Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Perfected Chong Guang’s Dao Companion?

The former site of the Qing Country’s national capital.

Lü Yang stood high amongst the clouds, quietly gazing at the celestial dome.

After Perfected Chong Guang ascended to attempt his Seeking Gold ritual, sacrificing the entirety of Qing Country in the process, this place had lost all its former vitality, becoming a land of silent death.

Furthermore, with Perfected Chong Guang’s failure, the Dongyang Blessed Land was now falling toward the Current World at this very location. Although it had not yet fully manifested, the mere portents of its arrival—the scorching winds and brilliant radiance—were incredibly lethal. Any mortal who drew near was instantly incinerated to ash.

Even Cultivators in the Early-phase and Mid-phase of Qi Refining found it difficult to approach.

Only Late-phase Qi Refining Cultivators could survive for a short time within this radiance, and only those at the Final-phase of Qi Refining who possessed a Position could ignore the effects entirely.

And as time passed, this effect was only intensifying.

By Lü Yang’s estimation, once the Dongyang Blessed Land truly fell into the Current World, even those at the Final-phase of Qi Refining would likely be unable to get close.

’Yuan Tu...’

Just then, a gloomy figure sped toward them on a Flying Light. It was none other than Perfected Yin Shan, and his expression was rather grim.

Seeing this, Lü Yang sighed. ”Senior Brother, things are difficult for you, too.”

These words struck a chord with Perfected Yin Shan. He let out a long sigh and cupped his hands. ”From now on, I will have to rely on your care, Junior Brother.”

After speaking, a deep, ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. ”This is our only chance. We must seize it. Otherwise, I fear we’ll fade into obscurity, our former glory gone. You must know, there are quite a few Perfected Persons in the Stain Sect who have their eyes on our positions...”

Perfected Yin Shan understood the situation perfectly. With Perfected Chong Guang’s failure in Seeking Gold, they had lost their great backer, a master at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Their standing in the Stain Sect was far from what it once was; to say the least, it had plummeted.

Therefore, they had to find a new backer. Gaining the favor of World Purger Fei Xue was now of the utmost importance to them both.

And to be valued by a Perfected Lord, they had to demonstrate their capabilities.

That said, Perfected Yin Shan’s expression was anything but optimistic. After all, their opponents this time were not merely the Foundation-Stage Cultivators of Qing Country.

”The Perfected Lord has established a pact: the Dongyang Blessed Land will be carved up by all the major houses.”

”This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In the past, even Great Truemen would have come for something like this... Even with the Perfected Lord’s restrictions in place this time, our opponents will likely be difficult to handle.”

Just then, Perfected Yin Shan’s gaze shifted. A Flying Light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon, stirring up a Spirit Tide in its wake. As it drew closer, it split into two—one still, one in motion—revealing a middle-aged man in an Official Uniform and a handsome youth clad in sharp armor.

The moment the two appeared, they immediately resonated with Heaven and Earth.

Within the Splendid Light above their heads, countless tadpole-shaped Talismans converged, finally forming two incredibly conspicuous Official Positions that filled the sky with brilliant colors.

Seeing this, Perfected Yin Shan’s eyes narrowed.

”Commander of the All Heaven Department, Hou Lan. And Minister of the Ministry of Communication, Cheng Tinggui.”

Perfected Yin Shan said in a low voice, ”Both hold Standard Third Grade Official Positions, comparable to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection. However, they are a notch weaker than the top experts from other factions in single combat.”

”But the Dao Court and the Pure Land are in collusion, always joining forces against their enemies. These two, one civil and one martial, are likely skilled in joint attack techniques. We must not be careless.”

”I understand.”

Lü Yang nodded and then looked in another direction. There, the clouds and mist parted to reveal the illusory image of a Zen Forest temple.

’Pure Land...’

The next moment, several figures emerged from the Zen Forest.

The one in the lead had his palms pressed together and a smile on his face. He wore a magnificent kasaya inlaid with gold and jade, and the Prayer Beads in his hand were full and round, glowing with a warm, jade-like luster.

The moment he appeared, his gaze locked directly onto Lü Yang.

”And who might this be?”

Lü Yang, after all, lacked experience. He could tell the man was an Arhat at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection but didn’t know his origins, so he could only listen to Perfected Yin Shan’s explanation:

”That should be Hui Ku. His master is the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva, and he’s from the same faction as Venerable Weimotuo, who attacked us before. But since Venerable Weimotuo was driven back to the Pure Land, his temple’s position is now vacant. I fear this Hui Ku has his heart set on replacing him.”

