Chapter 528: Chapter 528: Toast or Forfeit

Lü Yang’s calculations were meticulous.

’Wiping out all the Monks... isn’t actually that big of a deal. In my Previous Life, the Saint Sect slaughtered the Sword Pavilion down to the last man, yet the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord never even showed himself.’

That was all the proof he needed.

This was even more true in the context of the Pure Land. The Bhagavat had always treated Lower Cultivators with equality—mortals, Qi Refining, and Foundation Establishment cultivators were all the same to him.

From another perspective, however, the Bhagavat was also the Nascent Soul Daoist Lord who most cherished his own cultivators. Otherwise, he wouldn’t so often mingle with the Lower Cultivators. Yet the reason for this wasn’t some heartfelt concern for his disciples, but something that aligned more closely with his own interests.

[Fruit of Rampart Earth].

’The Unity of the Pure Land’s Monks is the key to binding the [Fruit of Rampart Earth]. When the Bhagavat protects the Monks, he’s really just protecting the [Fruit of Rampart Earth]!’

The conclusion, then, was obvious.

’As long as I can maintain their Unity while slaughtering all the Monks and ensure the [Fruit of Rampart Earth] doesn’t leave the Pure Land, there won’t be any problem.’

The Bhagavat’s bottom line was the [Fruit of Rampart Earth].

As long as the [Fruit of Rampart Earth] remained in the Pure Land, no matter how many Monks died, it would just be a number to the Bhagavat—not even worth a second glance.

So how could he kill the Monks yet still maintain their Unity?

[Non-Killing Sword Intent]!

’Those beheaded by Master Demon-Vanquishing Perfected don’t truly die. If he’s willing, he can slaughter all the Monks without affecting their Unity.’

This was Lü Yang’s plan.

’Compared to that whole [Buddhist Cultivation] nonsense, this suits me better. There might be more Variables, but at least everything will be under my control!’

It came back to the same principle: he would not rely on others.

Deals, cooperation, deception... these were all just tools. But when it came to the final step, to the matter of his own path of Seeking Gold, Lü Yang would only trust himself!

Thinking of this, Lü Yang looked again at the middle-aged Monk that the Five Dharma Appearances had transformed into.

At this point, a realization dawned on him with increasing clarity:

’They must have calculated this possibility beforehand. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have put Guang Ming in front, hoping to trick me into revealing my Fake Golden Position.’

Too bad they failed.

’So they decisively dangled the grand prize of "becoming master of the Pure Land," both as a persuasion tactic and a way to distract me from thinking of other methods.’

At this thought, Lü Yang raised his eyebrows slightly.

High in the sky, the [Immortal Dao Law] that held the Five Dharma Appearances firmly in its grasp shone ever brighter, as if hinting at the Dao Court Daoist Lord’s attitude.

’The Dao Court Daoist Lord... he probably calculated this method long ago. After all, if I charge into the Pure Land and carry out a massive slaughter, all the karmic links will fall upon me. It would also avenge the Dao Court’s past humiliation of having the Bhagavat force his way in and steal the [Fruit of Rampart Earth]. With this animosity between us, even the Bhagavat will be helpless.’

Because this was a debt the Bhagavat owed the Dao Court Daoist Lord!

They hadn’t made trouble in the past simply because the opportunity never arose. Now that it had, it was a contest of skill. If the Bhagavat lost, he would have to accept his defeat!

’Moreover, by slaughtering the Pure Land to attain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], I will inevitably earn the Bhagavat’s hatred. To avoid his retaliation, I’ll have to align myself even more firmly with the Dao Court.’

In this way, the Dao Court would get its revenge on the Pure Land and win Lü Yang over to its side.

And since Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was also involved, the Sword Pavilion couldn’t possibly stay out of it. Faced with such a powerful coalition, the Bhagavat would have to hold his nose and accept it, no matter how unwilling he was!

Killing three birds with one stone!

At this moment, Lü Yang’s opinion of the Dao Court Daoist Lord changed dramatically. After all, in this entire scheme, the Dao Court Daoist Lord hadn’t actually done anything overt.

Everything had simply fallen into place.

