Chapter 130: Are There Still Karmic Ties?

Jiangxi, Deep Bliss Pure Land.

In this land of supreme Zen, temples stood in great numbers; among them was a temple not particularly vast, yet radiant with Buddhist light and resonant with mighty bell chimes, above whose entrance hung a plaque bearing three large characters:

【Subduing Dragon Temple】

Pushing open the temple gates and entering the main hall, one could see a towering Golden Body of an Arhat standing tall; beneath the Golden Body lay a meditation cushion, upon which sat a handsome youth with red lips and white teeth, surrounded by a crowd of disciples who were either chanting sutras or holding ritual implements, conducting some sort of sacrificial ceremony.

Yet just at that moment, a sudden explosive roar echoed within the temple.

"Hmm?"

The youth with red lips and white teeth opened his eyes, revealing a hint of puzzlement: "Guang Hai and Guang Hui are both dead!? Only Guang Ming remains alive?"

His three most capable disciples had all been dispatched at the Bodhisattva's request to participate in the Dao-Seizing Battle; among them, Guang Hai possessed the highest cultivation, Guang Hui came second, and Guang Ming third, yet unexpectedly, now that the battle had concluded, it was the most mediocre Guang Ming who had survived.

However, very quickly, the Subduing Dragon Arhat's expression changed.

"This is... the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art'? No, it is the 【Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Subduing Dao Foundation】! Someone has actually achieved Foundation Establishment without my sensing it!?"

Thinking of this, the Subduing Dragon Arhat's expression instantly turned extremely gloomy.

Although he had created the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art', the 【Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Subduing Dao Foundation】 was not his doing, but rather a special gift bestowed upon him by a major figure within the Pure Land.

The so-called 【Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Subduing】 referred to subduing the 【True Dragon Fiend】.

Ordinary cultivators who cultivated the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art' to achieve Third Grade true qi would ultimately only be working for his benefit, their efforts refined by him into the Guardian Vajras within his temple.

Precisely because of this, what he feared most was someone breaking through the limitations of the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art', refining the 【Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Subduing Dao Foundation】 just as he had, thereby escaping his control and even competing with him for the Dao path, effectively transforming from a potential talent into a lifelong Dao enemy!

"No matter who it is... he must be killed!"

With this single thought, the Subduing Dragon Arhat's figure suddenly dimmed as he employed a "Buddhist Heart Seal," transmitting his intent directly through mind-to-mind connection and instantly traveling toward the target's location.

However, the very next second, his expression changed drastically.

For he discovered that in the direction he had traveled, three immense Dharma Bodies, towering to the extremes of heaven and earth and beyond description, now stood, all gazing directly at him!

"Where did this rogue cultivator come from, this blind fool."

A light rebuke fell like rolling heavenly thunder striking down; the Subduing Dragon Arhat's body immediately trembled, watching helplessly as his own Dao Foundation was on the verge of instant collapse and dispersal.

"Excellent, excellent."

A faint Buddhist voice drifted over, and in the blink of an eye, it stabilized the great void, securing the Subduing Dragon Arhat's crumbling Dao Foundation and pulling him back from the brink of death.

"Fairy Qingcheng Feixue, you are being too hasty."

"The karmic ties between Subduing Dragon and this Cultivator Lu from your esteemed sect are profound; rather than resorting to violence at the first sign of disagreement, would it not be better to let the two meet first?"

Only then did the Subduing Dragon Arhat regain his senses, seeing that atop a spectacle hovering between the three True Persons stood a handsome young man whose qi fluctuation matched exactly what he had sensed—the 【Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Subduing Dao Foundation】—and whose gaze toward him was filled with vigilance.

"... isfortune!"

The Subduing Dragon Arhat understood the situation at a glance; this was damn well a True Person from the Chusheng Sect! In that case, killing him was impossible!

Yet this concerned his own Dao path...

What made the Subduing Dragon Arhat tremble with fear even more was that the opponent's Dao Foundation was perfect and flawless, without the slightest defect, having reached the peak of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment the moment he broke through!

"Perfect Foundation Establishment?" the Subduing Dragon Arhat murmured softly.

With an innate, perfect Dao Foundation, who knew how much effort would be saved in forging one's innate divine ability; within thirty years at most, he could attempt to accommodate his first Heavenly Gang or Earth Fiend and charge toward the Mid Stage!

Truly a Dao enemy!

Thinking of this, the Subduing Dragon Arhat immediately gritted his Buddhist teeth, then looked at Lu Yang and said in a deep voice: "This person does indeed share significant karmic ties with this poor monk..."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue laughed immediately; with a wave of her jade hand, the spectacle formed from her realm, the 【Ten Thousand Gu Cave】, landed in her palm and began spinning rapidly.

"Fellow Daoists, do you think I should place this spectacle in Jiangdong or in Jiangxi?"

"I think Jiangxi would be fine."

"Amitabha!"

