Chapter 375: A False Alarm
"Of course, I know of it."
Faced with Guang Ming’s inquiry, Lü Yang didn’t hesitate at all. He frowned and said, "That Immortal Spirit owes the Sword Pavilion karmic links. After reincarnating, it should have become a disciple of my Sword Pavilion."
"I was just about to kill it to grant it this opportunity."
As soon as he said this, the kindly smile on Guang Ming’s face froze.
’A Sword Species from the Sword Pavilion...’
Thinking of this, Guang Ming scrutinized Lü Yang, while Lü Yang, relying on his extensive experience dealing with Ang Xiao, kept his expression perfectly straight.
’What a joke. I’m not panicking at all.’
Because he had discovered that the Guang Ming before him was far less terrifying than he had imagined.
After all, Lü Yang had witnessed the Bhagavat’s personal arrival.
He could never forget that terrifying, despair-inducing pressure he felt even through the Centome.
Compared to that, Guang Ming was a far cry.
’The Buddha’s Son... and the Bhagavat don’t seem to be the same thing?’
Although he was also very strong, strong enough to crush him, he couldn’t stop him from killing himself!
’Although the Bhagavat’s true form might descend, just like that time Overseas, it takes time for the Bhagavat to arrive. Even if it’s just for an instant, by the time he finishes descending, I’ll have long since restarted!’
He couldn’t kill himself before purely because his Immortal Spirit Body had fallen into a trap of Heaven and Earth, and the influence was too great. Now that he had switched to his Sword Dao Avatar, the world was his oyster.
As long as he wasn’t facing a true Master of Dao, Lü Yang feared nothing!
Thus, he was full of confidence at this moment, meeting Guang Ming’s gaze without the slightest hint of guilt.
Suddenly, Guang Ming tilted his head slightly, looking at the Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata’s World Appearance behind him. An expression of listening appeared on his face. Lü Yang raised an eyebrow at this, because according to his Spiritual Perception, there was no exchange of Divine Sense between the two. It was as if Guang Ming was putting on a one-man show.
"...This humble monk understands."
Immediately after, Guang Ming suddenly nodded. He then looked at Lü Yang and, with a smile, took out the Heart-Binding Girdle again.
"Patron, I wonder if you would be willing to become this humble monk’s disciple?"
"Master, you’d best ask someone more worthy!"
Hearing this, Lü Yang’s heart trembled, but his face showed a fearless expression. He sneered, "I am a Direct Disciple of Sword Pavilion, part of the Leader of the Righteous Path. How could I possibly become your disciple?"
Guang Ming didn’t get angry. After all, he hadn’t truly wanted Lü Yang as his disciple. According to the revelation from the Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata’s World Appearance, his disciple was supposed to be the aforementioned Immortal Spirit. The reason he wanted Lü Yang to be his disciple was simply a scheme to substitute one for the other.
’My Karma with that Immortal Spirit has now been severed.’
’To reforge this Karma, the only way is to perform a switch between true and false: use a fake Immortal Spirit to slay the true Immortal Spirit, and then assume its Fate. The strength of a Master Sword Pavilion has always been formidable...’
Slaying an Immortal Spirit shouldn’t be a problem, right?
This was Guang Ming’s plan. There was also an unspoken point: his intuition told him something was off. Lü Yang’s appearance here was too much of a coincidence.
Although he hadn’t found any concrete issues, based on the principle of caution, getting rid of him was never the wrong choice.
"Patron, you are merely unwilling right now. You will be willing soon enough."
At this, Guang Ming immediately began chanting a scripture. The Heart-Binding Girdle in his hands once again bloomed with a splendid light, showing signs of descending upon Lü Yang.
CLANG! CLANG!
Faced with this scene, Lü Yang was fearless. He drew his sword directly. Empowered by Sword Heart Clarity, a magnificent Sword Qi instantly shot towards the heavens.
"Hm? This is..."
Seeing this, Guang Ming’s expression froze. "A Sword Cultivator?"
The Heart-Binding Girdle, which was about to ensnare Lü Yang, abruptly halted its descent. Guang Ming’s brows knitted, revealing a hint of difficulty.
Within the Sword Pavilion, Sword Cultivators were the most special.
Because every Sword Cultivator was, in theory, material for the Sword Pavilion to fill a Fruit of Sword Dao. And as material, they clearly had an owner.
