Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 524: Bald Donkey, Watch My Sword

In the wilderness, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming spoke with ringing confidence, his body radiating righteousness.

Minor Metal couldn’t help but laugh. "What? Are you saying you weren’t the one who killed the people of the ten cities in the East?"

Hearing this, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming frowned deeply. "Patron, do not speak such nonsense. How could I, a humble monk, kill anyone? They all came willingly to aid me in my Buddhist Cultivation."

"Buddhist Cultivation? Did they cultivate themselves to death?" Minor Metal shot back.

Buddha’s Son Guang Ming immediately shook his head, a pained expression on his face. "Their Karma was insufficient. After all, attaining true Buddhahood is difficult. But even so, this can be considered their blessing."

"You call this a blessing?"

"Is it not?"

Buddha’s Son Guang Ming tilted his head, his expression solemn. "The reason they came for Buddhist Cultivation, was it not because the mortal world is filled with suffering, and they had pleas for the Buddha?"

"I did not force them."

"On the contrary, I even gave them compensation. Everything was consensual. It was their own inability to rid themselves of the three poisons—greed, anger, and ignorance—that prevented them from attaining true Buddhahood."

"But it matters not. Though they failed in their Buddhist Cultivation, the Buddha is now in their hearts. After reincarnation, they will naturally attain purity. In a future life, they will be born into the Pure Land, where they can comprehend their True Self, escape all worldly suffering forevermore, and enjoy ultimate bliss and purity. I ask you, Patron, is this not a blessing?"

After speaking, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming looked earnestly at Lü Yang and Minor Metal.

He seemed to be waiting for their rebuttal.

However, upon seeing this, Lü Yang and Minor Metal merely exchanged a glance. Then, both of them broke into a smile, Abilities already gathering in their palms.

BOOM!

The next second, the splendid light of a palace complex surged like a blazing fire, mixed with the phantom of a bronze furnace. Layer after layer, it swallowed Buddha’s Son Guang Ming whole.

Guiyuan Palace!

Steel Flame Furnace!

As the two Abilities smashed down from the sky, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming just shook his head. "I had thought you two patrons would have some grand arguments, but I didn’t expect you to resort to violence. How very Lower Grade..."

Lü Yang just sneered. "I can’t be bothered to reason with you. You’re not worthy of hearing it."

With that, he unleashed his Innate Ability. The Mountain and Sea Map of the Imperial Decree pressed down from the heavens, its brilliant splendor like a second Sun rising in the sky.

Soon, however, Lü Yang’s pupils shrank. He saw that both his and Minor Metal’s Abilities, their magnificent Mana, vanished the moment they landed on Buddha’s Son Guang Ming. Like a clay ox entering the sea, they dissolved instantly without making a single ripple, completely devoured by the broken Buddha Statue behind him.

"Patron, how about we make a bet?"

Guang Ming’s voice, calm and detached, emerged from within the Mountain and Sea Map of the Imperial Decree. "If you win, Patron, I will lead all the Monks of the Pure Land to submit to the Dao Court."

"The bet is this great Buddha behind me."

"I came to the East only for Buddhist Cultivation. No matter what methods you use, Patron, as long as you can complete the cultivation of this Buddha for me, you win."

"If you lose, the consequences are not severe."

"You just need to continue my Buddhist Cultivation for me. Until the great Buddha is complete, you will be free to come and go as you please, Patron. And I will still have the Monks of the Pure Land submit."

"What do you say?"

The response was a brilliant golden light.

’Ming Monarch’s Rule!’

The greatest flaw of this Profound Mysterious technique was that it had to be projected down with Profound Light, limiting its speed. Even if an opponent couldn’t block it, they could still try to flee and evade it.

Therefore, before activating this Profound Mysterious technique, Lü Yang often had to meticulously set a trap—just as he did against Empress Xiao—to ensure success in a single strike.

This time, however, Lü Yang saw that Buddha’s Son Guang Ming, relying on the broken Buddha Statue behind him, had absolutely no intention of dodging. An insidious thought immediately arose in his mind. While appearing to activate his Ability on the surface, he secretly prepared a Divine Effect and abruptly unleashed it, instantly engulfing Buddha’s Son Guang Ming.

Ability Deprivation!

In an instant, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming’s body trembled violently as his Buddha Light flared. Five figures, seated in meditation, were forcibly expelled from within him by Lü Yang’s Ability.

Yet, he showed no sign of panic, instead letting out a clear laugh.

