Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected didn’t understand, and neither did Lü Yang.

’He actually followed us...’

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s Sword Intent had been broken, yet he showed no intention of returning to the Sword Pavilion, leaving directly instead. Didn’t that say enough about his attitude toward the Sword Pavilion?

Even Lü Yang could see it. This was Demon-Vanquishing Perfected still showing mercy, sparing the lives of the Sword Pavilion’s people by choosing to head to the Pure Land. Otherwise, with the ruthlessness of his All-Cutting Sword Intent, what would be so difficult about turning back to the Sword Pavilion and starting a massacre? It would be far simpler than clashing head-on with Buddha’s Son Guang Ming in the Pure Land!

And yet.

This bunch of Sword Species still didn’t get the hint. Exorcist Zhenren, a great and powerful Great Trueman at Foundation Establishment Perfection, had somehow failed to grasp the unspoken meaning in Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s actions.

Meanwhile, Exorcist Zhenren was still in a daze.

’...Kill me?’

”Demon-Vanquishing Perfected wants to kill me?” He understood each of the six words, yet together, they struck him with an unprecedented sense of absurdity.

Because Demon-Vanquishing Perfected did not kill people.

This was a principle he had practiced ever since beginning his third life and reaching Foundation Establishment as a Sword Cultivator. And now, he was in the twilight of his fifth life.

Given his age, this was not how things should be.

One could only say it involved the Ye Family and the one known as True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde. Even Exorcist Zhenren didn’t know the full details.

He had only heard vague rumors from another Perfected Lord in the Sword Pavilion.

Thinking of this, Exorcist Zhenren stared intently at Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. ”Back then, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde reforged your physical body for you. How highly he regarded you!”

”Is this how you repay him? How you repay the Sword Pavilion?”

”No wonder the Perfected Lord said you were a heartless person, naturally close to the Dao, viewing all of creation as nothing but straw dogs. Looking at you now, you truly are a cold-blooded fiend!”

Exorcist Zhenren’s rebuke was sharp and direct.

However, Lü Yang detected a hint of bluster in this scolding... because while his words were furious, Exorcist Zhenren’s body was slowly inching backward.

”Senior, why are you backing away?”

Lü Yang said helpfully, ”Come closer. Get a better look.”

Exorcist Zhenren didn’t respond. He wasn’t an idiot. It was just as Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had said: he had stayed in the Sword Pavilion for so long that his actions and thoughts followed its logic. Coupled with his Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation and his preconceived notions about Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, he simply hadn’t reacted in time.

Now that he saw Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was serious, how could he dare to stay any longer?

In a flash, Exorcist Zhenren formed a hand seal for a Sword Technique, an Ability already coalescing at his fingertips. Without a second word, he hurled it toward Demon-Vanquishing Perfected:

Buried Gold Land!

This was a Xin Metal Ability that combined with Si Fire. Si is the fire of the forge, containing Earth of Wu within it. When gold is buried within, its form cannot change. How is that any different from death?

BOOM!

For a moment, Lü Yang’s vision went dark, and the Sword Foundation within his body grew heavy. He had been affected by the aftershocks of the Ability.

’This Ability is specifically designed to counter gold and iron!’

And Sword Cultivators are no exception!

’If I were in my previous Immortal Spirit Body, this man could have likely subdued me with ease using this Ability alone, coupled with his Position at Foundation Establishment Perfection!’

’If I’m not mistaken, this was probably refined specifically to deal with Demon-Vanquishing Perfected... What kind of deep-seated hatred does Exorcist Zhenren have for him? To target him like this, even using a crucial Innate Divine Technique, isn’t he afraid of severing his own path of cultivation... oh, right. He cultivates the Fruit of Pewter Metal.’

His path of cultivation was already severed.

In that case, what about Demon-Vanquishing Perfected?

Lü Yang quickly glanced over... and saw a beam of light.

The light wasn’t dazzling. In fact, it was almost soft, yet it was impossible to look away from. It casually shone toward the distant Exorcist Zhenren.

CRACK!

Without a shred of suspense, the Buried Gold Land Ability—an attack that Exorcist Zhenren had poured all his power into, perfectly designed to counter Sword Cultivators—was shattered to pieces as if it were a joke.

”AHHH!!!”

At this moment, Exorcist Zhenren had completely shed his usual composure and arrogance. With a flick of his sleeve, he released countless Spiritual Treasures!

This was the first time he had directly faced Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s sword. Having observed from the sidelines before, he had never thought much of it. He had even watched the battle where Demon-Vanquishing Perfected beheaded the Pure View Buddhist Nun with three strikes. It didn’t seem particularly impressive—just three ordinary sword strikes. It had even made him think the Buddhist Nun was too weak.

But now, he thought differently.

Only when truly facing Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s sword could one fully comprehend its terror. It was simply not something a Foundation-Stage Cultivator should be able to comprehend!

