Chapter 126: Seeking the Opportunity

Above the vast plain, countless Qi-Eating Insects surged forward in waves, numbering in the millions, their combined shriek shaking the heavens like a thunderclap.

More importantly, these Qi-Eating Insects exerted a certain suppression over the Banner of Ten Thousand Spirits.

For the Banner of Ten Thousand Spirits could not transform these Qi-Eating Insects into Banner Spirits!

"No souls, then?"

High above the sky, Lu Yang regulated his breath while projecting his divine sense to survey the entire battlefield: "The Qi-Eating Insects that truly possess souls are likely only one."

A hint of regret crossed Lu Yang's face; after all, he had originally intended to use the Qi-Eating Insects to fill the Banner of Ten Thousand Spirits, gathering several million of them to serve as a formidable tactic against enemies, but now it seemed there would be no chance unless he could subdue the Insect King hiding in the shadows.

"Have you found its location?"

Before Lu Yang's words had fully faded, a helpless sigh reached his ears: "Sorry... these insects came only to die; there is no way to trace their source."

The speaker was Xu Xin.

He had planned to use the Qi-Tracking Method to implant a Qi-Link within one of the demon insects, so that when it returned to report to the Insect King, he could follow its trail.

Alas, these insects came only to die, with no thought of returning.

Meanwhile, the voice of the Serpent Daoist also reached them: "The scent of blood is too strong; it interferes with my sense of smell. I fear it will be difficult to locate the enemy."

After a short while, Bi Feiyuan finally relayed news:

"I do have some sensation."

"It should be a Dao Court cultivator observing me from the shadows, but the distance is far too great; I cannot sense the exact location, only a general area."

Immediately afterward, a strand of spiritual sense floated upward.

Lu Yang swept his divine sense over it, read its contents, and instantly locked onto a region spanning tens of thousands of li; however, this range was still too vast.

He needed something more precise.

"Fortunately, the search area has already shrunk significantly."

With this thought, Lu Yang immediately retrieved the Eight Trigrams Disc given to him by Chongming, circulated his magic power, and began silently calculating the causal connections within this region.

Yet the result was unsatisfactory.

Even though Lu Yang had asked Su Nu to reinforce it with the Foundation Establishment rank, he could only barely shrink the original area of tens of thousands of li down to a range of ten thousand li.

"Do you want to try?"

Lu Yang glanced at the Blood Sun Sword Pill in his hand, which still concealed a great killing technique he had been accumulating for a long time, his trump card for deciding the outcome.

According to his estimate, if Su Nu reinforced it to the full extent of the Foundation Establishment rank and he unleashed this great technique, its strike range could reach five thousand li; however, he currently possessed only a single strike. If he threw it out now, it would be a gamble on luck; if he lost, numerous variables would arise.

Just as Lu Yang hesitated, a voice suddenly rang out:

"I succeeded!"

It was Qin Tianhe.

The next second, a strand of spiritual sense arrived; Lu Yang, high above the sky, immediately followed the connection of the spiritual sense and located the target within the previously marked range of ten thousand li.

"Well done."

As his words fell, a crisp explosion sounded from the Blood Sun Sword Pill in Lu Yang's hand; it then shattered inch by inch, with radiance like a solar corona shining through the cracks.

Not long ago, at the Dao Court's hiding place.

"Daoist Wang, I accepted the Dao Court's invitation to participate in the Struggle for the Dao to clash with the Mo Sect, not to cower here and waste time!"

"Immortal Miaozhen, do not be angered."

Facing the handsome woman before him who glared at him with dissatisfaction on her face, Wang Jinting could only offer a bitter smile: "The demon is cunning; a Foundation Establishment True Person has arrived."

"Impossible!"

Yun Miaozhen shook her head without hesitation: "A Foundation Establishment True Person cannot enter; perhaps the opponent possesses a rank, but they certainly cannot be a Foundation Establishment True Person."

These rigid sword madmen!

Wang Jinting cursed inwardly; although the Dao Court was strictly speaking aligned with the Righteous Path just like the Yushu Yushu Jiange, it still harbored apprehension toward the Yushu Jiange.

