Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 301: A Deal with Minor Metal

Hidden Sword Manor, inside a pavilion.

Lü Yang sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his body overflowing with a brilliant light. This light eventually reflected upon him, transforming into magnificent golden patterns that branded themselves onto his skin.

Innate Divine Technique, [Wan Jin Gong]!

This technique was not one he obtained by refining the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Instead, he had used the Empowerment ability of his [Tribulation Wave] to deduce his Dao path and borrow this Ability ahead of time.

[Shen Metal] is a stubborn, unrefined metal that must be tempered by fire to become a sword or halberd. This Qi corresponds to the Earthly Branches, and like [Geng Metal], it is a Yang-attribute metal. Its radiance is exceptionally sharp and nearly indestructible. Once used to empower a Dharma Body, one can withstand blades, axes, and even heavenly lightning without harm. This is the origin of the name [Wan Jin Gong]...

RUMBLE!

The next second, as the Innate Divine Technique settled, Lü Yang’s Qi trace surged violently, shattering the shackles of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment and advancing straight into the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment!

"Finally, some real progress..."

Lü Yang opened his eyes and nodded with satisfaction. After three years, his Immortal Spirit Body had finally reached Early-stage Perfection, and his Empowerment now rivaled the power of the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment.

Looking back, these three years had been hell.

’I destroyed my clone immediately after leaving Gantang Dao and buried all the Geng Metal Spiritual Objects I’d collected. I didn’t even dare to take them, terrified they would create a karmic link back to my true self...’

Lü Yang had always been decisive. He immediately abandoned all the gains from the Ganhai Li Clan and instead spent three years re-collecting Geng Metal Spiritual Objects. Only recently had he completed the final step of nurturing his Immortal Spirit Body in the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. At the same time, he also confirmed something that brought him great relief:

’That [Ang Xiao] probably isn’t free to act as he pleases either.’

He was most likely unable to leave the Netherworld!

’In my previous life, the reason he could run around like a ghost was mostly because he had refined the Daoist Remnant that formed after Master Chong Guang failed in his quest for Seeking Gold.’

Just like Lü Yang now, with a clone, he could naturally roam the world by proxy.

However, at this point in time, he clearly didn’t have such a method, so his perception of the Current World was limited. At the very least, he was definitely not omniscient.

Otherwise, why would even World Purger Fei Xue from his previous life have dared to challenge him?

Besides the fact that World Purger Fei Xue was indeed audaciously bold and exceptionally powerful, another factor was that [Ang Xiao] was severely restricted in the Netherworld.

Aside from that, another matter had also exceeded Lü Yang’s expectations.

The Jiangnan Mass Grave.

’Back when I was in the Saint Sect, less than a month after I restarted, the Sword Pavilion attacked and seized the Jiangnan Mass Grave. The price of the Death-Warding Skeleton skyrocketed as a result.’

’But in this life, perhaps because I sent a letter to warn Master Chong Guang, the Saint Sect strengthened its defenses at the Jiangnan Mass Grave. So the Sword Pavilion has yet to make a move. It seems they have other considerations as well. As a result, it’s been delayed for a full three years, and a fight still hasn’t broken out.’

This was a good thing.

After all, if the conflict had started too early, it would have been difficult for him to get a piece of the pie. Now that he had recovered to the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment, he more or less had the qualifications to participate.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang finally took out a Flying Spirit Letter.

This was one of a pair, the other having been sent to the Saint Sect. The two could sense each other, allowing for direct communication by writing on them.

’Over the past three years, Master Chong Guang has tried to contact me more than once.’

’It seems he’s very curious about me.’

Lü Yang didn’t reply immediately. He waited three years, partly because his cultivation was still incomplete, and partly to deliberately keep him in suspense.

What is easily obtained is not cherished.

Only by playing hard to get could he seize the initiative.

That said, Lü Yang didn’t activate the Spirit Book in his hand right away. Instead, with a thought, his Divine Sense locked onto a mortal city several thousand miles away.

Then, he randomly found a Qi Refining Wanderer in the city.

Immediately after, he sent the Spirit Book into the wanderer’s hands and then activated [Puppet] to take direct control, thereby creating a causal firewall.

’Even though Master Chong Guang has relatively high moral standards for someone from the Saint Sect, it’s all relative. Besides, he has a Perfected Lord backing him! Heaven knows if he’s just waiting for me. The moment I make contact, World Purger Fei Xue could tear through the void, snatch me, and refine me in an instant...’

