novelraw Chapter 371: Have I Had It Too Smooth Lately?
Chapter 371: Have I Had It Too Smooth Lately?
’Dongming!’
As the clear Dharma Light landed on Lü Yang, his consciousness, which had been on the verge of fainting, instantly cleared.
’Guarding Stillness and Attaining the Ultimate Void...’
Sword Heart Clarity!
The Second Realm of the Sword Dao, on par with a Foundation-Stage Cultivator, was equivalent to having an extra Innate Divine Technique compared to other Cultivators. At this moment, it played a crucial role.
Of course, this alone was not enough.
More importantly—
’Purple Talent: Skillful!’
[Skillful: No matter how terrifying the attack you face, as long as it’s within the limits of your ability, you can effortlessly handle it twice.]
As a Talent Skill bestowed by the Centome, it didn’t actually require active triggering. Instead, it would automatically activate when Lü Yang encountered an attack that he normally couldn’t block, but for which a theoretical possibility of blocking existed, allowing him to handle it with style a couple of times.
At this moment, it took effect.
Lü Yang had only just achieved Sword Heart Clarity. He might have had only a one-in-ten-thousand, or even one-in-a-hundred-thousand, chance of realizing the danger during the recent crisis.
However, Skillful turned that chance into a certainty!
Given a moment of respite, Lü Yang reacted with extreme speed. As the Divine Effect of Dongming enveloped him, he quickly activated another one of his Abilities.
’Sinking Intent!’
His consciousness connected to his Sword Dao Avatar, and the Minghe Changshi Sword of Righteousness in its hand burst forth with splendid light, followed by a crisp cracking sound.
In the recent battle with Long Yue, Lü Yang had released Sinking Intent from the very beginning! The entire Holy Mountain of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect was still within the range of this Ability; he hadn’t had a chance to retract it. Now, activated by Lü Yang, it was about to reverse his desperate situation and nullify the unfavorable circumstances.
CRACK!
The next second, the world before Lü Yang’s eyes shattered violently. But to his dismay, this did not erase the reality that his true body had walked into the pool.
He was still inside the Moon Worshiping Pool.
He had only returned to the moment he first entered, his consciousness clear, the strange drowsiness yet to strike... but the crisis was far from over!
In fact... it came even faster!
The drowsiness appeared more quickly than before, and a melodious murmur echoed in his ears, as if it were explaining the ultimate principles of the Great Dao between Heaven and Earth.
But this time, Lü Yang was prepared.
With a thought, he sealed his six senses. Empowered by Sword Heart Clarity, time seemed to almost stop in his eyes, allowing him to sit quietly within his own mind.
This was another wondrous use of Sword Heart Clarity. It allowed him to enter a space where only his own consciousness existed. An immense amount of time could pass there while only an instant went by in the outside world. In a crisis, he could retreat to this space to devise a solution before returning to handle the situation with composure.
’What in the world is going on?’
A brilliant Divine Light shone in Lü Yang’s eyes. Although he was in a crisis, he grew even calmer. His Divine Will was like a sword, directly slashing away all negative emotions.
’Who is plotting against me... Ang Xiao?’
He began to review all his experiences since his rebirth, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
’Have I... been having it too easy lately?’
It was as if time and tide were on his side, and Heaven and Earth were helping him. He could turn any danger into safety, and after being reborn into the Sword Pavilion, everything had gone smoothly, without the slightest difficulty.
The result was that his former caution seemed like a pretense.
Encountering a Moon Worshiping Pool of unknown depths, he had actually rushed over in his true body without a second thought, not bothering to inspect it carefully or investigate it thoroughly!
’Is that me? That’s not me at all!’
’This place was born of Heaven and Earth, and I have an Immortal Spirit Body.’
Naturally, a thought surfaced in Lü Yang’s mind: ’...Heaven and Earth want to harm me?’
Why? Aren’t Immortal Spirits supposed to be Heaven’s favorite children?
’Wait... I remember now.’
At this moment, as Lü Yang placed his suspicion on "Heaven and Earth," it was like finding the right key for a previously locked door.
Had he ever suspected Heaven and Earth before?
He had!
Back then, when he was searching for the Shen Metal in the Mass Grave, he had become suspicious when he discovered that the Shen Metal had, by a stroke of luck, fallen right into his hands!
And then?
’There was no "and then"... because of the series of events that happened after the Mass Grave incident—the Profound Spirit Realm and so on—I naturally overlooked it!’
