Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

At that moment, Lü Yang slowly exhaled.

A Qi trace scattered from his lips, transforming into dense Spiritual Qi that suffused the air around him. His robes billowed without a wind, making his figure appear all the more transcendent.

These were merely the external changes.

Internally, however, Lü Yang’s Dharma Body was undergoing the greatest transformation in its history. The reason for this all came down to the point of light currently on his brow.

This was his third True Treasure.

A True Treasure forged using the Celestial Pillar Profound Grotto Heaven as its material, without invoking any Fruit Position Imagery, but instead referencing the Celestial Spirit Platform Technique.

It wasn’t just the Spirit Platform Technique.

Lü Yang had also referenced the scene in the Path Opening Map where Si Chou used a corpse to open a Celestial Mansion. At this moment, layers of Splendid Light were appearing all over his body.

At a glance, it seemed to be a single ray of light. Upon closer inspection, however, one could discern different colors within it, all mixed together, ultimately presenting a pure, immaculate white. It radiated from within him, spreading out and rippling behind his head, elevating his Position.

Where did this light come from?

The answer was simple: it came from the apertures within Lü Yang’s body, from his five viscera and six bowels, from his heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs... from the Three Divisions, Eight Vistas, and Twenty-Four Deities!

Each ray of Splendid Light had its own origin, yet they all converged toward the same destination.

And the True Treasure on Lü Yang’s brow, forged from the Celestial Pillar Profound Grotto Heaven, had become their point of unification, the nexus where all this light converged.

’This is... subtle.’

Lü Yang silently contemplated the changes within himself. He had decided on the path of using a Grotto Heaven to forge a True Treasure, and had even used his Spirit Platform to deduce the specific method.

But he was never certain what the final result would be. After all, despite having seen many powerful Fruits—Fruit of Money, Sword Dao, Fruit of Celestial Fire, Fruit of Great-Forest Wood—he had never actually decided which path he would ultimately walk.

But now, he understood.

’I want it all!’

He didn’t want a Fruit with a single imagery. He wanted to attain a Great Dao that encompassed All Phenomena and united the Five Elements, just like the Celestial Daoist Lord, Si Chou!

A Void Dao Fruit?

No, what I want is to manifest an entire realm from the void! I will manifest an Outer Realm that is mine alone, one that possesses the Five Elements Imagery, is complete with Fruits, and forms its own self-contained system!

BOOM!

At that instant, the halo of light blooming behind Lü Yang’s head completely enveloped the Celestial Mansion’s Ninth Layer, making the entire space seem to ripple like a turbulent surface of water.

The infinite colors of light continued to expand.

Lü Yang opened his eyes, and his gaze fell immediately upon Du Xuan Immortal Monarch in the distance. The latter’s brow was furrowed, his expression a mixture of helplessness and dread.

’What the hell is he up to now?’

’Has he no end to his tricks?!’

’First, some freakish Outer Dao True Monarch shows up, and now there’s an even more monstrous Perfected Lord who can manifest things from the void. How do you Immortal Core Demons have so many damn tricks up your sleeves?’

Du Xuan Immortal Monarch could no longer hold back. As he exhaled, the Mana throughout his body was finally, fully catalyzed. He activated the Forbidden Techniques he had previously deployed, then unified them with his Sun Cold Water. They ultimately transformed into a three-inch-long object, which he held lightly in his hand.

Just like a Perfected Lord at the Middle Stage of Golden Core from the Immortal Pivot.

As a Mid-stage Immortal Monarch, Du Xuan Immortal Monarch also possessed a life-bound Seeking Dao Immortal Technique, which served as the fundamental technique he used to protect his Spirit Platform from harm.

However, it was different from a Pocket World Technique.

For a Perfected Lord of the Immortal Pivot, a Seeking Dao Immortal Technique could be used at will, as its foundation was a True Treasure, not a Grotto Heaven. Even if it were broken, there would be no major consequences.

Celestial Immortal Monarchs, however, were different. The foundation of their Seeking Dao Immortal Technique was a Forbidden Technique, and Forbidden Techniques were Dharma Gates inscribed upon the Spirit Platform. Their foundation was the Spirit Platform itself. Therefore, if their Seeking Dao Immortal Technique was ever broken, the backlash would affect their Spirit Platform, causing it to shatter completely!

This showed just how precious it was.

Thus, unless absolutely necessary, no Celestial Immortal Monarch would ever use their Seeking Dao Immortal Technique. If they did, it meant the situation had become a matter of life and death.

And that was precisely the case now!

