Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 561: Chapter 561: The Butterfly in the Spiderweb

Hongtian did not recognize the Bhagavat.

After all, in the [Pseudo-History], the Bhagavat had achieved Ascension immediately upon his Attainment. No records whatsoever had been passed down, so naturally, Hongtian had no way of knowing the Bhagavat’s origins.

But that didn’t stop him from understanding the current situation.

’This person... is the final obstacle in my path to Seeking Gold! Is he from the outside world, just like that mysterious Perfected Lord from before? No matter what, if I kill him, I can complete my Seeking Gold!’

In that moment, inspiration struck Hongtian.

He activated the [Kan and Li True Method of Positional Shift]. The [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] transformed into the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], and as he raised his hand, an ideograph immediately manifested:

’[Deprive]!’

Almost simultaneously, the True Body Tathagata that the Bhagavat had sent down also moved. Its forty-eight thousand arms all stretched out, and the wisdom eyes in its palms opened, reflecting the great thousand worlds.

In a daze, Hongtian met the gaze of those forty-eight thousand wisdom eyes. Within them, he seemed to see a magnificent world with forty-eight thousand Lotus Platforms, upon which sat Bodhisattvas, Buddhas, Arhats, and Vajras, all chanting Scripture in unison. There were even temples, Zen Forests, and Slaughter Treasure Towers stretching out as far as the eye could see.

The [Yanfu Ti Suo Cave Heaven]!

In an instant, Hongtian used [Deprive] to steal countless temples and pagodas from this magnificent Grotto Heaven, yet the Buddha Light before him did not dim in the slightest.

”It is, after all, a Fake Holding.”

Seeing this, the True Body Tathagata smiled faintly, showing no intention of resisting. ”A fruit from a Fake Holding cannot fully borrow its Profound Mysterious power. Even Deprive has its limits...”

”How much can you truly take?”

”I have the world of Yanfu Ti Suo, with its forty-eight thousand Lotus Platforms, three thousand disciples, and countless believers. It was all prepared for you. Take as you please.”

As it spoke, it continued to advance.

The next second, a fiery light flared and transformed into a rule:

[Those deprived by me shall suffer a great penalty]

In an instant, the True Body Tathagata, still walking toward Hongtian, shuddered violently. Celestial light and flowing fire immediately erupted from its immaculate, towering Golden Body.

The Celestial Fire Body Burning Punishment!

Yet even so, the True Body Tathagata remained completely unshaken. It simply held the Buddha Light to its chest, its forty-eight thousand arms simultaneously forming different Daoist Hand Seals.

”All things are complete and perfect; there is only joy and no suffering.”

As the words fell, the True Body Tathagata’s form suddenly turned illusory. It then took a step, and lotus flowers instantly bloomed beneath its feet, spreading far into the distance toward Hongtian.

Following that, the True Body Tathagata’s figure, treading upon the lotuses, directly escaped the Celestial Fire Body Burning Punishment. It fully displayed its Profound Mysterious ability to evade disaster and calamity. The Celestial Fire tried to pursue it but was blocked by the lotuses blooming under its feet. Just like that, it was easily left behind.

’Over... Overpowered!’

Lü Yang watched, dumbfounded. This wasn’t some Fruit Position’s Profound Mysterious power, nor was it an ideograph. It was the purest form of Daoist Skill and Technique!

’Can one be this powerful without relying on a Fruit Position?’

’No, that’s not right. The key isn’t the Fruit Position, but that [Yanfu Ti Suo Cave Heaven]... For a Golden Core Perfected Lord, the Grotto Heaven is the true foundation!’

At this moment, Lü Yang’s mind was clear of all other thoughts.

His eyes were locked onto the True Body Tathagata sent down by the Bhagavat, seeking only to see through all its methods to prepare for dealing with it in the Current World later.

On the other side, however, Hongtian’s expression was calm.

It was undeniable that the descent of the True Body Tathagata had broken all conventions. Its absolute power had shattered all his plans, placing Hongtian in a mortal predicament.

Although it was shameless for the Bhagavat to descend and crush a weaker opponent, it was undeniably effective.

But even so, Hongtian, just like Lü Yang, had a mind clear of distractions. He remained focused, precisely grasping the most important thing at this moment:

’Attain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]!’

’Resisting the True Body Tathagata is just the means, not the end. My goal from the very beginning has been Seeking Gold. I absolutely cannot put the cart before the horse.’

In an instant, Hongtian made his decision.

He would not retaliate!

’If the True Body Tathagata wants to kill me, then let it try! Let’s see if it can kill me faster than I can attain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]! It’s all about fighting for that sliver of hope!’

In an instant, the ideographs of Heaven and Earth turned upside down.

