Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Crushing Weaklings is Still More Fun

As his gaze met Lü Yang’s smiling eyes, a sense of crisis surged violently in Duo Bao Child’s heart, as if he could see his own end.

However, his first emotion was not terror.

It was mockery.

’You think *you* can kill me?’

A Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment cultivator wasn’t so easy to kill. Besides, while he, Duo Bao Child, may have come from a small sect, he was still a cultivator with a proper lineage.

Ordinary Loose Cultivators lacked orthodox teachings. They would latch onto any fragmented legacy they found and cultivate it obsessively, ignoring its flaws. This resulted in Innate Abilities and Innate Divine Techniques that were highly specialized. They were powerful, to be sure, but also riddled with openings. Once an enemy found a weakness, they could easily be killed, their Dao extinguished.

A typical example was Wu Cang.

But Foundation Establishment allows for no regrets; once the path of the Dao is set, it cannot be changed. That was why most Loose Cultivators could only reign supreme for a short while, never truly able to compare with disciples from renowned sects.

After all, who could start over?

Daoist Duobao, however, was different.

He was a direct lineage heir of Treasure Division Cliff and had risen all the way to the position of Sect Leader. The Abilities he had refined would naturally not be riddled with openings like those of a Loose Cultivator.

In the next instant, Daoist Duobao twisted around.

”[Traveling the World]!”

This Innate Divine Technique belonged to the [Minor Water] Position of Heavenly Stems. It was a Gui Water Divine Technique, and also an escape-type Ability that allowed one to flee by borrowing the qi of earth and wood.

As Daoist Duobao unleashed it, he was on the verge of escape.

But in the next instant, his movements froze. In a daze, he seemed to see a great mountain pressing down out of thin air, and the Divine Power Radiance around his body rapidly dissipated.

[Embracing Mountain]!

It unconditionally sealed one Innate Divine Technique, or one Divine Effect of an Innate Ability, instantly plunging Daoist Duobao into even greater peril.

A point of Spirit Light had already appeared between Lü Yang’s brows.

[Star River Sword Pill]!

This was another relic left to him by Ye Xingfeng of the Sword Pavilion. Although it was severely damaged, with only the [Breaking Barrier] Divine Effect remaining of its original three, it was still incomparably sharp.

Bathed in the Sword Light, Daoist Duobao couldn’t help but squint. The light stung his eyes, causing tears to stream down his face, and his skin prickled with a needle-like pain. This was merely the effect of looking directly at the Sword Pill. If Lü Yang truly unleashed this sword strike, he would undoubtedly die!

In a split second, Daoist Duobao could only think of one thing.

In the next instant, a crimson Spirit Sword appeared in his hand. Its own radiance flared, blocking the Sword Light Lü Yang had unleashed.

[Abi Sword]!

”Hahaha... Demon, in the end, your plans are no match for the heavens!”

At that moment, Duo Bao Child’s heart filled with elation. ”You never imagined it, did you? The Spiritual Treasure you used to set me up has ended up saving my life!”

With this Spirit Sword in hand, what did he have to fear?

Even if Lü Yang attacked, he could simply strike back. Even if he was at a disadvantage, no match for his opponent, he wouldn’t be beheaded in a single blow.

At this thought, Duo Bao Child immediately began pouring his Mana into the sword with all his might.

The [Abi Sword] became a Gold-devouring Beast, frantically consuming Duo Bao Child’s Mana. The Sword Light it emitted grew ever more magnificent and immense.

—All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

In the next instant, Five Elements Zhenren had already opened the [Primordial Five Elements Umbrella] again to hold off Perfected Yin Shan and the others, while the rest rushed to aid Duo Bao Child.

”Kill!”

Instantly, the six cultivators joined forces once more. A cataclysmic Splendid Light that could roil rivers and overturn seas submerged everything, shattering all Divine Sense. The surroundings once again plunged into a dim haze.

However, when clarity returned, everyone stood frozen in astonishment.

Lü Yang was gone.

Then, Fairy Yun He of the Panyun Sect, her eyes wide with bewilderment, stared at Duo Bao Child. ”Duobao... why didn’t you attack just now?”

Everyone followed her gaze and realized that while they had all just launched a joint attack, Duo Bao Child—who should have been at the forefront—was standing rooted to the spot in a daze. The [Abi Sword] in his hand was blazing with Splendid Light, yet he hadn’t made a move, remaining frozen in place.

