Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Ah Bi Karmic Links

Overseas, upon a boundless stretch of sea.

As Lü Yang flew on his Flying Light, he saw a brilliant pillar of fortune burning fiercely above his head, which then transformed into an invisible intuition guiding his path.

This was all the Merit and Fortune from the Divine Martial Sect.

In his Previous Life, he had used this Merit and Fortune to find the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm. But in this life, he had broken through, and this abundant Merit and Fortune could be put to other uses.

The next second, a streak of red light floated out of Lü Yang’s sleeve. It coalesced into the form of a petite and delicate young girl wearing a red padded jacket with her hair in a bun. She landed on Lü Yang’s lap and snuggled affectionately into his arms. “Master, are we going to find the old master?”

“That’s right.”

Lü Yang patted the little girl’s head and chuckled. “The karmic links on you are heavy. Towed by Heaven and Earth’s Killing Intent, they have manifested ahead of schedule.”

This was a new discovery for Lü Yang.

When he first accepted the Abi Sword, Lü Yang had also inherited a karmic link from its original owner, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand Zhenren.

Having obtained the Spiritual Treasure, he was now obligated to one day guide the original owner’s reincarnated self back from the cycle of reincarnation. Unfortunately, this karmic link seemed exceedingly troublesome—so much so that the Abi Sword’s previous Sword Masters had all died because of it. Otherwise, a Superior Sentient Artifact like this would not have been left gathering dust in the Stain Sect.

And now that Lü Yang had broken through to the Mid-phase, this karmic link had come calling.

’It shouldn’t have happened this quickly,’ he thought. ’But first, I broke through to the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment, and second, Heaven and Earth’s Killing Intent is pushing it along. That’s what caused the karmic link to emerge early…’

Driven by this karmic link, he had no choice but to go.

If he didn’t, the Abi Sword’s Sword Spirit, willing or not, would be forced by the karmic link to leave him. It might even cause a backlash against his Fortune.

This was the insidiousness of Heaven and Earth’s Killing Intent.

It didn’t create karmic links directly. Instead, it co-opted existing ones, leaving no trace.

Although Lü Yang’s strength had risen in this life, the corresponding dangers would also become more terrifying. If nothing unexpected happened, he would still die a horrible death Overseas.

But for nothing unexpected to happen? That was impossible.

’Bring it on. Bring it all on…’

Looking at the increasingly crimson character for “Danger” above his head, Lü Yang grinned. The document personally written by the Perfected Lord in his robes was the biggest “unexpected event” of this trip Overseas!

No matter who came, only death awaited them!

A moment later, as the majority of the Divine Martial Sect’s Merit and Fortune was consumed, the Karma Links gradually became clear. Lü Yang immediately performed a divination with his fingers, and the full story became clear in his mind.

The next second, Lü Yang’s eyebrows shot up. ’They’re not even bothering to put on an act anymore…’

The reincarnation site of the Abi Sword’s original owner, that Great Trueman, was not only in a barren land Overseas, but was also somehow involved with the Dao Court?

’…Hm?’

Just then, as if sensing something, Lü Yang suddenly raised his head. Gazing into the distance, he saw a magnificent Sword Light speeding toward him.

……..

「Overseas, in the Star Sea.」

The Spiritual Qi environment here was far harsher than in the Chaotic Flow Sea where the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm was located. It was a desolate region, completely unsuitable for Cultivators.

Yet in this perilous place stood a colossal ship, as large as a mountain. An Artifact’s Profound Light, like a rising sun, rippled out from its bow, suppressing the sea, calming the waves, and stabilizing the Spiritual Qi wherever it passed. On the great ship’s deck, countless figures bustled about, all armored and heavily armed.

“General, all preparations are complete.”

As a messenger came to report, a burly man standing at the bow, wearing a Three-Beam Silver Crown and a Cyan Silk Robe, showed a look of excitement.

In the Dao Court in the East, one’s attire denotes one’s official rank.

A Three-Beam Crown and a Cyan Silk Robe signified that the burly man’s official rank was Fifth Grade, just one step away from the Red Silk Robe of a Fourth-Grade high official of the court.

And this was indeed the case.

The man’s name was Ying Tongshou. He was the current General Wude, in command of the Fubo Navy. Empowered by his Fifth-Grade office, his Cultivation was no weaker than the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

“Pass down the order.”

Ying Tongshou’s expression was grave. “Seal the Star Sea. Do not let anyone enter. Don’t forget, we are here on a secret order from His Majesty!”

