Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 217: Junior Brother, You Are Still Too Kind
Master Shangxuan fled quickly.
He was a Sword Cultivator at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection, possessed two Innate Divine Techniques, and wielded a Superior Spirit Sword. But even so, he was no match for their sheer numbers.
After all, no matter how strong he was, he wasn’t a Great Trueman. Perfection was still just the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment. What’s more, he wasn’t from the direct lineage of a True Monarch from one of the Four Great Forces. So when faced with a siege by a dozen or more Foundation-Stage Cultivators, all he could do was let out the stifled howls of a cornered animal:
"If you have any guts, fight me one-on-one!"
"You beasts... you’re all beasts!"
A series of wretched screams followed. Perfected Yin Shan struck Master Shangxuan’s back with a seal, Yu Chan stabbed him straight through the front, and Huanxiang shattered his Divine Sense.
The other cultivators from the North, all at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, pummeled him with Artifacts and Abilities until he was covered in wounds.
Finally, a Divine Technique came crashing down.
Embracing Mountain!
Unable to resist in the slightest, Master Shangxuan fell to the ground. The glow of his Abilities abruptly dissipated, and his eyes shut tight. He had clearly lost consciousness.
As for the two Early Stage Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivators, the Profound Gold Sword Master and the Profound Silver Sword Master, their fate was even less in question. Lü Yang and the others didn’t even need to act. The cultivators from the North, having just witnessed the "methods of the Stain Sect," swarmed forward. Without any suspense, they captured both men on the spot.
"Well done."
Lü Yang’s expression was calm as he sealed Master Shangxuan, the Profound Gold Sword Master, and the Profound Silver Sword Master one by one within the Embracing Mountain. "I’ve troubled you all."
After speaking, he took out a stack of Jade Scrolls.
He infused a sliver of Divine Sense into each Jade Scroll before distributing them to the assembled cultivators from the North. "You have all performed meritoriously. Take these and make use of them."
"This is..."
A Foundation-Stage Cultivator from one of the Small Sects took a Jade Scroll and swept it with his Divine Sense. His expression immediately turned to one of excitement. "The Ten Thousand Treasures River Daoist Skill from Treasure Division Cliff?"
"They’re yours now. Just accept them."
Lü Yang’s tone was mild. "As for the Divine Techniques of the Upper Profound Sword Sect, I’ll interrogate them for it later. Every Daoist who lent a hand today will get a copy."
"Since you all took a risk to help, I won’t treat you poorly." As his voice fell, Lü Yang waved his hand and tossed the three Superior Spirit Swords belonging to Master Shangxuan, the Profound Gold Sword Master, and the Profound Silver Sword Master to the three Foundation-Stage Cultivators who had contributed the most. The others watched, their eyes red with envy.
Their earlier caution was instantly thrown to the wind.
Abilities! Cultivation Techniques! Spiritual Treasures!
The sects these people came from weren’t large; some were simply Loose Cultivators. For them, obtaining these items was like striking it rich.
What more was there to say?
If the cultivators from the North had been inclined to slack off before, that feeling was now completely gone, replaced by fiery passion and fighting spirit.
’Anything less would be insufficient to prove my loyalty!’
"As for them..." At this point, Lü Yang looked back at Master Shangxuan and the other two, shaking his head. "It wasn’t easy for the three of them to cultivate to this point."
"My Stain Sect has always treated its captives preferentially."
"How about this: after I’m done interrogating them, I’ll feed their Dao Foundations to my Abi Sword, refine their bodies into Demon Corpses, and send their Souls to the Simulation Realm for reincarnation."
Hearing this, Perfected Yin Shan frowned, then sighed. "Junior Brother, you are still far too kind."
Lü Yang also looked helpless. "Sigh, it’s a habit I just can’t break."
The two of them spoke back and forth as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But Huanxiang, who was listening nearby, felt a chill spread through her heart. Even Yu Chan’s eye twitched slightly.
’What the hell is kind about that?’
’Does the Stain Sect have some kind of misunderstanding about the definition of kindness?’
Little did they know that from Lü Yang’s and Perfected Yin Shan’s perspective, allowing their Souls to reincarnate and start over was the very definition of benevolence. If that wasn’t kind, what was?
Besides, who’s to say they couldn’t reach Foundation Establishment again after reincarnating?
’And then I can harvest them all over again.’
Immediately after, Lü Yang dragged Master Shangxuan and the other two into a hidden room. He took out his Myriad-Soul Banner, summoned Chen Xin’an, and performed the Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light.
