In the West, as a crowd of commoners kowtowed in unison, melodious bell tolls suddenly echoed from the horizon. Wherever they passed, golden radiance surged like a spring, and a myriad of phenomena manifested.

On the distant horizon, thousands of auspicious clouds amassed. From within them, a magnificent temple as large as a mountain emerged. Countless Monks bustled about inside, chanting sutras and discussing the Buddhist Dharma. The melodious Buddhist hymns, mingled with the tolling bells, reached the ears of Lü Yang and Demon-Vanquishing Perfected.

BOOM!

The bell tolled eighty-one times in succession. Each strike was like a sharp blow to the head, ringing in Lü Yang's ears and forcing a bizarre thought to the surface:

'Amita... what the fuck!'

CLANG! CLANG!

The next second, his Sword Intent stirred of its own accord, dispelling the Buddhist hymns echoing in his mind. The jolt brought Lü Yang back to his senses, and he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

'What vile stuff!'

Had a Foundation-Stage Cultivator with a weaker Cultivation been here, they would have probably, at this very moment, gleefully taken refuge in the Pure Land to become one of its Dharma-Protector Arhats.

And that wasn't even the full power of the Buddhist hymns. Nearly ninety percent of their terrifying "Enlightenment" Divine Effect was pouring down on Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. Yet, even so, when Lü Yang glanced over, he saw that the Perfected Person's expression remained as placid as a still well, showing not the slightest change.

At that moment, the old Monk who had led the commoners in worship unsteadily got to his feet.

He placed his palms together and said respectfully, "Weituo Celestial Demon-Vanquishing Arhat, the Buddha's Son has been waiting for you. Please, follow this humble Monk into the Great Heroic Treasure Hall."

"Lead the way."

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected nodded. Lü Yang followed close behind. The three of them proceeded into the Pure Land, where the sights along the way were of a world in perfect peace and prosperity.

Everyone was courteous and self-disciplined; every family had a home and a field.

Monastics discussed the Dharma and Novice Monks debated the sutras, all in joyful harmony. There were no disputes; everyone was content, free from the toils and worries of making a living.

Such a scene was unimaginable anywhere else. After all, mortals were mortals and Cultivators were Cultivators; the relationship between the two had always been that of a herder to his pigs and dogs. How could they possibly be treated as equals? And yet, here in the Pure Land, everyone was equal. Even an Arhat might be found discussing the Buddhist Dharma with a commoner from the market.

"Amitabha!"

Finally, in the center of the West, a majestic Divine Mountain rose from the earth. The Buddha Light here was many times more brilliant, truly illuminating the ten directions.

And atop the Divine Mountain stood an ancient temple.

Shengyi Shengming Temple!

DONG—!

A deep, lingering bell toll emanated from the temple, carrying an air of serenity. Behind its wide-open gates was a magnificent main hall, and within it stood a Golden Buddha Statue.

Flanking the Buddha Statue were rows of Pure Land Arhats. Lü Yang even spotted a few familiar faces among them. Each Arhat bore a solemn and saintly expression as they stood guard around the Golden Buddha Statue. Buddha Light glowed from behind their heads, and countless pairs of eyes stared intently at Demon-Vanquishing Perfected.

And beneath the Golden Buddha Statue.

Rosy-lipped and fair, the Novice Monk-like Buddha's Son Guang Ming stood with his palms pressed together, a smile on his face as he looked down upon Demon-Vanquishing Perfected like a fish ready for the pot.

"Good, good."

Buddha's Son Guang Ming nodded lightly. "Weituo Celestial Demon-Vanquishing Arhat, now that you have come in person, you must have awakened to your past. Today, you shall return to your rightful place and attain the true Fruit of an Arhat."

"..."

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected didn't respond. Instead, he looked to the side of Buddha's Son Guang Ming. Standing there was a young man with a refined, scholarly face and a composed temperament.

It was his bosom friend, the mortal who had long ago passed on the way of the Non-Killing to him.

The man was now smiling with fond remembrance, giving a slight nod. His eyes were filled with gratification and admiration, overflowing with affection.

Upon seeing this, however, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected let out a low sigh.

"Patron, why do you sigh?"

Buddha's Son Guang Ming smiled at the sight. "Is it because there is still violent energy lingering in your heart? No matter. Feel free to vent it all. That is precisely why all the Arhats are here today."

He couldn't care less about Demon-Vanquishing Perfected's attitude.

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was past the point of no return. Sacrificing his body to his sword to verify his Fruit of Sword Dao was now a foregone conclusion. The only question was how he would go about it.

If Demon-Vanquishing Perfected were to give up and not resist, it would be a joyous outcome for all. The Pure Land would gain another Weituo Celestial Demon-Vanquishing Arhat, and they would also harvest a Non-Killing Sword Intent honed to its absolute limit. With time, they might even be able to nurture their very own Fruit of Sword Dao.

