The Sword Pavilion in the South, the Earth-Piercing Abyss.
As its name implied, this place and Zenith Cliff were polar opposites. One pierced the heavens, touching the Cyan Sky Wall; the other plunged deep into the earth's crust, forming an abyss of Yin Fiends.
Yet for this very reason, it was also a superior training ground. Living deep within, refining one's sword with the Earth Evil Fire and tempering it against Yin Gu Demons, was tantamount to fighting for one's life day and night. Succeed or die. Consequently, anyone below the Foundation Establishment realm could not withstand the Evil Fire Shadow Demons and lacked the qualifications to even enter.
The deepest part of the Earth-Piercing Abyss, much like the summit of Zenith Cliff, had once been the abode of a Sword Pavilion True Monarch.
After All True Monarchs went into seclusion, just as Demon-Vanquishing Perfected took up residence at Zenith Cliff, the Earth-Piercing Abyss also gained a new master: the Sword Pavilion's own Exorcist Zhenren.
RUMBLE!
At that moment, within the Earth-Piercing Abyss, vast clouds of malevolent fire converged. Where the flames gathered, lightning sparked. The resulting storm of thunder and fire illuminated the dim abyss as if it were day.
The thunderous noise was incessant.
A long time passed before a figure in blue robes finally emerged from the raging storm of thunder and fire, his sharply chiseled face fraught with solemnity.
He wore no luxurious adornments, not even a single Spiritual Treasure. Only by observing him with Divine Sense could one perceive the heaven-piercing Sword Intent radiating from him, an aura that seemed to faintly resonate with the Earth-Piercing Abyss itself. At a glance, it was as if one were not looking at a man, but at an Enchanted Sword forged from molten fire!
"Amitabha."
Just then, a melodious Buddha's Name suddenly rang out from within the malevolent flames. A ball of Buddha Light dispersed the shadowy demons, and a Novice Monk Shixiu emerged.
Buddha's Son Guang Ming!
This was still not his true body—in fact, it was far weaker than his avatar Overseas. It was merely a projection born from a single thought. He smiled at Exorcist Zhenren and said:
"Congratulations, Patron Exorcist. Your Sword Intent has advanced yet again."
"...It's not enough."
Despite Buddha's Son Guang Ming's praise, Exorcist Zhenren shook his head. "My Sword Intent can never reach Perfection... How on earth did *he* do it?"
Buddha's Son Guang Ming knew full well that the "he" Exorcist Zhenren spoke of was Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. The Sword Pavilion had seen countless Sword Cultivators throughout its history, yet only Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had managed to preface his Sword Intent with the words "Non-Killing." Only those who truly understood the depths of the Sword Dao could appreciate what an outrageous feat that was.
'The very foundation of the Sword Dao was laid by the hands of the Ancestral Master himself.'
'Later, under the authority of True Monarch Gangxing, this method of honing one's soul and will to their absolute limit was officially named and defined as Sword Intent.'
This was no mere designation.
In truth, it was also a symbol, and one that came from a Great Perfected Lord at the Late Stage of Golden Core, which from that moment forward gave the name "Sword Intent" the weight of Mount Tai.
Otherwise, if Sword Intent existed, why were there no other types of intent in the world?
Saber Intent, Spear Intent, Arrow Intent... The weapon might differ, but the essence was the same. However, ever since "Sword Intent" was formally established,
all other forms of intent vanished.
From that point on, all comprehension of this Dao by generations of Sword Cultivators was forever confined within the framework of "Sword Intent." Like pieces on a chessboard, they could only move within its confines, never becoming the players. In the end, their efforts would only serve as building blocks for the formation of the Fruit of Sword Dao.
Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, however, was an exception.
While he hadn't escaped the framework of Sword Intent, he had innovated upon it, transforming it into his Non-Killing Sword Intent and truly forging his own path.
Otherwise, why would the Sword Pavilion hold him in such high regard?
"There is no need for you to worry, Patron."
Seeing his expression, Buddha's Son Guang Ming chuckled lightly. "I have come to offer my congratulations, Patron, and to resolve a matter that has long troubled you."
"Oh?"
Exorcist Zhenren's eyebrows rose at his words. After a quick divination, he instantly understood. "Yun Qingchuan... he actually succeeded in returning?"
