Chapter 452: Chapter 452: Counting the Spoils

The Bhagavat departed.

The Pure Land reverted to its former state. Then, an old monk with white hair and a white beard walked up to Lü Yang and bowed respectfully.

"Amitabha."

"Elder Hongyun, our Pure Land suffered countless deaths in this great calamity. We will be closing ourselves off to the outside world in a few days. We ask that you please do not linger in the West any longer."

His tone was steady, and though it still carried the humility expected of a Lower Cultivator, the confidence behind his words was unmistakable. It was clear that with Unity restored, the Pure Land Buddhist Cultivators had regained their nerve. Lü Yang, on the other hand, felt a chill in his heart, even while still in the state of the Fake Golden Position.

’In a place like this, you really can’t afford to get arrogant...’

Lü Yang was on high alert. Just then, a streak of Sword Light shot over from the distance, brazenly piercing the Pure Land’s airspace. A figure then emerged from it.

He wore a white robe with a longsword hanging at his waist.

Lü Yang looked over and raised an eyebrow. The man had suppressed his Qi trace expertly, and his Abilities were not apparent, but there was no fooling Lü Yang in his current state.

’Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal...’

The man was actually at Foundation Establishment Perfection. He had five Abilities, all held in check, though one seemed slightly weaker, as if it had only just been formed.

Lü Yang made a quick calculation with his fingers, and the man’s identity instantly became clear.

’Demon Subduing Zhenren...’

The Sword Pavilion had three great generational Dao titles: Demon-Vanquishing, Exorcism, and Demon Subduing... And of the three, Demon Subduing Zhenren had not been seen at all during this great turmoil!

’I’d heard he was in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, but now he’s at Perfection... He must have been in seclusion for a breakthrough. Of the three great Perfected Persons, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was just a sacrificial pawn used to create the Fruit of Sword Dao, and Exorcist Zhenren’s path was a dead end because of his Fruit of Pewter Metal. That must mean this Demon Subduing Zhenren is the true heir of the Sword Pavilion’s direct lineage!’

The Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal was the proof!

After all, that Fruit is the supreme of the Metal Element, yet Demon Subduing Zhenren had kept a completely low profile. He had clearly been well-protected by the Sword Pavilion.

At this thought, Lü Yang grew wary.

’Someone like him could have remained hidden in seclusion until the very end... For him to emerge now probably means bad news.’

And Lü Yang’s suspicions were immediately confirmed.

"Lord Ming He."

The moment Demon Subduing Zhenren appeared, he cupped his fist at Lü Yang. "By decree of True Monarch Gangxing, I have come to request that Lord Ming He return to the sect."

Lü Yang raised an eyebrow. That was the Dao title his Sword Dao Avatar used in the Sword Pavilion. For Demon Subduing Zhenren to say it to his face was a clear sign that his avatar’s identity had been exposed. This was to be expected; by the end, he’d all but dropped the act.

Before he could answer, a streak of Flying Light flew over.

Lü Yang looked over and saw it was yet another unexpected person: Jun Tong, a Foundation-Stage Cultivator of the Stain Sect who served under True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo!

And just like Demon Subduing Zhenren,

Jun Tong, who had previously been in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, had now also achieved Foundation Establishment Perfection. Upon appearing, he immediately bowed respectfully to Lü Yang.

"By decree of World Purger Fei Xue, please return to the sect, Lord Hongyun."

Lü Yang was left somewhat speechless.

Minghe was one thing—that really was his Sword Dao Avatar. But Hongyun... He swore, that identity was a complete fabrication by imaginative people. He had simply never denied it!

’They’re forcing me to choose...’

Lü Yang glanced from one to the other—Demon Subduing Zhenren representing the Sword Pavilion, and Jun Tong representing the Stain Sect. Both were clearly acting on the will of their respective Perfected Lords.

Lü Yang knew that neither the Stain Sect nor the Sword Pavilion valued him. What they wanted was the Fruit of Sword Dao he currently possessed.

’The more they want it, the less I can afford to give it to them!’

He had to keep them on the hook.

