Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Observing the Golden Core

For the month that followed, Lü Yang remained at the Saint Sect.

As time went on, he simply took up residence on Heaven Mending Peak, and his life became one of pleasant indulgence.

But with a body like steel and a Dao Heart of iron, he spent most of his time engrossed in the Daoist Scripture in his hands.

’Observing the Golden Core... What an incredible scripture this Observing the Golden Core is!’

The Perfected Lord who wrote this Daoist Scripture was known as Ang Xiao the Sun Veiler. He had refined a Golden Core and attained the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood, yet he was the most disgraceful Perfected Lord in the history of the Saint Sect.

Because He was a good person.

This was no empty claim. During his time, He never committed a single malicious act. In fact, He even maintained personal ties with the Sword Pavilion, the Dao Court, and the Pure Land, with a network of connections that spanned the world.

’It’s incredible, but I can almost understand it... After all, what kind of Perfected Lord would be idle enough to write something like Observing the Golden Core, a book that teaches people the path of Seeking Gold? Was He worried that after He reincarnated, there wouldn’t be anyone to compete with Him for His Fruit? For someone who would do such a thing, it’s not surprising He was a good person.’

’At least, if it were me, I would never do something like that.’

The Perfected Fortune was a prime cautionary tale. A magnificent Perfected Lord in his own right, yet after reincarnating, he was utterly suppressed by a junior, Perfected Chong Guang. It was the height of humiliation.

Shaking his head, Lü Yang cast aside his distracting thoughts and refocused his Heart Spirit.

Over the past month, the help from *Observing the Golden Core* had been immense. It had practically laid out for him the specific method to ascend from the Foundation Establishment realm and begin Seeking Gold.

”A towering skyscraper is built from the ground up.”

”If you wish to ascend to a position and begin Seeking Gold, your foundation must be solidified during the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, if you make a mistake, there’s no turning back by the time you reach the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment.”

From the perspective of a Perfected Lord, *Observing the Golden Core* described His views on the Heaven and Earth Fruit Positions and their corresponding Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earth Fiends. He even noted their individual attributes, categorizing them according to the Five Elements and making their respective symbolic meanings much clearer and more distinct.

’What I seek in this life is the Fruit of Rampart Earth.’

What is the Fruit of Rampart Earth?

”From the Position of Heavenly Stems, take Major Earth and Minor Earth. From the Earth Evil Position, take Yin Wood and Mao Wood. When these four components unite as one and form the Great Dao, only then can one seek the Fruit of Rampart Earth.”

This was common knowledge, yet the meaning was profoundly obscure and difficult to comprehend.

But in *Observing the Golden Core*, the description of this passage was much simpler and clearer:

”In the Position of Heavenly Stems, Major Earth corresponds to Yang Earth, and Minor Earth to Yin Earth. In the Earth Evil Position, Yin Wood corresponds to Yang Wood, and Mao Wood to Yin Wood.”

”When Yin and Yang Earth and Wood converge, they form the Fruit of Rampart Earth.”

Holding the Daoist Scripture, Lü Yang already had an idea for the first of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches he would need. ’I need a strand of Heavenly Stem Qi that embodies Major Earth.’

Major Earth belongs to the earth element and occupies a yang position. It is also known as ”Wu.”

This particular Heavenly Stem is said to be mist in the sky and mountains on the earth. Before primordial chaos was divided, it held fast to unity and guarded the center. After Heaven and Earth were separated, it became the foundation that carries all things—the very essence of the earthly Dao.

It sounded simple, but in truth, it held other profound mysteries.

This is because the Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earth Fiends have always been inseparable. Even the same strand of Earth Qi will undergo different transformations when it converges with one of the Twelve Earth Fiends.

’For my purposes, the Earth Qi I choose must converge with either Yin Wood or Mao Wood. That is the only way to stay true to the nature of the Fruit of Rampart Earth.’

’However, there are hidden taboos within this process.’

’When Earth Qi converges with Yin Wood, the resulting Innate Divine Technique is called Embracing Mountain.’

’*Observing the Golden Core* calls this combination Supreme Yang Earth and Wood, capable of balancing the One Qi and stabilizing Heaven and Earth.’

’But when Earth Qi converges with Mao Wood, *Observing the Golden Core* calls it a suicidal path. Yin Wood overcomes Yang Earth. Once you refine it, you can just wait for a violent death...’

In other words, one could not refine just any of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Refining some was simply asking to die.

”...Damn it, it’s all traps!”

Lü Yang snapped the Pill Book shut and couldn’t help but curse. It was a good thing he had the guidance of a Perfected Lord’s writings, a complete system of methods and theories. Otherwise, who would ever think of all this?

