Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Verily, the Stain Sect Governs the World with People

Atop Dragon-Crushing Pass, Perfected Yin Shan had already unleashed his full Mana.

Lü Yang’s performance had been so sensational that few paid any mind to Perfected Yin Shan’s power, but that by no means meant he was weak.

At least, Lü Yang certainly wouldn’t think so.

After all, before Lü Yang came along, Perfected Yin Shan was the subordinate Perfected Chong Guang relied on most. With Perfected Chong Guang’s keen eye for talent, he would never have valued a mediocrity.

BOOM!

Another thunderous crash rang out as the black mountain peak came smashing down. This time, however, it had shrunk to the size of a washbasin, yet its weight remained utterly unchanged.

The seal descended, forcing Zhong Xin to summon his own [Official Position] to counter it. Perfected Yin Shan’s Combat style was sweeping and direct; he simply smashed down relentlessly with his black mountain seal. He had taken the ability to change its size at will to the extreme, at times bringing it down like a collapsing mountain, at others concentrating its force to pierce a single point, making him incredibly difficult to deal with.

Meanwhile, two more Splendid Lights rose from within Dragon-Crushing Pass.

When the Splendid Light dissipated, two figures were revealed: Five Elements Zhenren and Duo Bao Child. At this moment, however, their faces were etched with deep caution.

”...Is he here? Could he be waiting to ambush us?”

For a moment, the two of them didn’t dare go to Zhong Xin’s aid. Instead, they hid within the protective Array of Dragon-Crushing Pass, cautiously scanning every inch of the space outside.

It couldn’t be helped. They were terrified.

With the cautionary tale of the Dragon-Fishing Elder fresh in their minds, how could they possibly trust their own Divine Sense? They were terrified that Lü Yang would suddenly pop out of the void and slaughter them.

Seeing this, Perfected Yin Shan shook his head and chuckled in amusement. Zhong Xin, on the other hand, looked exasperated and quickly sent a voice transmission: ”Seniors, hurry and help me!”

With Zhong Xin’s plea, Five Elements Zhenren and Duo Bao Child could only grit their teeth. They took out all their protective Artifacts and charged out. Immediately, two more Splendid Lights appeared from nowhere and intercepted them mid-air. It was Huanxiang and the valiant Yu Chan, who were fighting alongside Perfected Yin Shan.

”Looks like he really didn’t come!”

Even though their opponents were also Mid-phase Foundation Establishment cultivators and thus formidable foes, Five Elements Zhenren and Duo Bao Child suddenly looked relieved.

”That Fierce Demon doesn’t seem to be here!”

For them, the shock of Lü Yang slaying the Dragon-Fishing Elder with a single slash was simply too immense. Even when they were in secluded meditation, they couldn’t stop themselves from reliving that day’s events.

Now that Lü Yang was absent, the two of them instantly regained their confidence.

Soon, six Mid-phase Foundation Establishment cultivators were locked in paired Combat above Dragon-Crushing Pass, but they fell into a stalemate, unable to decide a true victor.

In addition, the Early Stage Foundation Establishment Perfected Persons from both sides also appeared one after another.

More than an Hour passed like this. Just as Five Elements Zhenren and Duo Bao Child were starting to struggle, a brilliant Sword Light suddenly flared in the distance.

KREEE! KREEE!

The sword’s cry shook the heavens and the earth. Wherever it passed, Sword Intent erupted, chilling one to the bone. Its tip was aimed unerringly, pointing directly at Perfected Yin Shan, who was highest in the air.

”A Daoist from the Upper Profound Sword Sect is here!”

Seeing this, Five Elements Zhenren was overjoyed. ”A Mid-phase Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator who possesses Sword Intent! It must be the Profound Iron Sword Master! He’s enough to break this stalemate!”

Six Mid-phase Foundation Establishment cultivators were locked in combat, and now their side had one more. They would naturally gain the upper hand.

A smile touched Zhong Xin’s lips as well.

Perfected Yin Shan, however, furrowed his brow slightly. Without a moment’s hesitation, he waved his hand. Before the Sword Light even arrived, he had already ordered a retreat from Dragon-Crushing Pass.

This retreat immediately baffled many.

”Fellow Daoist Yin Shan...”

Outside Dragon-Crushing Pass, Huanxiang was the first to approach him. ”Our casualties were heavy this time,” she said softly. ”I don’t understand why you ordered a retreat, Fellow Daoist?”

