Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

”It’s finally happening... Perfect timing!”

Gazing toward the Pure Land, Lü Yang appeared perfectly calm. After all, he had already confirmed with Demon-Vanquishing Perfected that his Demon-Vanquishing Original Body would try to achieve Sword Dao this way.

’If it were me, I would definitely do it this way.’

’Because if the Perfected Lords were active, I could never do anything to the Pure Land. Only when the Perfected Lords are embroiled in a chaotic battle do I have an exploitable opening.’

It was simple logic.

The last time Demon-Vanquishing Perfected went to the Pure Land to achieve Sword Dao, he only succeeded in severing their Unity single-handedly because all the world’s Perfected Lords were in seclusion.

This was what Demon-Vanquishing Perfected intended to do all along.

’Or rather, if I knew there was no hope for survival, this is the choice I would inevitably make.’

’Unless it was like that one lifetime where a Daoist gave me a chance at survival, allowing me to achieve Sword Dao without dying. Only then might I have changed my mind.’

Everything was proceeding just as Lü Yang had predicted.

To that end, he had specifically used [Night Exorcism] and [Profound Water], combining their power to conceal the karmic links of this lifetime’s Demon-Vanquishing Original Body and avoid detection.

The results were clear.

No one could have predicted that Demon-Vanquishing Perfected would attempt to achieve Sword Dao this way—by using the Pure Land’s Unity, turning the Pure Land and the Sword Pavilion into irreversible enemies of the Dao!

In this situation, how could Bao Lian Hidden Buddha possibly continue to concern herself with Emperor Jia You?

For the sake of Unity, she had to return to the Pure Land immediately, kill Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, destroy the Sword Dao, and ensure that Unity would not be completely severed.

But destroy the Sword Dao... Would the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord allow that?

At this thought, Lü Yang smiled. He strode forward and, with a simple gesture, effortlessly took the [Eternal Sword] in hand.

”Haaaah...”

True Monarch Gangxing exhaled deeply, his face filled with unresigned bitterness. But with his Sword Intent and Mana completely depleted, he could no longer stop what was happening.

BOOM!

The final blow was not a magnificent beam of Sword Light, but merely a weak, powerless discharge of residual Mana. It couldn’t even hinder Lü Yang.

As he breathed his last and his Mana ran dry, True Monarch Gangxing’s eyes finally fell shut. His Dharma Body detonated with a boom, shattering into a bloody mist that filled the sky. Only a single Golden Soul remained, which shot away like a bolt of lightning and vanished into the Netherworld in the blink of an eye. Not even Emperor Jia You could capture it.

Body dead, soul reincarnated!

However, this was not the end. Up in the firmament, the [Fruit of River-Sand Gold] suddenly flared with brilliant light. Within the Fruit, three towering, shadowy forms faintly emerged.

[Jinhua Guanyuan Cave Heaven]

True Monarch Gangxing’s Grotto Heaven!

Lü Yang looked up and saw that the towering, mountain-like Grotto Heaven now lacked the wholeness a Great Perfected Lord’s should possess; on the contrary, it was covered in cracks.

Anchored below this Grotto Heaven were two others, their connected Fruits being the [Fruit of Stove-Inside Fire] and the [Fruit of Roof-Top Earth]. But the two were not in harmony; they clashed with one another. This conflict escalated to its absolute peak the very instant True Monarch Gangxing fell.

’I see. So that was the hidden danger.’

’The anchored Grotto Heavens are in conflict. Once the owner dies and reincarnates, the instability can no longer be suppressed. It immediately triggers a chain reaction, causing all three Grotto Heavens to crumble at once!’

RUMBLE!

The next moment, just as Lü Yang had predicted, True Monarch Gangxing’s Grotto Heaven could no longer be sustained. His realm plummeted, and the Grotto Heaven actually broke away from its Fruit!

The Grotto Heaven was crumbling and falling!

And without the primary Grotto Heaven to anchor them, the Grotto Heavens of the Sword Pavilion’s other two Perfected Lords also began to fall, sending violent tremors throughout the entire Foundation Establishment Realm!

In that moment, a rain of blood filled the sky.

This also created an extremely awkward situation: The Sword Pavilion now had no Perfected Lords left to protect the Sword Dao, unless the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord himself descended.

Or—

”I can help.”

