novelapdf Chapter 424 : The Grand Show Begins
Chapter 424 : The Grand Show Begins
Sword Pavilion, Extreme Heaven Cliff.This place was the highest peak in Jiangnan—above, one could gaze upon the sun, moon, and stars; below, overlook the vast rivers and mountains. When the eyes leveled, what entered one’s view was a boundless spectacle of clouds rolling and unfurling in majestic grandeur.
Lü Yang rode a stream of light to the cliff’s summit. At a glance, he saw the Demon-Suppressing True Person, sitting cross-legged right on the edge of the precipice. Though he revealed not the slightest trace of spiritual power, he still outshone all the radiance between Heaven and Earth; the winds and clouds around him gathered of their own accord, as if bowing to his presence.
‘What tremendous fate.’
By now, the fortune of this Number One Sword Cultivator under Heaven had grown so vast that even a mortal below Foundation Establishment could see it with the naked eye.
“Has it been accomplished?”
The next moment, the tranquil voice of the Demon-Suppressing True Person drifted through the air. Lü Yang did not dare to delay and hurriedly replied, “Thanks to Master’s guidance, this disciple has already attained the transmitted Sword Art.”
“What is it called?”
Lü Yang did not hide it. “『Steel-Refining Dao-Feather Nirvana Sword Art』.”
The Demon-Suppressing True Person nodded in satisfaction before turning to glance at Lü Yang—his gaze still like that of a man examining fine leeks or a rare treasure.
“Master, I have an important matter to report!” Lü Yang clasped his hands and spoke quickly, “After completing the Sword Art, my sword intent rose another level, and my sense of spiritual resonance became exceedingly sharp. I vaguely detected a familiar aura of Buddhist cultivation in the direction of Piercing-Earth Abyss. I fear it may be the work of the Pure Land, and humbly ask Master to discern it.”
He did not speak the full truth.
After all, there was a method even to reporting others. What could a mere mid-Foundation True Person like him use to accuse Evil-Banishing True Person and Bodhisattva Guang Ming?
‘Better to let Demon-Suppressing investigate himself—it’s simpler that way.’
Through the Yun Family Ancestor, Lü Yang had confirmed that Evil-Banishing True Person and Bodhisattva Guang Ming were still within Piercing-Earth Abyss. As long as Demon-Suppressing True Person went to investigate, the culprits would surely be caught red-handed.
Yet, the answer he received was wholly unexpected.
“Oh.”
After hearing Lü Yang’s report, Demon-Suppressing True Person merely shook his head. “My time draws near. Let them be.”
Let them be?
Lü Yang’s eyes flickered. Only then did he realize that compared to decades ago, the Demon-Suppressing True Person had become increasingly detached from worldly affairs—sitting in silence atop Extreme Heaven Cliff.
Once, he had several attendants from the Ye Family to serve him. Yet now, when Lü Yang returned, the vast cliff-top was deserted. The man sat alone, robes fluttering, his humble, unadorned figure utterly unlike a direct heir of the Ye Clan—a Golden Core family of the Sword Pavilion.
‘That won’t do.’
Lü Yang grew alert. According to what he knew, this time Ang Xiao and Bodhisattva Guang Ming were cooperating—using Evil-Banishing True Person to strike at Demon-Suppressing True Person.
Why had he reported it?
Revenge was only secondary. As a proper True Person of the Holy Sect, he never acted without gain. Why would he ever do something unprofitable?
‘If I don’t report it, Demon-Suppressing will have no preparation. Without preparation, when they fight to the death—how could I, the fisherman, reap the benefit? If I could seize the metallic essence of the Number One Sword Cultivator under Heaven, I’d earn a fortune!’
At this thought, Lü Yang quickly spoke again, even feigning anxiety. “Master, those Pure Land cultivators have entered our Sword Pavilion without permission. This disciple fears they may harm Master or myself.”
The Demon-Suppressing True Person looked at him once, then shook his head. “Do not worry.”
“Those monks came for me. No doubt they wish to calculate against me—it is only natural. Beneath the heavens, who does not wish to scheme against me?”
Clearly, he was already used to it.
At the same time, Lü Yang also understood the meaning behind those words. Indeed—under Heaven today, Demon-Suppressing True Person was everyone’s thorn in the eye.
