Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Of course, Lü Yang had no idea what was happening in the outside world.

He was reveling in the empowerment that came with mastering his [Dharma Body], feeling his physical body undergo a qualitative transformation from its very core.

BOOM!

The next instant, he exploded!

A crimson light shot toward the heavens, casting a blood-stained splendor upon the Dao of Arcane Body. Yet, within this surging radiance was an incomparably potent life force.

Then, the crimson light converged.

Everything was remade. The bloody light cascaded like a waterfall, pouring down to coalesce into a human form. Bones grew, and a white jade-like color began to spread across them.

Soon, a slender and flawless body re-condensed within the bloody light. Jade bones took shape, and internal organs materialized, each reflecting one of the five colors: azure, yellow, crimson, white, and black. They were then enveloped by the bloody light. Finally, new skin formed, its texture as intricate as a Dragon and Phoenix Seal.

This was an extremely intense transformation.

There was no orderly, step-by-step progression. It was a violent reforging, like being hewn by an axe and carved by a chisel—using the most drastic means to achieve the best results in the shortest time.

A long time passed before the transformation finally ended.

Lü Yang stood tall and elegant, his hair jet-black. With a mere thought, a Daoist Robe draped over his body. Its wide sleeves fluttered, but they could not conceal the majestic power he exuded.

Ancient Technique, Middle Stage of Golden Core!

A second transformation for the Dharma Body!

’Now, forget an Outer Dao Fruit Position... Even the Fruit Position Imagery of an Early Stage of Golden Core cultivator probably can’t harm me. And this isn’t even about a difference in Position.’

Normally, a Lower Cultivator being completely unable to harm an Upper Cultivator would be due to a disparity in Position. But for Lü Yang, it was different. He was just that tough. His Dharma Body’s defense was terrifyingly high; an Early Stage of Golden Core cultivator’s Fruit Position Imagery simply couldn’t break through it.

’The Fruit Position Profound Mysterious... might be able to break the skin, I guess.’

But that would be the extent of it. With his physique, he wouldn’t even need to worry about such a minor injury. The wound would likely have healed by the time he even noticed it.

Of course, it wasn’t without its drawbacks.

’I haven’t cultivated a Pocket World Technique, so there’s no Pocket World Falling. That means no reincarnation or resurrection. This life is the only one I get.’

Of course, the so-called thousand-year lifespan limit no longer existed for him.

He could now live for a hundred thousand years!

’Is this the lifespan an Ancient Law True Monarch should have, back when the Dao of Arcane Body hadn’t been destroyed? No, that’s not right... the Dao of Arcane Body still hasn’t fully recovered.’

’If it were fully restored, someone at the Perfected Lord level... should have no lifespan limit! A Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even at the Early Stage, could probably live for more than ten thousand years. And upon reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, a hundred thousand, or even several hundred thousand years, would be possible!’

This was Lü Yang’s deduction.

Now that he had initial mastery over the Dao of Arcane Body, he could naturally estimate the figures. It also made him realize just how shattered the Dao was.

’I’m already at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, yet in the era of the Ancient Technique, my current lifespan would probably only be on par with someone at Foundation Establishment Perfection. It might even be less...’

The mere thought of it made Lü Yang fume.

A Perfected Lord! A being who should be immortal, tormented until they have only a thousand years of life. And if you want eternal life, you have to put on shackles...

First Saint! You have committed every evil imaginable!

Lü Yang cursed inwardly for a long time before gradually calming down. He then turned his attention to his own condition and began a silent evaluation.

’The Dao of Arcane Body... I’ve only occupied about a tenth of it?’

He looked up at his [Past Dust Appearance] and [Rebirth Appearance]. He had clearly come a long way—the area framed by his three bodies was now wide enough to race a horse in.

And all that is still only one-tenth?

’According to the [Skill of Perfect Vitality], if I want to occupy more of it, I either have to rely on talent and grind it out over the ages, or I have to cultivate another [Life Form Body]...’

’The moment I can master the entire Dao of Arcane Body will be the moment I break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core.’

