https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-142-The-Struggle-for-Jiangdong-the-Zouyu-Bloodline/13506010/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-144-Senior-Brother-Zhao-This-Will-Be-the-Last-Time/13506012/
Chapter 143: Guangming
Chapter 143: Guangming
Northern Borderlands, Divine Martial Gate.
Deep within the sect’s grand hall, a streak of crimson light tore through the sky and landed inside the chamber, condensing into a burly man who collapsed onto the floor.
“Pu!”
The moment Huan Wu, a True Man cultivator, knelt, he spat blood uncontrollably—but his expression twisted with anguish. Cupping his mouth with both hands, he swallowed the blood he’d just coughed up.
This “blood” was actually the essence of his Dao Foundation, the lifeblood of his cultivation. Normally, losing even a mouthful would require weeks to recover. Now, it gushed ceaselessly, refusing to stop. The severity of his injuries was undeniable—especially considering he’d abandoned his physical body entirely, fleeing here as a soul.
“Senior Brother!”
At that moment, a young man rushed out from within the hall, his face etched with anxiety. Seeing Huan Wu’s state, he hurried forward to support him.
“Xuan Wu, Junior Brother… Medicine… medicine!”
Huan Wu urged frantically. The youth didn’t hesitate, quickly producing a porcelain vial and pouring out a crimson medicinal pill.
In the next instant, he activated his spiritual energy to dissolve the pill.
The shattered medicine enveloped Huan Wu’s soul, and instantly, organs regenerated, flesh reformed, and bones solidified, reconstructing his original form!
Huan Wu’s soul merged back into this new body, and his previously unstable Dao Foundation stabilized once more. Though the fresh flesh crackled faintly—as if struggling to contain his soul—it was at least functional, no longer leaving his consciousness adrift.
“Good, Senior Brother is safe.”
Seeing this, Xuan Wu finally breathed easier. Yet as he recalled their sect’s current crisis, sorrow surged within him.
“Senior Brother, perhaps we should leave!”
Though deeply attached to Divine Martial Gate, Xuan Wu gritted his teeth and spoke these words, clearly ready to abandon their sect entirely.
“We are True Men, not mere Qi-refining mortals. If we forsake the Divine Martial Gate’s legacy, take nothing, and flee overseas single-mindedly, no one would dare pursue us.”
Xuan Wu’s words left Huan Wu in contemplative silence.
Indeed, if they abandoned the sect now, Divine Martial Gate would surely fall—but they themselves could survive. Yet how could he bear it?
Huan Wu was already over 150 years old, barely having refined his Life-Force Core. He’d been waiting to use the sect’s Karmic Merit Fortune to locate a Celestial Vanguard and Terrestrial Sha, forging them into a divine ability to advance his cultivation further. Even if his natural three-century lifespan ended, this would ensure a smoother reincarnation and a swift return to Foundation Building in his next life.
But if Divine Martial Gate fell?
First, the Karmic Merit Fortune would be lost, making Foundation Building’s second stage unattainable. Second, without the sect, who would guide his reincarnation’s return?
Fleeing overseas would leave them as wandering souls, severing their path to cultivation. Even reincarnation would become a dead-end.
Thus, unless absolutely necessary, Huan Wu had no intention of abandoning their sect. Yet his recent battle against Lv Yang had left him cold.
“The demon has resolved to destroy us. It seems the Jiangnan elders have truly abandoned us.”
For a moment, Huan Wu felt adrift in despair—
Then—
“Amitabha.”
A Buddhist chant rang out like a clear spring, instantly calming the two True Men’s anxiety and fear. Yet it startled them both.
“Pure Land Sect? A Buddhist cultivator?”
Huan Wu lifted his head. A faint sandalwood aroma filled the air. When his vision cleared, a rosy-cheeked youth stood in the hall.
“Venerable Subduing Dragon, at your service.”
