Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Heading to the Sea

”Yuan Tu... are you alright?”

On Heaven Mending Peak, Lady Ruoxiang rushed to Lü Yang’s side, her face panicked. Her red lips parted slightly, and at first glance, one might think she was genuinely concerned for her beloved.

But Lü Yang knew what she truly cared about.

”Don’t worry. The True Monarch’s Handwriting is fine.”

Lü Yang smiled faintly, then exhaled a plume of scorching, fiery air. ”Alright, have Shu Qian come help me cultivate. I need to recover from my injuries as quickly as possible.”

”Ngh...”

At Lü Yang’s words, Lady Ruoxiang’s lovely face fell. However, she quickly recovered her charming smile and made way for Chen Shuqian.

Chen Shuqian was, of course, overjoyed and shot Lady Ruoxiang a triumphant, provocative glance.

Several days later, Lü Yang’s Dharma Body, which had been burned through from the inside out by the Celestial Furnace Separation Fire, had mostly recovered.

It had even become much sturdier than before.

Lü Yang wasn’t surprised. The path of body tempering was one of destruction and rebirth. It was only natural that he would benefit after recovering from such a severe injury.

However, physical prowess was not his specialty.

The old Theft to Sainthood technique was of little use now, so even if his Dharma Body was tougher, it just meant he could take a few more hits.

’This Cyan Simurgh Noon Fire is quite useful...’

Lü Yang’s expression was one of pleasant surprise as he sensed the changes within him. He had previously estimated it would take at least ten years to recover from his wounds.

Yet, with Chen Shuqian’s help, he displayed an extraordinary constitution.

He had healed for the most part in just ten short days. Meanwhile, the equally devastated Wu Cang had probably just managed to piece his bisected body back together!

At this thought, Lü Yang frowned again.

’Something’s not right...’

The Prophetic Orrery between his brows began to spin, its Mythical Light illuminating the threads of karmic links. Although it still found no issues, Lü Yang couldn’t shake the shadow lingering in his heart.

He just felt that something was off about Wu Cang.

While his actions were perfectly in character for a Saint Sect Zhenren with a Loose Cultivator background, Lü Yang still felt his move had been a bit too reckless.

Unfortunately, even the Prophetic Orrery couldn’t find anything amiss, so Lü Yang could only set the matter aside for now.

Besides, with the Centome, it didn’t matter if there was a mastermind or a scheme. He would eventually uncover it all and be sure to use that knowledge in the next life.

’I should be more careful for now...’

With a thought, Lü Yang secretly rode a gentle breeze and drifted down to Holy Fire Cliff. An Array Spirit soon appeared to guide him inside.

The moment Lü Yang stepped into the main hall, he felt an intense gaze fall upon him, thick with scrutiny. But soon, a soft sound of surprise echoed through the hall. Lü Yang looked up to see Perfected Chong Guang looking at him, his face filled with pleasant surprise.

”Your injuries have healed?”

Lü Yang clasped his hands in a salute. ”Reporting to Martial Uncle, they have indeed mostly healed. The gift left behind by the late Master of Heaven Mending Peak was quite effective. I have benefited greatly.”

”Hmm...”

At these words, a strange look appeared on Perfected Chong Guang’s face. He stroked his chin as if he had just realized something. ”Right... he intended to use that to resist the Celestial Thunder...”

The next second, Perfected Chong Guang snapped back to the present.

”I thought you would have to lie low for another decade or so. But since you’ve recovered early, I suppose you can set out immediately to search for the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches?”

”That is precisely my intention.”

Lü Yang nodded. ”I have swallowed the Divine Martial Sect’s Fortune. Through my connection with Heaven and Earth, I’ve faintly divined that my opportunity lies somewhere Overseas.”

”...Overseas?”

Hearing this, Perfected Chong Guang frowned. ”A pity. If it were in the North, I could have simply taken action and retrieved that Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch for you.”

”However, if it’s Overseas, you’ll have to get it yourself. Fortunately, your karmic opportunities are deep. You have a Divination Artifact protecting your Fate, so few can divine your whereabouts. Plus, you’re a clever one, so I’m not worried about you getting into trouble... Here, take this for your protection.”

As he spoke, Perfected Chong Guang took out a Jade Token.

The moment he saw the Jade Token, Lü Yang froze. He had seen it before! In his last last life, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had used it to block a Golden Core Sword Qi attack!

”This is called an Imperial Decree Jade Token. It was refined by a Perfected Lord.”

Perfected Chong Guang handed the Jade Token to Lü Yang and said coolly, ”Among the Inner Sect Four Peaks, every Peak Master receives a jade pendant like this as a protective talisman.”

”After Heaven Mending’s death, his was reclaimed.”

”Now that you are acting in the capacity of a Peak Master, I will bestow it upon you. No matter what dangers you encounter Overseas, this treasure will grant you at least a sliver of a chance to survive.”

”Thank you, Martial Uncle!”

Lü Yang accepted it with a delighted expression, understanding in his heart that this was another ’payment’ from Perfected Chong Guang—a further increase in his investment.

