Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 704: Chapter 699: A Chaotic Mess

The Sword Pavilion actually entered the fray!

This was not only beyond the expectations of Ang Xiao and Fei Xue, but even Lü Yang hadn’t predicted it. It was a truly unexpected event.

For Lü Yang, however, it was a pleasant surprise—just as World Purger Fei Xue’s sudden intervention had been a pleasant surprise for Ang Xiao.

’That makes things fair, I suppose!’

Lü Yang laughed, but he quickly calmed himself as he realized an important problem. ’The Fruit of Pewter Metal... that’s the Sword Pavilion’s Exorcist Zhenren.’

’This is bad. He’s no match for Master Chong Guang. Master Chong Guang had a Magic Instrument to reverse the Chen Earth, but does this guy have that kind of skill? Even if he does, how many times can he reverse it? Without my help, Ang Xiao can make him fail from the Netherworld alone. The problem is, how can I help...’

Helping, in truth, would be simple.

He just needed to use the Tribulation Wave to leave a sword mark on Exorcist Zhenren’s Earth God’s Divine Technique. The problem was, how could he send the Tribulation Wave right under the Sword Pavilion’s nose?

Wouldn’t that be exposing his identity?

’Given True Monarch Gangxing’s shamelessness, he’d most likely confiscate my Tribulation Wave, or even follow the trail right back to my true body.’

Absolutely not!

”Daoist?”

Hongyun’s anxious voice called out beside him. He had clearly figured out a few things. ”This is our chance!” he said urgently. ”Should I start Seeking Gold now?”

Lü Yang glanced at Hongyun, his eyes lighting up. ’I’ve got it...!’

The next second, he spoke directly, ”Fellow Daoist Hongyun, where is the Tongming Yiyun Talisman Book? Quickly, notify Great Undertaking and have him write down exactly what I’m about to say.”

”Huh?”

Hongyun was stunned for a moment but didn’t dare to delay. Very quickly, Great Undertaking, far away in the Stain Sect, received Lü Yang’s message and immediately took action.

The content Lü Yang wanted him to write was simple, just a single sentence:

”The Sword Pavilion can return Chen Earth to Yang!”

This was the same method Master Chong Guang had used back then. It could temporarily borrow the Mighty Power of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, and now it was perfect for helping Exorcist Zhenren with his breakthrough from afar!

Almost simultaneously, within the Sword Pavilion, True Monarch Gangxing’s eyes flashed. ”...It’s done!” Without another word, he placed his hand directly on Exorcist Zhenren’s head, and his Mana poured in.

Lü Yang had already provided the Mighty Power of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire through the Tongming Yiyun Talisman Book. All Gangxing had to do was concentrate this power. Not long after, a miracle occurred—Exorcist Zhenren’s Earth God’s Divine Technique actually began to surge with roiling Yang Qi!

”A chance! A chance!”

Elsewhere, Hongyun grew even more excited. ”With the Sword Pavilion tying up Ang Xiao, and if I have that guy Chen Guanghan hold off Xue Feihong, I can go for Seeking Gold now, right?”

Lü Yang shot Hongyun another glance.

’So impatient. No wonder he hasn’t accomplished anything in five thousand years... Compared to him, the Hongtian from the Pseudo-History was far more reliable.’

”...Wait a little longer. Don’t move.”

Lü Yang shook his head. ”Whoever moves first, loses. We wait and see how things develop... Ang Xiao is the one who’s in a hurry now. We can’t afford to fall into disarray.”

’At this point, we can only rely on the Sword Pavilion’s own abilities. Since they dared to make a move, they must have a plan; they wouldn’t just be throwing their lives away. Let’s see how Ang Xiao responds. True Monarch Gangxing is a Great Perfected Lord, after all. He’s more than enough to put immense pressure on him.’

...

「In the Netherworld—an indescribable place.」

The moment he sensed Exorcist Zhenren Seeking the Fruit of Pewter Metal and his Chen Earth successfully returning to Yang, a look of helplessness appeared on Ang Xiao’s face.

”I can’t hold on anymore...”

Lü Yang’s judgment was spot-on. He was, in fact, at the end of his rope. The power of the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva was about to run out.

