Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Secret of the Golden Flower

Within Skull Mountain Marketplace, as Lü Yang and Yun Miaozhen vanished before everyone’s eyes, it became instantly clear what had happened—the power of the glazed sword now hovering in midair.

Watching this scene, Luo Wuya’s expression darkened, yet deep down he felt a trace of secret satisfaction.

’Foundation-Stage Cultivator—truly abilities unfathomable. Senior Brother actually managed to hook a big fish. The Celestial Piercing Sword... this powerful artifact has appeared once more!’

This sword ranked thirty-seventh among the one hundred and eight swords of the Celestial Sword Pavilion, first among the Earth Fiend tier. Though not officially a sentient artifact, it surpassed most of them in power. Within it lay a Sumeru Space. In battle, a single Sword Light was enough to draw the opponent directly into it, instantly creating a favorable battlefield for the sword owner.

Inside the space, a Sword Pavilion cultivator’s power was continuously replenished by the domain itself; ordinary techniques required virtually no expenditure. By contrast, any non–Sword Pavilion cultivator dragged inside would first have their Qi suppressed by thirty percent, then see their abilities weakened by another thirty percent, and finally suffer a further thirty percent reduction in the power of their artifacts. With one side waxing and the other waning, the outcome was effectively predetermined.

That was precisely why Yun Miaozhen, though fully aware that Lü Yang possessed dual arrays for protection, remained utterly confident. She knew those arrays could never withstand the capture of the Celestial Piercing Sword. In truth, most artifacts made of Five Elements were incapable of blocking it at all. The only arrays that could counter the sword were those involving void—and such arrays were exceedingly rare. Even if one existed, it was far beyond what a Ninth Grade Array Master could deploy.

”Thus, this time the demon is bound to meet his end!”

On the other side, Elder Ouyang Feng of the Divine Martial Sect clapped his hands and laughed aloud. Though he could not avenge himself personally, Lü Yang’s death would still ease the deep resentment festering in his heart.

Hearing this, Luo Wuya merely shook his head, offering no rebuttal. In truth, his own thoughts were much the same. Had Lü Yang relied solely on his dual arrays, the duel might still have been evenly matched. But once dragged into the space of the Celestial Piercing Sword, death was all but certain. Even if Luo Wuya himself were in Lü Yang’s place, the danger would be immense.

”However... this aligns perfectly with Senior Brother’s intentions.”

”That Lü Yang refuses to recognize generosity and repeatedly interferes with Senior Brother’s karmic arrangements—Senior Brother deliberately lured Yun Miaozhen here, likely intending to borrow another’s blade to kill...”

With that realization, Luo Wuya finally felt at ease. Though both were disciples of the Holy Sect, he felt not the slightest urge to intervene. He simply waited for Lü Yang to be slain, for Yun Miaozhen to seize his fortune to open the Wu Ghost Secret Realm.

...

Meanwhile, within the Celestial Piercing Sword.

Sword Light descended from above. The heavy arrays failed utterly to impede it. As Lü Yang regained consciousness, his vision cleared—yet the world around him had transformed completely.

Before his eyes lay nothing but rampant Sword Qi.

As the Sword Qi pressed down, Lü Yang immediately felt his Qi weaken by thirty percent. Every attempt to activate his abilities met with an inexplicable resistance. He instantly understood—this was the suppression of the Grotto Heaven.

The very next moment, divine radiance flared overhead as Yun Miaozhen stepped forward.

”Stain Demon, today you are destined to face this tribulation—be executed!”

Her voice rang out, clear and resonant, as though issued by an Immortal bearing a celestial decree. A chill ran through Lü Yang as he felt the entire world turn hostile, intent on tearing him apart.

As her words fell, Yun Miaozhen lifted her Daoist crown and pressed it lightly atop her head. Brilliant golden light burst forth, illuminating the heavens, then split into three streams—gold, silver, and jade—transforming into three Magnificent Lights. Like wandering dragons, they coiled around her, interlinked and radiant, lending her an increasingly solemn and awe-inspiring presence.

Lü Yang’s expression grew grave. After countless lifetimes of cultivation, the Celestial Sword Pavilion was no longer unfamiliar to him. With a single thought, he recognized the technique she was displaying.

”This is the ’The Secret of the Golden Flower’... the Legendary Technique of the Celestial Sword Pavilion!”

The realization set off immediate alarm bells in his heart. The ’Taiyin Transformation Corpse Dissolving True Technique’ he wielded was also a Legendary Technique, and precisely because of that, he dared not underestimate the power of such arts.

”Indeed... this is a fight for survival now.”

His thoughts raced. According to his knowledge, ’The Secret of the Golden Flower’ refined three Magnificent Lights—gold, silver, and jade—each one a top technique. To cultivate the technique to Perfection, one must merge the three Magnificent Lights into a single ”Golden Flower.” This Golden Flower not only possessed the combined effects of all three Lights, but doubled their power—and could even aid in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

’...Fortunately, her mastery should not yet be complete.’

