Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Another Charge at Foundation Establishment

Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Lü Yang sat cross-legged atop the Skull Mountains. He suddenly opened his eyes, a look of joy on his face. His physical body had finally completed the Corpse Transformation!

The next second, Lü Yang vanished from the spot.

Inside the Myriad-Soul Banner.

In a dark, ethereal space, twisted flesh and blood had built a magnificent palace. Dense blood vessels, like the roots of trees, were coiled around it.

These root-like blood vessels all spread out from the deepest part of the palace. Following them inside, one could see that everything, from the pillars to the walls, was crafted from ghastly white skeletons.

Blood vessels were still wrapped around them, quietly writhing like living things.

Terrifying, bizarre, and grotesque.

This was precisely what his physical body looked like after the Corpse Transformation. It had lost its human form, taking on a thousand indescribable shapes from moment to moment, like an incarnation of chaos.

’I never expected this Corpse Shed Immortal path to have a final trial!’

Lü Yang looked surprised. He realized the body’s transformation wasn’t the end. A Cultivator had to rein in the rampaging flesh to truly master it!

If one failed to restrain the body, they would become a flesh-and-blood monster possessing a Position.

However, for most Cultivators who reached this stage, their consciousness would already be muddled, caught between life and death, half-asleep and half-awake. How could they possibly have the ability to control their body?

’This is far too difficult... Good thing I’m a cut above.’

With the help of Guardian Su Nu, he had successfully mastered the Soul Splitting Technique a month ago, and his Spiritual perception had successfully transformed into Divine Sense.

And with the boost from his Divine Sense, controlling his physical body was, of course, a simple matter.

At this moment, with a single thought from Lü Yang, the vast palace of flesh and blood immediately began to implode. The chaotic spectacle was brought back to order by his will.

In the end, all that remained was a strikingly handsome and elegant Daoist.

The Daoist was dressed in white robes, his black hair dancing like a living thing, and his entire being radiated an ethereal aura, as if he transcended the material world.

He had become a Corpse Shed Immortal!

Lü Yang’s Soul entered his physical body. In an instant, spirit and flesh became one. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as his Position was instantly elevated to an unimaginable height.

Looking up, Lü Yang could even see the lofty ’Foundation Establishment Realm’. In fact, if that realm was a mountaintop, he was now standing less than a hundred steps from the peak—about the same as Progenitor Tingyou before, or perhaps even a little higher.

Even so, the grandeur of the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’ still made him sigh in admiration.

Still, being close was not the same as arriving.

No matter how close he got to the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’, even if he was only a step away, if he didn’t step inside and truly build his Dao Foundation, there would always be a gulf between immortal and mortal.

Just then, a streak of Spirit Light suddenly shot through the sky from afar, arriving from the direction of the Stain Sect. After Lü Yang caught it, a Token materialized.

The Ascension Order!

Just as he’d expected. After their agreement regarding the Celestial Corpse Fiend, Perfected Yin Shan was naturally not going to be stingy over a mere Foundation Establishment Treasure.

’...Everything is ready!’

At this moment, Lü Yang was filled with determination.

’There’s no time like the present. I’ll break through to Foundation Establishment right now!’

With that thought, Lü Yang acted decisively, stepping directly toward the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’. The next second, he had walked into the realm itself!

He had completed his Ascension in a single step!

’This is so much easier than in my previous life...’

In his previous life, he only had the Theft to Sainthood Position. The Ascension alone consumed more than half of his True Qi. This life, however, was completely different.

With his Third Grade Qi, the combination of his Corpse Shed Immortal and Theft to Sainthood Positions, his Foundation Establishment Divine Sense, and the Ascension Order to unlock the Ninefold Heaven and Earth Pass, Lü Yang stepped into the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’ almost effortlessly.

He had ample Qi to build his Dao Foundation, avoiding the desperate situation of his past life.

’Next up is the Heart Demon invasion...’

