Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Eat Shit

By the time Lü Yang came to his senses, Suo Huan had already been pierced by Tribulation Wave. The Yuan Tu Divine Effect on the sword began to activate at lightning speed.

All karmic links are severed for those slain by this sword!

Originally, Suo Huan had been entangled in multiple karmic links. The various Perfected Lords had aided him in Seeking Gold, and they naturally intended to use these karmic links to carve him up completely afterward.

The Blessed Land to the Pure Land.

The Gold Attribute to the Dao Court.

The Fruit to the Stain Sect.

Not to mention, the current World Purger Fei Xue was still using these karmic links to transfer a portion of the Netherworld’s backlash onto Suo Huan.

But now that Suo Huan was dead, the Yuan Tu Divine Effect shattered his karmic links. Suo Huan’s remaining Blessed Land and Gold Attribute instantly became ownerless. World Purger Fei Xue could no longer transfer the backlash and could only bear it herself. This meant all the benefits were gone, while the costs had multiplied!

This was Ang Xiao’s trump card.

Why had he helped Lü Yang refine Tribulation Wave? Besides using Lü Yang’s predicament to create a Ritual and thereby attract the attention of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire…

…the more important reason was this Yuan Tu Divine Effect!

He had used Suo Huan to refine this Spirit Sword precisely so he could use its karmic link-severing Divine Effect at the most critical moment to bring his scheme to fruition!

“Are you going to continue fighting me, or are you going to snatch the Blessed Land and Gold Attribute?”

Ang Xiao laughed heartily. But before the sound of his voice had faded, most of the Perfected Lords had already stopped their attacks and were reaching for the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land and Suo Huan’s Gold Attribute.

The Pure Land and the Dao Court, in particular, immediately gave up on targeting Ang Xiao. After all, both the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land and Suo Huan’s Gold Attribute were things they had already claimed for themselves. If someone else snatched them away, their entire trip would be for nothing. As for suppressing Ang Xiao… that was a relatively long-term interest.

A long-term interest meant it could be postponed.

But the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land and Suo Huan’s Gold Attribute were short-term gains. This was a now-or-never opportunity; how could they just give it up?

Besides, hadn’t Ang Xiao already been injured?

’That should be enough. It’s not like we can actually kill Ang Xiao, so why make an enemy of him to the death? Compared to that, getting more benefits is much more practical.’

“As I thought… I still have to rely on myself!”

High in the dome of Heaven, World Purger Fei Xue gave a cold smile at the sight. She showed no intention of stopping, instead attacking Ang Xiao with even greater frenzy!

Seeing this, Ang Xiao’s expression changed instantly. “You shrew! You Mad Woman!”

He never would have imagined that after seeing the other Perfected Lords withdraw, World Purger Fei Xue, knowing full well her Realm was lower than his, would still insist on fighting him!

He had been successfully plotted against and seriously injured by World Purger Fei Xue this time, partly because he was still enduring the backlash from the Netherworld, and partly because she had drawn in a joint attack from all the other Perfected Lords. But now, with only this Mad Woman left, what right did she have to fight him?

Didn’t she understand how to weigh the pros and cons of an endeavor that wasn’t worth the cost?

Hadn’t she seen that even the other Saint Sect True Monarchs had withdrawn?

However, since World Purger Fei Xue had already committed, Ang Xiao had no choice but to frantically channel his Mana and continue the stalemate with her.

But Ang Xiao’s Cultivation was higher, after all.

Thus, in this tug-of-war, he was the one who ultimately gained the upper hand. The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire continued its descent, step by step, flying toward the gates of the Netherworld.

However, he also paid a price.

Below, the Chongguang Evil Corpse that Ang Xiao had refined into his avatar had begun to burn. He had even sacrificed the entirety of the Tongming Yiyun Talisman Book, a Treasure of Fruit Position. This meant that if he failed to obtain the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire after this battle, he would not get a second chance.

Because over so many years, only Minor Metal alone had attained the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire.

Without his Daoist Remnant as a medium, the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire would no longer cast its gaze down. If he wanted to pull it into the Netherworld again, the difficulty would increase several-fold.

It would be impossible, at least until the great calamity in a thousand years.

’Victory is the only option; defeat is not allowed!’

Ang Xiao’s gaze was grim. He had already pushed all his chips onto the gambling table. Although World Purger Fei Xue was still obstructing him, it was futile.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang held Tribulation Wave, his expression ugly. What frustrated him even more was that he only dared to curse ’That bastard…’ in his heart, not daring to say the word aloud.

’There’s something wrong with Tribulation Wave… Of course. It’s connected to a Perfected Lord, so how could there not be a trick left behind? There might even be more than one. Unless I cleanse it with the Centome, I won’t dare use it again. Heaven knows if it might just turn around and kill me with one slash.’

