Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

"Elder Dragon Map."

Lü Yang smiled kindly. "Speaking of which, aside from the Human World, do you know where the other fragments of the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness are?"

"Hm? Subduing Demons, what’s wrong?"

Dragon Map’s brow furrowed at his words. "Haven’t you asked me this before? Why ask again? Something feels... wrong."

Before Dragon Map could finish, Ang Xiao cordially patted him on the head. Billowing smoke, formed from the Veil of the Trees, instantly surged into Dragon Map’s every orifice, wiping away the nascent confusion from his face. He thought to himself, ’Hmm, it must be my imagination again...’

He then chuckled and said:

"If you were to ask anyone else, they likely couldn’t answer you. After all, most Cultivators only enter the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness by a stroke of luck."

"However, I am different!"

"Because I hold a genuine legacy... In fact, my lineage was once that of the Guardians, responsible for overseeing the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness!"

In that instant, both Lü Yang’s and Ang Xiao’s pupils shrank!

’A lineage of Guardians... something like that actually exists?’

Lü Yang immediately looked toward Ang Xiao, but Ang Xiao shook his head. Clearly, this information was as much a surprise to him as it was to Lü Yang.

Meanwhile, Dragon Map was still explaining, "Back then, the Bhagavat stomped his foot, shattering the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness. Its seven trials were broken and disconnected. Our Guardian lineage was torn apart because of it, and to this day, I fear no one knows the profound mysteries of this Secret Realm anymore."

"I see."

Lü Yang humored him before getting straight to the point. "Does that mean, Elder Dragon Map, that you really have the coordinates for the other Seas of Light of the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness?"

Dragon Map shook his head. "I don’t."

’Good,’ Lü Yang thought. ’This man is useless now.’

Lü Yang immediately raised his hand, preparing to strike Dragon Map dead. But before he could, Dragon Map spoke up. "But I know the method."

"Really?"

Lü Yang lowered his raised hand and, in a smooth motion, clasped both of Dragon Map’s hands. With a look of utmost sincerity, he said, "Then I must ask you to teach me, Elder."

"It’s actually quite simple."

Dragon Map smiled. "But first, you have to clear the trial. Take this Human World, for example. You must defeat all the residual images, then leave one of your own behind to earn the right to advance. Only then can you use my Guardian lineage’s Secret Technique to extract the coordinates for the next trial..."

These words made Ang Xiao seethe with silent rage.

’So that’s how it is...’

He had met the conditions Dragon Map described years ago. The problem was, he lacked the Guardian lineage’s Secret Technique. He had needlessly missed out on a great opportunity!

’If I’d had such an opportunity back then,’

’would I have ended up in this state?’

For a Saint Sect True Monarch like Ang Xiao, any opportunity not seized was a loss—let alone one this monumental.

The agony!

What was even more agonizing was that now, when his fortunes had finally turned and an immense opportunity had fallen into his lap, he had to share it. How was that any different from carving off his own flesh?

At this thought, he couldn’t help but glance at Lü Yang.

’Should I turn on him now?’

’Not yet... I have to hold back. I haven’t gotten the coordinates. Besides, I need a more conspicuous target out in the open to draw fire for me right now.’

Ang Xiao restrained himself.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang had learned the Secret Technique for extracting the coordinates from Dragon Map. Without another word, he led him back into the trial.

The result went without saying.

In the vast Human World, there wasn’t a single worthy opponent. No matter who appeared, he dispatched them with one punch—right up until the final figure materialized before him.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Ripples of illusionary color spread as a hazy smoke materialized. A slender figure emerged from it, its gaze immediately falling upon Ang Xiao, who stood beside Lü Yang.

The next second, before Ang Xiao could speak, the Liu Ying across from them sighed. "How did you get out of the Netherworld? Did our plan fail? Was it ruined by that old bastard from the Stain Sect...? No, that shouldn’t be possible. Was it the Bhagavat? It couldn’t be that the first Lord of the Netherworld has returned, could it?"

Ang Xiao: "..."

The Liu Ying’s words put him in an awkward position. Not bothering to answer, he simply looked at Lü Yang. Lü Yang took the hint and threw a punch.

