Chapter 159: Abominable Karma

Overseas, upon a boundless expanse of sea.

Lu Yang rode his escape light, yet saw atop his head a bright pillar of fortune and destiny burning fiercely, before transforming into an intangible intuition to guide his path forward.

All of this was the merit and fortune of the Shenwu Sect.

In his previous life, he had used this merit and fortune to locate the Biyang Cultivation World, but in this life, having broken through, this merit and fortune could be put to other uses.

The next second, a beam of red light drifted out from Lu Yang's sleeve, finally manifesting a form to reveal a petite and exquisite young girl wearing a red cotton jacket with her hair tied in a bun, who landed on Lu Yang's knee and snuggled intimately into his embrace: "Master, are you going to find the Old Master?"

"Indeed."

Lu Yang patted the little girl's head, smiling: "Your karmic ties are very heavy; currently drawn by the heaven-and-earth killing intent, they have manifested ahead of schedule."

This was a new discovery of Lu Yang's.

Back when he accepted the 【Abominable Sword】, Lu Yang had also inherited a set of karmic ties from the sword's original owner, a Great True Person at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Having obtained the magic treasure, he would inevitably have to guide that person's reincarnated self back from samsara in the future; alas, these karmic ties seemed extremely troublesome, to the point that the previous few sword masters of the 【Abominable Sword】 had died because of them, otherwise such a superior magic treasure would not have been ignored within the Holy Sect.

And as Lu Yang broke through to the mid stage, these karmic ties had arrived.

"Originally, it should not have been this fast, but first, I broke through to the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment, and second, the heaven-and-earth killing intent pushed things along, causing the karma to arise prematurely."

With karma pushing him, he had no choice but to go.

If he did not go, regardless of whether the sword spirit of the 【Abominable Sword】 was willing or not, it would leave him under the influence of karma, and might even backlash against his fortune.

This was the insidious nature of the heaven-and-earth killing intent.

It did not directly generate karma, but rather utilized existing karma, leaving no trace whatsoever.

Although Lu Yang's strength in this life had risen with the tide, the corresponding crises would also become more terrifying; barring the unexpected, he would still die miserably overseas.

However, barring the unexpected was impossible.

"Come then, let them all come..."

Looking at the increasingly crimson 【Danger】 above his head, Lu Yang grinned; the True Person's handwritten letter in his embrace was the greatest unexpected variable of this overseas journey!

No matter who came, the result would be a single word: death!

A moment later, as most of the Shenwu Sect's merit and fortune was consumed, the heavenly secrets gradually became clear; Lu Yang immediately calculated with his fingers, comprehending the entire context.

The next second, Lu Yang raised his brows: "They truly aren't even pretending anymore..."

The reincarnation location of the 【Abominable Sword】's original owner, that Great True Person, was not only situated in a barren overseas region, but was actually entangled with the Dao Court?

"... m?"

Just then, Lu Yang suddenly lifted his head as if sensing something, gazing into the distance, where he saw a magnificent sword light rushing toward him.

Overseas, Starry Sea.

The spiritual qi environment here was far more hostile than the Turbulent Sea where the Biyang Cultivation World was located; it was a desolate place with no soil suitable for cultivators.

Yet in this dangerous land, a colossal ship massive as a mountain range stood firm; a magical treasure's radiance bright as the rising sun rippled from its prow, suppressing waves and calming tides wherever it passed, stabilizing the spiritual qi, while upon the giant vessel, countless figures could be seen shuttling about, each clad in armor and bearing weapons.

"Grand Marshal, everything is ready."

As the messenger returned to report, at the prow, a burly man wearing a three-beamed silver crown and a green robe immediately revealed an excited expression.

In the Jiangdong Dao Court, attire indicated official rank.

A three-beamed crown and green silk robe indicated that this burly man's official position was Fifth Grade, only one step away from the crimson silk robe of a Fourth Grade high official in the court.

In fact, this was indeed the case.

This man was named Ying Tongshou, currently serving as General Wude, commanding the Fubo Navy; bolstered by his Fifth Grade official title, his cultivation base was no weaker than the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

"Pass down the order."

Ying Tongshou's expression turned grave: "Blockade the Starry Sea; do not allow anyone to enter. Do not forget, we are acting on a secret decree from His Majesty!"