”Is there anything else you need?”

Seeing Lü Yang accept the Jade Token, Perfected Chong Guang continued, ”Better safe than sorry. The Overseas region is treacherous and unpredictable. We might as well get you fully equipped.”

Lü Yang didn’t hesitate for a second. ”I’d like a Substitution Secret Technique, and another Artifact for protection. If you have a Spiritual Treasure that can replenish Mana, that would be even better. Oh, right, and a Spiritual Treasure for escaping, too. Preferably one that can break through Arrays to get me out of tight spots. Upper Grade quality will do...”

”COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!”

Before Lü Yang could finish, Perfected Chong Guang cut him off abruptly. He said, exasperated, ”Insatiable greed! Do you really think Spiritual Treasures are common?”

”But I have you, Martial Uncle.”

Lü Yang said shamelessly with a grin, ”With your Cultivation Realm, Martial Uncle, a few mere Spiritual Treasures should be easy for you to come by. You wouldn’t want me to die Overseas, would you...?”

Perfected Chong Guang snorted coldly at his words but wasn’t actually angry. After all, what kind of Saint Sect Zhenren wasn’t greedy? After a moment of thought, he took out three items.

Lü Yang was ecstatic. ’He can actually provide them all!?’

”Don’t get your hopes up. There are no Upper Grade Spiritual Treasures!”

Before Lü Yang could even thank him, Perfected Chong Guang cut in, ”Of these three, only one is a Middle Grade Sentient Artifact. The other two are Lower Grade Spiritual Treasures.”

”Thank you, Martial Uncle!”

Lü Yang didn’t care. As long as they were Spiritual Treasures, he’d happily take them. He immediately stored the three items and, after a quick divination with his fingers, learned of their origins.

Of the three treasures, the Middle Grade one was for escaping. It was called the Void Crossing Golden Ship. As the name suggested, it could traverse the void. More importantly, it could sail freely through the chaotic Spiritual Qi of the Overseas regions without hindrance. It was clearly custom-made for him by Perfected Chong Guang.

The other two were the Qixia Robe and the Guardian Stone.

The former could refine a protective rosy glow capable of blocking one fatal attack, while the latter could store Mana on a daily basis, to be withdrawn and used at critical moments.

”On this journey, be quick.”

Seeing Lü Yang put away the Spiritual Treasures, Perfected Chong Guang nodded and gave a final instruction. ”Return within twenty years. I have an important matter to entrust to you.”

”I understand!”

Lü Yang nodded at once, then left the hall. He rode a beam of Flying Light that melted into the evening wind, returning to Heaven Mending Peak, where he recalled Chen Xin’an into his banner.

At the same time, Lady Ruoxiang and Chen Shuqian both came out.

”Yuan Tu? What happened?”

”I have urgent business and must leave immediately.” Lü Yang’s Dao Heart was like iron, completely ignoring the pleading look in Lady Ruoxiang’s limpid, autumn-water eyes.

”From now on, if anyone comes asking about me, just tell them I’ve entered death-seclusion and haven’t emerged.”

With that, Lü Yang didn’t look back. He veiled his karmic links and, riding a beam of Flying Light, once again vanished into nature, silently departing from the Sea of Clouds.

This time, his fight with Wu Cang had ended in mutual destruction, making them sworn enemies. Furthermore, if his intuition was correct, there was likely a mastermind behind Wu Cang. Staying in the Sea of Clouds was no longer safe. It was better to leave and jump off this chessboard; he might just find a whole new world of opportunities out there.

In other words, it was time to cut and run!

........

「Meanwhile, in a hidden Cave Mansion.」

Wu Cang painstakingly pieced his body back together. He looked down at the bloody gash on his abdomen and, more painfully, at the deep sword scar on his Dao Foundation.

’I was... far too reckless this time!’

He didn’t know what had gotten into him. The moment he learned that the True Monarch’s Handwriting in Lü Yang’s possession was written by Ang Xiao the Sun Veiler—who had attained the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood—and that it was a perfect match for his own Coiling Dragon Divine Wood Dao Foundation, his blood had rushed to his head, and he’d impatiently charged over to seize it by force.

Looking back now, there was definitely something wrong with the whole situation!

Although he came from a Loose Cultivator background, Wu Cang was still a Saint Sect Zhenren. He might not be the most cunning, but he had suffered enough losses to develop his own methods of survival.

’I can’t stay... in the Sea of Clouds any longer!’

Wu Cang’s mind raced, and he quickly made a decision. ’I’m severely injured right now. There’s no guarantee that some other Saint Sect Zhenren won’t get greedy and try to move against me.’

’And no matter who is plotting against me this time, once I leave, they probably won’t be able to do anything to me.’

’There’s no time to lose. I’ll leave tonight!’

—But where would he go?

Wu Cang frowned, deep in thought. After a long while, his eyes lit up as if he had thought of a brilliant plan. He clapped his hands. ”I’ve got it! I’ll go Overseas!”