Master Yuanshang’s neck was strung with large prayer beads, his face serene as he pressed his palms together.

  This gentle man had orchestrated a deadly trap for Tianyuan Continent’s top experts.

  Du Longyang, the Empress, Young Master Tianxu—all fell into his calculations.

  Even Lu was ensnared.

  Not just Lu was stunned; Du Longyang, the Empress, and the others were utterly shocked.

  The Empress’s phoenix crown lay shattered, hair wild, lips bloodied, laughter desperate.

  Du Longyang knelt, a source-energy chain piercing his shoulder. He stared at Yuanshang in confusion.

  He’d suspected Tianxu or Ye Shoudao as the immortal’s dogs.

  Never the deeply hidden, upright Yuanshang.

  Why would the pure-hearted master serve the immortal?

  Yuanshang bore no immortal mark!

  Bitter Buddha Temple suffered most—countless revered monks died horribly upon ascension.

  “Amitabha.”

  Yuanshang chanted.

  No explanation.

  Du Longyang smiled bitterly, eyes flashing memories.

  Yuanshang, bloodied, had come to Martial Emperor City, showing a Buddhist scripture revealing the “immortal’s” grand conspiracy.

  Du doubted at first, but the first Martial Emperor’s records in the scripture pavilion convinced him.

  He rallied the Empress, Ye Shoudao, even loathed Tianxu.

  United the world’s elite to solve it—future generations would fall into the immortal trap upon ascension.

  Thus, the Immortal Slaughter Plan.

  Yet…

  It was all the immortal’s game.

  They sought to escape being pawns, unaware the escape was part of the board.

  Trapped in the game, blind to it.

  “What does the immortal want?!”

  Du Longyang glared.

  “He absorbs our strength, devours our infants—why? To grow stronger? He’s already supreme—what use?”

  Yuanshang shook his head.

  “This monk knows not.”

  He ignored Du, turning to Lu.

  “Almsgiver Lu, will you come willingly, or must this monk act?”

  Lu leaned in his wheelchair, white robes floating, calm as if the betrayal was expected.

  “Indeed, never judge by appearances…”

  He smiled.

  “The revered may harbor malice; the frail and sleazy may be pure.”

  Lu glanced at Yuanshang, then distant Tianxu.

  Tianxu, chain-pierced and gasping, shrank under the look.

  He always feared Lu irrationally.

  “One question.”

  Lu said.

  “Speak, Almsgiver.”

  Yuanshang replied.

  Lu raised a hand, pinching—a source droplet floated to his palm.

  “Can this young master take some of this source lake?”

  Yuanshang blinked—unexpected.

  Far off…

  Power drained from Du Longyang, the Empress, others.

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  Cultivation plummeted.

  The Empress fell first—pale, lips vivid, demonic beauty.

  From Infant Transformation to ordinary Nascent Soul, nearing Golden Core…

  The massive source orb was a bottomless pit, devouring relentlessly.

  Despair gripped her.

  Hope lay with Lu—but could one man turn the tide?

  He might not beat Yuanshang, let alone the immortal.

  And…

  Lu’s tie with Du was mere employment.

  Would he risk death over artifacts?

  No…

  She wouldn’t, in his place.

  “Can I?”

  Lu asked seriously.

  Yuanshang smiled: “Amitabha.”

  “Of course. Take freely. With the immortal, the lake is inexhaustible.”

  Lu raised a brow: “Your words.”

  He eyed the lake—perfect for secret realm rewards to nurture Golden Cores and Heavenly Locks.

  Planned to take some, but Yuanshang’s enthusiasm…

  Hard to refuse kindness.

  Lu flipped his palm.

  A three-legged cauldron appeared.

  Myriad Methods Furnace!

  He released it.

  Clang!

  It plunged into the lake, sinking.

  Gurgle.

  A bubble—then a massive vortex swirled where it fell.

  Countless source waters surged in.

  Yuanshang froze, face twisting…

  The waterline dropped…

  How much was taken?!

  Lu leaned back, unruffled.

  Such generosity—how to be rude?

  Post-upgrade, the furnace held space, deducing arts and storing items.

  Tens of thousands of pavilion books were inside.

  Using it for water was overkill, but no choice.

  No spatial artifact yet—bend the furnace.

  Waterline fell…

  Yuanshang’s warm smile faded.

  He regretted his loose tongue.

  “Almsgiver, enough.”

  Lu smiled: “Almost full.”

  Yuanshang darkened, gripping his staff.

  “Don’t toast only to drink forfeit.”

  Boom!

  He stomped the deck.

  Invisible wave rippled toward the furnace, aiming to shatter it.

  Lu chuckled: “Bald donkey, breaking promises…”

  He scooped—the furnace returned, source water pouring in.

  Waterline kept dropping…

  Aboard…

  Tianxu laughed maniacally.

  “Lu, well done! Piss off this stinking monk—I’ve hated him forever!”

  His realm had fallen to Golden Core.

  But he laughed, carefree.

  Yuanshang’s miss enraged him; he flew, staff swinging at Lu.

  Boom!

  The furnace rang, blocking.

  It plunged back into the lake.

  Lu’s smile vanished, face cold.

  “You overturned my furnace.”

  Yuanshang frowned, raising a golden alms bowl.

  Weaker than the staff, but potent.

