Chapter 491: Chapter 491: The Number 1 Perfected Lord in the World

The situation was changing too fast to follow.

Not just the Foundation-Stage Cultivators, but even the Golden Core Perfected Lords were at a loss. After all, the world had been a stagnant pond, peaceful for many years.

Then, Ang Xiao had suddenly emerged.

He appeared without warning, making a massive play from the very beginning. He instantly stirred that stagnant pond into a tempestuous sea, not even giving the Perfected Lords time to think.

’But... this might be exactly what he wanted!’

In the East, Lü Yang marveled privately.

’Back in my ninth life, during the Seeking Gold for Minor Metal, what a grand spectacle that was. But it ended in an unexpected failure, which filled all the Perfected Lords with doubt and suspicion.’

’The result was that as soon as Ang Xiao made a move, more than ten Perfected Lords immediately swarmed him... And that’s not even mentioning the subsequent Summoning for Seeking Gold. Ang Xiao became a public enemy. That’s what happens when your secrets are exposed and your plans are delayed. This life, however, is different.’

Ang Xiao was waging a blitzkrieg!

He would either remain hidden or, upon emerging, give no one time to react. He would escalate the situation, sow doubt among the Perfected Lords, and create an opportunity for himself to fish in troubled waters.

And just as he’d planned, he had successfully snatched away the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth.

And his next target, it seemed, was the Fruit of Pewter Metal!

’Hm? No, wait...’

A moment later, Lü Yang frowned, realizing something was wrong... As someone who had once been an Immortal Spirit, no one understood their development better than he did.

’That Fruit of Pewter Metal Immortal Spirit... it hasn’t reached Perfection!’

It possessed all four Innate Divine Techniques, but the most crucial Innate Ability had not yet condensed. It was one step short, and thus could not yet manifest in the world.

’That’s right, this makes sense... After all, in my previous life, Ang Xiao had sought out Exorcist Zhenren of the Sword Pavilion. He even tried to use Exorcist Zhenren to draw out the Fruit of Pewter Metal. If this Immortal Spirit was already at Perfection and ready to be used, why would he waste time on Exorcist Zhenren?’

What Lü Yang could see, All True Monarchs could naturally see as well.

"Amitabha!"

From within the Pure Land, another Bodhisattva strolled out. She was also a woman, her beauty surpassing even that of Bhumba Bodhisattva. Every glance she cast was filled with captivating charm.

Her name was Bao Lian Hidden Buddha.

At the Middle Stage of Golden Core, she was the true master of the Pure Land. She looked at Ang Xiao and said softly, "Patron, the Sea of Suffering is boundless. Turn back, and the shore will be there."

"This Immortal Spirit has not reached Perfection. You cannot use it to draw out the Fruit."

All the Perfected Lords present could see what Ang Xiao was trying to do: draw the Fruit into the Netherworld. Though they didn’t know why, it was undoubtedly a bad thing.

Thus, no one wanted to see Ang Xiao succeed.

Seeing that the Immortal Spirit hadn’t reached Perfection, many of the Perfected Lords observing in secret breathed a sigh of relief, believing this was as far as Ang Xiao could go.

But Lü Yang, on the other hand, thought differently.

It all came down to one thing: he believed in Ang Xiao.

’As a Saint Sect True Monarch, if there were truly no hope, he would’ve fled long ago. The fact that he’s still here means he must have an ace up his sleeve.’

And just as he expected—

"Hahaha!"

Ang Xiao burst into laughter, shooting a contemptuous look at Bao Lian Hidden Buddha. "A frog at the bottom of a well cannot comprehend the vastness of the world."

"Just watch closely!"

The moment he finished speaking, Ang Xiao formed a Daoist Hand Seal. Then, he activated the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth, which he had only just pulled into the Netherworld.

But not to attack an enemy.

The immense Mighty Power from the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth landed squarely upon the Immortal Spirit, and then merged completely into it!

All the Perfected Lords were stunned by this scene.

No one understood what Ang Xiao was doing. Only World Purger Fei Xue frowned, a thoughtful look on their face, seeming to have a guess.

A moment later—

CLANG CLANG!

A crisp clang of metal on metal shattered the silence. The Immortal Spirit in Ang Xiao’s hand suddenly opened its eyes, five Abilities blooming above its head.

Instantly, a dozen astonished gazes shot down:

"...It reached Perfection???"

"How is that possible!"

"The Fruit of Sand-Within Earth doesn’t represent the concept of nurturing life, so how could it possibly catalyze an Immortal Spirit’s growth? And the effect is far too potent..."

Seeing this, Ang Xiao merely chuckled coldly. "You mediocrities dare to discuss Cultivation with me?"

The reason the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth could catalyze the Immortal Spirit wasn’t because of the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth itself. The key was the Fruit the Immortal Spirit represented: the Fruit of Pewter Metal!

