Chapter 490
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Undisclosed]
Chapter Title: Angxiao's Preemptive Strike
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In the Pure Land, no one noticed the change in the Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva.
Yet within its sea of consciousness, Angxiao continued his tense preparations. Naturally, he had no intention of snatching food from the World Honored One's mouth—that would be tantamount to suicide.
The World Honored One had always been utterly shameless, after all.
Though Angxiao was confident there were no conflicting interests with the World Honored One, truly provoking him would still spell serious trouble.
Thus, he merely planned to make use of the Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva.
‘The Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva, as an unorthodox True Lord, has attained an unorthodox fruit position closely resembling the imagery of Soil in Sand. It can easily draw forth the fruit position's manifestation.’
Unorthodox True Lords were not an absolute dead end.
If an unorthodox True Lord's fruit position aligned well with the local orthodox fruit position, there was genuine hope of merging the orthodox one atop the unorthodox foundation.
The underlying principle mirrored that of second-rank true merit.
The risks, however, were immense. Unorthodox True Lords lacked cavern-heavens and golden nature, leaving a substantial chance of failure when pursuing a local orthodox fruit position.
Without golden nature, reincarnation was impossible.
Unorthodox True Lords thus enjoyed but a single lifetime. They could not rely on golden nature for perpetual rebirth and survival. Once their span ended, death was final—no afterlife awaited.
For the sake of eternal life, many unorthodox True Lords willingly gambled on that failure risk.
Seeking orthodox fruition through unorthodox means began with the first step: fusing one's unorthodox fruit position into heaven and earth.
Only after integration into the world's laws could the fruit position earn recognition, sense the corresponding local orthodox fruit, and escape rejection.
Yet once fused into heaven and earth, it meant submitting to this wretched realm's rules. The unorthodox fruit would then demand foundation establishment for elevation. The upside: a higher rank, greater power. The downside: eternal binding by those strictures.
Such was the vast chasm between unorthodox and orthodox.
More often than not, unorthodox True Lords pursuing local orthodox fruits saw their own devoured by the orthodox counterpart—without acceptance in return.
The cultivator perished; the fruit endured.
The engorged orthodox fruit then dusted itself off and departed.
Local orthodox True Lords thus held unorthodox ones in deep contempt. How deep? One vivid phrase sufficed:
Even the Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord scorned unorthodox True Lords.
Angxiao, fortunately, couldn't care less.
‘I have no need for the Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva to truly attain Soil in Sand. Simply drawing it forth to drag into the underworld will suffice!’
He would return the Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva intact afterward.
As for the World Honored One: so long as he hunkered in the underworld without emerging, nothing short of the World Honored One's true body descending at tremendous cost could touch him.
“But when acting, one must go all the way!”
Having played the Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva trump card, Angxiao aimed for a grand haul. Why settle for mere Soil in Sand?
‘Suo Huan!’
Angxiao's thoughts shifted, intent on recontacting Suo Huan to draw Endless Flowing Water—but in the next instant, his expression drastically shifted:
‘What is this?’
In the underworld, Angxiao's true body abruptly rose, face etched with gravity. For in that moment, his causal bond with Suo Huan—
Severed!
Overseas, at the heart of the earthfire sea furnace.
“To think the world holds such a bizarre affair...”
Suo Huan gaped, dumbstruck, at the man before him—identical to himself in every feature—while a surging divine sense flooded his mind.
The secret of Spirit Ruins Blessed Land.
The trap within Ten Thousand Spirits Returning to Ruins Dao Scripture.
Knowledge-view barrier.
Enlightenment flashed in Suo Huan's eyes, resolving into serenity: “Very well. If you can achieve it, take it all—what of it?”
His words fell; his aura withered instantly. His head lolled; life ebbed away. All essence drained from his Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, merging into the facing man, whose presence exploded upward, hitting a critical threshold in mere breaths.
The next instant, the man—or rather, Banner Spirit Suo Huan—turned, bowing reverently:
“My profound thanks, my lord, for your gracious fulfillment.”