A subtle influence, working in silence.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but marvel internally:

’Compared to the Heavenly God of my Previous Life, the Dao Court Daoist Lord is a much better representation of [Heaven]! This silent, imperceptible way of doing things... it’s almost like the Saint Sect Ancestral Master!’

Meanwhile.

"A Tribulation. This is truly a Tribulation."

The Monk, who was the manifestation of the Five Dharma Appearances, let the anger fade from his face, his expression returning to the stillness of a deep well. The Buddha Light cast an indescribable look upon his features.

"True Dragon Du Huan, whose legacy have you inherited? Or rather, who exactly are you? Ever since you appeared, the Great Net of Karma Links has been plagued by Variables, like a stone tossed into a lake. When we descended this time, we could have established an [Earthly Buddha Country] and spread the teachings, granting the Buddhist Teachings decades of prosperity."

"But now, it has all come to nothing."

"Overnight, an age of prosperity will turn into the End of Dharma... This is absolutely not something a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator could achieve. Which Perfected Lord’s reincarnation are you?"

As he spoke, the eyes of the Five Dharma Appearances filled with suspicion.

Even as he spoke, he was frantically trying to divine the karmic links to figure out Lü Yang’s origins. But no matter how he calculated, the result was always the same:

Du Huan of the True Dragon Race.

’What a joke!’

The Five Dharma Appearances frowned deeply. To reach the stage of Seeking Gold in just a few short years was even more outrageous than the world-shocking Tingyou. If he wasn’t the reincarnation of a Perfected Lord, he absolutely refused to believe it!

"New talent emerges in every generation, each leading the charge for a few hundred years."

Looking at the Five Dharma Appearances, Lü Yang couldn’t help but shake his head. "Must I have some earth-shattering background just to convince you, Daoist?"

’I, Lü Yang, have gotten where I am today through sheer effort and sweat!’

With this thought, Lü Yang couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on the Five Dharma Appearances. The entity was currently suppressed by the [Immortal Dao Law], a trapped turtle in a jar.

He then moved forward, about to execute it.

At that very moment, however, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected stepped forward and stopped him.

"Wait, Daoist."

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected smiled faintly, his expression sincere. "You shouldn’t be the one to act. Let me. It is more fitting that I bear the karmic links from that figure in the Pure Land."

He was a man with one foot in the grave; it didn’t matter how heavy the karmic links were.

Lü Yang, on the other hand, had a bright future ahead of him, and he was his Daoist. That being the case, what did it matter if he shouldered a little trouble on Lü Yang’s behalf?

It was a small effort, after all.

"This... alright."

To Lü Yang, who knew his ultimate fate, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s thoughts were as clear as day. But the clearer they were, the more of a shame he felt it was.

’In the end of this life, if Master Demon-Vanquishing Perfected is willing, perhaps I should just use the Myriad-Soul Banner to collect him...’

Worst comes to worst, he could just grab the soul and make a run for it. As long as he was fast enough, even if the Sword Pavilion was furious and their Daoist Lord came in person, they likely wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.

The thought instantly made Lü Yang feel much better.

The next second, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected strode forward and drew the [Non-Killing Sword]. Two streams of Sword Intent merged into a single inch-long gleam that flashed across the neck of the Five Dharma Appearances.

.......

Pure Land in the West, Great Heroic Treasure Hall.

Just moments before, a host of Novice Monks, Monks, and Arhats had been sitting cross-legged beneath a towering Golden Buddha, chanting scriptures, listening to lectures, and discussing their insights into the Buddhist Dharma.

But at that very moment, a tremendous crash sounded from above:

"BOOM!"

The crowd looked up in a daze, only to see the Great Buddha suddenly crack at the neck. Then, the mountain-sized Buddha Head came crashing down!

Like glass hitting the floor, it shattered with a CRACK, breaking into a flood of flowing light across the ground.

"How... is this possible?"

"The Buddha Statue shattered? How could the Buddha Statue shatter?"

"Impossible!"

In an instant, boundless panic seized every Monk. But in the next second, it was as if a fierce wind swept through, blowing all that panic away.

At the end, only a furious echo remained:

"You refuse a toast, only to drink a forfeit!"