’As for reaching Golden Core Perfection beyond that...’

Lü Yang’s train of thought came to an abrupt halt. He realized the section on Golden Core Perfection was once again obscured, the words too blurry to decipher.

’Is my Cultivation still insufficient?’

Lü Yang frowned. ’Does this mean I can’t see this part until I completely master the Dao of Arcane Body and use it to break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core?’

Lü Yang thought for a moment and sighed.

So be it. Having a stable path to the Late Stage of Golden Core was already a blessing. At least the [Skill of Perfect Vitality] wasn’t a trap, so he could follow it with confidence.

’Time to go back!’

Lü Yang took a deep breath and retracted his Qi trace. The waters of the surrounding [Sea of Suffering] rushed back in, once again submerging the Dao of Arcane Body that had just remanifested.

.......

「Immortal Pivot.」

As the Dao of Arcane Body was once again submerged by the [Sea of Suffering], the celestial phenomenon finally vanished. The atmosphere between Heaven and Earth, however, grew incredibly tense.

The Old Dragon Monarch from Overseas hardly dared to breathe.

His massive draconic body coiled even tighter in the depths of the Vast Ocean. He even dug a pit on the seabed and burrowed inside, looking for all the world like an Old Loach.

He couldn’t help it.

Although he hadn’t actually sensed or discovered anything—even his Spiritual Sense remained silent—he knew with absolute certainty:

’He has come! He has absolutely come!’

’There can be no mistake. With the Dao of Arcane Body reappearing in the Human World, it couldn’t possibly have gone unnoticed. That old... that wise and powerful Lord from the Stain Sect has arrived!’

’He is surveying the Immortal Pivot!’

It wasn’t just the Old Dragon Monarch. The Dao Court, the Pure Land, the Sword Pavilion... all the other Perfected Lords had fallen silent. Only a few Outer Dao True Monarchs in the North remained oblivious.

No one dared to speak. No one dared to use their Divine Sense to probe the outside world.

A formless, intangible, and imperceptible gaze swept calmly over every corner of the Immortal Pivot. An unknown amount of time passed before it slowly dissipated.

However, because His gaze was utterly traceless, even the Perfected Lords who suspected He had finished His survey didn’t dare to act rashly. With no senses to confirm His departure, they could only maintain the eerie silence, not daring to move a muscle for fear of attracting His attention.

For a time, it was as if every Perfected Lord in the world had vanished.

What Mu Changsheng had painstakingly schemed for thousands of years to achieve, even with the support of the Heavenly God, and had only barely managed, was now accomplished with ease by a single gaze.

........

[Celestial Human Residual Consciousness].

As the [Sea of Suffering] parted, Lü Yang strode out, his hands clasped behind his back.

This was one of the benefits of wandering the [Sea of Suffering]: no matter how far you walked within it, you would always emerge at the same spot you entered.

’Rein it in. I must not get arrogant.’

Lü Yang admonished himself inwardly, calming his excitement.

’Now that I’ve broken through to the Middle Stage of Golden Core, I’ll keep a low profile when I get back. Under the protection of the [Celestial Human Residual Consciousness], I’ll just lie low for a hundred thousand years and see how things go!’

With this in mind, Lü Yang decided to head for the Taihuang Realm immediately.

He calculated the time. In a few more decades, the [Human World] would open. If he could find a way to slip inside then, his safety would be truly guaranteed.

A faint smile touched Lü Yang’s lips at the thought, and he glanced around.

As his gaze swept the area, the [Past Dust Appearance] behind him also reacted. Faintly, a flicker of lamplight seemed to ignite deep within his eyes.

Then his smile froze.

For there, beside him, illuminated by the glow of the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire], a smoke-wreathed figure had suddenly appeared out of thin air.

The figure stood silently at his side, less than ten meters away. Amidst a hazy face, only a pair of narrow eyes was visible, staring intently at him. A pale right hand extended from the smoke, holding a small lamp. Paradoxically, its dim light only made his silhouette appear darker and more sinister.

Lü Yang was all too familiar with this sight.

Ang Xiao.