Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

There were two main reasons for implanting the [Reform Technique] in Master Chong Guang.

First, it was naturally to help Master Chong Guang resist [Ang Xiao].

’After all, based on my experience, even if Master Chong Guang manages to reverse the Earth of Chen, [Ang Xiao] will just reverse it right back in the end.’

Otherwise, Master Chong Guang wouldn’t have failed his attempt at Seeking Gold.

’But with my backing, even if [Ang Xiao] reverses the Earth of Chen a second time at the critical moment, I can step in and reverse it a third time.’

’And with my Position, while [Ang Xiao] is being tied down by the world’s Perfected Lords and trapped in the Netherworld, his power is limited. We should be able to fight to a standstill over the changes to the Earth of Chen... Even if I lose, it doesn’t matter. In any case, I’m just using Master Chong Guang’s attempt at Seeking Gold to tie up his energy.’

In fact, winning would be more of a hassle.

This was also his second objective.

If, by some chance, Master Chong Guang had an astonishing burst of potential and, with my help, withstood [Ang Xiao]’s pressure to actually succeed in attaining the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire]...

’...then I would have to use my contingency plan and stop him instead.’

After all, if Master Chong Guang actually succeeded, what would there be for Hong Yun to attain?

’Don’t worry, Master Chong Guang. I’ll make it up to you in the next life!’

After settling matters with Master Chong Guang, Lü Yang took advantage of the fact that World Purger Fei Xue was still engaged in Combat with the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven to quietly depart from Qing Country.

......

「Overseas. Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace.」

Lü Yang traveled without stopping for even a moment, soon arriving at this base of operations Suo Huan maintained Overseas. He immediately took out the Righteous Banner.

"Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, have you been well?"

"I am fine, Sire. Thank you for your concern."

Purple qi drifted within the Righteous Banner.

Soon, Suo Huan’s figure emerged. Although he had now fallen from the Golden Core Realm, his Position still far surpassed that of a Foundation-Stage Cultivator.

Lü Yang gave a wry smile. "How many times have I told you? We aren’t superior and subordinate. We should address each other as Fellow Daoists. If you keep talking like this, you’ll create a distance between us."

"I understand, Sire."

Suo Huan cupped his hands but didn’t change his form of address.

In truth, after spending so much time together, he knew Lü Yang wasn’t just being polite but genuinely meant it. However, Suo Huan had his own principles to uphold.

In his eyes, Lü Yang had shown immense kindness to both him and [Huanxu Heaven]—a debt so great he could never fully repay it. Thus, using a respectful title for Lü Yang was just his way of expressing gratitude. Only toward Lü Yang would he willingly bow without the slightest reservation.

He had decided this long ago.

He thought back to all those years ago. In his quest for Seeking Gold and to save [Huanxu Heaven], he had begged countless people and performed countless salutes, yet he was still treated as worthless.

Only Lü Yang had chosen to lend him a hand.

Therefore, he had long since resolved:

Other than Lü Yang, he would never again bow his head to anyone, nor would he ever salute another. In the entire world, no one else was worthy of it!

He then turned his head to look at the other "him" not far away, inside the Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

That was his former, powerless self.

The next second, Suo Huan’s gaze hardened with resolve. He raised a hand, made a swiping motion, and directly absorbed that other self as a light gradually began to glow in his eyes.

Lü Yang watched with some envy.

After all, having restarted so many times, he had figured out that absorbing one’s past self after a restart seemed to improve one’s Enlightenment to some degree.

This was especially evident in Progenitor Tingyou.

For instance, in this lifetime, he had recovered all the Banner Spirits from Yuan Tu’s Myriad-Soul Banner. The Progenitor Tingyou within the Righteous Banner was now a four-in-one entity.

His Enlightenment was terrifyingly strong.

How strong was it, exactly? To put it bluntly, it was so powerful that Lü Yang felt a bit stupid just from meeting Progenitor Tingyou’s gaze.

What was that?

That was a goddamn imagery!

