Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 596: Chapter 596: Desperate Flight

In the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, Lü Yang’s form was constantly shifting.

Here, the method of ”fleeing” was different from within the Outer Realm. This was because the Outer Heaven Sea of Light had no concept of ”distance,” and thus, no concept of escape in the traditional sense.

It was more like a calculation.

When Lü Yang used his spiritual perception and prepared to travel to a certain spot in the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, his body would disappear, entering an unobservable state.

Only after he confirmed an anchor point would his form descend from the void and land directly at that location. During this process, he could not interfere with others, nor could they interfere with him. It sounded good at first, but this special state could not be maintained for too long.

If too much time passed, he would become disconnected from the Outer Heaven Sea of Light.

The result would be akin to exile. Though he wouldn’t be dead, he would never again be able to interact with the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, entering a state of neither life nor death.

At that point, Lü Yang would have no choice but to give up thinking itself.

And right now, Lü Yang was in this very state. The world around him was a vast void, and he was constantly calculating with his fingers, trying to lock in an anchor point for his destination.

At the same time, he still had enough spare focus to observe his surroundings.

’It’s so similar... just too similar.’

Lü Yang was astonished. The Void Land he was in now was almost identical to the space he occupied before each reset of the Centome!

Both were just as chaotic and formless.

In both, he was completely alone.

In both, he was unable to interfere with the outside world.

For a moment, Lü Yang’s focus wavered. He couldn’t help but start pondering the origins of the Centome and whether it was connected to the scene before him...

’...Huh? Something’s wrong!’

Lü Yang’s pupils contracted as he was jolted back to his senses. A sweep of his Divine Sense revealed that the bloody gash on his neck had, at some point, widened by a full circle!

The Victory Sword Intent!

This Sword Intent had landed on Lü Yang, and it was impossible to remove in a short time. He could only endure it, but it was destabilizing his Soul and clouding his thoughts!

In this condition, the time he could remain in this Void Land was also drastically shortened.

’I can’t hold on anymore.’

The next second, Lü Yang locked in his position and exited the Void. A vast expanse of the Duality of Life and Death Profound Light surged around him, making his vision shimmer—

”CLANG! CLANG!”

Amidst the roiling Duality of Life and Death Profound Light, a Sword Light, revealing not the slightest Qi trace, silently locked onto Lü Yang’s Dharma Body once more.

This time, it slashed toward his midsection.

However, just as it was about to strike Lü Yang, the Banner of Righteous Teachings fluttering behind him released an indescribable and Mysterious Power.

The Banner of Righteous Teachings’ second, newly added Divine Effect:

Enlightenment!

In that instant, the Sword Light, which had been brimming with killing intent, inexplicably paused. Its Qi trace was exposed, and True Monarch Gangxing materialized, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

”A Righteous Cultivator must not kill wantonly...”

The surprise lasted only a moment. The next second, True Monarch Gangxing snapped out of it, his expression shifting slightly as a trace of apprehension appeared in his eyes.

What the hell was that!

’For a moment there,’ he thought, ’I actually felt that as a Righteous Cultivator, I should lead by example. The world is so beautiful, how could I possibly kill the innocent indiscriminately...’

What powerful brainwashing!

The Fruit of Celestial Fire shouldn’t have this kind of effect, right? It seemed more like something Lü Yang had personally refined, highlighting the Profound Mysterious nature of his own Daoist Skills...

On the other side, Lü Yang was just as surprised.

’It actually worked?’

To be honest, although the Banner of Righteous Teachings had gained many new Divine Effects after becoming a True Treasure, he hadn’t thought any of them would work on True Monarch Gangxing.

Late Stage of Golden Core, a Great Perfected Lord.

Those titles alone, and the disparity in Position they represented, should have been enough to crush him. It was like an egg striking a stone; his ability should have been completely useless.

And yet, his opponent had fallen for it.

Why?

At this thought, Lü Yang’s eyes suddenly lit up.

