Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Ah Bi Is Only Happy in Master’s Hands

”I knew that old bastard left a trick up his sleeve with the Abi Sword!”

Lü Yang gripped the Abi Sword, but he could no longer sense any response from the Sword Spirit within. The hand holding the sword was even suffering a constant backlash from its Sword Qi.

Without a doubt, the Divine Effect of a Famous Artifact was the source of Blood Demon Zhenren’s confidence in gifting away the Abi Sword he had worked so hard to refine. He had clearly planned to burn the bridge after crossing it. It just goes to show that Saint Sect Zhenren are all cut from the same cloth—not a single opportunity they offer can be trusted.

Fortunately, he was not entirely unprepared.

”The Deceit Heaven Technique hasn’t expired yet. The Abi Sword is mine, and I am bearing the Celestial Punishment in your stead. Now that you want to take it back, you must compensate me for my lost Merit and Fortune!”

Lü Yang was no stranger to the *Deceit Heaven Technique*.

After all, the principle behind this Secret Technique was simple: trade one part cost for ten parts profit. But no matter what, that one part cost still had to be paid.

No matter how large the difference, it was still a transaction with an input and an output.

If Blood Demon Zhenren had already completely resolved his Celestial Punishment and canceled the Deceit Heaven Technique, then it wouldn’t matter. He could recall the Abi Sword without any cost.

However, he still needed the Deceit Heaven Technique to cling to life, so he naturally couldn’t violate its rules.

Therefore, to retrieve the Abi Sword, he had to repay Lü Yang for the portion of karmic links and Qi lost to the Celestial Punishment. Only then would the transaction be settled.

”Hmph!”

At the same time, Blood Demon Zhenren also sensed the change in their karmic links. His expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t seem to care much, decisively mobilizing his Merit and Fortune.

’Fine, you can have it!’

Although he would lose a portion of his Merit and Fortune, Ye Xingfeng was now right at his doorstep. Without retrieving the Abi Sword, he would have a hard time fighting back.

’I’ll settle this score with you later...’

Blood Demon Zhenren cursed inwardly while continuing to summon the Abi Sword.

On the other side, however, Lü Yang gave a cold laugh after receiving the Merit and Fortune from Blood Demon Zhenren. He then took out a wisp of yellow smoke.

The Celestial Corpse Fiend!

To be precise, it was a strand of Earth Vein Qi that Progenitor Tingyou had created using the Celestial Corpse Fiend. Once destroyed, it would immediately draw down Celestial Punishment!

The next second, Lü Yang unhesitatingly wrapped the strand of Earth Vein Qi around the Abi Sword like a scabbard. If the Abi Sword wanted to break free and fly away, it would have to shatter the Earth Vein Qi. And once the Earth Vein Qi was broken, Blood Demon Zhenren, as the instigator, would suffer Celestial Punishment!

”Alright, you can take it now.”

Lü Yang released his grip, no longer restraining the Abi Sword. He even thoughtfully concealed the karmic links on the sword to ensure Blood Demon Zhenren wouldn’t discover what he’d done.

The next second, the Abi Sword shattered the Earth Vein Qi without a hint of hesitation and transformed into a long, blood-red streak, streaking toward Blood Demon Zhenren.

「A moment later—」

”No!!!”

A bloodcurdling scream suddenly erupted from Blood Demon Island. At the same time, a crack of thunder boomed from the heavens, striking Blood Demon Zhenren!

Celestial Punishment!

In an instant, Blood Demon Zhenren felt the Celestial Punishment, which had already lessened considerably, intensify once more. Worse still, he had just compensated Lü Yang for a portion of his Merit and Fortune. The result was a loss on top of a loss. It looked as if he was now fated to be reincarnated as a pig or dog for several lifetimes!

’What do I do?’

Blood Demon Zhenren’s Soul trembled, and the fury in his heart was about to explode. In the end, however, he decisively made the most logical choice.

’Give the Abi Sword back!’

The next second, gritting his teeth, Blood Demon Zhenren sent the Abi Sword—which had just flown back to him—back to where it came from, carrying a portion of the Power of Celestial Punishment with it.

This time, however, Lü Yang decisively chose to refuse.

”Still want me to take on your Celestial Punishment? Fine. Undo the Famous Artifact’s Divine Effect and give me the Abi Sword for good, and I’ll help you out.”

Blood Demon Zhenren: ”...”

’You monster!’

Blood Demon Zhenren’s first instinct was to refuse, but he managed to maintain his clarity. ’I can’t refuse. Right now, Lü Yang is the only one who will accept these karmic links!’

He could, of course, try to pass the Abi Sword to someone else, but his identity was already exposed. If he tried to give the Abi Sword away now, anyone would know something was wrong. Who would be willing to accept the karmic links? Only Lü Yang knew the whole story, which ironically left room for negotiation.

