Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Minor Metal’s Subsequent Move, Gold Attribute Reward

「On Gai Bamboo Mountain, in a Quiet Chamber.」

Lü Yang sat cross-legged on a meditation mat. Floating before him were streaks of Spirit Light. Each streak was a type of Spiritual Material—a staggering three thousand six hundred kinds in total!

Master Shangxuan had painstakingly collected all of these, nearly emptying the entire treasury of the Upper Profound Sword Sect.

But before he died, he gave them all to Lü Yang.

Immediately after, a platinum-gold Qi trace emerged.

This was the Xin Metal Qi, also known as [Minor Metal]. He held it in his hand as a torrent of cyan Spiritual Fire surged forth, continuously Refining it.

’Thankfully, I have a Spiritual Fire of my own. It’s meant for healing, but it’s still fire, so it’s barely adequate for Artifact Refining. As for my refining skills, the requirements fortunately aren’t too high. The materials are the most important part, and Master Shangxuan already prepared them all for me. With my level, it should be enough.’

The next second, Lü Yang waved his hand.

All the Spiritual Materials fell into his [Cyan Simurgh Noon Fire], merging with the strand of Xin Metal Qi and slowly taking the shape of a longsword.

Even so, the finished Artifact was not very good.

Limited by Lü Yang’s own skill, an Artifact refined this way would most likely be a Middle Grade Magical Treasure. Even if it became an Upper Grade one, it wouldn’t be considered a masterpiece.

Fortunately, Lü Yang had long prepared a remedy.

’Now!’

Without the slightest hesitation, Lü Yang took out the [Star River Sword Pill] that Ye Xingfeng had given him. This once Upper Grade Flying Sword was already mostly destroyed.

’A perfect chance to make the most of it.’

With a wave of his hand, Lü Yang tossed the [Star River Sword Pill] into the flames, using it to temper the [Formless Sword] and improve its quality.

A long time passed like this before a longsword finally took its complete form within the flames.

The [Formless Sword]!

Everything fell into place naturally. When the Artifact was complete, it floated gently into Lü Yang’s hand, instantly transmitting an extremely strong Spiritual thought.

And with a thought from Lü Yang, the Spirit Sword immediately concealed its form.

Silent and traceless, without shadow or form!

”The secret Flying Sword of the Celestial Sword Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation!” Lü Yang’s face was filled with emotion. This Formless Sword and his Abi Sword were two complete extremes.

The Abi Sword needed to slowly accumulate [Man Slaughterer] stacks, and in Combat, it leaned toward overwhelming opponents with raw power, its Sword Light sweeping and grand. The Formless Sword, however, was another story. Never mind its Sword Light—when used, even the blade itself was invisible, completely blending into the daylight. An ordinary person would be decapitated before they even saw the sword.

”One straightforward, one unorthodox. A perfect fit for me!”

Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction. He then infused his Divine Sense into the sword, intending to see what Divine Effects his painstakingly refined Superior Sentient Artifact possessed.

The next second, however, he froze.

Because this [Formless Sword] actually had three Divine Effects. And each of these three Divine Effects was so profound that Lü Yang’s eyes narrowed.

The first Divine Effect was named [King Ci].

As its name implies, this sword can sense the status and power of the person it is meant to kill. The higher their status and the greater their power, the stronger the sword becomes, making a one-hit kill more likely.

The second Divine Effect was named [Coiled Steel].

Coiled Steel represents the defiance of logic and order, the inversion of the natural hierarchy. Therefore, this sword cannot be bound by rules; any defensive Abilities and Daoist Skills are useless against it.

This was a sword for assassinating kings and emperors.

Lü Yang’s scalp tingled. He turned to the final Divine Effect, named [Minor Metal]. Its outward appearance was a brilliant, golden, and indescribable Splendid Light.

”This is... the Gold Attribute!?”

Lü Yang had met the Primal Daoist Evil and personally felt the sense of Transcendence the Gold Attribute gave it. At this moment, he felt the same sensation from the brilliant golden Splendid Light.

This was a Gold Attribute condensed from Minor Metal!?

Lü Yang subconsciously tried to extract it but was repelled. The [Formless Sword] burst with Splendid Light, and its other two Divine Effects shone brightly.

[King Ci], [Coiled Steel].

Realization dawned in Lü Yang’s eyes. ”This is... my payment? You want me to assassinate Prince Qing, and this strand of Gold Attribute is my reward?”

He previously thought that by killing Master Shangxuan and seizing the Xin Metal Qi, he had ruined Perfected Chong Guang’s plan. Now, it seemed the opposite was true.

Perfected Chong Guang had calculated this step long ago!

