Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Guang Ming

The Northern Border, Divine Martial Sect.

In a gloomy, deep-set grand hall, a long streak of rainbow light shot through the air and landed inside. It finally transformed into a large man who collapsed to the ground.

PTHOO!

The moment Perfected Huan Wu fell to his knees, he couldn’t stop himself from spitting blood. But with a pained expression, he cupped his hands over his mouth and swallowed the blood back down.

After all, this ”blood” was actually the essence of his Dao Foundation. Spitting out even a single mouthful would normally take him more than ten days to recover from. Now, however, it was gushing out uncontrollably, showing just how severe his injuries were. Not to mention, he had even abandoned his physical body, escaping with only his Soul.

”Senior Brother!”

Just then, a young man walked out from within the hall. He had an anxious look on his face, and upon seeing Perfected Huan Wu’s state, he hurried forward to help him up.

”Xuanwu... The pill! The pill!”

Perfected Huan Wu urged him repeatedly. Not daring to delay, the young man quickly took out a Pill Bottle and tipped out a small, crimson pill.

In the next second, he activated it with his Mana.

The shattered pill fell upon Perfected Huan Wu. Instantly, organs regenerated, flesh and blood reformed, and bones filled in, creating a body that looked just like Perfected Huan Wu’s!

Perfected Huan Wu’s Soul entered the new body, and he finally let out a sigh of relief. His previously unstable Dao Foundation restabilized. Although the new physical body constantly emitted cracking sounds, clearly struggling to contain his Soul, it was usable for now. At least his Soul was no longer without a vessel.

”It’s good that you’re all right, Senior Brother...”

Seeing this, Master Xuanwu finally breathed a sigh of relief. But when he thought about the Sect’s current situation, a wave of sorrow suddenly washed over him.

”Senior Brother, maybe we should... just leave!”

Despite his deep feelings for the Divine Martial Sect, Master Xuanwu still gritted his teeth and said it. His words implied that he wanted to abandon the Divine Martial Sect!

”We’re Perfected Persons, after all, not commoners in Qi Refining.”

”If we abandon the Divine Martial Sect’s legacy, take nothing with us, and think of nothing else but fleeing Overseas, I doubt anyone would pursue us.”

Master Xuanwu’s words plunged Perfected Huan Wu into silence.

’He’s right. If they really did abandon the sect now, the Divine Martial Sect would be finished, but the two of them would definitely survive. But how could he be content with that?’

’I, Huan Wu, am already over 150 years old. I’ve just barely condensed my Innate Ability and was waiting to use the Sect’s Merit and Fortune to help me find one of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. I would then refine it into an Innate Divine Technique and advance my Cultivation. Then, even if I died after my 300-year lifespan was up, it would be easier to return to Foundation Establishment after reincarnating.’

’But what if the Divine Martial Sect was gone?’

’First, I can forget about the Merit and Fortune. Reaching the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment in this lifetime would be impossible. Second, with the Sect gone, who would guide my reincarnated self?’

’If I flee Overseas, I’ll become a lonely, wandering ghost!’

’What path of the Dao would be left to speak of?’

’Even reincarnation would be a dead end!’

Therefore, unless it was a last resort, Perfected Huan Wu truly had no intention of abandoning the sect. However, his battle with Lü Yang had left him with a heart of ice.

”The Demon was ruthless. It seems the South has truly abandoned us...”

For a moment, Perfected Huan Wu felt lost.

But at that very moment—

”Amitabha.”

The Buddha’s Name was like the tinkling of a clear spring, washing over them and instantly soothing the anxiety and panic in the two Perfected Persons’ hearts. Yet, it also gave them a great shock.

”The Pure Land? A Monk?”

Perfected Huan Wu looked up to see a waft of Sandalwood Incense drift by. When he came to his senses, a youth with red lips and white teeth had appeared in the grand hall.

”This humble Monk is Fulong. Greetings to you two patrons.”

Arhat Fulong first placed his palms together in a bow, then smiled. ”The Sword Pavilion may have no interest in the Northern Border, but the Pure Land doesn’t mind lending a hand.”

”Is that true?” Perfected Huan Wu was suddenly overjoyed.

’Of course, it’s a lie.’

