Chapter 489: Chapter 489: Ang Xiao Is Born

In the Pure Land, no one noticed the change in the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva.

Meanwhile, in its Spiritual Space, Ang Xiao was still nervously making his arrangements. Of course, he wouldn’t dare try to snatch food from the Bhagavat’s mouth—that was no different from seeking death.

Besides, the Bhagavat had always been shameless.

Although Ang Xiao believed he had no conflict of interest with the Bhagavat, truly angering him would be a huge hassle.

Therefore, he only planned to "borrow" the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva.

’As an Outer Dao True Monarch, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva’s Outer Dao Fruit Position is conceptually similar to the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth. It should be easy to induce the Fruit’s manifestation.’

Being an Outer Dao True Monarch wasn’t a dead end.

If the Outer Dao Fruit Position held by an Outer Dao True Monarch was compatible with a local Orthodox Fruit, there was actually a chance of merging the Outer Dao Fruit with the Orthodox one.

The principle was the same as that of a Second-Grade Cultivation Skill.

However, the risks involved were enormous. Because Outer Dao True Monarchs possessed neither a Grotto Heaven nor a Gold Attribute, there was a significant chance of failure when seeking a local Orthodox Fruit.

Moreover, without a Gold Attribute, there was no possibility of reincarnation.

Thus, Outer Dao True Monarchs had only one lifetime. They couldn’t rely on the Gold Attribute to reincarnate and live forever. Once their lifespan was up, death was final, with no afterlife to speak of.

So, for the sake of eternal life, many Outer Dao True Monarchs were still willing to take the risk of failure.

The first step in using an Outer Dao to seek an Orthodox path was to integrate one’s own Outer Dao Fruit Position into Heaven and Earth.

Only after the Outer Dao Fruit Position merged with Heaven and Earth and aligned with its rules could it gain the Fruit’s recognition. This would allow one to sense the local Orthodox Fruit and no longer be rejected by it.

However, once an Outer Dao Fruit Position was integrated into Heaven and Earth, it was tantamount to accepting the rules of this broken place. Their Fruits would then require Foundation Establishment to be elevated. The benefit was that the Fruit’s Position would become higher, making them stronger; the downside was being restricted by it from then on.

The gap between the Outer Dao and the Orthodox path was just that vast.

Even more often, when an Outer Dao True Monarch sought a local Orthodox path, the outcome was usually their Outer Dao Fruit Position being devoured by the Orthodox Fruit, while they themselves were not accepted by the Orthodox path.

They would die, and their Fruit would be gone too.

The well-fed Orthodox Fruit would then dust itself off and swagger away.

Thus, local Orthodox True Monarchs were quite contemptuous of Outer Dao True Monarchs. Just how contemptuous? A single sentence could vividly describe it:

Even True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde looked down on Outer Dao True Monarchs.

Fortunately, Ang Xiao couldn’t care less about this.

’I don’t need the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva to actually attain the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth. I just need to draw out the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth and use it to help me pull it into the Netherworld!’

Afterward, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva would be returned just as it was.

As for the Bhagavat, as long as Ang Xiao hid in the Netherworld and didn’t come out, the Bhagavat couldn’t do a thing to him unless he paid a great price to descend in his true form.

"But if you’re going to do something... you do it all the way!"

Since he had played his trump card, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva, Ang Xiao naturally intended to go big. How could he be satisfied with just one Fruit of Sand-Within Earth?

’Summon!’

Ang Xiao’s thoughts turned, and he was about to contact Summon again to use him to stir the Fruit of Long-Flow Water. But in the next second, his expression changed abruptly:

’What’s going on?’

In the Netherworld, Ang Xiao’s main body shot to its feet, his face grim... because just now, his karmic link with Summon—

Had been severed!

......

「Overseas, in the Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace.」

"To think such a strange thing could happen in this world..."

Summon stared, dumbfounded, at the man before him who looked exactly like him, only to feel a surging wave of Divine Sense pouring into his mind.

The secrets of the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land.

The trap within the Ten Thousand Spirits Returning to Ruins Dao Scripture.

The Veil of the Trees.

In an instant, a look of sudden realization dawned in Summon’s eyes, finally settling into calmness. "So be it. If you can achieve it, what does it matter if I give you everything?"

As his voice fell, Summon’s Qi trace instantly weakened. His head tilted, and his life scattered. His Spirit Ruins Blessed Land was also drained of all its essence, which merged into the man opposite him, causing the latter’s Qi trace to skyrocket and reach a certain Critical Point within a few short breaths.

