Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

In the boundless darkness, Lü Yang stood quietly upon the abyss.

This was the world before a restart.

At first, Lü Yang couldn’t even perceive this world’s existence. His vision would simply go black, and when he opened his eyes, he would already be in his next life.

But as his Cultivation grew stronger, he became more and more familiar with this dark world.

’This is a lot like the Void Land.’

Lü Yang looked around. This boundless darkness was similar to the space he was in before anchoring his position in the Void Sea of Light, which gave rise to many speculations.

More importantly, however, this time was different from all the others.

Previously, only his consciousness had come to this place. Now, however, he could see his own hands, feet, and clothes—he possessed a complete body.

’Is this the effect of the opportunity from the Human World?’

Realization dawned on Lü Yang. He immediately began to carefully perceive his state. In a trance, he once again saw the Marvelous Treasure he had secured at the very end.

In an instant, he felt as if his entire being had exploded into a million fragments. His consciousness expanded infinitely before melting and forging back into one. In that single cycle, his body seemed to have been polished and refined countless times. If he was an unrefined stone before, he was now a piece of tempered steel.

’It’s because of my Dao Heart!’

Lü Yang understood. ’The firmer my Dao Heart becomes and the clearer my perception of my true self, the more complete my state in this place will be.’

He had reached a point bordering on the extreme.

But what use was a Perfect Dao Heart to a Cultivator?

’With my current Dao Heart, even without the Gold Attribute, I could probably enter the Netherworld’s cycle of reincarnation and ensure my true self remains intact, undiminished by rebirth.’

In other words, even if he chose not to take his Cultivation upon restarting—returning to his initial anchor point with only a Qi Refining Cultivation—he could kill himself and enter the Netherworld’s cycle. He wouldn’t have his memories washed away. Instead, he would be reborn while retaining his self-awareness. To a certain extent, this replaced the function of the Gold Attribute!

’No, that’s not right.’

’A more accurate way to put it is that the Gold Attribute replaced the function of the Dao Heart. With the Gold Attribute, Cultivators would rarely bother to cultivate their Dao Heart anymore...’

At this thought, a chill ran down Lü Yang’s spine.

’The Gold Attribute and the Dao Heart.’

’The Gold Attribute is a product of the Pocket World Technique. What was that old undying one from the Stain Sect thinking? Using the Gold Attribute to replace the Dao Heart... was he deliberately trying to stop people from cultivating their Dao Heart?’

It wasn’t impossible!

After all, he had cultivated for ten lifetimes, but it was only in this life that he had truly come into contact with a cultivation method related to the Dao Heart—and that was in a remote, minor Outer Realm.

A system that could emerge in a minor Outer Realm like the Taihuang Realm was somehow completely absent in a place like the Immortal Pivot. Be it the Stain Sect, the Dao Court, or the Sword Pavilion, none had any cultivation methods related to the Dao Heart. The Pure Land showed some signs of it, but that was monopolized by the Bhagavat.

The more Lü Yang thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

’The Pocket World Technique... what a massive pitfall!’

His attitude toward this Cultivation Method had changed several times: from initial amazement, to doubt, and finally to his current horror.

The implications were terrifying!

However, now that he had figured it out, there were some benefits.

’If the purpose of the Pocket World Technique is to prevent people from breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, then I can deduce the secrets of reaching Nascent Soul by looking at what the technique targets.’

’The Pocket World Technique... its Pocket World Falling feature binds a Cultivator to their Fruit, and the Gold Attribute discourages them from cultivating their Dao Heart. So, to break through to Nascent Soul, two things are necessary. First, one cannot be deeply bound to a Fruit. Second, one must have a powerful Dao Heart. Both are likely indispensable; otherwise, the Pocket World Technique wouldn’t have targeted them!’

As he thought of this, Lü Yang’s eyes gradually brightened.

’This is my greatest gain this lifetime! Compared to this, my Cultivation is nothing. Knowing where the path lies and how to walk it is what’s most important!’

