Chapter 239: Evolution of the Abyss Sword

As Ye Guyue fled, Lu Yang's attention shifted to Chong Ying. The two exchanged a glance, each seeing wariness and urgency in the other's eyes.

The wariness naturally stemmed from their respective strengths; Lu Yang's position was already exposed, the chance for a surprise attack lost, making it unrealistic to defeat this True Dragon King. The same applied to Chong Ying. As for the urgency, it was because the recent magical duel had been too loud, attracting some true powerful enemies.

Thinking this, Lu Yang immediately spoke:

"Split it in two?"

Hearing this, Chong Ying's golden eyes shifted, yet he hesitated not, nodding at once: "Agreed!"

As his words fell, both appeared simultaneously, each grabbing a corner of the 【Yin Yin Long Shui】, then tearing at it together to split this spiritual embryo into two halves!

The next second, Chong Ying's figure vanished instantly into the distance.

Lu Yang stored the half-block of 【Yin Yin Long Shui】, then formed a hand seal, once again using 【Star-Hiding Radiance】 to conceal his form and aura, disappearing from the spot as well.

Only after a short while did a fleeing light arrive.

Scanning with spiritual sense, they saw only the ruins of a great battle, causing immediate slight alarm in their heart, for what met their eyes was clearly a vast, wondrous scene.

Besides the ground covered in spiderweb cracks, more than half of the mountain forest had been sliced off into thin air, while the clouds above the sky were forcibly split from the center outward to both sides, revealing a massive sword scar like a heavenly chasm, with cloud vapor still constantly pouring into the scar even now.

One could imagine the power of that single sword strike.

Thinking this, the fleeing light that had come to investigate felt somewhat fortunate; luckily they arrived a bit late, otherwise, could they have withstood that sword strike?

Immediately after, the fleeing light circled the area a few more times, and finding nothing, decisively chose to abandon the search, speeding off toward the next place of opportunity.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang found a mountain forest to rest temporarily.

"Half a block of 【Yin Yin Long Shui】 will still do."

Although torn in two, the value of 【Yin Yin Long Shui】 as a spiritual embryo dropped drastically, no longer sufficient for refining spiritual treasures or spiritual pills.

However, Lu Yang did not mind.

After all, he was not skilled in forging or alchemy; the reason he seized this spiritual embryo was solely to nourish the 【Abyss Sword】, using it as a consumable.

"Master!"

Soon, as Lu Yang summoned the Abyss Sword, spiritual light flickered upon the blade, and the sword spirit girl in a red cotton jacket jumped out joyfully from within.

Regarding Lu Yang as its sword master, it could not be more satisfied; not only could it kill a few Foundation Establishment cultivators every now and then to break its fast, but it was also fed such superior spiritual embryos. It had thought the old master, Blood Demon True Person, was already very powerful, but compared to Lu Yang, he appeared weak and incompetent.

"Eat it." Lu Yang pressed down on the sword spirit's head.

"Ah-woof!"

The sword spirit's mouth suddenly split open, devouring the 【Yin Yin Long Shui】 in one bite, then patted its round, bulging belly before transforming into light and flying back into the sword.

The next second, the aura of the Abyss Sword changed.

Just as Lu Yang expected, with half a block of 【Yin Yin Long Shui】 entering its stomach, the Abyss Sword, already nearing its limit, truly began to generate a fourth profound mystery!

In an instant, bands of brilliance appeared upon the Abyss Sword.

【Human Butcher】, 【Walking Danger】, 【Famous Blade】—the three divine mysteries clustered around the sword body like stars surrounding the moon, jointly catalyzing the fourth divine mystery.

Moments later, a brand-new radiance emerged, and karma appeared accordingly.

Lu Yang calculated with his fingers, and the information of the new divine mystery immediately surfaced in his heart.

Its name is: 【Deprive Dragon】!

This divine technique is extremely insidious; it splits a sword light from the Abyss Sword, but it is not a physical entity, rather a phantom image, unable to harm anyone physically.

For this split sword light specifically severs merit and fortune!

Thus, being struck by the Abyss Sword would no longer be merely about injury; merit and fortune would also be damaged, and after enough strikes, it would be no different from heavenly punishment!

For instance, just now, if the Abyss Sword had possessed the 【Deprive Dragon】 divine mystery, Ye Guyue would not have calmly and rationally turned to flee; instead, calamity qi would have clouded his heart, making him determined to clash head-on with Lu Yang, disregarding the consequences of failure entirely, inevitably resulting in his beheading by a single sword strike!

"Remarkable, truly remarkable..."

