Chapter 526
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Sword Chimes Echo Across Jiangdong
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At this moment, sword chimes echoed throughout all of Jiangdong.
From supreme spirit treasures down to mundane iron—as long as it took the form of a "sword"—everything resonated in kind. The crisp cries transformed into earth-shattering roars.
All attention converged on the man who had abruptly appeared in Jiangdong.
He wasn't handsome, nor was he imposing. Clad in black robes with a scruffy beard, he looked like any down-and-out wandering swordsman one might spot amid the bustle of mortal markets.
Yet no one spared a thought for the man's appearance or bearing. Their gazes locked solely on the sword in his grasp. In stark contrast to his plainness, that blade radiated brilliance to the utmost extreme. Simply gazing upon it conjured the illusion of being rent asunder.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang's eyes bulged wide.
He knew that sword all too well.
*Master Demon-Quelling!*
At this hour, he ought to have been secluded in Jiangnan, wholly devoted to delaying his empty verification of the sword dao, paying no heed to the outside world—Perfected Being Demon-Quelling!
*Why has Master come here?*
The thought had barely formed when Lu Yang slapped his forehead, inwardly cursing himself. He'd spent too long consorting with villains; his mindset hadn't flipped back yet.
Why had Perfected Being Demon-Quelling appeared?
The reason couldn't have been simpler: Buddha Son Guang Ming had entered Jiangdong, exterminating every person and beast along his path. In such circumstances, how could Perfected Being Demon-Quelling stay away?
He had to come!
Not only had Perfected Being Demon-Quelling come—he had arrived seething with fury. Without giving Buddha Son Guang Ming a chance to speak, he raised the Non-Killing Sword and slashed down fiercely!
Buddha Son Guang Ming's expression darkened at the sight. He laughed in outrage.
"This humble monk sought no trouble with you, yet here you are to ruin my affairs. Truly, you fail to know what's good for you. Remember: no matter how formidable a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it's still merely Foundation Establishment!"
His words barely ended when Buddha Son Guang Ming pressed his palms together. The motion perfectly overlapped with the ruined Buddha statue behind him. Their bond tightened in an instant. Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's sword light struck him—and just like before, it was entirely swallowed by the ruined statue, stirring not the slightest ripple.
"Amitabha."
Seeing this, Buddha Son Guang Ming chuckled lightly.
"Very well then. Capturing one is capturing; capturing two is the same. Today, this humble monk shall ferry you both to the Pure Land."
"Zheng!"
Before Buddha Son Guang Ming could finish, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's sword light descended anew. Yet this time, the profundity woven into the light was utterly transformed.
Among the myriad sentient beings, [Non-Killing] comes first.
Heretics and outer paths: [slay without mercy]!
"Boom!"
The next instant, Buddha Son Guang Ming's smile froze on his face. He whipped his head back in horror, only to find his link to the ruined Buddha statue behind him severed from thin air!
And in that very moment.
A pale hand emerged from nowhere, silently piercing Buddha Son Guang Ming's protective Buddha radiance to press noiselessly against his back—at his heart.
—Chongguang!
Ever since his divine ability proved ineffective, Chongguang had concealed his aura, remaining utterly silent and still, biding his time for this precise opening!
In a flash, blazing light erupted.
[Jade Platform Spitting Radiant Glory!]
This blaze held no grandeur, flickering like candle flame. It was the true method aligned with [Covered Lamp Fire]: fire born of light, igniting Buddha Son Guang Ming in an instant!
Thus was birthed the [Golden Cup Fire].
It seemed feeble at first glance, yet clung like gangrene to the bone. It treated a cultivator's entire mana and divine powers as mere candle wax—inextinguishable once kindled, impossible to erode away.
Even Lu Yang stared in astonishment at the spectacle. After all, this was his first time witnessing Chongguang clash with another. The methods were brutally ruthless, far beyond the ordinary. More strikingly, this style clashed utterly with Chongguang's outward image of majestic grandeur—insidious and venomous to the extreme!
He struck not at all, or struck to kill!
In that instant, fierce flames coursed over Buddha Son Guang Ming's entire form. His kasaya burned to drifting ash in a heartbeat, its spiritual luster collapsing to bare his muscular torso.
At a glance, his skin gleamed like copper poured and gold forged.