This was one of the sources of Lü Yang’s confidence.
’I’ve got connections upstairs!’
If his connection to the Immortal Spirit had been confirmed, there would have been nothing more to say. Guang Ming would have acted without hesitation, suppressing Lü Yang directly.
But now, as an innocent Sword Cultivator, he was essentially talent hand-picked by the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord—the kind who had offered incense to the ancestors in the Reception Hall. Under these circumstances, Guang Ming, and even the Bhagavat behind him, had to reconsider whether to continue attacking him.
Because doing so was tantamount to snatching someone from the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord.
"...Amitabha."
After a moment of silence, Guang Ming stopped casting his spell. He recited a Buddha’s Name, then retracted the Heart-Binding Girdle. It wasn’t that he was scared, just that it wasn’t necessary.
Seeing this, Lü Yang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, he made a rough estimate of Guang Ming’s condition. In his opinion, Guang Ming’s strength was most likely at the level of Foundation Establishment Perfection.
And it mainly relied on the Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata’s World Appearance behind him.
Guang Ming’s own Cultivation and life seemed to be completely entrusted to this Dharma Appearance; the two were inseparable. This was the key to his current strength.
If not for this, even with the Bhagavat’s Mighty Power personally ’logging into the account’ to cultivate, it would have been impossible to make Guang Ming—a Qi Refining Novice Monk who wasn’t even considered a person—suddenly ascend to the heavens in a mere ten years. For him to become the esteemed Buddha’s Son of today, one could only say that the Pure Land Buddhist Cultivators were just too damn broken...
Thinking of this, Lü Yang’s heart, which had just relaxed, tensed up again.
’...Something’s not right.’
Lü Yang looked over and saw a thoughtful expression on Guang Ming’s face. The Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata’s World Appearance behind him showed no signs of being put away.
’What is he trying to do?’
The next second, Guang Ming shook his head and pressed his palms together. His face still wore a compassionate smile, but his eyes revealed an indifferent killing intent.
He had already made up his mind: it was better to kill the wrong person than to let one slip by!
This was the Bhagavat’s style, and also Guang Ming’s character. Although it was inconvenient to grant Enlightenment, since doubt had arisen, it was better to just kill him!
Seeing this, Lü Yang had no choice but to hold his sword at his chest.
In the next second, a tangible, sharp Sword Qi began to emanate from his body. All his Qi and Merit gathered onto his sword at this very moment.
This was another source of Lü Yang’s confidence.
’Life-taking!’
Sword Dao Avatar, the fourth profound mystery of his Innate Ability!
This was the Sword of Mutual Destruction, a strike that offered up one’s life to be unleashed. First, it kills me, then it kills the enemy. In essence, it was a Dharma Gate of sacrifice to the Fruit of Sword Dao.
When a Sword Cultivator used this strike, they were sacrificing all of their life and cultivation to the Fruit of Sword Dao in exchange for a single, incomparably powerful sword strike. This was also why the Sword Cultivators of the Sword Pavilion always made others wary. With this strike, even if they couldn’t win, they could take one down with them.
In a word: broken!
But for Lü Yang, the key wasn’t the power of this strike, but its effect... severing one’s life. It could be called a guaranteed suicide move!
Below the level of a Perfected Lord, no one could stop it.
And above the level of a Perfected Lord... in terms of background, this strike was an offering to the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord.
Who would dare to stop it?
Besides, Lü Yang’s timing in using this strike was perfect. Guang Ming had moved to kill him first, and only then did he resort to this desperate gamble. No matter how you looked at it, it was completely reasonable.
’Centome...’
Lü Yang’s Heart Thought stirred, and he was about to unleash this Life-taking strike.
But just then, TWANG—!
A clear sword cry suddenly rang out between Heaven and Earth, accompanied by an urgent shout that reached Lü Yang’s ears: "Stop! Don’t be so quick to use it!"
Hearing this, Lü Yang’s movements paused. He recognized the newcomer’s voice.
The Life-taking strike, which he was about to unleash, faltered slightly and froze in place.
However, since this strike had already been gathered, unless he actively dispelled it, no one could stop him from killing himself. So he wasn’t worried.
’Is there another way out of this?’
In the next second, a figure tore through the air and broke through the space between Guang Ming and Lü Yang, shielding him securely with a broad back.
After seeing the other person, Lü Yang was truly stunned.
"...Master?"
It was the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected!