Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Let Her Suffer More

Lead the Stain Sect disciples to destroy the Divine Martial Sect.

This was the news Perfected Yin Shan had brought. Clearly, his backer, Perfected Chong Guang, was investing in him again, sparing no effort to support him.

Lü Yang was, of course, more than happy to accept.

After all, as a major sect in the Northern Border, the Divine Martial Sect’s Merit and Fortune were coveted by many. It hadn’t been easy for Perfected Chong Guang to secure this opportunity for him.

Because this was a matter concerning cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Generally, the most important part of Foundation Establishment cultivation was to find Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and merge them with one’s Innate Ability. However, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches were naturally occurring treasures.

How could one find them? Where could one find them?

Furthermore, different Perfected Persons with different Dao Foundations had completely different requirements for Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Sometimes, even if one was found, it might not be usable.

For example, Lü Yang possessed a Celestial Corpse Fiend corresponding to the Earthly Branch of Chen Earth, but it was incompatible with his Imperial Dragonrise Foundation.

If he tried to forcibly absorb it, there was a ninety percent chance it would explode due to the conflicting Abilities. Even if he succeeded, he would constantly face the risk of backlash.

Thus, the search for Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches was the second great challenge facing Foundation-Stage Cultivators.

The solution to this problem was, in theory, simple: Merit and Fortune. If your Fortune was strong enough and your blessings deep enough, your wishes would naturally come true.

Just like those Children of Destiny.

When your Merit and Fortune was high enough, you wouldn’t even have to search; the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches would coalesce right before your eyes, practically spoon-feeding you.

This was why the great Immortal Races and Immortal Sects existed.

Virtually all Foundation-Stage Cultivators, with few being Loose Cultivators, would establish a sect or a family. They did this for one reason alone: to accumulate Merit and Fortune.

As a sect prospered and a family flourished, Fortune would naturally gather.

By pairing this with the corresponding Miao Fa, the Fortune of an entire sect or clan could be concentrated on a single person, thereby increasing their chances of finding Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

Of course, there were also Loose Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Most of these Loose Cultivators had simply gotten incredibly lucky, without a sect’s support, so they lacked the Secret Techniques to accumulate Fortune and could only choose to pledge allegiance to a major Immortal Sect.

For example, the former Perfected Panlong, who was now Arhat Fulong.

After seeing Perfected Yin Shan off, Lü Yang reviewed his assets. Of his Legendary Techniques, only the Demonic Tribulation Light was still usable.

His Innate Ability was already condensed, and he had the Prophetic Orrery as his Spiritual Treasure.

Beyond that, he had his swarm of Qi-eating Insects. After thirty years of cultivation, their numbers had reached one hundred and forty million, making them a formidable weapon.

’It’s still not enough...’

Lü Yang rubbed his brow. Although the Prophetic Orrery could be used in Combat, it had no direct offensive power and didn’t synergize with his Innate Ability.

’My advantage isn’t big enough. I need to expand it.’

’If possible, I’d love to see the gates of the Divine Martial Sect explode right this second.’

’...What other opportunities are there?’

Lü Yang racked his brain, deep in thought, until his eyes finally lit up. ’...I remember now. Chen Xin’an mentioned an opportunity back then...’

He’d spoken of a hidden cache on an island deep within the Sea of Clouds, an island named Gourd Island. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He’d been wary of Chen Xin’an at the time and paid it no mind. Now, before heading to the Divine Martial Sect, he could go try his luck. He might just find something valuable.

Besides, for a dignified Perfected Person like himself to explore a hidden cache mentioned by a mere Qi Refiner, success was all but guaranteed.

With this in mind, Lü Yang set off at once.

The Prophetic Orrery concealed his karmic links and deduced Karma Links. After a brief divination, Lü Yang already knew Gourd Island’s location and arrived in an uninhabited region.

’This must be the place.’

Lü Yang halted his Flying Light and opened his Forehead Celestial Eye. The Mythical Light of the Prophetic Orrery shone down, instantly dispersing the thick clouds and mist to reveal a fiery-red island.

The island consisted of two round sections, a smaller one on top of a larger one, resembling a red gourd.

Gourd Island, an apt name.

