Chapter 529
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Lu Yang's Shrewd Abacus
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Lu Yang's abacus was shrewd indeed.
“Killing off all the Buddhist cultivators... isn't actually that serious a matter. In his previous life, the Sword Pavilion had been slaughtered down to its last man by the Primal Saint Sect, yet even the Pavilion Master never showed his face.”
That was proof enough.
And against the backdrop of the Pure Land, it was even more true. The World-Honored One had always treated lower-realm cultivators as equals—mortals, Qi Refiners, Foundation Establishment cultivators, no distinction between them.
Yet from another angle, the World-Honored One was the Nascent Soul Dao Lord who cherished his own cultivators the most. Otherwise, he wouldn't mingle so freely with the lower realms. But the reason wasn't some affection for his disciples and followers.
It was something far more aligned with his personal interests.
[Rampart Soil].
“The Pure Land Buddhist cultivators' unity of heart and mind is the key to binding the [Rampart Soil]. The World-Honored One protects the Buddhist cultivators precisely to safeguard the [Rampart Soil]!”
The conclusion was clear.
“As long as I can wipe out every last Buddhist cultivator while preserving that unity—ensuring the [Rampart Soil] stays put in the Pure Land—there'll be no issue.”
The World-Honored One's bottom line was the [Rampart Soil].
As long as it remained in the Pure Land, no matter how many Buddhist cultivators perished, it was just a number to him—not worth a second glance.
So how to slaughter the Buddhist cultivators while upholding that unity of will?
[Non-Killing Sword Intent]!
“Those beheaded by Master Demon-Quelling haven't truly died. As long as they retain the will, it's entirely possible to eradicate every Buddhist cultivator without disrupting their unity.”
That was Lu Yang's scheme.
“Compared to whatever that [Buddhist Cultivation] nonsense is, this suits me far better. Sure, there might be more variables, but at least everything stays firmly in my grasp!”
The same old line: he wouldn't rely on anyone else.
Deals, alliances, lures—they were all tools. But when it came to the final stretch, his own path to Seeking Gold? Lu Yang trusted only himself!
With that thought, Lu Yang turned back to the middle-aged monk formed from the five dharma aspects.
By now, he understood all too well:
“They must have foreseen this possibility ahead of time. Otherwise, why put Guang Ming out front? Just to coax out my false Grasping Gold position.”
Too bad it had failed.
“So they tossed out that 'taking control of the Pure Land' carrot—both to persuade me and distract me from other options.”
At the realization, Lu Yang's brow arched slightly.
High in the vault of heaven, the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] binding the five dharma aspects grew ever brighter, as if underscoring the Dao Court Dao Lord's stance.
“The Dao Court Dao Lord... he must have divined this method long ago. If I storm the Pure Land and butcher them wholesale, all the karma lands on me. He'd avenge the old humiliation—the day the World-Honored One forced his way into the Dao Court and snatched the [Rampart Soil]. With that grudge in play, the World-Honored One would be powerless.”
Because the World-Honored One owed the Dao Court Dao Lord from the start!
He'd held back before simply because the chance hadn't arisen. Now it had, so it was every side for itself. Lose the bet, pay up gracefully!
“And if I slaughter the Pure Land to forge my [Celestial Fire], the World-Honored One will hate me for it. To dodge his vengeance, I'd have no choice but to cling even tighter to the Dao Court.”
The Dao Court would avenge itself on the Pure Land while roping in Lu Yang.
And with Perfected Being Demon-Quelling involved, the Sword Pavilion couldn't sit idle. Faced with that momentum, the World-Honored One would have no choice but to swallow his pride!
One stone, three birds!
In that instant, Lu Yang's view of the Dao Court Dao Lord shifted dramatically. For in this intricate scheme, the Dao Court Dao Lord hadn't lifted a finger.
It had all flowed naturally, like water finding its course.
Silent, nourishing growth.
The thought drew a sigh from Lu Yang's heart:
“Compared to the Heavenly Duke of his previous life, the Dao Court Dao Lord embodies [Heaven] far better! So subtle... almost like the Primal Saint Sect's founder!”
Meanwhile.
“Calamity... it is truly calamity.”
The anger faded from the monk formed of the five dharma aspects. His face smoothed to the stillness of an ancient well, Buddha light casting an indescribable glow across his features.
“True Dragon Duhuan, whose inheritance did you claim—or who are you, really? From the moment you emerged, variables tore through the web of karma like a stone hurled into a lake. We descended this time to establish the [Earthly Buddha Kingdom], spread our doctrines far and wide. Buddhism stood poised for decades of grand flourishing.”
“But now... all for naught.”
“In a single night, an age of prosperity crumbles to the end of the dharma. No mere Foundation Establishment could manage that. Which True Lord has reincarnated as you?”
Doubt filled the eyes of the five dharma aspects.
Even as he spoke, he furiously divined the lines of karma, desperate to uncover Lu Yang's origins. But every calculation yielded the same result:
True Dragon lineage. Duhuan.
*What nonsense!*
The five dharma aspects' brows knotted. From obscurity to Seeking Gold in mere years—more shocking than Tingyou's legendary rise. No True Lord rebirth? He refused to buy it!
“Rivers and mountains birth new geniuses with every generation. Each dominates for a few centuries.”
Lu Yang shook his head at the five dharma aspects.
“Do I really need some world-shaking pedigree to win your belief, fellow Daoist?”
*I've gotten this far on effort and sweat alone!*
The thought made Lu Yang lose interest in bantering further. The five dharma aspects lay suppressed by the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]—a turtle trapped in its shell.
He stepped forward to finish it.
But then Perfected Being Demon-Quelling moved ahead, blocking his path.
“Fellow Daoist, wait.”
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling offered a faint, sincere smile.
“You shouldn't act. Let me handle it. That Pure Land fellow's karma... it's better borne on my shoulders.”
He was a dying man anyway. What did more karma matter?
Lu Yang, though? A brilliant future ahead—and his fellow Daoist, no less. A little trouble like this? He'd shoulder it without a second thought.
Just a flick of the wrist.
“Well... if you insist.”
Lu Yang saw through Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's intentions as clearly as day—he knew the man's fate all too well. And that only deepened the pity in his heart.
*At the end of this life, if Master Demon-Quelling's willing... I could take him with the Myriad Spirits Banner.*
Worst case, grab him and bolt to a new start. Move fast enough, and even if the Sword Pavilion raged and the Pavilion Master hunted him down personally, they'd still come up empty.
The idea eased Lu Yang's mind.
The next instant, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling strode forward. He drew the [Non-Killing Sword]. Twin intents fused into a single inch of blinding light, slicing across the five dharma aspects' neck.
Pure Land. Great Hero Hall.
Moments earlier, novices, monks, and Arhats had sat in orderly rows beneath a towering golden-bodied Great Buddha, chanting sutras, delivering lectures, sharing insights on the dharma.
Then came the thunderous crash from above.
*Boom!*
The assembly looked up in bewilderment. A crack split the Great Buddha from the neck. Its mountain-sized head plummeted!
It shattered on impact like fallen crystal, scattering glimmers across the floor.
“How can this be?”
“The Buddha image... broken? A Buddha image can't break!”
“Impossible!”
Panic surged through every monk. But the next breath, a fierce gale swept through—as if blowing every trace of chaos away.
In the end, only an angry echo lingered.
“Won't drink the toast? Fine—drink the penalty wine!”