Chapter 429: I Do Not

Not only did the Demon-Suppressing True Person not understand, but Lü Yang did not understand either.

‘He actually chased over here.’

The Demon-Suppressing True Person’s sword intent had been shattered, yet he had no intention of returning to the Sword Pavilion. Instead, he departed straight away. Was that not already proof enough of his attitude toward the Sword Pavilion?

Even Lü Yang could see that this was the Demon-Suppressing True Person still holding onto compassion—he had spared the people of the Sword Pavilion and chosen to go to the Pure Land instead. Otherwise, with the ferocity of his 【All-Slaughtering】 Sword Intent, how hard would it be for him to turn back and massacre everyone in the Sword Pavilion? At the very least, it would be far easier than fighting Bodhisattva Guangming head-on at the Pure Land!

Yet even so—

These sword cultivators still refused to read the situation. The Evil-Banishing True Person, a dignified True Person at the peak of Foundation Establishment, actually failed to understand the hidden meaning behind the Demon-Suppressing True Person’s words.

Meanwhile, the Evil-Banishing True Person was still stunned.

‘…Kill me?’

The Demon-Suppressing True Person wanted to kill him? He understood every one of those seven words, but when placed together, they evoked an unprecedented sense of absurdity within him.

Because the Demon-Suppressing True Person never killed.

That had been his principle ever since his third life, when he established his foundation as a sword cultivator—and now, he was already in the twilight of his fifth life.

By his age, this should not have been the case.

It could only be said that this matter involved the Ye Family, involved that 【True Lord of Upholding Heaven’s Righteous Virtue】, though even the Evil-Banishing True Person himself did not know the details.

He had only heard vague whispers from another True Lord within the Sword Pavilion.

Thinking of this, the Evil-Banishing True Person glared at the Demon-Suppressing True Person and said coldly, “In the past, 【True Lord of Upholding Heaven’s Righteous Virtue】 reshaped your body—how much importance did he place upon you?”

“Is this how you repay him now? How you repay the Sword Pavilion?”

“No wonder the True Lord once said you were a heartless man—born close to the Dao, viewing all beings as straw dogs. Now that I see it for myself, you truly are a cold-blooded creature.”

The Evil-Banishing True Person rebuked him sternly.

However, Lü Yang heard something different within those words—something fierce on the surface yet weak underneath. For while the Evil-Banishing True Person barked with anger, his body was quietly edging backward.

“Senior, why retreat?” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Lü Yang said considerately, “Step closer. Look more clearly.”

The Evil-Banishing True Person did not respond. He was not a fool, merely as the Demon-Suppressing True Person had said—having stayed too long within the Sword Pavilion, he conducted himself according to the Pavilion’s principles. With his cultivation at Foundation Establishment Perfection, combined with his fixed impression of the Demon-Suppressing True Person, he had simply failed to react at first.

Now, seeing that the Demon-Suppressing True Person was truly serious—

How could he dare linger any longer?

In a flash of lightning, he formed a sword seal with his fingers and unleashed a divine ability without hesitation:

【Burial Gold Ground】!

This was a 【Xin Metal】 divine art, harmonizing with 【Si Fire】. Si represented furnace fire, concealing Wu Earth within—metal buried in earth, unable to change its form. Was that not akin to death itself?

“Boom!”

In that instant, Lü Yang’s vision went dark; even the sword foundation within his body grew heavy, his state disturbed by the divine art’s residual force.

‘This divine art specifically restrains metal and iron!’

And sword cultivators fell squarely within its bane!

‘Had it been my prior celestial spirit body, this man’s single divine art—combined with his Foundation Establishment Perfection rank—would have easily subdued me!’

‘If I’m not mistaken, this was likely forged precisely to counter the Demon-Suppressing True Person… What deep hatred lies between them? To target him so specifically, even at the cost of using a vital innate divine art—does he not fear severing his Dao path? Oh… he cultivates 【White Wax Metal】.’

His Dao path was already severed.

Then what of the Demon-Suppressing True Person?

Lü Yang quickly turned his gaze—and saw a beam of light.

This light was not dazzling, rather soft and gentle, yet it held an irresistible pull upon the eyes. It lightly brushed across the distant Evil-Banishing True Person.

“Crack!”

Without the slightest suspense, the Evil-Banishing True Person’s full-force 【Burial Gold Ground】—so utterly fatal to metal and sword cultivators—was cleaved apart as though it were a joke.

“Ah!!!”

At this moment, the Evil-Banishing True Person abandoned all calm and composure. With a sweep of his sleeve, countless spirit treasures erupted forth!

This was his first time facing the Demon-Suppressing True Person’s sword head-on. From afar, he had never felt its terror—even when the Demon-Suppressing True Person beheaded the Buddha Maiden Jingguan in three strokes, he had merely thought it ordinary. Three simple swords—perhaps that Buddhist woman was just weak.

