Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Of course, Lü Yang was completely unaware of what was happening outside the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness.

At this moment, he was immersed in crushing weaklings.

Although the Cloud Sea churned with increasing speed, and more and more challengers emerged from it, for him, it was nothing more than a matter of a few extra palm strikes.

’It was truly wise of me to decide to enter at my peak!’

’If my Realm had dropped and I was only at Foundation Establishment Perfection, this endless wave of opponents would have worn me down to my death. There’s no way it would be this easy.’

In the midst of combat, Lü Yang’s mind grew ever clearer.

’I understand now. This trial, Human World, seems to be about constant Combat, but what’s really being tested isn’t my fighting skill. It’s about cultivating the Dao Heart!’

With every enemy he defeated, Lü Yang could feel his thoughts becoming more nimble, his mind sharper. Many insights that had remained elusive during his usual sessions of Enlightenment now surfaced in droves. His inspiration flowed like a spring, and the more enemies he killed, the more intense this sensation became.

What is a Dao Heart?

’The so-called Dao Heart is, in essence, *myself*. To cultivate the Dao Heart is to cultivate *myself*. The firmer the Dao Heart, the less susceptible *I* am to outside influence.’

Lü Yang’s gaze gradually brightened.

’So that’s it. This is the power of the Bhagavat’s World Honored One’s Method of Unity! It’s not soul-possession, nor is it altering memories. It’s a direct rewriting of a Cultivator’s Dao Heart!’

If the Dao Heart changes, *I* change.

In other words—

’As long as my Dao Heart can reach a Realm that even the Bhagavat can’t alter, I’ll be immune to his influence. I won’t have to worry about being assimilated by him!’

At this thought, Lü Yang’s previously nonchalant expression instantly turned serious. The importance he placed on the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness, and on this trial of the Human World, shot up by several notches. After all, as the wielder of the Centome, the one he feared most was the Bhagavat.

And as luck would have it, the Bhagavat had taken a particular liking to him.

The Bhagavat would send down avatars to harass him every so often, a powerful being bullying a weaker one. Thus, finding a way to evade the Bhagavat’s influence was of the utmost importance to him!

However, there is no cultivation method for the Dao Heart.

Most of those with firm Dao Hearts have endured many hardships and been tempered by the passage of time, which is how they managed to elevate their Dao Hearts step by step.

’No, that’s not right!’

’It’s just that there are no *known* cultivation methods... The Bhagavat can rewrite the Dao Heart, and his own is incredibly strong. That must mean he has a cultivation method.’

’He just doesn’t share it with anyone!’

Lü Yang felt this fit perfectly with his impression of the Bhagavat.

After all, if everyone could cultivate their Dao Heart, if everyone’s sense of self was firm and their Dao Heart couldn’t be easily rewritten, wouldn’t his Unity be in a bind?

’However... there are exceptions.’

Lü Yang centered himself, and a realization dawned. ’The Taihuang Realm! That Little Realm Heaven... In fact, the seeds of a Dao Heart Cultivation Technique have already sprouted there.’

The ten Emperor Venerables of the Taihuang Realm, through sheer grit and courage, battled countless powerful foes until they alone ruled the world, using this process to cultivate an invincible heart.

’I didn’t think much of it before, but now that I do... for mere Cultivators from a Little Realm Heaven to not only withstand my blood but even assimilate it for their own use, with their own will as the dominant force—that’s actually incredible. It must be related to the Taihuang Realm’s unique Invincible Dao Heart Cultivation Method.’

Of course, the Taihuang Realm had yet to systematize this form of Dao Heart cultivation.

But that wasn’t a major issue. At its core, it was simply about constantly battling other Cultivators and emerging undefeated every time, thereby tempering the Dao Heart. ’How could that be difficult for me?’

’It’s just a matter of challenging those stronger than me. Kill!’

With that thought, Lü Yang threw himself wholeheartedly into the battles of the Human World. One Cultivator after another emerged from the Cloud Sea, only to be blasted to pieces by him.

And during this process, his senses grew ever sharper.

With every opponent he defeated, a formless substance would merge with him, making his Heart Thought increasingly resolute, as though it were filling some kind of void.