The Subduing Dragon Arhat clasped his palms in greeting before smiling. “Though the Sword Pavilion has forsaken the Northern Borderlands, the Pure Land Sect is willing to assist.”
“Is this true?” Huan Wu’s eyes lit up.
Of course not.
Internally, Subduing Dragon Arhat sneered. Externally, he grew even more compassionate. “Buddhists of the Pure Land do not lie. I’ve come specifically to aid your sect.”
In truth, this was Subduing Dragon Arhat’s personal initiative, unrelated to the Pure Land. Lately, he’d divined the karmic threads and discovered that Lv Yang, who’d hidden in the Holy Sect for thirty years, had finally emerged. Seizing this golden opportunity, he’d rushed here to eliminate the threat permanently.
As he mused, Subduing Dragon Arhat retrieved an object from his robe.
It was a golden statue, radiating brilliant light. With a flick of his spiritual energy, it expanded in size, materializing beside Huan Wu.
“This treasure is called the Shelì Golden Body, forged from the selfless sacrifice of my disciples. Compared to the temporary body you’ve created with pills, this vessel is far sturdier. It should restore over eighty percent of your combat power.”
“Many thanks, Holy Monk!”
Huan Wu didn’t hesitate. He immediately merged his soul with the Shelì Golden Body. His weakened spiritual aura surged back, revitalizing his presence.
Subduing Dragon Arhat nodded in satisfaction before shifting his gaze toward Skull Mountain.
“He’s sensed me.”
Frowning slightly, he mused, “That man is exceptionally gifted. He refined his Life-Force Core thirty years ago. Killing him won’t be easy.”
Objectively, as a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator, he had absolute confidence in defeating Lv Yang—there was no way he could lose. However, Foundation-stage cultivators could sense karmic threads, avoiding danger. If Lv Yang chose to flee upon sensing him, Subduing Dragon Arhat would struggle to corner him.
Unless he could confine the battlefield.
Only by trapping Lv Yang with no escape could he kill him. The ideal scenario would be to convert Lv Yang to Buddhism, yielding the greatest benefit.
He had preparations in place for this.
Yet success depended on their contest of schemes. He believed Lv Yang would similarly seek his demise. It would ultimately come down to whose strategy prevailed.
As Subduing Dragon Arhat plotted, elsewhere in the Divine Martial Gate, a sly-eyed monk strutted about with an air of solemnity.
“I wonder how I ended up as the eldest disciple of Subduing Dragon Temple?”
Guangming had been enjoying himself lately. With Guanghai and Guanghui both dead, he’d saved the remaining Pure Land cultivators, earning significant influence.
“Fickle is life…”
Guangming sighed wistfully, though his cultivation drive had waned. For a Buddhist at his level, the path had already peaked.
The Subduing Dragon Temple already had a master.
Unless Subduing Dragon Arhat perished, no matter how high Guangming’s cultivation rose, it would only serve the Arhat’s legacy. Why then should he toil endlessly in cultivation? He might as well indulge a bit!
Just as he mused, a sudden memory surfaced—Lv Yang’s back as he slaughtered Guanghai during the Dao Contention War.
“Hmph!”
Guangming inhaled sharply, spitting curses. “Cursed thoughts! Why did I think of that ferocious monster? Forget it, forget it!”
Yet the more he tried to forget, the clearer that figure became.
In his trance, he seemed to return to the battlefield of that Dao struggle, trembling as he saw that back turn around, smiling at him:
“Master Guangming, it’s been a while.”
A single thought bridged the heavens and earth.
“Determine Kinship!”
“Huh?”
Guangming snapped back to reality, staring blankly at the sudden appearance of Lv Yang before him. He rubbed his eyes and pinched his cheek.
It hurt.
‘Mother of…!’
A True Man!
The next moment, “Plop!” Guangming collapsed to his knees, wailing: “Upper Cultivator! I’ve… I’ve missed you so!”
(End of Chapter)
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