Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 659: Chapter 654: A Man Has Gold Under His Knees

Demon Subduing Zhenren, the true direct lineage of the Sword Pavilion.

Lü Yang remembered clearly. He had met this person once before the end of his previous life. The man cultivated none other than the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal], one of the Emperor Fruits.

’The Sword Pavilion has three Daoist titles: Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, Exorcism, and Subduing Demons. Demon-Vanquishing Perfected is needless to say—just fodder used to prove the Sword Dao. Exorcism had bad luck; because he cultivated the [Fruit of Pewter Metal], it conflicted with [Ang Xiao], so he was abandoned too. Only this Demon Subduing Zhenren was protected very well.’

Lü Yang made a quick calculation, and the cause and effect of the matter became clear to him:

’Calculating the time, at this point in my previous life, he should have just refined his Fifth Divine Technique, and his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Perfection was not far off.’

Then, he glanced at [Tai].

This first Emperor Venerable of the Taihuang Realm didn’t follow an orthodox path, but he was not weak. In fact, even in the Immortal Pivot, his strength would rank among the very best.

In his memory, he had once encountered Demon Subduing Zhenren on the Path to Immortality and was defeated in three strikes. He only escaped death by fleeing in a sorry state. At first glance, that sounded pathetic, but when he thought about it, what level was Demon Subduing Zhenren? A Foundation Establishment Perfection Zhenren cultivating an Emperor Fruit!

Moreover, coming from the Sword Pavilion, he surely possessed Sword Intent.

With both of these factors combined, one could imagine the extent of Demon Subduing Zhenren’s power. He was definitely among the elite of Foundation Establishment Perfection, not much different from Lü Yang before he had succeeded in Seeking Gold.

And yet, he hadn’t managed to slay [Tai].

Three sword strikes, yet he only managed to injure him, and in the end, [Tai] even escaped... From this point alone, [Tai]’s strength was already absurdly high.

’Then again, that’s to be expected.’

’After all, he was founded on my blood. And this [Tai] is different from an ordinary Emperor Venerable—he actually managed to process three drops of my blood within his body.’

A single drop of his blood could create an Emperor Venerable.

Let alone three.

After the Soul Searching, Lü Yang also understood the story behind it: an ordinary Emperor Venerable would reach the end of their lifespan and die after dominating the Taihuang Realm for ten thousand years.

However, Heaven always leaves a way out. If, before their time was up, an Emperor Venerable’s cultivation could advance a step further and once again draw down the ”Immortal blood,” or if they consumed an Elixir of Immortality tainted with ”Immortal blood,” they could live a second life, extending their lifespan by another ten thousand years. And [Tai] was just such an Emperor Venerable.

In fact, he had done both.

Not only was his cultivation profound enough to draw down the Immortal blood a second time, but he had also consumed an Elixir of Immortality. This granted him a lifespan of thirty thousand years, and he was now in the twilight of his third life.

”That’s quite impressive,”

Lü Yang remarked with a note of praise. Though he came from a Little Realm Heaven, it wasn’t as if Little Realm Heavens didn’t produce prodigies. After all, wasn’t Summon also from a Little Realm Heaven back in the day?

More than this, Lü Yang was interested in the so-called [Path to Immortality].

’The Path to Immortality... it’s most likely a spatial passage leading to the interior of the shadow region. Demon Subduing Zhenren can actually go to a place like that?’

Could that place be the Sword Pavilion’s territory?

It’s possible! After all, if the Stain Sect secretly set up a Celestial Mansion, how could the Sword Pavilion not have something similar?

’Come to think of it, Demon Subduing Zhenren cultivates the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal]. An Emperor Fruit is incredibly difficult to cultivate, yet he managed to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection, and even has hopes of succeeding in Seeking Gold...’

He recalled how much effort he had put into cultivating the [Fruit of Celestial Fire] back then. Even with the accumulations of ten lifetimes, he had still nearly failed at the last moment.

How did Demon Subduing Zhenren manage it?

Could there be some colossal opportunity hidden within the shadow region?

’In my previous life, I even managed to break through the Sword Pavilion’s defenses, but I never once saw a sign of Demon Subduing Zhenren. Then, later, he just appeared out of nowhere.’

Could he have been hiding here all along?

The more Lü Yang speculated, the more his curiosity about the shadow region grew. He once again reviewed [Tai]’s memories of the Path to Immortality.