Within the vast Foundation Establishment Realm, the Buddha Light, Fruit Positions, Celestial Fire, and countless other ideographs tangled together into a chaotic mess. In the end, only a single speck of golden light remained, trekking through it all.

Hongtian’s Gold Attribute!

At this moment, he had clearly abandoned everything—his Dharma Body, the Grotto Heaven from his Fake Holding—and was using his five Abilities to propel his Gold Attribute, about to fly into the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]!

Almost simultaneously, the two Perfected Lords of the Yama Dao, [Fruit of Long-Flow Water] and [Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth], burst forth with brilliant light. They expanded at all costs, shifting from defense to offense. Countless overlapping palaces formed what looked like a massive, gluttonous maw, swallowing the True Body Tathagata and the Four Dao Fruit Positions whole!

In that instant, all was deathly still!

[Fruit of Roadside Earth], [Fruit of Level-Ground Wood], [Fruit of Gold-Foil Metal], [Fruit of Post-Road Earth], and even the True Body Tathagata all vanished, leaving behind only a sky washed clean and blue.

They’d gone all out!

Clearly, Hongtian’s act of self-sacrifice had spurred the two Perfected Lords of the Yama Dao to do the same. At the same time, high in the dome of the sky, two fiery lights flared and coalesced into words:

[Those who intend to escape shall suffer a great penalty]

[Those who see the monarch and do not kneel shall suffer a great penalty]

The two rules descended. In an instant, the Celestial Fire blazed brightly. The Emperor and the Three Ministers of the Immortal Court—four Perfected Lords in total—grunted almost simultaneously as Celestial Fire ignited on their bodies.

On the other side, the True Body Tathagata also frowned.

It wasn’t that it couldn’t withstand the two Celestial Fires, but doing so would cause its condition to decline, making it difficult to instantly break through the Yama Dao Perfected Lords’ obstruction.

However—

”If there’s only one Celestial Fire punishment, it won’t be much of a problem.”

The next second, without any hesitation, the True Body Tathagata sent down by the Bhagavat bent its knees and, with a great RUMBLE, knelt down in Hongtian’s direction!

This act, so utterly devoid of dignity and face, stunned even Hongtian. But at the same time, the True Body Tathagata had already broken through the obstruction while kneeling!

The process was extremely brief, like a flash of lightning.

After all, the two Perfected Lords of the Yama Dao were essentially pitting two against five. Even though they had risked grievous injury to barely manage it, holding on for a single moment was already their limit.

The next second, the palaces exploded.

BOOM!

The light of [Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth] and [Fruit of Long-Flow Water] dimmed instantly as they were utterly defeated. They could only stare wide-eyed in Hongtian’s direction.

’Can he succeed?’

’Is there any hope?’

At this moment, Lü Yang, who was below, was also looking up at the sky. As a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator with the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], his judgment was more precise:

’...So close!’

Almost simultaneously, Hongtian came to the same conclusion.

’There’s not enough time to attain it! The second before I can take possession of the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], the True Body Tathagata will arrive, grab me, and instantly Refine me!’

’What do I do?’

Hongtian’s thoughts raced, countless ideas flashing through his mind, but he couldn’t find a solution. Just then, however, a voice reached him:

”Keep going! Take the gamble!”

It was Lü Yang.

In an instant, Hongtian’s hesitation turned into resolve. He completely ignored the True Body Tathagata approaching from behind and flew madly toward the [Fruit of Celestial Fire].

「Meanwhile, at the Zouyu Ruins.」

Lü Yang’s true body looked up, his expression serene. A Golden Talent silently unfurled, drawing out all the Fortune he had accumulated over the years.

Golden Talent - Blessings Overflowing!

Golden Talent - Divination Lottery!

The former could separate good luck, while the latter could draw a fortune... Lü Yang couldn’t interfere directly; only a Golden Talent could intervene without a trace.

The next second, a golden light flashed!

[Moji]!

Although it wasn’t the Great Fortune that would guarantee victory, it still bought Hongtian a sliver of a chance. The True Body Tathagata’s advance was suddenly impeded.

This momentary obstruction was caused by the lingering ideographs left behind by the two Yama Dao Perfected Lords. It just so ”happened” to slow the True Body Tathagata’s movements for an instant.

But that alone was enough!

In that instant, Hongtian was like a bird finally freed from its cage, spreading its wings to soar—

SHING!

—a Sword Light, rising slowly from the South, severed everything.

The soaring bird’s wings were broken. Hongtian’s Qi trace plummeted instantly. He turned back in a daze, only to see a great net formed from the [Celestial Kingdom Supreme Technique] falling toward him.

And he was the butterfly caught in that spider’s web.