The next second, the man—or rather, Banner Spirit Summon—turned and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your help, my lord."

"...It’s nothing."

Lü Yang’s Immortal Embryo Avatar stepped out from the shadows, looking at Banner Spirit Summon with some surprise. To be honest, he had expected a fierce battle.

But that was not how it turned out.

After learning everything, the original Summon of this life had not only chosen not to resist, but had even taken his own life, gifting everything to Banner Spirit Summon.

All because of one obsession:

’Seeking Gold, and re-establishing the World Ruins Realm.’

Summon’s eyes were firm. This was the sole goal he had clung to, the only reason he had survived and cultivated until now. Since he himself had no hope, he would entrust it to his other self.

"How do you feel?" Lü Yang asked.

"Almost fully recovered."

Summon looked invigorated. In his Previous Life, his Spirit Ruins Blessed Land had been severely damaged from channeling the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, bringing it one step away from complete collapse.

But after absorbing the essence of the original Summon’s Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, all the damage had been mostly repaired. As long as he could obtain the blessing of a Daoist Court First-Grade Official Position and Refine a Gold Attribute, he could immediately perform the Magic Instrument to attract the attention of the Fruit of Spring Water, and then attempt to ascend to the Position and Seek Gold!

Thinking of this, Summon immediately looked at Lü Yang.

"My lord, if we were to act now...?"

"See? You’re being hasty again."

Lü Yang shook his head and smiled. "Patience brings success. There is no need to rush. Fellow Daoist, for now, you should return to seclusion and calm your mind. We can discuss this later."

"...This subordinate understands."

Summon nodded, taking a deep breath to compose himself. He clearly realized he had been too agitated, and such a state was not suitable for ascending to a Position and Seeking Gold.

The next second, Summon transformed into a streak of Flying Light and disappeared into the Myriad-Soul Banner.

But just then—

RUMBLE!

Along with a tremendous roar that seemed to shake Heaven and Earth, a figure tore through the sky outside the Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace. Buddha Light filled the heavens—it was the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva!

’I’d like to see just who you are!’

Inside the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva’s Spiritual Space, Ang Xiao’s gaze was icy. A giant hand instantly covered a ten-thousand-mile expanse of the sea, grabbing ruthlessly toward Lü Yang.

In that flash of lightning, Lü Yang didn’t hesitate for a moment.

—Self-detonate!

BANG!

A blast of bloody light exploded at the fingertips of the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva. It was completely irreversible. Ang Xiao could only watch helplessly as Lü Yang vanished.

Not only that, but as he manipulated the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva out of the Pure Land, the Qi trace that had been hidden by the Veil of the Trees was instantly detected. The gazes of several Bodhisattvas from the Pure Land fell upon him almost immediately, filled with intense scrutiny.

"Something’s not right, Dragon and Snake?"

"Unity has not been dispelled, but it feels stiff on Dragon and Snake, unresponsive... You are not Dragon and Snake! What demon are you?"

"..."

Facing the questions of the various Bodhisattvas, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva... or rather, Ang Xiao, had no interest in answering. He simply looked up at the sky.

The Bhagavat did not appear.

’Just as I expected.’

Ang Xiao smiled faintly and stopped hiding completely. With a Heart Thought, a Splendid Light shot toward the heavens, instantly lighting up a star in the firmament:

The Fruit of Sand-Within Earth!

Almost simultaneously, a mysterious cavern opened behind his head, appearing as a gateway to the Netherworld. Behind the gate was Ang Xiao’s main body, completely shrouded in smoke.

「Meanwhile, at the Dao Court in the East.」

Lü Yang’s main body snapped its eyes open. He looked up toward the Overseas, his expression of brief shock and doubt gradually giving way to sincere admiration:

’What a guy, that Ang Xiao!’

’He realized I was deliberately targeting him, so to avoid any further complications, he played his trump card early... So decisive and resolute. He is truly a Perfected Lord of my Stain Sect!’

In a short time, Lü Yang had already dealt with Fortune and handled Summon. If he had been given more time, he could have used No Heaven to take away all the world’s Perfected Lords, trapping Ang Xiao in the Netherworld. Then, he could have used a Fake Holding of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire to make Ang Xiao suffer a massive loss... The process would have been a slow death.

However, Ang Xiao had noticed something was amiss.

He might not have known the specifics of Lü Yang’s plan, but he had keenly sensed the danger. So he struck first, putting Lü Yang in a difficult position to respond!