This had nothing to do with the will of Tribulation Wave’s own Sword Spirit.

Ang Xiao’s trick had completely surpassed the limits of this Quasi-Essence Artifact. Even if the Sword Spirit was unwilling, it was impossible for it to defy his manipulation.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but raise his head.

At this moment, Suo Huan was dead, his soul scattered. The Blessed Land and Gold Attribute were being fought over and carved up by the various Perfected Lords, so no one was paying attention to a minor figure like him.

Yes, a minor figure.

Those were Suo Huan’s last words. That sigh still echoed in Lü Yang’s ears: “We minor figures can only drift with the tide.”

“If we take the right step, perhaps we can ride the momentum upward.”

“But if we take the wrong one, we’ll be buried at the bottom of the sea.”

“Fellow Daoist, take a piece of my advice… Give up. You can’t fight those great figures in the heavens. Now that you’ve escaped a fatal situation, it would be good to just live out the rest of your life in peace.”

“Foundation Establishment Perfection, a lifespan of five generations, more than a thousand years of Time… that’s not too bad.”

“Don’t make the same mistake I did…”

When he left this final testament, Suo Huan’s tone was very calm.

Was he at peace? Lü Yang didn’t think so. He felt it was numbness, despair. The Sea of Suffering was hard to cross, and Seeking Gold was nothing more than overreaching.

However, after a moment of silence, Lü Yang laughed.

’The Sea of Suffering is hard to cross? The Celestial Will is impossible to defy?’

’Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, in the next life, I will guide you across!’

The next second, Lü Yang looked toward the still-battling Ang Xiao and World Purger Fei Xue. He turned his blade sideways and placed it against his own neck.

“Hmm!?”

Almost simultaneously, Ang Xiao sensed something and whipped his head around to look at Lü Yang.

His Ritual to draw out the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire was based on “helping Lü Yang reverse a situation of certain death.” Many of the karmic links were tied to Lü Yang.

However—’But what if I die?’

Lü Yang’s mind was perfectly clear at this moment. If he died, it would mean the “reversal” had failed. The Ritual would collapse, and the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire would naturally conceal itself once more!

This was undoubtedly something Ang Xiao did not want to see. He had already paid such a high price; how could he let it all fall apart at the last moment?

Thus, a voice soon drifted over:

“Little friend, what do you want?”

Ang Xiao’s tone was still calm. He believed Lü Yang had simply understood the situation and was taking the opportunity to extort him, so he got straight to the point.

“I want some of Suo Huan’s Gold Attribute. The amount doesn’t matter.”

Lü Yang replied, equally calm and detached.

“Fine!”

Ang Xiao didn’t haggle. He nodded directly and, while still suppressing World Purger Fei Xue, split off some of his focus to snatch a sliver of the Gold Attribute.

Because he asked for very little, the other Perfected Lords gave him face. After doing this, Ang Xiao paid Lü Yang no more mind and withdrew his gaze. In his view, there was no way Lü Yang would actually kill himself; he was just taking advantage of the crisis to make a profit. Once his demand was met, Lü Yang would naturally know what was good for him.

He even found himself admiring Lü Yang’s opportunism.

’He has methods, cunning, and guts… A talented individual. He’ll be of great use in the future.’

Ang Xiao mused, thinking about how to best use this pawn, Lü Yang, in the future. After all, strictly speaking, he had saved Lü Yang’s life this time.

What was a sliver of Gold Attribute? He could naturally get it back in the future.

With the karmic link of saving his life, he could exploit Lü Yang for a lifetime!

But the next second…

SHHNK!

Ang Xiao, who had just looked away, froze. A rare look of shocked fury finally appeared on his perpetually calm face.

He turned back, only to see Lü Yang grinning coldly at him.

He had already stored away the sliver of Suo Huan’s Gold Attribute, and Tribulation Wave had sliced open his neck, severing his own karmic links at the same time!

BOOM!

Almost simultaneously, the descending Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire immediately faded, concealed itself once more, and broke free from Ang Xiao’s grasp!

“YOU’RE COURTING DEATH!!!”

For the first time, Ang Xiao’s voice exploded across Heaven and Earth, thick with rage. The terrifying pressure made even the other Perfected Lords’ hearts tremble.

But Lü Yang was utterly unafraid. He looked to the sky, puffed out his chest, and gave it the middle finger.

’You want the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire?’

’You want the Fruit of Long-Flow Water?’

’You want to become a Master of Dao?’

“Go eat shit!”

This time, Lü Yang held nothing back. He wasn’t just cursing in his mind; he shouted it out loud. Then, with a massive bang, he fearlessly self-detonated!

“Centome!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep