"Jiangxi, Jiangdong, this is intolerable!"
Amidst countless dazzling lights, Chong Ming cursed angrily while holding a green jade token in his hand, frantically channeling his magical power to raise a shimmering radiant barrier.
This treasure was called the "Longevity Jade". Carrying it long-term could extend one's lifespan, ward off ferocious winds, and when used in battle, could dissolve fatal divine abilities. It had been specially bestowed upon him by Chong Guang for protection. At this moment, when activated in the air, it forcefully resisted the siege of three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even so, Chong Ming's expression remained unsightly.
After all, he had already been entangled with his pursuers for over half an hour. Though uninjured, he had no way to escape. If the fight dragged on, his chances of survival were becoming increasingly grim.
On the other hand, the pursuers seemed in no hurry.
"Daoist Friend Chong Ming, why resist so stubbornly?"
The three wore official uniforms, carried sabers and axes, and each had a glow atop their heads filled with endless talismans, outlining their divine titles.
[Commander of Dutian Division]!
All three were unmistakably cultivators of the Dao Court. The Dutian Division was directly under the Emperor of the Dao Court. A Commander ranked as a Fifth Grade official, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the outside world.
At this moment, the three held equal ranks. With their divine powers combined, they formed the Three Talents Formation, drawing endless radiance. Their overwhelming magical power locked down the spiritual energy of the world, pressing upon Chong Ming like a towering mountain. If not for the few superior spiritual treasures on his body, he might have been slain already.
Yet, the more desperate Chong Ming appeared, the more excited the three pursuers became.
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"Daoist Friend Chong Ming, we aren't trying to make things difficult for you. If you hand over all those treasures you're carrying, perhaps we might spare your life."
"Nonsense!"
Chong Ming sneered coldly upon hearing this. Abandoning wealth to preserve life? Giving up his treasures now would truly mean losing his life, so he ignored their words entirely.
"Hahaha! Do you still think someone is coming to save you?"
The leading Dao Court Commander laughed loudly. "Let me tell you, even the Holy Sect itself might have people hoping for your death right now!"
"Do you take us for fools?"
"The descendants of the Holy Sect's True Person—nine out of ten have problems! As Chong Guang's son, surely he left some contingency on you as well!"
"If you make it out of here, Chong Guang might really have a chance to recover. So our sole mission in entering this blessed land is to kill you! As for the Holy Sect... if Chong Guang dies, his position will be vacant, and not everyone waiting for promotion would want to see you save him!"
"Like that one… Yuan Tu? Hahaha!"
"You…!"
Chong Ming paid no heed to their earlier attempts to persuade him, but this detailed analysis struck a chord, making him grit his teeth. It indeed hit his inner anxiety.
Would Father really do such a thing?
In his memory, his proud father, who had vowed to become the first True Lord of this great calamity, was not someone who would seize his child's body.
Back when the Master of Mending Heaven Peak used his own children as materials and was ultimately countered by Lü Yang and struck dead by heavenly lightning, Chong Guang had even mocked him disdainfully. Thus, Chong Ming found it hard to believe his father would do the same now. Yet, he could not deny that this planted a seed of doubt in his heart.
"There's a flaw!"
Seeing Chong Ming's shaken spirit, one of the Commanders' eyes lit up. He pulled out a bronze gong and struck it heavily with magical power.
"DONG——!"
In an instant, a deafening shockwave burst forth, directly striking Chong Ming's soul, shaking him to the core and dispersing most of his protective radiance.
'It's over!'
In his daze, Chong Ming felt a chill spreading in his heart. He quickly bit down on a pill, preparing to endure the enemy's next fierce assault. But when he came to his senses, he realized the three Dao Court Commanders surrounding him had not advanced. Instead, they stood frozen, their expressions stiff.
'What's going on?'
Chong Ming stood dumbfounded, following their gaze to look behind him. In that moment, he was nearly scared out of his wits.
Behind him, at some unknown moment, a person had appeared.
The newcomer wore a dark robe, a sword hanging at his waist, and a gentle smile on his face. In his hand, he held a large head that still glimmered faintly with residual divine power.
"Hmm?"
Staring at the head in Lü Yang's hand, the remaining two Dao Court Commanders finally realized that their comrade who had just been taunting loudly was now a corpse.
