Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

The moment [Ang Xiao] launched his counterattack, Lü Yang sensed it too.

’The sword scar on Master Chong Guang’s side has been triggered.’

’Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, too. The [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land] is about to collapse... Although it doesn’t really affect him anymore, I can’t let him be exposed right now.’

After some thought, Lü Yang decided not to act rashly.

’First, I’ll deal with Fellow Daoist Suo Huan’s situation.’

’Master Chong Guang is a hero of his generation. How could he not have anticipated that [Ang Xiao] might tamper with his Earth God’s Divine Technique? He must have a countermeasure prepared.’

With this thought, he immediately sent a message Overseas.

Meanwhile, inside the Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace, Suo Huan watched the collapsing [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land] with a serene expression, casually forming a Daoist Hand Seal.

The next second, the [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land], which had been on the verge of disintegration, was pinched back together out of thin air and resumed its operation. This wasn’t some special technique, but purely a feat of his Cultivation. After all, Suo Huan had long since refined a Grotto Heaven; mending a lesser Blessed Land was utterly effortless for him.

This change naturally affected [Ang Xiao]’s judgment.

"How is this possible?"

His pupils shrank as surprise filled his eyes. "Suo Huan... has been under my surveillance for hundreds of years. This is not the level of Cultivation he should possess!"

There really is a mastermind behind the scenes!

As if one disaster wasn’t enough, another struck. At that moment, in the direction of Jiangbei Qing Country, Chong Guang saw the Earth of Chen that [Ang Xiao] had reversed and made his own move.

"He really did have a trick up his sleeve. It still has to come to this..."

Above the Foundation Establishment Realm, Chong Guang’s Flying Ascension Blessed Land could be seen, and within it, one could faintly glimpse the [Sea of Suffering] and see the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] responding to his Qi trace.

Therefore, he acted decisively.

"Slash!"

In an instant, Chong Guang’s originally immense [Dongyang Blessed Land] disintegrated. All its outer layers fell away, leaving only the most critical core.

The detached outer layers of the Blessed Land then burst into flames, sensing the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire]. Empowered by Chong Guang’s fully-realized Cultivation, he temporarily borrowed a portion of the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire]’s Mighty Power to affect himself, forcefully reversing the Earth of Chen that [Ang Xiao] had transformed back to its original state!

Seeing this, Lü Yang was instantly overjoyed.

’Well done, Master Chong Guang!’

He was familiar with this move. At the end of his ninth life’s quest for Chongguang Gold, he had relied on shedding the outer layers of his Blessed Land to succeed in proving the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] a second time.

He had just used it earlier than expected this time.

What was even more brilliant was that although shedding the outer layers of his Blessed Land had lowered his chances of Seeking Gold, the act of reversing the Earth of Chen itself aligned with the imagery of the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire].

As a result, the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] actively drew closer to him.

In the end, after this series of maneuvers, Chong Guang’s chances of proving the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] had not only not decreased, but had actually increased. Success was practically at hand!

"RUMBLE!"

Almost simultaneously, on Holy Fire Cliff, the Celestial River swept across Heaven and Earth. World Purger Fei Xue had clearly seen this as well and, no longer hiding, decisively chose to strike!

At that moment, the roiling Celestial River surged forth, enveloping and sealing off Qing Country from the inside out, instantly isolating it from all external influences!

"He’s guarding against [Ang Xiao] making another move."

Lü Yang saw this clearly, a trace of tension rising in his heart. ’What will you do now? Have that Perfected Lord-level avatar come to stop Fei Xue?’

"Absolutely not!"

In the Netherworld, [Ang Xiao] hesitated for only a moment before making his decision with a cold smile. "I’ve lost the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], but do you really think you can have it?"

He saw the situation very clearly.

Fortune hasn’t made a move yet! If Chong Guang really proves the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], what will you, Fortune, have to prove? That’s right, I’m anxious, but aren’t you anxious too?

Therefore, not only did he ignore Chong Guang, he focused his attention on Suo Huan. He then formed a Daoist Hand Seal, intending to detonate the [Spirit Ruins Blessed Land], but at the critical moment, Suo Huan suppressed him. As the two entered a stalemate, Lü Yang saw Ang Xiao’s true intentions.

