Chapter 390: The Good Play Begins

Yushu Jiange, Sky-End Cliff.

This place is the highest peak in Jiangnan; above one observes the sun, moon, stars, and constellations, below one surveys mountains, rivers, and valleys; with the gaze leveled, what meets the eye is a magnificent scene of clouds rolling and unfurling.

Lu Yang rode his escape light all the way to the cliff's summit and immediately saw the Purging Demon True Person sitting upright on the cliff edge; seeing him seated there, though he revealed not a shred of magic power, he still stole all the brilliance of heaven and earth, with the surrounding wind and clouds spontaneously gathering around him.

'What immense fortune!'

To this day, the fortune of this number-one sword cultivator under heaven has become so vast that even the mortal eyes of those below Foundation Establishment can easily perceive it.

"Have you cultivated it?"

The next second, the Purging Demon True Person's voice drifted over softly; Lu Yang dared not be negligent and hurriedly said, "Thanks to Master's guidance, this disciple has received the Sword Art."

"What is it called?"

Lu Yang did not conceal it: "'The Refined Steel Dao-Feather Nirvana Sword Art'."

The Purging Demon True Person nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Lu Yang, still wearing that expression of inspecting top-grade leeks and rare treasures.

"Reporting to Master, I have urgent matters to report!" Lu Yang cupped his hands, speaking rapidly: "This disciple has cultivated the Sword Art, and sword intent has reached another level; my perception of qi mechanisms is extremely sensitive, and I have vaguely detected familiar Buddhist cultivation energy in the direction of the Penetrating Earth Abyss; I fear it is the work of the Pure Land, so please, Master, judge clearly."

He did not directly state the truth.

After all, reporting also requires methodology; besides, as an ordinary mid-stage Foundation Establishment True Person, what could he use to report against the Quxie True Person and the Guangming Buddha Disciple?

'It is simpler to let the Purging Demon investigate himself.'

Through the Yun family ancestor, Lu Yang confirmed that the Quxie True Person and the Guangming Buddha Disciple were still inside the Penetrating Earth Abyss; as long as the Purging Demon True Person went to investigate, he would surely catch them red-handed.

However, the Purging Demon True Person's reply greatly surprised him.

"Oh."

Lu Yang saw that after hearing his report, the Purging Demon True Person showed no surprise at all; instead, he shook his head: "My time is near; let them be."

Let them be?

Lu Yang's eyes shifted slightly; only then did he realize that compared to decades ago, the current Purging Demon True Person cared less and less about affairs, merely sitting in seclusion at Sky-End Cliff.

Once upon a time, several disciples sent by the Ye family would accompany him to serve him; yet now, when he came again, the vast cliff summit held only himself; his clothes fluttered in the wind, alone and solitary; his simple and low-key appearance was completely unlike that of a direct-line disciple from a Jin Dan family like the Ye family in the Yushu Jiange.

'This will not do!'

Lu Yang's mind became alert; as far as he knew, this time it was 【Ang Xiao】 and the Guangming Buddha Disciple who had joined forces to set a trap, using the Quxie True Person's hand to deal with the Purging Demon True Person.

Why should he report?

Deliberate revenge was secondary; as a qualified True Person of the Holy Sect, he had always acted only for profit; how could he do something that harmed others without benefiting himself?

'If I do not report, how will the Purging Demon True Person prepare? Without preparation, how will they fight to the death? If they do not fight to the death, how can I profit as the fisherman? The Golden Nature of the Purging Demon True Person, the Golden Nature of the number-one sword cultivator under heaven; if I can get my hands on it, that would surely be a blood profit!'

With this thought, Lu Yang hurriedly spoke:

While speaking, he did not forget to put on a frightened expression: "Master, the Pure Land's Buddhist cultivators have entered our Yushu Jiange without authorization; this disciple worries they will bring harm to you and to me..."

Hearing this, the Purging Demon True Person glanced at him, then shook his head: "Rest assured."

"Those Buddhist cultivators are here for me; they merely wish to scheme against me; that is normal. Under the vast sky, I fear no one currently does not wish to scheme against me."

Clearly, the Purging Demon True Person had long been accustomed to it.

At the same time, Lu Yang also understood the implied meaning of these words... Yes, in the current world, the Purging Demon True Person was undoubtedly a thorn in everyone's eye.

Because he was number one under heaven!

And not that kind of number one propped up by everyone lifting the sedan chair, but a truly deserving number one, with a断层-level lead over the second place!