Yet that flawless golden body now crawled with dense fissures, as if sturdy metal had turned to brittle porcelain.
Through the cracks, one could even glimpse his innards—roasted by the inferno. His five viscera and six bowels, heart and lungs, all became fuel for the blaze. It was as though he had been remade into a humanoid candelabrum; the flames would burn unceasing until he crumbled fully to ash!
Buddha Son Guang Ming clenched his lips tight.
He was plainly enduring agony beyond measure. Yet like one who had forsaken life and death alike, his gaze bored unblinkingly toward Lu Yang.
He had come for one purpose alone: to ferry Lu Yang.
To that end, he would make any sacrifice.
He was but one among countless Buddhist cultivators. Ones like him were beyond numbering; the World Venerable need only enlighten another Buddha Son.
Thus, his life or death mattered not.
What mattered was whether the five dharma images granted by the World Venerable could land upon Lu Yang. If they did, his mission stood accomplished.
Facing imminent death, then, Buddha Son Guang Ming made no move to suppress his wounds, withdraw, or defend. Instead, he poured every divine ability and ounce of mana into those five dharma images. Like Mount Tai crashing down, they hurtled toward Lu Yang!
The next instant, Buddha radiance engulfed all.
"Fellow Daoist, you've rather underestimated me."
The voice rang suddenly by his ear. Buddha Son Guang Ming's pupils shrank to pinpricks. The eager hope in his eyes dimmed abruptly, yielding to despair.
*Failed? How could it fail?*
He could not fathom it. Those were five dharma images, all striking one man—like an egg crushed beneath Mount Tai. How had a mere Foundation Establishment withstood such force?
Yet he had no strength left for questions. Lu Yang wasted no time on him. Even as he spoke, Calamity Wave's edge had thrust into his chest—the final straw to break the camel's back. Five rays of divine light swirled manifestly along the blade!
[Heaven-Severing Sword Drawing Technique]. [Severing of Absolute Emotion].
[Lawless and Thoughtless]. [Severing Dust from Form].
[One-Thought Divine Blade].
The five divine abilities intertwined into a single [Mistaken Gold Grasping Soldier Talisman], amplified by Calamity Wave's innate [Proclaiming Might] profundity. The sword light reached its zenith!
Like autumn gusts sweeping fallen leaves.
It passed in a blink.
When the glow dispersed, no trace of Guang Ming remained. His golden body had shattered entirely; flesh and organs incinerated to cinders amid the flames.
*Buddha Son falls!*
Yet Lu Yang felt no relief at the sight. Perfected Being Demon-Quelling and Chongguang on the opposite side furrowed their brows as well, their auras blazing ever fiercer.
Was it over?
*No—this was merely the prelude.*
Lu Yang gripped Calamity Wave reversed, eyes fixed on the ruined Buddha statue looming amid the wilds.
*This is the World Venerable's true gambit. The Buddha Son was nothing but bait.*
Bait to draw out the false golden throne holder—himself.
Yet what Lu Yang hadn't anticipated was this: the five dharma images, which had just struck empty air only for him to evade at the last instant, reemerged to circle the Buddha statue.
"Amitabha!"
The five dharma images spoke as one.
"Benefactor, your Buddha affinity surpasses even the Buddha Son's. Since you can claim lordship over the Dao Court, why not over the Pure Land as well?"
"This statue was prepared expressly for you, Benefactor."
"[Immortal Kingdom Dao Regulations] shall attest the truth of our words. With the World Venerable presiding, this statue is the true Buddha enshrined in the hearts of the Pure Land's billions of Buddhist cultivators."
"With this Buddha, a million hearts unite as one."
"Now, the World Venerable has cast it aside of his own volition, abandoning its ruin. Should Benefactor restore it single-handedly, you may supplant the World Venerable himself as master of the Pure Land."
"A million united hearts, all yours to command."
"Then, Benefactor need lift not a finger. The billions of Jiangxi's Buddhist cultivators shall heed your every whim—and attaining [Heavenly Fire] shall prove simplicity itself!"
With that, the five dharma images bowed their heads in unison, prostrating fully in grand obeisance.
"Enter and claim lordship of the Pure Land, Benefactor. Ferry all苦业 to exhaustion. Attain supreme equal correct enlightenment: perfect in conduct and vision, world-transcender, supreme among men, Light Pervading Great Sun Tathagata!"
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