Chapter 445: Who Wishes to Battle Me?

Jiangxi, above the Pure Land.

【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】was clearly filled with utmost dread toward Lü Yang, already convinced in his heart that this so-called Hong Yun was a true True Lord of the Holy Sect.

Even Lü Yang himself could tell that although the other’s attitude appeared resolute, it was in truth a façade of weakness behind a show of strength. Naturally, the fundamental cause lay in his lack of power — 【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】was still confined to the Foundation Establishment level, utterly incomparable to a True Lord.

‘Buddha Kingdom on Earth.’

Lü Yang’s eyes brightened. With the power of 【Overturning Lamp Fire】empowering his sight, his gaze could pierce through countless veils of secrecy and see past the dense layers of Buddha Light before him.

“You!”

There was a trace of anger in the voice of 【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】: “Even if you are a True Lord, you cannot act so rudely within my Pure Land.”

“To pry into the secrets of the Buddha Kingdom — do you wish to tear all pretense apart?”

A grand and solemn Buddha chant resonated, stirring the 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】to resist Lü Yang’s probing. Such power, on the Foundation Establishment level, was already nearly invincible.

Unfortunately, his opponent had long surpassed this realm entirely. Lü Yang did not even need to mobilize his mana — with but a thought, the entire 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】froze in place, while 【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】stiffened where he stood. The next moment, his entire body ignited into blazing flame.

“Hu.”

Lü Yang puckered his lips and blew gently. Instantly, that majestic Dharma Image seemed to suffer a thousand cuts, exploding into a myriad streams of light upon the spot.

‘The difference is too vast.’

Having cultivated across many lifetimes, Lü Yang once again experienced the same feeling as when he, with only a Qi-Refining body, first faced a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Though the two belonged to the same species, they were as far apart as clouds and mud.

Lü Yang extended a hand and beckoned. Instantly, three golden natures descended one after another into his palm — they were those of Evil-Banishing True Person, King of Southern Suppression Wu Taian, and 【Shengyi Shengming Tathāgata World-Manifesting Aspect】. Added to that was the golden nature of Immortal Spirit Shang Zhang, totaling four Golden Talents!

At this thought, Lü Yang turned his gaze.

The next instant, the sole surviving True Person of the Holy Sect, Xiang Ye, swallowed nervously, then, without hesitation, opened his Sea of Consciousness.

“Junior Xiang Ye greets the True Lord of Heavenly Fortune and Radiant Light!”

Before his words even fell, Xiang Ye had already presented his own golden nature voluntarily, saying reverently, “This is the golden nature cultivated by this junior for the True Lord’s cultivation. May the True Lord accept it with a smile.”

Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction.

As expected, the True Persons of the Holy Sect were truly sensible!

“Do not worry — I am no slaughter-loving man.” Lü Yang chuckled softly. He did not take Xiang Ye’s entire golden nature, only a sliver.

That would suffice for the settlement of the 【Book of a Hundred Lives】.

After doing all this, he finally looked toward Xiang Ye and said indifferently, “Now only you remain. Why are you still standing there? Go and continue your quest for Gold.”

“.Ah?”

Hearing this, Xiang Ye was utterly stunned.

To be honest, ever since Lü Yang appeared in the form of a True Lord, he had given up all hope of attaining Gold; never had he expected Lü Yang to actually allow it!

‘Is there a trap?’

That was Xiang Ye’s first thought, yet as he looked at Lü Yang’s calm, smiling face, realization quickly dawned upon him.

‘The arrow is nocked — there is no turning back!’

Whether trap or not, he had no choice but to proceed!

“Your subordinate obeys!”

Decisive by nature, Xiang Ye banished all hesitation in a single thought and focused entirely on attuning himself to the Fruition Position.

In the next moment, the sound of rippling water arose from his body. Clear and crystalline light spread outward from him, like an endless cold spring — pure, inexhaustible — until a scene of a blessed paradise emerged, within which there was a well of spring water. Hundreds of families carved from it to drink together, and tens of thousands of people relied upon it for their livelihood.