Just then, the Centome appeared.

[Please select a restart anchor point.]

Staring at the panel before him, Lü Yang fell into deep thought. According to his previous plan, the best choice was naturally the third anchor point, right after he had attained the Fruit of Celestial Fire.

After all, he had already refined the Seeing Myself Immortal Technique. If he restarted at the third anchor point, he could immediately break through to the Middle Stage of Golden Core and achieve Pocket World Falling... However, knowing now that the Pocket World Technique was flawed, Lü Yang grew hesitant. His previous exchange with Ang Xiao’s Legacy came to mind.

First, he had to establish one thing.

’I can’t trust the words of Ang Xiao, that old beast from the Stain Sect. He could be telling nine truths and one lie, or nine lies and one truth. Believing him is just asking to fall into a trap.’

Only with that in mind could he make a judgment.

’When Ang Xiao was in Combat with me before, he said my development of the Fruit of Celestial Fire was far from sufficient and that I should focus my energy on developing the Fruit.’

’Those words, combined with the fact that he thrashed me with his Fruit of Great-Forest Wood, were convincing enough. In fact, I did consider delving deeper into the Fruit of Celestial Fire. But the more I think about it, the stranger it seems... How could someone like Ang Xiao genuinely offer guidance to a junior disciple?’

Lü Yang hadn’t forgotten about that book, *Observing the Golden Core*!

’The more I think it’s fine, the more tempted I am, the more likely it is that this is a trap Ang Xiao dug for me. There must be something wrong here!’

’Besides... Ang Xiao is different from me.’

’I was able to discover the problems with the Pocket World Technique early on because I have a cheat, a system. But what about him? It wouldn’t have been so easy for him to learn these secrets.’

’Based on my guess, by the time he realized there was a problem with the Pocket World Technique, his Cultivation must have already been very high. He probably had no chance to pull back from the brink and had already fallen into the trap... That’s why he deliberately used his words and actions to lure and mislead me, hoping to drag me into the pit with him!’

In short: ’If I had to get soaked in the rain, why should you get to use an umbrella?’

That was Ang Xiao’s true character!

’That old beast...’

Cursing inwardly, Lü Yang made his decision. ’I’m not going to the third anchor point! Besides the issue with the Pocket World Technique, the Fruit of Celestial Fire is also a bit too conspicuous.’

From now on, he needed to keep a low profile.

’The first anchor point... No, I can’t go there either.’

This time, he intended to choose to keep his Cultivation. If he chose the first anchor point, he wouldn’t have any other anchors to use if he wanted to change his path later.

That left only one answer.

The anchor point he had set when he was young and ignorant, just after his Foundation Establishment. Back then, he was still a model Foundation Establishment disciple of the Stain Sect.

He had also cultivated the Fruit of Rampart Earth.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang even felt a little nostalgic.

’Back then, I thought it was a dead-end anchor, but looking at it now, that might not be the case. It all depends on whether choosing to keep my Cultivation will overwrite my Dao Foundation of the Fruit of Rampart Earth.’

If it could be overwritten, that would be the perfect outcome.

Even if it couldn’t, with his current insight and methods, it wasn’t as if he had no way to change his Dao Foundation. The so-called principle of "once attained, forever attained" was merely the perspective of a Lower Cultivator.

The higher one’s perspective, the more one understands that nothing in this world is absolute.

In any case, it was worth a try!

With that thought, Lü Yang cast aside his worries and spoke his choice to the Centome’s panel, "Restart! To the second anchor point!"

As his voice fell, the darkness before him rippled.

It was as if a book had been turned to a brand new page. Tiny fragments of light surged from the shattering darkness, instantly filling his vision.

Like sunlight piercing through the night.

........

[Your decisive suicide baffled the Bhagavat. He felt that something was amiss and even scoured the records of the Sea of Suffering for answers, but found nothing. In the end, he had no choice but to give up and destroy the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness. Before its demise, Ang Xiao’s Legacy cursed you relentlessly.]