’No, that’s not right... It wasn’t a calculation, but rather a preparation made in advance. It makes no difference whose hands this Xin Metal Qi falls into.’

’If it ended up in Master Shangxuan’s hands, he would still have refined the Formless Sword. And in our fight, as long as he was defeated, the Formless Sword would have ended up in my hands all the same. The result is unchanged... The only variable is what would have happened if I hadn’t won, but was defeated by Master Shangxuan instead.’

’No, that’s not a variable.’

Lü Yang pondered, his gaze growing brighter. ’This concerns Seeking Gold. How could Perfected Chong Guang possibly allow for any variables? Even if one existed, he would have snuffed it out!’

’In other words, he must have been completely certain.’

’He was sure that no matter how things developed, Master Shangxuan would ultimately die by my hand, and I would definitely obtain the Formless Sword.’

That didn’t seem right.

How long had Chong Guang been reincarnated? Where did this complete certainty come from?

Thinking of this, a guess formed in Lü Yang’s mind. It was perfectly consistent with his understanding of a Stain Sect Zhenren and could also resolve his earlier doubts.

With this, he now had a good grasp of the situation.

Putting away the Formless Sword, Lü Yang pushed open the door and walked out of the secret chamber. The next second, Perfected Yin Shan descended on his Flying Light and said in a low voice, ”There’s movement at Dragon-Crushing Pass.”

”They’re charging out,” Perfected Yin Shan said, his expression grave.

”...What?”

At these words, even Lü Yang looked surprised. ”The Upper Profound Sword Sect has been annihilated. After learning that, not only did they not flee, but they actually dared to fight back?”

Who gave them the nerve?

”...A Great Trueman has intervened!”

The next moment, Lü Yang reacted abruptly. He understood why Perfected Yin Shan’s expression had turned so grave—he had clearly reached the same conclusion.

”What do you think? Should we go out and fight?”

Perfected Yin Shan said in a low voice, ”If a Great Trueman has truly intervened, we will certainly be defeated. But the Stain Sect won’t just stand by and watch. Someone will surely take action.”

”...No rush.”

Recalling his earlier guess, Lü Yang shook his head. ”Let’s check the situation first. If it really is a Late Stage of Foundation Establishment cultivator taking action, we’ll run immediately.”

Perfected Yin Shan nodded in deep agreement.

They were all Stain Sect Zhenren; naturally, none of them would risk their lives for others. A fight with the advantage was fine, and they could even handle a fight against the odds. But in a hopeless situation, no one could blame them for running.

Soon, the two of them flew out on their Flying Lights.

Looking out, they saw that Yu Chan and Huanxiang had already led their people into battle. Countless bursts of Divine Power Radiance exploded across the sky, while on the ground, Qi Refining Disciples were engaged in a bloody slaughter.

’...Doesn’t look like there’s a problem?’

Although Huanxiang and the others were at a disadvantage, it was only due to their inferior numbers. As soon as he and Perfected Yin Shan joined the fray, the tide would immediately turn...

Just then, Lü Yang and Perfected Yin Shan were spotted.

In the crowd, the Duo Bao Child’s eyes lit up instantly. He pointed at Lü Yang and shouted excitedly, ”That’s Yuan Tu! I implore the Venerable to strike!”

The next second, everyone’s expression changed dramatically!

Within Dragon-Crushing Pass, three men whose bodies were covered in Scripture tattoos screamed in agony as their flesh began to glow with a golden Splendid Light.

Amidst the Splendid Light, the three men’s expressions gradually calmed. Though they had different faces, at a glance they now looked like a single person, with slightly raised brows and a compassionate smile. They pressed their palms together as the Qi traces on their bodies erupted, all of them soaring to the level of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection!

”...It’s the Pure Land!”

Huanxiang, Yu Chan, and the others’ beautiful faces turned pale, and they gritted their teeth. ”Damn bald donkeys! It’s an Empowerment technique... A Great Trueman is acting from a distance!”

This moment revealed the caliber of the Stain Sect Zhenren.

While Huanxiang and the other Jiangbei Cultivators were still in shock, Yu Chan had already transformed into a ray of Flying Light to shield them, and Perfected Yin Shan had turned to run...

But the next second, both of them stopped.

”...Yuan Tu?”

Perfected Yin Shan looked back in confusion, only to see that not only had Lü Yang not fled, but he was observing the three figures empowered by the Buddha Light with great interest.

’These three... something’s not right.’

Lü Yang briefly probed them and sensed that the three men were relying entirely on burning their own Yang Qi to allow that Pure Land Great Trueman to grant them the power of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection.

’So what happens when their Yang Qi runs out?’