A Loose Cultivator would consider it a stroke of heavenly luck just to find one of the Heavenly Stems or Earthly Branches. They would surely grab it and refine it in an instant.

Who would stop to worry about taboos?

’No wonder only those at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment can be called Great Truemen. I suppose anyone who makes it that far has either been blessed with incredible luck or has an Upper Grade Dao Lineage to guide them.’

’The former relies on the system, the latter on raw stats.’

’...Whatever.’

Action was better than empty theorizing. With a sigh, Lü Yang pushed Lady Ruoxiang away, changed his clothes, and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.

A month had passed. All was in place.

With Arhat Fulong executed and the Master of Heaven Mending Peak dead, he could finally rest easy. Now he could safely follow the guidance of his Fortune and seek out his destiny.

But just then, Lü Yang’s eyebrow suddenly twitched.

He looked up and smiled faintly. ”Which Fellow Daoist is this? Since you’ve come to visit so late at night, rather than skulking about, why not show yourself?”

As his voice fell, a night breeze rustled past.

Seeing Lü Yang’s calm expression and his gaze locked directly onto his position, the visitor realized Lü Yang had truly spotted him and wasn’t just trying to bluff.

”Hahaha, you live up to your name, Yuan Tu!”

The next second, laughter echoed as an Array materialized out of thin air, descending to envelop both Lü Yang and the newcomer, cutting them off from the outside world.

The entire sequence of actions was as smooth as flowing water.

Lü Yang’s eyes narrowed at the sight. The man had immediately cut off all channels of communication—clearly, he was an old hand at this. It was likely not his first time.

Then, a figure drifted out into the open.

The man wore a black Daoist Robe. His features were rather handsome, his bearing was relaxed, and he wore an amiable smile. ”I am Wu Cang. A pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Yuan Tu.”

”So it’s Fellow Daoist Wu Cang...”

Lü Yang cupped his hands in greeting, his mind rapidly recalling information about his visitor.

The man had joined the sect with his skills already established. He was originally a Loose Cultivator who had reached Foundation Establishment. After reincarnating, he entered the Saint Sect, broke through to the Mid-phase, and thus ’whitewashed’ his background to become a proper Saint Sect Zhenren.

”May I ask what business Fellow Daoist Wu Cang has with me?”

As Lü Yang finished speaking, Wu Cang smiled. ”To be perfectly honest, I heard that you acquired a copy of a True Monarch’s Handwriting from Holy Fire Cliff?”

”...That is true.”

Lü Yang understood his intentions and immediately smiled. ”Could it be that you wish to borrow the handwriting for a viewing? That’s fine by me. What do you wish to trade for it?”

”And that’s the problem,”

Wu Cang’s smile didn’t falter. ”I’m afraid my pockets are a bit empty lately, so I really have nothing of value to offer. But I still very much want to borrow the handwriting... Would you be willing to let me have it on credit?”

At these words, the smile vanished from Lü Yang’s face.

’We’re both Saint Sect Zhenren, who the hell are you trying to fool? Credit? More like you’re just a deadbeat!’

At this thought, Lü Yang’s gaze grew placid, and his voice turned cold. ”It seems you have no intention of making a proper trade, Fellow Daoist.”

Wu Cang scoffed at his words.

Of course, he knew Yuan Tu was no easy opponent, but that was only when it came to schemes involving karmic links. By showing up unannounced, he gave Lü Yang no time to plot.

’What can you possibly do to me?’

”If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being so greedy. You’re only in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, yet you took charge of Heaven Mending Peak and even dared to borrow a True Monarch’s Handwriting. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson.”

With that, Wu Cang took a step forward.

”A wise man knows when to yield. Hand over the scripture, and I will leave.”

In an instant, the aura of a Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment cultivator crashed down on Lü Yang like a collapsing mountain. ”Or would you rather suffer a bit before you hand it over?”

Wu Cang fully expected Lü Yang to compromise.

He never expected that after he revealed his aura, Lü Yang would simply smile. ”If I’m not mistaken, you’ve only refined a single Innate Divine Technique, haven’t you, Fellow Daoist?”

As he spoke, he gave Wu Cang a thorough, appraising look.

That burning, covetous gaze made Wu Cang frown instinctively. ”What do you mean by that?”

”I mean that your cultivation is quite impressive, Fellow Daoist.”

Lü Yang lowered his hand, the Abi Sword appearing in his grasp.

”A True Monarch’s Handwriting is a priceless treasure. Since you desire it so, then you can trade your cultivation for it!”