He could clearly feel the Unity he had temporarily suppressed now rebounding with ferocious speed. Some behemoth from the distant Other Shore seemed to have noticed the trouble he, a mere ant, was causing, and was slowly, deliberately, turning its gaze in his direction.

”I’ll give it a try first!”

Ang Xiao resorted to his old trick, once again performing a Finger Technique to summon the primordial Yin’s Chen Earth, trying to use it to indirectly influence Exorcist Zhenren’s Seeking Gold.

The very next second, however, the ringing of a sword was heard.

CLANG!

A flash of Sword Light directly severed the connection between him and Exorcist Zhenren, preventing him from influencing the man any longer. At the same time, a voice drifted into the Netherworld:

”My disciple is Seeking Gold. This has nothing to do with you, Daoist. Do not bring trouble upon yourself!”

”Nothing to do with me?” Ang Xiao sneered. ”He’s Seeking the Fruit of Pewter Metal, so it has everything to do with me. Gang Form, do you really intend to make an enemy of me?”

”Not at all.”

True Monarch Gangxing’s voice continued, ”It is you, Daoist, who intends to make an enemy of my Sword Pavilion. Who told you to choose the Fruit of Pewter Metal all those years ago?”

”...”

Ang Xiao was instantly enraged!

’A Sword Species from the Sword Pavilion dares to play sword games with *me*? This is rebellion!’

’When I chose the Fruit of Pewter Metal, three generations of Exorcist Zhenren’s ancestors hadn’t even been born! This is nothing but a false counter-accusation. How is this any different from slander?’

”You’re courting death!”

At this thought, Ang Xiao had already made his decision.

It was clear that True Monarch Gangxing’s sudden intervention had caused his once-advantageous situation to take a nosedive.

’First, I absolutely cannot let Exorcist Zhenren succeed, or I’m finished too. Second, the Pure Land is about to collapse, so the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth and the Fruit of Pewter Metal are off the table. The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire is being eyed greedily by Hongyun. Only the Fruit of Long-Flow Water is safe.’

But what good was that?

As long as there were still threats to the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire and the Fruit of Pewter Metal, he would never know peace. If the Pure Land’s arrangements failed, he would have no safety net.

’It’s time to make a move!’

Ang Xiao took a deep breath, his decision made. ’Even though Hongyun hasn’t shown himself yet, I’ve been pushed to the brink. I have to act now.’

Besides, things were different now from how they were at the beginning.

He now had a way to deal with Hongyun.

It was worth the gamble!

Thinking this, Ang Xiao immediately grasped the Earth-Walking Avatar, channeled his Mana to its peak, and then forcefully threw it toward the Current World.

BOOM!

In an instant, vast purple qi flooded Heaven and Earth!

Almost simultaneously, Lü Yang stood up in the dense forest, his eyes shining brightly.

’Finally... he’s out!’

Lü Yang looked up at the purple qi that filled the sky and curled his lip in disdain. ’Purple qi? As if I don’t have something similar? It’s just so black it looks purple!’

The time had come. This would decide victory and defeat!

”Let’s begin.”

Lü Yang looked at Hongyun and smiled serenely. ”Have Great Undertaking contact the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven. Have him delay Fei Xue for fifteen minutes. Then, you can begin Seeking Gold.”

Hongyun was taken aback.

But he quickly recovered, his expression replaced by excitement, as if he had returned to the era when he was the True Monarch of Celestial Destiny.

Back then, it had been the same. Blessed by the Fortune of Heaven and Earth, as long as he followed his instincts, everything he did felt as if someone were guiding him from behind—like divine assistance... Now, under Lü Yang’s arrangements, he felt that same sensation once again, and his fighting spirit soared.

A few moments later, Hongyun walked out of the dense forest.

At that moment, he finally stopped hiding his opportune moment. The light of Seeking Gold slowly rose, and the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, which had just been extinguished, was lit once more.

In an instant, all eyes between Heaven and Earth were upon him!

The various Perfected Lords, Fei Xue, Ang Xiao, True Monarch Gangxing, the Three Pure Land Bodhisattvas, the Dao Court... every gaze upon him was filled with scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang, still hidden in the shadows, took a deep breath.

’Success or failure... it all comes down to this!’