Chapter 441: The Time Has Come, Wipe Them All Out!

“Boom!”

As the figure of the Demon-Suppressing True Person vanished, a radiance that pierced through heaven and earth shot straight into the sky, enveloping all of Jiangxi in a magnificent golden glow.

“Amitābha.”

Within the Great Hero Hall, a single Buddhist chant echoed. The majestic 【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】 revealed an expression of urgency.

【Chengtou Soil】 was out of control.

The unity of the Pure Land had been shattered, and the seal used to suppress 【Chengtou Soil】 wavered as a result. That supreme Fruitional Position was now about to escape from the Pure Land!

‘At this point... I can only seek fortune in danger.’

With that thought, 【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】 decisively stopped wasting effort suppressing the rampage of 【Chengtou Soil】. Instead, he turned to the nearby Evil-Banishing True Person. With a thought, a thread of Buddhist fate descended upon the sword pavilion True Person who now looked half-dead.

‘Emergency calls for expediency, there's no other way.’

Almost at the same time, King of Southern Suppression Wu Taian from the Dao Court appeared by his side. Along with Evil-Banishing True Person, that made two disciples now gathered.

‘Forcefully activate the 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】!’

‘Even if 【Chengtou Soil】 loses control, it doesn't matter. As long as I, a Buddhist cultivator, ultimately attain 【Chengtou Soil】, the result will not change!’

What was the Buddha Kingdom on Earth?

As the name suggested, it was essentially a 【Buddha Kingdom】 akin in nature to the 【Netherworld】, founded upon the earth-element supreme Fruitional Position of 【Chengtou Soil】.

The reason for accepting four disciples into the ritual was to have them seek the gold and draw in the other four elemental Fruitional Positions to complete the five phases, with the Buddhist cultivators presiding over the 【Buddha Kingdom】. Supplemented by the secret method passed down by the World-Honored One, the aim was to achieve the effect of a “false Dao Lord status.”

Originally, everything had been planned to perfection.

With unity of all under the Pure Land, only Buddhist cultivators could control 【Chengtou Soil】. Only through it could the final established 【Buddha Kingdom】 be ruled.

But now, things were different.

【Chengtou Soil】 lost control, the 【Buddha Kingdom】 was without a master, and endless variables arose instantly. A single misstep, and the Pure Land might end up handing everything over to outsiders!

—At the same time, in Jiangnan, at the Sword Pavilion.

“Daoist Friend Hong Yun, what do you think?”

【Ang Xiao】 withdrew his gaze, and said with a light laugh, “I said long ago, that so-called 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】 is nothing more than the moon in water, a flower in the mirror.”

Despite his words, his face was full of admiration. Though he had expected the Demon-Suppressing True Person to have a contingency plan, the final setup still impressed him greatly. “With Foundation Establishment cultivation, this person has reached the absolute limit. He has practically pushed the Sword Pavilion and Pure Land into becoming mortal enemies.”

“There’s going to be a good show now.”

At that point, 【Ang Xiao】 wore a face full of interest. “What righteous path? In the end, aren’t they just like our Saint Sect—biting each other for profit?”

He clearly understood the Pure Land’s intentions.

By forcefully activating the ritual of the 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】, they were gambling to raise a True Lord. Then the True Lord could sever the 【Sword Dao】 and reverse the desperate situation.

As for the Sword Pavilion, they clearly had the same idea...

“Boom!”

In the next instant, Lü Yang looked up to the sky, only to see the previously dimmed 【Wall Earth】 shine brightly once more, gazing downward piercingly.

Unlike the Sword Pavilion, the Pure Land at least had the ritual of the 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】 to try for the gold and make a gamble. But the Sword Pavilion now had no Golden Core seed—no one could ascend. So the only ones who could act were the True Lords still hidden from the world!

Seeing this, 【Ang Xiao】 immediately laughed, “They’re desperate!”

Indeed, the Sword Pavilion was panicking!

If they truly allowed the Pure Land to sever the 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】, then all the Sword Pavilion's years of planning would be for naught. They would have to start over from scratch.

