Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 312: Chapter 312: A Pointer for Fei Xue, Unmasking Ang Xiao

Never before had Lü Yang so desperately missed his own astonishing intellect.

Unfortunately, Progenitor Tingyou had suffered grievous injuries in his previous life and was still recuperating in a deep slumber. It wasn’t just him; the entire Myriad-Soul Banner was currently half-ruined.

’If only I could find a new one to integrate into it...’

Almost subconsciously, Lü Yang thought of the other Progenitor Tingyou, who was still in the Skull Mountains Secret Realm. But he quickly abandoned the idea.

’...It’s not time yet.’

The strand of Golden Core Sword Qi in the Skull Mountains hadn’t dissipated yet. At this point, Progenitor Tingyou hadn’t escaped, so there was no way to get him out.

Though True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde of the Sword Pavilion wasn’t considered exceptionally talented among the Perfected Lords, he was still a Golden Core cultivator. With a strand of his Sword Qi lingering there, even now that Lü Yang had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, a single strike would mean certain death... By his calculations, he’d probably have to wait another six or seven years.

’No rush, no rush... Slow and steady wins the race.’

Lü Yang was reassuring himself when he suddenly sensed something. He looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

An ordinary person probably would have felt nothing at all.

But Lü Yang had experienced this familiar sensation once before, not long ago, and recognized it instantly. ”No Heaven is expanding!?”

In an instant, Lü Yang shifted into the Foundation Establishment Realm.

And he wasn’t the only one. At that moment, countless Foundation-Stage Cultivators felt the same sensation. One by one, they shifted into the Foundation Establishment Realm and looked up at the sky.

’Something... is up there!’

Everyone could sense that something new had appeared in the space perceived by the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet no matter what methods they tried, they could not detect its presence.

And for anyone who swept the area with their Divine Sense, a foreign memory would involuntarily surface in their mind:

The Tai Xu Sacrificial Rite Technique!

This Dharma Gate, used to connect with No Heaven, was now being widely disseminated. It also contained a vast amount of Knowledge related to No Heaven.

BOOM!

Almost simultaneously, several stars in the firmament flared with brilliant light. Evidently, even the Perfected Lords were stirred by the manifestation of No Heaven.

However, to the shock of countless observers, as the starlight of the Fruits descended and the vast Divine Senses of the Perfected Lords swept over it, No Heaven remained intangible. It manifested as an illusory afterimage, like a mirage, impossible to capture and completely unaffected by the Perfected Lords!

”What a No Heaven!”

Capturing a Fruit was already an exceedingly difficult task, to say nothing of suppressing one. In all these years, only the Pure Land had ever accomplished such a monumental feat.

But No Heaven was clearly even more difficult to grasp.

That which you look at but cannot see is called the imperceptible. That which you listen for but cannot hear is called the inaudible. That which you grasp for but cannot hold is called the subtle.

These three cannot be fathomed, and so they merge into one. Its top is not bright, its bottom is not dark. Unceasing, it cannot be named, and it returns to nothingness. Therefore, it is called the form of the formless.

After several Perfected Lords made their attempts and found themselves truly helpless against No Heaven, they vanished without a trace, ceasing their efforts. Down below, however, the Foundation-Stage Cultivators who had learned of No Heaven’s wonders through the Tai Xu Sacrificial Rite Technique were all flushed with excitement.

「Meanwhile, Overseas.」

Ang Xiao also opened his eyes and sighed. ”What a mysterious Fruit. Mu Changsheng... just which Outer Realm did he bring it back from?”

Although the Primal Daoist claimed to have manifested No Heaven from the void of his own understanding, Ang Xiao refused to believe it. He was certain that external forces must have been involved.

Because there is a limit to one’s Talent Skill.

Why was the concept of the Void Certificate so nebulous? The reason was simple: how could a person imagine something they had never seen? It simply defied all logic.

Therefore, Ang Xiao was convinced that the Primal Daoist must have stumbled upon some heaven-sent opportunity; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to manifest something as miraculous as No Heaven. After all, back in the day, even Progenitor Tingyou had only managed to create the Dharma Gate of the Fake Golden Position; he hadn’t manifested a Fruit via Void Certificate.

Could the Primal Daoist’s Talent Skill truly far surpass Tingyou’s?

Impossible!

’A pity. Thanks to No Heaven’s interference, the plan for Refining the Daoist Remnant into a clone has failed. The next opportunity will be hard to come by...’

Ang Xiao sighed inwardly.

The next second, just as a splendid light as clear as water came crashing down, his form dissipated, replaced by the figure of World Purger Fei Xue.

