Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 612: Chapter 612: Talking with the Dragon Monarch, The Stain Sect’s Reputation

Immortal Pivot, Jiangxi.

Though only two years had passed, Jiangxi had already undergone subtle changes compared to the period of Pure Land rule; the number of Cultivators had gradually begun to increase.

And at the heart of Jiangxi.

The former Dragon Palace had been moved here. The Old Dragon Monarch was entrenched within but had restrained the Dragon Race under his command, so he had not, in fact, replaced the Righteous Qi Dao.

As a result, all of Jiangxi was still managed by the subordinates Lü Yang had left behind—the Cultivators from the former Incense and Candle Divine Dao and the Imperial City Department. Meanwhile, the Old Dragon Monarch, and indeed the entire Dragon Race, were held in high esteem. The two sides had reached a delicate balance, neither interfering with the other’s daily affairs.

At that moment, inside the great hall of the Righteous Qi Dao.

Dressed in magnificent robes with a solemn expression, Xiao Shan sat upright. After Lü Yang left, he, as the second-in-command of the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, had naturally shouldered this heavy responsibility.

The Imperial City Department, which had fallen into turmoil after Lü Yang’s disappearance, only regained its calm under his iron-fisted rule.

After that, a few obtuse Incense Fire Gods had come to ”urge his accession,” wanting to place a royal robe upon him, but he had them all beaten to death.

This was because Xiao Shan firmly believed:

”The Master is absolutely not dead!”

”Back in the year the Master was Seeking Gold, I voluntarily allowed myself to be Refined by him. If the Master had truly died, I would have died as well, following him into death.”

”Since I’m not dead, the Master must be alright!”

”So, until the Master returns, I must watch over Jiangxi for him. To do otherwise would be to betray the years of trust he placed in me and all he has done to nurture my growth...”

Xiao Shan’s eyes were tightly shut as he silently refined the Incense.

Behind him, Lü Yang listened to the many stray thoughts in Xiao Shan’s mind and sighed with emotion. ’Your loyalty is commendable. I wasn’t wrong to trust you back then.’

[Puppet] activated!

The next second, Lü Yang’s figure overlapped with Xiao Shan’s. Then, ”Xiao Shan” opened his eyes and let out a long breath of Muddy Qi.

’Sorry, just need to borrow your body for a moment...’

He had not used [Puppet] in a long time, but with his true body now far Beyond the Heavens, this was the only way he could return.

Lü Yang then stood up, formed a Daoist Hand Seal, and summoned a ray of Flying Light, heading straight for the Dragon Palace. At the same time, he gathered his Mana, and his voice boomed across the sky, thundering into the Dragon Palace. ”Senior Dragon Monarch, this junior, Lü Yang, has come with a request. I implore you to grant me an audience.”

In an instant, a Divine Sense awakened in the depths of the Dragon Palace.

’Lü Yang? He’s back?’

The Old Dragon Monarch gazed out. He frowned upon seeing ”Xiao Shan,” then pinched his fingers to perform a divination. A moment later, his expression turned to one of intense curiosity.

’I can’t divine anything.’

’No matter how I look at him, this Demon is that Xiao Shan. But how could a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator dare to lie to me? Could it be some powerful puppet Secret Technique?’

At this thought, the Old Dragon Monarch immediately released his Spiritual perception.

The next second, Lü Yang felt the world spin. By the time he recovered, he was already deep within the Dragon Palace, and a sturdily built, middle-aged man was walking toward him.

No words were needed. The sheer difference in Position emanating from the man was enough for Lü Yang to confirm his identity.

”This junior, Lü Yang, greets the Old Dragon Monarch.”

”...The True Monarch of the Imperial Extreme and Fate?”

The Old Dragon Monarch’s brow furrowed. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, ”Daoist, you fled Beyond the Heavens long ago, and we have had no word of you since. I wonder, what happened?”

”It is a long story...”

Lü Yang did not hold back, explaining that he had gone Beyond the Heavens to seek a breakthrough, only to be ambushed by the Pure Land and attacked by True Monarch Gangxing.

The Old Dragon Monarch was now mostly convinced.

’A mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator couldn’t possibly know the secrets shared between Perfected Lords, let alone speak of them so clearly... It seems he really is the True Monarch of the Imperial Extreme and Fate.’

With this thought, a smile finally appeared on the Old Dragon Monarch’s face. He returned the courtesy, saying, ”Daoist, your methods are truly extraordinary to be able to return to the Current World from so far Beyond the Heavens. Rest assured, Daoist, I have watched over Jiangxi well in your stead. Those bald-headed fools from the Pure Land have tried to invade several times, but I have driven them back each time.”

”Thank you for your protection, Senior.”

Lü Yang smiled, a clear gesture of goodwill. By accepting the Old Dragon Monarch’s help, he acknowledged the favor. At Lü Yang’s words, the smile on the Old Dragon Monarch’s face grew more sincere.

