Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 319: Chapter 319: How Could It Be Such a Coincidence?

”Decisive, isn’t he...”

Lü Yang shook his head. Compared to the Loose Cultivator Wu Cang, Master Qi He was clearly a dyed-in-the-wool Saint Sect Zhenren—utterly ruthless and vicious.

His only misjudgment had been Lü Yang’s level of Cultivation.

But he couldn’t really be blamed. Lü Yang’s Cultivation was, in fact, at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. He had only been elevated to the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment through the Profound Mysterious power of the `Tribulation Wave`.

This was Lü Yang’s greatest advantage.

He didn’t need to hide anything. He could just stand there, and anyone would assume he was in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. No one would ever suspect he had the combat power of a Mid-phase cultivator.

’This trick is perfect for baiting a hook. It never fails.’

But even as he mused, Lü Yang’s actions didn’t slow in the slightest. A pinkish radiance bloomed at his fingertip, transforming into clouds of a strange, sweet fragrance that billowed outward.

`Essence of All Flowers`!

The Ability unfurled, instantly flooding the entire shop. Rolling clouds of fragrance rose, disorienting the Divine Soul to the point that one couldn’t tell up from down or left from right.

Master Qi He was, as expected, decisive. He immediately used a `Vertical Space Profound Light Talisman`. This was a Fifth Grade Talisman, one of his most powerful trump cards. But unfortunately for him, the `Essence of All Flowers` warped his perception. As a result, he thought he was escaping when in reality, he was just buzzing around the shop like a headless fly.

He didn’t realize his predicament until the Talisman’s power was completely exhausted.

”This is... a `Void Divine Technique`!?”

Surprise flickered across Master Qi He’s face. Lü Yang simply raised an eyebrow. The so-called `Void Divine Technique` was the term for any Ability bestowed by `No Heaven`.

The name came from the `Tai Xu Sacrificial Rite Technique`, the method used to communicate with `No Heaven`.

But even though `No Heaven` had appeared in the Current World some time ago, few Foundation-Stage Cultivators had ever managed to pass the first `Tribulation Wave` and obtain a `Void Divine Technique`.

Lü Yang remained silent, simply pointing a finger. ”`Imperial Mountain Shifting Technique`!”

This Magic was incredibly insidious. Master Qi He, caught completely off guard, heard the incantation, saw the gesture, and felt Lü Yang’s finger point at him. He instantly vomited a thick slurry of mud.

”You... you really want us to fight to the bitter end!?”

Master Qi He gritted his teeth and began to form hand seals for his `Magic Formulas`. A `Divine Power Radiance` bloomed around him, and with a flick of his finger, it conjured countless illusory landscapes of mountains and rivers.

Instantly, Lü Yang felt the Magic he had cast upon Master Qi He get redirected into thin air, no longer able to harm him.

”This is... `Earth of Wu`?”

As someone who had once practiced the `Fruit of Rampart Earth`, Lü Yang’s level of Cultivation in the way of `Earth of Wu` was profound. He recognized Master Qi He’s Ability immediately.

’The `Earth of Wu` resides in Shen. Shen is Kun. No name can truly describe it. Its virtue is to bear great burdens, to turn the heavens and the sun, to shoulder the seas and mountains. It is the source from which all things arise...’

’It is called `Carrying All Things`!’

At this, Lü Yang had a sudden epiphany. ’`Carrying All Things` is `Earth of Wu` in Shen. This means his second path of the `Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches` will likely require the `Metal Qi` of Shen...’

No wonder he wanted to kill me!

The `Saint Sect Zhenren` were notoriously selfish. It was perfectly normal for members of the same sect to kill one another, especially when their personal interests were on the line. Holding back was not an option.

However, that also meant—

’He must know where to find the `Metal Qi`!’

A cold, murderous glint finally surfaced in Lü Yang’s eyes. With a flash, his body flickered, and he appeared in front of Gou Yue, blocking her attempt to quietly escape.

”Spare me, Daoist!”

Gou Yue cried out, ”If you spare my life, Daoist, I am willing to give myself to you...”

”I can make you give yourself to me even if you’re dead!”

Before his voice had even faded, Lü Yang’s palm slammed down on her Celestial Spirit. The `Power of his Dharma Body` struck with overwhelming force, instantly pulverizing her beautiful body.

The next moment, a large Banner materialized in the air:

`Myriad-Soul Banner`!

The Banner wrapped around her remains, `Refining` them in an instant. Gou Yue’s soul was turned into a `Banner Spirit`. But Lü Yang, his expression cold and detached, immediately dispersed this newly formed spirit.

Then, the `Primal Qi` she had transformed into flowed into the Banner and was absorbed by a different, dormant `Banner Spirit` that was on the verge of shattering. Slowly, it began to awaken.

”Where... am I...?”

The awakened `Banner Spirit` was a handsome young man. However, his face was sallow and etched with a pained expression that twisted his fine features.

It was the `Banner Spirit`, Chen Xin’an!

Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction. He could have used Gou Yue’s essence to revive Progenitor Tingyou, but Chen Xin’an was more suitable for the present task. After all, once he captured Master Qi He, he couldn’t very well ask Progenitor Tingyou to perform the `Soul Searching`... though with the Progenitor’s `Talent Skill`, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue...