’What kind of opportunity is in there?’ Lü Yang performed a quick divination, but his expression gradually grew serious, his relaxed brow slowly furrowing.

’I can’t divine it.’

’I have the Prophetic Orrery and I still can’t divine it!?’

Lü Yang glanced over, his forehead’s Dharma Eye shining with celestial light. He focused it on Gourd Island, but it was like a stone sinking into the ocean; he couldn’t detect the slightest abnormality.

’This island... is something else!’

Lü Yang was first amazed, then he frowned. ’How could a place this dangerous be somewhere a Qi Refiner could go? That bastard Chen Xin’an was clearly trying to get me killed!’

But soon, Lü Yang had another thought. The Chen Xin’an of today was his Banner Spirit, loyally lying in wait by the side of the Master of Heaven Mending Peak. Besides, this all happened several lifetimes ago. There was no need to hold such a grudge. He wasn’t that petty of a person, after all.

’I’ll just add this to the Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s tab!’

Then, Lü Yang took out the Myriad-Soul Banner. With a flick of the banner, he summoned Guardian Su Nu, then placed the Qi-Eating Insect King in his palm.

Clearly, there was something wrong with this Gourd Island.

Besides, this was the territory of the Stain Sect. Behind every opportunity, there was bound to be some kind of trouble. Lü Yang had learned that lesson the hard way, time and time again.

’So, it’s better to let Su Nu do the suffering!’

’Su Nu is good at enduring hardship anyway. Perfect, she can endure a little more.’

’It’s also a good chance to see what this Qi-Eating Insect King, which I spent thirty years cultivating, is capable of. Can it be useful in future Combat against other Foundation-Stage Cultivators?’

”Go on, now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lü Yang waved his sleeve. A fierce gust of wind swept up Su Nu and the Qi-Eating Insect King, and he tossed them unceremoniously onto Gourd Island.

Su Nu gulped and landed on Gourd Island with the Qi-Eating Insect King.

BOOM!

The next moment, the Spiritual Qi on Gourd Island seemed to sense a foreign presence and surged violently, crashing down on Su Nu with the weight of mountains.

However, this Spiritual Pressure wasn’t particularly strong. A cultivator at the Final-phase of Qi Refining would be able to withstand it.

For Su Nu, it was like a gentle breeze. But on second thought, if just entering the island required the cultivation of the Final-phase of Qi Refining, what terrifying things might lie deeper within?

”Go deeper,” Lü Yang commanded.

Not daring to disobey, Su Nu plucked up her courage and headed deeper into Gourd Island. To be safe, she constantly scanned her surroundings with her Divine Sense.

As her master, Lü Yang’s connection to his Avatar Guardian was incredibly close. With a single thought, he could see through Su Nu’s eyes. The sight that greeted him was a landscape littered with skeletons, their flesh completely dissolved away. Severely damaged Artifacts and tattered robes were scattered everywhere.

’Is this... a battlefield?’

After passing through a dense forest, a new scene came into view: a deep valley from which a red glow emanated, clearly hiding some kind of Rare Treasure.

Then, through their connection, he heard her speak—

”Insect King, you go in and take a look.”

Su Nu looked at the Qi-Eating Insect King in her hand with a serious expression. ”Report back to me with whatever you find. I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you with the Master later.”

Through their Avatar Guardian connection, Lü Yang clearly perceived Su Nu’s thoughts:

’This valley doesn’t feel right. It’s too dangerous for me to go in. Better to let this bug go first. It doesn’t matter if it dies. One less competitor for the Master’s favor...’

Then, after a moment’s hesitation, the Qi-Eating Insect King actually shook its head. ”No need to rush. I’ll let my children go in and take a look first.”

Likewise, Lü Yang also sensed its thoughts:

’This valley looks really dangerous. It wasn’t easy for me to survive this long, and I don’t want to throw my life away... Better to let my children go first. I have plenty of them, anyway.’

Lü Yang was speechless.

For a moment, Lü Yang was deeply pained.

’They run at the first sign of trouble. How are they supposed to bear the burden and press forward like that?’

’If you don’t bear the burden and press forward, how am I supposed to live a life of peace and tranquility?’

’They say you are the company you keep. But these two protectors have been by my side for so long, so how have they not learned a single good thing from me!?’