Chapter 363 : Mechanisms and Numbers Coexist!

Chapter 363: Mechanisms and Numbers Coexist!

Lü Yang sped through the southern frontier, his Qi force manifesting as a grand sword light that locked onto the Wan Poison Sect’s mountain gate, flying directly toward the Ten Thousand Gu Cavern.

The two True Persons of the Wan Poison Sect followed closely behind.

"This man... truly courting death!"

True Person Dragon Centipede sneered coldly. "If he weren’t a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, but rather a rogue cultivator, acting so brazenly in our southern frontier, I would’ve already refined him into a Human Gu!"

True Person Cicada Moulter, however, shook his head. "A disciple of a great sect, having just entered Foundation Establishment. A bit of arrogance is normal. In fact, the more arrogant he is, the more it works to our advantage. I was fretting over how to lure him deeper into the southern frontier, but now he’s walked right in on his own, saving us the effort."

"Senior Brother is right."

True Person Dragon Centipede sneered again, saying, "Once we trap him, we must let him suffer a bit, so he learns the hard truth that there’s always someone stronger!"

Before long, Lü Yang had penetrated ten thousand miles into the southern frontier.

Looking back, the Sword Pavilion was long gone beyond the horizon. All he could see were dense forests, while eerie miasma began to drift down from the skies.

In the next moment, a sharp screech suddenly rang out.

“Skreee!”

As the sound pierced the air, a massive creature crawled out from the clouds — a dragon head and centipede body stretching for miles, its crimson eyes glaring at him.

With a flick of his fingers, Lü Yang instantly calculated the creature’s origin: ‘【Dragon Centipede Gu】, refined using true dragon’s blood to nurture the Gu seed, then implanted into one’s Dao Foundation to incubate. Once the Gu breaks from its cocoon, it becomes the cultivator’s life-bound Gu, functioning similarly to a True Person’s innate divine ability.’

"A freak from the Wan Poison Sect?"

As soon as the words left his lips, Lü Yang flicked his fingers again. Instantly, the sound of swords echoed like thunder, booming through heaven and earth.

Below, beasts in the forests were startled and fled in terror.

"Where is the Wan Poison Sect Master?"

Lü Yang held a spell seal, sword light coiling around his fingertip, and said calmly:

"I’ve come under orders from my master, Daoist Dangmo, to investigate the case of the missing civilians in Jiangnan. Does the Sect Master of Wan Poison not intend to come out and offer an explanation?"

At these words, True Person Dragon Centipede let out a laugh of anger.

"Insolent!"

The Wan Poison Sect ruled the southern frontier. Their sect master was a late-stage Foundation Establishment True Person. For him to come out and greet someone? Maybe if it were Daoist Dangmo himself!

But a mere junior?

Who did he think he was? A late-stage Foundation Establishment sword cultivator?

With that thought, True Person Dragon Centipede stopped wasting words. He suddenly opened his gaping bloody mouth and spewed a mass of black gas toward Lü Yang.

The True Persons of the Wan Poison Sect refined Gu insects that devoured astral and earthly energies, crafting them into powerful spells. This black gas was one such spell, called the 【Soul-Disturbing and Spirit-Dismantling Gu】 — seemingly a cloud of mist, but actually composed of dense, black Gu insects.

If caught in the gas, the insects would immediately swarm in.

Even protective treasures and indestructible bodies were useless; the Gu would find microscopic openings to invade the body, devour flesh and blood, and tear out the soul.

This was True Person Dragon Centipede’s strongest technique.

Though he acted disdainful, he didn’t take Lü Yang lightly. He attacked with full force, aiming to destroy Lü Yang’s physical body and subdue him completely.

Yet Lü Yang showed no fear. Instead, he laughed heartily.

"Good, good, good."

"The Wan Poison Sect dares to retaliate when questioned by the Sword Pavilion. Clearly, they’re deeply demonic — not just ordinary devil cultivators anymore..."

A heavy hand was needed!

Before the words had even faded—

A sword cry echoed!

In Lü Yang’s hand, his sword light instantly split into one hundred, then one thousand, then ten thousand — within an instant, transforming into countless thread-thin sword Qi!

