Chapter 439: Severing Karma, Not Slaying Men!

【Ang Xiao】’s voice had barely fallen when Lü Yang reacted.

‘He misunderstood!’

This was beyond Lü Yang’s expectations—he had never thought that 【Ang Xiao】, through some strange twist of logic, would actually mistake him for Hong Yun.

However, that did not stop Lü Yang from reacting.

His expression shifted—light and shadow alternating—before he finally let out a long sigh and looked at 【Ang Xiao】.

“I do not know how Senior managed to see through it.”

“Very simple.”

【Ang Xiao】 smiled slightly. “All things under heaven have their causes and roots. How could a mighty cultivator appear out of thin air without reason?”

“In the past, when Chong Guang took away the True Lords of the world, you, Hong Yun, were not among them. By the methods of a True Lord’s reincarnation, you should have already re-challenged 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 long ago. For that, I had even prepared many means, yet you vanished as though evaporated from the mortal realm, disappearing for thirty years.”

“I almost thought you were dead.”

“And by no coincidence, the Daoist friend who once played chess with me at the 【Southern Heavenly Gate】 also disappeared mysteriously from this world along with you, Hong Yun.”

“Until many years later, that Daoist friend suddenly appeared once more—”

“An outsider from beyond the heavens. Truly interesting.”

As he said this, 【Ang Xiao】’s eyes shone with intrigue. “Though you conceal yourself well, I have fought you many times. I know your depths.”

“The metallic nature of your essence may be hidden from others—”

“But in my eyes, it cannot be concealed.”

【Ang Xiao】’s words were spoken with utter certainty. Lü Yang narrowed his eyes slightly, realization dawning.

‘So that’s it—it’s because of Hong Yun’s metallic nature.’

【Ang Xiao】 had sensed Hong Yun’s metal nature!

If all else had only been circumstantial, that metallic essence was solid proof. After all, who could have expected that Hong Yun, fresh from reincarnation, would be slain by his own blocked spring water?

At that thought, Lü Yang decided to remain silent.

The more one said, the more one erred.

At such times, silence was the mark of a master.

On the other side, 【Ang Xiao】 saw Lü Yang’s lack of response and shook his head.

“Why must Daoist Friend fear me as though I were a tiger? You and I share no conflict anymore.”

“After all, I see that you have abandoned 【Overturning Lamp Fire】 and instead seek a Fruitional Rank beyond the heavens. You had mingled in the Sword Pavilion before—was it because you were interested in the 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】? I see now that I underestimated you before. To dare let go and choose anew—indeed worthy of a Heaven’s favored son. Only, your fortune seems always a bit lacking…”

In that instant, clarity dawned in Lü Yang’s heart.

From 【Ang Xiao】’s words, he keenly noticed something:

‘He thinks my goal lies in the 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】, yet he says my luck is poor… that means he doesn’t believe it can truly be achieved?’

‘Why not?’

After pondering for a while, Lü Yang finally spoke in a low voice,

“Senior believes that I cannot attain the 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】?”

【Ang Xiao】 took it as natural and chuckled lightly.

“How could you? Today, the Pure Land will fall into great chaos. That so-called 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】 is nothing but a reflection of the moon in the water!”

At that, Lü Yang’s thoughts spun rapidly, and he replied solemnly,

“The Pure Land has planned for years. The Demon-Suppressing True Person is now within their snare. In my view, the 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】 is already within grasp—how could it be a moon in the water?”

He even showed a trace of unwillingness, perfectly reinforcing 【Ang Xiao】’s misconception—that “Hong Yun” simply refused to believe his judgment.

Meanwhile, 【Ang Xiao】 was pondering inwardly:

‘That Pure Land Bodhisattva clearly harbors ill intentions. Cooperation with him leads nowhere. This Hong Yun, however, is far more capable than I imagined—and he walks alone, easy to sway. Now that there is no longer a struggle of Dao paths between us, recruiting him could prove quite useful.’

At that thought, 【Ang Xiao】 smiled.

“If the World-Honored One himself were overseeing matters, there would be no doubt of success. But the Bodhisattva is not the World-Honored One. The Pure Land is far too naïve.”

Lü Yang raised a brow. “Naïve?”

“Indeed.”

【Ang Xiao】 shook his head, speaking words that left Lü Yang deeply astonished.