BOOM!

The Liu Ying shattered in the next instant.

Although this Liu Ying of Ang Xiao’s had given Lü Yang a lot of trouble in his previous life, this life was different. He was already at the Middle Stage of Ancient Golden Core.

The difference in their Realms was enough to nullify everything else!

As the Liu Ying shattered, the real Ang Xiao, standing to the side, swayed slightly. Lü Yang, who had been watching him intently, immediately fixed his gaze upon him.

’Will he be injured?’

If Ang Xiao was truly injured, Lü Yang couldn’t be blamed for turning on him. This might be his best chance to seize Ang Xiao’s Gold Attribute!

However, Ang Xiao disappointed him.

The destruction of his Liu Ying had indeed caused him a minor injury, but that was all. The Veil of the Trees activated, and in an instant, all his wounds were wiped away completely.

"What’s this? Thinking of making a move, Daoist?" Ang Xiao chuckled.

"Of course not." Lü Yang laughed heartily, retracting the fist he had been about to throw. "I was merely concerned for you, Elder. I’m just glad you’re all right."

’Tsk! A pity...’

Next, upon clearing the Human World, the Essence of Divine Intent he remembered from his previous life materialized once more. Lü Yang quickly snatched it up.

This was, after all, a treasure capable of instantly bringing a Dao Heart to Perfection. He couldn’t let it pass. It would be best to come here and farm it every time he ’restarted’. Even if he had extras, it wouldn’t matter—one could never have too many good things. He could give the spares to Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, Summon, and Empress Xiao.

’I’ll save this one for the Grandmaster...’

Just then, illusionary colors surged within the Human World. Lü Yang had just put away the Essence of Divine Intent when he felt a strange, mighty power sweep over his body.

Soon, the Sea of Suffering materialized.

An endless torrent of symbolic water gushed out. Strands of this symbolism were extracted, combined, and outlined into a human shape... finally solidifying into a figure clad in a profound robe.

Lü Yang looked over.

The figure’s face was identical to his own: regally handsome, with a celestial bearing, skin as smooth as jade, and eyes as dark as polished lacquer. His profound robe fluttered in the wind, giving him the transcendent air of an immortal.

’This is my projection?’

Lü Yang was amazed. The figure seemed to snap to awareness, glancing around before its eyes landed back on him. A smile slowly spread across its face.

Then, the figure bowed and said,

"Greetings to my original self."

"...Dispense with the formalities."

Lü Yang made a small gesture with his right hand, secretly activating the Secret Technique Dragon Map had given him. The Liu Ying, his own projection, seemed to sense something was amiss.

The next moment, the Liu Ying smiled and said,

"I see. The trials of the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness are no longer interconnected, making it difficult for my original self to pursue the Dao Fruit... No matter. I can show you the way."

With that, the Liu Ying waved its hand, sending out a streak of light.

Almost simultaneously—Ang Xiao made his move.

Without a hint of hesitation, a pale hand shot out from the hazy smoke, grasping directly for the streak of light in an attempt to intercept it.

But, to his astonishment, the streak of light seemed not to exist for Ang Xiao at all. His hand closed on empty air. The light only solidified from illusion into reality when it landed in Lü Yang’s hand. Both Lü Yang and his Liu Ying immediately turned to stare fixedly at Ang Xiao.

"Elder... what was the meaning of that?"

In the face of Lü Yang’s chilling inquiry, Ang Xiao calmly withdrew his hand. "It was nothing. You simply misunderstand me too deeply, Daoist."

"Is that so? On the contrary, I feel my ’misunderstanding’ of you isn’t nearly deep enough."

’Little fox!’

’Old beast!’

Lü Yang and Ang Xiao stared at each other, and the atmosphere grew tense. A moment later, however, both burst into laughter, moving past the incident with a shared, unspoken understanding.

Lü Yang then examined the clue the Liu Ying had given him.

Just as Dragon Map had said, it was indeed a coordinate for a Void Sea of Light, corresponding to the second trial of the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness. Its name was—

Emperor Ying.