Although it had yet to reach the level of a Fruit Position Imagery, Lü Yang could sense that Progenitor Tingyou’s astonishing wisdom was gradually approaching some kind of limit.

In comparison, Suo Huan’s improvement wasn’t as dramatic, but it was by no means small. He had already made progress when absorbing his first self; otherwise, attaining the [Fruit of Spring Water] would have been far more difficult. Now, after absorbing the second, he was visibly smarter.

’A pity... I’m the only one who can’t do it...’

Lü Yang smacked his lips, feeling a bit of regret, but he wasn’t jealous. ’After all, the Progenitor’s wisdom is as good as my own. There’s no difference.’

"I’ll leave the rest to you, Fellow Daoist."

Lü Yang looked at Suo Huan. He had now finished absorbing his original body and had shouldered all its karmic links. Even if [Ang Xiao] were to see him face-to-face, he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

With this, any schemes [Ang Xiao] had laid for Suo Huan were now useless.

Not only were they useless, but if the disguise was successful and they tricked [Ang Xiao] into opening the gates to the Netherworld, they might even be able to land a fatal blow at the critical moment!

"Hehehe..."

At this thought, Lü Yang let out a sinister laugh.

’[Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], [Fruit of Long-Flow Water], [Fruit of Pewter Metal], [Fruit of Sand-Within Earth]... I’ve uprooted every contingency plan [Ang Xiao] left on all the Fruit Positions.’

’How could he possibly survive this?’

But soon enough, Lü Yang recovered from the excitement of his imminent revenge. His expression grew calm again as he began to consider his exit strategy.

’Trapping and killing [Ang Xiao] is just part of the process.’

’Although [Ang Xiao] and I do have a small personal grudge, I’ve always kept my personal and professional matters separate. I wouldn’t attack and retaliate just for a petty grudge.’

’The main goal is still the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire].’

’And according to my plan, [Ang Xiao] will ultimately be too preoccupied to interfere, powerless to stop Hong Yun. But that’s all before the fact. The aftermath is another story.’

After all, this involved usurping the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire].

Unlike a normal Seeking Gold Ascension Position, this was a forcible seizure of a Fruit Position. No one knew what the consequences or reactions would be.

One careless mistake, and it would be time to restart.

Furthermore, usurping the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] wasn’t the end of it. He would still need to find an opportunity to eliminate Hong Yun and make that [Life Form Body] his own.

This required time, and more importantly, a suitable location.

However, after usurping the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], Hong Yun would inevitably become the center of attention for the entire world. Even the Masters of Dao would be watching. Who could possibly pull any tricks right under their noses?

Lü Yang sank into thought and quickly found an answer.

’The [Celestial Human Residual Consciousness]... That Secret Realm, one that can even block the sight of the Masters of Dao, is the perfect location. It will serve as my escape route!’

With this thought, Lü Yang immediately took action.

「West. A dense forest.」

When Lü Yang returned and handed him a set of coordinates for the Void Sea of Light, Hong Yun looked confused. "Beyond the Heavens? Why would I go to a place like that?"

"You’ll know when the time comes, Fellow Daoist."

Lü Yang smiled faintly. "When you return to the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], Fellow Daoist, you will understand. Go to these coordinates then, and you should find a chance at survival."

Hong Yun’s brow furrowed slightly at his words, but then his eyes lit up in realization, and he nodded. "I see. You’re worried [Ang Xiao] will retaliate afterward, Fellow Daoist? That’s true. [Ang Xiao] is a villain, but his Cultivation is extremely high. Since we’ve ruined his Dao path, this is a feud to the death. We should indeed take precautions."

Lü Yang remained noncommittal.

He simply raised his head and gazed into the distance, as if his sight could pierce the Nine Netherworlds to see the figure sitting before the gates of the Netherworld—the one that had struck terror into his heart for several lifetimes.

’All the preparations are made. Now, it’s time to invite him into the trap.’

’[Ang Xiao], the grudge from yesterday is like a thorn in my back. As they say, the wheel of Feng Shui turns. Don’t blame me for what comes next. It’s time for us to settle old scores!’