Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 308: Chapter 308: The Fruit of the Void Certificate, No Heaven

It was an incredibly wondrous sensation.

It started from the Myriad-Soul Banner in Ang Xiao’s hand, then expanded outward, like a gentle breeze washing over everyone present.

Something was coming.

In that instant, everyone felt the same sensation rise within them. But that was all. They couldn’t see it, hear it, or touch it. It was like a hallucination.

In a flash, countless voices rang in Lü Yang’s ears. Everything around him blurred, as if a thin, unremovable veil had appeared out of nowhere. His entire being felt as if it were ascending to the heavens, passing above the clouds and rain. Looking up, he couldn’t see the sun or moon; looking down, he couldn’t see the rivers or seas.

’He’s dragged my consciousness into this!?’

Lü Yang was slightly alarmed, but his actions were swift. He cut the connection to his avatar again, switching from a first-person to a third-person perspective.

And then he saw it.

The entire Immortal Alliance Headquarters was frozen in place, like insects and birds trapped in amber. Everyone was asleep with their eyes closed, completely unaware of the outside world.

There were only two exceptions.

One was World Purger Fei Xue, who had acted at the last moment. Her three thousand strands of black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her exquisite face held a dignified expression, like a lady from a classical painting. The other was completely shrouded in a thin mist, their face obscured and gender indiscernible. This furtive appearance was clearly Ang Xiao.

”What a Mu Changsheng!”

Just then, Ang Xiao suddenly spoke, letting out a long laugh. ”I underestimated you. The fruit of a Void Certificate... it actually has some substance to it!”

”Interesting.”

Meanwhile, World Purger Fei Xue stared directly at Ang Xiao and gave a cold smile. ”Who are you? To still hide yourself so secretively in my presence...”

”...Are you a Saint Sect True Monarch?”

Faced with such a question, Ang Xiao naturally wouldn’t admit to anything. They just chuckled, then turned their gaze toward Lü Yang.

The next second, they were heard laughing heartily:

’Did you anticipate this as well, Daoist? You knew Mu Changsheng had other plans, which is why you didn’t act. It seems I’ve made a fool of myself for you to see.’

There was no trace of frustration in their tone over their failed scheme. Instead, it was filled with amusement. Plotting and scheming always had their wins and losses. They were a master of this art, and had also failed at it more than anyone, so they naturally knew how to take things in stride. Besides, the current development was not without its own benefits for them.

’This person... must be a Perfected Lord!’

Under the influence of the Fruit, everyone’s consciousness had been pulled away, leaving their physical bodies with no power to resist. Anyone could have come along and slaughtered them all.

Only a Perfected Lord could be capable of multitasking like this.

And now, they once again felt an unseen gaze upon them, which meant the other party was also able to keep their consciousness from being affected by the Fruit’s pull.

If that’s not a Perfected Lord, what is?

’It seems I was too suspicious before...’

Lü Yang had remained hidden behind the scenes from the very beginning, not daring to show himself. This had made Ang Xiao suspect that he was actually an audacious cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Looking at it now, that must have been a misconception.

After all, Great Undertaking, who was also at Foundation Establishment Perfection, was already deeply ensnared and unable to break free. Lü Yang, however, could still maintain a degree of consciousness.

”You’ve won this round, Daoist.”

”But the final outcome is still unknown!”

As their voice fell, Ang Xiao sat down cross-legged, closed their eyes, and began to carefully perceive the mysterious Fruit that had suddenly appeared.

Meanwhile, World Purger Fei Xue also cast an interested glance at Lü Yang:

’I knew there was something off about this person...’

’The method he used against that woman just now... the Secret Technique should be from the Heaven-Mending Skill... Could he be a Master of Heaven Mending Peak from a past generation of my Stain Sect?’

’Then who is the Perfected Lord backing him?’

’And this one here...’

Thinking this, World Purger Fei Xue glanced toward Ang Xiao again. They were too thoroughly concealed; she suspected it was someone she knew.

’...Never mind.’

After some consideration, World Purger Fei Xue returned her attention to the mysterious Fruit before her, a hint of admiration appearing in her eyes. ”Mu Changsheng, a Primal Daoist... truly incredible. The theory of the Void Certificate is so ethereal and elusive. How did he actually achieve it? It’s unbelievable!”