But now, he no longer thought so.

Only by facing the Demon-Suppressing True Person’s sword directly could one comprehend its true horror—it was nothing that a Foundation Establishment cultivator should be capable of!

‘Aside from a Golden Core True Lord, who could possibly withstand this sword?’

‘I’m going to die? Impossible!’

The Evil-Banishing True Person frantically unleashed divine arts to flee, disbelief surging through his mind:

‘He dares to kill me? He truly means to kill me!’

‘Ah… that’s right. A man already nearing death—what would he not dare to do? No, wait—why did I even come here in the first place? No! Someone has been influencing me…!’

——Who!?

In that instant, a chill like plunging into an ice cave seized him. But he no longer had time to think, for the Demon-Suppressing True Person’s sword light had already arrived.

“Boom!”

In an instant, Heaven and Earth split into black and white.

One side blazed with the rising sun, radiant as day; the other sank into dim obscurity. The Demon-Suppressing True Person’s sword light stood precisely between them.

“Ah!!!”

Within that black-and-white vision, the Evil-Banishing True Person’s five divine abilities flared brightly together—then were simultaneously severed. His Dharma body exploded into countless fragments of flesh and blood, scattering in all directions. None escaped. Every drop of blood and flesh was refined into ashes by the sword light, leaving only a single flicker of spiritual light vanishing toward the horizon.

“Trying to flee?” Lü Yang clenched his fists eagerly.

After all, that was a Metal-nature spirit! Wounded by the Demon-Suppressing True Person, and as a proud Saint Sect cultivator, there was nothing he enjoyed more than beating a fallen foe.

“No need to chase.”

The Demon-Suppressing True Person shook his head. “Having taken my 【All-Slaughtering】, death is only a matter of time. My own days are numbered—I must reach the Pure Land to settle things.”

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang immediately composed himself. “Disciple obeys, Senior.”

‘There’s no hurry anyway.’

After all, this body of his was merely an avatar—not strong, meant only to bear hardship. Even if he pursued, he might not succeed.

Such pleasures were best left to his main body.

Sword Pavilion, Extreme Heaven Cliff.

The clash between the Evil-Banishing True Person and the Demon-Suppressing True Person had not been hidden; at least for True Persons in late Foundation Establishment, observing from afar was still possible.

Yet at that moment, Ye Shaoying almost wished he could unsee it.

“He… killed someone.”

The Ye Family’s patriarch stood dazed, soul half gone. “Guang Ji… was not manipulated—he killed out of his own will?”

How could this be?

Was he not the one who did not kill?

Even if his sword intent was shattered, he should have remained that gentle elder who spared even ants beneath his broom—how could he have desired to kill?

Cold sweat drenched Ye Shaoying’s face. Especially upon seeing the once-promising Evil-Banishing True Person, who had made countless promises to the Ye Family, fleeing in disgrace—he trembled. Only when he saw that the Demon-Suppressing True Person did not return, but instead continued toward the Pure Land, did he finally exhale in relief.

‘Phew… good.’

Ye Shaoying forced a smile. ‘Guang Ji… the Demon-Suppressing True Person still remembers old ties. The Ye Family gave him life and nurture; he still remembers and will not unleash a massacre.’

At that thought, scheming flickered behind his eyes.

【All-Slaughtering Sword Intent】?

‘Such a formidable sword intent and technique—why did he not leave the corresponding method for the clan? Does he not trust his family?’

Even the Evil-Banishing True Person could not withstand it. If the Ye Family could obtain such a sword—

Before Ye Shaoying could finish the thought—

“Boom!”

From beyond the Sword Pavilion’s gates, a thunderous explosion resounded. Countless disciples looked up, faces filled with disbelief.

“Who dares trespass upon our Sword Pavilion!?”

“Has some demon grown tired of living!?”

“Courting death!”

For a moment, even Ye Shaoying turned his gaze outward. There, upon the clouds, a handsome youth stood with hands clasped behind his back, serene and elegant.

“That’s… that wandering cultivator from beyond the heavens?”

“Why has he come here?”

Ye Shaoying recognized him. And as the youth seemed to sense his spiritual perception, he turned abruptly—smiling gently toward him.

In that instant, Ye Shaoying felt a chill of dread.

The visitor—bore ill intent!

——And indeed, it was so.

Outside the Sword Pavilion, Lü Yang gazed intensely at the mountain gate before him, eyes burning with greed that seemed to turn into roaring flames.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

In Jiangnan, True Lords remained hidden; the two peak Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Sword Pavilion—one departed, one gravely injured. The Pavilion now stood as an empty shell!

‘The Demon-Suppressing True Person refrains from slaughter because he has principles—he cannot bring himself to harm the Ye Family that gave him life, nor drag the innocent into his vendetta.’

‘I, however… do not.’