Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 597: Chapter 597: The Struggle to Survive

Even in this moment of crisis, Lü Yang remained composed.

After all, he had experienced far too many similar situations during his Foundation Establishment. A crisis of this magnitude was nothing to him now. At the very least, he still had a way out.

By now, he had thought everything through.

’That damned Bhagavat!’

It had to be him!

Although Lü Yang didn’t know how he had connected with the Sword Pavilion, or how he had convinced True Monarch Gangxing to act, he was certain the Bhagavat was the one pulling the strings from the shadows.

The real question was True Monarch Gangxing’s motive.

After all, he had no grievances with the Sword Pavilion. In fact, considering the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, there was even a degree of goodwill between them. In theory, they should not be enemies.

’Could it be because I used the Fruit of Sword Dao?’

’Impossible.’

Lü Yang shook his head, dismissing the thought. The Centome had already cleansed his Fruit of Sword Dao, erasing all its karmic links. He had then hidden it inside the Myriad-Soul Banner, which had also been cleansed by the Centome. No one could trace its origins. At most, they would only know he possessed an Outer Dao Fruit.

But if not for the Fruit of Sword Dao, then what was it for?

Lü Yang put himself in True Monarch Gangxing’s shoes and considered the man’s greatest desire. It was likely to solve the problem of his incompatible Fruits.

Could he help him?

’No, the compatibility of Fruits should be irreversible. Once a mistake is made, there’s no turning back. Otherwise, he would have replaced his Fruit long ago with one like True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s.’

The Sword Pavilion currently had four Dao Fruit Positions.

The Fruit of River-Sand Gold, the Fruit of Stove-Inside Fire, the Fruit of Roof-Top Earth, and the Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth.

True Monarch Gangxing’s problem was the conflict between his Fruit of Stove-Inside Fire and Fruit of Roof-Top Earth. This was why he had lived in seclusion within the Sword Pavilion for so many years.

It was a problem with his Dao Foundation.

If he could freely swap for a matching Fruit, why would he be so troubled? He could have simply replaced his Fruit of Roof-Top Earth with the Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth and solved the problem.

However—

’If he could somehow alter the imagery of either the Fruit of Stove-Inside Fire or the Fruit of Roof-Top Earth, perhaps he could find another way to solve this issue.’

After all, the conflict between these two Fruits was a clash of their imagery. If the imagery of one changed and the conflict ceased, the problem would naturally resolve itself.

So, how could the imagery be changed?

’...An Emperor Fruit!’

In that instant, the truth became as clear as the sun parting the clouds for Lü Yang. ’That guy... could he be trying to make his Fruit of Stove-Inside Fire replace the Fruit of Celestial Fire?’

It wasn’t impossible!

If the Fruit of Stove-Inside Fire became an Emperor Fruit, it would naturally and completely suppress the Fruit of Roof-Top Earth, and the conflict between them would cease to exist.

’In that case, True Monarch Gangxing wouldn’t just recover to his peak. He could even become like Ang Xiao, wielding an Emperor Fruit, and the Nascent Soul realm would be within his grasp! A scheme like this couldn’t have been conceived overnight. He has likely been plotting this in secret for many years.’

Of course, he could also try to make the Fruit of Roof-Top Earth into an Emperor Fruit.

However, the current Earth Element Supreme Venerable was the Fruit of Rampart Earth, which was tied to the Bhagavat... Compared to fighting the Bhagavat for a piece of the pie, the Fruit of Celestial Fire was undoubtedly a better target.

At this thought, something else occurred to Lü Yang:

The lineage for the Fruit of Celestial Fire was almost extinct in the current era!

The given reason was that the Fruit of Celestial Fire was difficult to attain, which seemed perfectly logical... But looking at it now, with countless capable people in the world, just because it was difficult, did that mean no one would even try to attain it?

Besides, the Foundation Establishment from the Fruit of Celestial Fire was incredibly powerful.

’It’s possible... that this True Monarch Gangxing had a hand in it, deliberately wiping out the Fruit of Celestial Fire’s lineage to make this Dao Fruit fall into obscurity!’

After all, an ownerless Fruit would be much easier for him to manipulate.

’If that’s true, then by attaining the Fruit of Celestial Fire, I’ve likely ruined his years of planning. That would explain his motive for ambushing me...’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but sigh.

’In this broken place, you really can’t underestimate anyone.’

Take True Monarch Gangxing, for example. His style was like an enchanted sword hidden deep in its scabbard. As long as it remained sheathed, he was unmoved by any outside rumors or gossip.

But once unsheathed, it was to kill!

At this moment, Lü Yang felt the profound killing intent from True Monarch Gangxing. He knew there was no possibility of the man backing down. From the moment he attained the Fruit of Celestial Fire, they were, to put it severely, already Dao-enemies! This would only end when one of them fell.

