Read Novel Full Chapter 597: Struggling to Survive to Stay Alive!
Chapter 597: Struggling to Survive to Stay Alive!
At the critical moment, Lu Yang still maintained his composure.
After all, he had experienced too many similar situations during his Foundation Establishment stage. Compared to those, this crisis was barely anything — at the very least, he still had options.
At this point, he had also figured things out.
‘The World-Honored One of the Grooves!’
It had to be him.
Although he didn't know how the man had connected with the Sword Pavilion, or how he had persuaded 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 to take action, he was certainly the one orchestrating from behind the scenes.
The real issue was 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】's motive.
After all, he had no grievances with the Sword Pavilion. If anything, considering the presence of Master Dangmo, there was still some sentiment between both sides. Theoretically, they shouldn’t be enemies.
‘Could it be because I activated the Sword Dao Fruit Position?’
‘Impossible.’
Lu Yang shook his head, dismissing that guess. After all, the Sword Dao Fruit Position had long been cleansed by the 【Hundred Lifetimes Book】 — with no cause nor effect. He had even hidden it within the Myriad Spirits Banner, which had also been cleansed. No one could trace its origin. At most, they’d only know he had an external Dao Fruit.
But if it wasn’t for the Sword Dao Fruit Position, then what was the reason?
Lu Yang put himself in the shoes of 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】, and figured the other party’s biggest concern was likely resolving the compatibility issue of his Fruit Positions.
Could he help him?
‘No. Fruit Position compatibility should be irreversible. If he could go back, he would’ve replaced 【True Lord of Heaven-Bearing Righteous Virtue】 long ago.’
The Sword Pavilion currently had four Earth-related Fruit Positions:
【Gold in the Sand】, 【Fire in the Furnace】, 【Earth on the Roof】, 【Earth on the Wall】.
【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】’s problem was the internal conflict between 【Fire in the Furnace】 and 【Earth on the Roof】 — which had forced him to live reclusively in the Sword Pavilion for many years.
This was a foundational issue with his Dao.
If one could casually switch compatible Fruit Positions, why would he suffer so much? Just replace 【Earth on the Roof】 with 【Earth on the Wall】 and be done with it.
But——
‘If he could somehow alter the imagery of either 【Fire in the Furnace】 or 【Earth on the Roof】, perhaps he could find a new solution.’
After all, the conflict stemmed from a clash of imagery. If one side’s imagery changed, eliminating the clash, the issue would naturally resolve itself.
So how could he alter the imagery?
‘.Supreme Fruit Position!’
In an instant, Lu Yang felt as if clouds had parted, revealing the truth: ‘Could it be that guy wants 【Fire in the Furnace】 to replace 【Heavenly Flame Above】?’
It wasn’t impossible!
If 【Fire in the Furnace】 became a Supreme Fruit Position, it would naturally suppress 【Earth on the Roof】 entirely, eliminating all conflict.
‘In that case, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 would not only return to his peak but could also, like 【Ang Xiao】, wield a Supreme Fruit Position — with the Nascent Soul stage in sight! Such a plan couldn’t have formed overnight. He had likely been scheming for many years in secret.’
Of course, making 【Earth on the Roof】 into a Supreme Fruit Position was also an option.
However, the current Earth-element Supreme was 【City Head Soil】, which involved the World-Honored One. Competing with the World-Honored One for resources would be unwise — 【Heavenly Flame Above】 was clearly the better choice.
At that thought, Lu Yang remembered another matter:
The inheritance of 【Heavenly Flame Above】 had nearly vanished in the current era!
The reason given was that it was too difficult to attain — a seemingly reasonable explanation. But upon reflection, with so many capable figures in the world, was it truly that no one could attain it?
Especially when 【Heavenly Flame Above】 had such a strong Foundation Establishment.
‘What if 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 was involved behind the scenes, deliberately exterminating the inheritance of 【Heavenly Flame Above】 to make this Fruit Position disappear into obscurity?’
After all, with no current holder, it was easier for him to manipulate.
‘If that’s true, then by attaining 【Heavenly Flame Above】, I’ve likely ruined years of his careful planning. That would explain his motivation to ambush me.’
At that realization, Lu Yang couldn’t help but sigh.
‘This damned place... truly, no one can be underestimated.’
Take 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 for example — his ways were like a sword sheathed in secrecy. So long as it remained unsheathed, no gossip or storm would faze him.
But once drawn — it must kill!
At that moment, Lu Yang deeply felt the killing intent from 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】. He knew the man would never back down. From the moment he attained 【Heavenly Flame Above】 — in truth — they had already become Dao enemies! Only one could live to see the end.