Before True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue could finish speaking, the True Person of the Pure Land chanted a Buddhist title: "Now that the Dao-Seizing Battle has concluded, this nun should return."

"Why such haste?" True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue chuckled lightly: "Are there not still karmic ties to be fulfilled?"

"No more, no more."

The Buddhist True Person, swallowing his pride with a smile, replied thus, then turned to the Subduing Dragon Arhat: "Let us return for now."

Hearing this, the Subduing Dragon Arhat's face was filled with reluctance yet he was helpless; he could only cast a deep glance at the distant Lu Yang before stepping behind the True Person of the Pure Land.

The next second, the Buddhist light dimmed.

The True Person of the Pure Land, the Subduing Dragon Arhat, and even Guang Ming, who had narrowly survived this battle along with over ten other fortunate Buddhist cultivators, thus returned to the Jiangxi Pure Land.

"... mph!"

Meanwhile, the True Person from the Dao Court wore an iron-green face; while the Pure Land still had survivors like Guang Ming, his side had suffered total annihilation.

Fortunately, the situation in the Dao Court was special; people were not important, what mattered was the 【official rank】; as long as the 【official rank】 was not lost, damaged, or destroyed, even if the person died, a new official could be appointed by selecting the best among the Top Graduates of previous imperial examinations; what truly angered the Dao Court True Person was that 【Ten Thousand Gu Cave】.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Seeing True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue raise her jade hand, that spectacle formed from the realm immediately fell from the sky, crashing violently into the border commandery region of the Jiangdong Dao Court.

Almost simultaneously, the Dao Court True Person let out a muffled groan.

Below, in Jiangdong.

In the place where the 【Ten Thousand Gu Cave】 landed, every cultivator felt a sensation in their hearts and raised their heads to gaze at the sky, feeling only that the difficulty of cultivation had suddenly changed.

At dawn, morning dew condensed into mist.

The qi, not yet fully circulating, moved through the earth, connecting north and south, opposing Kan and Li; unexpectedly, every cultivator practicing metal or water cultivation methods felt a surge of ease and comfort.

This was the struggle for the Fruit Position!

The Fruit Position originally covering this area was squeezed out, while True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue's Fruit Position gained the upper hand, directly influencing all cultivators below.

Even Foundation Establishment True Persons were not exempt!

Looking out, Lu Yang could even see several cultivators in the midst of breaking through to Foundation Establishment whose original chances of success, once several tenths, dropped directly to zero due to the change in Fruit Position.

Meanwhile, a few cultivators who had little hope before now gained an additional tenth of a chance.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!"

Seeing this, True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue laughed loudly, while the Dao Court True Person spoke not a word, his face black as he turned his Dharma Body and vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

Jiangxi, Deep Bliss Pure Land.

After returning to the Pure Land, the Subduing Dragon Arhat did not leave immediately but instead looked toward the True Person of the Pure Land who was presiding over affairs, honored with the title 【Vase Water-Moon Bodhisattva】:

"Bodhisattva... what exactly happened in this Dao-Seizing Battle?"

"We simply lost."

Vase Water-Moon Bodhisattva's tone was very calm; after all, although they had lost, the Pure Land's losses were not too great, as the Dao Court had borne the brunt of the defeat.

Publicly, the Dao Court was annihilated while the Pure Land at least managed to keep a handful of people alive. Privately, she had used the matter of the Subduing Dragon Arhat as leverage, prompting True Person Qingcheng Qingcheng Feixue to place the 【Ten Thousand Gu Cave】 in Jiangdong, thus avoiding losses for herself; naturally, she now spoke with ease and grace.

"That Guang Ming is quite impressive."

"If he had not betrayed the Dao Court in time, the Buddhist masses participating in this battle would likely have suffered the same fate as the Dao Court, with not a single one surviving; he is a clever sprout."

"Of course, betraying allies does not sound good if spoken aloud, nor should it be encouraged."

"Therefore, upon returning, do not reward him openly; instead, secretly arrange for him to cultivate diligently within your 【Subduing Dragon Temple】, for he may prove useful in the future."

"This humble monk accepts the Dharma decree."

The Subduing Dragon Arhat bowed respectfully, also feeling a new respect for Guang Ming in his heart; after all, since everyone else had died and he alone survived, he must possess extraordinary qualities.

"However, Bodhisattva, regarding that newly promoted Foundation Establishment True Person..."

As soon as the Subduing Dragon Arhat finished speaking, Vase Water-Moon Bodhisattva calculated with her fingers, then shook her head: "The karmic ties are severed; it now depends solely on your own abilities."

"If you have the ability to make him convert to Buddhism, or to kill him, the Pure Land will naturally give you its full support."

"If not... the Pure Land does not raise useless people."

At these words, how would the Subduing Dragon Arhat dare speak further; he immediately prostrated himself on the ground, verbally assenting, and thus crawled backward out of the Pure Land's main hall.

(End of Chapter)