Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: We’re Killing Our Way Back

In the Stain Sect disciples’ gathering area.

After meeting with the other Direct Disciples, Lü Yang didn’t hold back. He cut straight to the chase and shared the intelligence he had gotten from Guangming.

Chongming’s expression turned grave after hearing the news. ”So we’re surrounded...”

Xu Xin, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised at all. He wore an expression that said, ’I knew it.’ ”I knew those Pure Land pigs and Dao Court dogs had teamed up again.”

Chongming was still confused. ”But how could my father not have foreseen something like this?”

”Perhaps he never expected that you, young master, would fail to see something so obvious.”

”You...!”

Xu Xin and Chongming glared at each other once more. The two of them were a perfect microcosm of the two major factions among the Stain Sect’s Direct Disciples, each holding the other in contempt.

”The answer is simple. Perfected Chong Guang doesn’t care in the slightest. After all, from the very beginning, the key to winning this Battle for the Dao was never in our hands.” At this, Xu Xin turned back to Lü Yang and said respectfully, ”The Perfected Lord’s Treasure of Fruit... I presume it’s in your hands, Perfected Person?”

”It is indeed in my hands.”

Lü Yang nodded, then added with a serious tone, ”But there is one thing I must emphasize... I am not truly at Foundation Establishment. I’m very close, but I’m still not there.”

Even with Su Nu’s help, there was still a gap between Lü Yang and a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This wasn’t the Skull Mountains, after all. Su Nu couldn’t draw power from the Lay Lines, so she wasn’t at her peak. The slightest deviation could lead to a world of difference.

If a genuine Foundation-Stage Cultivator were here, there would be no need for words. They would simply find the enemy’s position and attack. It wouldn’t matter how many people or how many Arrays you had; it would all be futile. A single slap would kill them all. But Lü Yang was different.

If the Dao Court and the Pure Land were truly willing to throw lives away, using a thousand Qi Refiners to trap him in an Array, his chances of victory would plummet.

’They’d probably drop from a hundred percent down to ninety-five.’

In other words, there was a five percent chance of failure. ’While the risk isn’t high, it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.’

And that was where the Stain Sect’s excellent human resources came in.

With this in mind, Lü Yang wasted no more words and stated crisply, ”I need you to initiate a breakout and draw their attention away from me.”

There were two victory conditions in the Battle for the Dao.

First, destroy the enemy’s Treasure of Fruit, which was usually held by their strongest combatant.

Second, kill the native Child of Destiny within the Outer Realm, seize their Mandate of Heaven, and merge it with one’s own Treasure of Fruit. This would grant victory without a fight.

Lü Yang’s plan was simple. The other Stain Sect disciples would act as a distraction while he lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to assassinate the strongest expert on one side, destroy their Treasure of Fruit, and break out of the encirclement in the process. Then, after some time to rest and regroup, he would turn back and deal with the other party.

The plan was perfect.

The only problem was how to convince these excellent human resources from the Stain Sect to go to their deaths... no, to break out and create an assassination opportunity for him.

However, to Lü Yang’s surprise...

After hearing his plan, the assembled Stain Sect Direct Disciples didn’t object at all. Instead, they nodded with expressions of approval.

”A brilliant insight, Perfected Person. This is indeed the plan with the highest chance of success.”

”It’s much better than us trying to handle it on our own.”

”Then let’s do it!”

There was no need for further persuasion. The plan was settled.

Lü Yang then realized that the Stain Sect disciples were long accustomed to being treated as resources. As long as the final outcome was beneficial to them, they didn’t care about the means.

In fact, this was the very way of survival for a Stain Sect disciple.

To start as a mere resource, to become a good material, then to transform to a talented, and finally, to become a true person.

With the plan decided, they still needed to choose a target for the assassination.

On this point, there was no disagreement. They unanimously chose the Pure Land, since the Naga among the Eight Legions of Monks had already been wiped out by Lü Yang.

Their odds of success against them were higher, and as resources, their chances of survival were also better.

.....

Meanwhile, in the Pure Land’s gathering area.

”What did you say? Guang Hui is dead?”