【Spring Well Water】!

This was the Fruition Position Xiang Ye sought to attain. Fixing his gaze upon that blessed land, he immediately soared upward to claim the supreme rank of Heaven and Earth!

Lü Yang observed calmly from the side.

From beginning to end, his expression remained tranquil. Though after reclaiming his Immortal Spirit Body he already possessed the qualification to seek the 【Pomegranate Wood】, he made no attempt.

‘Because under the False Golden Fruition Method, I cannot seek Gold.’

To pursue 【Pomegranate Wood】, he would need to leave the false golden state. Yet in the current situation, once he withdrew, it would be courting death.

‘Moreover, this 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】... the pit is deep indeed!’

The reason was simple — this very 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】contained within it 【White Wax Gold】, and 【White Wax Gold】was the destined possession of 【Ang Xiao】!

‘This is a fundamental Dao conflict. Naturally, 【Ang Xiao】would never allow 【White Wax Gold】to fall into the hands of the Pure Land’s 【Buddha Kingdom on Earth】. He will surely take action. Since that’s the case, if I try to seize the 【Buddha Kingdom】myself, I’d only give him the perfect chance to strike. Better to find a scapegoat to block the spear.’

And besides—

‘I suspected before that the ownership of a Heavenly Fruition might not lie in the hands of the True Lords themselves. In other words, after my reset, I might not be able to take it with me.’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

That was truly troublesome.

If the Fruition could not be carried over, what meaning was there in seizing it?

Thus, including 【City Wall Earth】, Lü Yang cared little. In his eyes, the thing of real value was the Sword Dao left behind by Demon-Suppressing True Person.

‘Because the 【Sword Dao Fruitional Rank】is unlike all others — it was established in emptiness by the Demon-Suppressing True Person himself. It is, in the truest sense, an ownerless Fruition. If I can obtain it and then reset, I can likely carry it away together with the 【Seven Luminaries Heaven】! That would be the true priceless treasure!’

At that thought, Lü Yang suddenly lifted his head, sensing something.

‘So, you finally couldn’t hold back any longer.’

“Boom—!”

In the firmament above, the star representing 【Wall Earth】shone to its utmost brilliance, and a heaven-shaking sound erupted across the skies.

Then, from within the star’s radiance, a figure stepped forth.

His entire body was enveloped in clear brilliance. His silhouette appeared as that of a youth in his prime, and even the aura leaking from him caused the Four Realms beneath Heaven to tremble in resonance!

【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】!

At this moment, this Sword Pavilion True Lord did not seem like one who had paid the heavy price of burning his Cave Heaven to descend into the world. His spiritual power was still overwhelmingly strong.

Across the land, every Foundation Establishment True Person cultivating 【Wall Earth】felt the resonance and shuddered in awe!

This was the suppression of the Dao Lineage — as the True Lord of 【Wall Earth】, his authority over all True Persons under that lineage was as absolute as an emperor’s power over commoners!

Beneath that pure light, a pair of sword-like eyes opened.

【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】had a clear target. Upon his appearance, his deep gaze immediately locked upon Lü Yang, as if seeking to see through his very essence.

Yet this was not the end.

Almost at the same time, another star above Jiangxi’s sky flared to life — no dimmer than the one representing 【Wall Earth】!

From within that brilliance, another figure emerged.

Her posture was graceful, and just like 【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】, she too was an old acquaintance of Lü Yang — none other than the Bodhisattva of Vase and Water Moon of the Pure Land!

“Amitābha.”

In that instant, Heaven and Earth fell silent.

【True Lord Cheng Tian Zheng De】, 【Bodhisattva of Vase and Water Moon】.

Two True Lords fixed their gazes upon Lü Yang simultaneously — their eyes cold and transcendent, devoid of all mortal emotion.

Yet facing the stares of two True Lords, Lü Yang merely smiled faintly.

His tone was calm, without the slightest trace of panic, holding only the eagerness of one whose “Great Wish has finally been fulfilled,” as though he had long awaited this moment.

“Who wishes to battle me?”