Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 131: Perfected Yuan Tu

’Master of Heaven Mending Peak, you just wait!’

Beyond the Sea of Clouds, a golden auspicious cloud came rolling through the sky. It blotted out the heavens and stretched for a thousand miles before converging as it neared the Cloud Sea, transforming into a handsome young man.

Lü Yang’s gaze immediately shot toward Heaven Mending Peak, his heart stirring with an urge to act.

In the end, however, he suppressed the thought of striking it with a single palm. ’No need to rush. I just broke through, and the Master of Heaven Mending Peak isn’t injured like he was in my previous life.’

’There will be chances. Haste makes waste... I’ll take it slow.’

One day, he would repay the karmic debt of being killed by a single finger!

Withdrawing his gaze, Lü Yang made his way to Holy Fire Cliff.

The Array Spirit he had met once before materialized, gave Lü Yang a deep bow, and then said respectfully, "Greetings, Perfected Person."

Lü Yang gave a slight nod and proceeded to the hall where Perfected Chong Guang resided. There, a man sat in the seat of honor.

He wore a Daoist robe, had a slender build, and a face that wasn’t conventionally handsome but held a soaring, sharp aura between his brows. Standing beside him was a young Daoist with a gloomy expression.

Perfected Chong Guang and Perfected Yin Shan!

Lü Yang’s expression turned serious as he focused his gaze. His eyes landed on Perfected Chong Guang, observing not only his form in the current world but also his Dao Foundation within the Foundation Establishment Realm.

A moment later, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

In his perception, Perfected Yin Shan was still within the bounds of reason. His Dao Foundation was a majestic Wu Mountain, with billowing Evil Qi swirling around it like rivers.

Perfected Chong Guang, however, was different. When Lü Yang looked at him, he saw the man standing within the Foundation Establishment Realm like an ordinary person, his hands clasped behind his back, with no Dao Foundation manifested at all!

One had to understand that within the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Weakening Wind blew year-round. A Foundation-Stage Cultivator could only avoid having their Soul damaged by residing within their Dao Foundation.

Yet, Perfected Chong Guang could openly manifest his true self. Did this mean that not even the Weakening Wind could scatter his Soul?

How profound must his cultivation be?

At this thought, Lü Yang’s expression grew even more solemn.

Perfected Chong Guang, on the other hand, broke into a kind and brilliant smile upon seeing Lü Yang, which conversely made Lü Yang feel a little unsettled.

"Yuan Tu has arrived!"

Perfected Chong Guang laughed heartily. Perfected Yin Shan then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations, Junior Brother, on establishing your Dao Foundation and leaving the mortal world behind."

"You praise me too much, Senior Brother."

Lü Yang returned the salutation before turning to Perfected Chong Guang. He presented the Abyssal Assembly Map and said solemnly, "Master Chong Guang, Yuan Tu was fortunate not to fail his mission."

"Excellent!"

Perfected Chong Guang accepted the Treasure of Fruit Position, then smiled faintly. "Yuan Tu, as you’ve just entered Foundation Establishment, there are likely some key aspects of it you don’t yet understand."

’Finally, we’re getting to the point!’

Lü Yang thought to himself, his expression suddenly turning stern. "I ask for Master’s guidance."

"Guidance is too strong a word. It’s merely a few pointers," Perfected Chong Guang said with a wave of his hand. "Yuan Tu, do you know the origins of the Dao Foundation you have built?"

Hearing this, Lü Yang nodded and said in a low voice, "I cultivate the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis and have built the Imperial Dragonrise Foundation.

It was created by the Loose Cultivator Perfected Panlong, who later achieved Nirvana in the Pure Land and became Arhat Fulong. He now holds a grudge against me, so I fear there will be much trouble in the future..."

"It is already extraordinary that you know this much, Yuan Tu."

Perfected Chong Guang smiled faintly. "But what does Arhat Fulong amount to? A mere Loose Cultivator who only broke through by throwing himself at the feet of the Pure Land. How could he possibly have created a Third-Grade Foundation Method?"

"Master, you mean...?"

"The Dao Foundation you have established, Yuan Tu, was in essence created through the hands of that Fulong, but only because a Bodhisattva from the Pure Land manipulated karmic links and intercepted Karma Links to make it happen."

"This is because the Pure Land possesses a Fruit that has been hidden from the world for a long time, one that no one has been able to attain. Although the Bhagavat brought it into the Pure Land, they have never been able to truly refine it.

That is why this Imperial Dragonrise Foundation was created—to make that hidden Fruit manifest in the world once more."

Lü Yang’s eyebrows shot up. "Fruits can be manifest or hidden?"

"But of course."

Perfected Chong Guang chuckled and explained, "All Cultivation Techniques in this world are derived from the conceptual essence that the Masters of Dao draw from the Fruits, which are then gradually evolved."

"Therefore, every Dao Foundation built from a Cultivation Technique actually corresponds to a Fruit. When the number of Dao Foundations belonging to a Fruit is large enough, the Fruit will manifest in the world, and the chance to ascend to and attain it will become much greater.

Conversely, the Fruit will become hidden, making it difficult for anyone in the current world to attain."

After hearing Perfected Chong Guang’s explanation, Lü Yang’s expression gradually darkened.

’No wonder the Pure Land said I had an affinity with them. So the Fruit corresponding to my Dao Foundation is in their hands. If they don’t let it go, my path to the Great Dao is blocked?’

"That is indeed the case."

