Chapter 706 - 701: The Final Piece, Checkmate
"What are you looking at!"
Overseas, the Old Dragon Monarch revealed his true form, stirring up wind and waves. His dragon’s roar echoed in all directions. "My son is Seeking Gold! What’s there to see? All of you, scram!"
"Who wants to make a move?"
"Stain Sect, Sword Pavilion, Pure Land—whoever makes a move, I’ll help your enemies!"
"The Dao Court... If the Dao Court has the guts, then come at me!"
"I’m not afraid of you!"
The Old Dragon Monarch’s voice grew louder and louder. Although his tone betrayed a hint of cowardice, his actions showed no sign of backing down.
He had no choice. The Fruit of Sky-River Water was too important.
Ever since four Nascent Souls took control of the Immortal Pivot and the True Dragon Race was massacred on a massive scale, he, this old bag of bones, had been single-handedly holding the clan together.
The True Dragon Race was left with only one of its former Water Fruit Positions, the Fruit of Vast-Sea Water. Meanwhile, the Stain Sect, which had slaughtered dragons with the most glee back then, had used the opportunity to seize numerous scriptures related to the Water Fruit Positions. Otherwise, why do you think most of the Stain Sect’s Golden Core Perfected Lords hold Water Fruit Positions?
The Fruit of Gully-Rill Water, the Fruit of Wide-Brook Water.
They even had one with the Fruit of Spring Water, though that person had yet to attempt the Seeking Gold Ascension Position and was only at Foundation Establishment Perfection... Still, it proved just how many water-based cultivators the Stain Sect had.
But in the Old Dragon Monarch’s eyes, how could this be considered water?
This was the blood and tears of the True Dragon Race!
Yet, for the sake of his clan, he had forcibly swallowed this grievance. He had retreated step by step, barely surviving into this new era, and had finally seen a glimmer of hope.
"Come on!"
"You have to attain the Fruit of Sky-River Water!"
The Old Dragon Monarch was desperately cheering on the Celestial Python. It wasn’t out of deep father-son affection, but mainly because the Celestial Python attaining the Fruit of Sky-River Water was of immense significance to him.
Because he was the father, and the Celestial Python was the son.
And if the Celestial Python, as the son, attained the Fruit of Sky-River Water, he, as the father, could immediately use his Fruit of Vast-Sea Water to demote its Supreme Fruit Position Imagery.
In this way, the Water Element Supreme Venerable would once again belong to the Fruit of Vast-Sea Water!
At the same time, he would transform from an old loach into a Supreme Venerable Perfected Lord at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, becoming one of the most prominent Perfected Lords in a single leap.
And don’t forget, besides him, the Four Seas Sect had three other Perfected Lords.
Only one of them was of the Outer Dao. The other two held the Fruit of Sea-Deep Metal and the Fruit of Thunderbolt Fire, respectively, which would allow them to form a Late Stage of Three Elements Breakthrough with him!
’This is a godsent opportunity! I absolutely cannot miss it!’
’As long as this succeeds, I’ll be a Great Perfected Lord at the Late Stage of Golden Core, powerful enough to lead the Dragon Race back to the mainland and search for the Ancestral Dragon Lineage... I might even reach the Nascent Soul realm in the future!’
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through the Old Dragon Monarch’s mind.
And with his Dao path on the line, his attitude was incomparably resolute. His powerful Divine Sense boiled over the Overseas region, and after countless years, he finally unleashed the might of a True Dragon once again.
For a time, no one could stop him!
After all, Ang Xiao, True Monarch Gangxing, the Three Treasures of Pure Land Bodhisattva, World Purger Fei Xue, and the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven were already locked in a chaotic battle.
Only the Dao Court had people to spare.
But as for the Daoist Court True Monarchs... everyone knew the deal. Emperor Jia You was the only one who could fight, but he still lacked the confidence to face the Old Dragon Monarch. Why would he seek his own humiliation?
And so, he actually managed to get away with it!
Overseas, the light of Seeking Gold grew ever more brilliant. The Celestial Python had prepared for many years. With the Old Dragon Monarch’s full support and no external interference, his chances of success were not small!
Lü Yang was the one who understood this best.
In his Previous Life, the reason he hadn’t let the Celestial Python attempt to Seek Gold was mainly because the Celestial Python had been marked ahead of time by the Bhagavat due to the matter of the Earthly Buddha Country.
It wasn’t because the Celestial Python had no chance.
But now, the three Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land were all tied up by Ang Xiao and couldn’t break away. With the Old Dragon Monarch protecting him, there were naturally fewer concerns.
At this moment, the situation had actually reached a stalemate.
The Dao Court wasn’t sending anyone out, and every other faction was busy with its own opponent. No one could decide a victor in the short term, so in the end, they could only let things drag on.
