Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Even Unto Damnation, I Go

’I can’t keep fighting!’

Terror seized Venerable Weimotuo’s heart. Blood streamed from his shattered Golden Body, and the searing Profound Fire slithered across him like vipers.

These fire snakes, originating from Lü Yang’s Dharma Body, were utterly pervasive. They bored directly through the cracks in his broken Golden Body and into his internal organs, burning them with abandon. In addition, that strange power that absorbed souls was still constantly tugging at his own Soul.

No matter how he looked at it, he was now at a complete disadvantage.

Venerable Weimotuo stood in midair, his palms pressed together. His face was contorted, as if in extreme agony and completely powerless, yet his mind was exceptionally clear.

’Should I use that Spirit Sword?’

He was waiting.

Waiting for Lü Yang to strike first, to unleash that sea-cleaving Sword Light. But he waited for a long time, and Lü Yang did not draw his sword, choosing instead to continue the stalemate.

”...Sigh!”

Finally, Venerable Weimotuo let out a long breath. There was no joy on his face, only regret. ”I truly underestimated you.”

The moment he finished speaking, the Venerable Pure Land trembled. As if simply shrugging off a piece of clothing, he peeled off an entire layer of his skin, letting it fall away. This shed skin carried with it the many injuries Lü Yang had inflicted, including the slithering Profound Fire and all its Divine Effects.

This was a technique he had carefully kept hidden.

If Lü Yang had actually attacked with [Tribulation Wave], he could have used this Miao Fa to shed his skin and flesh to bear the calamity in his stead, neutralizing Lü Yang’s fatal trump card.

But Lü Yang had refused to move.

Under these circumstances, continuing to endure Lü Yang’s attacks was like being a frog boiled in slowly heating water—the losses would far outweigh the gains. He had no choice but to use this Magic ahead of schedule.

Still, he couldn’t understand it.

’How was I exposed?’

There were countless Pure Land Skills, but he had almost never revealed this technique, [Self-immolation for Buddha], to anyone. Logically, Lü Yang should not have been prepared for it.

’Could he have calculated it?’

’But he’s only a Fake Holding Great Trueman. How could he possibly divine my actions? Unless... he has a Divination Artifact on him. In that case, my chances of winning are even lower...’

Venerable Weimotuo’s heart grew heavy.

The reality was just as he had guessed. Lü Yang had been able to see through his preparations by relying on the [Dongming] Divine Effect of his [Tribulation Wave] to calculate the karmic links.

In the next instant, Venerable Weimotuo sighed deeply. He pressed his palms together, and endless figures of light appeared behind him. They were countless Master Shixiu, sitting in temples and gathered in Zen Forests. They began chanting Buddhist Scriptures in unison, their words transforming into a rumbling Thunder Sound. Every word was a pearl of wisdom, empowering Venerable Weimotuo’s body.

”Amitabha!”

The solemn Buddha’s Name echoed, instantly dispelling the soul-stealing Divine Effect of Lü Yang. Venerable Weimotuo’s figure vanished, replaced by an Ancient Temple.

[Pure Land Temple]!

Seeing this, Lü Yang narrowed his eyes and thought, ’He even brought out his Dao Foundation, the temple in the Pure Land. He’s going to fight me to the death!’

In truth, Venerable Weimotuo had no other choice.

In addition to the [Pure Land Temple], he had also brought out a lifetime’s worth of savings. Within the Buddha Light, dozens of exquisite Spiritual Treasures appeared.

Prayer Wheels, Wooden Fish, Flying Knives, Command Flags, Golden Alms Bowls, Enchanted Banners, Jade Bottles... Though most were Lower Grade and Middle Grade Artifacts, they now converged, the light of the Spiritual Treasures flowing like a river. Combined with a few Superior Sentient Artifacts, they circled the temple, protecting him completely.

[Ten Thousand Treasures River]!

In the past, the Duo Bao Child had been one of the first to pledge allegiance to the Pure Land, so he naturally offered up this Dharma Gate. Now, it was being used by Venerable Weimotuo.

Lü Yang, however, was unimpressed.

With a single thought, he rubbed his fingertips together, creating a streak of Divine Power Radiance. It carried a strange Primordial Magnetic Power that shattered the Five Elements and smashed violently into the Ten Thousand Treasures River.

[Lost Magnet]!

This Innate Divine Technique suppressed the Five Elements. No matter the Artifact, as long as it was struck by the Elemental Magnetic Separation Divine Light it generated, it would instantly lose its Divine Effect.

Under the illumination of the Divine Light, the Ten Thousand Treasures River immediately began to dissolve like ice and snow. Its Spirit Light scattered, making it impossible to maintain. Venerable Weimotuo couldn’t help but reveal a look of helplessness. He clearly hadn’t expected that, despite his status as a Great Trueman, he would be pushed into such a corner by Lü Yang that he could barely even defend himself!

’Perhaps... I should retreat for now?’

