Chapter 486: Chapter 486: Do Big Things! Big Things

The contract floated before Chong Guang, its terms written in black and white.

Chong Guang scanned it with his Divine Sense, then immediately frowned. "You can help me with Seeking Gold, but I need to sign a contract promising not to reveal the method you use to help me."

There were many other clauses besides that one.

Chong Guang understood. The fundamental purpose of this contract was simply to ensure he wouldn’t leak the other party’s intelligence; there were no other major restrictions.

"...Very well."

The next moment, Chong Guang decisively branded it with his Divine Sense. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

In that instant, he felt the contract generate a subtle, attractive force, connecting him to a colossal entity in the unseen world.

’A Fruit?’

Chong Guang was a little shocked. Using a Fruit as the contract’s witness would maximize its binding power; not even a Perfected Lord could break it.

The next moment, however, Chong Guang had no time to worry about such minor details. As soon as the contract was signed, the intelligence Lü Yang had prepared flooded into his Spiritual Space like a tidal wave. It included the Fake Golden Position Method from Yama Hall and the specific uses of the Hongyun Gold Attribute...

’...It can be done like this!?’

Only after digesting all the information did Chong Guang abruptly look up and stare intently at Lü Yang, his calm facade belying the turbulent waves crashing within him.

Then, he solemnly clasped his hands in a salute.

"Senior, what a brilliant method."

A fake Perfected Lord is still a Perfected Lord.

The Stain Sect had always prioritized the capable. Before Lü Yang could even speak, Chong Guang had very naturally switched his form of address from "Daoist" to "Senior."

Lü Yang’s method was simple: he would first use Fake Holding on the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, then reverse the Earth of Chen. After that, Chong Guang would have no problem with his Seeking Gold.

However, this all hinged on several conditions: Progenitor Tingyou had to have just achieved No Heaven, the world’s Perfected Lords had to be in seclusion, and Ang Xiao had to be trapped in the Netherworld both before and after, unable to interfere. Otherwise, the moment Chong Guang attained the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire would likely be the day he died.

Besides, this was only a stalling tactic.

Although No Heaven could theoretically buy them sixty years, Ang Xiao would be able to forcibly descend upon the world in thirty years at most, at the cost of burning his Grotto Heaven.

’Still... thirty years is enough.’

More importantly, by proposing this method, he had brought Master Chong Guang onto his side. This was a major boon for him.

’My foundation in the Dao Court is ultimately too shallow.’

’Don’t be fooled by my rapid promotions and the recent purge of corrupt officials. All of it is built upon Emperor Jia You’s tacit approval.’

Once Emperor Jia You is gone, it will all turn to smoke.

At that time, even with the Imperial City Department completely under his control and the blessings of the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, the sheer size of the Dao Court could still crush him with ease.

He could also use Fake Holding to become a Perfected Lord and go on a killing spree, but slaughter wouldn’t solve the problem, nor would it align with the imagery of the Fruit of Celestial Fire. Besides, becoming a fake Perfected Lord has limits on its duration and frequency. When the time is up, the backlash would be proportional to the ferocity of his earlier rampage.

Therefore, Lü Yang was more inclined to bring in outside help.

’The Overseas Dragon Race are my natural allies. If I can also get Master Chong Guang’s support, I can have them march into the East to help me usurp the Dao Court!’

And with Master Chong Guang’s assistance...

...when he performed the Ruling the World magic instrument in the future, the North would effectively be his. Wherever his righteous army went, the people would surely welcome them with open arms.

"This... is not a bad plan!"

After all, with the Stain Sect as an external ally, the South and West would also be easier to conquer.

Lü Yang’s mind raced. If everything went smoothly—with his own Seeking Gold, the Summon’s Seeking Gold, Chong Guang’s Seeking Gold, and Tingyou’s Seeking Gold, plus the Outer Dao’s Seven Luminaries Heaven...

...he would have five Perfected Lords at his command!

Assuming there were no Nascent Soul Daoist Lords and ignoring the power differences between Golden Core cultivators, a force like this would be strong enough to contend with any power in the world!

’Furthermore, if Master Chong Guang succeeds in Seeking Gold and attains the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, it will open up World Purger Fei Xue’s path. If she can break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core, while Ang Xiao’s path is severed, the balance of power will shift. I can have World Purger Fei Xue take the pressure from Ang Xiao off my back.’

’This way, the Stain Sect definitely won’t be at a disadvantage.’

’On the other hand, when I attain the Fruit of Celestial Fire and bring a new Emperor Fruit into the Dao Court, I believe the Daoist Court Daoist Lord will be happy to see it happen and won’t stand in my way.’

Everyone can be happy. Except for Ang Xiao.

"So?"

Lü Yang looked at Chong Guang and extended his hand. "Daoist, in this day and age, if you want to succeed in Seeking Gold, you have to do big things. Big things!"

As his words fell, Lü Yang broke into a wide grin.

Hearing this, Chong Guang gave him a serious look, then smiled as well. "One last question. May I ask, Daoist... which senior from my Stain Sect are you?"

At these words, Lü Yang’s face instantly darkened. "I have no connection to the Demon Sect."

Chong Guang nodded in understanding. ’So that’s how it is. He’s cut ties!’

He also knew the conditions for the Fruit of Celestial Fire’s magic instrument, so Lü Yang’s intentions couldn’t be hidden from him. Besides, a mutually beneficial partnership like this was more trustworthy.

"...Deal!"

The next second, their two hands clasped tightly together.

........

「North, Sea of Clouds.」

The flying light that was Chong Guang descended into the center of the Cloud Sea, inside the grand hall of Holy Fire Cliff. There, a graceful and dignified woman was seated on a meditation cushion.

Her nearly perfect, jade-like face was currently covered in a dense web of cracks. Golden light flowed from every fissure, and where it fell to the ground, it instantly etched deep gashes. This was all the lingering Sword Intent and Sword Qi from the Sword Pavilion’s True Monarch Gangxing.

Despite this, there was not a trace of pain on the woman’s face.

"Mmmph~"

—On the contrary, she seemed to be enjoying it.

The intense pain instead filled her with fighting spirit and invigorated her. A violent clash, full of blood and sweat, was what the woman craved most.

But the next moment, as Chong Guang walked into the hall, her contorted, jade-like face instantly returned to its usual dignified beauty, as if it had never worn any other expression.

"...You’re back?"

World Purger Fei Xue said faintly.

"I am back."

Chong Guang clasped his hands. "Thank you, Perfected Lord, for obscuring my karmic links, making everyone think I was attempting to Seek Gold... Otherwise, my journey might have been discovered by outsiders."

"It was nothing."

World Purger Fei Xue waved her hand, her beautiful eyes looking directly at Chong Guang, her voice devoid of any emotion. "Is there still hope?"

"I suppose there is."

"That’s good."

Withdrawing her gaze, World Purger Fei Xue flicked her sleeve and rose. "I won’t ask when you will Seek Gold, nor will I care what you do to achieve it. You understand that I only want a result. As long as you attain the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, even if the heavens fall, it won’t be your turn to hold them up."

"Chong Guang will remember this... I respectfully see you off, Perfected Lord."

Chong Guang bowed deeply, watching as World Purger Fei Xue vanished from sight. Only then did he straighten up, Lü Yang’s scheme once again flashing through his mind.

’To attain the Fruit of Celestial Fire... the sheer scale of this person’s ambition is rarely seen in this world.’

’He can’t possibly be an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. He must be the reincarnation of a Perfected Lord... but which one? Not Ang Xiao, and not Fortune... so who could it be?’