“If the Observatory’s calculations are correct, Blood Demon Island will fall into the Star Sea in three days. As long as we enter first, retrieve the soul of that Blood Demon Zhenren, and bring it back to the East, then Master Yuan Tu of the Demon Sect will be forced by the karmic entanglement to pay a visit to the East.”

“General, this assignment won’t be easy…”

Beside Ying Tongshou, his adjutant heard this and grew uneasy. “General, you only hold a Fifth-Grade office. It might be dangerous to enter Blood Demon Island so rashly.”

“You need not worry about that.”

Ying Tongshou laughed. “It is precisely because I am only a Fifth-Grade Official at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment and completely unknown that no one will notice me when I go to sea.”

“But once I am at sea, that’s another story.”

As he spoke, Ying Tongshou took a sheet of gold foil from his robes. The adjutant looked closely and his face filled with astonishment. It was a Holy Decree for a promotion!

“The General is being promoted?” the adjutant asked, overjoyed.

“That’s right!” Ying Tongshou said smugly. “His Majesty sent a secret decree long ago, promoting me to the Fourth-Grade rank of General Guangwei. By then, my Cultivation will be at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment!”

This was the system of the Dao Court. As long as one’s official rank was high enough, their Cultivation would follow suit. Even if you were a simple grunt at the First Layer of Qi Refining one second, if you were granted a Second-Grade office the next, you could instantly become a Great Trueman at Foundation Establishment Perfection… Of course, the result of doing so would, in all likelihood, be death by bodily explosion.

This is because an official rank also requires Merit and Fortune to support it.

To put it bluntly, if you don’t have the destiny for it, you can’t handle the position even if it’s given to you. Far from a meteoric rise, you would instead suffer a backlash.

This was also the genius of the Dao Court’s system.

Any official of the Dao Court could only accumulate Merit and Fortune by protecting the borders and pacifying the people. Therefore, to determine if someone was worthy of promotion, they only needed the Observatory to take a look.

A great deal of Merit meant you had a record of many achievements, while a lack of it meant you were an unjust official.

This was why the Dao Court was counted among the ranks of the Righteous Dao. To put it bluntly, of the four cardinal directions—east, south, west, and north—the lands under the Dao Court’s rule were the most stable.

But just then—

RUUUMBLE!

A tremendous roar, like thunder rolling through the sky, was accompanied by an explosion of Spiritual Qi that shot to the heavens. It transformed into a surging Spirit Tide that swept in all directions, reflecting a five-colored splendor across the vault of the sky.

“What’s happening?”

Ying Tongshou’s expression turned grim. He then saw the messenger who had just left come scrambling back. “General, people are fighting!”

“…Fighting?”

Ying Tongshou was taken aback. Before he could ask for more details, another explosion rang out, this one seemingly much closer than the last. The Spirit Tide even kicked up massive waves that crashed against the Fubo Battleship of the Daoist Navy, causing the vessel’s Mythical Light to flicker.

Seeing this, Ying Tongshou’s expression grew even more solemn.

“Early Stage of Foundation Establishment… No, Mid-phase!”

’To have such power… this isn’t some ordinary Overseas local. This person must be from the mainland. Their might is not the least bit inferior to a Positional Celestial Official…’

The more he sensed, the more alarmed Ying Tongshou became.

’Who on earth could this be?’

Before he could finish his thought, a third explosion sounded.

This time, Ying Tongshou finally saw the two combatants on the sea’s horizon: two streaks of Splendid Light, one red and one white, which created the explosion as they collided.

“Wu Ghost Inheritor, die!”

A clear voice rang out. The incandescent white Sword Light in the sky slashed down once more, while the red Flying Light made a turn and vanished into thin air.

BOOM!

The Sword Light plunged into the sea, instantly creating a bottomless vortex that churned the surrounding currents. Countless fish and shrimp were killed in the process.

Not far away, Lü Yang reappeared, his expression calm and unconcerned.

On the Myriad-Soul Banner in his hand, Progenitor Tingyou’s figure quietly materialized, his expression full of guilt. “A Jade Pivot Sword Cultivator… I’m the one who implicated you in this.”

“It’s a small matter. Don’t blame yourself, Progenitor.”

Why would the current Lü Yang feel any fear? He wished even more would come. It was the perfect chance to chum the waters, wait for all the karmic links to gather, and then kill them all in one fell swoop!

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