Inside Zhalong Pass.

The blood-polluted Qi sent into the formation by True Person Yinshan using Qi Refining cultivators during the previous great battle had already been completely cleared out, and the formation had been restored to its perfect state.

Thanks to this, the mood of the gathered True Persons had also improved significantly.

Except for Duobao Tongzi.

Because at this moment, he had already been faintly isolated.

Although True Person of the Five Elements did not speak it aloud, in his heart, he was clearly still suspecting that Duobao Tongzi was a spy planted by the Demon Sect.

This left Duobao Tongzi filled with stifled anger with nowhere to vent.

He admitted that the death of Elder Fishing Dragon was indeed somewhat related to him, but wasn’t that the Demon Sect’s cunning trick, which he had carelessly fallen for?

How could he possibly be a spy?

Back then, he had even been robbed by the Demon Sect!

He and the Demon Sect had a blood feud!

Everyone understood this reasoning.

However, the prejudice in people’s hearts was like a great mountain.

Once a fixed perception had formed, no matter how much he tried to explain, it was extremely difficult to remove it.

Frustrated, he had no choice but to approach the Black Iron Sword Master.

After all, among the gathered True Persons, only the Black Iron Sword Master had just arrived.

He had no preconceived notions about him and would not exclude him, so at least they could have a conversation.

As for how to interact with a sword cultivator, Duobao Tongzi was quite experienced.

Just praise his sword.

“Daoist friend, may I touch your sword?”

Duobao Tongzi got straight to the point and then expressed a few words of admiration for the Upper Profound Sword Sect.

With a few exchanges, they quickly became acquainted.

“Actually, I think what the Five Elements Daoist said before was somewhat biased.” Duobao Tongzi smiled and said, “That Yuan Tu is indeed formidable, but not invincible. With your strength, as a sword cultivator, though you might not be his match, exchanging a hundred moves or so shouldn’t be a problem.”

As soon as these words came out, they struck right at the Black Iron Sword Master’s sore spot.

After all, the Five Elements True Person had left him speechless with his earlier remarks.

Now, finally hearing a fair statement, how could he not be pleased?

For a moment, he even developed a bit more goodwill toward Duobao Tongzi.

“Daoist friend flatters me.”

The Black Iron Sword Master waved his hand and said, “If that devil is truly as the Five Elements Daoist describes, I fear that only the Sect Master of our Sword Sect could fight him.”

“Upper Profound True Person?”

Duobao Tongzi’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and after another round of praise, he continued, “Speaking of which, I heard that Upper Profound True Person is currently attempting to break through to the Late Stage.”

“Such an endeavor is extremely dangerous. The tribulation of heavenly thunder is hard to pass. Aren’t you worried, Daoist friend?”

“Hahaha!”

The Black Iron Sword Master burst out laughing upon hearing this.

“The so-called breakthrough to the Late Stage is just a false rumor we intentionally spread. How could the Sect Master be so reckless?”

“This time, the Sect Master received support from the Sword Pavilion and plans to forge a supreme spiritual sword. Once it is completed, he will immediately come to assist us. That’s why I wasn’t worried about anyone attacking Profound Sword Mountain before. It’s because the Sect Master isn’t in closed-door seclusion for a breakthrough. If a crisis arises, he can act at any time!”

“If necessary, I can even contact the Sect Master.”

As he spoke, the Black Iron Sword Master took out a lamp from his sleeve.

“Before I left, the Sect Master specially refined this soul lamp and entrusted it to me.”

“Within the lamp is a strand of the Sect Master’s divine sense.”

“With this divine sense, I can contact the Sect Master through the soul lamp at any time, keeping up with the situation at Profound Sword Mountain. What is there to worry about?”

As the Black Iron Sword Master spoke, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Because Duobao Tongzi before him had, for some reason, turned terrifyingly pale, his mouth twitching uncontrollably, and one finger trembling as it pointed at him.

“Daoist friend?”

The Black Iron Sword Master was taken aback.

He looked himself over—his clothes were intact, the lamp was extinguished, and his spiritual sword was undamaged.

Nothing seemed wrong.

“Hmm?”

The Black Iron Sword Master froze.

In the next moment, he blinked, and then this Mid Foundation Establishment True Person, who was usually spotless, actually wiped his eyes.

He hadn’t seen wrong.

The lamp was extinguished.

Extinguished!?

With a crash, the lamp fell to the ground and shattered to pieces, as the divine sense and spiritual power that had sustained it had completely dissipated.

At this moment, the Black Iron Sword Master instead wished that Upper Profound True Person was truly in seclusion trying to break through.

