Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: The Difficulty of Seeking Gold

Inside the secret chamber, Suo Huan Zhenren’s robes fluttered. The gentle smile on his face was like a mask, unchanging even as he made his move.

”My thanks, Daoist.”

As he looked at Master Miaoyin, Suo Huan’s mind flashed back to his meeting with True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo Overseas. An unconcealable shadow of gloom crossed his face.

’Making a deal with a tiger... I have no other choice!’

’After all, I’m an Outer Heaven Cultivator with no True Monarch to back me. If I want to seek Gold, my only hope is to gain the tacit approval of the various True Monarchs.’

’From that perspective, I should even be thanking Minor Metal... If he hadn’t exposed that Great Trueman at the Late Stage of Golden Core, I fear I would have died without ever finding a single opportunity. Now, at least the Saint Sect True Monarch is allowing me to pursue the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, and is even willing to personally refine a Sea Stabilizing Pearl for me...’

Thinking of this, Suo Huan’s face showed no trace of joy.

As an Outer Heaven Cultivator, the difficulty for him to seek Gold was several times higher than it was for Minor Metal. He had to meet at least three conditions just to have a chance to try.

First was the Ritual to draw out the Fruit Position.

’The Fruit of Long-Flow Water is vast and endless, a torrential, inexhaustible flow. By using the Sea Stabilizing Pearl to capture its essence, I should be able to attract the Fruit Position’s attention.’

This was the first condition.

Second, his Spirit Ruins Blessed Land was not yet at Perfection. He had to use Qi Collection to fully complete it, bringing it to the minimum standard required to transform into a Grotto Heaven.

The last was Position.

’Strictly speaking, my current strength is only that of a Great Trueman, comparable to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, but I can’t even touch the edge of Foundation Establishment Perfection. This is my innate flaw!’

Suo Huan felt a bitter pang in his heart. The Outer Realm he came from, while not small, had only managed to form a single Fruit Position Prototype. Strictly speaking, it was even weaker than the current Ten Thousand Martial Realm. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have become a battlefield for a Battle for the Dao. As a cultivator from that realm, his cultivation was innately deficient.

The strongest he could be was Late Stage of Foundation Establishment!

Unless he reincarnated and started his cultivation over, he would never be able to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection in this lifetime, let alone refine a Gold Attribute. And with what would he support his Blessed Land?

Three great obstacles, each one harder than the last.

’But my lifespan is almost at its end. Everyone from the World Ruins Realm is dead! I’m the only one left... If I die, the World Ruins Realm will truly be gone forever!’

At this thought, the hesitation in Suo Huan’s eyes vanished, replaced by resolve. He had nothing to lose. If he didn’t break through to Golden Core, he would die anyway. If he did, he might live. What was there to be afraid of? For someone like him with no connections, what other way out was there but to risk it all?

With that, Suo Huan immediately began his preparations.

He borrowed Master Miaoyin’s Void Celestial Mirror and casually modified the Array. Soon, a splendid light once again appeared on the mirror’s surface.

”Amitabha...”

Within the splendid light, a bald head appeared, belonging to a kind-faced old monk. Seeing this, Suo Huan proficiently bowed and performed a respectful salute.

”This humble one greets the Great Supreme.”

The old monk was also a Great Trueman from the Pure Land named Great Power. He was the Venerable in the Pure Land with the greatest hope of advancing to the Bodhisattva Position.

As soon as the Great Supreme appeared, he stared straight at Suo Huan. ”Benefactor, have you made your decision?”

”I have.”

Suo Huan said decisively, ”This humble one wishes to attain the Fruit of Long-Flow Water. If I can truly ascend to the True Monarch Position in the future, I am willing to merge my Grotto Heaven and my Fruit Position into the Pure Land!”

There was no future in depriving Heaven and Earth of a Fruit Position.

Suo Huan was well aware of this. After all, it was already extraordinary for a typical Outer Realm to have even one Fruit Position. But this damn broken place actually had thirty of them!

’How could I even compete?’

Besides, there were Nascent Soul Daoist Lords above them. Suo Huan couldn’t even comprehend that Realm. All he knew was that if he dared to deprive a Fruit Position, he’d be slapped to death in the next instant.

Therefore, Suo Huan had long had a plan for this.

’Depriving the Fruit Position is only a means to revive the World Ruins Realm within my Grotto Heaven. Afterward, I can simply return it. Merging it into the Pure Land is an excellent option.’

’As for the drawbacks of the Pure Land’s cultivation... once one reaches the Bodhisattva stage, there is still some autonomy. For someone like me, it’s not a huge problem. As long as I can achieve the Seeking Gold Ascension Position, I can figure out how to deal with the consequences later. If I can’t even achieve that, then worrying about the future is completely meaningless!’

