Chapter 177: The Daoist Aberration
Chapter 177: The Daoist Aberration
Guangming couldn't help but wish desperately for Lv Yang's presence at this moment.
After all, if Lv Yang had been here, his strength alone would have easily handled Wu Cang. There'd have been no need to bring him here, and none of these events would have unfolded.
'What in the world is this!'
'Wu Cang was at the Mid-Stage of Foundation Building - how could he be overpowered so easily by Soul Possession? Who exactly is this? A True Monarch Reincarnate? A Peak-Stage Foundation Building True Man?'
Guangming's thoughts spiraled into chaos.
Only when this "Wu Cang" turned his gaze toward him did the golden radiance of the Imperial Decree of Golden Inscription gradually dim, reverting to its original Power Talisman form.
"You're quite intriguing too."
The possessed Wu Cang offered a faint smile. "The strongest karmic thread binding you points directly to that Lv Yang fellow. Seems he's made quite a few enemies. Someone from the Primordial Sacred Sect?"
Only Wu Cang himself understood the immense difficulty in reviving his true form—the painstaking effort required to borrow this body for reincarnation and escape the Primordial Daoist's prison. That dying Chongguang True Man had nearly exhausted his power, using a great karmic binding technique to create an inescapable prison.
Without the destined karmic catalyst, freedom would've remained impossible.
That catalyst turned out to be the Primordial True Man's inheritor. Only by wielding the Ten-Thousand Spirit Banner and using its power to pierce the barrier could he have escaped unscathed.
But that would mean willingly becoming the Banner's slave.
And considering the Banner's overwhelming nature, such enslavement would last for eternity - exactly what the Innate True Man had intended.
Yet fate had provided an unexpected opportunity.
Wu Cang's appearance gave him a second option. Wu Cang had already become no match for Lv Yang, yet their karmic fates remained intertwined.
Wu Cang must kill Lv Yang.
In this situation, he needed external assistance.
Which made him the perfect candidate. If he willingly assumed Wu Cang's identity and took on the karmic burden of killing Lv Yang, he could finally escape the Primordial True Man's prison.
How could he possibly refuse such a golden opportunity?
The next moment, "Wu Cang's" gaze settled on Guangming. To his horror, golden light began shimmering across his own body.
"This is your karmic thread", the possessed Wu Cang explained, seemingly in high spirits after his recent escape. "The bodhisattva who sent you was quite considerate - they even amplified your karmic connection."
"At least two True Monarch techniques were used here. One sent this Wu Cang to me, aiding my escape. Another brought you to me, ensuring I could locate my target immediately. Now I'm truly eager to meet this Lv Yang."
"Wu Cang's" face twisted with morbid curiosity.
From what he'd gathered, even within the elite ranks of the Primordial Sacred Sect, few True Men could inspire such hatred and elaborate schemes.
"Come with me."
In one motion, the possessed Wu Cang seized Guangming while simultaneously yanking the glowing karmic thread from his body.
Guided by karmic destiny, they would track across thousands of miles.
Meanwhile, over an endless sea...
Lv Yang piloted the Void-Crossing Golden Ship like a streak of light, riding colossal waves as he fled inland.
Yet the crimson danger above his head only intensified.
"Has my decision been wrong all along?" Doubt gnawed at him. If he'd chosen correctly, why would the crisis grow closer?
What had gone wrong?
This was the first time Lv Yang felt truly powerless since his early Refining Qi days, when he couldn't calculate karmic outcomes and could only be manipulated.
But the next moment, he shook off his doubts. He was no longer that helpless cultivator. Even if he couldn't pinpoint the danger's source, he wasn't without means.
Chongguang True Man's Imperial Edict Jade Plaque already rested in his hand.
Unfortunately, his nervous grip caused the artifact to slip. Only a swift movement from his other hand prevented it from falling into the sea.
A soft chuckle sounded behind him.
"Careful, Dao companion."
Time itself seemed to freeze as a handsome youth materialized beside him, having crossed thousands of miles in an instant.
Boom!
Before the stranger's words faded, the Jade Plaque exploded with light. From it emerged a figure.
Almost simultaneously, divine radiance flared across Lv Yang's body.
Determine Kinship!
In the blink of an eye, Lv Yang vanished, leaving only Wu Cang and the figure from the Jade Plaque staring at each other.
"Hmph? A Daoist aberration."
The shadowy middle-aged figure emerging from the Jade Plaque wore a surprised expression upon seeing Wu Cang.
But before he could react, an indescribable power descended. A sound like shattering crystal erased his existence.
Correspondingly, the extraordinary aura surrounding Wu Cang weakened dramatically.
For a moment, everything fell into darkness.
A force beyond Foundation Building clashed at unimaginable levels, causing the heavens and earth to darken. When visibility returned...
"Damn it!"
Wu Cang hovered midair, cradling the unconscious Guangming, his expression grim. "Just like the Primordial True Man - a Karmic Manifestation."
The moment he appeared, Lv Yang should've died.
Though powerful, the Imperial Edict Jade Plaque required activation. Without that, it was just a useless stone. Wu Cang hadn't intended to give Lv Yang that chance.
But the Life-Bound Divine Ability had surprised him. It maintained just enough clarity for a single activation, breaking his seal and delivering a counterattack before escaping.
"Do you think you can flee?"
Wu Cang's expression darkened as he licked his lips. Following Guangming's karmic thread, he locked onto Lv Yang's location and took another step.
Whoosh!
This time, he faced an Endless Blood Sea Formation.
Billions of tons of seawater infused with the Avici Sword's power crashed down like tidal waves. Wu Cang barely reacted.
His eyes locked onto the Lv Yang within the formation.
Instantly, Lv Yang felt his consciousness sink beneath Wu Cang's gaze. He saw a colossal hand extending toward him.
Everything - the Blood Sea, sword qi - melted away like snow before the hand. Clearly, they belonged to different realms entirely. As the hand threatened to bypass all formations and seize his neck, Lv Yang unleashed his Divine Ability.
Differentiate Sameness!
Cool energy surged through his Spirit Sea, sharpening his senses. Divine radiance reemerged with difficulty, once again helping him vanish.
Determine Kinship!
Lv Yang's disappearance finally wiped the confident smirk from Wu Cang's face, replacing it with cold determination.
Meanwhile, nearly ten thousand miles away...
"Wu Cang?"
Lv Yang materialized from the void, his expression still frozen in shock as he recognized Wu Cang standing before him.
But he couldn't comprehend - how had the Wu Cang he'd nearly killed days ago become such an insurmountable powerhouse overnight? Even a Peak-Stage Foundation Building True Man would struggle against this. What had changed?
Crack!
A sound like breaking crystal rang beside him. Before Lv Yang stood a fissure - and beyond it, Wu Cang.
"Please, stay a moment."
The voice carried an unnatural allure. Despite his resistance, Lv Yang found himself paralyzed, surrendering without a fight.
No escape to heaven! No refuge on earth!
Surely doomed!?
(End of Chapter)
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