Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 632: Chapter 630: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand

’Something’s wrong!’

The next second, Lü Yang’s expression tensed. ’Even if I am going to pursue the Void Certificate, I can’t just follow the method recorded in the Path Opening Map!’

After all, would that really be *my* accomplishment?

’I’m afraid after all that effort, I’d just become nourishment for that Nameless Daoist Lord. He is a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord, and it’s not even clear if he’s dead or alive!’

But very quickly, another thought occurred to Lü Yang:

’The Path Opening Map is my opportunity, after all. And Taiyin Immortal Venerable did say I could imitate first and then surpass it. There’s no harm in just giving it a try...’

As this thought crossed his mind, Lü Yang’s expression changed drastically.

”A try, my ass!”

Lü Yang roared in anger as the Tribulation Wave from his True Treasure’s promotion emerged in his Spiritual Space. Sword Spirit Minghe leaped out and started pummeling his Soul.

”Heh heh... HA HA!”

The Daoist Child-like Minghe swung his little fists, which landed on Lü Yang’s Soul like a pitter-patter of raindrops. The seemingly harmless punches had a miraculous effect, shattering the idea of the Void Certificate in Lü Yang’s mind with each blow, allowing him to let out a long sigh of relief.

’Where did that bizarre thought come from?’

Lü Yang’s brow furrowed. His first suspect was his ”dear” senior sister, Taiyin Immortal Venerable. His expression flickered between light and dark, becoming utterly grim.

’Where did the problem originate?’

’First, it couldn’t be a baseless enchantment.’

’I’m not some Outer Dao True Monarch, let alone one of those Early Stage small fries from the Celestial Mansion. With my Emperor Fruit and the Grotto Heaven’s blessing, who could possibly control me directly?’

A Master of Dao? Yes, they could.

’But if it were a Master of Dao, I wouldn’t have woken up. I certainly couldn’t have expelled the influence using the Divine Effect of the Tribulation Wave. I would have been completely lost.’

’In other words, it must be Taiyin Immortal Venerable trying to enchant me. She can’t do it out of thin air like a Master of Dao, so there must be some kind of mystical medium behind it...’

Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to guess what it was:

’The Fruit of Money!’

’It was during the time I was speculating on the Wuyou Talisman. I became too closely aligned with the Fruit Position Imagery of the Fruit of Money, which gave my ”dear” senior sister the opening she needed!’

At this thought, Lü Yang’s gaze grew darker. ’I knew it. How could there be any ”good” senior sisters from the Saint Sect? She was clearly just protecting me because she saw my value. The Path Opening Map was probably left for me on purpose, too. I always said the Outer Dao Alliance was unworthy of possessing such a Supreme Treasure...’

’Now everything makes sense!’

’Her goal is the Void Certificate!’

’And it’s not just her. Even the Ancestral Master sending me here... perhaps he also saw my extraordinary talent and wants me to achieve the Void Certificate.’

At first glance, it looked like an opportunity.

In reality, however, blindly copying the method from the Path Opening Map to achieve the Void Certificate would lead to a terrible outcome. They’re treating me like a disposable consumable!

Lü Yang’s brow furrowed deeply as he fell into thought.

’No... that’s not quite right either. My ”dear” senior sister might see me as a consumable, but the Ancestral Master might not. Otherwise, he would have acted personally.’

If the Saint Sect Ancestral Master had acted personally, I would have faced certain death.

The fact that the Saint Sect Ancestral Master didn’t act implies one thing: in his eyes, there’s no real difference between me and Taiyin Immortal Venerable.

’He’s raising Gu!’

’Winner takes all. Whoever wins gets to advance to the next level.’

’In other words, in the Ancestral Master’s eyes, even when facing Taiyin Immortal Venerable—a Late Stage of Golden Core cultivator with an Emperor Fruit—I theoretically have a chance of winning!’

In that instant, a glint appeared in Lü Yang’s eyes. ’I still have a chance!’

’That’s right! The fact that I’ve almost mastered the Cultivation of the Celestial Mansion Six Qi so quickly, bringing the Void Certificate within reach, must have been beyond Taiyin Immortal Venerable’s expectations!’

This was all thanks to Student as a Model!

’Imagine if I didn’t have Student as a Model. I wouldn’t be able to hide behind the scenes; I would’ve had to enter the fray myself to gain the Cultivation of the Celestial Mansion Six Qi.’

’And under the rules of the Celestial Mansion, if I wanted to obtain a Fruit and its corresponding Cultivation, I’d have to buy it with money. To do that, I’d have to find ways to earn money. During that process, the influence of the Fruit Position Imagery of the Fruit of Money would grow stronger and stronger, until I was past the point of no return and completely enchanted!’

’That was Taiyin Immortal Venerable’s script!’

’In fact, the Fruits of the Celestial Mansion have been under Taiyin Immortal Venerable’s control for so many years, there must be something wrong with them. The more profit I made, the greater the influence on me would have been!’

A chill ran down Lü Yang’s spine at the thought.

He thought about how everything had gone so smoothly since he arrived at the Celestial Mansion, with countless opportunities falling into his lap... Who would have thought that he was just a puppet on someone else’s strings?

A mere clown!

’In truth, I was heading down that exact path... but my Student as a Model Talent Skill likely allowed me to avoid the greatest hidden danger.’

Because he never came into contact with the Celestial Mansion’s Fruits!

Thanks to Student as a Model, he could obtain the Cultivation he wanted without touching the Celestial Mansion’s Fruits. He could remain safely behind the scenes, untainted by any karmic links.

This must have exceeded Taiyin Immortal Venerable’s expectations!

Lü Yang gritted his teeth. ’That’s right... Because I never touched the Celestial Mansion’s Fruits, and even managed to see the Sea of Suffering, my ”dear” senior sister had to show herself!’

Because he was too fast!

According to his ”dear” senior sister’s script, he shouldn’t have been able to progress so quickly. This undoubtedly allowed him to slip slightly beyond her control.

’So, Taiyin Immortal Venerable appeared in the Sea of Suffering and fed me a line about how ”Saint Sect Disciples should love and support each other,” pulling my cultivation path back onto her intended track—the Void Certificate! She told me to first imitate existing Fruits, which seemed completely unrelated to the Path Opening Map, but in reality, she was using suggestion to influence me!’

’She’s so wicked!’

Veins bulged on Lü Yang’s forehead in anger, but he didn’t dare let any of it show. At this very moment, Taiyin Immortal Venerable was very likely watching him from the 9th Layer!