Chapter 31: One Sword Cuts the Void

Not long ago, at the Summit Cave of the Heaven-Mending Peak.

Unlike the bustling crowds and myriad human dramas within Heaven-Mending Peak, the summit was filled only with rising and falling clouds, transcendent and detached, as if leaping out of this troubled mortal world.

Before a cliff, two figures stood gazing down at the sea of clouds below.

One had crane-white hair and a youthful face, wore a black-and-white Daoist robe, and held a fly-whisk in hand, looking exactly like the kind and benevolent old immortal commonly seen in mortal storybooks.

The other appeared middle-aged and said with a mischievous grin:

"Heaven-Mending, I heard you are recently selecting a son-in-law for your daughter?"

"What? Are you interested?" The Heaven-Mending Peak Master turned to look at the middle-aged man: "If it is a disciple from your sect, he would indeed be a good match for Qian'er."

"Better not."

The middle-aged man shook his head: "I know my disciples; they are all silver-tipped wax spears. They cannot withstand your daughter. Please seek someone more capable."

"Then let it be." The Heaven-Mending Peak Master shook his head: "In any case, I have already chosen someone. This person has cultivated bitterly for three lifetimes, possesses excellent merit and foundation, has a thirty percent chance of forging a Dao Foundation in the future, and after learning True Person Panlong's 'Nine Transformations Dragon Art', he also possesses the true dragon's might in bed."

"True Person Panlong? That doesn't sound right."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man calculated with his fingers, then shook his head: "Panlong Island has vanished without a trace; the opportunity has already been obtained by someone else, and it is not your disciple."

"It soon will be."

The Heaven-Mending Peak Master said indifferently: "I have already calculated who forcibly seized the opportunity. I sent Lu Yuanchun with people to handle it; it will return to the proper path very soon."

"Tsk tsk tsk, you really leave no path to life." Hearing this, the middle-aged man shook his head: "The Immortal Dao is hard to seek; why be too harsh on some juniors?"

"Occasionally, one must give them a little hope; after all, the Holy Sect also needs fresh blood."

"No need for you to teach me."

The Heaven-Mending Peak Master sneered: "If it were only that, I might not have acted, but I calculated that the person who seized True Person Panlong's opportunity is somewhat unusual."

Speaking here, the Heaven-Mending Peak Master's tone gained a few notes of surprise: "This person entered the sect only a few years ago, not only made a huge profit during the Substitute Death Yin Puppet incident in recent years, but also cultivated the Transforming Blood Divine Light, forged a Sword Pill, mastered the Sword Art of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, and possesses a Qi Refining Layer Six cultivation."

"Oh? So impressive?"

The middle-aged man listened with a look of surprise, then silently calculated for a moment before sighing: "I did not expect the Holy Sect to produce such talent."

After speaking, the middle-aged man clearly became interested.

"Come, come, come, point out the direction for me; let us see what kind of bone quality he has. If the quality is good, perhaps we can refine a fine treasure pill."

"This is simple; it is right there—hmm?"

The Heaven-Mending Peak Master originally wore a smile on his face, but after pointing out the direction and gazing into the distance, his smile gradually faded.

"Boom!"

As the Heaven-Mending Peak Master's gaze fell, the vast Heaven-Mending Peak seemed to be experiencing an earth-dragon turning; even in the edge areas, rocks rolled down into the sea of clouds.

Inside a certain cave within Heaven-Mending Peak, Liu Xing prostrated himself on the ground, terrified to even take a deep breath, fearing he would attract the Heaven-Mending Peak Master's attention.

"He is not looking for me, he is not looking for me."

Liu Xing desperately muttered to himself in his heart, suppressing his guilt and fear.

After all, that was a Foundation Establishment True Person; even a single gaze was enough to suppress and kill a Qi Refining realm cultivator, and his son was hidden inside his Ten Thousand Spirits Banner.

Once discovered, it would surely be eternal damnation!