Because at least then he could comfort himself, thinking the lamp had gone out because the Sect Master failed in his breakthrough.

However, right now, he could not deceive himself.

The extinguishing of the Sect Master’s soul lamp could only mean one thing:

The Upper Profound Sword Sect had fallen!

“Impossible, impossible!!!”

The Black Iron Sword Master’s eyes dimmed, muttering to himself, as sword Qi erupted from his entire body.

He had actually lost control of his sword heart!

However, in the next instant—

“Pa!”

A fierce slap landed hard on the Black Iron Sword Master’s face, snapping him back to his senses.

He turned in confusion to look at the one who had slapped him.

It was Duobao Tongzi.

At this moment, Duobao Tongzi’s face was also twisted with fear, yet his eyes shone with clarity, calm to the extreme.

“Daoist friend, don’t panic.”

Duobao Tongzi spoke in a deep voice, “I have already sealed off the Qi. No one knows about the situation at the Upper Profound Sword Sect yet. This is our chance! While there’s still a time gap, we must quickly find a way to escape. There is no longer any need to defend Zhalong Pass!”

Duobao Tongzi saw the situation clearly.

With the fall of the Upper Profound Sword Sect, the strongest reinforcement from the Kingdom of Qing was gone.

Zhalong Pass had instantly become a rootless tree, a source without water!

In contrast, the Demon Sect’s morale was at its peak.

What was the point of continuing to fight?

“Staying in Zhalong Pass is waiting for death. Now, either we find a new backer or we flee. Or are you, Daoist friend, planning to reincarnate?”

Faced with life and death, the Black Iron Sword Master quickly sobered up.

“Daoist friend… you’re right!”

With the fall of the Upper Profound Sword Sect, Zhalong Pass had become a death trap.

If they didn’t run now, they wouldn’t be able to escape when the Demon Sect attacked from the south!

However, he soon became dispirited again.

“But even if we escape, where would we go?”

To the south?

To the Sword Pavilion?

The Sword Pavilion had funded the Upper Profound Sword Sect precisely to have them fight at this moment.

How could they allow him to desert now?

To the east?

The Kingdom of Qing would definitely make an example out of them.

To the north?

To seek refuge with the Primordial Saint Sect?

At this thought, the Black Iron Sword Master looked at Duobao Tongzi with a suspicious gaze.

You brat… could you really be a spy of the Demon Sect?

No, perhaps of the Primordial Saint Sect?

At the same time, Duobao Tongzi noticed the half-suspicious, half-expectant look in the Black Iron Sword Master’s eyes and instantly understood his unspoken meaning.

“I really am not!”

Duobao Tongzi looked helpless.

At this point, he actually wished he were a spy for the Saint Sect, but he truly had nothing to do with those beasts in Jiangbei.

“I meant heading west, to submit to the Pure Land!” Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novęlfire.net

As he spoke, Duobao Tongzi reached into his robe and took out a jade-carved Buddha statue.

“To tell you the truth, the Pure Land once approached me.”

He truly wasn’t a Saint Sect spy.

He was a Pure Land spy!

“The Great Arhat of the Pure Land promised me that as long as I brought people into the Pure Land during this war, my future status in the Pure Land would rise. I could even establish temples and monasteries there.”

Duobao Tongzi spoke in a low voice, “And you, Daoist friend, are the first True Person I’ve recruited. Joining the Pure Land now has the greatest benefits. Later, you too can recruit others. The more people we bring in, the more cultivation resources we’ll have in the Pure Land in the future.”

“…”

The Black Iron Sword Master fell silent for a moment.

But when he thought of how his Sword Sect was already gone, what was there to hesitate about?

He gritted his teeth and asked, “What do I need to do?”

Duobao Tongzi was overjoyed.

“Just place your hand on the Buddha statue.”

The Black Iron Sword Master immediately reached out.

In the next instant, he felt a burst of Buddhist light rise in his sea of consciousness, like a blazing sun, illuminating his thoughts.

Immediately after, within the Buddhist light, a white lotus platform appeared, upon which sat a Dharma body.

The figure had thirty-two perfect features, wore a fleshy crown, held a Dharma implement, radiated brilliant light, and bore a compassionate smile that exuded a transcendent aura far surpassing that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment True Person.

“Amitabha.”

The four-character Buddhist chant resounded from the Dharma body, instantly calming the Black Iron Sword Master’s earlier panic and fear, bringing a serene and peaceful expression to his face.

Then, he placed his palms together and sighed.

“Ah… today I finally know who I truly am!”

“Amitabha!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep