Read Novel Full Chapter 529: Refusing the Toast Only to Drink the Punishment!
Chapter 529: Refusing the Toast Only to Drink the Punishment!
Lu Yang’s plans were exceptionally meticulous.
‘Slaughtering all the Buddhist cultivators isn’t actually that grave a matter. In my past life, when the Sword Pavilion was massacred by the Saint Sect, not even the Dao Lord of the Pavilion showed himself.’
This alone served as proof.
Within the larger context of the Pure Land, this became even more apparent. The World-Honored One had always treated lower-realm cultivators with equality — mortals, Qi Refiners, Foundation Establishers — none were discriminated against.
Yet from another perspective, the World-Honored One was also the Nascent Soul Dao Lord most protective of his own followers. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have so often mingled with the lower-realm cultivators. However, his reason wasn’t mere care for his disciples — rather, it aligned more closely with his own interests.
【City Head Earth】.
‘The Pure Land’s unified will among Buddhist cultivators is the key to binding 【City Head Earth】. The World-Honored One’s protection of Buddhist cultivators is, in essence, protection of 【City Head Earth】 itself!’
Thus, the conclusion was evident.
‘As long as all Buddhist cultivators can be killed without disrupting their unified will, ensuring that 【City Head Earth】 remains in the Pure Land, then there would be no issue.’
The World-Honored One’s bottom line was 【City Head Earth】.
So long as 【City Head Earth】 remained within the Pure Land, no matter how many Buddhist cultivators died, they were merely numbers in his eyes — not even worthy of a glance.
Then how could one achieve the slaughter of Buddhist cultivators while still preserving their unified will?
【Non-Killing Sword Intent】.
‘Those who were beheaded by the Real Person of Demon-Cleansing weren’t truly dead in essence. So long as he desired it, he could kill all Buddhist cultivators without disrupting their unity.’
That was precisely Lu Yang’s plan.
‘Compared to that so-called 【Cultivating Buddhism】, this suits my heart far more. Perhaps there will be more variables, but at least everything remains under my control!’
As always, he would never rely on others.
Deals, cooperation, deception — these were all mere tactics. But when it came to the final step, one that concerned his own path to the Golden Core, Lu Yang would only trust himself!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang turned his gaze to the middle-aged monk formed from the Five Manifestations.
At this point, he understood more clearly than ever:
‘They must’ve foreseen this possibility beforehand. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have put Guang Ming at the front, intending to lure me into revealing my fake Golden Position.’
Unfortunately, it had failed.
‘So they decisively dangled the “Ascend to Rule the Pure Land” bait — both as persuasion and a distraction, to keep me from considering other methods.’
At this thought, Lu Yang raised his brows slightly.
He looked up to see the heavens, where the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】 holding the Five Manifestations firmly in place shone ever brighter, as if subtly indicating the Dao Court Dao Lord’s stance.
‘The Dao Court Dao Lord... likely foresaw this path as well. After all, if I were to storm into the Pure Land and slaughter wildly, all karmic consequences would be mine to bear. Yet, it would also be a chance to erase the disgrace of the Dao Court being forcibly trespassed by the World-Honored One, and having 【City Head Earth】 stolen. With such a grudge, the World-Honored One can do nothing in response.’
Because this was a debt the World-Honored One owed the Dao Court Dao Lord!
In the past, there had been no opportunity to settle the score. Now that one had arrived, all parties would rely on their methods — if the World-Honored One lost, he would have to accept it with grace!
‘Moreover, if I slaughter the Pure Land to prove 【Heavenly Fire】, I’ll certainly earn the World-Honored One’s enmity. To avoid reprisal, I must depend even more firmly on the Dao Court.’
In this way, the Dao Court not only avenged the Pure Land, but also drew in Lu Yang.
And since the Real Person of Demon-Cleansing had also gotten involved, the Sword Pavilion could no longer remain on the sidelines. With such momentum, no matter how unwilling the World-Honored One might be, he would have to accept it!
Three birds with one stone!