When did this happen? How was it done?
As mere Foundation Establishment cultivators, they had no way of understanding the mystery of the [Star Concealing Radiance]. By now, Lü Yang's divine ability had already enveloped everything within a hundred miles.
[Star Concealing Radiance] could obscure karma and conceal forms. Under its cover, what they could or could not see was entirely within Lü Yang's control. Thus, even though he had just beheaded a Dao Court Commander in front of them, the remaining two had not noticed at all.
". True Person!"
Only then did Chong Ming react, nearly weeping with joy, instinctively calling out the title used in the Dao Struggle Battlefield.
In the next second, the radiant barrier collapsed.
The two remaining Dao Court Commanders didn't hesitate for even a moment. They turned and fled immediately. After all, who hadn't heard of Lü Yang's fearsome reputation? Hadn't he already slaughtered his way through [Kingdom of Qing]?
And in terms of Dao Court hierarchy, their Commander rank didn't even match the Qing King's. Lü Yang had killed the Qing King with a single strike. Killing them would be even easier. Let alone the two of them— even if twenty remained, it would still likely end in a single sword stroke!
In an instant, two streaks of light fled in opposite directions.
But they were swiftly dragged back by Lü Yang's [Fated Connection Severance]. Two invisible sword strikes later, two more lifeless heads fell to the ground.
"True Person…"
Staring at the three severed heads, then at Lü Yang turning toward him with a smile, pressing his hand on the Abyssal Sword, Chong Ming's expression gradually stiffened.
"Call me Senior Brother."
Lü Yang grinned, speaking softly, "What's with this True Person talk? Uncle Chong Guang treated me with great kindness. You are his only son. Calling me True Person makes us seem distant. Besides, Uncle Chong Guang treated you pretty well, didn't he? Left you with so many treasures?"
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As Lü Yang spoke, he began to appraise Chong Ming.
The latter wore a Daoist robe, with talismans and jade pendants hanging from his waist, a string of magical beads around his neck, treasure bracelets on his wrists— his entire body practically glowing like a walking divine ability!
"True Person, you misunderstand…"
Chong Ming cautiously explained, "These were what I found inside the blessed land. They seemed to be my father's storage vault. I just happened to take advantage of it."
He quickly added, "If there's anything that catches your eye, I am willing to offer it up."
"Uncle Chong Guang's vault?"
Lü Yang raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this. After calculating with his fingers, he chuckled, "So that's how it is. Junior Brother, you're mistaken. That was my stash in the blessed land. I just forgot to retrieve it earlier."
"How could you offer me my own treasures?"
". Huh?"
Lü Yang's shameless claim left Chong Ming dumbstruck. When he processed what was said, his handsome face flushed an ugly shade of purple.
But before he could respond, Lü Yang had already thrown a [Fated Connection Severance] onto him. In the next moment, all the radiant spiritual artifacts covering Chong Ming were stripped away, leaving him in a single inner robe of low-grade magical fabric—something Lü Yang had disdainfully spared.
"Rustle…"
At that moment, though he was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, detached from worldly concerns, the passing breeze still made Chong Ming feel a chill he hadn't experienced in a long time.
'Beast, you beast!!!'
Lü Yang had actually stripped him bare!
Yet in the very next second, Chong Ming's body froze in place. Lü Yang, having stripped him, didn't stop. Instead, he stared directly at him.
And in Lü Yang's eyes, there was a hint of killing intent!
'Whether or not this person is a contingency left by True Person Chong Guang, since he's fallen into my hands, I might as well eliminate him to prevent future troubles!'
"Shiiing——!"
The invisible sword was unsheathed with a fierce aura.
But just at that moment, a gentle breeze suddenly stirred, carrying a deep sigh that echoed softly into Lü Yang's ears:
"Yuan Tu… is this really necessary?"
The voice came from all directions, as if the very world itself were speaking to him.
In an instant, Lü Yang's eyes narrowed slightly. Without making any sudden moves, he silently retracted the invisible sword that had been pressing against Chong Ming's throat, just a breath away from decapitating him.
"Uncle, you misunderstand. I was just joking with Junior Brother Chong Ming."
That familiar voice and tone…
It was unmistakably True Person Chong Guang!