”Something’s wrong... I... I can’t control it...!”

Sweat poured down Duo Bao Child’s face as he desperately tried to suppress the [Abi Sword] in his hand. He could only watch helplessly as a third Divine Effect surfaced on the blade.

[Famous Artifact].

From the very beginning, ownership of the [Abi Sword] had always remained in Lü Yang’s hands. Unless he willingly relinquished it, any attempt at Refining it was futile.

Only then did it dawn on Duo Bao Child.

The [Abi Sword] had just been toying with him; it was all according to its master’s command.

”...You bastard!”

Duo Bao Child let out a roar of indignation, but alas, most of his Mana had already been poured into the [Abi Sword]. He was now completely powerless to stop it.

In the next instant, the [Abi Sword]’s blade swiveled around.

—It was pointing at the Dragon-Fishing Elder.

”...Huh?”

At that moment, a great chasm opened between the Dragon-Fishing Elder’s Spiritual Sense and his reasoning. Common sense dictated that having a sword’s edge pointed directly at you was dangerous. Yet, his Spiritual Sense repeatedly told him there was no problem, no danger. It insisted he was perfectly safe, that it was all an illusion...

Until a streak of Sword Light stabbed down into the top of his head.

SQUELCH!

The Sword Light passed silently through his skull, traveling downward, splitting open his brow, the bridge of his nose, his lips and teeth, his neck, his chest and abdomen, his lower limbs...

Almost simultaneously, the [Abi Sword] struck!

A flash of crimson Sword Light became the last straw that broke the camel’s back. The Dragon-Fishing Elder didn’t even have time to summon his Spiritual Treasure or use his Abilities!

At this very moment, only one thought remained in his mind:

’Why me?’

’I was so cautious. I wasn’t the first one to hunt him down, nor was I the one spouting threats. I’ve been the most low-profile one from start to finish.’

’And yet he chose to kill me!’

’Why!?’

’I can’t accept this!’

Countless streams of resentment and indignation rose from the Dragon-Fishing Elder’s heart, only to be instantly extinguished by the sword, revealing Lü Yang’s figure wreathed in the flow of Divine Power Radiance.

That was a completely new Divine Power Radiance.

Even Perfected Yin Shan was aghast upon seeing this Ability, staring at the smiling Lü Yang with utter disbelief.

”A second Innate Divine Technique...?”

[Star Concealment]!

To be precise, it wasn’t a true second technique but one simulated by the [Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita]. At the critical moment, however, it had become Lü Yang’s killing blow!

[Star Concealment] is an ability that takes effect when Yang Fire rises and Yin Fire recedes, just as the stars are hidden by the rising sun. Under its influence, even the most manifest karmic links are difficult to perceive. It can conceal karmic links and Qi traces, and cloud the danger-detecting Spiritual Sense of a Foundation-Stage Cultivator. That was why Duo Bao Child could sense the killing intent, while the Dragon-Fishing Elder had no reaction whatsoever!

From the very beginning, Lü Yang’s target had been him.

The Dragon-Fishing Elder was baffled, but in Lü Yang’s eyes, the choice couldn’t have been simpler: of everyone present, he was the only Loose Cultivator.

Loose Cultivators are the easiest to kill. If not you, then who?

Even so, just to be safe, Lü Yang had still used the [Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita] to temporarily raise his own Cultivation to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection.

On top of that, he had also deployed his hidden gambit with the [Abi Sword].

He made it look effortless, but in truth, he had gone all out. By using a two-pronged attack, he was able to slay the Dragon-Fishing Elder with a single strike, right under everyone’s noses.

In the next instant, a loud bang echoed!

BOOM!

The Dragon-Fishing Elder’s Dharma Body exploded violently. The Sword Light minced every drop of his flesh and blood, and his Dao Foundation was completely devoured by the [Abi Sword]—making full use of his remains.

Bathing in the shower of light created by the cultivator’s demise, Lü Yang narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

’Stomping on small fry really is more fun.’

Without [Star Concealment] to cloud his enemy’s Spiritual Sense, he might not have been able to kill the Dragon-Fishing Elder. But with it, everything simply fell into place.

Ultimately, it was because the [Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita] had boosted his Realm, making it higher than his opponent’s.

When the strong prey on the weak, victory is a matter of course!

And when fighting those above one’s level, one should be invincible!