Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 321: Chapter 321: Still the Same Old Stain Sect

Profound Spirit Realm. Lingxiao Hall.

The expression of the man in ornate robes shifted slightly. He immediately gave the order to strike the Giant Bell, and before long, streaks of Flying Light began arriving at Lingxiao Hall one after another.

These were the upper echelons of the Celestial Court.

They were all Earth Immortals—nine of them in total—and all at the peak of their power. In the lands North and South of the River, they would be considered Great Truemen at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment!

”Greetings, Celestial Official!”

The nine Earth Immortals bowed in unison. In the entire Celestial Court, only the Three Immortal Officials possessed a Celestial Immortal Cultivation. At present, only the Celestial Official was in place; the other two positions remained vacant. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

”The Shen Metal has changed hands.”

The man in ornate robes got straight to the point. ”Our contact, Qi He, has likely been exposed. The original plan needs to be revised.”

At these words, the Earth Immortals were all shocked. ”Celestial Official...”

”Say no more.” The man in ornate robes waved his hand, his resolve firm. ”My mind is made up. If we delay any longer, the other side will bring the fight to us!”

The Cultivators of the Profound Spirit Realm were by no means fools.

As masters of the Crossing Technique, they were highly experienced in invading other Outer Realms and knew exactly what could and could not be done.

Thus, the Profound Spirit Realm had discovered the existence of the Mass Grave long ago. But instead of launching a major offensive, they silently infiltrated the area to cultivate contacts and gather intelligence on the lands North and South of the River. The results of their investigation were startling. What in the world was this place?

A full thirty Fruits!?

This single piece of intelligence was enough to make the Profound Spirit Realm completely abandon any thoughts of invasion. Their plan shifted to simple plunder—a quick smash and grab.

And the Shen Metal was one of the resources they coveted most.

”We’ll act ahead of schedule. I will lead the team myself.”

”Kill Yu Shao and seize the Shen Metal!”

The man in ornate robes said gravely, ”Do not worry. I have already petitioned the Supreme Venerable, who will personally act to conceal our movements and prevent any mishaps.”

Hearing this, the Earth Immortals had no choice but to withdraw.

’The Celestial Official... he’s being too hasty!’

’It’s understandable, I suppose. The fallout from Yu Shao’s betrayal is immense. If the other side also has a Supreme Venerable, they could easily use him to track us down...’

’But as for the Shen Metal... the Celestial Official is paying it a little too much attention.’

’Could the rumors be true? Did the Supreme Venerable ascend to his position too hastily? Is his Realm not truly stable, meaning he needs Celestial Qi to fortify the Celestial Court and secure his throne?’

’Hush... Careful what you think!’

Despite their many reservations, the Earth Immortals didn’t dare to delay and immediately began their preparations.

......

Lü Yang, of course, was unaware of the developments in the Profound Spirit Realm.

He was currently in a great hall deep within the Mass Grave. His Combat with Master Qi He had been a sudden affair, impossible to conceal.

However, to his surprise, the Saint Sect member in charge of the Mass Grave was an acquaintance: a man named Jun Tong, whom he had met once Overseas in his Previous Life. Jun Tong was a Great Trueman serving under True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo, and it was said that, given time, he too could reach Foundation Establishment Perfection.

”So you’re Yuan Tu?”

From the head seat in the hall, Jun Tong looked on calmly, a faint, unreadable smile on his face. ”Minor Metal mentioned you, but he never said you were this audacious.”

”Attacking a Saint Sect Zhenren right here in the Mass Grave?”

”What Saint Sect Zhenren? That man has long been in collusion with the Profound Spirit Realm.”

Lü Yang smiled serenely and tossed the barely breathing Master Qi He onto the floor. Then, he produced the intelligence report that Chen Xin’an had extracted from the man.

Jun Tong was initially unconcerned, but then he saw the report in Lü Yang’s hand and the state of Master Qi He—aged, yet with a bizarre, bewitching quality to him.

”...Well now!”

As a Saint Sect Zhenren, and a Great Trueman at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment no less, Jun Tong was quite experienced. He recognized at a glance that Master Qi He had been subjected to the Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light. A moment’s thought was all it took for him to deduce how Lü Yang had extracted the information.

Instantly, his expression grew much more serious.

’Now that’s a ruthless man.’

’He’s ruthless with others and even more so with himself. A Saint Sect Zhenren like that is never easy to deal with. And that’s not to mention what Minor Metal said about his significant background.’