”Tsk... you’re a fast one!”

World Purger Fei Xue snorted, her beautiful eyes shimmering with Divine Light. She could faintly sense Ang Xiao’s terrifying depth, and her curiosity grew. ’He’s at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, just like me... No, perhaps the Late Stage? How did he break through? From the feel of it, he might be one of the strongest in the Late Stage...’

That said, she felt not a shred of fear.

As long as the Chongguang Gold process was successful, she could join forces with True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo to gather three of the Five Elements. With that, she was confident she could push for the Late Stage of Golden Core.

And if he wasn’t at the Late Stage, he was even less of a threat.

She, Xue Feihong, had risen at the end of the great calamity five thousand years ago. She fought every foe she met and won every battle. Her Talent Skill for Combat was hailed as the greatest in five thousand years.

A cultivator at the Late Stage of Golden Core would be one thing, but at the Middle Stage? She feared no one!

Thinking of this, she glanced down below.

Lü Yang had already regained his senses, but Great Undertaking had not. And since Fortune wasn’t here, a mere Great Undertaking wasn’t even worth her notice.

At this thought, World Purger Fei Xue suddenly gave Lü Yang a dazzling smile.

Immediately after, a clear and pleasant voice sounded in Lü Yang’s ear. ”Judging by your reaction, Daoist, you must know who that was just now, correct?”

”...His name is Ang Xiao.”

Lü Yang didn’t beat around the bush and stated Ang Xiao’s name directly. In that instant, a peal of Celestial Thunder rumbled through the clouds, but it was powerless to do anything.

Or perhaps, Ang Xiao had prepared for this the moment he realized his identity was exposed. He wasn’t afraid. After all, his position was already unassailable. So what if World Purger Fei Xue knew of his existence and knew something was wrong with the Earth of Chen? Ultimately, there was nothing she could do to him.

”Ang Xiao...”

Upon hearing his name, World Purger Fei Xue fell into deep thought as expected. A flicker of anger appeared in her eyes before her graceful figure turned and vanished on the spot.

Clearly, that one word of warning had been enough.

Just then, Great Undertaking, who was beside Lü Yang, suddenly opened his eyes. A crimson flush crossed his face as his Merit and Fortune took a sharp dip.

’Did he fail at Breaking the Tribulation?’

Lü Yang saw what had happened at a glance but found it incredible. Great Undertaking was at Foundation Establishment Perfection. How could someone with his Cultivation fail to even pass the first tribulation?

’But it was pretty easy for me.’

Great Undertaking, however, had a grim expression. He sighed. ”That Mu Changsheng... to face such a desperate plight and not die of exhaustion...”

God knows what he experienced!

The Array of Celestial and Earthly Convergence of Dragon and Tiger Yin and Yang, with one hundred and eight Celestial Maidens attacking in unison... he had fought a bloody battle for seven days, only to be forced into death’s door by his opponent.

’This first tribulation alone is not something an ordinary person could pass. It has nothing to do with one’s Cultivation; after all, upon entering, everyone assumes the identity of the Primal Daoist, possessing only the power of the Final-phase of Qi Refining. To succeed at Breaking the Tribulation, one must have a resolute will and an outstanding Talent Skill. If Lord Hongyun had come, perhaps there would have been a chance...’

After a long while, Great Undertaking finally snapped out of his daze.

Then he saw Lü Yang beside him and froze for a moment. Only then did he recall his mission here Overseas with Lü Yang, and his expression immediately soured.

They had come Overseas for two things: the Quasi-Essence Artifact and the Primal Daoist Evil.

Now the Daoist Remnant was gone, and as for the Quasi-Essence Artifact... he hadn’t noticed at the time, but World Purger Fei Xue’s movements had been so natural as she left that she had simply snatched it on her way out!

’That shameless beast!’

Great Undertaking cursed inwardly, but on his face, he could only manage a wry smile. ”Daoist, how about we change the terms? Is there anything else you might require?”

”...It’s not that there’s nothing else.”

Lü Yang was quite calm, as he already had a contingency plan. ”If you can procure a strand of Metal Qi for me, Daoist, I can give you the Dharma Gate in exchange.”

At these words, Great Undertaking’s eyes brightened. ”That can be done!”

”Follow me, Daoist!”

Following Great Undertaking, Lü Yang soon arrived back at the mountain forest that was shielded from all karmic probes by countless Arrays. He then saw Great Undertaking make a beckoning gesture.

A Talisman Book materialized in his hand.

Seeing this, Lü Yang’s eyes narrowed sharply.

It was none other than the Tongming Yiyun Talisman Book, the Treasure of Fruit Position of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire!