Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 575: Chapter 575: True Monarch of the Imperial Extreme and Fate

The boundless Sea of Suffering.

”Xue Feihong, you madman!”

An infuriated roar echoed out. The Sea of Suffering churned as six Fruits materialized, forming a five-on-one standoff.

On one side stood True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde, Emperor Jia You of the Dao Court, and the Three Ministers.

On the other was World Purger Fei Xue.

As soon as he broke free, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde glanced in the direction where Progenitor Tingyou had been, only to find nothing. His expression instantly darkened.

’He got away again!’

Despite his anger, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde didn’t dare show it. He didn’t even risk a glance at World Purger Fei Xue, the one who had allowed Progenitor Tingyou to escape, afraid the man would use it as another excuse to pick a fight.

After all, in the battle just now, Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers had the natural synergy of Dao Court Perfected Lords. Their Fruits were compatible, allowing them to remain relatively composed. But Chengtian Zhengde, who hailed from the Sword Pavilion, was the exception. He was also the weakest.

Under the circumstances, he had naturally become World Purger Fei Xue’s primary target. If not for Emperor Jia You intervening several times to help him, he would have already been killed!

’Where is the Sword Pavilion? Where are the other Sword Pavilion Perfected Lords?’

’Someone save me!’

At this thought, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde clenched his jaw in frustration. Unfortunately, this was a personal grudge, and the other Perfected Lords of the Sword Pavilion would not get involved.

So, after some consideration, he could only swallow his anger. With a flick of his sleeve, he prepared to leave.

But just then—

RUMBLE!

In an instant, Heaven and Earth trembled. The Sea of Suffering surged with monstrous waves, immediately drawing the attention of every Perfected Lord as figures of light began to appear.

”Is this... Is the Sea of Suffering about to reopen?”

”How unexpected. We are still sustaining our Fruits. By my calculations, it should have been another decade or so before we could observe the Current World. But now the Sea of Suffering is opening on its own?”

”Did that Tingyou fellow finally give out?”

”Unlikely... It must be related to that recent disturbance. It seems someone has claimed the Fruit of Celestial Fire. Did they decide there’s no longer a need to maintain the blockade?”

For a moment, all the Perfected Lords were lost in thought.

The Sea of Suffering was far from the mortal realm and filled with Perfected Lords of the same level, making everything a hassle. It was nothing like the Current World, where they could happily bully the lower cultivators as they pleased.

”...Time to go!”

Instantly, several Perfected Lords sprang into action.

The three remaining Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land, along with Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers, were the most eager. They descended toward the Current World one after another.

”Haha!”

Seeing this, World Purger Fei Xue—still full of vigor despite the great battle—grinned, a look of anticipation in his eyes.

”This is going to be a good show!”

.........

West River, ruins of the Pure Land.

Lü Yang stood with his hands behind his back, the flame Talisman on his brow reflecting the heavens as he gazed at the sky. Behind him, Empress Xiao and Suo Huan stood guard on his left and right.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by.

WHOOSH...

Within the breeze, a figure materialized from thin air. Clad in flowing white robes, he landed before Lü Yang, a smile on his handsome face.

Before he could speak, Lü Yang cupped his hands in a salute.

”Disciple greets Progenitor.”

Progenitor Tingyou paused, then chuckled and shook his head. ”You...”

But a moment later, he froze. With his current Cultivation, a single thought from his Divine Sense could survey Heaven and Earth, yet now he saw something unexpected in the West River.

’...The Skull Mountains?’

The Skull Mountains, which should have been in the North, were now situated in the heart of the West River, replacing the former Great Heroic Treasure Hall. And it wasn’t just the mountain range itself—the Lay Line within it, the connected Wu Ghost Secret Realm, and even the old Wu Ghost Mountain Gate had all been moved along with it!

Progenitor Tingyou whipped his head around, a complicated look in his eyes.

The mere Vast Skull Mountains were nothing to a Perfected Lord, but the Lay Line beneath Wu Ghost Mountain was another matter. Tampering with a Lay Line invites heavenly punishment!

Not even a Perfected Lord is exempt.

In fact, because a Perfected Lord can so easily affect Heaven and Earth, the resulting heavenly punishment is far more terrifying than the one faced by a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

And it is utterly unavoidable!

The heavenly punishment during Foundation Establishment might be divertible with a Secret Technique, but at the True Monarch Level, karmic links are as heavy as mountains. Once locked on, they cannot be deflected.

If that weren’t the case, why would True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde have opted to boil the frog slowly back then, deliberately leaving the Wu Ghost Secret Realm intact instead of just leveling the Skull Mountains with a single sword strike? It was all because he feared heavenly punishment would affect his own path of Dao. Even Perfected Lords are exceedingly cautious when it comes to heavenly punishment.

