"Finally here... just in time!"
Looking toward the direction of the Pure Land from afar, Lu Yang appeared very calm. He had long since confirmed the matter of Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon's original body attaining the Sword Dao.
If it were me, I would definitely do this.
As long as a Perfected Lord is alive and guarding the Pure Land, Lu Yang could do nothing to them.
Only when the Perfected Lords were locked in a chaotic battle would he have the opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
The logic was simple.
Previously, Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon had gone to the Pure Land to attain the Sword Dao, severing the unity of millions with his own strength.
He had achieved this because the world's Perfected Lords were in seclusion.
This was what Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon intended.
Or rather, if Lu Yang knew there was no hope for survival, he would inevitably make the same choice—unless, as in his previous life, a Fellow Daoist gave him a chance to survive, allowing him to attain the Sword Dao without dying. Only then might he change his mind.
Everything was within Lu Yang's expectations.
To facilitate this, he had specifically used [Driving Night] and [Black Water], combining the two to cover up the karma for this life's original body of Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon to avoid detection.
The effect was obvious.
No one expected Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon would attain the Sword Dao in this manner, using the unity of millions of the Pure Land to do so.
This made the Pure Land and the Sword Pavilion irreversible Dao enemies.
In this situation, how could Bodhisattva Precious Lotus Hidden Subduer continue to tangle with Emperor Jiayou?
For the sake of the 'one mind', she had to return to the Pure Land immediately to kill Perfected One Vanquishing-Demon and destroy the Sword Dao.
Only then could she ensure 'one mind' wouldn't truly be severed.
But destroy the Sword Dao... would the Dao Lord of the Sword Pavilion allow that?
With this thought, Lu Yang smiled. He walked forward, reached out, and easily grasped the [Eternal Sword] in his hand.
"Haa..."
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao exhaled deeply, a look of unwillingness on his face.
However, both his sword intent and spiritual power were exhausted; he could no longer stop anything.
Boom!
His last strike was no longer a magnificent sword light, but merely the venting of residual spiritual power.
It was weak and feeble, unable to even hinder Lu Yang.
As this final breath was exhaled and his spiritual power was spent, Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao finally lowered his eyes.
His Dharma Body exploded into a spray of blood light. Only a Golden Nature soul, like a spark from a flint, submerged into the Netherworld in the blink of an eye.
Even Emperor Jiayou could not catch it.
Body death, reincarnation!
However, this was not the end. Above the sky, [Placer Gold in Sand] suddenly shone brightly.
Within the Dao Fruit, three towering light shadows faintly surfaced.
[Golden Flower Primordial Viewing Grotto-Heaven]—the Grotto-Heaven of Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao!
Lu Yang raised his eyes. He saw that the mountain-like Grotto-Heaven was completely devoid of the completeness a Great Perfected Lord's Grotto-Heaven should possess. Instead, it was covered in cracks.
Below it were two other attached Grotto-Heavens. The connected Dao Fruits were [Furnace Crucible Fire] and [Rooftop Tile Earth].
The two did not merge; instead, they conflicted with each other. At the moment Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao fell, this conflict reached its extreme.
So that's it. This is the hidden danger...
Attached Grotto-Heavens conflict with each other. Once the body dies and reincarnates, the hidden danger can no longer be suppressed. It triggers a chain reaction, causing all three Grotto-Heavens to collapse together!
Rumble!
The next second, everything happened just as Lu Yang expected. Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao's Grotto-Heaven could no longer be maintained. His realm fell, and he detached from the Dao Fruit.
Grotto-Heaven collapsed!
Without the stability of an unfallen Grotto-Heaven, the Grotto-Heavens of the other two Perfected Lords of the Sword Pavilion also began to fall.
The entire Foundation Establishment Realm shook.
Blood rain filled the sky.
This created an extremely awkward situation—The current Sword Pavilion had no Perfected Lord left to protect the Sword Dao, unless the Dao Lord of the Sword Pavilion descended to the mortal world.
Or—
"I can help."
Lu Yang held up the [Eternal Sword] and transmitted his voice calmly:
"Lend me this treasure to help me break through to Great Perfected Lord. I can help Senior reclaim the Sword Dao!"