At this thought, she too quickly entered a state of Meditation.

On the other side, Lü Yang saw that neither of the two Perfected Lords intended to make a move. After confirming he could sever the connection at any time, he reconnected with his avatar.

........

The next second, the sound of a roaring wind echoed in Lü Yang’s ears. When he opened his eyes again, Lü Yang found himself back in that realm above the clouds and rain.

Only this time, a figure had appeared before him.

It was an old man in a white robe with white hair and a youthful complexion, a gentle smile on his face. His body, however, was slightly translucent, clearly not one of real flesh and blood.

”This humble Daoist, Mu Changsheng, greets you, fellow Daoist.”

Lü Yang immediately clasped his hands and returned the greeting. He then heard the white-robed old man say in a deep voice, ”This No Heaven is a place I left behind before my death.”

”However, you are still outside No Heaven, fellow Daoist; you have not yet truly entered. I have come specifically to explain the stakes to you. Otherwise, if you were to rush into No Heaven without knowing how to proceed and ended up needlessly damaging your Merit and Fortune, that would not be my wish.”

The Primal Daoist’s words were very pleasant.

Lü Yang, however, didn’t hear a single word. He just stared at him intently. ”Daoist, you are a man from five thousand years ago... how can you still be alive?”

’Could it be like Blood Demon Zhenren, faking death to pass the days?’

A Foundation-Stage Cultivator could live for a long time with that method, but it was akin to death. With one’s consciousness dormant, it wouldn’t feel like true longevity to the person themselves.

The next second, however, the Primal Daoist shook his head.

”No, this humble Daoist died long ago.”

His expression was calm as he said, ”All True Monarchs watch over Heaven and Earth. Back then, they considered me a thorn in their side. If I were still alive, how could I have hidden from them?”

”Then, Senior...” Lü Yang’s expression was hesitant.

At this, the Primal Daoist’s brow suddenly relaxed, revealing a look of self-satisfaction. ”This is where the wonder of No Heaven lies!”

”When the false is taken for real, the real becomes false. Where non-being becomes being, being returns to non-being.”

”The me that you see, Daoist, is an illusory me, evolved from No Heaven itself. My true self, my Soul, has long since reincarnated.”

Lü Yang’s face showed his shock. ”...Something like this is possible?”

”It is naturally impossible through ordinary means, but the Fruit I certified made it possible,” the Primal Daoist said with a smile, pointing upward.

The Fruit, No Heaven!

”Consciousness is a very subtle thing. Although I am not a truly living being, from my own perspective, I believe that I am indeed ’alive.’”

As his voice fell, the Primal Daoist stopped explaining and changed the subject. ”Unfortunately, the Daoist Remnant that I transformed into after my death was released too early. I originally left it behind to borrow the ’infinite’ Intentional Appearance of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water. But now, No Heaven has yet to reach Perfection, and the Remnant has already escaped.”

”If that Daoist Remnant had been taken away by some other means, it would have been fine; No Heaven still would not have manifested.”

”But they just had to use the method I left behind, guiding it with the Myriad-Soul Banner. With our karmic links stirred, No Heaven ultimately revealed its existence.”

”Perhaps this too is Celestial Will.”

Saying this, the Primal Daoist shook his head again. It was clear that in his plans, No Heaven was supposed to manifest in the world only after reaching complete Perfection.

”...”

Looking at the Primal Daoist’s face, filled with emotion, Lü Yang said nothing. Instead, he sat up straight and solemnly, carefully studying the kind-faced old man before him.

After some thought, he said in a deep voice, ”So, Senior, why have you brought me here?”

In response to Lü Yang’s question, the Primal Daoist didn’t answer directly. Instead, he pointed below them. ”Daoist, do you know what the specific scene within this No Heaven is?”

Lü Yang shook his head. ”Please enlighten me, Senior.”

”The answer is simple... No Heaven is what I brought forth from my Void Certificate. The scene within is naturally that of my own life—the great Tribulation from five thousand years ago!”

”And I have not invited you alone, Daoist.”

”All Cultivators and Foundation Builders in the world may enter No Heaven and re-walk the path of my past Tribulation. Whoever can succeed in Breaking the Tribulation will be able to take control of No Heaven...”

”...and ascend to become a Perfected Lord!”