Perfected Chong Guang nodded. "However, ascending to and attaining the Fruit is something for the future. It has no impact on your current cultivation, Yuan Tu."

"So, for now, you can continue to cultivate without worry." At this, Perfected Chong Guang’s expression turned resolute. "If the day ever comes when you seek to attain your Fruit, and by then I have become a Perfected Lord, it will not be hopeless. It would just be a matter of snatching a Fruit from the Pure Land!"

At these words, Lü Yang’s outwardly disappointed expression immediately brightened.

Inwardly, however, he was scornful.

’We’re both Perfected Persons of the Stain Sect. What kind of games are you playing with me!’

’If he truly intended to help me, he would have warned me long ago. In the end, isn’t this just a way to control me and make me willing to work for him?’

But this, paradoxically, put Lü Yang’s mind at ease.

’This is the Stain Sect, after all. This sort of thing is normal. If you didn’t try to control me at all, I’d actually be more worried. Now that the cards are on the table, at least I know how to play my hand.’

Besides, this was just an attempt at control. Strictly speaking, he still had room to refuse.

As for the Imperial Dragonrise Foundation, while its flaw was indeed severe, he could just restart!

If this path truly led to a dead end, he could just switch to a different Dao Foundation and start over. With the Centome, he was free to experiment through trial and error!

In Perfected Chong Guang’s eyes, there were no do-overs in Foundation Establishment.

’Therefore, if I wanted to attain a Golden Core, I would have no choice but to follow him to the bitter end. In reality, however, I can change my Dao path at any time!’

’The Fruit is hard to attain? I’ll just switch to another one!’

Trying to control me with this was simply a fool’s dream.

Still, there was no harm in letting Perfected Chong Guang think he had me under his thumb.

’After all, if he thinks he’s in control, he’ll surely be willing to invest heavily in me. I can just take all the benefits first, and when the time comes, I’ll just take the money and run...’

Thinking this, Lü Yang suddenly felt as if a great weight had been lifted.

The next moment, he gave a crisp salute to Perfected Chong Guang. "Yuan Tu is still young. I will be counting on Master Chong Guang’s care in the days to come."

Upon hearing this, Perfected Chong Guang beamed with a satisfied smile.

’This junior knows what’s good for him. He gets it!’

With this in mind, Perfected Chong Guang reached into his robes and took out a Jade Box. "This was subdued by Perfected Lord Fei Xue and given to me to handle after he returned to the Sect."

"This item has a Karma link with you, Yuan Tu, so I’m giving it to you."

Lü Yang took the Jade Box and swept his Divine Sense over it, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face. "A Qi-eating Insect... the Insect King? This Extraterrestrial Alien Species wasn’t actually wiped out!"

This was an unexpected delight.

According to Progenitor Tingyou, the potential of the Qi-eating Insect was immense. If he could cultivate it, it would surely become a powerful tool for him in the future!

’As expected of a Great Trueman at Foundation Establishment Perfection. So generous. This is the classic carrot and stick. After putting the squeeze on me, he’s starting to invest heavily...’

Thinking this, Lü Yang quickly cupped his hands. "Thank you, Master!"

Perfected Chong Guang naturally responded with a smile. Seeing this, Perfected Yin Shan also drew closer, and for a time, the atmosphere between the three became harmonious.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lü Yang didn’t forget to ask one more question. "By the way, I was wondering what the name of that Fruit in the Pure Land is...?"

Perfected Chong Guang had no intention of hiding it. "That Fruit is the Celestial Capital Jade Fortress, the Emperor’s Golden City. It has the form of a dragon coiling for a thousand miles, the posture of a tiger occupying the four dimensions..."

"Its name is the Fruit of Rampart Earth."

.....

After some more conversation, Perfected Chong Guang waved his sleeve, revealing an incense table upon which rested a Dao Chapter, a Dharma Seal, and a Daoist Robe.

"By the decree of the Perfected Lord..."

With a solemn expression, Perfected Chong Guang took out the Life Lamp that Lü Yang had lit with his own blood essence to refine when he first entered the Stain Sect.

"Today, the disciple Lü Yang has established his Dao Foundation. Full of Merit and Forgetting Form, he has shed his mortal coil to ascend..."

As arranged by Perfected Chong Guang, this Life Lamp would henceforth be placed within the Holy Fire Cliff, to be enshrined alongside the Life Lamps of the Sect’s other Perfected Persons.

This was not a mere formality but something truly beneficial to cultivation. Once a Life Lamp received the Sect’s veneration, the Sect’s Merit and Fortune would flow back to its owner through the lamp’s connection, strengthening their Soul. This was why the Foundation-Stage Cultivators of the Stain Sect had lifespans at least ten years longer than those of other sects.

After the Life Lamp was placed in the hall, Perfected Chong Guang formed a hand seal and recited the Magic Formulas:

"...He shall establish his own mountain and manor, under the Daoist title of Yuan Tu!"

As his voice fell, Lü Yang heard a sudden, deafening clap of thunder. He looked out to see an Immortal Mountain erupt from within the vast, boundless Sea of Clouds, rising in an instant to stand majestically!

From this day forward, this Immortal Mountain in the clouds would be his domain.

At the same time, the Inner Sect Four Peak Masters of the Stain Sect and numerous other Perfected Persons appeared. They cupped their hands in salute and chanted in unison, "Greetings, Perfected Yuan Tu!"

Lü Yang scanned his surroundings and calmly returned the salute.

As of today, he had finally taken his seat at the high table of the Stain Sect!