Staring at the disheveled Guangming, Guanghai’s expression was darker than ever. The Prayer Bead in his hand made a sharp CRACKLING sound, almost crushed to pieces.

”Guang Hui... He was my dearest friend, the junior brother I relied on most!”

”Furthermore, the Naga were a group I painstakingly selected and formed. Which one of them wasn’t an outstanding disciple of our Fulong Temple?”

At this, he turned his gaze coolly to Guangming.

”Since they all died, why are you still alive?”

Faced with Guanghai’s interrogation, Guangming showed not a hint of shame. He even puffed out his chest and declared brazenly, ”Because I ran away!”

At these words, even Guanghai was stunned by Guangming’s shamelessness.

Whether in the Stain Sect or the Dao Court, anyone who dared say such a thing would be as good as dead. They would undoubtedly be made an example of and executed on the spot.

Thinking of this, Guanghai lowered his gaze and said in a low voice:

”You deserted in the face of the enemy. Did you not spare a thought for your fellow brothers?”

Guangming sensed the killing intent in Guanghai’s words and quickly replied, ”Senior Brother, don’t misunderstand! I clung to life not for my own sake, but for ours!”

”...Ours?”

Guanghai’s eyebrows shot up. Guangming had chosen his words skillfully. For us was different from for the Pure Land.

For the Pure Land would include all Monks, but for us... that was limited to the disciples under their Master, the brothers from Fulong Temple. At this thought, the boiling killing intent in Guanghai’s heart subsided, and his harsh tone softened considerably.

”What happened? Explain in detail.”

”Among the people who killed Senior Brother Guang Hui and all the Naga, there was one man who cultivates the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis, the technique our Master left behind before his Nirvana!”

”...What!?”

At these words, Guanghai shot to his feet. His expression shifted from shock to delight. ’To think something like this could happen...’

As Arhat Fulong’s most trusted disciple, Guanghai was no stranger to the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis. He knew well that it was a Cultivation Technique Arhat Fulong had created back when he was still Perfected Panlong. It had a Karma with the Pure Land, intended to one day ”fish” for a Dharma Protector Vajra for Fulong Temple.

’If I can subdue him and deliver him to Fulong Temple...’

Guanghai’s eyes grew brighter. For a Monk like him who had entered an Arhat Temple, advancement required attaining a higher position of power within the temple.

And what great merit would he earn by securing a Dharma Protector Vajra for Arhat Fulong?

If he succeeded, he would surely become Arhat Fulong’s most valued disciple, securing the second-in-command position in Fulong Temple and greatly increasing his power.

’And if, one day, something... unfortunate... were to happen to Arhat Fulong...’

That might be his opportunity to ascend to Arhat!

At this thought, a fire ignited in Guanghai’s heart. His gaze toward Guangming became much friendlier. ”Junior Brother, you are wise. You’ve done well this time.”

Guangming finally let out a sigh of relief. ”Thank you for your magnanimity, Senior Brother!”

Only then did he wipe the fine sweat from his brow, knowing he had survived once again. He then glanced at the Restriction Lü Yang had placed in his Spiritual Space.

With that Restriction in place, he didn’t dare reveal any intelligence about Lü Yang’s strength. However, it was clear that information about the Cultivation Technique was not covered by the Restriction.

’That Demon must have planned for everything, but he surely didn’t expect that I would recognize the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis, did he?’

.....

”By my calculations, Guangming should have told his senior brother about the Cultivation Technique by now.”

Opening his eyes, Lü Yang pinched his fingers together in a quick divination and a smile spread across his face. ”This way, when I go on the offensive again, they should be willing to fight me to the death.”

He then stood up, turned around, and looked at the Stain Sect resources behind him.

Two of the seven Direct Disciples were dead. Four of the eleven Final-phase of Qi Refining cultivators were also dead. Of the hundred or so at the Late-phase of Qi Refining, only seventy or eighty remained, and every single one was injured.

”Everyone, being hunted down didn’t feel good, did it?”

He didn’t really know how to boost morale. Besides, this time their job was to be cannon fodder; a pompous speech would only make them resentful.

So in the end, Lü Yang simply waved his hand decisively.

”Follow me. We’re killing our way back.”