Thinking this, Suo Huan continued to bow and said:

”I implore you, Master, to take action. Please have the Bodhisattva establish a temple in this humble one’s Spirit Ruins Blessed Land and empower it with the great Buddhist Dharma, to help this humble one’s Blessed Land reach Perfection as soon as possible.”

He was proactively giving them leverage over him.

By allowing the Pure Land to leave its mark within his Spirit Ruins Blessed Land, they would trust him and help him perfect his Blessed Land without worrying that he would go back on his word.

Just as expected, the Great Supreme revealed a satisfied expression upon hearing this.

”Buddha means enlightenment.”

”Benefactor, you have an enlightened heart. You will surely achieve Buddhahood.”

With that, the Great Supreme took out a thick scripture. On its cover, inscribed in large, gold-lacquered script, was the title: Enlightenment Mahayana Sutra!

”This Scripture was personally transcribed by the Bodhisattva using his Great Magical Power. Every word within is a pearl of wisdom, empowered by his Fruit Position. Benefactor, you need only send this Scripture into your Blessed Land and consume it with your Qi Collection Technique, and your Blessed Land will naturally reach Perfection... I just wonder, how does the Benefactor plan to seek Gold? Perhaps we can lend you a hand.”

”That... will not be necessary, Master.”

Suo Huan shook his head. The Gold-Seeking Technique involved his very foundation; of course he couldn’t reveal it. Otherwise, it would be all too easy for others to find a weakness to exploit.

Seeing this, the Great Supreme didn’t press the issue, only chanting a Buddha’s Name.

Soon, the splendid light faded.

However, Suo Huan didn’t stop. He switched the script of the Array, and a moment later, lit up the Enchanted Mirror again. This time, a different figure appeared.

The figure wore an Official Uniform, a large red cloak, and a formal crown, clearly the attire of a Dao Court official. He looked solemn and majestic. Above his head, within a splendid light, tadpole-like scripts intertwined, finally forming the honorary title: Minister of the Imperial Army. This made him appear even more extraordinary.

”This humble one greets you, Lord Minister.”

Suo Huan bowed low again, this time using the official etiquette of the Dao Court with practiced ease.

The so-called Minister of the Imperial Army held a Second-Grade Official Position in the Dao Court, also a position for a Great Trueman. Strictly speaking, his strength was actually inferior to Suo Huan’s.

Yet at this moment, as Suo Huan bowed in salute, neither of them felt there was anything wrong with the situation.

The ”Lord Minister” regarded him with a calm gaze and smiled. ”Contacting me on your own initiative... it seems you’ve finally seen the light, Suo Huan, and are willing to pledge allegiance to our court?”

”I have.”

Suo Huan said without hesitation, ”I only ask that Your Majesty bestow upon this humble one a First-Grade Honorary Title to aid me in Seeking Gold. After I succeed, this humble one is willing to guard the outer seas for the Dao Court forever!”

”Good, good, good...”

At these words, the Dao Court’s Minister of the Imperial Army immediately showed a satisfied expression. ”Since you are sincere, I will present your request to His Majesty.”

”Thank you, my lord.”

Suo Huan bowed once more, then proficiently took out a Storage Bag and sent it through the Void Celestial Mirror. ”These are some Spiritual Materials this humble one gathered Overseas. This humble one is ignorant and cannot distinguish the quality of these materials. I ask that you, my lord, appraise them for me. Just consider it a small favor for this humble one.”

”You, you... Don’t let there be a next time!”

The Minister of the Imperial Army laughed heartily and brazenly accepted the Storage Bag before cutting the connection to the Enchanted Mirror. The splendid light gradually dissipated.

After all this was done, Suo Huan finally straightened up.

He straightened his back until it was ramrod straight, as if to reclaim all the dignity he’d lost while bowing and scraping. A hint of a true smile finally appeared in his eyes.

This was genuine joy.

For him, wearing a smile had long become a habit; it didn’t represent his true emotions. Only the thoughts visible in his eyes revealed his true feelings.

’There’s hope...!’

The Fruit of Long-Flow Water had made the Pure Land, the Dao Court, and the Saint Sect all drop their opposition to his quest for Gold, and it also gave him the opportunity to solicit benefits from all three sides.

’The Saint Sect provides me with the Sea Stabilizing Pearl to capture the essence of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water. The Pure Land helps me perfect my Blessed Land, bringing it to Perfection. The Dao Court bestows upon me an Official Position, allowing me to compensate for my innate flaw and attain the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Perfection... With all this, I finally have a glimmer of hope to seek Gold!’

For this reason, he had even borrowed Master Miaoyin’s hand to come to a place like the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, an Outer Heaven, to ensure that the karmic links from his dealings with the three factions couldn’t be traced.

Now, the only loose end...

Thinking of this, Suo Huan finally turned his head to look at Master Miaoyin, whose beautiful face was stiff, still showing traces of shock and anger, but who was frozen and unable to move.