[Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao].
What kind of perfected lord was he?
Clearly, he was one of the top perfected lords under the heavens, a Late-Stage Golden Core. In the past, when [Sky-Shrouding] did not emerge and Perfected Lord Feixue had not yet broken through, he was number one in the world.
But in reality?
His personality, profound wonders, and true treasures were almost unknown to anyone. People only knew he possessed a sword intent named [Ascendant Victor]. Yet, even this was suppressed by Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon, who had simultaneously refined two titled sword intents, turning this Sword Pavilion Great Perfected Lord into proof that his reputation exceeded his reality.
Even Lu Yang thought so.
[Sky-Shrouding] looked down on him. Perfected Lord Feixue thought he was sick beyond cure. Coupled with the fact that his dao fruit combination was indeed flawed, it made people think he was incompetent.
But now, he stood before Lu Yang.
Wearing a refined smile on his face, like a well-read scholar greeting a long-lost friend, he waved to Lu Yang:
"Fellow Daoist, I have heard of your great name for a long time."
Swish—!
Lu Yang opened his mouth, just about to answer, when a bloody line suddenly appeared on his neck. Then, his head drooped and fell.
Without any warning.
In this moment, Lu Yang felt a chill in his heart: the other party had no intention of wasting words with him. The moment he struck, it was a killing move intended to take his life directly!
Boom!
In an instant, flames exploded. Lu Yang's body collapsed, but [Heavenly Fire] shone brightly. Layers of brilliant golden illusionary colors piled up, re-outlining his appearance. He walked out unscathed, though the [Inscribing Heavenly Chapter] on his forehead dimmed significantly.
Forcible Inscription: [Whenever a perfected lord dies, they can revive from their dao fruit in peak condition!]
Previously, under the siege of [Immortal Lord Shaoyin] and the other three, Lu Yang had already used it once. Now was the second time, making his spiritual power consumption increasingly severe.
Unfortunately, my cultivation is still insufficient...
Lu Yang sighed inwardly. According to the rule inscribed by the [Inscribing the Heavenly Chapter], reviving in peak condition should have also restored his lost spiritual power.
It should have been:
What? You say using [Inscribing Heavenly Chapter] to revive consumes a large amount of spiritual power? I've revived in peak condition; what spiritual power consumption is there?
—That would be correct.
However, his cultivation was insufficient to fully implement this rule. To achieve this step, he would need at least Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivation.
Moreover, some injuries couldn't be shaken off just like that.
Crack!
In the next second, a large number of visible cracks appeared on Lu Yang's newly restored body. Boiling water and fire light surged from the cracks.
At the same time, a clear bloody line reappeared on his neck, even expanding continuously. Like maggots attached to the bone, it threatened to cut off his head again, until a brilliant light like a clear, cold spring fell upon him, stopping the bloody line's spread.
[Shared Nourishment]!
The fundamental profound wonder of [Wellspring Water]. Behind Lu Yang, the newly refined [Righteous Dao Enlightenment Banner] was still fluttering. Suo Huan, located within it, revealed a trace of worry.
Towards Lu Yang, Suo Huan was undoubtedly grateful.
After all, without Lu Yang, his homeland could never have recovered, and his deceased family and friends would never have had the hope of resurrection.
He kept this grace firmly in mind.
Moreover, Lu Yang was the only person who didn't discriminate against his identity as an outer heaven rogue cultivator. He was the best candidate with the ability to shelter him and the newborn Universe Ruins Realm.
Thinking of this, Suo Huan spoke immediately, his voice drifting into Lu Yang's ears:
"Retreat for now. We will cover the rear..."
"No!"
Lu Yang rejected the proposal outright. "This time is different... A Late-Stage Golden Core Great Perfected Lord, and a sword cultivator at that. He can destroy your true spirits."
Precisely because he had also refined a titled sword intent and possessed a sword dao fruit, Lu Yang knew very well that with [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]'s cultivation, he could absolutely kill the main body by slashing the incarnation, directly severing the true spirits of Suo Huan and the others inside the banner through karmic connections!
