Chapter 138: Setting a Trap to Ambush Fu Long

In the end, Su Xing and the Insect King unanimously decided to let the derived Qi-Devouring Insects enter the valley to scout the path; since there were so many of them, there was no need to worry about casualties.

However, very quickly, both the human and the insect were stunned.

Because the moment the Qi-Devouring Insects swarmed into the valley, a wisp of smoky vapor fell upon them, impossible to block by mouth or nose, and brushed against them—

Nothing happened.

Not only were Su Xing and the Insect King bewildered, but even that smoky vapor seemed momentarily at a loss, before brushing down again; yet the result remained that nothing occurred.

"It is the soul."

Outside Huludao, Lu Yang had discerned the clue: "The offspring of the Qi-Devouring Insects possess no souls, only instinct; the consciousness of the entire swarm is actually concentrated within the Insect King... That smoky vapor being ineffective against the Qi-Devouring Insects indicates it poses no great harm to the physical body, but primarily affects the soul?"

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out:

"You True Person, have absolutely no shame!"

The voice emanated from the center of Huludao, crisp and pleasant, yet carrying a hint of childishness; although filled with anger, it sounded as if she were acting spoiled.

Immediately following this came a deafening explosion.

Inside the valley of Huludao, the red light split in two, revealing the valley's true form: it was an altar, upon which rested a broken sword as scarlet as blood.

The red light filling the valley was precisely the reflection of the essence of sun and moon falling upon the sword; merely resting horizontally upon that altar, it exuded boundless killing intent, as if there were nothing under heaven it could not slay, while the blade itself was inscribed with a depiction of a hellish landscape.

The next second, the red light on the sword condensed into a single breath of qi.

A young girl, appearing about seven or eight years old, wearing a red cotton jacket and sporting a topknot, sprang nimbly from the long sword atop the altar.

"I'm talking to you! Wicked True Person!"

Hands on her hips and head held high, the girl shouted loudly at Lu Yang outside Huludao: "Since you have come, do you not know the rules of this place?"

"If you have no intention, why seek me out?"

"Ho."

Lu Yang's eyebrows rose slightly; he discovered that as the girl revealed her form, the previously unfathomable heavenly secrets suddenly became clear, bringing immediate enlightenment to his heart.

"So that is how it is... there truly are rules."

The girl, or rather the scarlet broken sword upon the valley altar, and indeed the entirety of Huludao, were all spirit treasures left behind by a Great True Person of the Chusheng Sect.

Named Huludao, it was indeed a gourd, concealing within it a 【Soul-Scattering Spirit-Stealing Smoke】; even a True Person struck by this smoke would find their spirit and soul thrown into chaos. As for the scarlet broken sword, it was the personal blade of that former Great True Person, nurtured for years with innate divine abilities until it transformed into a spirit treasure.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang could not help but marvel inwardly:

"Two spirit treasures; although neither reaches the superior grade of the Heaven-Exploring Instrument possessing 【Divine Mystery】, they are still significant aids for Foundation Establishment..."

Yet if this were the case, why had no one sought them out?

Lu Yang felt no secret joy, but instead grew increasingly vigilant... after all, this was the Holy Sect; every opportunity within the Holy Sect, without exception, surely hid a trap behind it!

Very quickly, Lu Yang calculated the answer.

"The Great True Person who left this Huludao was suffering from severe, incurable injuries and was about to reincarnate; thus, while leaving behind the spirit treasures, he also left behind a massive karmic tie."

"Whoever takes this Huludao must guide his reincarnated self back."

Such karmic ties of a Great True Person often involve fruit positions and are unimaginably heavy; even fellow Great True Persons would not wish to become entangled, fearing being dragged down along with it.

"However... it happens to suit me perfectly!"

Lu Yang's eyes instantly brightened; joking aside, had not Patriarch Ting You been a Great True Person in the past? He had dared to accept that karmic debt, so what harm could one more cause?

One is never crushed by too many debts!

Thinking thus, Lu Yang immediately laughed aloud: "Why does Fellow Daoist think this way? Since I have come here, it is naturally with the intention of asking Fellow Daoist to lend me a hand."

Upon hearing these words, the girl was momentarily stunned.

"Really? You intend to take me?"

In an instant, the girl's anger vanished, replaced by an expression of hope mixed with fear of being deceived: "You won't trick me? Are you truly unafraid of accepting my karmic tie?"

"Naturally!"

Lu Yang spoke with absolute decisiveness; before his voice had even faded, he felt a vast karmic tie, massive as a mountain, suddenly manifest and crash down upon him, so that even though it was not a physical object, he felt a certain heaviness in his heart; however, he soon set his mind at ease.

Karmic debt? I am an old deadbeat!

Immediately afterward, the girl in the valley let out a joyful cry, then her figure vanished, replaced by a sword cry that pierced straight through the clouds!

