BOOK 2: CHAPTER 425: BORROWING ME FOR A USE, ALL DEPENDS ON LU MO

Vol 2 Chapter 425 Borrowing Me for a Use, All Depends on Lu Mo

Zheng Fa deeply understood the gaze from the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, even feeling somewhat genuinely embarrassed:

After all, the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram was a treasured artifact left by the Tianhe Venerable to the Nine Nether.

Perhaps the Nine Nether had been gazing at the diagram every day, reminiscing about the Tianhe Venerable’s voice and smile from years ago.

Through this formation diagram, he could probably see the Tianhe Venerable’s every expression from back then.

Now, his actions felt like barging in uninvited, telling the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor: “Let’s just live our three lives well, that’s more important than anything.”

...

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor indeed found Zheng Fa annoying.

Not just Zheng Fa, but even looking at the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram made him feel particularly uncomfortable… as if there was something filthy about it.

He had no time to care about Lu Mo now. Staring at Zheng Fa in the void, his anger was mixed with confusion.

He thought he knew Zheng Fa’s true nature very well:

Years ago, they had cooperated to kill the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor.

Others naturally believed that was Zheng Fa’s strength, but as the real killer, he knew the truth. At that time, Zheng Fa was a bit stronger than below Dao Fruit realm, but he stood little chance against any Dao Fruit cultivator.

Later, Zheng Fa surprised him a bit:

Not only did Zheng Fa create the “Yellow Court Scripture,” a technique combining three methods into one,

but he also killed Luo Sanxian of Haori Mountain with a single sword.

He truly demonstrated combat power exceeding an ordinary scattered immortal.

Yet he still thought he understood Zheng Fa well.

After all, others didn’t know, but he had long known the Trapping Immortal Sword was in Zheng Fa’s hands.

Moreover, only he knew about the Yin-Yang Fish jade pendant.

I viewed Lady Nishang as an assistant, a tool, even a conspirator, never imagining she could break free from my control… until Lady Nishang snatched my Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram.

The diagram floated urgently before me, seeming to want to abandon its old master and embrace Lady Nishang.

The Four Nether Demon Ancestor’s anger grew deeper.

He sent a trace of divine consciousness into the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram.

The diagram stopped moving, hanging in midair.

The Four Nether Demon Ancestor glanced toward Lady Nishang lost in the mist, laughing warmly in his heart: No matter what method Lady Nishang used to seize the diagram, ŕᴀ𝐍ȮꞖĘŝ

my strength now far surpasses hers. I have tens of thousands of years of refinement and am more familiar with the Tianhe secret formation control methods.

If Bao Xiao wanted to snatch it like that, it’s impossible!

Sure enough, the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram, like an old horse familiar with the way, leisurely flew back to me.

I looked at Bao Xiao with some pride,

but Zheng Fa seemed utterly unhurried, merely shrugging and pointing his right hand directly at Lu Mo!

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s heart jolted and also looked toward Lu Mo.

Lu Mo’s Buddha Dharma Image seemed to have spotted some flaw, laughing aloud: “Nine Nether Benefactor, still struggling in vain?”

As his words fell, golden runes in square shapes flew out from the sarira transformed by Zhizhong.

These runes were densely packed, flying like a flock of birds over the City of the Wrongfully Dead, finally resting atop Yin Mountain.

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor sensed danger. Earlier, in his distraction fighting Zheng Fa for the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram, he gave Lu Mo an opportunity to strike.

The entire Underworld had turned seventy to eighty percent into a glazed Buddha land.

Even the black and white mysterious light he used to protect his body was now suppressed by golden Buddha light, gathering around his head in a final desperate resistance.

The Life and Death Register was also covered with Buddhist talismans, as if it wanted to leave him.

He was already at a disadvantage and now exposed a fatal flaw.

The situation rapidly deteriorated!

...

This sudden change made Uncle Pang in the Jiushan Realm a bit anxious:

“If this continues, won’t Lu Mo succeed? Did we actually help him a great deal?”

The Heavenly Emperor Body shook his head and said, “Whether Lu Mo can be stopped depends on me, and more so on the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor.”

“Hm?”

Uncle Pang didn’t understand.

“If the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor refuses to yield, then there’s nothing I can do. But if he can temporarily relinquish control of the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram…”

Uncle Pang finally understood.

He nodded and looked anxiously at the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s struggling face in the light screen.

...

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor was fighting desperately, anxious in his heart, when suddenly Zheng Fa’s voice came into his ear:

“I can use the sword formation to help you.”

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s heart trembled, immediately understanding Zheng Fa’s meaning:

Now that the Life and Death Register was about to be refined by Lu Mo, he had almost no chance to turn the tables.

But if he handed over control of the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram to Zheng Fa, things would be different.

The formation diagram’s operation far surpassed ordinary True Immortals.

With Zheng Fa controlling the diagram and him holding the Life and Death Register, two against one, dealing with Lu Mo would be much simpler.

