Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 724: Chapter 719: We’ve Been Set Up by the Immortal Core Demon

[Human World].

Lü Yang’s shadow and Ang Xiao’s shadow sat facing each other. Both wore affable smiles as they stared, neither willing to yield.

In the end, it was Lü Yang’s shadow who broke the silence:

”Senior, do you think they’ll fall for it?”

”I don’t know.”

Ang Xiao’s shadow shook his head. ”I know very little about the Cultivators from the Star Palace. I’m not familiar with their methods, so I can’t make any rash judgments.”

”But no matter what, as long as they show up, it’ll be fine.”

”It doesn’t matter if they genuinely want to trade or if they’re here to surround and kill me. Once they’re here, I can just concede defeat. I’ll leave the rest to you, Daoist.”

At this, Ang Xiao’s shadow glanced at Lü Yang’s shadow and sighed. ”After all, for someone like me to appear is already outrageous enough. The Star Palace would probably never imagine that someone even more ferocious would come after me... But then again, it’ll probably be harder to set a trap like this again.”

”It doesn’t matter.”

Lü Yang’s shadow chuckled lightly. ”We’ll take what we can get... Besides, for some reason, I have a feeling my main body couldn’t care less about this sort of thing.”

As he spoke, he fell into deep thought.

’Strange...’

’As a shadow, I should be able to share memories with my main body. At the very least, I should have all the memories my main body had before leaving this afterimage of himself.’

’However, that wasn’t the case.’

’My memories have significant gaps. Even the Human World couldn’t imprint them? It seems my main body has quite a few secrets...’

Despite this, Lü Yang’s shadow remained completely unmoved. The lake of his heart was as calm as ever—a benefit of his Dao Heart Perfection. Even knowing that his main body was hiding a great secret, he only felt happy, believing his main body had a promising future on the Immortal Dao. He didn’t feel the slightest trace of ill intent.

”...They’re here!”

Suddenly, Ang Xiao’s shadow spoke. ”The fish have taken the bait. And there are two of them... I’ll go greet them. Daoist, please prepare to make your move.”

”Oh?”

Lü Yang’s shadow immediately lowered his gaze, looking toward Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe, who had just stepped into the Human World. At the same time, he sensed their Qi traces.

A second later, his brow relaxed.

’Two at the Early Stage...’

’This is a sure win!’

On the other side, Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe were thinking the exact same thing, because they discovered they had been separated upon entering the Human World.

Apparently, the Human World did not allow two people to challenge its trials together, so it had split them up. Even Ang Xiao’s shadow had divided into two to greet them both simultaneously. This was why Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe felt this was a sure win.

’This way, I can negotiate with him alone!’

The Star Monarch of Qinghe was thrilled. If he could negotiate with Ang Xiao alone and pass the trial with just one treasure, it wouldn’t be a bad deal.

As for Zhu Xuanhao?

’He’s just an apprentice. What’s it got to do with me? He isn’t my biological son; he was forced on me by the Zhu Xuan Clan. With an opportunity right in front of me, selling him out is nothing!’

Meanwhile, Zhu Xuanhao was also pondering:

’At this point, it looks like I have no choice but to hand over what I have. But if I’m going to give it up, there’s no way I’m letting that old bastard get a kickback!’

’That would be even more unbearable than giving away my own money!’

’That old bastard definitely has extra Five Elements Star Marrow and Sun and Moon Profound Juice. I’ll tell the guardian about it so he can extort a little more from him.’

Thinking this, Zhu Xuanhao felt no guilt whatsoever.

’He’s just my master. Selling him out is nothing!’

Just then, mist swirled, and Ang Xiao emerged, pacing forward with one hand behind his back. He came to a stop before Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe.

”Greetings, Daoist. Where are the things I asked for?” Ang Xiao asked, getting straight to the point.

Without a word, Zhu Xuanhao took out his share and said, ”I need a Magic Contract. You concede defeat first, then I’ll hand it over.”

”Fine,” Ang Xiao nodded.

”Also, that old bastard who came with me has more! At least three more portions. If you’re interested, Senior, you could squeeze a bit more out of him.”

”Hmm...”

Ang Xiao smiled faintly at his words, but seemed entirely unconcerned.

After all, at this point, whether it was more or less was meaningless.

On the other side, the Star Monarch of Qinghe also proposed a deal. Ang Xiao happily accepted, then voluntarily dispersed his form, actually choosing to concede defeat.

For a moment, both Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe were stunned.

’That easy?’

The Star Monarch of Qinghe, in particular, had been preparing for Ang Xiao to turn on him. He hadn’t expected him to be so true to his word.