These threads were so fine that even divine sense could barely detect them. They collided directly with the black mist formed by the Gu, instantly exterminating every last one of the swarming insects. Then, the sword threads slashed toward True Person Dragon Centipede, frightening him into a scream as he twisted his body and fled in a puff of black smoke.

"Mid-stage Foundation Establishment!?"

The moment Lü Yang struck, the overwhelming power of two sword techniques exposed his realm. Both Wan Poison Sect True Persons instantly recognized it.

“Not good…”

True Person Cicada Moulter, who had been hiding in the shadows, sensed something wrong. Previously, they had been confident because they believed Lü Yang was at early-stage Foundation Establishment.

Two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators versus an early-stage? Victory was certain.

But now they were on equal footing — and against a sword cultivator, no less! How could they possibly win?

"This can’t be done. We must retreat…"

True Person Cicada Moulter rushed to True Person Dragon Centipede’s side, raising a Gu insect in his palm.

It was his life-bound Gu — 【Cicada Moulter】.

As the saying goes: “Mushrooms of the morning do not see dusk; cicada moulters know not spring and autumn.”

Fittingly, this Gu cut off divine sense perception, preventing one from sensing external changes.

Once released, the world around dimmed into a twilight haze. Only he, the Gu master, could still see clearly.

"Now’s the time..."

He had no intention to fight further — he just wanted to grab True Person Dragon Centipede and flee.

But just then—

"Trying to run?"

A chilling voice echoed. True Person Cicada Moulter looked over and saw Lü Yang standing with eyes closed, a radiant and shimmering sword in his hand.

【Brilliant Concord Sword of Steadfast Gold】!

This sword was born from his Dao Foundation — both his magical sword and his divine ability!

“【Mind Trap】!”

The next instant, True Person Cicada Moulter found himself still standing beside True Person Dragon Centipede.

The 【Cicada Moulter】 had not even been activated.

Everything he had just experienced... was merely an illusion, as if none of it had ever occurred.

‘What’s going on!?’

He stood frozen, and Lü Yang responded with a light chuckle.

This was the brilliance of his innate divine ability — 【Mind Trap】. From the moment the two appeared, they had already fallen into its effect.

Anything unfavorable to him would be rendered an illusion, while only outcomes in his favor could become reality!

‘Still, with my current mana, I probably can’t use 【Mind Trap】 too many times...’

To test his combat power, Lü Yang had not assumed the title of True Person and crushed them outright.

So despite his overwhelming advantage, stopping two escaping opponents would still require effort.

Fortunately, he had another trick up his sleeve.

’【Divining Fate and Drawing Lots】!’

With a thought, a majestic aura of fate transformed into three fate sticks before his eyes.

【Event: Slay True Persons Dragon Centipede and Cicada Moulter】

【Great Fortune: Your strength is overwhelmingly superior. You easily kill both.】

【Lesser Fortune: Though they are adept at fleeing, you expend some effort and still slay them.】

【Misfortune: Their luck is good, and they escape. You’re in poor shape, grow furious, and impersonate a True Person to slap them dead.】

‘The gap in strength is too great… It’s hard to draw a bad stick…’

He grabbed the 【Great Fortune】 stick.

This outcome was now guaranteed!

Paired with 【Mind Trap】, he would turn this guaranteed victory into reality!

When this sword strikes, it will kill without fail!

“Boom!”

In the next second, Lü Yang drew his sword. The brilliant sword light, as if guided by the divine, struck before True Person Cicada Moulter could even raise his Gu insect.

The blade flashed across them both.

In that moment, True Person Cicada Moulter and Dragon Centipede hadn’t even registered what had happened.

They instinctively raised a hand to touch their cheeks—

‘Is my head still there?’

But their hands grasped nothing.

Their heads were gone.

The sword had been too fast — their bodies and souls already destroyed, though their minds had not yet caught up.

But in the end, it was all for naught.

“Clang-clang!”

The sword returned to its sheath.

And then, with a resounding boom, the two headless bodies exploded, transforming into a sky-filling spiritual tide!