yang's life wasn't in danger.
Now, at last, hatred flickered in [True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue]'s eyes.
This man had slaughtered the Ye Family and ruined his mission.
More importantly, Ting You followed him and had already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. If he died here, he might never return to his position!
"Die!"
[True Lord of Bearing Heaven's True Virtue] roared. His Dongtian disintegrated and burned behind him, the resulting radiance nearly drowning out the sun itself.
A final strike! For the sake of his future Dao path after reincarnation, he would kill Lü Yang!