Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Su Nu’s Endless Suffering

In the end, Chen Xinghai had no choice but to accept reality.

From his perspective, he’d just had bad luck this time. The accident he’d encountered wasn’t covered by the Immortal Alliance’s insurance.

But for Lü Yang, a veteran of countless battles in the Saint Sect, he saw through the Immortal Alliance’s little trick almost instantly. It was nothing special, really.

’The Immortal Alliance’s natural disaster insurance only covers natural disasters at sea, not the Ghost Cloud. But the ship is protected by Talismans, so ordinary natural disasters can’t harm it anyway.’

This created a paradox.

’You ran into the Ghost Cloud? Why would a sea person like you charge into a Ghost Cloud? The Ghost Cloud came to you? Where’s the proof? None? Then you’re committing insurance fraud.’

’You ran into a natural disaster at sea? How could a natural disaster break through the protection of the Talismans on the ship? That’s obviously unreasonable. You’re still suspected of insurance fraud.’

Don’t bother asking. The answer would just be ”claim denied.”

Of course, the Immortal Alliance wouldn’t be so blatant about it. Lü Yang guessed that every year, the Immortal Alliance would intentionally pay out a batch of claims and then publicize it heavily.

Lü Yang was all too familiar with this style. Millions of sea people like Chen Xinghai were like rice stalks planted by the Immortal Alliance, harvested every so often... In fact, the moment Lü Yang understood the mechanism, his eyes lit up as he thought of a way to expand upon the scheme and make it even grander.

’So far, the natural disaster insurance offered by the Immortal Alliance is very expensive.’

’Only a Helmsman like Chen Xinghai, who owns a large ship, can afford it. The Boatmen on the ship don’t need to buy insurance, which is clearly a waste of potential customers.’

’In my opinion,’ Lü Yang thought, ’the Immortal Alliance could totally launch personal insurance policies.’

’Of course, few people would buy this kind of insurance. After all, for the sea people, being at sea is already a life-or-death gamble. One wrong move and you could end up as fish food.’

’Even if you bought personal insurance, you wouldn’t be able to collect the payout if you died.’

’So, for a sales promotion, they could spread a rumor... Buying personal insurance might be useless, but if you *don’t* buy it, you might be dispatched by the Immortal Alliance to dangerous sea regions...’

’And just like that, you’d have your sales, wouldn’t you?’

This wasn’t even Lü Yang’s original idea. On The Front, a Saint Sect Perfected Person had once pulled a similar stunt and made a huge profit.

Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Lü Yang looked at the middle-aged man again.

He was very patient, waiting until the man had finished speaking with Chen Xinghai and departed in a streak of Flying Light. Only then did he quietly follow, making sure there was no one else within a thousand miles before making his move.

He snatched the man out of the air and instantly began Soul Searching.

As a common sea person, Chen Xinghai didn’t know much. But this middle-aged man, an Immortal Alliance Sea Patrol Envoy, would surely know more useful information.

Through the Soul Searching, more information was unearthed.

’This is the northwest corner of the Chaotic Flow Sea. The corresponding Immortal Alliance port is currently controlled by the ”Shenxiao Sect,” and they even have a Core Formation Ancestor presiding over the sect...’

Reading this far into the man’s memories, Lü Yang gasped!

’This Shenxiao Sect’s strength is actually comparable to the first-rate major sects below the Saint Sect in the North of the River! They have a Golden Core Perfected Lord presiding over them!’

’Although the memories are a bit vague, calling him a Core Formation Ancestor, it’s still a Golden Core being formed. It’s normal for terminology to differ between the Overseas and inland regions. The only pity is that this person didn’t have the complete inheritance of the ”Shenxiao Sect.” The Cultivation Technique he possessed only contained the Qi Cultivation portion.’

’This man is named Situ Zheng, and his cultivation is at the Qi Cultivation... huh?’

Reaching this point in the Soul Search, Lü Yang was suddenly taken aback. In Situ Zheng’s memories, the so-called ”Qi Cultivation” actually had a full twelve layers!

’Why are there two extra layers?’

Lü Yang’s brows knitted together. He decided to just extract the Cultivation Technique directly from the man’s mind. Fortunately, the man’s Spiritual Space had no defensive Restrictions.

Soon, a Cultivation Technique appeared in Lü Yang’s mind’s eye.

Sea Treading Technique

’’To master this Cultivation Technique, one must possess a Water Spirit Root. By using the Spirit Root for Breathing with seawater, one can refine True Qi. After twelve revolutions, one can achieve Foundation Establishment...’’

The more he read, the deeper Lü Yang’s frown became.

According to the Cultivation Technique’s description, only those born with a Spirit Root could pursue Cultivation. This was completely incompatible with the common knowledge he had built up over the past hundred years.

’The difficulty of Cultivation lies in the path, not the entry. Getting started is extremely simple; anyone can cultivate. How could there be differences like Spirit Roots? Not to mention the content of the Sea Treading Technique—using a Spirit Root for Breathing with seawater? What about the Cultivator themself? Is this Qi Refining or Refining Spirit Root?’