’He’s not going to intervene?’

Lü Yang’s expression suddenly turned grim. Beside him, Fortune was so anxious he was hopping mad, already cursing [Ang Xiao] for being shameless and despicable.

"Sigh... I was too optimistic."

Lü Yang sighed. "He is [Ang Xiao], after all. It was unrealistic to think I could make him follow my plan. Now he’s backed me into a corner instead."

What was to be done?

Just as [Ang Xiao] had predicted, he couldn’t just sit by and watch Chong Guang actually prove the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire]. He was determined to obtain this Fruit.

Because it was the only Fruit that Lü Yang could quickly take control of.

Besides the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], Lü Yang of course had other choices, such as the [Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth] or the [Fruit of Pomegranate Wood]. He could choose any of them.

The problem was time.

Whether it was the [Fruit of Wall-Surface Earth] or the [Fruit of Pomegranate Wood], if he wanted to devour them, he would have to cultivate a new Life Form Body, which would consume an immense amount of time and resources.

Only with the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], because he had a ready-made Fortune, did he not only have to pay nothing, but he could also reap the rewards in the shortest possible time. In this lifetime, from his own restart to his scheming, to the brink of success now, it had only taken a mere twenty years in total!

If he had chosen any other Fruit, it wouldn’t have been this fast!

’...I have no choice but to act.’

Lü Yang quickly made his decision. With a thought, the Righteous Banner appeared, purple qi drifting from it. A human figure faintly materialized, holding a Profound Sword.

"Fellow Daoist, please draw your sword."

The moment his voice fell, the ring of a sword resounded!

"CLANG! CLANG!"

He did not let the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected leave the Righteous Banner, as only then could he maximally obscure their karmic links and conceal himself, preventing anyone from tracing his origins.

Thus, only a single beam of Sword Light shot out, but it grew explosively in the wind, stretching across Heaven and Earth. All the Cultivators who witnessed the Sword Light involuntarily pictured an unyielding Enchanted Sword in their minds, one that struck without bias, slashing directly at the boundless Celestial River created by World Purger Fei Xue.

"Hm? Who’s there!"

Almost at the same time, World Purger Fei Xue’s surprised cry rang out.

The next second, the Celestial River, which should have been perfect and Flawless, was actually split open by the Sword Light, creating a fissure. The blockade of Qing Country was broken for a fleeting moment!

In that flash of lightning and spark of flint, [Ang Xiao] moved.

The two had clearly not communicated beforehand, yet at this moment, their coordination was seamless. Lü Yang broke the seal, and [Ang Xiao] immediately exploited the opening.

"Hmph, you know what’s good for you."

Deep within the Netherworld, [Ang Xiao] formed a hand seal with one hand. A speck of black light appeared at his fingertip—it was his own Earth God’s Divine Technique, the original Yin’s Chen Earth.

Back then, he had first reversed his own Earth God’s Divine Technique, and then used it to reverse all the Earth of Chen under Heaven.

And now, he brought out this Yin’s Chen Earth once again. An intangible imagery swirled around it, quickly connecting with Chong Guang’s Earth God’s Divine Technique.

"Reverse!"

In an instant, Chong Guang’s expression turned ghastly. He saw that within his Blessed Land, the Earth of Chen that had already reverted to its Yang attribute was once again surging with roiling Yin qi.

’Am I going to fail?’

The instant this thought emerged, Chong Guang’s eyes suddenly lit up. He saw a sword scar gradually appearing upon his Earth God’s Divine Technique.

"Don’t worry, Master. I am here to help you!"

In a dense forest in the North, Lü Yang also formed a Daoist Hand Seal, channeling the Tribulation Wave and using the Divine Effect of the [Reform Technique] to forcibly stabilize the attribute of Chong Guang’s Earth God’s Divine Technique!

At that moment, Lü Yang single-handedly turned the tide!

[Ang Xiao]’s face, however, darkened abruptly.

Without a doubt, Lü Yang’s move had just saved the failing Chong Guang from dire straits... As for why Chong Guang was in those dire straits to begin with?

You’d better not ask.