’Could he have a Perfected Lord backing him?’

With this in mind, Jun Tong glanced again at the report in his hand, put it away without any change in his expression, and looked at Lü Yang. ”Fellow Daoist, you have performed a great service.”

”Why not stay in the Mass Grave and allow me to show you some hospitality?”

”There’s no need.”

Lü Yang shook his head. ”I’m still undercover in the Sword Pavilion, so my identity cannot be revealed. Even though this isn’t my true body, the risk of staying is too great.”

”As you wish, then.”

Jun Tong didn’t press the issue, simply going with the flow and watching as Lü Yang turned and departed.

A moment later, another figure emerged from the back of the hall, his expression grim. Jun Tong smiled at the newcomer. ”Well? Did Fellow Daoist Chen recognize him?”

”I don’t...”

If Lü Yang had still been there, he would have instantly recognized this person. It was none other than his old arch-nemesis, Chen Taihe, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak!

But the Master of Heaven Mending Peak was not in a good mood. His gaze was dark as he pondered, ’The Abilities that man used to kill Qi He... they seemed to be those of the Master of Weapons and Wan Jin Gong? With that combination... could it be that he, like me, is also seeking the position of the Fruit of Pomegranate Wood?’

At this thought, his eyes grew even colder.

He was only here because Minor Metal had ordered him to come and identify a certain ”Saint Sect Zhenren who wishes to remain anonymous.”

He hadn’t been able to identify the man, but he had discovered a new rival on the Path.

”You really don’t recognize him?”

Jun Tong asked curiously, ”His mastery of the Heaven-Mending Skill is astounding, and his methods are so creative. To think the Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light could be used in such a marvelous way...”

”I truly don’t.”

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak shook his head, then suddenly lowered his voice. ”But he’s so secretive, unwilling to reveal his identity... I fear his motives are impure.”

”He claims to be loyal to the Saint Sect, but for all we know, he could be the real traitor.”

”My lord, you should have detained him.”

Jun Tong casually waved off the Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s suggestion. ”There was no need. If he had actually stayed, it would have been more of a headache for me.”

”...Oh?”

In the face of the Peak Master’s confusion, Jun Tong remained perfectly calm. ”I admit, Qi He was very careful. No one had discovered his betrayal beforehand.”

”But after Minor Metal gave me a warning three years ago, I conducted a private investigation of my own.”

”If I still couldn’t uncover Qi He’s betrayal and his secret collusion with an outside power, I would be far too incompetent for my position. That Outer Realm is called the Profound Spirit Realm, you said?”

At this, Jun Tong gave a cold smirk. ”The Sword Pavilion is likely attacking the Mass Grave precisely because of the Profound Spirit Realm. As it happens, the Shen Metal that was in Qi He’s possession had already been tampered with by them. Now that Yuan Tu has taken it, they certainly won’t let the matter drop.”

”So, his departure from the Mass Grave suits my plans perfectly.”

”As long as he is in Jiangnan, when the Profound Spirit Realm tracks him down using their mark, any ensuing destruction will happen in Jiangnan. It’ll be the Sword Pavilion’s problem then.”

”It would be best to let the Sword Pavilion and the Profound Spirit Realm fight it out.”

”Let them tear each other apart. We can wait for them to tire themselves out, and then, when the Profound Spirit Realm is undefended, we’ll charge in, perform a massive Qi Collection, and reap all the benefits!”

When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits.

........

”...Something’s wrong!”

Having left the Mass Grave, Lü Yang suddenly stopped, a frown creasing his brow. ”That Jun Tong... he was far too casual. He just let me walk away?”

Master Qi He was colluding with the Profound Spirit Realm.

That was crucial intelligence, yet Jun Tong showed no inclination to verify it. He simply took Lü Yang at his word. Was his reputation really that good?

Or was it...

’He already knew?’

Lü Yang mused to himself. He always made a point of never underestimating his enemies, and he certainly wasn’t about to treat a Saint Sect Zhenren—especially a Great Trueman of the Saint Sect—like a fool.

Therefore, he preferred to consider things from the most cynical perspective possible.

Shoot the arrow first, then draw the target.

’If he really knew about Qi He’s connection to the Profound Spirit Realm all along, then he must have also known about the tracking mark on the Shen Metal.’

’Yet he didn’t warn me.’

’And not warning me means he harbors ill intentions!’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but sigh. The Saint Sect was still the Saint Sect, after all...

’...Is he trying to redirect this disaster onto me?’