Within the Dao Court, they even bluntly referred to the disciples of the Yushu Jiange as "sword madmen."

This was not because the disciples of the Yushu Yushu Jiange were all obsessed with the Sword Dao and mad for swords, but because the Dao Court deemed them a group of madmen who merely played with swords!

Even the demons of the Initial Saint Sect, though sinister and cunning, could still be reasoned with regarding interests; however, the Yushu Yushu Jiange was entirely different; they had their own logic, and no matter what you said to them, you could only follow their logic; if you could not, they would draw their swords against you.

Such was the case now.

In Yun Miaozhen's view, a Foundation Establishment True Person could not participate in the Qi-Cultivation level Struggle for the Dao, so the opponent, no matter what, could not be a Foundation Establishment True Person.

But in Wang Jinting's view, facts speak louder than arguments.

Even if Lu Yang truly was not a Foundation Establishment True Person, considering the combat power he displayed when annihilating the Pure Land Buddhist practitioners, what difference did it make? Both were insurmountable!

Yet Yun Miaozhen did not think so.

She was the outstanding figure among the true transmissions of the Yushu Jiange of this generation; now at the peak of Qi-Cultivation, having cultivated a great technique, she was only one step away from becoming a Foundation Establishment True Person.

Even the Zhang Sect of the Yushu Jiange had once praised her, believing her future was promising.

The reason she participated in the Struggle for the Dao as an external aid was specifically to slay demons and cultivate an invincible sword heart, thereby breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm.

Therefore, a sense of pride always dwelt in her heart.

As long as the enemy was not a Foundation Establishment True Person, she was confident she could fight them; sword cultivators would rather break than bend; even if she truly was not their match, she must have the courage to draw her sword.

How could she forever cower and hide?

If this continued, her thoughts would not be clear!

Thinking thus, a trace of killing intent appeared in Yun Miaozhen's gaze toward Wang Jinting; to obstruct her thoughts from becoming clear was to obstruct her Great Dao.

And to obstruct her Great Dao, even if both were of the Righteous Path, what of it? To cultivate an invincible sword heart, one naturally must have the resolve to sever everything; how could one be bound by mere names? Even parents, children, and sisters could be killed! It would be fitting to settle the karmic debts of this life and prove a sword heart of perfect clarity!

"Immortal Miaozhen, please calm down."

Seeing Yun Miaozhen's expression change slightly, Wang Jinting immediately felt a chill and hurriedly said: "I was just about to visit a Pure Land companion."

"He should know the demon's background."

"Why not have the Immortal accompany me to speak with that Pure Land companion first to understand the situation; when the Immortal wishes to fight the demon, I will certainly not obstruct you."

Upon hearing this, Yun Miaozhen lowered her eyelids, suppressed her killing intent, and nodded slightly: "Very well."

Wang Jinting finally breathed a sigh of relief, then walked out of their hiding place together with Yun Miaozhen. In a short while, a bald head appeared in the crowd before their eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Jinting immediately put on a look of sorrow, stepped forward, and said, "Fellow Daoist... Alas, we have also heard of the Pure Land's affairs; it is truly heartbreaking."

He had originally thought that since the other had escaped death, he would surely look wretched, with a heart dead from despair.

Yet who could have imagined that at the very moment he saw Wang Jinting appear, that Pure Land Buddhist practitioner who had escaped death wore a face of wild joy, pointed at him, and shouted loudly:

"It's him! It is him!"

Seeing this, Wang Jinting was instantly stunned. Why would he react this way?

"Not good!"

In an instant, Wang Jinting had already reacted; while his figure retreated violently, he also drew out the 【Comprehensive Map of the Realm】 to check the changes in qi resonance on the map.

As long as the qi resonance of a Demon Head appeared, he would flee immediately!

Then he froze, even unconsciously rubbing his eyes.

For right there on the 【Comprehensive Map of the Realm】, centered on him, within a radius of five thousand li, there was nothing else left except a single qi resonance.

The next second, he raised his head.

Not only him, but all the Dao Court cultivators were now looking up, gazing into the distance, for from the depths of the boundless sea of clouds, a second sun had suddenly risen.

(End of this chapter)