"..."
In an instant, all sounds ceased.
Whether it was the battle of Perfected Lords in the sky or the mortals on the vast continent, everyone fell into a strange silence.
Only Lu Yang remained unchanged.
A familiar feeling emerged. It was the same feeling he had when the 'one mind' was severed, [City Rampart Earth] escaped, and the World Honored One "looked" over.
It was even more exaggerated this time. The Dao Lord's line of sight was not cast elsewhere but fell squarely on Lu Yang.
However, Lu Yang did not stiffen his body or fear to react as he had in his previous life.
He actively raised his head to look at the sky.
The next second, he smiled:
"Senior, let's make a deal."
"You don't want to see the Sword Dao destroyed, do you? You help me achieve the rank of Great Perfected Lord, and I help you reclaim the Sword Dao. A very fair deal, achieving the best of both worlds."
"In today's world, unless a Dao Lord descends, only I can save the Sword Dao."
"Because I cultivate [Heavenly Fire]. Only by achieving Great Perfected Lord with this can I have the ability to modify the rules currently binding the Sword Dao and the Pure Land's 'one mind'!"
"..."
There was no response, only a silent, heavy gaze.
If anyone knew what was happening at this moment, even [Sky-Shrouding] would be dumbfounded.
Lu Yang was threatening a Dao Lord!
While keeping the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] open and ready to restart at any time, he mustered unprecedented courage and proposed a deal to the Dao Lord of the Sword Pavilion.
This was his plan! A plan that even Patriarch Nether Whisper had called crazy.
Lu Yang's eyes were cold as he pondered: This life is different from the previous one where the World Honored One descended. In that life, the Pure Land was powerless to stop it; the World Honored One's descent was essentially forced.
But in this life, the Pure Land is at its peak.
In this situation, could the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord ask the World Honored One to descend to save the Sword Dao?
Even if the World Honored One's status might not be the highest, He is a Dao Lord.
How could He agree to such a losing business?
The Dao Lord of the Sword Pavilion had only two choices.
Pay a massive price at the Dao Lord level to ask the World Honored One to act, or pay a small price at the lower cultivator level to help Lu Yang break through to the late-stage Golden Core.
The choice was self-evident.
The next second, Lu Yang sensed a change. He felt the [Eternal Sword] in his hand gradually recovering.
A sensation of absolute control, as if the sword were an extension of his own arm, surged in his heart.
It worked! The Dao Lord of the Sword Pavilion had agreed!
"I also want [Sword-Edge Gold]!" Lu Yang spoke again. "The Sword Dao has been attined; [Sword-Edge Gold] can already be sought. Let Perfected One Subduing-Spirit attain [Sword-Edge Gold]. I want him to help me cultivate!"
"I am currently only at the early-stage Golden Core. If I attach a Perfected Lord, nine times out of ten, it will cause my Grotto-Heaven to fall. But Heaven never seals off all paths; there is always a glimmer of hope... As long as [Sword-Edge Gold] is attained, it can help me sever all futures where the Grotto-Heaven falls!"
In truth, this was not something an early-stage Golden Core [Sword-Edge Gold] could actually do.
But so what? The omnipotent Dao Lord wouldn't want to see the Sword Dao destroyed, right? Then let Him find a way!
This was Lu Yang's method to solve his inability to break through to the mid-stage Golden Core.
He provided the idea, [Sword-Edge Gold] would put in the effort, and the Dao Lord would be responsible for producing the miracle.
"..."
Heaven and earth became even quieter.
A deep chill crept up Lu Yang's soul, seemingly freezing his thoughts as it investigated his soul and explored the secrets in his heart.
However, Lu Yang still chuckled, unshaken. His Dao Heart was perfect.
Even with a Dao Lord in front of him, he was still "himself."
A moment later, the chill receded. Heaven and earth resumed their operation.
Almost simultaneously, the light of seeking gold rose in Jiangnan.
[Sword-Edge Gold] had truly appeared in the world! The Dao Lord had compromised!