Lü Yang raised the [Eternal Sword], his expression calm as he sent a mental message, ”Lend me this treasure and help me break through to the realm of Great Perfected Lord. In return, I can help you, Senior, reclaim the Sword Dao!”

”...”

Suddenly, everything fell silent.

Whether it was the battle between Perfected Lords in the heavens above or the ordinary mortals on the vast continents below, everything at this moment fell into a strange, eerie stillness.

Only Lü Yang remained unaffected.

A familiar sensation washed over him. It was the same feeling he’d had in the past when Unity was severed, the [Fruit of Rampart Earth] broke free, and the Bhagavat had ’looked’ his way.

This time, it was even more intense. The Master of Dao’s gaze wasn’t directed elsewhere; it was fixed squarely on Lü Yang. And yet, Lü Yang no longer stood frozen as he had in that other lifetime, not daring to even twitch. He even took the initiative to raise his head and look to the sky.

The next moment, he smiled:

”Senior, let’s make a deal.”

”You don’t want to see the Sword Dao destroyed, do you? Help me become a Great Perfected Lord, and I’ll help you reclaim the Sword Dao. It’s a fair trade—a perfect solution for us both.”

”In this world, unless a Master of Dao descends in person, only I can save the Sword Dao.”

”Because I cultivate the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]. Only by using it to become a Great Perfected Lord will I have the power to alter the rule that now binds the Sword Dao to the Pure Land’s Unity!”

”...”

There was no reply, only a silent gaze.

If anyone knew what was happening right now, even Ang Xiao would be utterly dumbfounded and give him a look that screamed, *Damn, you’re a ruthless one.*

Because at this moment, Lü Yang was blackmailing a Master of Dao!

Just like that, with the [Centome] open and ready to ’restart’ at a moment’s notice, he summoned unprecedented courage and proposed his deal to the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord.

This was his plan! The plan that even Progenitor Tingyou had called insane!

Lü Yang’s eyes were glacial as he thought,

’This lifetime is different from the one when the Bhagavat descended. Back then, the Pure Land was powerless to stop him, so the Bhagavat was essentially forced to descend.’

’But in this life, the Pure Land is at its peak.’

’Ask the Bhagavat to descend and save the Sword Dao under these circumstances? The Bhagavat’s standing might not be the highest, but he’s still a Master of Dao. Why would he ever agree to such a losing proposition?’

So the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord only had two choices.

Either he could pay a great price on the level of a Master of Dao to ask the Bhagavat to intervene, or he could pay a small price on the level of a mere cultivator to help me break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core!

The choice was obvious.

The next moment, Lü Yang felt a connection form. He could feel the [Eternal Sword] in his hand gradually awakening, and a feeling of perfect, effortless control—like moving his own limbs—suddenly surged through him.

’It worked!’

The Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord agreed!

”I want the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal] too!”

Lü Yang spoke again. ”With the Sword Dao being challenged, the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal] can now be sought. Demon Subduing Zhenren is the one to obtain the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal]. I want him to aid my cultivation!”

”I’m only in the Early Stage of Golden Core. If a Perfected Lord anchors to me, it’s almost certain my Grotto Heaven will collapse. But Heaven never closes all doors; there’s always a chance... Once the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal] is attained, it can help me sever all futures where my Grotto Heaven would fall, ensuring my Grotto Heaven does not fall!”

In truth, that was impossible.

At least, not something the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal] of an Early Stage Golden Core cultivator could accomplish... ’But so what? The omnipotent Master of Dao wouldn’t want to see the Sword Dao annihilated, would he?’

’Then you’d better figure something out, fast!’

That’s right. This was Lü Yang’s solution for his inability to break through to the Middle Stage of Golden Core. He would provide the concept, the [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal] would provide the effort, and the Master of Dao would be responsible for making the miracle happen!

”...”

The silence between Heaven and Earth deepened.

A profound chill crept into Lü Yang’s spirit, threatening to freeze his thoughts, conduct a full-scale investigation of his soul, and probe the secrets of his heart.

Yet Lü Yang merely gave a light chuckle, completely unshaken.

’With my Dao Heart at Perfection, even before a Master of Dao, I am still ”me”!’

’You can’t probe me!’

A moment later, the chill receded, no longer affecting Lü Yang. Then, the workings of Heaven and Earth resumed... At almost the exact same instant, the light of Seeking Gold rose up from the South.

The [Fruit of Blade-Edge Metal] had really appeared!

The Master of Dao had given in!?