Chapter 22: The Might of the Divine Light

Finally, Lyu Yang realized the truth.

"I can't leave!"

It wasn't because he was moved by Xiao Shiye's final display of character, but because he had suddenly realized something that sent a chill down his spine.

"Ultimately, why did I follow Xiao Shiye out here?"

"I should have gone to find Zhao Xuhe immediately to secure the other half of that third-grade true technique from my previous life, the *Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art*."

But what happened instead?

He followed Xiao Shiye to the Merit Pool, simply out of curiosity?

One must know that the Merit Pool's grand prize can only be drawn once a year, and he had already used his turns for this year. Going to the Merit Pool with Xiao Shiye offered him absolutely no benefit.

Why would I do something that offers no benefit?

It was illogical.

In an instant, Lyu Yang felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head; his limbs went numb with cold. "Who is influencing me? Who is interfering with my thoughts?"

"No..."

Once he grasped this point, Lyu Yang's mind cleared instantly.

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

And now, he had an extra reinforcement—himself!

If Xiao Shiye was the Child of Destiny with heaven-defying luck, then Lyu Yang was the unlucky wretch in storybooks who exists solely to act as a human shield when the Child of Destiny is in danger!

To split up and flee in this situation? That was nothing more than drawing enemy fire!

Lyu Yang was one hundred percent certain that if they split up, the one who would ultimately be caught and killed would be him, while Xiao Shiye would instead turn danger into safety!

"How insidious..."

Lyu Yang exhaled a long, heavy breath. A Child of Destiny like Xiao Shiye playing the "divert the trouble" card—any disciple of the Saint Sect would inevitably fall for it.

Because in the Saint Sect, there are no good people.

If someone volunteered to stay behind and cover the retreat, other Saint Sect disciples would be overjoyed, shedding a few crocodile tears before decisively fleeing without a moment's hesitation.

However, by doing so, they would very likely become Xiao Shiye's shield.

Unfortunately, Xiao Shiye had run into Lyu Yang. Xiao Shiye was certain there were no good people in the Saint Sect, which is why he devised this plan, but he hadn't accounted for the fact that Lyu Yang had the exact same thought.

*There are no good people in the Saint Sect? Then you, Xiao Shiye, are a good person?*

*I don't believe it!*

Therefore, no matter how flowery your words or how much you perform your willingness to die, I will first assume you are a bad person, and then deduce what evil deed you are planning!

That's right, Lyu Yang reached his conclusion first!

It was precisely because of this that he hadn't been blinded by a single leaf, allowing him to examine himself in time and discover the true anomaly; otherwise, he would have been utterly screwed!

At the same time, Liu Xin, who had been pursuing them, saw Xiao Shiye charging toward him and Lyu Yang standing motionless not far away. He thought to himself, "To catch the thief, first catch the leader. This Xiao Shiye has low cultivation and is easy to deal with; it would be more secure to deal with Lyu Yang first..."

Before Liu Xin could finish his thought, a loud boom erupted.

*Rumble!*

In the next second, a magnificent sword light tore through the sea of clouds. Instead of fleeing, it arrived right beside Xiao Shiye under his stunned gaze.

"Brother Xiao, we are kindred spirits. How could I, Lyu, abandon you?"

"A mere thief—if we join hands, what is there to fear?"

Lyu Yang spoke with heroic grandeur.

Xiao Shiye listened, dumbfounded.

*Could it be that I miscalculated, and I actually met a good person in the Saint Sect...*

"Impossible!"

Xiao Shiye snapped back to his senses instantly. Realizing that while Lyu Yang appeared to be standing side-by-side with him to face the enemy, he was actually shielding him firmly in front, his face darkened.

*What good person? This is a villain!*

"Brother Lyu, that was all a misunderstanding just now."

Xiao Shiye gave a bitter smile, knowing Lyu Yang had seen through his scheme. He couldn't help but whisper, "Since things have come to this, why don't we truly join forces?"

"Join forces? Fine."