”...I know!”

He looked at True Monarch Gangxing with a smile. ”You’re not a Great Perfected Lord right now! You’ve lowered your own Position, and that’s why you can act so freely!”

It was the only explanation.

Ever since they had met, he’d had a lingering doubt: True Monarch Gangxing should have been severely restricted, unable to move freely due to a mismatch with his Fruit of attainment.

So how did he suddenly appear?

Could it be that he was faking it the whole time?

That made no sense. He could understand if World Purger Fei Xue had been deceived, but there was no way Ang Xiao could have been fooled. That would be illogical.

Lü Yang had great faith in Ang Xiao.

Therefore, he was certain that there was definitely something wrong with True Monarch Gangxing; he just didn’t know what method the man had used to suppress the issue.

Now he knew.

’He lowered his Position, forgoing the power of a Great Perfected Lord... Right now, he should be a First-class True Monarch, with strength comparable to World Purger Fei Xue before her breakthrough.’

’My chance for survival... lies here!’

If a true Great Perfected Lord at the Late Stage of Golden Core were here, all he would need to do is press down on Lü Yang with the weight of his Abilities and Position, and Lü Yang’s only option would be to reset.

The next second, Lü Yang’s figure vanished.

He had once again retreated into the Void to reset his anchor point. Seeing this, True Monarch Gangxing chuckled and followed him into the Void.

Both were calculating. Lü Yang was calculating the location of his desired anchor point, while True Monarch Gangxing was calculating where Lü Yang intended to go. Mystically, Lü Yang could clearly sense that he was being locked onto, a feeling like a hand closing around his throat.

A moment later, Lü Yang dropped back into the Outer Heaven Sea of Light.

Almost simultaneously, True Monarch Gangxing’s figure also appeared. What made Lü Yang’s heart go cold was... this time, his opponent was much closer!

’How many more chances do I have?’

’Five times... no, three. At most three more jumps. The next time I appear in the Outer Heaven Sea of Light, he’ll materialize right on top of me!’

At that point, not even an Immortal could save him.

”Fellow Daoist Lü, why are you in such a hurry to flee? In truth, I merely wish to exchange some insights on the Sword Dao with you. I have no intention of killing you.”

”You understand my current state. This concerns my very Dao path. How could I possibly joke about such a thing?”

”You also need not worry that I am trying to deceive you. You must know that I hail from the Sword Pavilion, and no Sword Pavilion True Monarch would ever use their own Dao path to deceive another.”

True Monarch Gangxing’s voice drifted over faintly.

’The Sword Species!’

Lü Yang cursed inwardly but didn’t reply.

’I can’t reply. Replying will create karmic links. He could absolutely use the karmic link from our conversation to lock onto my position even faster!’

The next second, the Sword Light struck.

Forcibly engraving: [All Attacks Nullified]!

Without any hesitation, Lü Yang once again activated Engraving Laws. His dwindling Mana poured out, and he even felt a hint of exhaustion.

Exhaustion—a sensation that was almost unthinkable for a Perfected Lord!

Even Empress Xiao, who he had repeatedly routed in their bloody battles before she became a Perfected Lord, could fight him to a standstill afterward.

”WHOOSH!”

After withstanding the Sword Light, Lü Yang fled once more. His heart, however, was incredibly heavy... His intuition told him he probably wouldn’t be able to block it a third time.

After all, he had just fought his way out of an encirclement, was heavily injured, and in contrast, True Monarch Gangxing was well-rested and waiting for him. To top it off, the man’s Cultivation was higher, and he had even launched a sneak attack the moment they met. Under these circumstances, the only reason he had survived this long was thanks to the Fruit of Celestial Fire.

The third time, he would surely die!

’What do I do?’

Standing in the Void, Lü Yang’s expression was calm as he pondered, ’At this point, I’m afraid I have to take a desperate risk... If worst comes to worst, I’ll just die and reset.’