Because he was the Number One.
And not the kind of “number one” raised upon the shoulders of the crowd—but a true, absolute first, leagues beyond the second!
‘Such deterrence, in this age, may not match a True Lord, yet the difference is not far. Even though I killed the Heavenly Jiao overseas and defeated Bodhisattva Guang Ming’s incarnation head-on, it’s still far inferior to this cheap Master of mine. The Number One under Heaven—the higher one stands, the more one deserves to die!’
Lü Yang admitted he had earned a fearsome reputation.
But so what?
Even so, Xiang Ye still dared to invite him to the Holy Sect—not because of fear, but because he had confidence of his own.
Yet, if it had been Demon-Suppressing True Person?
Would Xiang Ye dare invite him into Sky-Reaching Sea of Clouds? Most likely, the moment he approached, the entire place would be locked down under full alert!
‘Even within the Sword Pavilion itself...’
Lü Yang shook his head inwardly. Indeed, even the Sword Pavilion feared him. For Demon-Suppressing True Person’s ways were far too unorthodox.
No wonder he had shown no reaction upon hearing of a plot against him in collusion with the Pure Land. To him, such things were entirely natural. In fact, he might even think the opponents overly cautious for waiting until his final days to strike.
Just as Lü Yang pondered this, Demon-Suppressing True Person suddenly spoke. “Yan Xiao.”
“This disciple is here.”
Lü Yang looked up, only to see Demon-Suppressing True Person gazing at him. His eyes shone as if to speak further—but then he frowned.
“…Who?”
The Demon-Suppressing True Person’s gaze shifted, looking far beyond the Sword Pavilion. After a moment, Lü Yang’s divine sense faintly caught a distant commotion.
A second later, a figure streaked across the sky, riding a beam of light. Landing atop Extreme Heaven Cliff was none other than Ye Shaoying, head of the Ye Family. His face was tense, and as soon as he alighted, he looked toward Demon-Suppressing True Person and spoke in a low voice:
“Outside the Pavilion… a few reckless rogue cultivators have arrived.”
“Rogues?”
At those words, even Lü Yang was stunned. Since when had the itinerant cultivators of Jiangnan grown so bold as to approach the Sword Pavilion? Were they courting death?
Even Demon-Suppressing True Person seemed mildly surprised. “Rogue cultivators… why have they come?”
“They seek you, Master.”
Ye Shaoying carefully stole a glance at him before speaking quickly: “Their leader is the City Lord of Jimo City—Mo Shiyuan.”
At that, Demon-Suppressing True Person frowned.
Meanwhile, Lü Yang silently performed a divination and quickly grasped the situation.
Mo Shiyuan—the City Lord of Jimo City, one of Jiangnan’s rogue-cultivator sects—had for generations refined talismanic seals for the Sword Pavilion, supplying it with cultivation materials.
More importantly, he had past ties with Demon-Suppressing True Person.
This went back to the previous Pure Land Buddha Maiden, Jingguan. She had once descended upon Jiangnan to preach the Dharma, only to be slain and beheaded in three strikes by Demon-Suppressing True Person.
The fierce battle between the two arose because the former Jimo City had been forcibly converted by that Buddha Maiden against the will of its cultivators and common folk, provoking Demon-Suppressing True Person to act. In the end, Jimo City was annihilated—only one survivor remained.
That man was Mo Shiyuan.
Had it not been for Demon-Suppressing True Person, Mo Shiyuan’s entire clan would have been executed. In this life, vengeance would have been impossible. In fact, without him, Mo Shiyuan himself would have been forced to join the Pure Land as a monk.
From that perspective, Demon-Suppressing True Person had indeed saved him.
“…Let us meet him, then.”
The True Person’s eyes shifted slightly, but soon regained their calm. With a gesture, he beckoned Lü Yang to follow, and the two rode a stream of light out beyond the Sword Pavilion’s gate.
At the same time, within Piercing-Earth Abyss—
Evil-Banishing True Person and Bodhisattva Guang Ming sat facing one another. Between them lay a chessboard; black and white stones interlaced, locked in an intense and unyielding struggle.
“Pa!”
The next instant, Evil-Banishing True Person slammed a black stone onto one corner of the board, decisively sealing victory. His voice, calm yet edged with cold intent, echoed:
“—The show begins.”