”May I ask, Daoist, for what reason have you come seeking me out today?”

”I have come to ask about the Dao.”

Lü Yang did not beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. ”My Cultivation has improved recently, but I find myself vexed by the Void Certificate, which is why I’ve come to ask for your guidance, Senior.”

”...A Void Certificate?”

Hearing this, the Old Dragon Monarch narrowed his eyes, a flicker of shock in his heart. ’This... doesn’t sound like someone overreaching. It sounds like he’s genuinely made some progress.’

’Is his talent really that high? It hasn’t even been ten years since his Seeking Gold Ascension Position, and it’s said he has already Refined his first True Treasure. Now he’s even gained some insight into the Void Certificate? Is the Emperor Fruit truly that powerful? I don’t recall feeling this way back then... Or could it be that this man is truly a one-in-a-million prodigy?’

After a moment of silence, the Old Dragon Monarch said in a low voice:

”If the Void Certificate you speak of, Daoist, is the next step of the Seeking Dao Immortal Technique... then I do know a little and can try to resolve your doubts.”

”Thank you, Senior!”

Lü Yang cupped his hands in respect and eagerly asked, ”May I ask, Senior... for this Void Certificate, does one need the support of five True Treasures to succeed?”

’HISS!’ ℯℯ𝑙.

The moment he heard this, the Old Dragon Monarch sucked in a sharp breath. ’It’s real. He’s truly grasped it, and it’s more than just a fleeting glimpse!’

”...It is indeed five.”

The Old Dragon Monarch said in a grave voice, ”Generally, constructing the Seeking Dao Immortal Technique with three True Treasures to keep the Grotto Heaven from collapsing is already the limit of Cultivation. To condense a fourth, or even a fifth True Treasure, is extremely difficult—an insurmountable chasm. Rumor has it that only those with an Emperor Fruit can accomplish this smoothly.”

’I actually guessed right!’

Lü Yang felt a flicker of joy and hurriedly continued, ”What is the significance of the Void Attainment Position? How does it help in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm? Please teach me, Senior.”

The Old Dragon Monarch: ”...”

’You’ve got a lot of nerve, asking that!’

The Old Dragon Monarch bared his teeth. With a grand wave of his hand, he sealed the surrounding karmic links, then said in a low voice, ”What I know is only hearsay...”

”Once you hear it, Daoist, you must not spread it carelessly.”

Lü Yang’s eyes lit up.

’Is he about to share the good stuff?’

”This junior understands!” Without a moment’s hesitation, Lü Yang walked up to the Old Dragon Monarch and cast his own spell to sever the karmic links. ”Please enlighten me, Senior.”

”...As far as I know, the Void Attainment Position is a cultivation path that should only be accessible in the Late Stage of Golden Core, after one has become a Great Perfected Lord. You use the Fruit manifested through the Void Certificate to swallow your original Fruit. From that point on, its Mighty Power is entirely your own, no longer bound by any external forces. Flawless and whole—that is Golden Core Perfection!”

In that instant, everything clicked into place for Lü Yang.

’Golden Core Perfection... so that’s what Golden Core Perfection is! No wonder... Hm?’

Suddenly, Lü Yang frowned. ’Great Perfected Lords in the Late Stage of Golden Core are all created with multiple Fruits. Does this mean they have to Swallow all of them?’

The Old Dragon Monarch glanced at Lü Yang.

’As expected of someone from the Stain Sect. He figured it out so quickly.’

”...That’s right.”

The Old Dragon Monarch nodded slightly. ”So, those Great Perfected Lords who achieved their status by gathering the power of others may seem impressive, but in reality, they have already lost any hope of reaching Perfection.”

To reach Perfection, they would have to Swallow the other Fruits. But their own Great True Monarch Position is supported by those very same Perfected Lords. If the others were to rebel, their Position would plummet. Forget reaching Perfection; they wouldn’t even be able to maintain their Late Stage status. It would be a gamble where they not only fail to win but lose what they already have.

’How insidious!’

Lü Yang’s eye twitched as he listened. He glanced again at the Old Dragon Monarch... ’This monarch has been stuck at the Middle Stage of Golden Core for countless years. He might just be ambitious!’

’He wants to reach Golden Core Perfection, which is why he’s remained at the Middle Stage of Golden Core all this time, looking for a way to become a Great Perfected Lord by monopolizing other Fruits himself?’

’No wonder Ang Xiao is so confident and aims to become a Master of Dao... he actually has a real chance!’

’In contrast, this so-called method of becoming a Great Perfected Lord by gathering the strength of others seems like a step forward, but in reality, it completely severs one’s path to becoming an Immortal.’

’So vicious!’

”This method... where did it originally come from?”

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Lü Yang knew he had asked a foolish question.

The Old Dragon Monarch gave him a strange look and then provided the answer he was already expecting. ”Where else could it have come from?”

”The Stain Sect, of course.”