"Patron, you truly have a karmic connection with the Buddha!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

Meanwhile, Lü Yang’s eye twitched.

The five figures had varied expressions, some foolishly grinning, some laughing. One had the furious glare of a Vajra, another was filled with compassion, one wore a look of suffering, and another was full of resolve.

—They were all Dharma Appearances!

’Manifest World Appearance, Observing World Appearance, Hearing World Appearance, Purifying World Appearance, World Appearance... Son of a bitch, the Bhagavat has truly thrown all shame to the wind!’

In his Previous Life, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming had possessed only a single Manifest World Appearance, and with it, he was nearly invincible in the Foundation Establishment Realm, unstoppable by anyone save the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. But this time, the Bhagavat had directly sent down five Dharma Appearances! And not only that, there seemed to be a Secret Technique for a combined formation attack among the five of them!

"Amitabha."

The next second, the five Dharma Appearances spoke in unison, allowing the Splendid Light of Lü Yang’s Ming Monarch’s Rule to wash over them. Then, they actually flew straight toward Lü Yang!

In an instant, the sound of chanting sutras filled Lü Yang’s ears.

Almost simultaneously, the Immortal Dao Law descended from nowhere, enveloping his entire body and forcing him to swallow the "Yeesh!" that had almost escaped his lips.

Lü Yang almost wanted to sever the connection to his Ming Monarch’s Rule, but the five Dharma Appearances forcibly maintained it, eyeing him like a tiger stalking its prey. If not for the protection of the Immortal Dao Law, they probably would have descended upon him and succeeded in giving him Enlightenment in an instant.

’Are they trying to latch onto me and never let go?’

Lü Yang frowned deeply. The hand hidden in his sleeve was already gripping the Hongyun Gold Attribute. At this point, was using the Fake Golden Position the only way to break this stalemate?

But something felt off.

’The Fake Golden Position is my greatest trump card, but this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve used it... I already faked holding an Outer Dao position once before, back when I sent off Emperor Jia You.’

The only way to keep a secret is to have never done the deed.

’Anything you do, no matter how secretly, will leave a trace. That being the case, how could the Bhagavat not know that I can use the Fake Golden Position?’

’A trap?’

Lü Yang hesitated. More importantly, he still didn’t know what hidden tricks were involved with the broken Buddha Statue behind Buddha’s Son Guang Ming and his so-called "Buddhist Cultivation."

’My strength is still insufficient...’

Lü Yang felt helpless. Even though the Bhagavat hadn’t personally intervened, just by acting through the Buddha’s Son and making arrangements in advance, he had been enough to force Lü Yang into a dilemma.

At this thought, Lü Yang couldn’t help but curse inwardly: ’Damn it, where is the Daoist Court Daoist Lord? Didn’t you tell me to go for it and not be a coward? Well, I went for it, so where are you? Hurry up and descend from Heaven and slap this Buddha’s Son Guang Ming to death for me.’

Meanwhile, Buddha’s Son Guang Ming was still speaking leisurely:

"Patron, I know your ambition is Seeking Gold, and only my land of West is left. Since that is the case, why must we fight and kill? Even if you do kill this humble monk, how can you possibly kill the tens of thousands of Monks in the West? Why not sit down and have the duel we wagered on, as I suggested before? It would be an act of immeasurable Merit..."

SHIING!

The cry of a sword interrupted Buddha’s Son Guang Ming. He raised his brow and looked up to see nothing but a three-foot green blade filling his vision, reflected in his pupils.

PFFT!

A spray of blood bloomed in the air. The green blade had flicked upward, leaving a vicious, gaping sword gash across Buddha’s Son Guang Ming’s face.

If Buddha’s Son Guang Ming hadn’t taken a step back in the nick of time, avoiding the blade’s point and preventing it from piercing his eye—and if not for the protection from the broken Buddha Statue behind him—this strike would have done more than just leave a scar. It would have cleaved his entire head in two!

"It’s you...?!"

Buddha’s Son Guang Ming clutched at his eye and the gash, from which light now poured out like blood, and looked at the sword’s owner with a mixture of shock and fury.

"You are far away in the South, and I have not harmed a single blade of grass in the South, so why...?"

Before Buddha’s Son Guang Ming could finish, the gleaming green blade once again shot toward his head, accompanied by an enraged shout, cold as frost:

"You harm the innocent and yet you speak of not harming a thing?"

"You and I have long been mortal enemies!"

"Bald ass, taste my sword!"