’The situation in the Sea of Suffering is unclear. Heaven only knows if the Immortal Venerable can suppress the Sichou Daoist Lord. I must break through this Nine-Layer Seal as quickly as possible.’

What he had thought would be a simple matter had dragged on for so long, and he had even sustained minor injuries. A strong sense of crisis made Du Xuan Immortal Monarch abandon all wishful thinking and steel his resolve. He would use this Seeking Dao Immortal Technique to sweep away every obstacle before him in one fell swoop!

At the same time, Lü Yang looked up.

He saw that the object in Du Xuan Immortal Monarch’s hand was a small Jade Ruyi. Its top was made of colored glass, and its handle was carved with the shapes of beasts like chī-dragons, tigers, flies, and cicadas.

In the next second, Du Xuan Immortal Monarch raised the Jade Ruyi high.

"Kanli Chishou Jade!"

Instantly, Lü Yang saw all the colors between Heaven and Earth dim. Infinite imageries were extinguished, leaving only a single ray of faint light to enter his vision.

In a daze, a realization surfaced in his mind:

’The baleful atmosphere grows with the years, encroaching upon the Sun. The righteous qi is obscured, and in time, its light is stolen...’ The fundamental imagery of Du Xuan Immortal Monarch’s Seeking Dao Immortal Technique was actually the inversion of the Sun!

Meanwhile, Du Xuan Immortal Monarch sneered. This Kanli Chishou Jade was the product of a lifetime spent refining his Abilities. It was shaped like a ruyi scepter, and the three lobes on its handle symbolized his three Forbidden Techniques. Now, they were merged into a single force, a further sublimation of his Water and Fire Tribulation.

This was because he had referenced the Duality of Life and Death Profound Light!

’Water and fire become yin and yang! The Water and Fire Tribulation is ultimately limited by the Five Elements and can be countered. But the Yin and Yang Qi is a supreme Tribulation that can obliterate even a Perfected Lord, body and soul!’

He was confident that no one could block this strike!

Even another Mid-stage Immortal Monarch, if killed by this technique, would be unable to escape it upon rebirth. This was because their Dharma Body’s imagery would have already been tainted by the Tribulation.

In the next second, an infinite Splendid Light poured out.

BOOM!

Amidst a thousand roars, Lü Yang didn’t hesitate for a moment. With a flash, he appeared in front of Progenitor Tingyou and the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, standing against the torrent with his hands clasped behind his back.

’A purely offensive Seeking Dao Immortal Technique...’

Even at this moment, Lü Yang was still in the mood to calmly assess the surging Splendid Light before him, comparing it to the Dharma Gate of the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha from the past.

’Pure offense... not bad.’

’But in terms of technical sophistication, the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha’s was still superior. That one involved karmic links, making it impossible to even block.’

This one, on the other hand, was certainly extremely powerful.

But dealing with it was actually far simpler than dealing with the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha.

’He’s from Beyond the Heavens, after all. In a backwater like the Immortal Pivot, he’d technically be considered a Loose Cultivator...’

At this thought, the point of light on Lü Yang’s brow began to brighten, causing his entire body to glow. A pure light gathered above his head.

’A third True Treasure ought to have a name.’

’Hmm... although it borrows from the Bhagavat’s Spirit Platform Technique, since I’m the one who forged it, it’s mine. It’s probably best to pick an unrelated name...’

In the next instant, Lü Yang lightly tapped his brow with a fingertip and chuckled.

"I’ve got it... From now on, I’ll call you Yellow Court."

RUMBLE!

Instantly, the light on Lü Yang’s brow erupted. At the same time, his Sea of Suffering opened wide as infinite imageries intertwined, emerged, and transformed into dazzling, Illusionary Colors.

One Origin, Two Principles, Three Powers, Four Symbols, Five Elements... In a flash, a domain that seemed as small as a mustard seed yet contained all of Sumeru appeared around Lü Yang. All Phenomena revolved around his body as the central pivot, forming a great chasm that stretched between him and Du Xuan Immortal Monarch.

The next moment, the two attacks collided.

The Light of Yin and Yang unleashed by Du Xuan Immortal Monarch was like the roaring Yangtze River plunging into a bottomless abyss. It plummeted downwards and, in the blink of an eye, vanished into nothingness!

Immediately after, Lü Yang broke into a wide grin.

"Returning it to you!"

As his voice fell, the void on the other side tore open, forming a gateway. The very same Light of Yin and Yang that Du Xuan Immortal Monarch had just unleashed now came howling out of the portal, surging right back at him!