Sword Pavilion, Extreme Heaven Cliff.
This place was the highest peak in Jiangnan. One could observe the sun, moon, and stars above, and overlook mountains, rivers, and peaks below. Looking straight ahead, all one could see were the rolling clouds—a magnificent scene.
Lu Yang drove his escaping light all the way to the top of the cliff. At a glance, he saw Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon sitting upright on the edge of the cliff.
Just by sitting there, despite not revealing the slightest bit of spiritual power, he still captured all the splendor between heaven and earth. The surrounding wind and clouds spontaneously clustered around him.
What great destiny...
By now, the destiny of this number one sword cultivator in the world was so grand that even mortal eyes below Foundation Establishment could easily see it.
"Its a success."
The next second, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's voice drifted over faintly. Lu Yang dared not neglect and hurriedly said: "Thanks to Master's guidance, this disciple has obtained the imparted sword art."
"What is it called?"
Lu Yang didn't hide it: "[Unyielding Refined Dao Feather Nirvana Sword Art]."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon nodded with satisfaction. Only then did he turn around to look at Lu Yang, still with that look of sizing up an excellent leek and a rare treasure.
"Reporting to Master, I have an important matter to report!" Lu Yang cupped his hands and said quickly: "After cultivating the sword art, this disciple's sword intent has advanced to a higher level, becoming extremely sensitive to aura. I vaguely discovered a familiar aura of Buddhist cultivators in the direction of the Earth-Penetrating Abyss. I fear it is the work of the Pure Land. Master, please investigate clearly."
He didn't state the truth directly.
After all, reporting also required a method. Besides, as an ordinary middle stage Foundation Establishment Perfected One, what did he have to report Perfected One Warding-Evil and Buddha Child Guang Ming?
It's simpler to let Vanquishing-Demon go himself.
Through the Ancestor of the Yun Family, Lu Yang confirmed that Perfected One Warding-Evil and Buddha Child Guang Ming were still inside the Earth-Penetrating Abyss. As long as Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon went to investigate, he guaranteed they would be caught red-handed.
However, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's answer greatly surprised him.
"Oh."
Upon hearing Lu Yang's report, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon showed no surprise at all. Instead, he shook his head: "My time is approaching; just let them be."
Let them be?
Lu Yang's eyes moved slightly. Only then did he realize that compared to decades ago, the current Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon cared less and less about matters and simply presiding over the Extreme Heaven Cliff.
Once upon a time, he would be accompanied by several disciples sent by the Ye Family to serve him. Yet now when Lu Yang came again, only Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon himself remained on the top of a huge cliff.
His clothes fluttered in the wind, he was all alone, his simple and unassuming appearance completely unlike that of a direct descendant of the Ye Family, a Sword Pavilion Golden Core aristocratic family.
This won't do.
Lu Yang became alert in his heart. As far as he knew, this time it was Sky-Shrouding and Buddha Child Guang Ming joining hands to layout a plan, borrowing Perfected One Warding-Evil's hand to deal with Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon.
Why did he want to report?
Revenge was secondary... As a qualified Saint Sect Perfected One, he never acted without profit. How could he do something that harmed others without benefiting himself?
If I don't report, how will Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon be prepared? If he's not prepared, how will they fight to the death... If they don't fight to the death, how can I be the fisherman who profits?
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's Golden Nature... the Golden Nature of the Number One Sword Cultivator in the World... if I can get my hands on it, that would definitely be a huge profit...
With this thought, Lu Yang hurriedly spoke:
While speaking, he didn't forget to put on a fearful appearance: "Master, Buddhist cultivators of the Pure Land privately entering my Sword Pavilion... this disciple is worried it will be disadvantageous to Master and disciple..."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon glanced at him upon hearing this, then shook his head: "Rest assured."
"That Buddhist cultivator should have come for me... nothing more than wanting to plot against me. Very normal. Looking at the world, probably no one doesn't want to plot against me right now."
Obviously, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon was long used to it.
At the same time, Lu Yang also understood the implication of this sentence... Indeed, in the world today, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon was undoubtedly a thorn in everyone's side.
Because he was number one in the world!