Once he gave it away, his leverage would be gone. But by holding onto it, he could make others with ulterior motives hesitate to act against him.

’Besides, I plan to take the Fruit of Sword Dao with me when I restart. How could I possibly give it away?’

With this in mind, Lü Yang smiled. "I intend to rest Overseas for a short while. This matter is not urgent. Come and find me again in a few days."

With that, Lü Yang gave neither Demon Subduing Zhenren nor Jun Tong a chance to reply. He took a single step and vanished from sight. He was, after all, a grand Perfected Lord. Speaking to two Lower Cultivators was already a courtesy paid to their respective sects; he wasn’t about to be strong-armed by them.

........

「Overseas. The Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace.」

Lü Yang used the Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth to conceal his Qi trace. While the power of his Fake Golden Position still lingered, he finally began to examine his spoils.

’Everything went as I predicted... except for the Bhagavat’s appearance.’

But even the Bhagavat’s interference hadn’t truly affected Lü Yang’s haul. In fact, it had even helped him resolve what could have been a massive hidden danger.

The Fruit of Sword Dao!

’Originally, this thing was bound to the Pure Land’s Unity. I wasn’t sure if the connection would be severed after I restarted.’

If the connection was severed, the Fruit of Sword Dao might have degraded.

If it wasn’t, Lü Yang worried it would throw the Pure Land into chaos. The moment the Bhagavat turned his gaze upon him, he would have lost more than he gained.

But now, he no longer had to worry.

The Bhagavat’s intervention had made the Fruit of Sword Dao completely independent. Taking it with the Centome would now be completely without issue.

’Other than that, there was the Seven Luminaries Heaven!’

At this thought, Lü Yang immersed his Heart Spirit in the Myriad-Soul Banner and retrieved a Treasure Pearl that overflowed with shimmering light, as if boundless images ebbed and flowed within it.

The Fruit of Long-Flow Water! 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The power of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water he had extorted from Ang Xiao was enough to allow the Seven Luminaries Heaven, a mere Fruit Position Prototype, to mature into a complete Fruit!

The next second, Lü Yang summoned the Seven Luminaries Heaven and tossed the Treasure Pearl into it. The pearl shattered, and the boundless imagery within flowed out like a bursting dam. The Seven Luminaries Heaven devoured it all, growing more perfect and powerful in the process!

’Now *this* was a huge score!’

Excitement flashed in Lü Yang’s eyes, but he quickly calmed himself. ’Two complete Fruits... it’s a difficult choice. Which one would be more reliable for me to attain?’

For him, each had its own merits.

The Seven Luminaries Heaven would be easy to attain; he could even make the attempt immediately if he wished.

The Fruit of Sword Dao, however, would require more time, as his Sword Intent had yet to reach the near-pinnacle realm once achieved by the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected.

Correspondingly, however, the potential of the Fruit of Sword Dao was certainly far greater than that of the Seven Luminaries Heaven.

’A pity one can only attain a single Fruit... unless I can find a way to fuse the Seven Luminaries Heaven and the Fruit of Sword Dao into a single Fruit...’

Could it be done?

Lü Yang thought about it. There was hope!

’The Qi Collection Technique... by channeling the power of my current Fake Golden Position and combining it with my astounding intellect, I should have enough to deduce a Second-Grade Cultivation Technique!’

At this thought, an idea sparked in Lü Yang’s mind.

"Progenitor, aid me!"

The next second, the figure of Progenitor Tingyou appeared and expertly entered a state of deep comprehension.

Immediately after, Lü Yang also handed control of Yama Hall over to Progenitor Tingyou, allowing his own formidable intellect to be perfectly utilized.

As for Lü Yang himself, he had more important things to do.

Besides the two complete Fruits, he had obtained another prize of immense value.

Exorcist Zhenren, Wu Taian, the Buddha’s Son’s Dharma Appearance, Xiang Ye, the Immortal Spirit Upper Chapter... during this period of the Fake Golden Position, he had harvested a total of five Foundation Establishment Gold Attributes!

Once the Centome processed them, they would become five Golden Talents!