"If the calculations of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau are correct, the 【Blood Demon Island】 will fall into this Starry Sea in three days; if we enter first, retrieve the soul of that Blood Demon True Person, and bring it back to Jiangdong, then under the connection of karma, that Yuan Tu True Person from the Demonic Sect will have no choice but to make a trip to Jiangdong."

"Grand Marshal, this task is not easy."

Beside Ying Tongshou, his adjutant still felt somewhat uneasy upon hearing this: "Grand Marshal holds only a Fifth Grade position; rashly entering the Blood Demon Island may be dangerous."

"You need not worry about that."

Hearing this, Ying Tongshou immediately laughed: "Precisely because I am only a Fifth Grade official with a cultivation base at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment and am unknown, no one will notice me when I venture out to sea."

"But once out at sea, that is another matter."

As his words fell, Ying Tongshou took a sheet of gold foil from his robe; the adjutant focused his gaze and immediately showed surprise, for this was an imperial edict for promotion!

"Is the Grand Marshal being promoted?" The adjutant's face lit up with joy.

"Indeed!" Ying Tongshou looked proud: "His Majesty sent a secret edict long ago, promoting me to Fourth Grade General Guangwei; by then, my cultivation base will be at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment!"

This was the Dao Court system: once the official rank was attained, cultivation base would follow immediately; even if one second ago you were a mere soldier at the First Layer of Qi Condensation, the next second, with a Second Grade official title, you could instantly become a Great True Person at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment... of course, the result of doing so was most likely exploding to death.

Because official titles also required merit and fortune to bear them.

To put it plainly, without the destiny for it, even if the official title was given to you, you could not accept it; not only would you not soar to success, but you would suffer a backlash instead.

This was also the brilliance of the Dao Court system.

For any Dao Court official, merit and fortune could only be accumulated by protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people, so to determine promotion, one only needed to ask the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to take a look.

Abundant merit indicated frequent administrative achievements.

Scarce merit indicated cruelty in office.

This was also why the Dao Court was listed among the righteous paths; to speak bluntly, among the four directions of east, south, west, and north, the territories governed by the Dao Court were the most stable.

However, just then—

"Boom!"

A tremendous roar echoed like thunder rolling across the sky; accompanied by spiritual qi exploding toward the heavens, it transformed into surging spiritual tides sweeping in all directions, reflecting five-colored splendor beneath the dome of heaven.

"What is happening?"

Ying Tongshou's expression immediately turned solemn, and then the messenger who had just left came scrambling back, shouting: "Grand Marshal, someone is engaging in a dharma battle!"

"... dharma battle?"

Ying Tongshou paused upon hearing this, and before he could ask further, another explosion rang out, this one seeming closer than the last; the spiritual tide even raised layers of waves that crashed violently against the Fubo great ship where the Dao Court navy was stationed, causing the vessel's treasure light to sway.

Seeing this scene, Ying Tongshou's expression grew increasingly grave:

"Early Stage of Foundation Establishment... no, Mid Stage!"

"To possess such power, they are likely not some ordinary overseas native, but someone from the interior; they are comparable even to a seated Celestial Official..."

The more he sensed it, the more alarmed Ying Tongshou became:

"Who exactly is this sacred figure?"

Before his words could finish, a third explosion arrived.

This time, Ying Tongshou finally saw the two parties clashing on the horizon: one red and one white beam of splendid light, colliding to produce the explosive sound.

"Disciple of the Witch-Ghost, die!"

A clear voice rang out; the blazing white sword light in the sky chopped downward once more, while the red escape light turned and vanished into thin air.

Boom!

The sword light plunged into the sea surface, instantly carving out an unfathomably deep whirlpool that churned the surrounding currents, killing countless fish and shrimp in the process.

Not far away, Lu Yang manifested his figure, looking calm and composed.

On the Myriad Souls Banner in his hand, the figure of Patriarch Tingyou quietly appeared, his expression filled with guilt: "Jade Pivot Sword Cultivator... I have implicated you."

"It is a trivial matter; Patriarch, do not blame yourself."

How could Lu Yang feel any fear now? He only wished more would come, precisely to set a trap, waiting for all the karmic ties to gather so he could ambush and kill them all!

(End of Chapter)