The Fruit of Pewter Metal is Kunshan Jade, bathed in the light of the sun and moon, condensing Yin and Yang Qi.

’Its form is bright and its body pure, the true color of Gold. It must be polished by Earth to become a proper Artifact; this is auspicious. Other types of Earth are useless...’ This was the conceptual nature of the Fruit of Pewter Metal.

In other words, the Fruit of Pewter Metal was only compatible with one specific type of Earth.

But which type it was, was difficult to ascertain, referred to only as "Polishing Earth."

But what is "Polishing Earth"?

Its secrets could not be grasped without profound Cultivation... Fortunately, Ang Xiao had studied this Dao for countless years and had long since understood: ’The Polishing Earth is the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth!’

The Fruit of Pewter Metal must be refined by the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth to become a true Artifact!

Simply put, while the Fruit of Pewter Metal and the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth seemed unrelated at first glance, they were in fact compatible. The Mighty Power of the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth could stimulate the Fruit of Pewter Metal to a certain degree. When applied to an Immortal Spirit, it would catalyze its development, allowing it to quickly reach Perfection and manifest!

Thinking of this, Ang Xiao felt another pang of regret.

Because if everything had gone smoothly, according to his plan:

First, he would have taken the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, then the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, and finally seized the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth and the Fruit of Pewter Metal. He could then have broken through to Golden Core Perfection in the Netherworld.

Then, the Nascent Soul realm would have been within his grasp!

But now, both the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire and the Fruit of Long-Flow Water had slipped through his grasp. He also suspected a hidden mastermind was plotting against him, forcing him to make his move ahead of schedule.

BOOM!

A moment later, as the Immortal Spirit manifested, the Fruit of Pewter Metal emerged. Ang Xiao employed the same trick, preparing to drag this one into the Netherworld as well.

At this moment, the other Perfected Lords could finally no longer sit idly by.

Less than an incense stick’s worth of time had passed since Ang Xiao first appeared. For a Perfected Lord, that small window to weigh the pros and cons was practically nothing.

But it was too late.

Watching the stars light up one by one across the heavens, and seeing All True Monarchs swarming toward him to interfere, Ang Xiao merely offered a calm smile.

Then, the Daoist Hand Seal he was forming suddenly changed.

BANG!

He self-detonated!

Ang Xiao had unhesitatingly detonated his Earth-Walking Avatar. The blast zone sundered the heavens, blocking all the approaching Perfected Lords.

Seizing the opportunity, Ang Xiao had already grabbed the Fruit of Pewter Metal...

CLANG!

A sword cry rang out!

In Jiangnan, from the depths of the Sword Pavilion, just as Ang Xiao seized the Fruit of Pewter Metal, a Sword Light that had been lying in wait finally revealed itself, slashing out with ferocious power!

This was the same Sword Light that had once felled World Purger Fei Xue, inflicting wounds that even reincarnation could not erase. Now, it slashed out once more, its power even greater than before. The instant the sword cry rang out, the Sword Light was already piercing Ang Xiao’s very soul, aiming to sever the hand that held the Fruit of Pewter Metal.

Yet Ang Xiao remained completely unruffled. Instead, he laughed.

"I’ve been waiting for you!"

Before he had even finished speaking, Ang Xiao’s other hand intercepted the Sword Light. He extended a finger, its tip gently touching the peerless beam.

The touch instantly created a cloud of gray mist.

The mist descended upon the Sword Light, instantly engulfing and concealing it... By the time the mist dissipated, there was no Sword Light to be seen. It was as if it had never existed at all.

’The Veil of the Trees!’

At that moment, every Perfected Lord, every Foundation-Stage Cultivator who had witnessed that Sword Light—even True Monarch Gangxing himself, the one who had unleashed it...

...all lost their memory of it.

What did it look like? What color was it? How strong was its Qi trace? What was its effect? All memories were obscured, leaving only a blank space where their knowledge of it should have been.

And when everyone had forgotten the Sword Light, when all witnesses were gone, the Sword Light itself vanished from the Current World.

In that instant, all was deathly silent.

The Sword Pavilion, from which that world-shaking sword strike had just been unleashed, fell deathly still. True Monarch Gangxing’s Qi trace vanished completely, no longer revealing the slightest trace of its presence.

"...Pathetic."

Ang Xiao sneered as he withdrew the hand that held the Fruit of Pewter Metal. The second Fruit fell into the Netherworld, now under his control!

In the East, Lü Yang closed his eyes and sighed inwardly.

’The number one Perfected Lord in the world...’

At this moment, that was the only way he could describe him.

With his power alone, he faced all the Perfected Lords of the world, a group that included peerless geniuses. Yet Ang Xiao outshone them all, like the rising sun eclipsing the moon and stars!

A moment later, Lü Yang opened his eyes, a burning ambition flaring within them.

’...That is what I must become!’