In this regard, Lü Yang had to admit that [Puppet] was incredibly useful.

It wasn’t because of its [hypnosis] effect, though. That effect was essentially just for bullying weaker opponents—something a high-realm cultivator could use on a low-realm one.

The key was its ability to sever karmic links.

No one could trace the karmic links of [Puppet] back to Lü Yang, the Puppet Master. This was the real reason he could hide safely behind the scenes.

Otherwise, he would have been forced to restart when he encountered [Ang Xiao] three years ago.

’Cheats are the best!’

Lü Yang sighed with emotion. Then, from behind the [Puppet] firewall, he manipulated the Qi Refining Wanderer to activate the Flying Spirit Letter in its hands.

Almost simultaneously.

Sea of Clouds, Holy Fire Cliff.

Perfected Chong Guang, who had been meditating, suddenly snapped his eyes open. He looked at the Fei Xin that had been silent for a full three years, a flicker of interest in his gaze.

’Couldn’t hold back any longer?’

The next second, with a sweep of his sleeve, he accepted the communication request from Lü Yang. At the same time, he immediately began to calculate the karmic links through the connection between the Spirit Books!

The result, naturally, was nothing.

Immediately after, a message materialized before his eyes via the Spirit Book:

[I know a secret that concerns not only the cultivation of the "Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire" but also the "True Monarch of Celestial Destiny." Might you be interested?]

Seeing this, Perfected Chong Guang’s eyebrows rose slightly.

From these words alone, he knew this person was no ordinary individual. After all, not just anyone would know the Honorary Title "True Monarch of Celestial Destiny."

After a moment of thought, he waved his hand and wrote two words:

[What secret?]

Soon, a reply came back:

[I want a Superior Sentient Artifact!] 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Perfected Chong Guang’s expression turned strange. He stroked his chin with great interest. ’Demanding benefits before anything else... could this person truly be a Perfected Person from my Saint Sect?’

[I have a Superior Sentient Artifact, of course, but how would I give it to you?]

[That’s a problem for you to solve. However, my secret involves a Grotto Heaven Fragment left behind after the fall of the "True Monarch of Celestial Destiny"...]

"..."

Perfected Chong Guang’s expression grew deeper. The next second, a graceful figure appeared in the hall. She beckoned with her hand, and the Spirit Book landed in her palm.

"My apologies for troubling you, Perfected Lord."

Only then did Perfected Chong Guang reveal a smile. The one holding the Spirit Book was none other than World Purger Fei Xue, who had come out of seclusion immediately upon receiving his message!

World Purger Fei Xue didn’t even bother to calculate karmic links. Instead, she violently traced the connection between the two Spirit Books, instantly locking onto a location in South. Then, she reached out and grasped... In an instant, the void shattered, and a figure was dragged through space directly to them!

However, the moment they saw the person, both of them let out a small sound of surprise.

Their gazes fell upon the captured figure. It was none other than the Qi Refining Wanderer that Lü Yang had randomly chosen and was controlling with [Puppet].

’They really did play dirty... Bastards!’

Far away in South, Lü Yang’s true self shook his head helplessly, feeling nothing inside. He knew that caution was the parent of safety. These bastards from the Saint Sect had no honor!

Especially Perfected Chong Guang. It was just ridiculous!

It was just a negotiation, but he went and called on World Purger Fei Xue to act directly! If Lü Yang hadn’t been so vigilant, he would have been forced to restart already!

"It seems... my fellow Daoist prefers to communicate face-to-face?"

Speaking through [Puppet], Lü Yang gave Perfected Chong Guang a slight smile. But the next second, he felt a Mighty Power descend upon the wanderer’s body.

Without a word, they went straight for a Soul Searching!

Lü Yang, however, remained perfectly calm. After all, the Qi Refining Wanderer’s memories had nothing to do with him. No matter how much they searched, they would find nothing.

After a long while, the Mighty Power finally dissipated.

World Purger Fei Xue’s beautiful eyes burned brightly. She was clearly now immensely curious about Lü Yang, looking as if she wanted nothing more than to dissect him on the spot.

Seeing this, Lü Yang spread his hands through the puppet. "Can we talk now?"

As his voice fell, Perfected Chong Guang finally smiled. He gave Lü Yang a deep look. "Interesting... It seems you truly are a Saint Sect Zhenren, fellow Daoist."

And judging by his methods, he was likely no ordinary Saint Sect Zhenren!