But really handing the formation diagram to Zheng Fa?

What if he used the sword formation against himself?

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor hesitated.

Lu Mo’s Buddha Dharma Image showed a look of determination.

He looked at the Life and Death Register soaked in Buddha light, slowly bringing his hands together in a gesture.

The sarira spun at his fingertips, the Buddha light intensifying.

The chanting from the Western Continent grew louder and more orderly, stirring ripples in the mist.

The illusory mountains and rivers around the Underworld became more delicate and vivid.

The Buddha light seemed about to break through the barrier separating the Underworld from the outside world.

The Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram had lost most of its divine power. Figures of Lady Nishang, Ancestor Xuanding, and others appeared one after another in the air.

They were still searching for their way in the Underworld, now lost, each looking around in confusion.

When they saw Lu Mo, Ancestor Xuanding’s expression immediately darkened.

“Lu Mo!”

He shouted quietly. When he looked at the Life and Death Register, his face turned even grimmer.

“What is Lu Mo doing?”

Lady Nishang quickly approached the two from Taishang Dao, asking aloud.

Li Sanxian naturally did not understand, but Ancestor Xuanding seemed to see through it: “Proving the Dao.”

“Proving the Dao?”

Lady Nishang was stunned, whispering, “So soon? Didn’t they say the Thunder Sound Temple’s tribulation method was very difficult to cultivate?”

Ancestor Xuanding sighed softly, looking at the Life and Death Register: “This treasure and the tribulation method are a match made by heaven and earth.”

Lady Nishang’s expression grew even more grim. She was familiar with Ancestor Xuanding, knowing he never lied and spoke so much only in life-or-death crises.

It was obvious.

Lu Mo proving the Dao was no good for Taishang Dao and Yaochi.

It almost meant a disastrous defeat in the Buddha-Dao struggle.

And for Yaochi, this was even more troublesome.

Yaochi was already on the verge of collapse under pressure from the Thunder Sound Temple. If Lu Mo became a Golden Immortal, even Taiyi,

Yaochi in the Western Continent would have no foothold left!

“Why don’t we…”

Lady Nishang said again.

She knew Ancestor Xuanding would understand her meaning:

Desperately fight to help the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor stop Lu Mo from proving the Dao.

Ancestor Xuanding was silent for a long time before shaking his head: “Choosing the lesser of two evils.”

Lady Nishang looked at the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor and slowly nodded after a moment.

...

Lu Mo seemed to have heard their words, his smile deepening as he said, “Ancestor Xuanding is right. Our quarrel is a minor matter.”

“If the Nine Nether Benefactor proves the Golden Immortal, then this Xuanwei Immortal Sect will likely have no peaceful days again.”

“Even you all may be trapped in this Underworld for life.”

The three remained silent at Lu Mo’s words, their expressions reluctant yet resigned, seemingly unwilling to act.

Without this worry, Lu Mo’s Buddha light grew even more rampant, illuminating Yin Mountain and the City of the Wrongfully Dead in golden radiance.

His aura surged higher and higher.

Everyone knew that as soon as Lu Mo proved the Golden Immortal, the Underworld would fall into his hands.

And the Tianhe war, no, including the Xuanwei situation, would undergo a huge upheaval!

“Great Luo...”

Ancestor Xuanding looked at Lu Mo, murmuring these two words.

These words stirred a mix of longing and complexity on Lady Nishang’s face.

Even someone as scheming as Lu Mo showed excitement and impatience.

“What a choice of the lesser evil!” The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor sneered coldly, “Do you think I don’t know?”

His words were abrupt, confusing Ancestor Xuanding and the others, and even a hint of confusion appeared in Lu Mo’s eyes.

“Hand it over!”

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor ignored others and shouted loudly.

The Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram cut across the sky, plunging into the thick white mist that obscured its interior.

Lu Mo’s expression changed slightly but he didn’t know what the Nine Demon Ancestor was planning, only staring intently where the formation diagram disappeared.

A hand reached out from the mist, grabbing the formation diagram’s scroll.

Lu Mo probably realized the danger and forcefully pushed his joined palms forward, striking at the mysterious person.

But he was still one step too late!

“Lu True Immortal, since you have come to the Tianhe Sect, why not appreciate the Four Slaying Immortal Swords?” Zheng Fa concealed his figure and said, “Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, activate!”

“How dare you!”

Lu Mo roared angrily.

But the space around the Underworld suddenly changed drastically!

Mountain shadows shattered, water light dimmed.

Everyone seemed to fall into a bottomless pit without sky, all directions utterly dark.

Sect Master Yan and the others, like controlled puppets, wielding immortal swords, flew toward the crowd with unstable forms.

Zheng Fa’s whole figure became blurry, his face gray and hazy, but the Trapping Immortal Sword in his hand emitted unmatched brilliance.

He raised the Trapping Immortal Sword.