’It’s working!’

Lü Yang was overjoyed. Clearly, the Human World also had a catalytic effect on the Dao Heart. These formless things, he figured, must be what was needed to mend the deficiencies in his Dao Heart.

Suddenly, Lü Yang stood still.

"Dao Heart. True self."

"To see the Dao, is to see myself."

At that moment, a sudden enlightenment washed over him. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and everything became clear. The throbbing of his Spiritual Sense was intensely powerful.

’This is it!’

The next second, three streams of Spirit Light appeared around Lü Yang. They were the Righteous Banner, the Tribulation Wave, and the Yellow Court—the three True Treasures he had painstakingly forged.

’Though I had all three True Treasures, I had never found a way to integrate them and forge my own Seeking Dao Immortal Technique. Before, I only had a vague idea of using the Yellow Court as the core, but I never knew the specific method.’

But now, he understood.

’The Yellow Court was forged from my Grotto Heaven. To harmonize with it, the key must also be *myself*. In fact, it *has* to be me!’

’Therefore, I must use my Dao Heart as the guide!’

’Cultivate the Dao Heart to anchor the self. When one’s will is so firm it cannot be taken, when myriad thoughts cannot disturb the mind—only then can I link the three True Treasures and make them truly my own...’

At that moment, Lü Yang felt a cool sensation rush straight to his head.

He felt as if he were ascending, climbing ever higher, until he slipped into some unknown space. Throughout this process, countless distracting thoughts swarmed him, trying to drag him down.

He exhaled slowly...

Lü Yang exhaled deeply. His vision swam, but the three True Treasures bloomed with Spirit Light, linking into a ring that severed the distracting thoughts and simultaneously lifted him higher.

RUMBLE!

He felt a roaring in his ears and a tremor in his Spiritual Space. It was as if he had glimpsed the ultimate principles of the Great Dao and received its anointment before he fell, dropping back into his body.

The next second, Lü Yang opened his eyes.

Before him, the three True Treasures had merged into one, transforming into a single Dao Talisman that he now held cupped in his hands. A clear understanding of it bloomed in his mind.

The Seeing Myself Immortal Technique!

Lü Yang murmured, as if in a dream, "The Seeking Dao Immortal Technique... it’s done?"

If he were to reset now, returning to his second anchor point, he could immediately use this technique to uplift his Grotto Heaven, anchoring it to its Fruit so that it would never fall, and achieve the Middle Stage of Golden Core!

’Was it really that simple?’

Lü Yang held the Dao Talisman in his hands, feeling dazed for a moment. After a long while, he snapped back to reality and raised his head to survey his surroundings.

’...Where are the challengers?’

He had just experienced a sudden enlightenment and immediately sat down to cultivate, ignoring the constantly appearing challengers. But now when he looked, the surroundings were completely empty.

The next second, he froze.

’What was I just thinking... oh, right. I was just cultivating the Seeking Dao Immortal Technique and finally succeeded. I was just wondering why the challengers had disappeared...’

As Lü Yang’s thoughts raced, his brow gradually furrowed.

’What was I just thinking?’

’Oh, right...’

RUUUMBLE!

In an instant, the Seeing Myself Immortal Technique in his palm flared with brilliant light, startling Lü Yang—whose eyes had been growing vacant and was on the verge of drooling—back to his senses.

What followed was a bone-deep chill.

’Holy shit...’

SQUELCH!

Lü Yang lowered his head and saw that at some point, a hand had been thrust straight through his chest. Terrifying Mana was ravaging his Dharma Body.

But whether it was the pain of the wound, the weakening of his Qi trace, or the draining of his Mana—he had forgotten it all. He couldn’t even remember how long it had been happening or how much time had passed. All he knew was that by the time he came to his senses, he was on the brink of death!

The Veil of the Trees!!!

Ang Xiao!!!

In a flash of insight, Lü Yang understood everything. ’Ang Xiao... He came here in the past! And that old bastard... he’s just like me.’

’Back then, he also entered with the Cultivation of a Golden Core Perfected Lord!’

’To come in here with the Cultivation of a Golden Core Perfected Lord just to go smurfing... What a shameless, despicable man! Utterly shameless!’