After all, the last person to defy heavenly punishment was named Fortune.

And everyone knows how that turned out.

This was precisely why Progenitor Tingyou’s expression had changed: to re-establish the Wu Ghost Sect in the West River, his disciple had endured heavenly punishment to move the Skull Mountains and its Lay Line here!

”Foolish child... There was no need for this,” Progenitor Tingyou sighed.

”Progenitor, I must disagree.”

Lü Yang shook his head. ”You get back up where you fell. Since we’re re-establishing the Wu Ghost Sect, it’s best to do it in the very place it was destroyed.”

”Besides...”

Here, Lü Yang suddenly winked at Progenitor Tingyou and chuckled. ”It was only a little heavenly punishment. Your disciple is no longer the Foundation Establishment cultivator he once was.”

Progenitor Tingyou blinked, then smiled and nodded. ”You’re right.”

RUMBLE!

Just then, up in the dome of the sky, Fruit Position Stars began to light up one by one. The first to manifest were those of the Dao Court’s Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers.

For the first time in thirty years, Perfected Lords had descended upon the world again.

Immediately after, the Great Net of Karma Links vibrated violently as all the newly manifested Perfected Lords began to divine the threads of fate, seeking to understand everything that had happened in the Current World over the past thirty years.

And then, all the Perfected Lords were stunned.

Emperor Jia You, in particular, refused to believe it and performed the divination again. But the result remained unchanged, and his face instantly turned a sickly shade of green with rage.

Until—

”Pfft.”

The irrepressible chuckle, coming from some unknown Perfected Lord, was like a spark that instantly ignited Emperor Jia You’s fury.

”You witch!!!”

Emperor Jia You’s crazed roar echoed across the land. A terrifying killing intent locked directly onto Lü Yang and the demure-looking Empress Xiao behind him.

Almost simultaneously, endless Buddha Light appeared over the West River, bathing it in a sacred glow. It immediately drew the worship and praise of countless mortals. After all, it had only been a little over a decade since Lü Yang had exterminated the Pure Land Buddhist Cultivators; a full generation had not yet passed. With the reappearance of the Buddha Light, there were still innumerable devout followers.

”Amitabha...”

Amid the chanting of the Buddha’s Name, the three Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land manifested one by one. The one in the lead was a woman of peerless beauty, her every glance overflowing with flirtatious charm. It was Bao Lian Hidden Buddha.

At this moment, however, this Pure Land Bodhisattva could no longer maintain her seductive allure.

Her beautiful eyes held nothing but shock and fury.

”Demon!”

Her furious cry resounded across the land. The three Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land then exchanged a look with the Dao Court’s Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers. Their goal was now aligned:

First, they would kill this Demon Dragon!

The next second, Heaven and Earth changed!

Fruit of Hairpin-Brace Metal, Fruit of Willow-Poplar Wood, Fruit of Pine-Cedar Wood!

Fruit of Roadside Earth, Fruit of Level-Ground Wood, Fruit of Gold-Foil Metal, Fruit of Post-Road Earth!

The Dao Court and the Pure Land—a total of seven Fruits—lit up at this moment. They joined forces, stirring the Sea of Suffering and seeming to transform into a ten-thousand-zhang tidal wave that swept forward!

Yet, in the face of such a sight, Lü Yang showed not a hint of fear. Instead, he laughed heartily.

Even if the Master of Dao didn’t interfere, how could establishing a Dao Lineage in the heartlands be so simple? A great battle was inevitable, and for it to happen now was perfect.

”Well met!”

As his voice fell, a cold light glinted in Lü Yang’s eyes. Although Progenitor Tingyou had deliberately concealed them, how could Lü Yang, with his current Cultivation, fail to see his progenitor’s injuries?

At this thought, a thunderous voice boomed from Lü Yang’s lips:

”Today, I establish my Dao Lineage in the West River. I shall use you all as a sacrifice to inaugurate it!”

As his voice fell, he unleashed his Qi trace. A pillar of clear light rose slowly, and in an instant, the sky and earth shook, revealing a magnificent and spectacular sight.

It was a Grotto Heaven.

Within it, stars were arrayed and mountains and rivers paid homage. It showed no intention of dodging, but instead slammed head-on into the tidal wave from the Sea of Suffering that had been stirred up by the seven Fruits!

In that instant, all the Perfected Lords came to a sudden realization.

A Golden Core Perfected Lord’s Grotto Heaven resonates with their Fruit, receiving profound mysteries from Heaven and Earth.

Thus, their titles are all born of Heaven and Earth, manifestations of imagery. And now, as Lü Yang completely unleashed his Qi trace, his own karmic links were revealed to the world:

Celestial Pillar Profound Grotto Heaven!

True Monarch of the Imperial Extreme and Fate!