RUMBLE!

At almost the same instant, Master Qi He, standing nearby, seemed to realize something was amiss. Without a moment’s hesitation, he made a decisive move: he detonated the entire shop!

In an instant, the explosive `Spirit Light` shattered the blockade created by the `Essence of All Flowers`.

At that moment, Master Qi He’s heart was bleeding.

God only knew how long he had managed this place on `Secret Gallery Street` or how many resources he had poured into it. What looked like an Ordinary shop was, in reality, a `Superior Sentient Artifact`!

Even so, he didn’t dare hesitate.

’The self-destruction of a `Superior Sentient Artifact` should be more than enough to force him back. I can use this opportunity to escape... Now that I’ve been exposed, I have no choice but to seek out my lord immediately...’

With that thought, Master Qi He prepared to flee on his `Flying Light`.

But in the next second, a sight made his pupils contract in shock.

Through the churning flames of `Spirit Light` from the explosion, an invisible hand seemed to part the inferno, revealing a tall, straight figure bathed in blood.

’He didn’t dodge!?’

Master Qi He could scarcely believe it. He had never imagined that, faced with the self-destruction of a `Superior Sentient Artifact`, Lü Yang would choose to withstand the blast head-on instead of evading!

At the same time, Lü Yang, standing below, allowed a smirk to grace his lips. As he sustained his injuries, the towering, ethereal figure behind him suddenly swelled to several times its original size.

`Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body`!

The `Profound Mysterious` nature of this `Dharma Body` was that the more grievous his injuries, the stronger his `Divine Power` became! He had deliberately taken the hit, all to be wounded and push his `Mana` to its absolute `Peak`!

A second later, Master Qi He reacted.

Instantly, the `Divine Power Radiance` of his `Carrying All Things` Ability flared, enveloping him in a protective layer. This Ability could absorb all other Abilities and Magic on his behalf.

Then, he saw the towering apparition behind Lü Yang extend a hand toward him from across the distance.

`Capture`!

This `Profound Mysterious` technique could seize the soul and steal thoughts, forcibly yanking a person’s `Soul` from their body. When it hit Master Qi He, however, it seemed to have no effect.

Yet, seeing this, Master Qi He’s face showed no trace of relief.

’`Carrying All Things`... is at its limit!?’

Even `Abilities` have their limits. What sent a chill down his spine was that Lü Yang had reached the absolute capacity of `Carrying All Things` with just a single technique!

’But... this works to my advantage!’

Master Qi He’s mind raced. He instantly switched `Abilities`. The phantoms of mountains and rivers vanished, replaced by clusters of auspicious clouds that manifested countless `Intentional Appearance`s.

`Longevity Borderless Dao Foundation`!

He was clearly preparing to risk it all. By channeling Qi, he manifested his `Dao Foundation` and simultaneously unleashed his `Innate Ability`: a wide `Golden Bridge`.

`Boundless Golden Bridge`!

One end of the bridge appeared at Master Qi He’s feet, while the other stretched deep into the `Boundless` `Void`. It lifted his body, carrying him upward as if he were achieving `Ascension` in broad daylight.

This `Innate Ability` was similar to Lü Yang’s `Separation` but far weaker, making it difficult to use normally. However, when paired with `Carrying All Things`, it became a potent escape tool. He could first absorb an enemy’s power, convert it to his own, and then use it to fuel the `Boundless Golden Bridge`, allowing him to flee thousands of miles in the blink of an eye!

”Hahaha!”

Seeing himself safely upon the `Golden Bridge`, and knowing from experience that his escape was now guaranteed, Master Qi He finally let out a triumphant laugh. ”I won’t trouble you to see me off, Daoist!”

But his laughter was met with a soft chuckle.

”`Slash`!”

In an instant, a brilliant beam of `Sword Light` lit up the world. It completely severed Master Qi He’s `Divine Sense`, making him feel as if he had been plunged into the `Void`.

When he regained his bearings, the sight before him made him gape in horrified rage.

The `Boundless Golden Bridge`, his greatest hope, had been violently cut in half. Its `Divine Power` scattered, and his `Dao Foundation` fractured along with it!

SPLURT!

The next second, the backlash from his shattered `Dao Foundation` caused Master Qi He to vomit a mouthful of blood. Cracks spread across his entire `Dharma Body`, and with a lurch, he plummeted from the sky!

”`Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light`!”

Lü Yang was prepared. A ray of white light landed on Master Qi He, causing his features to soften and become bizarrely alluring. Only then did Lü Yang turn to the newly awakened Chen Xin’an.

”Go.”

Chen Xin’an: ”...”

Much later, with a pained expression, Chen Xin’an handed the intel he’d gathered from the `Soul Searching` to Lü Yang.

Lü Yang took it and froze on the spot.

The truth was slightly different from his speculation. It wasn’t that Master Qi He knew where the `Metal Qi` was. It was that the `Metal Qi`... was already in his possession!

In that instant, what filled Lü Yang’s heart was not joy, but a bone-deep, icy chill.

’How could it be such a coincidence...!?’