At this moment, Lu Yang's view of the Dao Court Dao Lord shifted dramatically — for throughout this entire scheme, the Dao Lord hadn’t made any overt moves.
Everything had unfolded naturally.
Like silent spring rain.
Thinking this far, Lu Yang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly:
‘Compared to the Heavenly Lord of my past life, it’s the Dao Court Dao Lord who better embodies the concept of “Heaven”! So subtle, so silent — it's almost like the Patriarch of the Saint Sect!’
At the same time—
“Tribulation, it truly is tribulation.”
The monk formed by the Five Manifestations shed his anger, returning to stillness like a deep well. The Buddha light upon his face cast a complex, indescribable expression:
“True Dragon Douhuan, whose legacy have you inherited, or rather — who are you truly? Since your birth, karma and fate have turned turbulent, like a stone thrown into a lake. We descended this time to establish the 【Earthly Buddhist Kingdom】, to widely spread the teachings, and usher in decades of Buddhist prosperity.”
“But now, it has all turned to emptiness.”
“In a single night, an era of flourishing has become one of the Dharma’s decline. This isn’t something a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator could accomplish. Who exactly are you reincarnated from? Which True Lord?”
As he spoke, the eyes of the Five Manifestations were filled with doubt.
And at the same time, he was frantically calculating karma, trying to uncover Lu Yang’s origins — but no matter how he calculated, the result was always the same:
True Dragon Clan, Douhuan.
‘What nonsense!’
The Five Manifestations furrowed his brows — to reach the Golden Path in just a few short years, more shocking than even the infamous Tingyou — if not a reincarnated True Lord, he absolutely refused to believe it!
“In every generation, new talent emerges, each reigning for hundreds of years.”
Looking at the Five Manifestations, Lu Yang couldn’t help but shake his head. “Must I really have some earth-shattering background for you to accept me, Daoist friend?”
Everything Lu Yang had achieved was born of effort and sweat!
With that, he no longer wished to waste words with the Five Manifestations. The opponent, now suppressed by the 【Laws of the Immortal Kingdom】, was nothing but a fish in a barrel.
He stepped forward, preparing to finish the job.
But just then, Real Person of Demon-Cleansing took a step forward, blocking his path:
“Hold, Daoist friend.”
He smiled slightly, his expression sincere. “You should let me do it. The karma from that Pure Land figure — it’s more fitting for me to bear it.”
He was but a dying man — no amount of karma would matter anymore.
But Lu Yang, in his eyes, had a bright future. They were also Daoist friends. Since that was the case, shouldering a bit of trouble for him — what harm?
A mere lift of the hand.
“Very well then.”
Lu Yang could see right through Real Person of Demon-Cleansing’s intentions — and the clearer they were, the more regret he felt.
‘If, by the end of this life, Master Demon-Cleansing is willing, perhaps I should take him into the Myriad Spirits Banner.’
At worst, he could reset and flee after absorbing him. So long as he moved quickly enough, even if the Sword Pavilion grew furious and the Dao Lord descended in person — they still might not be able to stop him.
With that thought, Lu Yang felt much better.
In the next moment, Real Person of Demon-Cleansing stepped forward, drew the 【Non-Killing Sword】, and two sword intents merged into a single inch-long flash, sweeping across the Five Manifestations’ neck.
—Jiangxi Pure Land, Great Hero Hall—
Not long before, a group of Shamis, monks, and Arhats had been sitting solemnly beneath a towering Golden Buddha statue, reciting sutras, giving lectures, and discussing insights into the Dharma.
And then suddenly, a thunderous roar rang from above:
“Boom—!”
All turned upward in confusion, only to see the great Buddha statue suddenly crack at the neck — and the mountain-sized head tumbled down!
Like colored glass shattering, it hit the ground with a crisp crack, scattering radiant light everywhere.
“How can this be?”
“The Buddha statue broke? How could a Buddha statue break?”
“Impossible!”
In an instant, all the monks descended into panic — but the next second, it was as if a gale blew through, dispersing all that chaos.
And finally, only one echo full of wrath remained:
“Refusing the toast... only to drink the punishment!”