Lyu Yang let out a cold laugh, then directly threw Xiao Shiye toward the others surrounding Liu Xin. Xiao Shiye immediately began cursing, "You shameless bastard, Lyu..."

Seeing this from a distance, Liu Xin burst into laughter. Although he didn't know what had transpired between Lyu Yang and Xiao Shiye, it clearly looked like a dispute. This suited him perfectly; after all, he had no obligation to accommodate his enemies. If they had internal conflict, he would simply kick them while they were down!

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

"You all pin down Xiao Shiye! I will deal with Lyu Yang!"

Having given the order, Liu Xin rode a streak of light to intercept Lyu Yang. However, at that moment, he saw Lyu Yang suddenly flash a smile.

*Something's wrong!*

In the next second, Lyu Yang's figure vanished.

Almost simultaneously, a sword light suddenly erupted from Xiao Shiye, who was already surrounded by the others. Lyu Yang's figure stepped out from within the sword light!

*Divine Firmament Sword Control Art!*

Wherever the sword light resides, the mind arrives instantly!

Liu Xin instantly recalled the conversation between Lyu Yang and Xiao Shiye. That so-called "joining forces" wasn't mockery, but a tacit understanding!

The two had precisely grasped each other's intentions and even performed a coordinated act to deceive him, successfully creating a perfect opportunity: throwing a prepared Lyu Yang into a group of cultivators who were completely caught off guard and whose highest cultivation was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement!

Liu Xin's expression changed drastically as he shouted, "Quick, scatter—"

"Too late!"

Lyu Yang let out a sinister laugh. His sword pill blossomed like a peacock spreading its tail, but compared to before, this burst of sword light was stained with a thick, crimson hue.

In an instant, Lyu Yang let out a shout, his body turning into a blood shadow that merged with the sword pill, subsequently rising into a scarlet curtain of light that looked like both flame and blood. The divine light swept out from Lyu Yang as the center, spreading in all directions like a wildfire consuming a prairie, staining the landscape red, and drowning everyone in the blink of an eye!

*Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light!*

Though it was broad daylight, the cultivators swept by the blood light felt only a bone-chilling cold as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, before losing consciousness.

When the divine light dissipated, nothing remained in the surroundings except for empty human skins fluttering through the air, alongside a stunned Xiao Shiye.

As for their flesh and blood, they had been consumed clean by the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light, making the red glow on Lyu Yang's sword pill appear even more sinister.

In the next second, the sword pill vibrated slightly, and a blood shadow emerged, taking the form of Lyu Yang.

He looked closely and saw Liu Xin standing blankly in the distance, as if in a dream. He burst into laughter, "I wondered who it was; it turns out it's Senior Brother Liu."

Before his voice had even faded, he charged forward on his sword light!

He had not forgotten the grudge from two lifetimes ago when he was treated as "material" to be refined in an instant. He would avenge his past self!

Yesterday's grudge felt like thorns in his back!

Today, don't blame me!

As Lyu Yang slashed forward with his sword, Liu Xin, who had just witnessed the terrifying power of the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light, turned pale and immediately attempted to retreat.

"Trying to run?" Lyu Yang did not hesitate, pursuing him with his sword.

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

As soon as he spoke, the illusory mirage that had previously sealed the area suddenly shattered, and a graceful figure slowly emerged—it was Fairy Qingchen.

The treasure that had just covered this sea of clouds was her "Nine Palaces Dust-Dispelling Scarf." Hidden within the scarf was a Nine Palaces Array capable of containing the vastness of the universe within a mustard seed, locking down heaven and earth to restrict an area. It was intended to prevent a target from escaping, but it had backfired, blocking Liu Xin's path of retreat.

Seeing Fairy Qingchen appear, Liu Xin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the next second, he rode his light to stand beside Fairy Qingchen, looking toward the pursuing Lyu Yang and Xiao Shiye with a solemn expression.

The two sides stared at each other.

After a moment, Liu Xin spoke in a low voice, "Sigh... can we make peace?"