In that moment, Lu Yang could not put the Abyss Sword down, especially after condensing the fourth divine mystery, the sword's aura became even more transcendent.

In short, it was getting closer and closer to the 【Imperial Mansion Golden Script Doulu True Edict】!

"The 【Imperial Mansion Golden Script Doulu True Edict】 is a semi-true treasure forged by Daoist Hong Yun Daoist; if the Abyss Sword can gather all five divine mysteries, it might be comparable!"

Just as Lu Yang was excited, Listening Void Ancestor quietly appeared.

"Something is not quite right."

A voice of doubt interrupted Lu Yang's thoughts, bringing him back to calmness. He turned to look at Listening Void Ancestor: "May I ask, Ancestor, what is wrong?"

"This divine mystery is incorrect."

Listening Void Ancestor frowned: "【Yin Yin Long Shui】 is Chen Earth, the most yin of earth, the tomb of water. Your 【Abyss Sword】, however, is formed from Geng Metal qi."

"According to logic, a Geng Metal instrument encountering earth and water should sink silently; cold metal and cold water bring the danger of drowning. Although your Abyss Sword suffered no damage after devouring it, the divine mystery generated should not have been too strong... yet this 【Deprive Dragon】 clearly exceeds that, indicating the two are not repelling each other."

"They are even compatible."

Speaking thus, Listening Void Ancestor's face was full of confusion: "But Geng Metal is yang metal, and Chen Earth is yin earth; yang metal meeting yin earth should naturally be incompatible."

"How can this be?"

Just then, Lu Yang suddenly felt a slight movement in his heart.

The next second, the formless sword suddenly jumped out from his sleeve; the Xin Metal qi refined into the sword fluctuated violently, triggering repeated sword chimes.

"Master Chongguang... is looking for me?"

Lu Yang immediately understood; this Xin Metal qi was likely the former physical shell left behind by True Person Chongguang after his reincarnation as an immortal spirit.

It is normal for there to be a connection between the two.

"But just because you call, must I go?"

Lu Yang sneered, guessing that even if True Person Chongguang were still alive, he must be extremely weak at this moment; calling him now was likely because he had encountered trouble.

Did he want Lu Yang to block the disaster again?

Lu Yang was still pondering when suddenly his eyebrows lifted; although he was hidden, he was constantly using the Heaven-Seeking Instrument to deduce, with the light of Bing Fire illuminating all directions of the universe.

At this moment, he saw something abnormal.

He saw that within the blessed land, besides the 【Yin Yin Long Shui】, the other three innate divine techniques had also been taken away one by one, causing the entire blessed land to tremble violently.

Such a change was as if the pillars had been pulled out from a house, so that in the center of the blessed land, in the void, an expanse of boundless Jin Guang had no choice but to emerge, replacing the four innate divine abilities to prop the blessed land back up—but only in the central region; the outer perimeter of the blessed land had already begun to collapse.

"This is forcing people toward the center. Forcing me to go over?"

Lu Yang's expression grew solemn. Not everyone was that greedy; some True Persons, who judged their own strength insufficient, merely scooped up a bit of profit at the outer perimeter and then hid themselves away.

But now, they could no longer stay hidden.

The blessed land was collapsing from the edges inward, shrinking the zone of survival. Anyone caught in those collapsing zones could be directly suppressed and slain by the blessed land's power!

"What a brilliant open scheme!" Lu Yang clapped his hands and laughed.

True Monarch Qingcheng Feixue had ordered a strict investigation, so it was impossible for him to leave the blessed land. Yet as long as he remained in the blessed land, he had to go to the blessed land's center and meet Master Chongguang.

As for that expanse of Jin Guang at the blessed land's center, Lu Yang had also guessed its origin.

It was Master Chongguang's natal divine ability.

【Cave-Bright Flying-Scenery Painting】!

"If Master Chongguang is truly still alive, his soul must be within it, and this natal divine ability has taken the initiative to forcibly maintain the blessed land's existence."

"It seems his Dao heart is firm—he hasn't given up yet."

Just then, the Dharma Eye between Lu Yang's brows suddenly twitched. Under the illumination of the Bing Fire light, he actually saw several streaks of escape-light tearing in at extreme speed from the outer perimeter.

The escape-lights were arranged one ahead and three behind—clearly someone was being pursued.

Judging from their auras, all four were at early Foundation Establishment. The one in front, fighting three alone, was able to hold steady without defeat entirely thanks to a body full of dazzling, radiant treasures.

Lu Yang looked closely, and at once a strange look appeared on his face, because the one being pursued in front was none other than Master Chongguang's son, Chongming!

(End of chapter)