Arhat Fulong sneered inwardly, but his face grew even more compassionate. ”Pure Land Buddhist Cultivators do not speak falsehoods. This humble Monk has come to lend your esteemed sect a hand.”

In truth, this was Arhat Fulong’s own private mission and had nothing to do with the Pure Land. He had recently been scrying his karmic links and was delighted to discover that Lü Yang, who had been hiding in the Stain Sect for thirty years without showing his face, had finally emerged. That was why he had rushed over, wanting to take advantage of this golden opportunity to eliminate a future threat.

Thinking of this, Arhat Fulong took an object from within his kasaya.

It was a golden statue, shining with a Splendid Light. Spurred by Arhat Fulong’s Mana, it instantly took shape and landed beside Perfected Huan Wu.

”This treasure is called the [She Li Golden Body]. It was created from the willing sacrifice of a disciple from my temple.”

”Compared to the Dharma Body you created with a Qi Pill, fellow Daoist, this body is undoubtedly much sturdier. I believe it should be enough to restore more than eighty percent of your combat strength.”

”Thank you, Saint Monk!”

Perfected Huan Wu didn’t stand on ceremony. He immediately sent his Soul out to merge with the [She Li Golden Body]. His originally weak Qi trace began to rise again.

Arhat Fulong nodded in satisfaction at the sight, then glanced toward the Skull Mountains.

’He’s sensed me, too...’

Arhat Fulong’s brow furrowed slightly as he thought to himself, ’This man’s talent is outstanding. It only took him thirty years to condense his Innate Ability. If I want to kill him, it will likely be very difficult.’

’Honestly, with my Cultivation at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment, I’m one hundred percent confident I can deal with Lü Yang. At the very least, it’s impossible for me to lose. However, a Foundation-Stage Cultivator can sense their karmic links and has the ability to pursue good fortune and avoid disaster. If Lü Yang chooses not to fight me and flees at the first sign of trouble, I don’t really have a good way to handle him.’

’Unless I can confine the battlefield to a single location.’

’Only by leaving Lü Yang with no escape can I seize the opportunity to kill him. The ideal situation would be to bring him to Enlightenment, as that would benefit me the most.’

’I’ve made some preparations for this.’

’But whether they will be effective depends on our respective methods. I believe Lü Yang is just as eager to get rid of me. It will simply come down to a contest of whose schemes are superior.’

...

While Arhat Fulong was lost in thought, in another part of the Divine Martial Sect, a shifty-eyed Monk who was feigning a dignified and solemn appearance was idly strolling about.

’Tell me, how did I end up becoming the senior disciple of [Fulong Temple]?’

Guang Ming’s life had been quite cheerful recently. Guang Hai and Guang Hui had both died violent deaths, but he had saved the remaining Monks of the Pure Land, building up a considerable network of contacts in the process.

’Life is full of Impermanence~’

Guang Ming’s heart was filled with emotion, but his motivation to cultivate had diminished. After all, for a Monk at his stage, the path of cultivation was more or less at an end.

’Because [Fulong Temple] already has a master.’

’As long as Arhat Fulong is alive, no matter how high my Cultivation gets, I’m just paving the way for him. Since that’s the case, why should I suffer through bitter cultivation every single day?’

’It’s time to enjoy life!’

As he thought of this, an image suddenly appeared in Guang Ming’s mind: the back of Lü Yang as he slaughtered Guang Hai and the others in a single stroke during the Battle for the Dao.

HISS!

Guang Ming instantly sucked in a cold breath. ”Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Dammit all, why did I suddenly think of that monster? Forget it, forget it!”

But the more he tried to forget, the clearer the figure in his memory became.

In a daze, he seemed to have returned to the Seizing Dao Battlefield, trembling as he watched that person’s back. He watched as the figure turned around and smiled at him.

”...Fellow Daoist Guang Ming, it’s been a while.”

From the ends of the earth, arriving in a single thought.

[Separation]!

”...Huh?”

Guang Ming snapped out of his daze, staring blankly at Lü Yang, who had suddenly turned around in front of him. He rubbed his eyes, then pinched his own cheek.

’It hurts.’

’Oh my god!’

’He’s real!?’

The next second, with a THUD, Guang Ming dropped directly to his knees, crying his eyes out. ”Upper Cultivator! This humble Monk... this humble Monk has missed you so, so much!”