The more Lü Yang looked, the more something felt wrong.

Especially after having just witnessed the Immortal Alliance’s methods, he couldn’t help but feel a suspicion growing. This so-called Azure Sun Cultivation Realm...

’Could it be a large-scale talent cultivation base for the Saint Sect, located Overseas?’

At this thought, Lü Yang concealed himself again, simultaneously erasing Situ Zheng’s memory of ever seeing him. Then, he took out the Myriad-Soul Banner and summoned Su Nu.

”This servant greets you, Master.”

As soon as Su Nu appeared, she bowed gracefully, giving Lü Yang a half-reproachful look as if asking why he hadn’t let her out for some fresh air in so long.

Lü Yang, however, completely ignored her gaze and pointed at Situ Zheng. ”Take a trip with him.”

’The background of this ”Shenxiao Sect” is unclear. If they really do have a Golden Core Perfected Lord, it would be too dangerous for me to follow rashly. It’s better to be cautious.’

’I’ll have Su Nu scout the path first!’

”This servant obeys.”

Su Nu didn’t ask any questions. Perhaps she was already used to her master treating her as a tool. She immediately transformed into a wisp of clear wind and followed behind Situ Zheng.

Situ Zheng remained completely oblivious, continuing on his way in a streak of light.

Before long, the clouds and mist parted.

A vast, boundless island appeared in Lü Yang’s field of vision. Spirit Light flared across it, and the figures of Cultivators could be seen at all times.

Situ Zheng flew straight to the island and soon arrived before a pavilion.

Along the way, quite a few Cultivators struck up conversations with him, but they were all minor figures in the Qi Refining Stage. Naturally, they couldn’t detect Su Nu standing right beside him.

Afterward, Su Nu followed Situ Zheng as he made a circuit around the island.

But as he watched, Lü Yang began to frown.

’Why is everyone only at the Qi Refining stage?’

Through Su Nu’s perspective, he had already gotten a clear picture of most of the situation both on and off the island, yet he discovered there wasn’t a single Foundation-Stage Cultivator to be found.

’Where are the Foundation Establishment cultivators? Where have they all gone?’

Just as Lü Yang was pondering this, the entire island suddenly shook violently. Streaks of Spirit Light shot into the sky, weaving together to form an Array.

Immediately after, a large number of figures appeared outside the island.

”HAHAHA! Today is the day your Shenxiao Sect will be annihilated!”

Among the many figures, the leader’s Qi trace was immense, stirring the Spiritual Qi in the area. With a single glance, Lü Yang could tell that the man’s cultivation was around the Late-phase of Qi Refining.

’...Wait, is he insane?’

Lü Yang couldn’t comprehend it. The Shenxiao Sect was a sect presided over by a Golden Core Perfected Lord. How dare someone at the Late-phase of Qi Refining shout about annihilation right before their gates?

But he quickly recalled the example of the Divine Martial Sect. Hadn’t their Sect Leader, who was at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, been lured away by a scheme set up by Perfected Yin Shan, ambushed, and killed? This had led to less than one in ten of the Divine Martial Sect’s Perfected Persons surviving, and in the end, Lü Yang himself had finished them off. ’Perhaps the Shenxiao Sect has met a similar fate?’

’That would explain why there isn’t a single Foundation-Stage Cultivator on the island!’

Just then, from a magnificent jade tower at the island’s center, a streak of Spirit Light shot into the sky. This person was also at the Late-phase of Qi Refining, and their voice boomed out:

”Cyan Thunder Sect, you ambitious wolves! Do you intend to violate the laws of the Immortal Alliance?”

As the voice faded, dozens, even hundreds, more streaks of Spirit Light flew up from the island.

Lü Yang gave them a cursory glance. They were all Cultivators at the Mid-phase of Qi Refining. They looked impressive, but in reality, they were pathetically weak—purely for show.

’This... this might be my chance!’

’From my perspective, the Shenxiao Sect must be in a crisis. Most of their Foundation-Stage Cultivators are probably dead. But I don’t believe they were all wiped out. After all, two from the Divine Martial Sect managed to escape.’

’At worst, they’re heavily injured and temporarily in hiding.’

’If I help the Shenxiao Sect now, I might be able to establish contact with the Perfected Persons and Perfected Lords behind it... That would definitely be a great help in my search for the Heavenly Stems.’

Of course, Lü Yang wouldn’t make a move himself.

’After all, if they can deal with the Shenxiao Sect’s Golden Core Perfected Lord, then this Cyan Thunder Sect must also have a Perfected Lord backing them. The risk of me showing up in person is far too great.’

’In contrast, Su Nu is perfect for the job. As a Banner Spirit, she has no karmic links, is difficult to trace, and can even self-destruct.’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang immediately made his decision.

’Better to let Su Nu suffer a bit. She can bear the karmic consequences.’