Chapter 215: Chapter 154: The Arrival of the Sword (Finale)_2
Translator: 549690339
“Life or death, survival or extinction, all hang on this night—we have no choice but to stake everything on one last effort.”
In saying this, his gaze swept across the equally haggard figures before him, and True Monarch Changrong felt helpless in his heart.
After five days of fierce assault, leading an army over ten thousand miles, and breaking through four strategic points, they had forced the demons into retreat step by step. But they also paid a heavy price, with countless cultivators wounded or dead, and the rest were utterly exhausted.
Their mana was severely depleted, and their Divine Souls were even more worn down. Even with ceremonial blessings and the recovery offered by elixirs, it was difficult to maintain their strength for battle.
Even he, a Daoist Celestial Master, was weary from casting great divine skills continuously, yet he still forced himself to stand, even resorting to secret techniques that traded lifespan for temporary power.
The troops were worn out!
But now, at this point, they had no choice but to fight desperately to the end.
“Brother Dao, rest assured, we will risk our lives tonight to breach the city!”
The cultivators spoke in solemn tones, already resolved to die.
True Monarch Changrong wore a grave expression, “Then let us begin. Remember, that demon has the ability to bewitch the minds of men. Initially, Buddhism trusted him deeply, which likely was a result of his deception. And those three monstrous gods, I fear, have become his puppets without even realizing it. We must be extremely cautious as we attack the city.”
“Yes!”
The crowd responded and dispersed each to their stations.
Up ahead, the Yin Mountain’s vanguard forces had already lost more than half their numbers. Of the five ghostly generals, only two remained; the troops under their command had suffered innumerable casualties, and even the Increment-Decrement Marshal was covered in wounds, having exhausted much of his strength.
Yet as the vanguard, they still bravely took the lead, directly marching towards the Capital Region.
In the land of the Capital Region, the Buddha’s light shone brilliantly, enveloping an area of over a thousand miles.
The cultivators charged into the battle array, only to hear the chanting of Brahma Sound and sinister tunes that followed.
“Namo, namo, Amitabha…”
“Namo, namo, Amitabha…”
“Namo, namo, Amitabha…”
“What is this?”
“Not good!”
Hearing the Brahma Sound, everyone’s expressions changed, and True Monarch Changrong shouted urgently, “Those beneath the True Man level, retreat from this place; everyone else, fight with all your might.”
As the order was issued, the army immediately split, and within the sea of Buddha’s light, monstrous waves surged forth as countless demons swept in, with the three monstrous gods leading them.
As the two sides clashed, the holy Buddha Realm was soon awash with rivers of blood and covered with corpses.
Meanwhile…
Inside the imperial city, within the Daoist temple, before the Mana Altar.
A monk sat alone, gazing at the sky as the Buddha’s light around him glittered, revealing a Mysterious Mirror.
Within the Mysterious Mirror, the Nine Ceremony High Altar stood, with a Taoist man sitting atop, also displaying a serene countenance.
“You’ve lost.”
Pudu Cihang looked at Xu Yang, saying, “My tribulation has yet to come, but your life is nearing its end. Why not ascend to avoid this calamity and plan for another day?”
The words were earnest, and he advised sincerely, as if the one in front of him was not a bitter enemy, but a dear friend instead.
Xu Yang was unconcerned, preoccupied with his own perspective, “Using the Buddha to cast demons, using demons to imitate Buddha, to reduce sin and evade cause and effect is not the way meant for this world.”
“True!”
Pudu Cihang nodded: “I come from beyond this realm, an Outerworld demon, and this technique is also an Outerworld Great Skill.”
Xu Yang smiled, unchanging in demeanor: “Though the skill is exquisite, it has its limits; it cannot erase all sins and karma. That is why you dare not devour all the Northern Territory demons, for you would surely face divine condemnation and be hunted by gods and men alike!”
“True!”
Hearing this, Pudu Cihang still remained composed: “The techniques of this world use falsehood to cultivate truth, and sentient beings possess power. If I were to devour all sentient beings of the Northern Territory, overwhelming resentment would envelop me, heaping sin upon sin and drawing thunderous tribulations, giving you the opportunity to prevail against me.”
Having said that, he looked again at Xu Yang, “Now, as I firmly guard the imperial city, just one more day of delay and the Seven Arrow Curse will be unleashed. You wouldn’t be able to stop me, even if you survive. Then, within and beyond the capital, regardless of good or evil, human or demon, they will all become my sustenance to break through the barrier!”
Upon hearing this, Xu Yang simply smiled: “Not afraid of being condemned by heaven and earth?”
“We cultivators naturally go against heaven’s will—what is there to fear from heavenly condemnation and earthly extermination?”
Pudu Cihang, unfazed, remarked: “Without you in my way, what can the Heavenly Tribulation possibly do to me?”
Between the lines, he glanced outward, “The cultivators of this world are indeed extraordinary, but unfortunately, destiny is on my side!”
After speaking, his gaze returned to Xu Yang: “We both are cultivators from beyond this domain. Why must we fight to the death over this?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Yang simply smiled: “Do you think I wouldn’t?”
This statement plunged Pudu Cihang into silence.
All his words had but one purpose—to persuade Xu Yang to ascend.
The situation was now clear.
His cultivation was still within the Seventh Realm, and because he feared the resentment becoming karma would bring about divine punishment, he dared not devour all the souls of the Northern Territory, not even the three monstrous gods whom he had turned into puppets with his Brahma Sound.
Thus, his advantage over Xu Yang was not great.
If Xu Yang took advantage of the thunder of tribulation, and both gods and men united to exterminate the demon, Pudu Cihang would be hard-pressed to resist.
To prevent this, he decisively utilized his strongest method, the Nailhead Plowhead Seven Arrow Scripture!
He intended to use this treasure to force Xu Yang to ascend, and then leisurely endure the Eight Realms of Heavenly Tribulation.
But would Xu Yang ascend?
This question had troubled him for a long time.
Initially, he believed that Xu Yang would ascend.
After all, this was a man of great ambition and schemes!
Despite his years of fairly administering justice, praised as a pillar of the Righteous Path, Pudu Cihang didn’t believe this to be Xu Yang’s original intention.
If he were so pure-hearted, why would he disguise his identity and create the Northern City Three Cultivations to intimidate various factions?
Such a person had to be a conqueror!
And how could a conqueror give up life for righteousness?
At most, he would seek revenge later.
But now…