Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: As Expected of a Family

Lü Yang now understood the whole story.

From his point of view, however, the conflict between the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and Lady Ruoxiang over their children wasn’t without a potential compromise.

For example, Lady Ruoxiang could have simply committed suicide and reincarnated before her natural lifespan ended. She could then use a Secret Technique, through her children, to awaken her reincarnated self. Afterward, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak could use the children for his tribulation, thus maximizing their utility... but to do that, they would need to have a certain amount of mutual trust.

Evidently, Lady Ruoxiang and the Master of Heaven Mending Peak lacked the trust needed to place their lives in each other’s hands.

But that was to be expected.

This was the Stain Sect, after all. How could anyone truly trust each other? Most people either held leverage over one another or only cooperated when they had common interests.

”...Daoist, I understand the purpose of your visit.”

With that thought, Lü Yang finally spoke. ”But why should I help you? Elder Butian’s Cultivation is profound. He isn’t someone you and I can take on.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Ruoxiang asked a seemingly unrelated question:

”Yuan Tu, do you know why the Stain Sect has the Inner Sect Four Peaks?”

Lü Yang shook his head. He had long been puzzled by this. In the Stain Sect, any Foundation-Stage Cultivator was qualified to establish their own grounds in the Sea of Clouds.

Normally, however, even the grounds established by a Foundation-Stage Cultivator would be reclaimed by the Stain Sect upon their death. Yet the Inner Sect Four Peaks were different; they were permanently fixed above the Cloud Sea. Even if they currently lacked a presiding Foundation-Stage Cultivator, their status as one of the Four Peaks would not be revoked.

”The reason lies in the grace of their ancestors.”

Lady Ruoxiang explained, ”The First Generation Peak Masters of the Inner Sect Four Peaks were trusted confidants who fought alongside the founding patriarch, rendering great and meritorious service.”

”Thus, the founding patriarch promised the four Peak Masters that as long as Holy Fire Cliff stands, the Four Peaks shall never fall.”

This promise, of course, remained valid.

After all, the founding patriarch of the Stain Sect is the sect’s Nascent Soul Daoist Lord. He is still very much alive. With the patriarch himself watching over, who would dare allow him to break his promise?

”However, sheltered by the grace of their ancestors, the descendants have often proven disappointing.”

At this, a look of helplessness crossed Lady Ruoxiang’s face. ”Countless years have passed, and in truth, all of the Inner Sect Four Peaks have weakened. We have been forced to bring in outsiders.”

That was perfectly understandable.

After all, the founding ancestors had endured all the hardships for them. These descendants only had to enjoy the benefits. Who would be willing to keep struggling?

Over time, they naturally fell into decline.

But how could the Inner Sect Four Peaks possibly go without a Foundation-Stage Cultivator in charge? Thus, to resolve the dilemma of their decline, bringing in outside help was the obvious decision.

”Chen Taihe is one such person.”

Lady Ruoxiang said with hatred, ”He demonstrated his talent on Heaven Mending Peak back then and was taken in by my family as a live-in son-in-law. With my family’s support, he became a Foundation-Stage Cultivator.”

”However, ever since then, he and my family have no longer been of one mind. He began suppressing my family, both openly and in secret. He abandoned several of my clansmen who had greater talent than I, choosing instead to support me, the one with lesser aptitude. His goal was to ensure I would never advance past the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment and therefore never pose a threat to him.”

As she spoke, Lady Ruoxiang looked on the verge of tears, a truly pitiable and heart-wrenching sight.

Lü Yang, however, didn’t believe a single word of it.

’She’s spent all this time telling me her sob story. What’s the point?’

’What’s in it for me?’

Seeing that while Lü Yang maintained a smile, his expression already betrayed his impatience, Lady Ruoxiang very promptly dropped her tearful act and presented her bargaining chip:

”Chen Taihe was an outsider brought in for support, and so, Daoist, can you be.”

”I am willing to swear a great karmic oath: kill Chen Taihe, and you, Daoist, will be the next Master of Heaven Mending Peak.”

”This isn’t just a title. It’s status, identity, and far more resources. That position is the crucial reason Chen Taihe has his current level of Cultivation.”

”That’s right. As long as you can kill Chen Taihe.”

Lady Ruoxiang’s bright eyes lowered as she took a step closer to Lü Yang and murmured, ”Everything on Heaven Mending Peak will be yours... including me.”

”Oh?”

Lü Yang looked down as Lady Ruoxiang drew near, his gaze falling upon skin fairer than snow, tracing down her neck and into the bottomless abyss of her décolletage.