Was there anything else?
’There’s also... Fortune!’
Ten years ago, he had fought against a Perfected Lord, Refining the Hongyun Gold Attribute with the Centome, and through this, obtained the accumulated foundation from Fortune’s countless years of cultivation.
What an immense fortune that was!
But in reality?
’I didn’t use it at all. I just treated the Hongyun Gold Attribute as an outer shell. As for the things the Centome settled from it, I barely even looked at them...’
Thinking of this, Lü Yang felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern, and he broke out in a cold sweat:
’That’s right. Because Fortune, just like me now, had also received the favor of Heaven and Earth. His relationship with Heaven and Earth was even closer than mine. Yet, in the end, he chose to abandon this world. In his memories... there is likely a part that Heaven and Earth do not want me to see!’
This is... the Veil of the Trees!
’Did Ang Xiao act against me in secret? No, that’s not right. If it were Ang Xiao, it would have been impossible for me to kill Fortune and obtain his Gold Attribute.’
Then why?
When both of these incidents occurred, he was dealing with Ang Xiao. This feeling was more like the influence of the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood itself.
’In that case, if Heaven and Earth wished it, could they perhaps also mobilize the Power of Fruit Position?’
’The Perfected Lord is not the master of the Heaven and Earth Fruit Position!?’
At this thought, Lü Yang actually breathed a sigh of relief. ’No... Heaven and Earth must have their own limitations. They can’t just act against me without restraint.’
Perhaps it was because of the existence of the Masters of Dao, with tigers and wolves lurking nearby. In short, even if Heaven and Earth truly wanted to deal with him, they would have to go to great lengths to set a trap.
The bad news was, he had already fallen for it.
’Wait... something’s still not right. Even if they want to deal with me, isn’t it too early? I haven’t even cultivated my Immortal Spirit to the Perfection Level yet.’
It was still missing the final Rooster Metal.
Although Lü Yang could manifest the Rooster Metal Ability in advance through Empowerment, a fake was still a fake. He hadn’t truly obtained the Rooster Metal.
Therefore, his Immortal Spirit Body had not yet reached Major Mastery.
’Even if Heaven and Earth are truly plotting against me, they should be more patient. They should wait until I’ve obtained the Rooster Metal and completed my cultivation before making a move...’
By now, Lü Yang understood Heaven and Earth’s intentions.
To put it bluntly, it was like Lü Yang had spent the whole game farming, finally reaching max level with full gear, and just as he was about to enjoy himself, Heaven and Earth told him, "You can give me the mouse now."
’Those bastards...!’
This was a blatant attempt to snatch the fruits of his victory!
But again, it was too early. He hadn’t obtained the Rooster Metal yet. Or was there some reason that forced Heaven and Earth to make their move ahead of schedule?
Just then—
BOOM!
A sudden loud noise interrupted Lü Yang’s thoughts, forcing him uncontrollably out of his Sword Heart Clarity state. Time resumed its flow.
The intense drowsiness assaulted him once more.
This time, however, Lü Yang still effortlessly handled Heaven and Earth’s mental assault using Tribulation Wave and Sword Heart Clarity.
Skillful!
Once just now, and once again.
The next second, Lü Yang activated the Divine Effect of Sinking Intent again. Reality and illusion shifted, erasing the disadvantageous situation and pushing his state back to when he was clear-headed.
This time, the murmuring in his ears finally changed.
And it wasn’t just murmurs; it was also interspersed with several images. In the images, Buddha Light filled the sky, reflecting a compassionate Golden Buddha Statue.
He rode a Six-tusked White Elephant, which held a white lotus in its mouth. The figure sat cross-legged in meditation, forming the Demon Suppression Seal. The Light of Wisdom radiated from him, capable of eliminating all greed and desire in the world. He was like a bright sun hanging in a clear sky, perfect and flawless, his radiance so brilliant it threatened to blind Lü Yang.
But in the next second, the many images dissolved.
The Golden Body vanished, the Buddha Statue was no more.
What appeared before his eyes was a young Monk, hands pressed together, a compassionate smile on his face. The familiar appearance brought a sudden flash of understanding to Lü Yang’s eyes.
’Guang Ming...’
Why was Heaven and Earth in such a hurry?
Because Guang Ming had arrived! To be precise, the Buddha’s Son had arrived. And what could a Buddha’s Son from the Pure Land be? To put it plainly, he was the spokesperson for the Bhagavat!