Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Lü Yang, of course, was unaware that Ang Xiao had already seen through his arrangements, or that his backup plans had been mostly dismantled.

But he could roughly guess.

’After all, that’s Ang Xiao. He was bound to figure it out.’

Lü Yang was very calm. By now, he had arranged everything, leaving only the final step. All he had to do now was wait.

’The current situation is a delicate balance where one move could affect everything. As for the Summon, Ang Xiao has most likely discovered something is wrong, but it can still be activated when the time comes. The real issue is Master Chong Guang. The grand game only truly begins when Master Chong Guang starts his Gold-Seeking.’

Fortunately, Lü Yang didn’t have to wait long.

A short three months later, in the North, at the Qing Kingdom Court.

"You...!"

The current Prince Qing stared in astonishment at Zhong Xin, the Champion Scholar he had personally appointed, unable to stop the blood gushing from his chest.

In response, Zhong Xin... or rather, Chong Guang, had no intention of wasting words.

A flash of Sword Light, and Prince Qing was dead. Now holding the Emperor’s Jade Seal, Chong Guang instantly became the person with the highest authority in the Qing Country. He let out a deep sigh.

"In the end, I was just one step short..."

According to his plan, the one to assassinate Prince Qing shouldn’t have been him, but a Saint Sect Zhenren he had trained.

He had previously favored Yuan Tu.

Unfortunately, the Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land were utterly shameless, personally intervening to bring Enlightenment to Yuan Tu and take him to the West. Left with no other choice, Chong Guang had to act himself.

The result was that the ’Reversal’ component of the Gold-Seeking Device was incomplete.

Assassinating the monarch and seizing power should ideally be done entirely within the Dao Court’s system. However, under the Dao Court’s system, the current Prince Qing was the strongest Cultivator.

Theoretically, he could not be assassinated.

To accomplish this, Chong Guang had used his own power—a power outside the Dao Court’s system. In short, an outside move.

’If Yuan Tu had assassinated Prince Qing, I would at most be blamed for failing to protect the prince, but I could have still taken the highest position of power within the rules of the Dao Court, beyond reproach. But since I used my own Cultivation to kill Prince Qing, the Dao Court’s rules obviously won’t recognize it. The Magic Instrument’s effectiveness will be at sixty percent, at best.’

And that wasn’t all.

’According to the plan, I am to eventually offer the Qing Country as a blood sacrifice. As a Marvel of Heaven and Earth, destroying it will surely bring heavenly punishment, which Yuan Tu was supposed to bear for me...’

But now Yuan Tu was gone, and he had to do everything himself. It was conceivable that the final heavenly punishment would be unavoidable and fall solely upon him.

Despite this, Chong Guang quickly pulled himself together.

’So be it... At least I haven’t failed. With my current Daoist Cultivation, I can still force a try. It’s better than having no hope at all.’

.......

"It’s finally starting!"

In the North, within the dense forest where Hongyun was hiding, Lü Yang stood with his hands behind his back, watching the fiery glow that rose from the Qing Country, illuminating almost half the North.

Chong Guang’s Gold-Seeking!

And as he saw Heaven and Earth react to this, and the immense heavenly punishment come crashing down, Lü Yang seemed to think of something and chuckled softly.

"Hehehe..."

"Serves you right for screwing me over back then, making me take the heavenly punishment for you... This is what you deserve. A thing like heavenly punishment is something one should bear themselves."

"A man has to rely on himself, Master Chong Guang."

At the same time, Hongyun strode over, his expression excited. "Chong Guang has begun his Gold-Seeking... Fellow Daoist, this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!"

Lü Yang looked over and saw that Hongyun’s Qi trace had already recovered to the realm of Foundation Establishment Perfection, clearly thanks to the *Skill of Perfect Vitality*. He was now a perfect Life Form Body, only one step away. No wonder he was so impatient.

But Lü Yang quickly shook his head.

"There you go again, being hasty."

"Ang Xiao hasn’t made a move yet. If you rush into your Gold-Seeking now, Fellow Daoist Hongyun, you’ll be playing right into his hands. You’ll be the first one to die."

Lü Yang’s heart was cold and calm.

’Based on my experience from previous lives, Ang Xiao should have already discovered Chong Guang’s Gold-Seeking by now, felt the tremor in the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, and acted decisively.’

Thinking this, Lü Yang looked up at the sky, but there wasn’t the slightest wisp of purple qi. Clearly, Ang Xiao’s reaction was completely different from his memories. He seemed to have no intention of acting. This abnormal behavior further confirmed Lü Yang’s previous speculation:

’That old bastard really did find out!’

’He’s waiting for me, or rather... waiting for Hongyun to begin his Gold-Seeking! In his eyes, compared to Master Chong Guang, Hongyun is the real thorn in his side.’

In that case, it was a battle of patience.

’We’ll see who loses their nerve first: him, using that True Monarch Level avatar, or me, by letting Hongyun begin his Gold-Seeking... That is the key to this game!’

On this point, both sides had their advantages and disadvantages.

Lü Yang’s advantage, of course, was that as the schemer, he held the initiative. This was also Ang Xiao’s disadvantage; he was the reactive party.

But the reverse was also true.

For Lü Yang, killing Ang Xiao was secondary. What was more important was to use the momentum from trapping Ang Xiao to have Hongyun swallow the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire.

After all, he wasn’t genuinely helping Hongyun; he ultimately planned to refine him as a Life Form Body. Therefore, he needed Ang Xiao’s presence. Only by using Ang Xiao to pressure Hongyun could he ensure that Hongyun, after successfully swallowing the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, would fall into the trap he had prepared.

But if Ang Xiao died halfway through, or was no longer a threat to Hongyun...

...then once Hongyun succeeded in his Gold-Seeking, he could easily slip from his control. Wouldn’t that be like hitting a dog with a meat bun—a total loss? This was an outcome he could not accept.

’There’s a fine balance to this.’

Lü Yang mused, his expression grave.

’I have to seize a critical juncture where I can both trap Ang Xiao and use his power to force Hongyun to follow my plan.’

’One wrong step, and the whole game is lost.’

’By the same token, it’s the same for Ang Xiao. He must definitively eliminate Hongyun before the tide turns against him to pull off a desperate comeback.’

’In other words...’

"This is a fair contest."

In the Netherworld, Ang Xiao’s gaze pierced through the Current World as he murmured, "It just depends on whose methods are superior, on who can force the other’s hand."

In his eyes, the Current World had transformed into a chessboard. He sat on one side, and on the other sat the mastermind who could almost be called his confidant. Both held several pieces in their hands, each with an ace. Victory or defeat depended entirely on their respective skills.

"In that case, I shall make the first move."

The next second, Ang Xiao moved. He raised his hand, his consciousness whistling out, and directly activated the contingency he had placed on the Dragon and Snake Coiling Shadow Bodhisattva!

RUMBLE!

Almost simultaneously, in the Pure Land, three orthodox Bodhisattvas erupted with their Qi traces. Buddha Light shot into the clouds, illuminating the heavens as their furious, majestic voices echoed.

"It really was you, Ang Xiao!"

"By the Bhagavat, you have some nerve!"