The perfected technique would not divide into three Magnificent Lights at all, but manifest solely as one Golden Flower.

’Perhaps... this is my chance.’

At that moment, Yun Miaozhen acted. With a sweep of her sleeve, the golden Magnificent Light responded to her will, surging toward Lü Yang’s position.

Lü Yang retreated instantly. That golden radiance—known as ”Divine Light”—was designed to attack minds. If one’s mind wavered, it would ignite from within. Even the slightest contact would trigger internal heart-fire, causing the body to gleam with gold and burn. Without a means to suppress it, one would inevitably be reduced to ash in moments.

”Go!”

With a single thought, Lü Yang summoned the Heavenfiend Radiance. Blood-red light surged forth, overwhelming and violent, forcibly holding back the descending golden brilliance. The two forces locked in stalemate mid-air.

Seeing this, Yun Miaozhen calmly pressed a finger to her brow.

In the next instant, a Sword Pill appeared—vanishing like a shooting star. When it reemerged, it was already above Lü Yang’s head, slashing downward.

Clang, clang!

Sword Qi screamed through the air, but Lü Yang’s Sword Pill remained isolated outside the space, powerless to assist. He signed and summoned a mirror behind his head.

Heaven Mirror!

The mirror trembled violently. In an instant, wind and thunder erupted. The ”Heaven Thunder and Wind Qi” stored within surged forth, lightning wrapped in savage winds, forcefully trapping Yun Miaozhen’s Sword Pill like a vortex closing tight. Rolling thunder and gales continuously ground down its Sword Qi.

Rather than panic, Yun Miaozhen let out a cold smile.

Though her actions were swift and decisive, she was far from reckless. Before coming to the marketplace to strike at Lü Yang, she had thoroughly investigated every detail about him.

Arrays. Heaven Mirror.

All of it lay within her expectations.

Now that the Celestial Piercing Sword had bypassed the arrays, and her Sword Pill had pinned down the Heaven Mirror, victory seemed assured. She resolved to end the battle decisively.

The next moment, Yun Miaozhen shook the silver and jade Magnificent Lights around her. These were ”Qi Light” and ”Essence Light.” The former shattered all Qi under heaven; the latter cleaved steel and iron alike. As they moved together, the two Lights fused into a crystal-clear Sword Light that slashed straight toward Lü Yang.

”Truly worthy of being a Direct Disciple of the Sword Pavilion...”

Lü Yang could only sigh. Yun Miaozhen was no sheltered flower. Her timing, execution, and judgment were all impeccable. In such conditions, she wielded a Legendary Technique.

Though not yet perfected, she stood merely one step from fusion. At the very least, she had fully mastered all three constituent abilities.

By comparison, Lü Yang’s grasp of the ’Taiyin Transformation Corpse Dissolving True Technique’ was far inferior. The final step—”Heaven Imperial Decree Talisman”—remained stuck at a bottleneck. The three abilities were not even gathered, let alone integrated.

”In direct combat... I am no match for her.”

Lü Yang recognized this clearly. Fundamentally, he had never excelled at duels. His true strength lay in suppressing the weak with superior cultivation.

But now?

Yun Miaozhen stood at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, while he remained at the Eighth. Not only was she stronger—he was fighting upward in realm, entirely against his nature.

’If this were several months ago, I would have had no choice but to restart...’

But now, there was another variable.

Facing the twin Sword Lights descending upon him, Lü Yang raised his hand and hurled two Talismans. They detonated mid-air.

Boom!

Thunder roared as lightning and Sword Qi burst forth, barely intercepting Yun Miaozhen’s attack at the critical moment.

”Nine-Grade Talisman!?”

Yun Miaozhen’s brows twitched, but she quickly regained her composure. ”Only two. A mere drop in the bucket. How many Talismans could you possibly have?”

Though she did not practice Talisman Art herself, as a Direct Disciple of the Sword Pavilion she understood it well. Even a Ninth-Grade Talisman required a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator at least three full days of uninterrupted focus to draw.

Thus, she was certain Lü Yang possessed no more than ten.

The next instant, Lü Yang waved his hand again.

What followed stunned Yun Miaozhen.

Second. Third. Fourth.

Dozens—then hundreds—of Talismans spread across the sky like a tidal wave.

Behind the sea of Talismans, Lü Yang shook the Myriad-Soul Banner. Within it, Banner Spirits worked tirelessly, producing more without pause.

”How many can I have? Don’t compare your small-scale production with mine. Let me show you the power of a ruthless industrial assembly line!”

As his words fell, the Talismans surged as one.

Sword Qi and lightning intertwined, flooding the entire Grotto Heaven with blinding radiance.

And within that light—Yun Miaozhen’s face twisted in sheer astonishment.