’But... this is good for me!’
Lü Yang was inwardly elated. He watched as Fortune drew closer and closer to the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire. Their Qi traces had already begun to connect; it would be a success in just a little more time.
But just then...
BOOM!!!
The situation on one of the fronts suddenly collapsed.
In an instant, countless gazes swarmed over, turning toward the collapsing front.
The West—the Pure Land!
Of course, it wasn’t that Ang Xiao or the three Bodhisattvas had been defeated. Instead, they had actually stopped fighting and made peace, each backing away and ceasing their combat!
’This is bad!’
Lü Yang instantly understood the reason for the collapse. ’Ang Xiao and the Pure Land Bodhisattvas have reached an agreement. He most likely gave up on seizing the Fruit of Pewter Metal and the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth, and in return, the Pure Land Bodhisattvas are letting him go... Because of the Old Dragon Monarch, the Pure Land absolutely does not want the Celestial Python to attain the Fruit of Sky-River Water!’
It was an exchange of interests.
Originally, the Pure Land’s interest lay in dealing with Ang Xiao, which was why they had been constantly entangled with him. Now, however, the Old Dragon Monarch had introduced a new point of interest.
So, the Pure Land no longer wanted to fight.
After all, compared to Ang Xiao, the Earthly Buddha Country was far more important to them. At the same time, this gave Ang Xiao a chance to maneuver out of his desperate situation.
The result—just as Lü Yang had expected.
After the two sides separated, the three Bodhisattvas rushed Overseas without stopping, while the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva, controlled by Ang Xiao, charged toward Fortune!
This was different from his Previous Life. In the Previous Life, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva was at most an Outer Dao puppet. That was because all the world’s Perfected Lords had been taken away by the Fruit of Sorrowless Heaven, and it was difficult for Ang Xiao to even leave the Netherworld. But now, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva had Ang Xiao’s true body as backup.
If not for that, it would have been impossible for it to withstand the fierce assault of the three Pure Land Bodhisattvas.
Now, however, it was charging toward Fortune. Given Fortune’s current state, death was certain. It was impossible to block the attack!
’Should I have Demon-Vanquishing Perfected and Progenitor Tingyou go intercept it? It’s not impossible, but...’
Lü Yang’s expression was grave as he scanned his surroundings.
At first glance, everyone had their own opponent. But was that really the case? The Sword Pavilion and the Stain Sect actually still had Perfected Lords who hadn’t made a move!
What were they waiting for?
’This time, I’ve been hiding behind the scenes, plotting against the world, and engaging in a battle of wits with Ang Xiao from afar... How many people will start to question my identity and background?’
’Are they waiting for me?’
No one likes a variable.
And right now, within the Immortal Pivot, I could definitely be considered a variable—a rather significant one at that... But the more that’s true, the easier it is to become a target!
’If I have the Progenitors make a move, even if they leave no trace and their actions can’t be seen, it will inevitably draw the attention of all the Perfected Lords in the world. At that point, whether it’s to eliminate a variable or to probe my background... it’s highly likely that some Perfected Lord will attack them!’
He had to guard against this possibility.
Lü Yang’s brow furrowed as his mind raced. ’I would rather Fortune die and fail to attain the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire than let the Progenitors fall into danger.’
It had nothing to do with sentiment. It was purely a matter of calculating interests, and it wasn’t worth the risk.
Thinking of this, he shifted his gaze once more.
Summon.
This was supposed to be a reinforcement he could use openly, but unfortunately, someone had already intercepted them... a gentle and elegant-looking woman.
True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo!
Without a doubt, she was likely guarding this spot under the instruction of World Purger Fei Xue, which, in a way, blocked Summon’s path to reinforcing Fortune.
’What do I do?’
’Am I really going to fail at the last step and let Ang Xiao turn the tables?’
Lü Yang’s brow was tightly knit. As he watched the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva get closer and closer to Fortune, time itself seemed to slow down, forcing him to think continuously.
What other way was there?
How could he stop the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva?
The next second, a name suddenly popped into his mind. He immediately clenched his jaw and, with the desperation of someone trying a hopeless remedy, abruptly spoke out.
In an instant, a resonant voice spread throughout Heaven and Earth.
"Mu Changsheng! Make your move!"
"I have a clue to the second piece of that place you visited!"
Heaven and Earth fell silent.
Immediately after, the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva, which had already arrived in front of Fortune, could only watch helplessly as Fortune suddenly turned illusory between its fingers.
The Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva was stunned.
’What the fuck, I missed!?’
The world is full of impermanence; often, you miss by a single step, and what’s missed is missed forever... In the next second, Fortune had already made contact with the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire!
The final piece.
Checkmate!