And not just a figurehead, but an undisputing number one with a gap-level lead over the second place!
This kind of deterrence... although inferior to a Perfected Lord in the current world, the gap isn't actually far...
Even though I killed Tian Qiu overseas and defeated Buddha Child Guang Ming's incarnation head-on, I'm probably far inferior to this cheap Master... Number One in the World—the more number one, the more he deserves to die!
Lu Yang asked himself if he already had some fierce reputation.
But so what? Xiang Ye still dared to invite him to the Saint Sect. Although apprehensive of his strength, Xiang Ye also had his own confidence and wasn't truly afraid of him.
However, if it were Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon?
Did Xiang Ye dare to invite Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon into the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea?
Before Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon even approached, the entire Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea would probably be under full martial law!
Even the Sword Pavilion itself...
Lu Yang shook his head in his heart. That's right, even the Sword Pavilion itself was apprehensive of Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon because his style was too eccentric in the Sword Pavilion!
No wonder Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon had no reaction to someone colluding with the Pure Land and plotting against him in secret. Because this was a matter of course! In his view, the fact that the opponent actually waited until his time was approaching to dare make a move was already ridiculously cautious and careful.
Just as Lu Yang was pondering, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon suddenly spoke: "Yan Xiao."
"Disciple is here."
Lu Yang looked up in response and saw Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon looking at him with bright eyes, seeming to want to say something, but suddenly frowning at the last moment:
"...Who?"
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon shifted his gaze, looking far outside the Sword Pavilion. After a moment, Lu Yang's divine sense vaguely caught a burst of commotion.
The next second, a figure drove escaping light speeding over, finally landing on the top of the Extreme Heaven Cliff. It was actually the Patriarch of the Ye Family, Ye Shaoying.
His face was written with nervousness. As soon as he landed, he looked at Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon and whispered: "Outside the Sword Pavilion... came a few rogue cultivators with no eyes."
"Rogue cultivators?"
Lu Yang was stunned upon hearing this. When did the rogue cultivators of Jiangnan become so tough? Actually daring to approach the Sword Pavilion—did they have a death wish?
Even Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon was somewhat surprised: "Rogue cultivators... why they come here?"
"They came to find you."
Ye Shaoying glanced carefully at Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, then said quickly: "The person in the lead is the City Lord of Jimo City, Mo Shiyuan..."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon frowned instantly upon hearing this.
Meanwhile, Lu Yang calculated a divination secretly and quickly figured out the sequence of events.
Mo Shiyuan, City Lord of the Jiangnan rogue cultivator sect [Jimo City].
For generations, they refined spiritual talismans for the Sword Pavilion and provided various cultivation resources needed by the Sword Pavilion.
More importantly, he had a past with Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon.
This traced back to the previous generation's Buddha child of the Pure Land, Jing Guan. She once entered the Jiangnan region intending to preach, and because of this, she was beheaded by Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon with three sword strikes.
The reason for such a fierce conflict between the two sides was because of the previous generation's [Jimo City]. Buddha child Jing Guan disregarded the wishes of the [Jimo City] cultivators and populace, forcibly converting them. This provoked Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon to fight a great battle with her. In the end, [Jimo City] was destroyed; only one person survived.
That person was Mo Shiyuan.
If not for Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, Mo Shiyuan's entire family would have been exterminated, with no hope of revenge in this life. Let alone revenge, he himself would have been thrown into the Pure Land to be a Buddhist cultivator.
In this aspect, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon had shown him great kindness.
"...Let's go meet him."
Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's eyes changed slightly, but he quickly returned to calmness. Beckoning for Lu Yang to follow, he drove up an escaping light and flew toward the outside of the Sword Pavilion's mountain gate.
At the same time, inside the Earth-Penetrating Abyss.
Perfected One Warding-Evil and Buddha Child Guang Ming sat opposite each other. A chessboard was placed in front of them, with black and white pieces crisscrossing, fighting inextricably.
Slap!
The next second, Perfected One Warding-Evil held a black piece and slapped it heavily on a corner of the chessboard, instantly establishing the overall situation of victory. Only then did he say in a flat tone:
"A good show... has begins."