’Besides a Perfected Lord, who could face this sword head-on?’

’I’m going to die? Impossible!’

Exorcist Zhenren desperately activated his Abilities, trying to escape, his heart filled with disbelief.

’He dares to kill me? He really wants to kill me!’

’That’s right... he’s a dying man. What wouldn’t he dare to do? In fact, why did I even come here... No! Someone is influencing me from the shadows!?’

—Who is it!?

In that instant, Exorcist Zhenren felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss. But he had no time to think further, for Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s Sword Light had already arrived.

BOOM!

In an instant, Heaven and Earth split into black and white.

One side was like the rising sun, bright as day. The other was a swirling dimness that obscured all sight. And in the very center was the Sword Light of Demon-Vanquishing Perfected.

”AHHH!!!”

Amidst this black and white scene, Exorcist Zhenren’s five Abilities flared brilliantly all at once, only to be extinguished in the same moment. His Dharma Body exploded into a shower of flesh and blood, scattering in all directions, yet not a single piece escaped. Everything was refined into ash by the Sword Light. Only a single streak of Spirit Light vanished over the horizon.

”Trying to escape...” Lü Yang immediately rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

After all, that was a Gold Attribute! And one that had been severely wounded by Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. As an outstanding Saint Sect Zhenren, his favorite pastime was kicking a man when he was down!

”There’s no need to chase.”

Seeing this, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected shook his head. ”He was hit by my All Slash. Death is only a matter of time... I don’t have much time left. We must get to the Pure Land and settle things as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, Lü Yang immediately straightened up. ”This disciple obeys.”

’There’s no hurry, though.’

In the end, this body of his was just a clone with low cultivation, mainly responsible for suffering hardships. Even if he did give chase, he might not have been able to capture him.

It was best to leave such pleasant tasks to his main body.

.......

「Sword Pavilion, Zenith Cliff.」

The clash between Exorcist Zhenren and Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had not been concealed. At least for a Great Trueman in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, it wasn’t so powerful that they couldn’t even spectate.

And yet, right now, Ye Shaoying wished he hadn’t seen it.

”He killed someone...”

The Ye Family Patriarch still hadn’t recovered, his mind seemingly adrift. ”Guangji... he wasn’t tricked into it? He killed of his own free will?”

How could this be?

Wasn’t his principle Non-Killing?

Even if his Sword Intent was broken, he should still be that same old softy who wouldn’t harm an ant while sweeping the floor, the kind of person you could bully at will. Why would he suddenly want to kill someone?

At this thought, cold sweat instantly beaded on Ye Shaoying’s face. This was especially true when he saw Exorcist Zhenren, who had made countless promises to the Ye Family in the past, fleeing back in such a sorry state. His teeth chattered faintly... and only when he saw that Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was not returning, but continuing onward into the distance, did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

’Phew... what a relief!’

Ye Shaoying’s lips curled into a smirk. ’Guangji... Demon-Vanquishing Perfected is sentimental after all. The Ye Family bore him and raised him. He still remembers that, in the end. He won’t go on a killing spree...’

With this, his mind began to race with possibilities.

The All-Cutting Sword Intent?

’Such a powerful Sword Intent... what must the Sword Technique be like? He actually didn’t leave the corresponding dharma gate in the family. Is this because he doesn’t trust the family?’

A Sword Intent that even Exorcist Zhenren couldn’t block... If the Ye Family could obtain it...

Before Ye Shaoying could snap out of his fantasy.

BOOM!

A sudden, enormous crash echoed from beyond the Sword Pavilion Mountain Gate, causing countless Sword Pavilion disciples to look up with expressions of disbelief.

”Who... dares to trespass on the Sword Pavilion?”

”Who has the gall? What Demon is this?”

”Courting death!”

For a moment, even Ye Shaoying cast a curious gaze over, only to see a handsome young man standing leisurely among the clouds outside the Sword Pavilion, his hands clasped behind his back.

”Is that... that Outer Heaven Wanderer?”

”Why is he here?”

Ye Shaoying recognized him. But then he saw the man seem to notice his Divine Sense, turn his head sharply, and give him a kindly smile.

In an instant, a bad feeling welled up in Ye Shaoying’s heart.

This visitor did not come in peace!

—And indeed, he had not.

Outside the Sword Pavilion, Lü Yang’s eyes burned as he stared at the mountain gate before him. A fierce greed, like a raging fire, made him grow ever more excited.

This was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!

In the lands of Jiangnan, the Perfected Lords remained in seclusion. And of the Sword Pavilion’s two cultivators at Foundation Establishment Perfection, one had left and the other was grievously injured. The Sword Pavilion was now just an empty shell!

’Demon-Vanquishing Perfected won’t go on a killing spree in the Sword Pavilion because he has his limits. He can’t bring himself to attack the Ye Family that bore and raised him, nor is he willing to involve the innocent.’

’But I don’t.’