The Might of Divine Light

At last, Lu Yang figured it out.

"I can't leave!"

It was not because Xiao Shiye's final display had moved him, but because he had suddenly realized something that sent a chill down his spine.

"When all is said and done, why did I come out with Xiao Shiye?"

"I should have gone to find Zhao Xuhe at once and gotten the other half of that Third Grade true technique from my previous life—the Nine Transformations Dragon Art."

But what had happened instead?

He had followed Xiao Shiye to the Merit Pool just because he was curious?

The grand prize at the Merit Pool could only be drawn once a year, and he had long since used up this year's chance. Going to the Merit Pool with Xiao Shiye brought him no benefit whatsoever.

I actually did something that brought me no benefit?

That was unreasonable!

In an instant, Lu Yang felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over his head. His limbs turned ice-cold. "Who is influencing me? Interfering with my thoughts?"

"No."

Having thought this through, Lu Yang was instantly enlightened.

Why had he accompanied Xiao Shiye to the Merit Pool? Because Xiao Shiye needed him! Otherwise, Xiao Shiye would be the one being hunted down by powerful enemies alone right now!

And now, Xiao Shiye had gained an additional ally—him!

If Xiao Shiye was a Son of Destiny blessed by the heavens, then he was the unlucky fool in storybooks whose sole purpose was to serve as a shield whenever the Son of Destiny faced danger!

Splitting up and fleeing under these circumstances? That was simply drawing the fire!

Lu Yang was one hundred percent certain that if they split up, the one caught and killed in the end would definitely be him. Xiao Shiye, on the other hand, would escape danger unscathed!

"How insidious."

Lu Yang let out a long breath of foul air. When a Son of Destiny like Xiao Shiye played the game of shifting disaster onto another, any Sacred Sect Disciple would inevitably fall for it.

Because there were no good people among Sacred Sect Disciples.

If someone volunteered to bring up the rear, any other Sacred Sect Disciple would be overjoyed. They would shed a few crocodile tears, then flee without hesitation.

Yet the moment they did so, they would likely become Xiao Shiye's shield.

Unfortunately, Xiao Shiye had met Lu Yang. Xiao Shiye was certain there were no good people in the Sacred Sect, which was why he had devised this plan. Yet Lu Yang thought exactly the same way.

There were no good people in the Sacred Sect, and you, Xiao Shiye, were the only good person?

I don't believe it!

So no matter how you embroidered your words with flowers or how convincingly you acted as though you were unafraid of death, I would first assume you were no good person, then deduce what evil you wanted to do!

That was right—Lu Yang drew his conclusion first!

Precisely because of that, he had not been blinded by a single leaf. He had examined himself in time and discovered what was truly wrong. Otherwise, he would have been played for a complete fool!

At the same time, Liu Xin, who had been pursuing them all the way, also saw Xiao Shiye charging toward him, as well as Lu Yang standing motionless not far away. He pondered, To catch bandits, first catch their king. Xiao Shiye's cultivation is low, so he'll be easier to handle. It'll be safer to deal with Lu Yang first.

Before Liu Xin could finish thinking, a thunderous boom suddenly rang out.

"Boom!"

The next moment, a majestic Sword Light tore through the Cloud Sea. Yet instead of fleeing, it sped all the way to Xiao Shiye's side beneath his astonished gaze.

"Brother Xiao, we hit it off at first sight. How could I, Lu, abandon you?"

"With you and me joining hands, what is there to fear from a mere band of thieves?"

Lu Yang spoke with towering heroism.

Xiao Shiye was dumbfounded.

Could it be that he had miscalculated and truly encountered a good person in the Sacred Sect?

"Impossible!"

Xiao Shiye instantly came back to his senses. He noticed that while Lu Yang appeared to be standing shoulder to shoulder with him against the enemy, Lu Yang was in fact firmly keeping him in front as a shield. Xiao Shiye's face immediately darkened.

What good person? This was a bad person!

"Brother Lu, everything just now was a misunderstanding."

Xiao Shiye wore a bitter smile. Knowing that Lu Yang had already seen through his scheme, he could not help saying softly, "Since things have come to this, why don't we truly join forces?"

"Join forces? Fine."

Lu Yang sneered, then directly hurled Xiao Shiye toward the others besides Liu Xin. Xiao Shiye immediately cursed aloud, "You shameless bastard, Lu!"