  Suction erupted, aiming to seal Lu.

  “I, Lu Ping’an, am easygoing, but you overturned my furnace…”

  “Account for it.”

  Lu pressed two fingers on the armguard, flicking.

  Crimson flashed—a fire phoenix soared; silver blades stacked into a blooming lotus, shredding the bowl’s light.

  The submerged furnace kept absorbing.

  Yuanshang fumed—still draining!

  Planning to empty the lake!

  Spatial artifact!

  Unheard of rarity.

  Yuanshang chanted.

  Golden light burst behind—a great Buddha manifested, palm slamming the silver lotus.

  Collision birthed a storm.

  Yuanshang retreated a step, grave.

  Lu remained leisurely.

  Fingers flicking—two more crimson streaks; remaining Phoenix Feather Swords whistled out.

  Yuanshang glared, staff in one hand.

  “Buddha’s Wrath Finger!”

  Roar.

  Infinite gold behind—an enraged Buddha face appeared.

  A finger swelled hugely, pointing at Lu.

  Clang!

  It clashed with the swords.

  Then—severed!

  “This… immortal artifact?!”

  Yuanshang bled, horrified.

  The swords’ power overwhelmed his secret art.

  “Immortal artifact?”

  Lu blinked, shaking head: “Who dares claim immortality?”

  “Mere Profound-tier spiritual tools.”

  Words fell.

  Countless silver blades tore the bowl—exploded.

  Like a galactic cascade.

  Yuanshang roared.

  Sword light enveloped; he erupted Infant Transformation power, barely escaping.

  Lu’s face iced.

  “Overturning my furnace—unforgivable.”

  He raised a hand, grasping void.

  Three Phoenix Feather Swords stacked, clanging into one longsword.

  Fiery red glow.

  Lu slashed air; Yuanshang raised his staff.

  Clang!

  Golden staff severed.

  Yuanshang coughed blood, staggering back.

  Three swords united—peak Profound-tier power.

  Not Earth-tier, but beyond the staff.

  Yuanshang retreated to the ship’s edge.

  “Immortal! Save me!”

  He wasn’t Lu’s match—roared at the source orb.

  Du Longyang and others glared.

  “The immortal’s inside!”

  Lu smiled faintly.

  “Immortal?”

  “Not just anyone qualifies.”

  Hum…

  The orb trembled.

  A chain shot out.

  Immense might, spanning the sky, pointing at Lu.

  Lu sat calmly.

  Mind stirred.

  Myriad silver blades returned, stacking before him.

  But…

  Shockingly.

  The chain curved—piercing Yuanshang’s chest…

  Pfft!

  Blood sprayed; Yuanshang stared incredulously.

  He turned painfully to the orb.

  “Immortal!”

  “Why?!”

  No answer—the orb silent, chain draining him.

  Lu eyed the orb.

  Faintly, a figure lay atop, eye pressed to the surface, staring out—staring at Lu.

  Grinning.

  Yuanshang fared worse.

  Trusting the immortal, he resisted little.

  Drainage was unrestrained.

  Power flooded the orb.

  He withered to a husk, face gaunt, death’s aura thick.

  Tianxu laughed.

  “Deserved!”

  “Immortal… bullshit!”

  “Call it a demon!”

  Du Longyang shook head—reap what you sow.

  They knew not why he betrayed, but welcomed this end.

  “Young Master Lu!”

  Disheveled Empress called.

  Lu looked curiously.

  Her eyes gleamed: “Shatter the source orb. The immortal devours ascended experts’ power to transform…”

  “Break it—halt the transformation! Foil the plot!”

  Lu shook head: “Can’t. He hides in the source—world source, toughest thing.”

  “Needs Heaven-tier treasure; externally unbreakable.”

  Truth—as Plane Lord, Lu knew source hardness.

  “Your ‘immortal’ hides there for safety. Breaking it? Impossible.”

  “Even your four at peak couldn’t.”

  Du Longyang despaired: “No way?”

  One-armed Ye Shoudao mirrored misery.

  Never imagined dying drained.

  “But… there is a way.”

  Lu said, idea sparking.

  Empress’s dim eyes reignited.

  “Young Master Lu…”

  Du and Tianxu looked hopeful.

  The furnace overflowed; Lu regretted not taking all.

  He beckoned—nonchalantly stowing it.

  Yuanshang, now Golden Core cracking, ignored the theft.

  “Young Master Lu, speak—we’ll pay any price!”

  Du urged.

  Lu was their hope.

  He waved: “I, Lu Ping’an, am not greedy…”

  “This method… retards Tianyuan millennia, even ten thousand years. Willing?”

  Stunned silence.

  Empress gritted: “The immortal shakes Tianyuan’s foundation…”

  “Until removed, a sword hangs over us—Tianyuan will crumble!”

  Du clenched: “Young Master Lu… do it!”

  Tianxu and Ye agreed.

  Lu nodded.

  Eyed the orb.

  The being inside glared ferociously.

  Lu smiled.

  What for absorbing power? Didn’t care.

  Mind moved.

  He raised hand.

  Merged three forbidden domain entrances, linking Five Phoenix source to the giant orb.

  Can’t break externally.

  But… he could siphon the source!

  Immortal won’t come out? Lu drains.

  Until it emerges to stop him!