Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation
chapter-1719

Chapter 1719 (Raw 1730): Plan within a Plan, Trap within a Trap

A huge battle would ignite with just a spark. Xiao Chen held the Tyrant Saber upraised; he had no intention of explaining anything.

Sometimes, people just wanted an excuse, an excuse to make a move, an excuse to benefit themselves.

With Wang Yueming and Zhen Yuan's discernment, they definitely could tell that there was something very off about the black lotus that suddenly came out from Xiao Chen's body.

Just that and the testimony of a new Profound Light Temple disciple were not enough proof to determine whether Xiao Chen came from the Black Lotus Church or not.

However, what did it matter? Using this favorable excuse to snatch away the Dao Tool was great for Wang Yueming.

With this excuse, Zhen Yuan could try to extort a confession and force Xiao Chen to hand over the Mahāmāyā Abstinence Violation Saber Technique's manual. That would not incur any suspicions from others, either.

As long as they used the excuse of Xiao Chen being a Black Lotus Church disciple, they could do anything.

As for whether Xiao Chen was really a Black Lotus Church disciple, it obviously was not important.

Xiao Chen's mind was very clear. As he watched Zhen Yuan put on a show, asking if he wanted to explain himself, he directly rejected.

Zhen Yuan plainly could see that there were many suspicious points about the accusation of Xiao Chen being a Black Lotus Church disciple, yet he still pressed forward and put on a show, urging Xiao Chen to try and explain.

The more Xiao Chen tried to explain, the more he would appear guilty. Doing so was useless.

At this moment, Wang Yueming and Zhen Yuan were already maintaining Xiao Chen's identity as a Black Lotus Church disciple. How could they bother to listen to his explanation?

A false gentleman and a false monk. Both of them had schemes in their hearts. Xiao Chen did not believe that the two would really be willing to risk death and dare to take a step forward.

Seeing Xiao Chen advance courageously, preferring death to dishonor, Wang Yueming and Zhen Yuan showed grave expressions. They were no longer as overbearing as before.

The two did not dare to take another step forward, to cross the point Xiao Chen's saber indicated. That was the line of death that Xiao Chen demarcated!

As Wang Yueming stared at Xiao Chen, trying to find an opening, he also sent a voice projection to Zhen Yuan, trying to pander to him. Brother Zhen Yuan, you are much stronger than me, and this fellow is a sworn enemy of your Buddhist sect. I'm willing to coordinate with your attack.

When Zhen Yuan, who locked his aura on Xiao Chen, heard this, he could not help smiling coldly in his heart.

Indeed, Zhen Yuan did not fear Xiao Chen. If there were no one else around, he would not have had any qualms about charging forward long ago.

However, there were many people here, many who were hoping to take advantage. Furthermore, there was Wang Yueming. How could Zhen Yuan take the risk and charge forward?

Even if Zhen Yuan managed to defeat Xiao Chen, he would just end up doing all the work for Wang Yueming and letting Wang Yueming benefit from it.

Naturally, Zhen Yuan would not fall for that and end up being taken advantage of. He replied, Let's attack together. He can make only one move. He cannot possibly injure both of us at the same time, only one at a time. Then, he will be useless.

Wang Yueming smiled coldly and said, I do not like gambling. If it were me, I would definitely choose to land the strike on the weaker person.

As for who was the weaker of the two…it naturally went without saying.

Behind them, the face of the Black Lotus Church Holy Son, who had been smiling cockily, immediately sank.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen's aura and momentum shook the two strongest outstanding talents of the Grave Sea into inaction.

Indeed, this place is just a backwater. They cannot compare to people who have been through multiple life-and-death situations. No matter how strong they are, with their boldness, they are just trash in the end, not even comparable to the unconscious Shangguan Lei! Ming Xuan snorted coldly to himself, showing heavy disdain and despisal for Zhen Yuan and Wang Yueming.

Had Ming Xuan known, he would not have wasted his efforts. In the end, he still had to make a move himself.

Black Lotus Church Secret Art, World Eliminating Imprint, Eliminating All Life!

Ming Xuan held his index and middle finger together, forming a hand seal, and swiped his hand down. Black Buddhist prayer beads dangled from his fingers. Without moving the string of Buddhist prayer beads at all, he pushed it forward.

"Boom!"

A force equal to a Cloud Sea Star Venerate's casual strike appeared from nowhere.

Caught off guard, Zhen Yuan and Wang Yueming could not turn around in time by the time they detected it.

This was a force equal to a Star Venerate's attack. It contained the will of soul as it surged over.

It immediately knocked away Zhen Yuan and Wang Yueming. They felt intense pain, akin to all of their bones shattering. This disorienting attack shook their souls. The world seemed to spin as their souls trembled in their bodies. After they fell to the ground, they could no longer get up.

This strike inflicted heavy damage to the physical body and the soul.