"Do not fear; I have a divine talisman for protection; he cannot calculate me."

Liu Xing trembled, gripping tightly a talisman he carried with him.

"Lu Yuanchun pays respects to Master."

While coughing blood, Lu Yuanchun kowtowed to the face in the sky to beg for forgiveness, yet felt no joy of surviving a disaster; instead, his heart was completely ice-cold.

The jade pendant that broke Lu Yang's formation at the critical moment contained a divine consciousness of the Heaven-Mending Peak Master; it was the greatest reliance for a Foundation Establishment disciple like him. Because it was difficult to make, once used, it was almost impossible to replace, meaning it was equivalent to one of his lives.

Now, it was gone.

Moreover, this time he not only failed to help Junior Brother Zhao recover the opportunity, but even failed to protect him, allowing him to die unexpectedly; it was a great defeat and heavy loss.

Punished for multiple crimes, his immortal path is hopeless in this life.

"This disciple is incompetent."

Lu Yuanchun dared not speak, nor even explain; he could only choose to kowtow and prostrate himself, waiting to decide his fate after his Master killed that Lu Yang.

Clang—!

Just then, Lu Yuanchun suddenly heard a sword sound; the volume was not loud, but exceptionally clear, refreshing to the heart and mind, impossible to ignore.

At first, the sound was like a clear spring flowing, tinkling; however, as time passed, the water flow became increasingly turbulent and fierce, the sound becoming increasingly deafening, until finally it turned into a roar like a raging river, echoing loudly throughout heaven and earth.

Lu Yuanchun instinctively raised his head.

Then he saw a figure standing tall in mid-air under the True Person's gaze, with back straight, fearlessly locking eyes with him.

Beneath his feet was a surging long river of sword qi.

The river water was blood-red, carrying overwhelming evil qi in its turmoil, yet it did not spread; instead, it constantly shrank and flowed back, finally falling into a delicate Sword Pill.

"What does he intend to do?"

Lu Yuanchun swallowed; he actually already guessed, but he dared not believe it; how could there be such a bold person in the world who does not know the decrees of heaven?

At the same time, the face in the sky also seemed to realize something, frowning:

"You wish to act against me?"

Lu Yang's expression was indifferent; the Sword Pill swallowed the blood river completely, its sharp edge pointing directly at the sky:

"Please, senior, grant me instruction."

The face spoke not, seeming too disdainful to answer.

The next second, Lu Yang saw a black dot suddenly appear above the sky, then rapidly expand, falling slowly toward him with the momentum of a collapsing sky.

Until the black dot drew near, Lu Yang could barely make out the full form; it was clearly a finger falling from some unimaginable height, with skin texture clearly visible.

Lu Yang instantly felt enlightenment; this was the other party's answer:

Ants, how can they know the height of heaven?

In an instant, a violent sense of crisis swept through his body, nearly freezing Lu Yang's thoughts, as if an ant crawling out of a cave suddenly saw the bright blue sky and white sun.

"You want to crush me with a single finger???"

Lu Yang exhaled deeply, then his entire body's true qi suddenly began to burn violently; the Killing Life Curse he had obtained in his second life was now activated by him with full force.

In this moment, life and death were cast aside.

Lu Yang's heart held nothing but a chest full of rage.

In this life, I did not contend or snatch, devoting myself entirely to cultivation, yet you calculated my cause and effect, sent people to snatch my opportunity, and when they failed to seize it, you personally took action to kill me.

Speaking of technique cause and effect, talking of opportunities predetermined long ago.

Am I destined to be a beast of burden, while you are destined to stand high above?

"Kill!"

Lu Yang opened his mouth; the true qi in his chest transformed into a long roar, and the full rage in his heart brewed into a sword light that, neither missing nor deviating, slashed straight into the long sky.

A silent collision, like a candle flame flickering; after a brief brilliance, darkness swallowed Lu Yang's vision and also swallowed his consciousness.

(End of this chapter)