Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 548: Chapter 548: 4 Masters of Dao Serving Just 1 Person

A ninety percent chance of success, yet death is certain!

World Purger Fei Xue uttered the astonishing words, but Lü Yang’s expression remained unchanged. His face only tightened slightly, as if he had already anticipated the answer.

Upon seeing this, the admiration in World Purger Fei Xue’s eyes deepened.

However, the next moment, she reined in her emotions and waved a hand dismissively. ”Alright, you may go. I look forward to the day I can call you Daoist.”

Her voice had barely faded when Lü Yang saw billowing smoke and clouds rise around him once more, churning and obscuring everything from view. By the time the mists dissipated, he found himself standing just inside the threshold of Feixue Palace. He looked back and saw Minor Metal standing outside, a hint of surprise lingering on his face:

’He really went in... and he’s in perfect condition?’

Minor Metal had no doubt about Lü Yang’s strength. The condition for entering the palace was merely to last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Forget Lü Yang; even he could manage that.

The problem was his perfect condition.

Every time he engaged in Combat with the reflection of World Purger Fei Xue, he had to use every trick up his sleeve and fight to the point of utter exhaustion just to last for the duration of one incense stick.

He would emerge completely debilitated.

Yet Lü Yang was nothing like that. Not only was his Qi trace full and complete, but it even seemed to be on the verge of advancing... This was clearly about more than just lasting for one incense stick.

At this thought, Minor Metal immediately clasped his hands.

”Congratulations, Daoist.”

Lü Yang returned the gesture, then said, ”I must trouble you, Daoist. Please bring Yu Zhou and the Zouyu Race here. The Perfected Lord has permitted them to enter.”

Nodding, Minor Metal flicked a finger, sending out a ray of Splendid Light. A moment later, the light returned, carrying a nervous-looking Yu Zhou. In his hand, he held a Superior Sentient Artifact—a Round Pearl. Contained within it, as if in a Sumeru world, were all the disciples of the Zouyu Race.

”Greetings, my lord...”

The moment Yu Zhou landed, he rushed to kowtow, but Lü Yang stopped him with an outstretched hand before pulling him into Feixue Palace.

”Come with me.”

”The entrance to the convoluted history is here. I will take you back.”

At this, Yu Zhou’s expression changed. He keenly grasped the critical point of Lü Yang’s statement. ”Take... My lord, does this mean you will be entering with us?”

”That’s right. I’m going with you.”

Lü Yang nodded, his eyes bright. ”A possibility... I want to see for myself the possibility of Seeking Gold. After all, the waters in this damn place run far too deep.”

A ninety percent chance of succeeding in Seeking Gold, yet death is certain.

Why?

Lü Yang pondered, his resolve unshaken as he continued to think calmly:

’It can only be the influence of external forces. At this point, I’ve become the focus of the entire world. Though the Four Great Daoist Lords have not descended, they have all turned their attention toward me.’

’That in itself isn’t a problem; in fact, it fits perfectly with the imagery of the Fruit of Celestial Fire.’

’The problem is the attitude of each Master of Dao.’

’There’s no need to mention the Bhagavat—he’s my mortal enemy. The Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord has made no move so far. And the Saint Sect Ancestral Master wants me to go to the convoluted history the Bhagavat created.’

’And the Daoist Court Daoist Lord?’

’Theoretically, the Daoist Court Daoist Lord should want me to succeed in Seeking Gold. After all, that would bring the Fruit of Celestial Fire into the Dao Court’s fold. Why wouldn’t he want that?’

’But...’

A shadow gradually fell over Lü Yang’s face.

’...the only thing that matters is the Fruit of Celestial Fire.’

’As for me, I’m expendable.’

All the Daoist Court Daoist Lord wants is for the Fruit of Celestial Fire to belong to the Dao Court. He probably couldn’t care less about who achieves its Attainment, or whether they even succeed.

In other words—

’If my failure in Seeking Gold would result in the Fruit of Celestial Fire falling under the Dao Court’s control, then the Daoist Court Daoist Lord would absolutely not hesitate to sabotage me!’

Lü Yang had actually seen such a tactic before. In his Previous Life, didn’t Ang Xiao deliberately fund Summon’s attempt at Seeking Gold, only to give him a flawed version of the *Ten Thousand Spirits Returning to Ruins Dao Scripture* to ensure his failure? That was how he dragged the Fruit of Long-Flow Water into the Netherworld. How could the Daoist Court Daoist Lord be ignorant of such a ploy?

’If that’s the case...’

At this thought, Lü Yang sneered inwardly. ’I’m afraid the Daoist Court Daoist Lord is playing the part of Ang Xiao, I’m playing Summon, and the Fruit of Celestial Fire is playing the Fruit of Long-Flow Water!’

So, what’s playing the role of the flawed *Ten Thousand Spirits Returning to Ruins Dao Scripture*?