The next moment, Lü Yang shook his head. ”My lady, please conduct yourself with dignity. I am not one for carnal pleasures.”

.......

Lü Yang watched Lady Ruoxiang depart in silence. He had readily agreed to ally with her—not for any other reason, but mainly because he wanted to kill the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and avenge his past humiliation.

To that end, Lady Ruoxiang had also revealed her plan.

”That old bastard wants to use Xin’an and Shu Qian as scapegoats for his tribulation. But as for Shu Qian, I have a way to prevent him from using her when he faces it.”

Her plan coincided with Lü Yang’s own, and they even complemented each other perfectly.

Lü Yang, however, did not tell her about his plans for Chen Xin’an, only indicating that he would handle that side of things himself before sending her off Luofeng Mountain.

However, a few days later, Luofeng Mountain welcomed a second visitor.

The visitor arrived wearing a straw rain cloak, which she only removed after entering the mountain, revealing a fine silk dress beneath. She smiled sweetly and said, ”Qian’Er greets Elder Yuantu.”

It was the daughter of the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, Chen Shuqian!

Lü Yang took a closer look, his eyes narrowing slightly. Then, he smiled. ”Congratulations, Daoist, on establishing your Immortal Foundation. With long life in sight, you are now one of our peers.”

Up until now, Lü Yang had only met Chen Shuqian once. It was during the life in which he’d transformed Yu Suzhen into a superhuman; he had met Chen Shuqian through Yu Suzhen’s body. His impression of her then was of an obedient girl who always listened to her father... but the woman before him now was completely different.

”Elder, you flatter me.”

Chen Shuqian bit her red lip and continued, ”Though I have reached Foundation Establishment, I barely scraped through. It is nothing compared to Elder Yuantu’s past accomplishments.”

”Hmm...”

Lü Yang made a show of divining on his fingers, then put on a strange expression. ”...Daoist, it seems you’ve come to see me behind Elder Butian’s back. That isn’t very wise, is it?”

”What’s not wise about it?”

Chen Shuqian pursed her lips. ”He’s completely preoccupied with acting as my brother’s Protector. What time does he have to bother with me? Rest assured, Elder, he won’t find out.”

’This scene feels a bit familiar, doesn’t it?’

Lü Yang paused for a moment before continuing, ”Since that’s the case, Daoist, what brings you here?”

The next second, just as Lü Yang had expected...

Chen Shuqian’s expression turned severe as she said coldly, ”To be perfectly honest, Elder, this junior wishes to kill her father and mother to obtain true freedom. I implore you to help me!”

Lü Yang: ”...”

’You people really are one hell of a family!’

The moment Chen Shuqian spoke, Lü Yang understood at once that the schemes of the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and Lady Ruoxiang had likely not escaped the notice of their clever daughter.

’So this is the Stain Sect...’

Lü Yang sighed internally, but his expression remained unchanged. Since an opportunity had presented itself on a silver platter, he certainly didn’t mind playing both sides. ”What’s in it for me?”

Chen Shuqian immediately replied, ”The Dao Foundation I’ve cultivated is the Phoenix and Simurgh Harmony Dao Foundation. It is a Sixth-Grade Cultivation Technique my father created to be compatible with the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis. If I, having used this for my Foundation Establishment, cultivate with a Perfected Person who has formed the Imperial Dragonrise Foundation, we can catalyze a Spiritual Fire.”

”This fire is called the Cyan Simurgh Noon Fire.”

”Wu represents the hour of Noon, when the six yang energies are exhausted and a single yin energy is born. When the fortune of fire reaches Wu, it gives birth to Yi Wood, nurturing all things in a cycle of endless creation... It is a fire of healing.”

”Nearly any injury to one’s physical body or Dharma Body can be repaired by it.”

”My father’s intention was for me to use this Spiritual Fire to endure more of the Celestial Thunder on his behalf.”

As she spoke, a deep hatred flashed in Chen Shuqian’s phoenix-like eyes. ”I am willing to offer this fire as your reward,” she said coldly. ”Please, Elder, save my life!”

”Well now...”

Gazing at the resolute look on Chen Shuqian’s face, Lü Yang fell into deep thought. He realized she seemed to have come here without coordinating with Lady Ruoxiang first.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be pleading for him to save her life.

After all, Lady Ruoxiang had no intention of killing her; in fact, she was determined to protect her. Strictly speaking, this meant he didn’t actually have to do anything at all.

’This... seems like a chance to get something for free!’