Seeing this, Liu Xin burst into laughter. Though he did not know what had happened between Lu Yang and Xiao Shiye, it was obvious that they had fallen into conflict. This suited him perfectly. After all, he had no obligation to accommodate his enemies. Since the enemies had created trouble for themselves, he could simply kick them when they were down!

With that thought, Liu Xin immediately changed his plan and shouted to the others:

"You trap Xiao Shiye. I'll deal with Lu Yang."

After giving the order, Liu Xin rode a streak of escape light toward Lu Yang. But at that moment, he saw Lu Yang suddenly reveal a faint smile.

Something was wrong!

The next second, Lu Yang vanished.

Almost simultaneously, a Sword Light suddenly bloomed from Xiao Shiye, who had already been surrounded by the others. Lu Yang leisurely stepped out from within that Sword Light!

Divine Firmament Sword Control Art!

Wherever the Sword Light was, he could arrive with a thought!

Liu Xin instantly recalled the conversation between Lu Yang and Xiao Shiye just now. Their talk of joining forces had not been mockery at all, but a tacit understanding between them!

The two had accurately understood each other's intentions and even performed an impromptu act in perfect coordination. They had successfully deceived him, creating the perfect opportunity: throwing Lu Yang, who had been gathering momentum, into the midst of a group of cultivators who were wholly unprepared and whose highest cultivation was only the Middle Qi Refining Stage!

Liu Xin's expression changed drastically as he shouted, "Scatter!"

"Too late!"

Lu Yang gave a savage grin. The Sword Pellet blossomed like a peacock spreading its tail, but compared to before, the Sword Light erupting from it was now stained a deep, intense blood-red.

In an instant, Lu Yang exhaled and shouted. His body transformed into a blood shadow and merged with the Sword Pellet, whereupon a scarlet curtain of light rose up, like flame and blood. Centered on Lu Yang, the Divine Light swept in all directions, like wildfire raging across the plains, blood staining rivers and mountains. In the blink of an eye, it engulfed everyone!

Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light!

Though it was broad daylight, the cultivators swept by the Blood Light felt a bone-chilling cold engulf their entire bodies, as though they had fallen into an icy abyss. Then they lost consciousness.

When the Divine Light faded, aside from the still-shaken Xiao Shiye, all that remained around them were empty human skins drifting down from the sky.

As for their flesh and blood, the Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light had devoured them clean, making the red glow on Lu Yang's Sword Pellet appear ever more sinister and strange.

The next moment, the Sword Pellet trembled slightly, and a blood shadow condensed into being, revealing Lu Yang's form.

He fixed his eyes ahead and saw Liu Xin standing dumbly in the distance, as though in a dream. He immediately laughed. "Who did I think it was? So it's Senior Brother Liu."

Before his words had even faded, he rode the Sword Light and slashed toward him!

He had not forgotten the hatred of being refined into human material in an instant in the life before last. He would avenge his former self from that life!

Yesterday's grudge was like thorns in his back!

Today, don't blame me!

Lu Yang flew forward on his sword to strike, while Liu Xin, who had just witnessed the might of the Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light firsthand, immediately darkened his face and tried to retreat.

"Trying to run?" Lu Yang did not hesitate, controlling his sword to pursue and kill.

Seeing this, Liu Xin hurriedly shouted, "Qingchen, release the restriction!"

The moment his words fell, the illusory Mirage that had sealed off the surroundings suddenly shattered. Then a graceful figure slowly emerged—it was Fairy Qingchen.

The magic treasure that had enclosed this stretch of Cloud Sea was her Nine Palaces Dust-Diffusing Kerchief. Hidden within the kerchief was a Nine Palaces Great Array, capable of concealing Mount Sumeru within a mustard seed, trapping heaven and earth, and sealing off an entire area. It had originally been meant to prevent their target from escaping, yet it had backfired and blocked Liu Xin's path to survival instead.

Upon seeing Fairy Qingchen appear, Liu Xin finally let out a breath of relief.

The next moment, he rode his escape light to Fairy Qingchen's side and stood shoulder to shoulder with her, his expression grave as he looked toward the pursuing Lu Yang and Xiao Shiye.

The two sides stared at each other.

After a moment, Liu Xin finally spoke in a low voice. "Heh... can we reconcile?"