Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: What a Peerless Demon

Three months later, news spread from Heaven Mending Peak.

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak intended to undergo the tribulation of Celestial Thunder to contend for the position of Great Trueman, inviting all the Perfected Persons of the Stain Sect to witness the ceremony.

The moment the news broke, it immediately sparked discussion.

”Old Monster Chen plans to face the Celestial Thunder and break through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment? He’s had his third Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch for so long. Has he finally made up his mind?”

”A public tribulation... He must be worried about being ambushed.”

”Obviously. Wouldn’t you be worried if you were in his shoes?”

”Bullshit. If it were you, wouldn’t you make a move?”

For a time, streams of clear Qi and Splendid Light surged through the Stain Sect’s Cloud Sea. The Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, known as ”Great Trueman,” was considered the top tier of combat power below a Perfected Lord.

Therefore, even within the Stain Sect, someone attempting to break through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment was a major event. While it wasn’t enough to startle a Perfected Lord, it was only natural for it to draw other Foundation-Stage Cultivators to watch. It was a perfect opportunity to witness the power of Celestial Thunder and gain experience for their own future breakthroughs.

Of course, the most important factor was safety.

For the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, breaking through in secret was an option. But if someone managed to predict the time and place of his attempt, no one would be able to save him.

So, rather than being secretive, it was better to be open about it.

The way of the Stain Sect was simple: if you weren’t caught, it never happened. You could plot and ambush, but you could never be discovered. Otherwise, the punishment would be severe.

Putting everything out in the open was, paradoxically, safer.

At the very peak of Heaven Mending Peak, the clouds and mist parted to reveal the figure of its Master. He stood with his hands behind his back as a Splendid Light shone from the top of his Skull.

This Splendid Light was the manifestation of the Dao path of Chen Taihe, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak. He had cultivated the Yin Yang Talisman Dao Foundation, also known as the Yin Yang Great Dao Map. At this moment, various phenomena appeared within the light. There was a fierce, pure white tiger sitting atop a mountain ridge, as well as a fish with a human face whose call sounded like a mandarin duck. The images reflected and enhanced one another.

For a moment, many of the Perfected Persons present felt a heavy pressure on their hearts.

This was especially true for Lü Yang, who was currently manifesting a golden auspicious cloud. Seated on Luofeng Mountain, he gazed toward Heaven Mending Peak, a trace of astonishment rising in his heart.

’So powerful...’

Because he had fought the Master of Heaven Mending Peak in his Previous Life and nearly killed him, Lü Yang knew his opponent was formidable, but he had never truly experienced his full power.

Only now did he understand just how much damage that strand of Golden Core Sword Qi from his Previous Life had inflicted upon the Peak Master. It wasn’t just the destruction of his physical body; his Dao Foundation had likely been shattered to pieces, which was why he couldn’t even use his Innate Ability at the time.

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak before him now was at his absolute peak!

WHOOSH—!

The Cloud Sea churned as the moon set and the sun rose. The wind whipped at the Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s robes, and his Qi trace steadily climbed to an unparalleled state.

The next second, he took out a porcelain vial.

He uncorked it, and a stream of moonlight flowed out like thick syrup. This was one of the Heavenly Stems, with a very unique name: Minor Metal.

Minor Metal represented the sun and moon in the heavens, the Essence of the Moon, and it represented gold and iron on earth, the Essence of Stones.

At this thought, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak couldn’t help but glance toward Holy Fire Cliff. He faintly sensed a calm gaze fall upon him.

’Minor Metal... Heh! Minor Metal!’

Reining in his thoughts, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak thought no more of it. He directly consumed the Qi of Minor Metal. In an instant, the stars seemed to shift, and he vanished into the Foundation Establishment Realm!

All the Perfected Persons of the Stain Sect, including Lü Yang, followed suit.

Meanwhile, Chen Xin’an and Chen Shuqian were already waiting in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Their eyes were dull and vacant, their Divine Senses apparently having been suppressed long ago.

”That animal is actually using human pills—and his own children at that?”

A young Perfected Person looked on from a distance, his face filled with surprise. ”Those are his own descendants! Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own cubs. This is too much.”

”You’re just inexperienced.”

On the other side, an old-looking Perfected Person shook his head in disdain. ”This is nothing. The Stain Sect is vast and resourceful; there are far more tricks than this!”

