Chapter 249: Sharing Yuan Tu?

The Yuan Ci Divine Mountain shimmered with five colors and ten hues.

This divine mountain differed from ordinary things; it was formed after a True Person died and their grotto-heaven merged with heaven and earth, stripping away the grotto-heaven's original attributes.

One must understand that every True Person's grotto-heaven points toward a specific fruit of attainment, making such a fragment of a grotto-heaven born of heaven and earth without any specific direction unimaginably rare; needless to say, merely its ability to assist cultivators in ascending to a blessed land and seeking the Golden Position is something other grotto-heavens cannot achieve.

Otherwise, why would Tian Qiu, the Great Prince of the Dragon Palace, set his sights on this?

If any grotto-heaven could assist in seeking the Golden Position, with his status, he could have directly broken through in the Dragon Lord's grotto-heaven, without needing such trouble.

However, this divine mountain was currently of no use to Lu Yang.

All he needed was the Earthly Fiend 【Yin Wood Qi】 derived from within the divine mountain; otherwise, he could never have cooperated so sincerely with Seeing Suo Huan.

This fact was equally known to everyone.

Almost the instant Lu Yang entered meditation, outside the divine mountain, Hui Ku and the other Shi cultivators who had previously hidden using the power of a magic treasure immediately revealed their forms.

"Amitabha!"

Seeing these Shi cultivators, each now beaming with joy, Hui Ku laughed loudly: "Benefactor Yuan Tu, today is destined for you to undergo tribulation and enter our Pure Land!"

As his voice fell, the group of Shi cultivators immediately formed hand seals and chanted the Buddha's name: "We respectfully invite the 【Guang Li Tian Long Temple】!"

As the words landed, vast Buddhist light suddenly rose within the Foundation Establishment realm, revealing a towering temple amidst the light, supported by auspicious clouds, with a golden statue standing within the temple.

Had Lu Yang not yet entered meditation to refine the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, he would certainly have recognized this temple; it was none other than the former 【Fu Long Temple】, merely altered in appearance, and the golden statue standing within was no longer the Arhat Fu Long, but a Buddha bearing an identical appearance to Lu Yang.

"Hahaha!"

Only now did Hui Ku finally burst into loud laughter, feeling that the frustration of being so frightened by Lu Yang's sword earlier that he dared not even reveal himself had finally dissipated somewhat.

No matter how high your divine abilities, what can you do?

Will you not still surrender and accept capture?

Yes, in Hui Ku's view, Lu Yang had already accepted his fate and intended to surrender, for during the refinement of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, one possesses not the slightest power to resist.

"Quite sensible."

"Otherwise, if we truly fought, several people would likely have to die before it ended; now that this demonic head is willing to surrender, it counts as merit beyond measure."

Thinking thus, Hui Ku even felt a hint of envy, for with Lu Yang's cultivation base, once he finished refining the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, achieved the perfect Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment, and then entered the Shi path to take the seat of the 【Guang Li Tian Long Arhat】, he would likely be not far from becoming a Pure Land Venerable of the Great True Person level.

Although by that time, there would be no Lu Yang left.

Thinking of this, Hui Ku could not help but grin, while the twenty-three Shi cultivators standing behind him simultaneously displayed smiles strikingly similar to his own.

However, just at that moment.

"The Immortal Decree has arrived!"

A loud shout rang out from the distant horizon, and in an instant, a mighty force scattered the Pure Land's Buddhist light; looking out, one saw a long procession of carriages.

"Hmm? The Dao Court?"

Seeing this, Hui Ku frowned slightly but said nothing; beforehand, the Bodhisattvas within the Pure Land had already instructed him that the Dao Court would also take a share.

Soon, several guards of the Dao Court's Dutian Office arrived nearby.

The leader among them was an old acquaintance, none other than a high-ranking official of the Dao Court, ranked Zheng San Pin, who like Hui Ku, had previously appeared at the 【Dongyang Blessed Land】 seeking treasures.

【Commander of the Dutian Office】 Hou Lan.

【Administrative Commissioner of the Tongzheng Office】 Cheng Tinggui.

At this moment, the two men jointly held a golden scroll and stated solemnly: "By the Immortal Decree of Your Majesty, we recruit Lu Yang of Jiangbei to serve in the court, granting him the Third Grade Upper Rank!"

Seeing this, Hui Ku remained unconcerned.

The Pure Land and the Dao Court had already reached an agreement beforehand: the Pure Land would take Lu Yang's Dao foundation, his Dharma body, and his entire cultivation base, while the Dao Court would take Lu Yang's soul.