”Your Blood Filth Technique is certainly marvelous, Daoist, but its effects are temporary. We paid a heavy price to finally weaken the Array at Dragon-Crushing Pass. If we give them time to recover and repair the Array, all our losses will have been for nothing.”

As her words fell, Perfected Yin Shan was taken aback.

”Today was merely a probing attack to test the enemy’s mettle. We hardly committed to a full-scale battle, and not a single Foundation-Stage Cultivator died. How can you say our casualties were severe?”

As he spoke, a chilling indifference crept into Perfected Yin Shan’s eyes.

”Or could it be that some Perfected Person has grown timid and no longer wishes to serve the Stain Sect? Don’t forget, the Perfected Lord is watching over this entire battle from right above our heads!”

’Deserting in the face of the enemy? Are you eager to taste the iron fist of the Stain Sect?’

”That... I was referring to the Qi Refining Disciples.”

Huanxiang was stunned for a moment, then quickly explained, ”Although no Perfected Persons were harmed, many of the Qi Refining Disciples died. That’s why I came to ask.”

”What? You’re counting Qi Refining Disciples as people?”

”...”

At his words, a cold sweat broke out on Huanxiang’s back. She saw Perfected Yin Shan staring at her in genuine confusion, and a feeling of horror mixed with helplessness washed over her.

’Damn it. Everyone says the Stain Sect uses people as materials, that they use humans for Artifact Refining, Alchemy, and cultivation at the drop of a hat, completely disregarding the lives of Qi Refining Disciples. I thought that even if it wasn’t just a rumor, it had to be at least partially fabricated... It seems the stories were actually sugarcoating it! No wonder they’re called the Jiangbei Demon Sect!’

At this thought, she hurriedly bowed.

”...I misspoke.”

Just then, the valiant woman named Yu Chan, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. ”Where is Yuan Tu?” she asked in a low voice. ”Where did he go?”

Perfected Yin Shan glanced at Yu Chan and said coolly, ”Daoist Yu Chan, this matter is crucial to the Stain Sect’s grand plan; we cannot afford any mistakes. The Perfected Lord is watching over the entire battlefield right now. ’Man acts, and Heaven watches.’ Don’t bring up the old messy accounts between you Zouyu Descendants and the Dao Court.”

Yu Chan was a Perfected Person from the Zouyu Descendants within the Stain Sect.

Before this war, the Stain Sect had assigned her to monitor Qing Country. As a Zouyu Descendant, she had a blood feud with the Dao Court.

Now, however, things were different.

This was about Perfected Chong Guang’s ascension and Seeking Gold. Perfected Yin Shan would never allow a mere member of the declining Zouyu Descendants to pull any petty tricks.

”I understand that, of course.”

Yu Chan’s expression remained unchanged. ”I’m just saying,” she continued, ”that in the situation just now, if Yuan Tu had made a move, we would have had at least a seventy percent chance of breaching Dragon-Crushing Pass.”

”Dragon-Crushing Pass is not important.”

Perfected Yin Shan shook his head. ”The Stain Sect has always governed through its people; focusing on people is our core philosophy. The pass itself is just a dead fortress.”

”What’s truly important are the people defending it.”

”You just said it yourself. If Yuan Tu were here, we would have at least a seventy percent chance of breaking through. In other words, the defenders currently there are not enough to hold it.”

”The people who can truly defend it haven’t arrived yet.”

At these words, a look of surprise appeared on Yu Chan’s face. ”Daoist, are you talking about... the Upper Profound Sword Sect?”

The Upper Profound Sword Sect was the leader of the five major powers within Qing Country, solely because they received patronage from the South and had obtained a true Sword Cultivator heritage.

Furthermore, the Sect Leader of the Upper Profound Sword Sect, the current Master Shangxuan, was at the peak of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection. Rumor had it that he recently entered seclusion with the support of the Sword Pavilion, preparing to break through to the Late Stage. Once he succeeded, with a Great Trueman personally holding down the fort, Dragon-Crushing Pass would become impregnable.

”Correct. Our mission is merely to apply pressure and pin them down.”

Perfected Yin Shan nodded, a smirk finally touching his lips. ”Yuan Tu has gone to deal with the one who is truly capable of defending Dragon-Crushing Pass.”