The three Sect Masters Yan couldn’t help but swing the other three swords in unison.

The Four Slaying Immortal Swords merged into one through the formation diagram.

The glazed Buddha land on the ground shattered into dust.

Countless Buddha treasures on Yin Mountain dimmed.

The Buddha light that had illuminated the entire Underworld just moments ago now appeared insignificant under the sword brilliance.

As the sword formation took shape, the Underworld changed drastically.

Zheng Fa focused his mind, wielding the Trapping Immortal Sword, slowly slashing toward Lu Mo, shouting coldly, “This sword is the Tianhe Venerable’s vengeful spirit, a return gift to you, Lu True Immortal!”

Lu Mo’s eyes turned cold. Seeing the Trapping Immortal Sword approaching, he retreated swiftly, trying to avoid the sword’s edge.

But behind him, Sect Masters Yan wielding the three other Slaying Immortal Swords also attacked him simultaneously.

The Four Slaying Immortal Swords carried spatial divine powers.

The void above, below, and all around him was sealed tightly by the four swords, impermeable.

Lu Mo had nowhere to escape. Instead of retreating, he stood tall and flashed, growing over a thousand arms from his back.

These arms formed fists and palms, made hand seals, or wielded Wisdom Swords, flower baskets, sariras, golden bowls, and other Buddhist artifacts.

Relying on these thousand hands, he became a one-man army, fierce and unmatched, instantly unleashing countless divine abilities, striking the Four Slaying Immortal Swords!

One was the sword formation of the Tianhe Venerable.

One was a True Immortal who had undergone three tribulations of rebirth.

Their clash was silent, only light flashing—the sword light and Buddha light overflowing, space tearing like paper, yet not a single sound.

Even Lady Nishang was stunned, feeling almost deaf, glancing at Ancestor Xuanding.

Ancestor Xuanding was silent for a moment before speaking: “Great sound is silent…”

His tone was full of reverence. His gaze remained fixed on Lu Mo.

The light dissipated.

Zheng Fa’s figure had disappeared.

But Lu Mo’s Buddha Dharma Image still stood firmly on the ground.

“He actually... can’t even be affected by the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation?”

Lady Nishang was dumbfounded.

She and Ancestor Xuanding had been trapped inside the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation and couldn’t escape.

“Lu Mo, if we speak honestly, is probably the strongest among True Immortals…” Ancestor Xuanding said quietly, “After all, he’s a triple-certified Golden Immortal, not to be regarded as an ordinary True Immortal.”

Lady Nishang nodded slightly, understanding fully. Anyone who regarded Lu Mo as merely a True Immortal was a fool.

“Moreover, Lu Mo’s attempt to prove the Dao probably has some variables,” Ancestor Xuanding said admiringly, “I don’t know who that person is, but this sword strike has changed the Xuanwei situation.”

Before they finished speaking, the sarira in front of Lu Mo made cracking sounds.

Everyone looked toward it and saw debris flying off, about twenty percent smaller than before.

“Another sword! No, four more swords!”

Zheng Fa heard the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s urgent urging in his ear.

He also saw that although Lu Mo blocked the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation’s attack and appeared unharmed, he couldn’t be completely without loss—if he struck Lu Mo a few more times, the sarira would be gone, and Lu Mo’s plan would fail.

But he couldn’t strike more.

“Let me take it slow.”

Zheng Fa quietly landed beside the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, feeling a splitting headache and unending dizziness.

He could use the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram, but the cost was high:

Even with the Trapping Immortal Sword, he only had the strength of one sword.

Not to mention the formation diagram.

Although he held the diagram now, his strength was far from enough.

Zheng Fa had no doubt that if the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor used the diagram, the sarira would be utterly destroyed.

But Zheng Fa himself was below Dao Fruit realm and not the true owner of the diagram. Using thirty to forty percent of the formation’s true power was already a desperate effort.

He also wanted to press the advantage but simply couldn’t.

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor was silent for a while, seemingly understanding Zheng Fa’s situation. When looking at the formation diagram again, his eyes showed a bit of disdain for Zheng Fa not listening.

“How long do you need?”

“Spiritual energy is easy. Soul exhaustion is harder. It will take ten to fifteen days.”

Zheng Fa’s answer was cautious.

He could recover spiritual energy with the Heavenly and Earth Refining Furnace method, which was not slow even without the Jiushan Ancestor as a power source.

But the soul was different.

This was the first time he had exhausted his soul to this degree, and it was very painful.

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor transmitted: “That sword of yours helped me greatly.”

Zheng Fa turned to look at the Life and Death Register and saw the Buddha light dimming considerably, while the retracted black and white mysterious light was gaining the upper hand.

He immediately understood that the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor had taken advantage of his battle with Lu Mo to regain some ground.

Now, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s gaze toward him was much friendlier than before.

The fragile friendship between him and the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor remained intact, all thanks to Lu Mo…