“No matter.”
Lu Yang's immortal fetus avatar stepped from the shadows, eyeing Banner Spirit Suo Huan with genuine surprise. Truth be told, he had braced for a brutal clash.
Yet it unfolded otherwise.
This lifetime's original Suo Huan, upon grasping the truth, offered no resistance—choosing instead self-termination, yielding everything to Banner Spirit Suo Huan.
All for one obsession:
‘Seek golden nature. Reestablish Huanxu Realm.’
Suo Huan's gaze burned resolute—this sole purpose had sustained his survival, his cultivation. Lacking hope himself, he entrusted it to his other self.
“How does it feel?” Lu Yang inquired.
“Essentially restored.”
Suo Huan brimmed with excitement. His Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, grievously wounded in the prior life from channeling Endless Flowing Water, had teetered on total collapse.
Absorbing the original Suo Huan's Spirit Ruins Blessed Land essence mended the bulk of the damage. With a Dao Court first-rank official seal to forge golden nature, he could enact the rite drawing Water in Spring's gaze—attempting ascension for gold!
This in mind, Suo Huan turned eagerly to Lu Yang:
“My lord, shall it be now?”
“See? Impatient once more.”
Lu Yang shook his head, chuckling: “Matters eased slowly round to perfection. No haste, fellow Daoist. Retreat and steady your heart first.”
“...Subordinate comprehends.”
Suo Huan nodded, drawing a deep breath to quell his fervor—aware impatience ill-suited ascension for gold.
In the next breath, he became an escaping light, vanishing into Ten Thousand Spirits Banner.
But then—
“Boom!”
Heaven and earth quaked with thunderous roar. Beyond the earthfire sea heart furnace, a figure tore through the void, Buddhist radiance blotting the skies: Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva!
‘I’ll see exactly who you are!’
Within Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva's sea of consciousness, Angxiao's gaze chilled. A colossal hand blanketed myriad li of sea, lunging ruthlessly at Lu Yang.
Lightning-quick, Lu Yang hesitated not a heartbeat.
—Self-detonation!
“Bang!”
Crimson blast erupted at Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva's fingertip, unstoppable. Angxiao watched, helpless, as Lu Yang vanished.
Worse: maneuvering Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva from the Pure Land exposed the once-knowledge-view-barrier-veiled aura. Probing gazes from several Pure Land Bodhisattvas locked on instantly, laced with piercing scrutiny.
“Something's amiss, Dragon Snake?”
“All-Hearts-as-One persists unlifted, yet your responses ring hollow and stiff... You're no Dragon Snake! What manner of fiend are you?”
“...”
The Bodhisattvas' interrogations met silence from Dragon Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva—or Angxiao—who deigned no reply, merely tilting his gaze skyward.
The World Honored One made no appearance.
‘Just as anticipated.’
Angxiao's lips curved faintly. Concealment abandoned, thought stirred: radiant beam pierced the heavens, igniting a stellar blaze overhead—
Soil in Sand!
Concurrently, a dark vortex yawned behind his head: an underworld portal. Beyond loomed Angxiao's true body, wreathed in pervasive smoke.
Meanwhile, in Jiangdong Dao Court.
Lu Yang's true body snapped open his eyes, staring seaward. Bewilderment yielded to heartfelt admiration:
‘Well played, Angxiao!’
‘He sensed my deliberate targeting. Fearing drawn-out delays birthing complications, he unleashed his trump card early... Decisive, ruthless—befitting my Saint Sect True Lord!’
In scant time, Lu Yang had neutralized Hongyun, resolved Suo Huan. Given leisure, once Heaven of Non-existence whisked away the realm's True Lords—trapping Angxiao in the underworld—he could falsely wield Covered Lamp Fire, inflicting catastrophic loss... A slow poison.
But Angxiao had divined irregularity.
Unaware of specifics, he keenly scented peril—striking first, leaving Lu Yang reeling!