It was as if a Star Venerate had attacked. Unready, the two lost all their combat prowess.

This was especially so for the Confucian Institution's Wang Yueming, whose physical body was not as strong as Zhen Yuan's. Intense pain overwhelmed his body; he could not even flip over. More terrifying was the shaking of his soul. Recovering within a short time was impossible.

Zhen Yuan's Indestructible Iron Body negated half of the damage. The injuries of his physical body were much lighter than Wang Yueming's.

Even so, the current Zhen Yuan posed no threat to the Holy Son Ming Xuan.

The damage to Zhen Yuan's soul put him in incredible pain. He barely managed to get up, and when he looked at the Black Lotus Church Holy Son, he revealed an extremely startled expression.

As for Wang Yueming, he was in so much pain that he would rather die. He could not even split his attention to raise his head.

"You two trash!" the Holy Son Ming Xuan spat in disdain. Without any hesitation, his figure moved through the air, charging at Xiao Chen, who just dealt with the remnant shock waves.

"This time, you will not be so lucky!"

The Black Lotus Church Holy Son did not hold back at all, bringing out his full power.

His entire body emitted a terrifying, black Buddhist light. A cold, expressionless black Buddha image appeared behind the Holy Son Ming Xuan.

The Black Lotus Church also believed in Buddha. However, they had a different interpretation of the ancient Buddhist scriptures from the orthodox Buddhist sects.

The Buddha that the Black Lotus Church believed in was the Kāśyapa Buddha, just like the orthodox Buddhist sects. However, in their eyes, this was what the Kāśyapa Buddha's true form was like.

Cold and expressionless, looking down on all life. This Kāśyapa Buddha was known as the Black Lotus Buddha.

The nature of man was evil from birth; the seven emotions and six desires were all sins. The Kāśyapa Buddha took pity on men. Those who believed in him could reduce their sin and enter the cycle of reincarnation. Those that did not believe in him were abandoning themselves, their overwhelming sin preventing them from reincarnating.

A black Buddhist light appeared, immediately exposing the Holy Son Ming Xuan's identity without any doubt.

Loud cries rang out. No one expected such a situation.

Who could have thought that the person who self-righteously pointed at Xiao Chen, claiming Xiao Chen to be a spy for the Black Lotus Church, was the true Black Lotus Church disciple?

However, it was already too late. Wang Yueming and Zhen Yuan were severely injured.

The others were not strong enough and could not interfere with Xiao Chen's battle, only watch from afar.

Xiao Chen possessed two kinds of Great Dao Energy—the Thunder Dao and the Saber Dao. Using the Army Breaking Saber Technique, he commenced a battle with the Holy Son Ming Xuan.

The Army Breaking Saber Technique focused on pressing the advance without looking back. It was very compatible with the Tyrant Saber.

The Tyrant Saber contained the Thunder Dao. However, the tyrannical nature of the Tyrant Saber would not change. Instead, it would strengthen the aura of the Thunder Dao.

Likewise, the Tyrant Saber could also strengthen the compatible Army Breaking Saber Technique.

When facing the mysterious, unfathomable, and strong Black Lotus Church Holy Son, Xiao Chen maintained his calm.

Previously, he had been limited by his cultivation and could not clash head-on with the other party.

Now, Xiao Chen already obtained the Tyrant Saber; that was favorable timing. The other party's identity was exposed, giving Xiao Chen a home-ground advantage; that was a favorable location. His cultivation had made a breakthrough; that was a favorable human condition.

Timing, locality, and human condition. With these three, Xiao Chen could clash head-on with the other party.

Xiao Chen fully displayed his skills with the saber.

Back at the Buddha Seeking Platform, Ming Xuan had relied on his cultivation and physical body, making light of Xiao Chen's attacks.

Now, Ming Xuan no longer dared to do so.

He put in a lot of effort, fighting to his heart's content. However, even after exchanging more than a hundred moves, he was shocked to discover that he did not hold the upper hand.

"Is this all you are capable of? Black Lotus Church Holy Son, you are only so-so!"

Xiao Chen raised the tip of his saber, moving from defense to offense. He shouted, and a dragon roar rang out in the surroundings like sudden thunder shaking the nine heavens.

The Tyrant Saber in Xiao Chen's hand was infused with two kinds of Great Dao Energies as he executed Breaking Vast Armies.

With the Tyrant Saber in hand, the surging aura seemed solid. A gentle upward stroke was like a hegemon making an appearance, a sovereign descending on the world. One chop of the Army Breaking Saber Technique tore through the clouds in the sky.

The Holy Son Ming Xuan frowned slightly. He could not forcefully continue attacking, and he already lost momentum. This was not the best time to clash head-on with Xiao Chen.

With a thought, he came up with a plan and retreated quickly.

"Break!"

Holding the upper hand in momentum, Xiao Chen soared into the air. He showed a stern and dignified expression as he smoothly chained Breaking Stars after Breaking Vast Armies.