So if Suo Huan and the others stayed behind to cover him.
If they died, they would truly die. Lu Yang could only restart to a second anchor point where they hadn't died yet, but he would never see them again in this lifetime.
"Fellow Daoist..."
Hearing Lu Yang's words, the look in Suo Huan's eyes changed. On the other side, Patriarch Nether Whisper and Empress Xiao also revealed moved expressions.
Because he didn't want them to die, he wasn't willing to let them cover the retreat?
Too loyal and righteous!
Regarding this, Lu Yang could only smile bitterly in his heart:
Of course, this isn't about being loyal and righteous, but purely a consideration of benefits. After all, if I die, I can restart. But if the banner spirits die, they can't. Isn't that a pure loss?
I am merely protecting my property.
At most, it just sounds nicer on the surface. Anyway, this will also make the Patriarch, Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, and Empress Xiao serve me better.
Yes, that was all. It wasn't about being sentimental and righteous.
In a flash of lightning, Lu Yang looked at [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] again.
The latter still wore that frivolous smile, only sizing up Lu Yang with slight surprise before nodding. "The supreme dao fruit lives up to its reputation."
The implication: The person doesn't.
Lu Yang looked calm, indifferent to honor or disgrace. He never considered himself a peerless genius anyway. So what if he was criticized a bit? Being alive was enough.
Seeing him like this, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] frowned instead.
At this moment, he was also scrutinizing Lu Yang, clearly somewhat surprised that such a peerless genius who attaining [Heavenly Fire] would be so indifferent to honor and disgrace.
How should I put it? He's a bit like the World Honored One...
With this thought, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]'s smile became increasingly gentle, yet the killing intent hidden beneath the gentleness had risen to another level.
Since I've made a move, I absolutely cannot leave anyone alive...
Thinking of this, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] immediately raised his sword fingers and tapped lightly on the hilt of the sword at his waist, instantly deploying another sword light.
However, this time, Lu Yang was prepared.
He took a step ahead, forming a seal in front of his chest while simultaneously deploying the freshly refined [Righteous Dao Enlightenment Banner] in the air, rolling up vast purple qi.
After being promoted to a true treasure, the [Righteous Dao Enlightenment Banner] not only retained the original divine wonders of the [Myriad Spirits Banner] but also added three new divine wonders, all related to [Heavenly Fire]. One divine wonder even mixed in the concept of the Myriad Martial World Realm's Unorthodox Dao Fruit—Imperial Order, making its quality far superior to other true treasures.
The current vast purple qi was one of these divine wonders.
Its name was [imperial chariot]. Its effect was similar to a domain: outwardly weakening the enemy and reducing their fortune; inwardly strengthening banner spirits and elevating their stature.
Boom!
In an instant, the vast purple qi submerged [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]. These were enemies he had killed and put into the banner; he felt no heartache if they died.
"Explode!"
With Lu Yang's command, thousands upon thousands of banner spirits exploded simultaneously, instantly blasting the light sea where [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] stood into fragments.
However, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] remained safe and sound.
Still dressed as a refined young master, his clothes fluttered without a single tear. He only frowned slightly, looking at Lu Yang's previous position.
—It was already empty.
Seeing this, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] shook his head and chuckled lightly. Up until this moment, Lu Yang hadn't even asked a single question about why he wanted to kill him.
Tch, he's hard to fool...
And here he had prepared a perfect speech—absolute truth without any falsehoods—just waiting to use it to stall for Lu Yang's time.
But Lu Yang didn't even ask.
It couldn't be helped. The Saint Sect's atmosphere was simply too good. This kind of trick might work on foreign cultivators from the [Celestial Court], but fooling locals was too difficult.
"However, having taken a strike from my sword, you cannot escape."
In the next second, [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] formed a seal and stepped forward again, following his sense of Lu Yang's location, strolling over unhurriedly.