Lü Yang lowered his head to look at his palm. Ever since his enthronement in the Dao Court, an invisible connection had clung to him, one he could not shake.

’The Immortal Dao Law!’

In an instant, Lü Yang felt a sense of clarity wash over him, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. He could finally see the full extent of the schemes layered against him.

’During our conversation, World Purger Fei Xue seemed to keep bringing up the Bhagavat, implying that my entry into that convoluted history was a move against him. But in truth... she was likely speaking in subtext. There are things she dared not say outright because the Immortal Dao Law is still on me!’

The Bhagavat’s forbidden Knowledge was just a smokescreen.

The only truly valuable piece of advice she gave me was that last line—”A ninety percent chance of success, yet death is certain”—and she only said it because I specifically asked!

’Damn it... Of the Four Great Daoist Lords, not a single one is trustworthy!’

Lü Yang cursed inwardly. If he hadn’t shown his suspicion toward the Daoist Court Daoist Lord, World Purger Fei Xue wouldn’t have said a thing. ’Fucking typical of the Saint Sect.’

If you’re stupid enough to blindly trust others, what more is there to say?

The Saint Sect doesn’t nurture fools!

Thankfully, he’d knocked around the Saint Sect for several lifetimes. He was experienced enough to know that you couldn’t trust anyone’s words; you could only trust your own judgment.

’The Daoist Court Daoist Lord covets the Fruit of Celestial Fire and might try to sabotage me. The Bhagavat wants me dead to prevent my Attainment. The Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord has been silent, but since I’ve mastered the Unyielding Sword Intent, he’s bound to have his own designs. And the Saint Sect Ancestral Master has already placed his piece on the board, using me as a pawn...’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but curse again:

’Bastards!’

’I’m just trying for Seeking Gold, not trying to become a damn Nascent Soul! How did I end up with all Four Great Daoist Lords breathing down my neck? These Great Powers have no sense of immortal decency!’

’Is this the special treatment that comes with an Emperor Fruit?’

’...Fine.’

Lü Yang let out a long breath of Muddy Qi, his composure returning. ’It’s just a matter of surviving between the cracks. To do that, I must understand the schemes of each Master of Dao.’

Only with intelligence can I find a weakness.

’The Bhagavat’s scheme is obvious—it’s just a shameless master crushing weaklings. There’s no sophistication to it.’

’As for the Daoist Court Daoist Lord’s scheme, the key is figuring out how he plans to seize the Fruit of Celestial Fire, and whether his plan will truly lead to my failure in Seeking Gold and my subsequent death.’

’The Sword Pavilion is less of a worry; I have Master Demon-Vanquishing Perfected covering for me there.’

’And finally, there’s the Saint Sect Ancestral Master.’

At this thought, Lü Yang rubbed his chin. If he hadn’t understood the Saint Sect Ancestral Master’s motives before, he was starting to get an idea now:

’The Saint Sect Ancestral Master... could he be making a move against the Daoist Court Daoist Lord?’

It came back to the same thing: balance!

After all, the Bhagavat had already suffered a major setback. If he lost again, the balance between the Masters of Dao would be thrown off, so the scales needed to be rebalanced.

The Saint Sect Ancestral Master’s goal... was perhaps to prevent the Daoist Court Daoist Lord from obtaining the Fruit of Celestial Fire!

The more Lü Yang thought about it, the more plausible this guess seemed. ’To the Saint Sect Ancestral Master, whether I achieve the Attainment of the Fruit of Celestial Fire is probably not that important.’

’After all, there’s still Ang Xiao to consider.’

’The key is that he can’t let the Daoist Court Daoist Lord obtain the Fruit of Celestial Fire through me.’

In other words—

’In the Saint Sect Ancestral Master’s scheme, either I don’t attempt the Attainment, or if I do, I must succeed! That’s why he gave me the opportunity to go to the convoluted history.’

After all, the idea that he was scheming against the Daoist Court Daoist Lord was a much more reliable explanation than the Saint Sect Ancestral Master simply being a kind-hearted man who liked to nurture the younger generation.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place for Lü Yang:

’So, my primary goal right now, aside from returning the Zouyu Descendants, is to figure out the Daoist Court Daoist Lord’s method for seizing the Fruit of Celestial Fire.’

Once I know the method, I can devise a countermeasure.

And as for the clue, the Saint Sect Ancestral Master had already given him that:

’The convoluted history! That’s the Bhagavat’s private domain. The Daoist Court Daoist Lord’s influence shouldn’t be able to reach in there, nor will he be able to monitor my every move.’

’Furthermore, that place has deep ties to the Current World, but its future developed in a completely different direction. Someone there has even attempted the Attainment of the Fruit of Celestial Fire. Therefore, while the Daoist Court Daoist Lord’s method for seizing the Fruit of Celestial Fire is a secret in the Current World, it might not be a secret in that convoluted history!’