Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 547: Chapter 547: If You Seek Gold Now

World Purger Fei Xue’s words struck Lü Yang like a physical blow.

Forbidden Knowledge!

A secret belonging exclusively to the Bhagavat, unknown to the world’s cultivators. Even among Perfected Lords, very few were privy to it.

As a taboo, this piece of Knowledge had ”weight.” Having suddenly heard it, Lü Yang hadn’t yet adapted. His Divine Sense and Conscious Thought, which usually flowed with ease, suddenly felt as though they were shouldering the burden of mountains. Thinking became an arduous task. Under this influence, the world in his eyes seemed to slow down.

’This is bad!’

Lü Yang knew this wasn’t the world slowing down, but his own reactions. In truth, World Purger Fei Xue’s speed hadn’t diminished in the slightest!

To his dismay, even his thoughts had become sluggish.

’Activate an Artifact? Cast a Daoist Skill?’

’There’s simply no time. By the time I think of what to do and try to act, World Purger Fei Xue will have already torn me to pieces and humiliated me as she pleases.’

’That lunatic... She’s a complete lunatic!’

’She’ll really stop at nothing. Daring to use Forbidden Knowledge in Combat and spread it around so casually... Acting this recklessly, isn’t she afraid the Bhagavat will come after her?’

By the time Lü Yang finally adapted to the heavy pressure of the Forbidden Knowledge, the world snapped back to normal. His vision immediately spun.

It was as if time had been erased.

In the blink of an eye, he found he had once again disintegrated into a mass of black-gold light. World Purger Fei Xue held him cupped in her hands, continuously Refining him with her Mana!

If he had taken even a moment longer to recover, he would have been killed outright!

And that was only thanks to the powerful regenerative abilities granted by his [Heaven] skill. Any other Perfected Person would have had their Dao Foundation shattered by World Purger Fei Xue.

The next second, Lü Yang immediately activated [Heaven and Earth Respond to Me], attempting to borrow the Power of Heaven and Earth to teleport away. But World Purger Fei Xue had seen this trick before; she wasn’t about to fall for it again. With a flick of her fingers, streams of light descended, sealing the surrounding space completely.

Soon, however, World Purger Fei Xue’s expression flickered.

She discovered that as Lü Yang’s situation worsened, his Qi trace didn’t weaken in the slightest. On the contrary, it flared up, growing ever more powerful!

There were two reasons for this. The first was his [Unyielding Sword Intent]!

The second was [Heaven]. Though it simplified many of its manifestations, that didn’t mean the Profound Mysterious nature of this Second-Grade Cultivation Skill had lost its previous Divine Effect.

It still possessed the qualities of a [Dharma Body]!

[Dharma Body]: The more severe the damage one sustains, the greater the boost to one’s Mana and Abilities.

The two combined, paradoxically, left Lü Yang in a better state than when he was unharmed. He now focused his mind, calmed his Qi, and with a Finger Technique and Incantation, a booming Thunder Sound erupted:

”Profound City, match the celestial pole! From your heights, exert eternal control!”

As the Spell was chanted, countless visions instantly materialized within the black-gold light that was Lü Yang, constructing a magnificent, resplendent palace.

The [Profound City Blessed Land]!

The moment the Blessed Land descended, it instantly suppressed All Phenomena, halting Lü Yang’s decline. He recovered, raised his hand, and unleashed another brilliant slash of Sword Light!

In response, World Purger Fei Xue simply extended a single finger.

[Unyielding Sword Intent]!

[Dripping Water Carves Stone]!

Sword’s edge met fingertip. The collision instantly erupted in a myriad of Illusionary Colors, forming a dense barrier that prevented Lü Yang’s blade from advancing a single inch.

”BOOM!”

The deafening blast echoed endlessly as brilliant golden light flooded the area. When the light faded, Lü Yang was seen standing in the distance, completely unscathed.

’Blocked again...’