’Could he be a fake Immortal Core Person?’

But soon, they cast these doubts to the back of their minds. No matter what, they had passed the trial! The opportunities of the Human World were theirs!

However, in the next second, they were stunned again.

”This change isn’t right.”

The Star Monarch of Qinghe blinked. ”According to the records of the Guardian’s lineage, the Essence of Divine Intent should be bestowed immediately after passing the trial.”

”Where’s my reward for passing?”

The only response was the sound of heavy footsteps.

CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP...

Each footstep landed like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe, striking their very Spiritual Spaces.

’Who is it? Didn’t we pass the trial?’

’Could it be...’

A thought instinctively surfaced in the Star Monarch of Qinghe’s mind, but he quickly dismissed it. ’What a joke. How could there be another expert?’

But facts don’t lie.

Soon, an image coalesced. A gate of light erupted from the ground within the Human World, and behind it, a figure as towering as a mountain was silhouetted. It lifted its foot and stepped forward.

”...This is bad!”

In that instant, the Star Monarch of Qinghe was the first to sense that something was wrong. His premonition had become reality—there really was another fucking expert!

In the next second, Lü Yang’s shadow stepped out from the gate of light.

BOOM!

He didn’t even use any Magical Techniques. He just brought a foot down. But with his towering Dharma Body, even a single footfall was like an Outer Realm collapsing—fierce to the Extreme, and impossibly fast. It gave the two of them no chance to react.

BANG!

The bodies of Zhu Xuanhao and the Star Monarch of Qinghe shattered on the spot. No apparition, no Profound Mysterious technique could stop this simple, unadorned, pure violence.

”...Middle Stage of Golden Core!?”

The Star Monarch of Qinghe immediately started cursing. ”Is anyone in charge here? How can you let someone like this in? Do you own the Human World or something?”

”This wasn’t a fair fight! We’ve been set up by an Immortal Core Demon!”

But soon, neither of them had the strength to curse anymore.

Because as Lü Yang’s foot fell, the deafening sound of his steps was powerful enough to shake their very Souls, making them dizzy and unable to stay composed.

Of course, this was inevitable.

A Middle Stage of Golden Core fighting two at the Early Stage of Golden Core, especially when the rules of the Human World forced it into one-on-one duels—the outcome was naturally without suspense.

Soon, the battle was over.

Lü Yang’s shadow didn’t kill them. He just knocked them all unconscious, their Souls lapsing into a coma, and sent them back to the pavilion in the Human World before the trial began.

”What now?”

Ang Xiao’s shadow walked over. ”Do we wait for our main bodies to come next time? That might take a while. Why don’t you and I have another nice chat?”

”...”

Hearing this, Lü Yang’s shadow glanced at Ang Xiao’s shadow. Then, under the other’s puzzled gaze, he suddenly broke into a grin, followed by the sound of—

BOOM!

He had self-destructed!

For a moment, even someone with the mental fortitude of Ang Xiao’s shadow was stunned. But he quickly came to his senses, and his expression changed drastically.

”You bastard!”

Before the word was even out of his mouth, there was another massive—BOOM.

He had self-destructed, too.

...

「Celestial Human Residual Consciousness, Taihuang Realm.」

After emerging from the Human World, Lü Yang and Ang Xiao had temporarily settled in this realm, planning how to get to the Immortal Pivot to find Mu Changsheng.

However, just then, Lü Yang suddenly pressed his lips together with a grunt, his Qi trace fluctuating slightly. This change immediately drew Ang Xiao’s attention, and he looked over.

”What’s wrong, Daoist?”

”...It’s nothing.”

Lü Yang smiled and stood up, his mind racing. ’I’m injured. Although the injury was redirected by the Rebirth Appearance, I was still hurt.’

’Who injured me from a distance?’

’The Human World? Was my shadow in the Human World killed by someone? Impossible. So... it self-destructed? Does my shadow need me for something?’

’He’s notifying me... that there’s a benefit to be had!’

In an instant, Lü Yang had sorted out his thoughts. Without any hesitation, he summoned the Righteous Banner, and billowing purple Qi immediately enveloped Ang Xiao.

”Ancestral Masters, hold him back!”

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Lü Yang had vanished into the Human World with lightning speed.

Meanwhile, after a moment of shock, Ang Xiao also grunted as he realized what had happened. ’My shadow self-destructed. Something happened in the Human World?’

’He left in such a hurry... There’s a benefit to be had!’

’That bastard! He’s trying to take it all for himself!’

In a flash of lightning and spark of flint, Ang Xiao also vanished from the spot.