”You all are just too young and haven’t seen enough. Someone like me, who’s witnessed grand spectacles, is different. I had my suspicions back when he was raising that pair of children. Think about it: when Yuan Tu achieved Foundation Establishment, what a grand affair that was! Why have these two remained in obscurity?”

As he spoke, the old Perfected Person pointed at Chen Xin’an and Chen Shuqian.

”It’s because everyone in the upper echelons knows that Old Monster Chen bankrupted himself, using up almost all of his centuries of accumulated resources to raise these two.”

”This...”

The young Perfected Person felt a chill upon hearing this, but could only shake his head helplessly. ”It seems even becoming a Perfected Person doesn’t bring freedom. They still can’t escape being used as consumables.”

”Not necessarily.”

The old Perfected Person shook his head. ”Actually, Old Monster Chen’s move is very risky. They are two Perfected Persons, after all. How could they be completely powerless to resist?”

”Why do you think he sealed his children’s Divine Senses?”

”He’s afraid that if they were conscious, they might get desperate, abandon their physical bodies and karmic links, and let their Souls escape, rendering his Substitution Technique useless.”

The old Perfected Person counted on his fingers, listing things off as if they were his family heirlooms. ”I have lived in the Stain Sect for three lifetimes, more than eight hundred years. I’ve seen plenty. I recognize Old Monster Chen’s Secret Technique. Isn’t it just the ’Bloodline Life-Substitution Skill’? It relies on the karmic links within the bloodline of a physical body to have someone take on a tribulation for you.”

”But if the person taking the tribulation abandons their physical body, how can they substitute for him?”

”Exactly. So, if his children have the willpower and the opportunity to break free from Old Monster Chen’s suppression and regain consciousness, they still have a sliver of a chance to survive.”

Within the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had already manifested his Dao Foundation and drawn down the Celestial Thunder. The very first bolt struck him, shaking his Soul and causing his Qi trace to weaken by more than half.

At this point, there was no turning back.

Thus, Lü Yang put his mind at ease. He casually left Luofeng Mountain and, without any attempt to conceal himself, strode openly toward Heaven Mending Peak.

”Yuan Tu, stop.”

Perfected Yin Shan’s voice came quietly, carrying a stern warning. ”Whatever you plan to do to Chen Taihe, do not do it in front of everyone.”

”Rest assured, Senior Brother.”

Lü Yang shook his head. ”I am not a reckless person. I am not taking advantage of this situation to trespass on Heaven Mending Peak. Rather, someone from Heaven Mending Peak personally invited me.”

Upon hearing this, even Perfected Yin Shan was stunned. After a long moment, his voice came again:

”...Personally invited?”

The next second, a soft and alluring voice drifted out from Heaven Mending Peak. ”Perfected Yin Shan, no need to be suspicious. It was I who invited Yuan Tu to enter.”

As her voice fell, the gates to Heaven Mending Peak swung wide open.

Lady Ruoxiang appeared, dressed in a crimson gown, a brilliant smile on her face. She immediately reached out, wrapped her arms around Lü Yang’s neck, and pulled him toward her.

”...???”

Within the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, upon seeing this scene, spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot. His eyes flew wide with rage as he stared at Lü Yang and Lady Ruoxiang in utter disbelief.

In an instant, a dead silence fell over the entire Stain Sect.

Nearly every Perfected Person who witnessed this couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed. The young Perfected Person instinctively turned to look at the old Perfected Person beside him.

”...Senior, have you seen a scene like this before?”

The old Perfected Person was instantly speechless.

Entering Heaven Mending Peak in front of the entire sect while its Master was facing the Celestial Thunder tribulation, a trial of life and death, and clearly having an affair with the Peak Master’s Wife...

This was a scene he had truly never witnessed before!

When did they get together? How did they get together? That shameless pair... to think they specifically chose the exact moment the Master of Heaven Mending Peak was attempting his breakthrough!

Was this intentional?

This wasn’t just about killing him; it was about destroying his spirit!

At that moment, the way many of the Stain Sect’s Perfected Persons looked at Lü Yang had completely changed. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of shock, fear, and even admiration.

To see through all pretense, to be completely unbound by morals or ethics... What a peerless Demon!

’We’re just a little bit bad, but you... you’re a true monster!’