Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Veil of the Trees

”So that’s how it is!”

Spurred on by his own brilliant intellect, Lü Yang had a sudden epiphany, feeling as if a thin veil that had always shrouded his mind had finally been lifted.

Shade Dragon Water! The Earth of Chen is Yang by nature!

’Now that I think about it, which four of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches does Chong Guang need to attain the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire? And how are they supposed to be combined?’

’The Immortal Tree is Jia Wood, which is Yang. The Shade Dragon Water is Earth of Chen, but it’s Yin. The Fear of Cutting is Yi Wood, Yin. The Steel Flame Furnace is Si Fire, also Yin.’

’Three Yin and one Yang. How could they possibly combine? A truly perfect and Flawless Fruit should be two pairs of Yin and Yang! Chong Guang’s path has been wrong from the very root!’

’The key is the Earth of Chen, the Shade Dragon Water! That particular one of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches should have been Yang Earth, but someone twisted its nature into Yin Earth. That’s why, even when Chong Guang’s path was guided by the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, he couldn’t merge with it. In fact, it caused a rejection!’

Lü Yang figured it out almost instantly.

’And the Primal Daoist... I’m afraid he fell for the same trap! He was trying to attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, and that Dao Fruit also requires the Earth Qi of Chen!’

And what of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water?

Its attainment required the Ren Water and Gui Water of the Heavenly Stems combined with the Earth of Chen and Si Fire of the Earthly Branches. But since the Earth of Chen had been twisted to a Yin attribute,

that Dao Fruit, too, was rendered unattainable!

Besides that one, what other Dao Fruits required the Earth of Chen?

Instantly, the Prophetic Orrery between Lü Yang’s brows spun furiously as he divined the Karma Links, his fingers rubbing together so fast they nearly sparked. ”Besides that... there are three more Dao Fruits!”

The Fruit of Pewter Metal, the Fruit of Sand in the Earth, and... the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood!

Past memories instantly flooded his mind, nearly making Lü Yang cry out in alarm. ”The Fruit of Great-Forest Wood... *Observing the Golden Core*! That... Ang Xiao the Sun Veiler!”

A Perfected Lord of the Stain Sect!

’The infamous disgrace of the Stain Sect, the one all the powers agreed was just a harmless old man. I knew something was off about him back then. It looks like he really is the problem!’

However, his conclusion didn’t faze Chong Guang, who simply shook his head. ”Ang Xiao the Sun Veiler died tens of thousands of years ago in a great calamity, just like the Perfected Fortune of old. Rumor has it he was betrayed by several Perfected Lords from the Stain Sect. He hasn’t claimed his Fruit in tens of thousands of years. I’m afraid he’s long dead.”

”But... I imagine all the Perfected Lords suspect him as well.”

After all, his origin in the Stain Sect is reason enough for suspicion. That’s why so many Perfected Lords are waiting silently outside the Blessed Land at this very moment.

”They’re all waiting for me.”

Perfected Chong Guang clasped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly. ”They’re waiting for me to make one last, life-or-death gamble to force our opponent to show himself and completely expose his true face.”

「Meanwhile, outside the Blessed Land.」

RUMBLE!

The Qi traces of the Perfected Lords from every faction erupted violently. World Purger Fei Xue, in particular, gritted her teeth, a crazed, crimson light flickering in her beautiful, clear eyes.

”To see it, to witness it, and yet be unable to comprehend or fathom it... What a masterful Veil of the Trees!”

The change to the Earth Qi of Chen was subtle, but in theory, it was impossible for Golden Core Perfected Lords, who had lived for countless ages, not to know its original properties.

And yet, not a single one of them had noticed!

A Veil of the Trees with the power to affect all of Heaven and Earth, capable of deceiving even Golden Core Perfected Lords, was not something an ordinary Perfected Lord could cast.

”Late Stage... or even the Perfection realm?”

”Altering the Earth of Chen, and with that single act blocking five Dao Fruit positions—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth... all Five Elements are covered. Is someone trying to prove their Nascent Soul and become a Master of Dao?!”

”Ang Xiao!?”

In an instant, it wasn’t just the Perfected Lords of the four major powers. Even from Overseas, immense Qi traces shot into the sky, scanning Heaven and Earth and revealing a mixture of shock and anger.