“The Pure Land gravely underestimates that Demon-Suppressing True Person.”

Underestimate the Demon-Suppressing True Person?

What did that mean?

Lü Yang’s Sword-Dao clone was at this moment beside the Demon-Suppressing True Person himself—he knew that one’s situation better than anyone. It was truly desperate, surrounded on all sides.

Could there still be a reversal?

Seeing Lü Yang’s confusion, 【Ang Xiao】 merely smiled faintly.

As a fellow member of the Saint Sect, he understood best what those so-called “good-natured people” were like. The better their reputation, the sharper their strike. It only meant they were holding something vicious deep inside!

“Boom!”

Within the Pure Land, inside the Shengyi Shengming Temple, Bodhisattva Guang Ming suddenly stood.

Behind him, the towering golden Buddha statue slowly opened its palm.

In that instant, boundless golden light emanated from the Buddha’s full hand, manifesting myriad visions—Tianjing Yulei, the Golden City of Dragons, ministers in counsel, armies of gold and iron—displaying the endless facets of the mortal world, a divine kingdom cradled upon the Buddha’s palm, constantly transforming.

‘Hiss—!’

Seeing this, Lü Yang felt as though struck by thunder. His Sea of Consciousness surged with crashing waves, and an uncontrollable greed welled up from within.

‘That is 【City-Head Earth】!’

The only Fruitional Rank in the world imprisoned in one place—the very core of the Pure Land’s 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】—was now being held upon Guang Ming’s palm!

‘So that’s how it is…’

At such a close distance, Lü Yang could already discern certain details.

‘【City-Head Earth】 is a nation-establishing treasure—it governs human hearts, yet is also bound by them. The Pure Land, relying on the unity of countless monks, forcibly locked it within Jiangxi. In such a state, none but a Buddhist cultivator can attain that Fruitional Rank.’

‘…But why now?’

Watching Bodhisattva Guang Ming suddenly reveal 【City-Head Earth】 and unleash its might, Lü Yang immediately sensed that something had changed.

‘Why bring it out at this time? Are they trying to activate the 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】?’

‘Perhaps they have sensed danger—fearful of delays giving rise to new troubles?’

As that thought crossed his mind, Lü Yang turned to the side.

And there, for the first time since entering the Pure Land, the Demon-Suppressing True Person—who had been silent all along—slowly stood and spoke his first words.

“Listen now to the cry of my sword.”

Only when the words faded did Lü Yang realize they were not spoken to Guang Ming Bodhisattva or the monks—but to himself.

That single line deepened the unease swelling within Guang Ming Bodhisattva’s heart.

Something was wrong—terribly wrong!

“How could this be?”

“Clang! Clang!”

The next moment, a clear sword-hum rang out from the Demon-Suppressing True Person, rising higher and higher until it drowned even the resounding bells of the Pure Land.

“You intend to unleash a massacre?”

Guang Ming Bodhisattva was briefly stunned, then exhaled in relief—this, at least, was within his expectations. The Demon-Suppressing True Person could kill as many as he pleased—it mattered little.

Yet the Demon-Suppressing True Person shook his head.

“I am not here to slay men today.”

【Sword of No Killing】—unsheathed.

He gazed calmly at Guang Ming Bodhisattva and spoke softly.

“The Buddhist cultivators of the Pure Land are of one heart—all puppets of the World-Honored One. You are such; so was my old friend. I have come today to save you all.”

“To save me?”

Guang Ming Bodhisattva was momentarily dumbfounded.

Then he saw it—a sword light spread outward from the Demon-Suppressing True Person, expanding swiftly in all directions.

Yet no one died where it passed.

“This sword—severs karma, not men!”

Crack!

A clear, continuous sound rang out.

It was the sound of “connections” being cut apart.

Guang Ming Bodhisattva’s head snapped up, terror flooding his eyes as he looked back at the 【Manifestation of Shengyi Shengming Heavenly World】 behind him.

At that instant, his bond with his Dharma Form was severed!

Not only his—all Arhats, novices, and monks present were cut off from something deep within.

Their faces went blank.

Where once all expressions, movements, and thoughts had been identical—of one mind—suddenly arose a thousand different emotions: terror, anger, fear, relief…

In a heartbeat, that pure Buddhist land became a storming red-dust world of mortal passion!