「One day later.」
Lü Yang put away the pale-faced Chen Xin’an and, with a casual swing of his sword, finished off the mangled forms of Master Shangxuan and the other two. Then, he began to take stock of his gains.
First was the Abi Sword.
One cultivator at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection and two at the Early Stage. Feeding such immense sustenance to the Abi Sword produced an absurdly vast Divine Effect in return.
’According to the feedback from the Man Slaughterer, the Dao Foundation Cultivation Techniques of these three Sword Cultivators were all Metal Element. After slaying them, the Abi Sword’s suppression of the Metal Element has reached fifty percent. In other words, the power of any Metal Element Abilities and Daoist Skills will be reduced by half in the presence of the Abi Sword!’
It could already be called the bane of Sword Cultivators.
It was especially suitable for ambushing unsuspecting Sword Cultivators, causing them to overestimate the power of their own Abilities. Used well, it could even lead to an unexpected kill!
Beyond that, there were Master Shangxuan’s memories.
’They really did have a technique from the Sword Pavilion!’
This was Lü Yang’s other major gain. The Upper Profound Sword Sect had received support from the Celestial Sword Pavilion and had truly obtained a secret technique from the Pavilion.
Its name was—the *Taiyi Formless Sword*.
’It’s not a Cultivation Technique, but a Secret Technique for Refining Swords. One can use this method, along with one of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, to refine a Superior Sentient Artifact called the Formless Sword.’
’So that’s how it is.’
Lü Yang rubbed his chin, having finally solved a puzzle that had been bothering him.
’This Master Shangxuan wasn’t in seclusion to break through to the Late Stage at all; he was in seclusion refining his sword. I was wondering how he could possibly have the foundation to attempt a breakthrough to the Late Stage...’
Reaching the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment was a heavenly chasm!
Even in the Stain Sect, a figure like the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had died and his Dao had vanished while trying to break through to the Late Stage. How could a mere Master Shangxuan have the ability to do so?
According to Master Shangxuan’s memories, he had indeed obtained one of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches that suited him. However, he knew it was impossible for him to achieve the rank of Great Trueman with it. So, he planned to use this item to refine the Formless Sword, increase his combat power, and better contribute to the great war to come.
’But now, it’s all mine for the taking.’
Lü Yang smiled faintly, but his expression quickly turned serious. He then took a small jade bottle from Master Shangxuan’s Storage Bag.
The bottle contained the item from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches that Master Shangxuan had obtained.
It was a wisp of Xin Metal Qi.
Xin Metal, in the Position of Heavenly Stems, is named Minor Metal!
’...A coincidence?’
Lü Yang didn’t believe it!
Was this a contingency plan left behind by Perfected Chong Guang? Was Master Shangxuan obtaining this specific item from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and his plan to refine the Formless Sword, all part of his calculations?
In an instant, countless questions flooded Lü Yang’s mind.
But at this very moment, all Karma Links had been suppressed by World Purger Fei Xue, making divination impossible. Thus, he could only guess, unable to use calculation to verify his theories.
’Don’t tell me I’ve ruined Perfected Chong Guang’s plan?’
Originally, as a cultivator at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection and the lynchpin of the Qing Country’s defenses, it should have been nearly impossible for anything to happen to Master Shangxuan. His strength was, after all, plain to see.
However, Perfected Chong Guang probably never expected that Lü Yang, relying on his Shifting Technique and a combination of Daoist Skills and Abilities, would forcibly move the entire Upper Profound Sword Sect to the North. This created the perfect opportunity to overwhelm a superior foe with superior numbers. They had then swarmed him, burying the Sword Cultivator alive under their combined might.
’It’s all because I’m too outstanding!’
At this thought, Lü Yang couldn’t help but sigh, though he wasn’t panicked. ’It can still be salvaged. Since the item is in my hands now, it’ll be the same if I’m the one to refine it...’
’...And this way, it also gives the enemy some time to react.’
Thinking this, Lü Yang glanced again in the direction of Dragon-Crushing Pass. He was well aware that his mission south wasn’t to actually annihilate the Qing Country.
His mission was to apply pressure.
He was supposed to engage in a back-and-forth with the Qing Country, creating enough external conflict to open up opportunities for the reincarnated Perfected Chong Guang within its borders.
And the fall of the Upper Profound Sword Sect would surely be enough to incite panic on the Qing Country’s side.
When that time comes, how will they react?
And what move will Perfected Chong Guang make?