The previous saber strike tore apart the clouds, leaving the sky filled with stars sending down resplendent starlight. The saber light looked very piercing as Xiao Chen continued to advance.

The Holy Son Ming Xuan landed on the ground. He held up the Buddhist prayer beads and calmly formed a hand seal, sweeping away the saber light and Saber Might that attacked him.

With each step the Holy Son Ming Xuan took back, a black lotus bloomed under his feet.

Xiao Chen pressed on ferociously. The saber light in his hand moved relentlessly as he materialized his Flawless saber Dao to its limits.

It was like starlight, like the moon descending, like the sun rising, as cold as the winter snow, as warm as the spring light, as merciless as the autumn wind…

The Tyrant Saber continuously changed moves in Xiao Chen's hand. However, the transitions were smooth like flowing water, as if it was telling a series of stories.

This exquisite Saber Technique stunned the sect disciples in the surroundings. They all gasped in amazement at this heavenly performance.

When Zhen Yuan, who barely managed to sit up and was doing his best to treat his injuries, saw this scene, he stopped circulating his energy, stunned.

With just this skill with the saber, Xiao Chen was already qualified to fight toe-to-toe with Zhen Yuan.

No wonder…no wonder back then, when he pointed his saber, it made Wang Yueming and me feel like it was a line of death.

He does indeed have the strength to make anyone who crossed the line pay a heavy price, possibly even death.

Those were not empty words or a joke.

The Holy Son Ming Xuan was able to deal with this exquisite skill with the saber. Actually, his strength was rather respectable as well.

If the others were in his place, how could they even make out which of Xiao Chen's moves were real and which were feints?

However, in the end, Xiao Chen's Saber Technique was superior to the Holy Son Ming Xuan's Palm Technique. After three hundred moves, a large opening finally appeared, causing the Holy Son Ming Xuan's expression to change drastically.

"Breaking the World!"

Relying on the momentum from the three hundred moves, Xiao Chen grasped the opening and executed Breaking the World, sending his saber hacking at the Holy Son Ming Xuan.

The Holy Son Ming Xuan had no room to retreat. He formed another dharmic seal and chanted scriptures, which echoed in the surroundings. Then, he stretched his hand upwards.

Scriptures gathered continuously, and the level of space around him strengthened until it was like a spiritual mountain of Buddhism.

The saber light slashed through layers of barriers. The two Dao Might merged into one and ruthlessly tore a hole in the Holy Son Ming Xuan's tight defenses.

The Tyrant Saber continued hacking down towards the Holy Son Ming Xuan's shoulder, to chop him in half with one strike.

This scene looked very similar to Xiao Chen and the Holy Son Ming Xuan's previous fight. At that time, the Holy Son Ming Xuan showed a weakness to Xiao Chen on purpose before sending out a heavy strike that wounded Xiao Chen.

Would the same result appear again?

"Whoosh!"

Just as this saber strike was about to land on the Holy Son Ming Xuan, the Black Lotus Buddha image in the sky suddenly shrank and aggregated on the Holy Son Ming Xuan's body.

The Holy Son Ming Xuan's physical body changed, looking like a black sculpture as Xiao Chen's Tyrant Saber landed on its shoulder.

"Crack! Crack!" Cracks appeared in the black sculpture before it quickly fragmented, revealing the Black Lotus Church Holy Son's true appearance.

The sculpture covering that broke had absorbed most of the force from the saber strike.

When the saber landed, it had stabbed in by only one centimeter, like before, blocked by the collarbone.

History repeated itself!

The Holy Son Ming Xuan vomited a mouthful of blood. This time, the force of the saber was much stronger. Even though most of it got blocked, he still sustained severe injuries.

Despite the Holy Son Ming Xuan paling, a smile filled his face. "To think that you fell for the same trick twice. Xiao Chen, you are really stupid. Soul Destroying Eye!"

The Holy Son Ming Xuan's forehead opened up, and a vertical eye appeared. An evil light flashed in that vertical eye, releasing an aura that made the soul tremble.

From here, the Holy Son Ming Xuan would execute the final step of his carefully laid plan: using the Soul Destroying Eye, a powerful killing move, to deal severe damage to Xiao Chen's soul.

"Is that so? In that case, you are going to be disappointed!"

"Dragon Blood Soul Breaking Finger!"

Just as the evil light in the vertical eye coalesced and was about to shoot out, a scarlet light appeared on the tip of Xiao Chen's left index finger as he attacked the Holy Son Ming Xuan's forehead at lightning speed.

Before the Holy Son Ming Xuan could execute the Soul Destroying Eye, he grunted in pain as Xiao Chen's finger attack knocked him into the air.

A plan within a plan, a trap within a trap. The two clashed, but it was not just the Holy Son Ming Xuan who could lay a trap!