Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: The 10th Life, Entering the Sword Pavilion

A long time passed before Lü Yang finally calmed his turbulent emotions.

Honestly, hearing Ang Xiao’s voice, a mixture of shock and rage, was incredibly satisfying. He felt like he had vented all his pent-up frustration.

”It’s not over yet!”

”So, it’s Ang Xiao, is it? Just you wait. Once I reach the Late Stage of Golden Core, the very first place I’m going is the Netherworld. I’ll hold this grudge against you for the rest of my life!”

Lü Yang cursed for a good while longer before finally calming down and taking in his surroundings.

It was a surreal experience for Lü Yang. The heavens were chaos, the earth a void, and he alone stood at the center of it all.

The Centome slowly turned its pages.

This was the ’standby state’ before each restart of the Centome. Previously, it had always been a fleeting moment, so it never felt quite real.

This time, however, was clearly different. The ’standby’ period was significantly longer. In the palm of Lü Yang’s hand, the sliver of Gold Attribute from Summon flickered with a faint light, merging into the Centome bit by bit. Finally, it transformed into lines of text that appeared on the panel before him.

[Calculating results for ’Summon’.....]

[As the Child of Fortune of the World Ruins Realm, you accepted a mission in a time of crisis, resisting an invasion from an unknown world. You swore to fulfill your duty.]

[You fought with valor and were full of cunning strategies.]

[You grew with incredible speed, quickly reaching the apex of Cultivation in the World Ruins Realm. Gathering the strength of the masses, you finally defeated the unknown invaders.]

[Pleased with your accomplishments, you prepared to retire with your beautiful confidantes.]

[Then, a Perfected Lord descended.]

[The World Ruins Realm was annihilated. You were powerless to resist and could not even recall how you escaped. Your heart was filled with unbearable anguish.]

[Finally reaching the Overseas territories of an unknown world, you rallied your spirits. You discovered the Spirit Ruins Blessed Land and the Ten Thousand Spirits Returning to Ruins Dao Scripture, entrusted to you by the World Ruins Realm before its fall. Though you vaguely sensed something was wrong with the scripture, you soon dismissed it as your imagination.]

[You found a new purpose.]

[You resolved to resurrect the World Ruins Realm. The goal was lofty and seemed unattainable, but you were resolute, willing to dedicate your entire life to it.]

[And you still had ’hope’.]

[...]

Endless lines of text surfaced, chronicling the minutiae of Summon’s six hundred years Overseas, the evolution of his thoughts, and his determination while Seeking Gold.

—and his final despair.

Finally, with a brilliant golden flourish, a brand-new Talent Skill materialized on the Centome’s panel. Lü Yang immediately focused his gaze upon it:

[You have acquired Golden Talent: Puppet]

[Puppet: Seize a person’s Qi and shoulder their karmic links to hide beneath their appearance, controlling them like a marionette. Your true origins cannot be divined.]

’It’s this kind of Talent Skill?’

Staring at the Talent Skill on the panel, Lü Yang was taken aback. Honestly, he had expected something like Celestial Killer Lone Star or Loss is a Blessing.

’Still, it makes sense.’

Looking back on Summon’s life, his fate was sealed the moment the World Ruins Realm was captured by the four great sects and turned into a Seizing Dao Battlefield.

First, he was set up by Ang Xiao, then he was carved up and devoured by the allied forces of the Stain Sect, the Dao Court, and the Pure Land.

Even his vision of ascending while Seeking Gold and rebuilding the World Ruins Realm was, in essence, an illusion fed to him by Ang Xiao. It was tragic to the extreme.

Puppet. The name was fitting indeed.

’Don’t you worry, Fellow Daoist Summon, I’ll come and save you in this life... although, considering my current weakness, I might have to postpone that for a few lifetimes.’

Having calmed down, Lü Yang gave it some serious thought. He concluded that even in a new life, trying to snatch someone from under the nose of Ang Xiao, a Late Stage of Golden Core cultivator, would be more than just a ’little difficult.’ Recalling his experiences Overseas, it was far more likely he’d just get turned into an idiot by the Veil of the Trees himself.

’Fellow Daoist Summon, how about you test the waters for me in this life? Make a contribution to my own quest for Seeking Gold. Once I become a Perfected Lord, I’ll figure out a way to save you!’

Lü Yang quickly talked himself into it.

Following that, the Centome finally turned to the next page. Then, the Golden Talent he had acquired from Minor Metal, Innate Immortal Spirit, activated.

[Please select a starting region.]

Lü Yang focused his gaze and saw five options appear on the Centome’s interface: the East, the West, the South, the North, and Overseas.

He already had a plan for this.

