Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: The Transformation of Wu Cang

”There’s no time to lose. I’m leaving tonight!”

After withdrawing from the vision granted by the Abi Sword’s [Li Wei] Divine Effect, Lü Yang made his decision instantly. With the Earth Qi in hand, he could not stay in the Overseas region any longer!

At this thought, Lü Yang felt a twinge of regret.

Unfortunately, his Cultivation was insufficient, and the distance between the Overseas and the mainland was simply too vast. Otherwise, he could have used [Separation] to return to the Stain Sect in a single step.

The very next second, Lü Yang summoned a streak of Flying Light and slipped away from the Immortal Alliance without alerting a soul. Now that he had the Earth Qi, he had no more interest in the fate of the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm or the Immortal Alliance. It was also the perfect opportunity to offload that hot potato, Guang Ming.

Lü Yang even chose to forgo the opportunity for the Mahayana First Grade True Qi.

’Never mind that this could be a trap set by a Primal Daoist. Even if it isn’t, going there in my current state, targeted by Heaven and Earth’s Killing Intent, would be far more perilous than promising.’

It was better to give it up!

At worst, as soon as he returned to the Stain Sect, he would immediately snitch on the Perfected Fortune to Perfected Chong Guang. Perfected Chong Guang could take the lion’s share, and he would be happy with the scraps.

A man has to know his limitations.

You wear the shorts that fit your ass.

........

It was three days after Lü Yang’s departure that Guang Ming finally sensed something was wrong. He came to request an audience, only to find the secret chamber where Lü Yang had been in seclusion was long deserted.

”He ran away?”

Guang Ming blinked, completely baffled by Lü Yang’s actions. But a moment later, a wave of elation washed over him... It was for the best that the great Demon had fled!

After all, Lü Yang had slaughtered every last Great Cultivator of Unity in the Immortal Alliance. Now that Lü Yang was gone, he, Guang Ming, was the number one figure in the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm! This was his chance to throw open the temple gates, recruit a new wave of disciples to fill Fulong Temple, and bolster his own power!

Different factions had different methods for controlling their subordinate forces.

Compared to Lü Yang’s ”Four Steps of the First Saint,” the Pure Land’s method was simple and crude: directly preach the scriptures and forcibly convert people into Monks through Enlightenment.

And among the Four Great Forces, the Pure Land was also the most stable.

This was because the philosophy behind the Pure Land’s Cultivation Method emphasized ”Brahma and I are One.” Since they were all unified as ”I,” the system was naturally stable.

However, he soon received a report from a member of the Immortal Alliance.

”Another outside Cultivator was discovered at the port in the Chaotic Flow Sea?”

Guang Ming froze. Before he could even react, a figure in black had silently appeared in the otherwise empty hall.

”Hmm? A bald donkey?”

The moment he heard that, Guang Ming immediately knew this was bad.

Under all of Heaven, the Dao Court and the Pure Land had always been amicable and usually addressed monks with respect. As for the Sword Pavilion, as the Leader of the Righteous Path, they had an image to maintain. Though they also disliked Monks, they wouldn’t start by calling them ”bald donkeys,” but would instead call them ”those chanters” with an air of annoyance.

So, who would call them ”bald donkeys”?

’It must be another Perfected Person from the Stain Sect!’ Guang Ming sighed inwardly. ’Amitabha... Out of the frying pan and into the fire. My life is bitter!’

The next second, Guang Ming’s transition to groveling was seamless. ”This humble monk is Guang Ming. May I be so bold as to ask for Senior’s name?”

”Wu Cang, of the Stain Sect.”

The black-robed man’s voice was icy. ”This place is a little interesting... Bald donkey, since you’re a Monk from the Pure Land, you must have a way to heal a Dharma Body, right?”

Wu Cang had not been having an easy time of it lately. After fleeing far Overseas, he had been searching for a place to recuperate. But while the Overseas region was vast, it was also barren. He wasn’t skilled at divining Karma Links, either, so it had taken a great deal of effort for him to finally find the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm.

And after all this time, his injuries showed no signs of healing.

To this day, a striking, crimson sword gash could still be seen on his abdomen. If he didn’t use his Mana to seal it, it would even seep Blood Qi.

”Answering Senior, this humble monk has a bottle of Vajra Liquid...”

Guang Ming cautiously handed over a porcelain bottle. Wu Cang took it without hesitation and said, ”You bald donkeys never lift a finger unless there’s profit in it.”

”Spit it out. What fortune is to be had here?”

Guang Ming’s eye twitched. He cursed the man in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued, ”For this humble monk, the fortune lies with the local Overseas Cultivators.”

”However, their Cultivation Method is quite ingenious, as it’s based on a Marvelous Treasure. This humble monk knows his own strength is lacking and dares not get entangled in major karmic links, so I have never tried to claim it... If Senior is interested, you could go take a look. Perhaps that Artifact is fated to be yours...”

Of course, Guang Ming had his own motives.

Although he didn’t know the origin of the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita, an Artifact that could grant people a Fake Foundation Establishment had to have an unimaginable background.

This was the perfect problem to send Wu Cang’s way.

If it really was a great opportunity, Wu Cang would be delighted and would surely spare his life. If it was a trap, Wu Cang would die, and what would that have to do with him?

Wu Cang was, of course, oblivious to Guang Ming’s scheming.

Not that he cared. After all, he was confident that even in his severely injured state, he could easily suppress a new Arhat at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Soon, led by Guang Ming, Wu Cang arrived at the sacrificial hall in the deepest part of the Immortal Alliance. The moment he stepped inside, the sight of the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita filled his vision, like a sudden gale scattering all his stray thoughts and leaving him standing there in a daze.

’What is this thing?!’

The next second, the seal script on the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita began to slowly writhe, suddenly forming the outline of a face that was both real and illusory!

Golden eyes met Wu Cang’s gaze.

Then, Wu Cang’s lips parted involuntarily. A hoarse, dry voice that sent a chill down Guang Ming’s spine drifted out eerily:

”Why... not... Innate...?”

WHOOSH—!

Without a flicker of hesitation, Guang Ming’s figure vanished. In the blink of an eye, he was thousands of miles away. In the next blink, he was right back in the hall.

”Ah!?”

In an instant, Guang Ming was drenched in cold sweat, his heart turning to ice. He turned his head stiffly, only to see the face formed by the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita staring at him with great interest. Beside it, Wu Cang wore the exact same expression, staring blankly at him.

’I’m done for!’

Guang Ming’s teeth chattered violently. He wished he could go back in time and strangle the version of himself that suggested Wu Cang come here. How could such a bizarre change have happened so suddenly?

He’d come to see this Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita before.

But on all his previous visits, the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita had never changed like this. Who could have guessed that everything would be different the moment Wu Cang arrived!

Why?

Just then, the light-golden face finally spoke again. This time, however, the voice emerged from Wu Cang’s mouth, and it had even become fluent:

”Interesting. Very interesting.”

”Not the legacy of that old Innate one, yet it was able to stir the karmic links here and awaken me. Was this great karmic entanglement prepared just for me?”

As the voice fell, Wu Cang himself began to transform. His disposition shifted from ferocious to scholarly, and his voice gradually took on a composed, calm quality. The wounds on his body healed without any aid. His brows lifted, his tendons stretched, and his bones lengthened. In the blink of an eye, he had taken on a completely different appearance!

”To borrow this body, I must shoulder its karmic links.”

”’Wu Cang Kills Lü Yang’?”

The new ”Wu Cang” muttered to himself, seeming to consider something. After a long moment, he burst into laughter. ”Very well! From this day forward, I am Wu Cang!”