Pure Land Buddhist Cultivators had always been flexible. Fear began to bloom in Venerable Weimotuo’s heart. He felt that fighting Lü Yang to the death here was simply not worth the cost.

’I’m not in my peak condition right now!’

’If Great Undertaking hadn’t killed me once, leaving me with hidden injuries that were then triggered by this junior’s Abilities, I absolutely wouldn’t have fallen into such a desperate situation...’

’It won’t be too late to fight him again after I’ve recovered from my injuries.’

As his thoughts raced, Venerable Weimotuo came to a decision. He took a deep breath and caused the [Pure Land Temple] behind him to expand with a BOOM!

In an instant, the magnificent temple opened and closed like a gaping, bloody maw, swallowing Lü Yang whole to trap him inside. Meanwhile, Venerable Weimotuo himself summoned a Flying Light and prepared to flee the Foundation Establishment Realm directly and head to the Current World, giving Lü Yang no chance to kill him.

The temple was imposing and difficult to escape from via flight.

He had even taken Lü Yang’s [Separation] into account and found a way to block it.

”Hmph, trying to escape?”

Seeing this, a glint appeared in Lü Yang’s eyes. His body flickered, and Profound Fire surged as he once again released the [Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body]!

In the center of the Buddhist temple, atop the main hall, stood a towering Evil God.

It had three heads and six arms, a green face, and sharp tusks. With every move, it kicked Buddhas and cursed ancestors, toppling the Zen Forest. Its six arms gathered their full strength and smashed down on the temple with a thunderous blow.

”RUMBLE!”

After the tremendous roar came a world-silencing quiet. At that moment, a massive dent appeared in the very center of the [Pure Land Temple].

Inside the temple, the luminous figures of countless Mages and monks chanted Buddhist Scriptures in unison, summoning karmic fire to descend upon the Dharma Body. Yet this did nothing to stop its movements. In fact, it seemed to make it even more powerful. Its six arms continuously punched out, each blow heavily bombarding the temple.

”PUFF—!”

Venerable Weimotuo immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

’What a Demon!’

The [Pure Land Temple] was formed from Venerable Weimotuo’s Dao Foundation. He had originally planned to use it to trap Lü Yang temporarily, then retrieve it from a distance after he had escaped.

It was just a matter of delaying for some time; a little damage wouldn’t be a big deal.

But now, Lü Yang was ignoring his own injuries to forcefully drive his Dharma Body into a relentless assault, putting him in a difficult position. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Lü Yang shatter his Dao Foundation, could he?

Venerable Weimotuo was not an indecisive person.

In a flash of lightning, he made his decision. ’...Forget it! Escaping is the priority! It only takes an instant to flee into the Current World. He can’t possibly break my Dao Foundation in time!’

In the next instant, he rode his Flying Light and leaped out of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

But in the next second, Venerable Weimotuo felt as if he had plunged into an icy cavern.

Because in the Current World, right before his eyes, a young Daoist who looked identical to Lü Yang was calmly watching him, holding [Tribulation Wave] in his hand!

But Lü Yang was clearly still inside the [Pure Land Temple]!

’That avatar!?’

In that instant, Venerable Weimotuo remembered the Immortal Embryo Avatar he had smashed to death earlier. ’He had clearly turned it into a meat paste, how could it have possibly reformed?’

’This is bad...’

If he hadn’t been so set on fleeing and had chosen to fight Lü Yang to the death, the outcome might still have been uncertain. But his budding fear had instead forced him into a deathtrap!

But he had no time to think about it.

Because at this moment, Lü Yang’s main body inside the [Pure Land Temple] had already stopped its assault. His entire Heart Spirit was now focused on the Immortal Embryo Avatar holding the Magical Sword.

By stopping his attack, he even let go of his protective Mythical Light, allowing the [Pure Land Temple] to suppress him mercilessly. His already serious injuries worsened abruptly. However, the more grievous his wounds became, the more his [Dharma Body] amplified his Divine Power, which almost instantly soared to its Peak!

CLANG—!

In the avatar’s hand, [Tribulation Wave] let out a high-pitched cry. The [Xuanwei] Divine Effect, which had entered a cooldown period after cleaving the sea, had now fully recovered.

At this moment, Venerable Weimotuo actually calmed down.

”If you kill me, Benefactor, there will be no turning back with the Pure Land. From then on, the Bodhisattvas will show no more mercy and will truly try to take your life.”

”Do you truly wish for eternal damnation, Benefactor?”

He wasn’t asking for Lü Yang to truly spare him. As long as Lü Yang hesitated for even a moment, he could use a Miao Fa to escape this fatal predicament.

However, the only answer he received was a sword light that pressed forward, never retreating.

[Xuanwei]!

The sea-cleaving sword strike reappeared. Venerable Weimotuo’s figure was instantly engulfed by the Sword Light, shattering inch by inch until he was reduced to motes of dust filling the sky.

Eternal damnation?

I will go forth regardless!