Lü Yang clicked his tongue in amazement. This was his Sealed Title Sword Intent, yet it had merely fought World Purger Fei Xue to a standstill, not even scratching her.

But a moment later, Lü Yang’s eyes suddenly lit up.

”...Hm?”

In the distance, World Purger Fei Xue’s fine brows knitted slightly. She was silently staring at the finger that had just met Lü Yang’s blade, its skin fair, smooth, and flawless as snow.

But in the next second, a single drop of crimson blood oozed from her fingertip. Like ink dropped into clear water, it instantly began to spread.

Lü Yang saw it clearly. His own Sword Intent was visibly present on that bead of blood, making World Purger Fei Xue flinch with a hint of pain, like a classical maiden pricked by a needle while embroidering. She then parted her crimson lips, placed the finger in her mouth, and sucked on it gently.

Her pitiable and lovely appearance was enough to make anyone want to protect such a delicate beauty.

Lü Yang, however, felt no pity. His expression remained unchanged, though a strange light flickered in his eyes. ’That mental fluctuation just now... was that a Charm Art!?’

’World Purger Fei Xue knows tricks like that?’

On second thought, Lü Yang decided it made sense.

’After all, she’s beautiful enough for a Charm Art to be devastatingly effective. Given her anything-goes style of Combat, why wouldn’t she cultivate it?’

’Too bad my Dao Heart is like iron. That trick won’t work on me!’

Just then, World Purger Fei Xue pulled her finger from her mouth. The wound on its tip had already healed to Perfection.

”...You managed to injure me. I’ll consider that a pass.”

World Purger Fei Xue said calmly, ”After you leave, you’ll see the entrance to that fractured timeline. Take the Zouyu Race with you.”

”Thank you for your leniency, Senior.”

The black-gold light reconverged, and Lü Yang’s figure materialized. His slightly pale face quickly regained its healthy flush after a few cycles of Breathing.

Strictly speaking, he had been at a disadvantage for the entire fight. It wasn’t because of a gap in their stats—in fact, his were likely a bit higher. After all, though they were both at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, his [Fruit of Celestial Fire] far outclassed her [Fruit of Gully-Rill Water]. The real difference between them was skill.

This wasn’t a matter of World Purger Fei Xue’s tactics.

Rather, with every move, every exchange, every clash of Mana, World Purger Fei Xue was able to exploit an opening, using her strengths to attack his weaknesses.

This dynamic was what allowed her to overcome the difference in their stats.

’Otherwise, that full-power slash, boosted by so many Divine Effects, shouldn’t have just drawn a bit of blood. It should have taken her finger right off...’

At this thought, Lü Yang felt a sense of genuine admiration.

That level of skill wasn’t something you could master through hard work and study alone. It was true talent. Some people just possessed a natural Spiritual Sense for combat.

But Lü Yang wasn’t discouraged.

’In the end, it just means the gap in our stats isn’t big enough. As long as I keep stacking my stats and strengthening my abilities, even the most incredible skill will be useless against me!’

Just before leaving, Lü Yang suddenly spoke.

”I have one more question, if I may be so bold, Senior.”

World Purger Fei Xue glanced at him. ”Speak.”

”May I ask, Senior, in your opinion, if I simply return the Zouyu Descendants to that fractured timeline and don’t cause any trouble, what are my chances of success in Seeking Gold?”

Lü Yang’s voice was perfectly calm.

World Purger Fei Xue, on the other hand, had a strange light flicker in her eyes upon hearing his question. She then sized up Lü Yang with a look she had never used before.

The next second, her lips suddenly split into a wide grin, and she began to laugh.

”...What a junior!”

”I said before that if you beat me, I’d give you anything you wanted. You didn’t win, but you didn’t exactly lose either... Fine. I’ll answer your question.”

After she finished speaking, World Purger Fei Xue’s beautiful face turned solemn.

”If you were to attempt Seeking Gold right now, you would have a ninety percent chance of success.”

”But you would die without a doubt!”