“Hu!”
Having figured everything out, Lu Yang exhaled deeply, a wave of dizziness crashing over him. The blood scar etched on his neck had unknowingly widened again.
After such a long and grueling battle, he was already at his limit.
He had lasted this long only thanks to swallowing an external Dao Fruit from the Myriad Martial World, which elevated his cultivation and forged his true treasure. Otherwise, he would’ve long since perished.
Suddenly, Lu Yang felt a chill in his heart.
A sense of impending doom — an intuition of certain death — surged within him, making him raise his head within the Void Daze Realm and realize: ‘That sword seed has locked onto me!’
If he tried to leave now and fell into the Outer Heavens Sea of Light, then 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 would appear simultaneously before him — within three feet.
At that distance, if a sword cultivator whose cultivation vastly exceeded his own closed in, life or death would no longer be up to him. It would lie solely in the enemy’s hands.
‘I can only bet everything now.’
Lu Yang had no intention of restarting. So he immediately cast his hand seals — the Banner of Enlightening the Righteous Dao manifested behind him, summoning Suohuan, Ancestor Tingyou, and Empress Xiao to stand at his side.
“I’ll be counting on the three of you,” Lu Yang bowed deeply.
If 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 had made any miscalculation…
It was likely them.
‘Aside from Empress Xiao, both Fellow Daoist Suohuan and Ancestor Tingyou had their karmic threads washed by the 【Hundred Lifetimes Book】. Their prior connections only existed because they had inherited the shell of my past self in this lifetime.’
Yet as long as that past karma was stripped away…
They would revert to being karma-less, cause-less Banner Spirits — impossible to deduce or calculate. Hence, 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 had surely not accounted for them!
From the beginning, Lu Yang’s movements through the Outer Heavens Sea of Light, his comings and goings from the Void Daze Realm, and his false anchor-point calculations were all meant to mislead 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】.
In reality, on the other side, Ancestor Tingyou and Suohuan had been calculating an entirely different anchor point.
‘Returning to Immortal Pivot is no longer an option — the path back is sealed, and no results can be computed. As for other locations, he’ll catch up to me regardless.’
If he wanted to survive, he had to go somewhere 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 dared not follow.
There was only one answer:
‘【Celestial Mansion】!’
Lu Yang still carried the karmic remnants of the Water-Fire Tribulation left behind by the Lesser Yin Immortal Lord. If used, they could guide him to the coordinates of 【Celestial Mansion】.
And as a supreme boundary realm, even 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 wouldn’t dare to intrude recklessly.
After all, a late-stage Golden Core True Lord would draw too much attention. Lu Yang, on the other hand, was just at early-stage Golden Core — with a bit of disguise, he might still have a chance.
“Must it really come to this?”
Inside the Banner of Righteous Dao, Ancestor Tingyou wore a worried expression. “We know little of 【Celestial Mansion】. It’s hostile to us — full of perils.”
“And what of Jiangxi? Are you giving up the Path of Righteous Qi you just founded?”
At those words, Lu Yang shook his head firmly. “If a place survives but the people perish, then both are lost. But if people survive, even if the place is lost — both can be regained. Sometimes, to gain, you must let go!”
“Besides, I don’t have to abandon it.”
“The disciples of the Path of Righteous Qi can remain. They can serve as my link to the Immortal Pivot and the Saint Sect. I can summon them at any time using the Righteous Dao Banner.”
“This is merely a temporary withdrawal. As long as I find a chance to catch my breath, recover my strength, and tend to my injuries, I could even commit suicide — and resurrect directly through 【Heavenly Flame Above】! That should let me return. Then, I’ll settle the score with those Sword Seeds from the Sword Pavilion!”
At that point, Lu Yang clenched his teeth.
If it were just a matter of fleeing back to Immortal Pivot, he could still find a way. But with 【Sturdy Path-Preaching True Lord】 lurking like a tiger, even returning meant another death sentence.
And as for True Lord Feixue?
‘Who knows if she has made other deals with the Sword Pavilion — maybe she’ll sell me out next time. Didn’t she already use me as bait once?’
You can’t trust True Lords of the Saint Sect!
In the end, he could only rely on himself!
So after careful consideration, Lu Yang decided he might as well take a risk and venture into the 【Celestial Mansion】.
At the very least, the imagery of the Fruit Positions there would be incredibly nourishing for 【Heavenly Flame Above】. If he played his cards right, it might become a breakthrough opportunity.
This was the struggle — to survive!