It was a gateway that had appeared inexplicably.

When it opened, Heaven and Earth trembled. Ancient incantations echoed across the world like some distant sacrificial rite, and bodies even fell from it out of thin air.

Besides that, there were also numerous phantom buildings.

Through [Tai]’s memories, Lü Yang also saw what the Path to Immortality looked like. He saw the magnificent silhouettes of light standing within, resembling a grand palace.

At the time, [Tai] had thought it was a great calamity. It wasn’t until he drew near to stop it that he discovered the Immortal light splashing out from it could actually extend his life force, nourishing his body and soul. He immediately became convinced that it was the heavenly path to the Immortal Realm.

”Immortal light that extends life force?”

Surprise flickered in Lü Yang’s eyes. He looked at [Tai], and without giving the man any chance to refuse, he swept his spiritual perception over him and retrieved a translucent crystal.

This was the condensed form of that Immortal light from the past.

[Tai] had absorbed one, causing his cultivation to skyrocket and allowing him to live a second life. Unfortunately, absorbing a second one had no effect, so he chose to keep it on his person.

This was because [Tai] had discovered that if he kept this Immortal Light Crystal close, it could seal his life force, ensuring that he wouldn’t be affected by the passage of time while he slept in the forbidden zone. There were many similar crystals; a great deal of them had scattered out back then. The Emperor Venerables of later generations who established forbidden zones almost all had one.

Lü Yang held the crystal and examined it with his senses for a moment.

’Just as I thought... this is imagery! Condensed imagery!’

In that instant, Lü Yang’s eyes lit up. ’And it’s a Time Imagery Crystal. When [Tai] absorbed it, strictly speaking, his lifespan wasn’t truly extended.’

’Instead, his personal timeline was slowed down even further!’

Lü Yang wasn’t interested in this kind of imagery crystal. What truly intrigued him was the source of the imagery, which was very likely an incredibly powerful Fruit.

But soon, he frowned.

”The Path to Immortality is sealed?”

Hearing this, [Tai], who had been eager to prove his worth, quickly whispered, ”Although it is sealed, the time for it to open is fast approaching.”

”The reason we Emperor Venerables slumber and transform ourselves into forbidden zones is to wait for the Path to Immortality to open again, so we can charge in at the right time and the right place... Back then, I was alone and couldn’t manage, but this time, with ten Emperor Venerables working together, unless a True Immortal descends, no one will be able to stop us!”

Of course, none of that mattered now.

[Tai]’s gaze was incredibly fervent. He was already convinced that Lü Yang was the True Immortal he had been longing for. With a True Immortal right in front of him, wasn’t that far more reliable than the Path to Immortality?

At this thought, he dropped to his knees and prostrated on the ground.

”Lower Cultivator Tai is willing to serve you devotedly from this day forth, Immortal, and I will not shrink even from ten thousand deaths. I only ask that the Immortal bestow a Fa to help this realm turn from danger to safety. This Lower Cultivator would be eternally grateful!”

At these words, Lü Yang raised an eyebrow slightly. ”You don’t want a long life?”

[Tai] shook his head upon hearing this.

”This Lower Cultivator dares not be greedy. I only ask that the Immortal save this realm. As for a long life... that is a selfish desire of this Lower Cultivator that I dare not hope for. I am willing to stake my life on the Path to Immortality!”

As his voice fell, Lü Yang let out a soft laugh, his expression tinged with emotion.

Both from a Little Realm Heaven, both fighting for their own Outer Realm... It made him think of Summon.

”Very well.”

Lü Yang changed the subject. ”I have a Daoist in my sect who established the [Huanxu Heaven]. You have an affinity with him. Since you are so sincere, how about I accept you as a disciple on my friend’s behalf?”

[Tai] said nothing more and immediately kowtowed. ”Greetings, Sect Leader.”

’He understood the situation perfectly. The person before him was a living True Immortal. Compared to an Immortal’s legacy, what was he? This was not the time to be concerned with an Emperor’s dignity.’

’A man’s knees are worth their weight in gold.’

’And right now, it was time to cash in!’

’Besides, Lü Yang had mentioned a ’Daoist,’ which meant there was more than one True Immortal. Their Sect must have an extraordinary background. He might even be the one getting the better end of this bargain!’