’I can’t cultivate the Fruit of Rampart Earth again this life. That thing is a total pitfall, and it’s way too conspicuous. It would be far too easy to attract the attention of all the Perfected Lords.’

Besides the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis, which corresponded to the Fruit of Rampart Earth, the only other complete Third-Grade Foundation Method Lü Yang possessed was the Heaven-Mending Skill. This method corresponded to multiple Fruits, and the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had used it to pursue the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood. In Lü Yang’s eyes, this was a viable path.

’After all, I have the Master of Heaven Mending Peak scouting ahead for traps for me.’

’With his connections as one of the four great Peak Masters, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak is incredibly well-informed. Since he chose the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood, he must have done his research beforehand.’

Even so, the Stain Sect was still too dangerous.

’The Stain Sect is a damn pit with too many traps. Since I have to start my cultivation from scratch this life, I can’t inherit my previous Cultivation level. The risks of training in the Stain Sect are just too high.’

So, it would be best to go somewhere beyond the Stain Sect’s reach.

With that in mind, Lü Yang’s gaze locked onto one of the regions.

’The South, the Celestial Sword Pavilion!’

’If I have the pedigree of an Innate Immortal Spirit this life, joining the Sword Pavilion should be a sure thing. After all, the Sword Pavilion values one’s origins above all else.’

Strictly speaking, the status of an Immortal Spirit was highly sought after in all four great sects. After all, Immortal Spirits were favored by Heaven and Earth, born at the Foundation Establishment stage. They couldn’t even be killed—doing so would invite heavenly retribution, just like what happened to Blood Demon Zhenren. The most trouble one might face would be in the Stain Sect, where there was a risk of being treated as raw material.

And the Sword Pavilion would absolutely welcome an Immortal Spirit.

At this thought, Lü Yang clapped his hands, having made his decision. ”This life, I’ll join the Sword Pavilion as an Immortal Spirit and pursue the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood!”

”Even though I’ve been a Demon for nine lifetimes, I know I’m a good person at heart! I’ve long yearned for the Righteous Dao!”

Soon, text once again appeared on the panel before Lü Yang:

[You faced a Great Perfected Lord at the Late Stage of Golden Core and, as a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, accomplished something even Perfected Lords could not. Your furious tirade before death was immensely satisfying.]

[Remaining pages in the Centome: 91]

[Restarting your life, you may choose one of the following rewards from your past life:

1. Artifacts.

2. Cultivation.

3. Lifespan.

4. Forfeit all rewards and awaken a random Talent Skill based on your previous life’s experiences.]

”I choose Artifacts: the Heavenly Qian All-Encompassing Dharma Body!”

This was something Lü Yang had only discovered after the restart. The Dharma Body was profoundly mysterious; it was both an Ability and a Spiritual Treasure, and surprisingly, it didn’t require an Immortal Embryo Avatar as a medium!

Therefore, without a second thought, he immediately redeemed it.

The next second, the green-faced, tusked, three-headed, six-armed Heavenly Qian All-Encompassing Dharma Body materialized, two of its hands holding an Enchanted Sword and a Banner.

The Tribulation Wave!

The Myriad-Soul Banner!

The Dharma Body’s All Phenomena Divine Effect could smelt and integrate external items. Lü Yang had long since refined his two most valuable possessions into it, and sure enough, he had brought them along!

’Not bad, not bad at all.’

Seeing this, Lü Yang finally nodded in satisfaction. ’After all, since I’m planning to go to the Sword Pavilion, how could I possibly show up without a top-quality Magical Sword?’

Besides, when it came to Sword Technique Secrets, the Celestial Sword Pavilion were the true experts. There was a good reason their Combat prowess was claimed to be the best among the four sects. This time, by joining the Sword Pavilion, his goals were not only to Seek Gold but also to upgrade the Tribulation Wave to the True Treasure level. Accomplishing either would be a massive gain.

’And I still have the Dongming!’

Lü Yang was well and truly done with these Perfected Lords; he had to be on guard against every last one of them. Therefore, a Spiritual Treasure that could keep his mind clear was absolutely crucial.

With that thought, Lü Yang took a deep breath.

’Let’s begin. My tenth life!’

’This life, I’m determined to Seek Gold!’

The next instant, Lü Yang saw the Centome before him erupt in a brilliant light. The void of Heaven and Earth that defined the ’standby state’ finally began to brighten.

It was like opening his eyes.

Soon, a brand-new scene reflected in Lü Yang’s eyes: a pair of sisters, stunningly beautiful and nearly identical, but with expressions that were polar opposites—one cold, one warm.

”Sister, this sword is huge!”

Lü Yang froze.

Though many lifetimes had passed, he recognized the pair of sisters before him instantly. ’The Sword Pavilion’s Yun Miaozhen... and Yun Miaqing?’