Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Patriarch’s Rebirth, Clone’s Foundation Establishment

A remote mountain forest in the North.

After intercepting his target at the Skull Mountains, Lü Yang fled all the way here. He then used the Tribulation Wave to clear his karmic links before carving out a Cave Mansion in the mountains.

Next came the refining of the Immortal Embryo.

The quality of the Divine Martial Binding Flood Dragon Halberd naturally couldn’t compare to the Abi Sword, but it was a Superior Sentient Artifact, more than enough to serve as an Immortal Embryo.

Moreover, Progenitor Tingyou had even made some improvements to this Secret Technique.

He had lowered the refining requirements and increased its efficiency. As a result, the final Immortal Embryo wasn’t much different from one of Lü Yang’s own avatars.

「Three more years passed in a flash.」

Inside the Cave Mansion, burning within the Six Ding Divine Fire, Progenitor Tingyou’s Immortal Embryo had taken shape. It had the appearance of a valiant and heroic young man.

”Progenitor, please enter your new vessel!”

Lü Yang performed a magic formula and summoned the Myriad-Soul Banner. Progenitor Tingyou’s spectral form materialized within, his expression complex. Clearly, he had never expected this day would come.

The next moment, as waves of Primal Qi dispersed, Progenitor Tingyou’s Soul appeared. In a flash, it descended into the Immortal Embryo below. A short while later, the Immortal Embryo opened its eyes. Its aura had changed, but it was only at the Final-phase of Qi Refining; he would clearly need time to re-establish his foundation.

Fortunately, since Lü Yang had looted the Divine Martial Sect’s treasury, he was not short on Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects.

’Though, this isn’t really looting.’

’After all, the Divine Martial Sect was one of the Righteous Sects. Now that they’ve been brutally wiped out, if their resources fell into the hands of a Demon Sect, wouldn’t that be tantamount to aiding the enemy?’

’So, for me to take all of the Divine Martial Sect’s treasures was a reluctant necessity.’

’Only in this way could the Divine Martial Sect’s legacy remain untarnished. I’m sure that if the souls of the Divine Martial Sect’s Perfected Persons are watching from the heavens, they would certainly approve of my actions.’

—This was feeling more and more like the Sword Pavilion way.

Lü Yang had always been a lifelong learner, one to fully commit to whatever role he played. Now that he was a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, he naturally had to immerse himself body and soul.

’What if someone saw through my facade?’

Once Progenitor Tingyou entered a state of Meditation, Lü Yang sealed the Cave Mansion. He then took out a Profound Pearl, which contained a scene of a vast, frost-covered, snowy landscape.

In the center of this frosty world, Arhat Fulong sat hugging his knees, his entire body shivering.

”Senior! Senior!”

Before Lü Yang could even speak, Arhat Fulong’s voice shot out impatiently, ”This humble monk has thought it through! Please, Senior, call off your Abilities!”

’Thought it through? A pity...’

Lü Yang’s expression was cold. He ignored Arhat Fulong’s pleas and, with a single motion, crushed the Profound Pearl that held him captive.

CRACK!

In an instant, the brilliant illusion shattered. Arhat Fulong’s voice was drowned out by the raging frost, and in the blink of an eye, both his Dharma Body and Soul dissipated.

’If possible, his path would have been the best option. But that Buddha Son Guang Ming... he sounds sinister! It’s best not to get involved. The risk is too great. I’m better off having Great Undertaking make a trip to Su Heng Palace for me. I still have a chance of getting the Xin Metal that way.’

Lü Yang was, above all, a rational man.

Of the Four Great Forces, the Pure Land was the one he was most wary of. Therefore, it was best to avoid any contact. If you don’t do anything, you can’t make a mistake!

’Speaking of which, it’s the perfect time to use the Fortune I harvested from the Divine Martial Sect!’

Lü Yang made a quick calculation with his fingers, and a look of delight spread across his face.

’Divination Lottery, draw!’

An immense amount of Fortune surged forth, quickly forming lines of text in front of Lü Yang:

[Event: Avatar’s breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.]

[Xiaoji: Foundation Establishment poses no difficulty for you. Despite a few minor setbacks, you still break through successfully.]

[Minor Misfortune: Someone is plotting against you in secret, causing your breakthrough to fail and your body to perish once more.]