'This kind of intimidation, in the current era, although not as great as a True Lord, the gap is actually not far... Even if I killed Tian Qiu overseas and defeated the Guangming Buddha Disciple's avatar head-on, I fear I would still be far inferior to this cheap Master... Number one under heaven; the more one is number one, the more one ought to die!'

Lu Yang considered himself to already have a somewhat fearsome reputation. But so what? Xiang Ye still dared to invite him to the Holy Sect; although wary of his strength, he also had his own confidence and was not truly afraid of him.

However, what if it were the Purging Demon True Person?

Would Xiang Ye dare to invite the Purging Demon True Person into the Sky-Connecting Cloud Sea? I fear that before the Purging Demon True Person even approached, the entire Sky-Connecting Cloud Sea would be under full martial law!

'Even the Yushu Jiange itself...'

Lu Yang shook his head in his heart; yes, even the Yushu Jiange itself was wary of the Purging Demon True Person, because the Purging Demon True Person's conduct was too atypical within the Yushu Jiange!

No wonder the Purging Demon True Person had no reaction to someone colluding with the Pure Land to secretly plot against him; because this was simply a matter of course! Indeed, in his view, the fact that the other party actually waited until his time was near before daring to act was already excessively cautious.

Just as Lu Yang was pondering, the Purging Demon True Person suddenly spoke: "Yan Xiao."

"This disciple is here."

Lu Yang responded and looked up, only to see the Purging Demon True Person looking at him, his eyes bright, as if wanting to say something, yet at the very last moment he suddenly frowned:

"... Who?"

The Purging Demon True Person shifted his gaze, looking far out beyond the Yushu Jiange; after a moment, Lu Yang's divine sense vaguely caught a sound of clamor.

The next second, a figure was seen riding an escape light flying rapidly toward them, finally landing on the summit of Sky-End Cliff; it was actually the Ye family head, Ye Shaoying. His face was filled with tension; as soon as he landed the escape light, he looked at the Purging Demon True Person and said in a low voice: "Outside the Yushu Jiange... several unseeing independent cultivators have arrived."

"Independent cultivators?"

Upon hearing this, even Lu Yang was stunned; since when had independent cultivators in the Jiangnan region become so bold? They actually dared to approach the Yushu Jiange; did they not want to live?

Even the Purging Demon True Person was somewhat surprised: "Independent cultivators... why come here?"

"They have come to find you."

Ye Shaoying cautiously glanced at the Purging Demon True Person, then spoke rapidly: "The leader is Mo Shiyuan, the city lord of Jimo City."

Upon hearing this, the Purging Demon True Person immediately frowned.

At the same time, Lu Yang secretly cast a divination and quickly figured out the full story.

Mo Shiyuan, the city lord of the Jiangnan independent cultivator sect 【Jimo City】, had for generations forged magical talismans for the Yushu Jiange and provided various cultivation resources needed by the Yushu Jiange.

More importantly, he had an old connection with the Purging Demon True Person.

This dated back to the previous Buddha Daughter of the Pure Land, Jing Guan; the other party had once entered the Jiangnan region with the intent to spread the teaching, and for this reason was beheaded by the Purging Demon True Person with three sword strikes.

The reason both sides erupted into such intense conflict was because the previous generation's 【Jimo City】, the Buddha Daughter Jing Guan, disregarded the wishes of the Jimo City cultivators and common people and forcibly converted them, provoking a great battle with the Purging Demon True Person; in the end, 【Jimo City】 was destroyed, with only one person surviving.

That person was Mo Shiyuan.

If not for the Purging Demon True Person, Mo Shiyuan's entire family would have been exterminated; this life would have been hopeless for revenge; indeed, not to speak of revenge, he himself would have had to join the Pure Land as a Buddhist cultivator.

In this regard, True Person Dangmo owed him a great debt of gratitude.

"Go and see."

True Person Dangmo's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly returned to his calm demeanor, waved to signal Lu Yang to follow, and took flight on a streak of escape light toward the gate of Yushu Jiange.

At the same time, inside the Gundi Abyss.

True Person Quexie and the Buddha Son Guangming sat facing each other; a chessboard lay before them, black and white pieces interwoven in a battle so fierce the outcome seemed undecided.

"Snap!"

The next second, True Person Quexie slammed a black piece heavily onto a corner of the board, instantly securing the overall victory, then spoke in a flat tone:

"The good show... begins."

(End of this chapter)