How could that be allowed?

Witnessing this, Lü Yang couldn't help but marvel at how masterful the Demon-Suppressing True Person’s calculation had been—he had accounted for nearly everyone.

‘Rescuing people was just secondary!’

‘Given the condition of the Sword Pavilion’s True Lords, if they must send one down by force, burning their cave heavens, only one candidate exists...’

【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】!

Because this True Lord was already near the end of his life and had the lowest cultivation, now was the time for sacrifice. This was about the great cause of the Sword Pavilion. If not him, then who?

And once 【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】 forcefully descended to the mortal realm, regardless of the outcome, he would not live long. In other words, the Demon-Suppressing True Person, through this elaborate scheme, had indirectly killed the True Lord who once blocked his path to the Dao! And perhaps even made the Pure Land bear a grudge against him in the process!

One layer after another!

Even better, regardless of whether the Pure Land or the Sword Pavilion emerged victorious, the Demon-Suppressing True Person would not lose. At least part of his goals would be fulfilled.

If the Pure Land won, and the 【Sword Dao】 was destroyed, he would have avenged the Sword Pavilion’s manipulation of his life.

If the Sword Pavilion won, and the Pure Land lost its unity forever, he would have saved countless Buddhist cultivators—his goal in life achieved.

‘In this situation, unless a Dao Lord intervenes... there’s no solution!’

At that thought, Lü Yang looked skyward, a trace of anticipation on his face.

‘Unity is the foundation of the Pure Land; 【Sword Dao】 is the Sword Pavilion’s lifelong pursuit. Logically, neither Dao Lord should stand by and do nothing...’

Would the Dao Lords act?

If they truly did, then even dying would be worth the price of admission!

“Daoist Friend, best not to overthink.”

On the other side, 【Ang Xiao】 clearly guessed Lü Yang’s thoughts and chuckled, “This incident is serious, but it hasn’t touched the Dao Lords’ bottom line.”

It hasn’t?

Faced with Lü Yang’s questioning gaze, 【Ang Xiao】 shook his head, “Indeed, not yet. To the Dao Lords, their only bottom line is this heaven and earth itself.”

At that point, 【Ang Xiao】 grew evasive and decisively changed the topic, “Now that things have developed this far, what do you plan to do, Daoist Friend? Still planning to wade into this muddy water? You might as well follow me into the 【Netherworld】. I can arrange a Fruitional Position for you there...”

Lü Yang immediately looked tempted. “Are you serious?”

【Ang Xiao】 nodded with a smile, “Dead serious.”

‘Bullshit!’

You think I don’t know? In the previous life, you said the same things, made grand promises to me and the Dragon Clan—but in reality, what Fruitional Position could you possibly offer in the 【Netherworld】?

Recruitment was a lie—tricking people into becoming fighters was the truth!

With that realization, Lü Yang instantly gave up on further probing or chatting with 【Ang Xiao】. At this point, there was no need.

Lü Yang rose with a flick of his sleeve.

“Hmm?”

That single motion made 【Ang Xiao】 instantly feel something was off. He furrowed his brows instinctively, sensing a subtle shift in Lü Yang’s energy.

‘What is he trying to do?’

【Ang Xiao】 quickly scanned the current state of affairs.

【Chengtou Soil】 was out of control, the Pure Land had forcefully activated the 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】 ritual, and all Foundation Establishment cultivators capable of seeking the gold were sure to flock to Jiangxi.

At the same time, the Sword Pavilion might force a True Lord to descend.

In this situation, what could Lü Yang possibly intend to do?

What could he even accomplish?

At that very moment, countless guesses raced through 【Ang Xiao】’s mind—only to be dismissed one by one. Little did he know, Lü Yang’s thoughts were, in fact, incredibly simple:

‘If the Dao Lords really won’t act, what is there to fear?’

‘【Chengtou Soil】 and 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】 are both worth a gamble. Seize one and it’s a profit. Seize both, and I can reboot this life entirely!’

The time had come!

Fake the Golden Position—wipe them all out in one sweep!