[Moji: You are targeted by a schemer, but through perseverance and a bit of luck, you successfully pull through and finally establish your Dao Foundation.]

’...A schemer?’

Lü Yang’s brows furrowed as he looked at the fortune he’d drawn. ’Strange. I’ve always been so amicable at the Sword Pavilion. Why would anyone plot against me?’

Fortunately, the Fortune from the Divine Martial Sect was plentiful enough for him to draw a [Xiaoji].

The next moment, Lü Yang grabbed the [Xiaoji] fortune and activated the Puppet ability, turning his gaze far away in the direction of his avatar.

........

「South. Celestial Sword Pavilion. Zenith Cliff.」

SHIIING!

As a clear sword cry rang through the heavens, many of the Celestial Sword Pavilion’s Perfected Persons were startled from their seclusion, their gazes turning toward the sound’s origin.

”Is that... the newest Sword Species?”

”He actually reached Foundation Establishment?”

”So fast... For a Cultivator who just offered incense in the Reception Hall, even if he’s the reincarnation of a Foundation-Stage Cultivator, to return to Foundation Establishment this quickly... it shows his foundation in his past life was incredibly deep.”

The commotion naturally alerted the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected as well. A flicker of joy appeared in his eyes, only to be replaced by a look of resignation. He was joyful, of course, that Lü Yang had returned to Foundation Establishment, but felt resigned because Lü Yang had cultivated the *Sword Monarch’s Profound Discussion and Golden Secret Chapter*, a path with no future.

’Unless... I can succeed.’

At this thought, a look of inner turmoil flickered in the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s eyes. He opened his Storage Bag and gazed at the countless human heads packed within.

They weren’t dead.

’But the sword is an instrument of slaughter. How can one walk the Sword Dao without Killing?’

...

The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected lowered his gaze, staring intently at the countless lifelike heads inside the Storage Bag. The scene was bizarre and grotesque.

「Meanwhile, inside the Cave Mansion.」

Lü Yang sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed on a jade stone before him. His expression was grim. This was the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had given him.

Communing with it during Foundation Establishment was supposed to increase the chances of success by ten percent.

In reality, however, not only had this Spiritual Object failed to help him, it had actively hindered him. If not for the blessing of his drawn fortune, he truly might have failed!

’Who exactly is trying to harm me?’

As Lü Yang pondered, he extended a finger. A wisp of Sword Qi swirled around the tip, and with a flick, it erupted in a deafening, thunder-like clap.

The first realm of the Sword Dao: Sword Qi Thunder Sound!

’This level of Sword Qi is nothing special, at most equivalent to a powerful Foundation Establishment Dao Skill. But if I can take it one step further...’

The Second Realm of the Sword Dao: Sword Heart Clarity!

’This realm corresponds to Foundation Establishment. Therefore, once I achieve Sword Heart Clarity, compared to other Foundation-Stage Cultivators, it’s like having an extra Ability that doesn’t take up a Position!’

At this thought, Lü Yang made a sudden gesture with his hand.

A rectangular Sword Box materialized beside him. It was about half his height, forged from black gold, and possessed a simple, dignified air.

But in the next moment—

As Lü Yang channeled his Mana, the Sword Box burst open with a BOOM. Two brilliant rays of Sword Light surged out and instantly merged with his body.

’Sword Divine Technique!’

’Just as I expected. Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, the two Void Divine Techniques I obtained from No Heaven have been completely converted by the Sword Box into Sword Divine Techniques.’

’It’s a shame that after Master Chong Guang left, No Heaven sealed itself off. I can no longer enter to face its trials and acquire more Void Divine Techniques.’

’Still, this is a regret only I am privileged enough to have.’

’After all, other people’s Void Divine Techniques don’t have a Position.’

’I am the only one who can use the Fruit Position Prototype within the Myriad-Soul Banner to grant them a Position, thereby converting them into Sword Divine Techniques. Otherwise, it would have been a complete waste of effort, like drawing water with a bamboo basket.’

’Regardless, I’ve succeeded.’

With a thought, Lü Yang manifested the two Sword Divine Techniques, in addition to the Innate Ability from his transformed Eternal Observation of the World’s Golden Sword Foundation.

’Three Divine Techniques! Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection!’

’And if I add Empowerment, I’ll be a true Great Sword Cultivator at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment! At this rate, my avatar has actually surpassed my main body!’