If Demon-Vanquishing Perfected chose to seize the opportunity and go on a killing spree, Guang Ming would be equally pleased to see it.

'I have three thousand Monks and countless believers!'

'They are all prepared for you. You may slaughter them as you please!'

'The more you kill, the more viciously you kill, the more completely you will vent your killing intent. And the Non-Killing Sword Intent I recover afterward will be that much purer! Its quality will be even higher!'

From the very beginning, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected never had a choice.

Whether he came to the Pure Land or not wouldn't change the outcome. The only difference was that if he came, the Pure Land would reap the rewards without lifting a finger. If he didn't come, the Pure Land would have simply taken the initiative to bring him here.

Either way, he was doomed!

"Amitabha!"

Buddha's Son Guang Ming chanted the Buddha's Name again, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. 'Demon-Vanquishing Perfected... with such aptitude and possessing Sword Intent, he's far more suitable than that Immortal Spirit!'

Thinking of this, he glanced at Exorcist Zhenren by his side.

"..."

This Foundation Establishment Perfection from the Sword Pavilion had already lost his mind completely, utterly deluded by the Veil of the Trees and reduced to little more than a puppet.

Seeing this, Buddha's Son Guang Ming mused, 'Activating the Earthly Buddha Country Magic Instrument requires four disciples. I'm still short three. If I take Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, Ang Xiao's avatar, and that Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter as my disciples, the resulting Magic Instrument will surely be of the highest Upper Grade!'

This was his true plan.

As for his previous request for Ang Xiao to help deal with Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, it was pure deception. After all, he couldn't possibly count on a Perfected Lord from the Stain Sect.

From start to finish, the one he was after was Ang Xiao himself.

Helping Ang Xiao seize the Fruit of Pewter Metal was a sham. His true goal was to use the opportunity to lure Ang Xiao into sending down an avatar, then convert him through Enlightenment to become his disciple!

'Demon-Vanquishing Perfected has taken the bait. Without him, the Sword Pavilion is half-crippled, and that Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter won't be able to escape my grasp... All that's left is Ang Xiao.'

"Senior Ang Xiao, the time has come."

Buddha's Son Guang Ming spoke quietly, calling out in a low voice as per his agreement with Ang Xiao. He just had to wait for Ang Xiao to take the bait and fall into his trap.

However, as time passed—

"..."

—nothing happened.

Exorcist Zhenren remained standing there in a daze, completely motionless. Ang Xiao made no move whatsoever to use him to seize the Fruit of Pewter Metal.

"...Hm?"

Buddha's Son Guang Ming's brow gradually furrowed.

"Senior Ang Xiao?"

"..."

Still no response.

In an instant, the expression on Buddha's Son Guang Ming's face changed. The Buddha Light from the Victorious Will-Born Clarity Tathagata's World Appearance behind him flared, illuminating a single, clear thought:

'What did I forget?'

... 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

「South, the heart of the Sword Pavilion.」

On the chaotic battlefield, an old man with his hands clasped behind his back and a leisurely smile in his eyes strolled into the Ye Family's clan lands as if no one else were there.

"It has been decades, fellow Daoist. You are as impressive as ever."

The old man walked into the Ye Family grounds, his expression unchanging as he glanced at the mountain of corpses and sea of blood all around. Then, he looked directly at Lü Yang's true body, which was surrounded by innumerable Banner Spirits.

Lü Yang, however, was on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy.

'The Yun Family's Ancestor...'

This was the person Buddha's Son Guang Ming had forgotten. Exorcist Zhenren was just a smokescreen thrown out by Ang Xiao; the Yun Family's Ancestor was his true target!

'...As I expected!'

Lü Yang lowered his eyes. He had previously used the Yun Family's Ancestor to spy on the conversation between Ang Xiao and Buddha's Son Guang Ming, but in the end, he had done nothing.

Because he had suddenly recalled something afterward, an incident he had almost forgotten: back in the Profound Spirit Realm, at the South Celestial Gate, Ang Xiao had actually seen the Yun Family's Ancestor! He had been right there beside Lü Yang, and had personally witnessed him manipulating the Yun Family's Ancestor!

'He knows I have a connection to the Yun Family's Ancestor!'

'So when he worked with Buddha's Son Guang Ming, it was ostensibly to bait Exorcist Zhenren and scheme for the Fruit of Pewter Metal. But in reality, his true target was probably me!'

At this thought, Lü Yang let out a long breath of Muddy Qi... but he wasn't panicking. Times had changed. He now had the confidence to negotiate with Ang Xiao.

"This nameless nobody greets you, Senior."

Lü Yang cupped his fists and bowed respectfully.

To his surprise, however, Ang Xiao—currently borrowing the body of the Yun Family's Ancestor—frowned slightly at his words before letting out a soft chuckle.

"Things have come to this, fellow Daoist. Why bother with the false modesty?"

"Fortune! It's you, isn't it!"

Lü Yang: "...?"