Yun Qingchuan, the Ancestor of the Yun Family.
Following Buddha's Son Guang Ming's guidance, he had sent Yun Qingchuan to the Simulation Realm to find Primal Daoist Mu Changsheng and obtain the Consciousness Stripping Technique.
The next moment, with a casual gesture, Buddha's Son Guang Ming produced a newborn infant in the palm of his hand. The baby's entire body was enveloped in Spirit Light. Although still an infant, it displayed a world-weary oldness—it was unmistakably the Ancestor of the Yun Family, his memories from before birth having been awakened.
"Greetings, Perfected Person."
The Ancestor of the Yun Family looked on with anticipation, then extracted his Divine Sense and condensed it into the form of a Daoist Scripture, which he presented to Exorcist Zhenren. "I was fortunate enough to complete the mission."
"Well done."
Exorcist Zhenren calmly accepted it but didn't rush to examine it. Instead, he looked at Buddha's Son Guang Ming. "Master, you know this isn't what I seek."
With Demon-Vanquishing Perfected presiding over the South, Buddha's Son Guang Ming's true body dared not enter. But he had secretly met with him anyway. Could it really be just for the Consciousness Stripping Technique? What he wanted was Buddha's Son Guang Ming's "Buddhist Destiny"! The path of the Fruit of Pewter Metal was closed to him; he wanted to use this to fight for an opportunity at Seeking Gold!
Just like that Southern King of the Dao Court, Wu Taian.
Thus, ever since their meetings began, he had hinted to Buddha's Son Guang Ming more than once that he was willing to be his chosen disciple in the South.
But Buddha's Son Guang Ming had always feigned ignorance.
This time was no different. Meeting Exorcist Zhenren's gaze, Buddha's Son Guang Ming placed his palms together. "Buddhist Destiny is preordained, Patron. It is better not to force it."
'Are you kidding me? As if you're worthy!'
'A good-for-nothing who cultivates the Fruit of Pewter Metal, whose path was severed by Ang Xiao because of the Earth of Chen, wants to become my disciple? The nerve!'
"...Forget it."
Exorcist Zhenren sighed, clearly aware of his own desperate situation, and finally turned his attention to the Consciousness Stripping Technique before him.
"This... I don't need to use it just yet."
"If you are willing to help me, Master, I want to try one more time."
With that, Exorcist Zhenren suddenly raised his head. His gaze pierced through countless obstacles and landed upon Zenith Cliff, but he didn't dare to look at the figure standing on its peak.
'Demon-Vanquishing... how many more days can you hold it back?'
As a fellow cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection, Exorcist Zhenren could also see Demon-Vanquishing Perfected's Fortune. In his opinion, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected's attempt at Seeking Gold was just days away.
The matter was out of his hands.
The Consciousness Stripping Technique was just a backup plan.
After all, to use it would be to completely give up on this great era of Seeking Gold. How could he be reconciled to that unless he was truly at a dead end?
'Besides, the Fruit of Sword Dao... It's not as if I have no hope!'
'With my Sword Intent, if I were to become a Sword Cultivator again... My prospects would be great! As long as Demon-Vanquishing is willing to sacrifice himself to bring it into being... No, he *must* bring it into being!'
Watching the shifting expressions on Exorcist Zhenren's face, Buddha's Son Guang Ming softly recited the Buddha's Name.
At this point, he didn't need to say anything more.
A person's desire is like a boulder rolling down a mountain; once it starts, it cannot be stopped. All he had to do was give it a gentle push and wait for the show to begin.
.......
「Zenith Cliff.」
Lü Yang maneuvered his Sword Dao Avatar out of the ancestral hall. Through the Ancestor of the Yun Family, he had grasped the entirety of the plot between Buddha's Son Guang Ming and Exorcist Zhenren.
'So that's how it is!'
'It's not just Ang Xiao's scheme, but also Buddha's Son Guang Ming's machinations... They've colluded with a Perfected Person inside the Sword Pavilion to make a move against Demon-Vanquishing Perfected!'
At this thought, Lü Yang immediately soared into the sky on a streak of Flying Light, heading straight for the peak of Zenith Cliff—the site of Demon-Vanquishing Perfected's seclusion.
Master! I have something to report!
There are traitors in the Sword Pavilion!
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