"Screech—!"

The sword cry split metal and shattered stone; amidst this sound, the entire Huludao disintegrated and shrank, ejecting Su Xing and the Qi-Devouring Insect King, revealing the true forms of the two spirit treasures.

As his magic power circulated, the names of the two spirit treasures also became clear in Lu Yang's mind.

【Avici Sword】

【Thirty-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd】

Lu Yang reached out, catching both, feeling greatly satisfied; he casually hung the gourd at his waist, while the broken sword transformed into light and was stored within his sleeve.

Just then, two trails of escaping light suddenly flew in from the distance.

Only after approaching Lu Yang did the escaping lights finally halt, separating one after another, from which emerged two figures, both of whom turned out to be old acquaintances of Lu Yang.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yinshan."

Lu Yang first bowed to Yinshan True Person, who had arrived first, before turning to the person beside him, his face likewise bearing a kind smile:

"... reetings, Peak Master Senior Butian."

Facing Lu Yang's salute, Peak Master Senior Butian responded with equal warmth: "Yuan Tu is being too distant; in the past, when you joined the Holy Sect, it was at my Senior Butian Peak."

"In the future, you should visit my Senior Butian Peak often."

Speaking thus, Peak Master Senior Butian's expression suddenly became somewhat mischievous: "To be honest, recently my daughter Shuqian is rehearsing a piece called the Extreme Bliss Heavenly Demon Dance; if Fellow Daoist has time, you are welcome to come and appreciate it; I guarantee Fellow Daoist will not make the trip in vain, and cultivation should also balance work with rest!"

You old wretch, what kind of person do you take me for?

"Certainly! Certainly!"

For a moment, Lu Yang and Peak Master Senior Butian chatted as freely as old friends, stopping only when several more trails of escaping light arrived.

However, very quickly, the True Persons who arrived later uttered sounds of disdain:

"I wondered what phenomenon of a spirit treasure emerging this was; turns out it is merely Huludao."

"Someone actually dares to accept this karmic tie?"

"It is the newly promoted Yuan Tu... the younger generation is formidable."

"The last person who accepted this karmic tie is still reincarnating; how many years do you think it will take for him to die violently this time? I guess one hundred years; I bet a Foundation Establishment rare treasure."

"Fifty years..."

The crowd made no effort to conceal their discussion, yet Lu Yang remained completely composed, which only made these beasts, who had intentionally tried to intimidate him, feel bored.

Very quickly, the crowd dispersed one by one.

Regarding this, Lu Yang had reason to suspect: if not for the karmic tie of Huludao being too great, these beasts might well have used force to snatch his spirit treasures!

"Yuan Tu, you were somewhat rash this time."

Seeing the crowd depart, Yinshan True Person finally approached, frowning as he said: "The karmic tie behind Huludao is significant... it will inevitably slow down your cultivation."

Hearing this, Lu Yang shook his head: "Fellow Daoist's words are mistaken."

"Slowing cultivation is a matter for the future; the fruit position corresponding to my Dao foundation lies in the Pure Land; even if I cultivate quickly, it will be very difficult to attain the Golden Core in the future."

"And if one wishes to attain the Golden Core, one must wait for Uncle-Master Master Chongguang to achieve it first, and then he will come to support me... since that is the case, why should I obsess over the progress of my cultivation base? I ought to first devote all my strength to completing the tasks assigned by Uncle-Master, sparing no cost to assist Uncle-Master in smoothly ascending to the position and seeking gold!"

Having spoken, Lu Yang specifically bowed in the direction of the Holy Fire Cliff.

To put it simply, it came down to two words: Loyalty!

After hearing this speech, Yinshan True Person fell silent for a moment, then patted Lu Yang on the shoulder, sighing with emotion: "Junior Brother, you are capable of accomplishing great things."

Almost simultaneously, the voice of Master Chongguang True Person arrived from the Holy Fire Cliff:

"This campaign to eradicate the Shenwu Sect shall be entrusted to Yuan Tu."

"If you have any requirements, raise them at any time."

—This was precisely the sentence Lu Yang wanted.

A mere Shenwu Sect could not satisfy Lu Yang's appetite.

Having now received Master Chongguang True Person's approval, Lu Yang even had the authority to deploy other Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Holy Sect; with such a great advantage, he naturally intended to make good use of it.

"Calculating the days, Fellow Brother Zhao should be attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment soon, correct?"

"In this life, I originally intended for him to block a tribulation for me, but in the end, it was not used... since he is a rare talent regardless, he cannot be wasted."

Lu Yang's plan was very simple:

He would use Zhao Xuhe to lure out Arhat Fu Long, and then borrow the power of the Holy Sect to eliminate him in one stroke!

(End of Chapter)