No one wanted to see a new Master of Dao emerge.

On the mainland, the powers of the East, West, South, and North of the River were in a delicate balance. An additional Master of Dao would only shatter that equilibrium, benefiting no one.

This was even more true for those Overseas. The Four Seas Sect, with its multiple Golden Core cultivators, was the sole dominant power. If a new Master of Dao appeared but couldn’t establish a foothold on the mainland, they would almost certainly come Overseas. That would be like having a Supreme Emperor ruling over them. Who could possibly tolerate that?

Just as Chong Guang had thought, the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood was simply too conspicuous. Combined with the fact that the Perfected Fortune, the original owner of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, was dead, it was hard not to suspect Ang Xiao.

”Ang Xiao... is it really him?”

”Even if it is Ang Xiao... we cannot let him live!”

”If someone from the Stain Sect is truly in the process of Attainment to become a Master of Dao... we must stop him, at any cost!”

For a time, the thoughts of all the major powers intertwined. Even within the Stain Sect, high above the Sea of Clouds, World Purger Fei Xue’s expression was grim and uncertain.

”Ang Xiao...”

She, too, was suspicious. From the Stain Sect’s standpoint, she should have been the one to defend him. And yet, she was the one who had suffered the most from this whole affair.

How could she possibly accept this?

’If I had known there was a problem with the Earth of Chen, why would I have let Chong Guang seek the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire? Couldn’t that bastard have given me a warning?’

’That animal!’

At this thought, World Purger Fei Xue made her decision. Even if he was a fellow Perfected Lord of the Stain Sect, if he dared to ruin her Dao path, it would be a battle to the death!

「Just then, inside the Blessed Land.」

Chong Guang had already brought Lü Yang to the center of the Blessed Land. Lü Yang glanced around and saw that nearly every Foundation-Stage Cultivator who had entered the Blessed Land had gathered there.

Ye Guyue and Master Miaoyin were among them.

Master Miaoyin, in particular, paled slightly upon seeing Chong Guang without Chongming, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

”Chong Guang...”

In an instant, all eyes fell upon Chong Guang. He, however, simply looked to the sky and laughed heartily. ”It seems I’ve kept you all waiting!”

BOOM!

As his voice fell, a deafening clap of thunder resounded within the Blessed Land. The assembled Foundation-Stage Cultivators remained silent, for everyone present knew in their hearts that Chong Guang’s words were not meant for them.

The ones who had truly been kept waiting were the various Perfected Lords positioned around the Blessed Land. Their invisible gazes descended, heavier than any tangible mountain.

Only Chong Guang remained unfazed.

It was only then that Lü Yang belatedly realized something. The Yin Yang Attribute of the Shade Dragon Water had clearly been altered by a Great Power long ago, so why was it still compatible with the Abi Sword?

Unless—

’Perfected Chong Guang... changed it back!?’

Although Lü Yang didn’t know what method he had used, there was no doubt: for the Shade Dragon Water to be compatible with the Abi Sword, it must have been restored to Yang Earth!

That was the true ’reversal’!

BOOM!

The next second, Lü Yang looked up at the sky. It was cloudless, with stars shining brightly. High above the Foundation Establishment Realm, within the Sea of Suffering, a phantom image had reappeared.

The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire!

A second time!

Compared to the last time he defied the rules of the Qing Country, this manifestation of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire was even more dazzling. It even took the initiative to send down a guiding beam of light!

For a moment, Lü Yang was utterly stunned, viewing Chong Guang as a Celestial Being.

’With all the Perfected Lords watching, if that Great Power who altered the Earth of Chen dares to appear, the others will deal with him. Moreover, if Chong Guang can successfully reverse the Earth of Chen back to its original state, that’s undoubtedly something all the Perfected Lords want to see. Not only will no one stop him, they will have to help him!’

But was this really the will of the Perfected Lords?

Of course not!

The various Perfected Lords all had their own calculations, but it was Chong Guang who took the most critical step by reversing the Earth of Chen. That alone is what earned him this second chance!

Chong Guang was right.

From the very beginning, his backup plan was never Chongming. When it came to the final step of Seeking Gold, the one he relied on, from start to finish, was himself!