HUFF...!

Having figured everything out, Lü Yang let out a deep sigh. He felt waves of dizziness wash over him, and the bloody mark etched on his neck had widened without him noticing.

After such a grueling battle, he was already at the end of his rope.

He had only managed to hold on this long because he had swallowed the Outer Dao Fruit from the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, which had boosted his cultivation and allowed him to refine a True Treasure. Otherwise, he would have died a violent death long ago.

Suddenly, a chill ran through Lü Yang’s heart.

A Spiritual Sense warning of imminent doom and certain death surfaced, making him look up in the Void Land with a sudden realization: ’That Sword Species... has already locked onto me!’

If he were to leave now and fall into the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, True Monarch Gangxing would instantly appear before him. Within three feet—once a Sword Cultivator with far superior cultivation got that close, his life or death would no longer be his to decide, but entirely at the other’s mercy. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

’I have to take a gamble.’

Lü Yang didn’t want to start over, so he immediately formed a Daoist Hand Seal. The Banner of Righteous Teachings materialized behind him, and Suo Huan, Progenitor Tingyou, and Empress Xiao appeared side-by-side.

”I’ll be counting on the three of you.” Lü Yang bowed deeply.

If True Monarch Gangxing had miscalculated anything...

...it was perhaps them.

’Aside from Empress Xiao, Fellow Daoist Suo Huan and Progenitor Tingyou have both been cleansed by the Centome. The only reason they had previous karmic links was because they were wearing the ”skin” of their original selves in this lifetime.’

But as long as those karmic links of their original selves were stripped away...

...they would revert to being untraceable Banner Spirits, free of karmic links, and impossible to scry. Therefore, True Monarch Gangxing certainly hadn’t factored them into his calculations!

From the very beginning, Lü Yang’s movements through the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, his entries and exits from the Void Land, and his scrying for anchor points were all just bait to mislead True Monarch Gangxing.

In reality, Progenitor Tingyou and Suo Huan were on the other side, scrying for a completely different anchor point.

’Returning to the Immortal Pivot... is no longer possible. The path back is blocked; I can’t scry a result at all. And if I go anywhere else, he will just catch up.’

To survive, he had to go somewhere True Monarch Gangxing wouldn’t dare to follow.

There was only one answer:

’The Celestial Mansion!’

Lü Yang still carried the Water and Fire Tribulation left by the Lesser Yin Immortal Monarch. If he could draw upon its karmic links, he could scry the coordinates of the Celestial Mansion’s location.

And as a super-class Outer Realm, True Monarch Gangxing certainly wouldn’t dare to barge in rashly.

After all, a Great Perfected Lord at the Late Stage of Golden Core was far too conspicuous. He, on the other hand, was only at the Early Stage of Golden Core. With a little concealment, he would have some room to maneuver.

”Do we really have to do this?”

Inside the Righteous Banner, Progenitor Tingyou had a worried expression. ”We don’t have much intelligence on the Celestial Mansion, and they are hostile to us. It will surely be fraught with danger.”

”And what about the West? Are you going to abandon the Righteous Qi Dao you just founded?”

Lü Yang shook his head, his tone firm. ”Lose the land to save the people, and you can retake the land. Lose the people to save the land, and you will lose both... To gain anything, one must first be willing to sacrifice!”

”Besides, I don’t necessarily have to abandon it.”

”The disciples of the Righteous Qi Dao can remain there. They can serve as my link to the Immortal Pivot and the Saint Sect. In any case, I can summon them at any time with the Righteous Banner.”

”This is merely a temporary strategic withdrawal. As long as I can find a chance to catch my breath, recover my strength, and heal these injuries, I can—at worst—kill myself once and walk out of the Fruit of Celestial Fire’s Resurrection. I should be able to return then. And when that time comes, I’ll settle the score with that gang of Sword Species from the Sword Pavilion!”

Speaking of which, Lü Yang ground his teeth in frustration.

If it were just a matter of escaping back to the Immortal Pivot, he could have found a way. But with True Monarch Gangxing watching him like a tiger, he would still be facing near-certain death even if he made it back.

As for World Purger Fei Xue?

’Heaven knows if she’ll strike some other deal with the Sword Pavilion and sell me out... After all, didn’t she just use me as bait this time?’

The Saint Sect True Monarchs can’t be trusted!

He had to rely on himself!

Therefore, after thinking it over and over, Lü Yang decided he might as well take his chances in the Celestial Mansion.

At least the imagery of the Fruits in the Celestial Mansion would be great nourishment for his Fruit of Celestial Fire. If he played his cards right, it could even be an opportunity for him to advance rapidly.

This is my struggle... to survive!