Among them, the Pure Land hoped to use Lu Yang's cultivation base to trigger the 【City Head Earth】, while the Dao Court intended to make Lu Yang, the only True Person currently cultivating 【City Head Earth】, serve in the court and bow as a subject, thereby seizing his imagery to usurp 【City Head Earth】 as the supreme position of the Earth element.

The two did not conflict.

Therefore, after the two sides met, not only was there no trace of tension, but the atmosphere was harmonious, as if everyone was getting along perfectly.

Shortly after, another streak of sword light flew in swiftly.

"Someone from the Jiange has arrived!"

Hui Ku laughed loudly, and as that sword light approached, a handsome young man stepped out, his cold gaze immediately falling upon Lu Yang.

This operation to cleanse the overseas regions was undertaken by the Pure Land, the Dao Court, and the Holy Sect, truly having nothing to do with the Jiange; however, once Lu Yang joined in, the Jiange could no longer sit idle, especially the Ye family, former direct descendants of a True Person, who hated Lu Yang to the bone and wished to kill him quickly.

"I am Ye Tao."

The young man bowed toward the Pure Land and the Dao Court, then looked at the 【Li Jie Bo】 beside Lu Yang and said in a deep voice: "I have come for this sword."

"This demonic head comes from the common people, with no background in his past life; for such a divine sword to fall into his hands is like a bright pearl covered in dust."

"After our Jiange takes it in, we will select another disciple with a background and an extraordinary past life to bestow it upon, so that this sword may shine with its proper brilliance."

Even the candidate had already been decided.

It was the 【Cheng Tian Zheng De True Person】, who would return after reincarnating several decades later; otherwise, Ye Tao, as an elder of the Ye family, would never have come personally.

"Excellent!"

Seeing this, Hui Ku smiled but remained unconcerned; although 【Li Jie Bo】 was indeed a fine sword, the Pure Land rarely had sword cultivators, so they naturally did not care.

At the same time, Hou Lan of the Dao Court looked around and asked curiously:

"Has no one from the Mo Sect come?"

Hui Ku shook his head: "Their main focus is on that Seeing Suo Huan; if we take a larger share here, we must give them a larger portion there."

"I see." Cheng Tinggui nodded upon hearing this and continued: "Since everyone has arrived, let us begin; the sooner we finish, the less chance for trouble to arise from delay."

Having spoken, everyone turned their gaze toward Lu Yang on the mountain.

The next second, as the Myriad Souls Banner beside him swayed, one after another banner spirit emerged, releasing their qi fluctuations; they were none other than the seven Foundation Establishment demonic beasts from earlier.

However, no one present paid them any heed.

Among those present, Ye Tao, Hui Ku, Hou Lan, and Cheng Tinggui—was any of them not at the Mid Stage cultivation? To them, seven early Foundation Establishment cultivators were nothing more than clay chickens and tile dogs.

"I will go first!"

Hou Lan smiled coldly and immediately activated his official position; the talismanic text of the 【Commander of the Dutian Office】 radiated rosy light, shining down toward Lu Yang's direction.

But in the very next second.

"Ah!"

Hou Lan, who had rushed to the front, suddenly halted; a scream filled with terror made Hui Ku and the others, who had been about to advance, stop in their tracks.

What was happening?

Then they saw it: from within the Myriad Souls Banner, a hand suddenly reached out from nowhere, carrying rolling Yin Fiends, and directly seized Hou Lan's neck!

Immediately, without pause, that hand twisted slightly; as easily as snapping a branch, it broke Hou Lan's neck. Countless Yin Fiends, like a spider's web, rapidly coiled around Hou Lan's body, transforming into raging fiendish flames that instantly refined him into flying ash!

"Impossible!"

Witnessing this scene, Cheng Tinggui, who like Hou Lan hailed from the Dao Court, was the first to cry out in shock, while Hui Ku and Ye Tao likewise displayed expressions of astonishment.

Indeed, cultivators of the Dao Court were somewhat weaker.

Yet no matter how weak, he was still Zheng San Pin, comparable to the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment; how could he be crushed to death by a single hand? Could it be that Lu Yang was still awake?

Soon, they saw the owner of the hand.

"I am old and no longer useful."

As the Myriad Souls Banner fluttered, a figure stepped out leisurely, rubbing his shoulder while sighing: "In the past, I would have killed him with just a glare."

Speaking such words, the one who walked out was nevertheless a handsome young man.

Hui Ku and Cheng Tinggui did not recognize him.

Only Ye Tao, looking at his appearance, seemed to recall something; his eyes suddenly widened as he said: "You are... that remnant of the Witch-Ghost Path, Ting You!?"

Upon these words, Patriarch Ting You immediately turned his gaze:

"Who are you calling a remnant?"

(End of Chapter)