Lü Yang moved with lightning speed. The moment he entered the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’, he summoned Su Nu. The Yama Hall reassembled in an instant, and a vast power erupted.

Avatar Guardian!

With Su Nu by his side, it was as if Lü Yang had already grasped a Foundation Establishment Position ahead of schedule. He used it to protect himself, which was enough to resist most of the Heart Demons in the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’.

’Eighty percent... This is definitely much easier than thirty percent...’

Lü Yang was calm and unhurried. His Third Grade Qi, the True Dragon Fiend, roared out and coiled at his feet. Its scales opened and closed, breathing out a sea of clouds.

Clouds follow the dragon!

The cultivation method beyond the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis is the Imperial Dragonrise Scroll. The Dao Foundation built using this technique takes the form of a chariot covered by a magnificent canopy.

To ride a dragon, pulling the imperial chariot in ascension!

Soon, as the clouds gathered and the brilliance receded, the form of a chariot gradually emerged, causing Lü Yang’s Qi trace to become even more lofty and ethereal.

However, Lü Yang’s brows gradually furrowed.

’Something isn’t right...’

His perception of karmic links was extremely sharp. As his own level drew closer to Foundation Establishment, he felt his heart pound with ever-increasing dread, and a shadow loomed over him.

Karmic links he couldn’t sense before were now exceptionally clear, wrapping around him strand by strand. The more he pushed toward Foundation Establishment, the more he felt like a moth drawn to a flame, or a butterfly caught in a spider’s web.

The sensation caused Lü Yang’s expression to turn increasingly grim, and a sudden realization struck him:

’Someone is plotting against me!’

’Who is it?’

’Perfected Chong Guang, Perfected Yin Shan, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, even Progenitor Tingyou...’ The names of everyone he knew flashed through Lü Yang’s mind.

’No, that’s not right!’

’Progenitor Tingyou was killed by Golden Core Sword Qi; he can’t possibly be alive. And the Master of Heaven Mending Peak was so grievously injured, there’s no way he could have recovered completely in just three months.’

’As for Perfected Chong Guang and Perfected Yin Shan, that’s even less likely.’

The next second, a name finally popped into Lü Yang’s mind. The person’s situation was so unique that he had overlooked them until now.

Suddenly, Lü Yang let out a long breath of Muddy Qi. He stopped overthinking it—not because he was giving up on finding the truth, but because at this point, it was too late to figure it out anyway.

Lü Yang gazed into the distance and saw a person slowly walking toward him within the vast, boundless ’Foundation Establishment Realm’.

The newcomer’s movements were unhurried, and every step was exceedingly steady. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the ’Foundation Establishment Realm’ like great bells and chimes, like the clear cry of a dragon.

When Lü Yang first looked, the person was still extremely far away, but after just a few steps, he had already arrived. Everywhere he passed, Jin Lian bloomed, and a sonorous Zen chant filled the air, deafening in its intensity. His mere presence made it impossible for Lü Yang to look away.

”...It really is you.”

Lü Yang’s voice was ice-cold as he stared fixedly at the newcomer. The man had a full forehead, wore a golden Zen Robe, and held a Nine-Ring Scepter.

The newcomer had the appearance of a youth, with red lips, white teeth, and a compassionate face.

Yet, the small, ferocious dragon clutched in his hand was his polar opposite. It was a vicious-looking creature, its golden eyes glaring at Lü Yang with pure killing intent.

The next second, Lü Yang felt his entire body freeze.

The small dragon let out a low roar. Its unblinking pupils reflected everything around Lü Yang, trapping him within their gaze.

Golden dragon pupils, eyes that frame Heaven and Earth!

Lü Yang’s expression did not change at the sight. He only said in an ice-cold tone:

”Perfected Panlong!”

With his appearance, the deeply hidden karmic links finally revealed themselves. The newcomer was none other than Perfected Panlong, whom Lü Yang had previously believed to be long dead!