”I see.” Lü Yang immediately understood.

’No wonder he’s looking at me like that. He’s looking for a promotion,’ Lü Yang thought. ’After all, everyone knows that to the Pure Land, I’m a prize they’re desperate to claim.’

’But the big shots aren’t here yet.’

The Dao Court and the Pure Land were not worth mentioning. Even Perfected Yin Shan, let alone Lü Yang, only felt a bit more vigilant; he did not consider them major enemies.

For the Stain Sect, there was only one true adversary.

CLANG! CLANG!

Just then, a clear sword cry rang out from the south—a sound sharp enough to pierce gold and shatter stone, soaring straight into the heavens. It instantly triggered a response from countless Sword Artifacts.

Seeing this, Perfected Yin Shan’s expression grew much more serious.

”Sword Intent... The lunatics from the south are here.”

Lü Yang opened the Dharma Eye in the center of his brow. The Prophetic Orrery activated, casting down a ray of the Light of Bing Fire, and he immediately saw the tall, straight figure hidden within the layers of Sword Light.

The figure stood with hands clasped behind their back, robes fluttering in the wind. Above their head, a Sword Pill pulsed, absorbing the splendor of the sun and moon and constantly erupting with Sword Qi. Just by standing there in the air, they resembled a sharp sword that had claimed countless lives. The moment they appeared, like Hui Ku from the Pure Land, their gaze turned and locked directly onto Lü Yang.

However, the Sword Pavilion was far more direct than the Pure Land.

SWOOSH!

The instant their gazes met, a brilliant sword edge slashed down before Lü Yang’s eyes, a bone-chilling coldness piercing toward the space between his brows.

’Truly a lunatic...’

Lü Yang cursed inwardly but didn’t hesitate for a second. The Black Mantle of Hundredfold Wards on his body fluttered, immediately blocking the sword’s edge.

”Xing Feng’s Spiritual Treasure...”

Seeing this, the figure from the Sword Pavilion grunted, a hint of anger in their voice. The slashing sword edge suddenly erupted with a myriad of brilliant lights, each carrying lethal power. As they struck the Black Mantle of Hundredfold Wards, they almost instantly broke through the Spiritual Treasure’s defenses!

After all, this Spiritual Treasure had come from the Sword Pavilion. Who would know how to break it better than them?

Even so, it still bought Lü Yang enough time. In the blink of an eye, the light of Separation fell upon his opponent.

WHOOSH!

The next second, the figure from the Sword Pavilion was flung a thousand meters away. Their brow furrowed, but they did not attack again. Instead, they dispersed the Sword Light surrounding their body.

A sweeping glance revealed that it was a graceful woman.

At first glance, she looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and shapely brows on a delicate face. Her skin was like lustrous white jade, and she wore a wide-sleeved silk robe over an emerald palace dress.

Seeing her, Lü Yang asked probingly, ”Someone from the Ye Family?”

”From the Sword Pavilion, Ye Guyue.”

The dashing Female Sword Cultivator gave a cold smile, her expression like that of a drawn Enchanted Sword. Her Sword Qi and killing intent were completely unconcealed, and she seemed ready to strike at Lü Yang again.

In response, Lü Yang narrowed his eyes.

For a moment, the tension was palpable.

However, at that very moment, a sound of the Dao—like a zither, like a flute, like a shawm, yet impossible to describe—drifted from the distance. It dissipated the Evil Qi and instantly calmed the tense situation.

Immediately after, another graceful silhouette appeared in the distance.

This person wore her hair in a flying immortal bun. Her features were as perfect as a painting and exceptionally beautiful, but unlike the Female Sword Cultivator, she was dressed in white mourning clothes. Her aura was like that of a lone orchid in an empty valley.

”Who is that?” Lü Yang asked curiously.

”This one is from our Stain Sect,” Perfected Yin Shan said, lowering his voice. ”She was Senior Brother’s Dao Companion. Now that he is dead, it’s only natural she would come.”

’...Perfected Chong Guang’s wife?’

Lü Yang froze, then suddenly recalled something.

’Perfected Chong Guang had a son! I’d even met him on the Seizing Dao Battlefield. His name was Chongming. If he had a son, it’s no surprise he also had a Dao Companion.’

The next moment, Lü Yang discovered that she, too, had turned her beautiful eyes to look straight at him.