Thus, Blood Demon Zhenren didn’t hesitate for long.

After all, compared to the calm and composed Lü Yang, who seemed completely at ease, Blood Demon Zhenren was undoubtedly far more desperate and had no capital to bargain with.

”...Fine!”

The next second, the red light on the Abi Sword flickered, and Lü Yang saw the connection between it and Blood Demon Zhenren sever.

The Famous Artifact was now ownerless!

Only then did Lü Yang let out a great laugh, gripping the Abi Sword once more and pouring his Mana into it, filling the blade to the brim.

As for the transferred Celestial Punishment?

Unhurried, Lü Yang used the Merit and Fortune he had just received from Blood Demon Zhenren as a shield, burning through most of the Power of Celestial Punishment.

He then used the Deceit Heaven Technique to transfer most of the remaining Celestial Punishment. The lingering effects were negligible, about the same as when he’d detonated the Lay Line in the past, and still within his acceptable limits. More importantly, from this day forward, the Abi Sword was completely his to command!

”Come, say goodbye to your old master.”

”Ah Bi doesn’t know any old master.”

At Lü Yang’s prompting, the Sword Spirit of the Abi Sword floated out and affectionately nuzzled his cheek. ”Ah Bi is only happy in Master’s hands.”

This scene made Blood Demon Zhenren’s eyes burn with fury.

Seeing the Famous Artifact that once belonged to him now possessed by Lü Yang—and having handed it over himself—Blood Demon Zhenren’s very Soul was about to explode with rage.

BOOM!

Just then, a beam of Sword Qi crashed down, splitting open the main hall where Blood Demon Zhenren was located. Ye Xingfeng’s figure emerged, stepping out upon an unparalleled Sword Light.

”Hm?” Ye Xingfeng scanned his surroundings, his brow furrowed slightly. ”The Wu Ghost Inheritor... is not here?”

Seeing this, Blood Demon Zhenren was also taken aback. ”You’re not here to kill me?”

The moment Ye Xingfeng appeared, he had shot toward his location with lightning speed. He’d assumed the man was coming to kill him!

After all, he was a Great Trueman of the Saint Sect.

It would be perfectly normal for a Sword Cultivator from the Celestial Sword Pavilion to want to kill him... ’But looking at it now, was his target never me from the very beginning?’

’Then who was it?’

At this thought, Blood Demon Zhenren’s Soul began to tremble once more.

”It’s you again!?”

”That’s right. It’s me again.”

In the distance, Lü Yang saw this and smiled faintly. He had long since used Differentiation to merge Embracing Mountain and Blood Demon Island.

The karmic links of the two locations were now indistinguishable.

So, he had only needed to use the Prophetic Orrery to slightly obscure the truth, changing ”Lü Yang is on Embracing Mountain” to ”Lü Yang is on Blood Demon Island,” and had easily deceived Ye Xingfeng!

’It’s not over yet...’

Lü Yang’s eyes gleamed as he looked in another direction, where two streaks of Flying Light were speeding over.

It was none other than Ying Tongshou of the Dao Court in the East, and the Immortal Alliance’s last Great Cultivator of Unity, Elder Lin. For some unknown reason, the two had chosen to act together.

However, compared to Blood Demon Zhenren and Ye Xingfeng, these two were in extremely poor condition.

Since Lü Yang had started his scheme, Ye Xingfeng, with his Sword Heart Flawless, had no interest in Artifacts. Blood Demon Zhenren’s Cultivation was high, so he could just barely maintain his mental clarity.

Ying Tongshou and Elder Lin, however, were different. Both had plundered wantonly within the Secret Realm, and Lü Yang had used the Deceit Heaven Technique to shift a huge amount of Celestial Punishment onto them. Their Merit and Fortune had been severely depleted, and their minds were clouded by Tribulation Qi. By now, they were lost in a stupor, driven only by the strongest obsessions in their hearts.

And what were their obsessions?

”A secret decree from His Majesty: retrieve Blood Demon Zhenren’s Soul and force Lü Yang to come to the East...”

”Find a Saint Sect Zhenren and undo the Restriction on the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita...”

Both Lü Yang and Blood Demon Zhenren fit their obsessions, but with Lü Yang nowhere to be seen, Blood Demon Zhenren was naturally the one in the crosshairs!

Then, a leisurely voice drifted over. ”Blood Demon Zhenren is right in front of you. What are you standing around for?”

”Attack!”

Along with the voice came a flash of Divine Power Radiance.

Determination!

This Innate Ability of Lü Yang’s could lock the development of an event onto his desired outcome, but it normally couldn’t be used on Cultivators of the same Realm.

However, Ying Tongshou and Elder Lin had already endured far too much Celestial Punishment.

With their Merit and Fortune both depleted, they were wide open to exploitation!

The next second, neither of them hesitated any longer. One took out a glittering golden Holy Decree, while the other produced the Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita!