Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 551: Father and Son Go to Battle

Overseas, on Lonely Heart Island.

Even for the remote Overseas, this island was a desolate place. The Spiritual Qi was thin, it was rarely visited by man, and few Cultivators ever ventured near its shores.

Just then, a young man in white suddenly tore open the void, emerging with the grace of an immortal.

"My lord, you can see for yourself. This is the place."

Beside Lü Yang, the figure of Summon appeared. He smiled and said, "This is where I contacted all the different parties back then. It seems the Pseudo-History is accurate here."

"Indeed."

Lü Yang nodded. A golden light glinted in his eyes, piercing straight through the numerous Arrays on Lonely Heart Island to see a figure with the same face as Summon.

"Tell me, do you think he senses the danger?"

"Don’t worry, my lord. He won’t!"

Summon shook his head. "An Outer Heaven Wanderer like him knows nothing of karmic links. Besides, my lord’s Cultivation is so profound that you could stand right in front of him and he wouldn’t even notice."

...

"Success at last!"

After receiving replies from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect, Suo Lan pumped his fist in excitement. "If I can attain the Golden Position this time, there’s hope for the Resurgence Realm Heaven..."

He had not had an easy time these past few years.

After all, this backwater of a place was already highly prejudiced against Loose Cultivators, and he just so happened to be from the most despised category among them: an Outer Heaven Wanderer.

Under such circumstances, never mind the Sword Sect and the Immortal Court—even the recently ascendant Yama Dao wanted nothing to do with him. If he truly pledged his loyalty, they would be willing to accept him, but he’d be nothing more than an enforcer. The hope of using that position to find an opportunity for Seeking Gold was non-existent.

Because of this, he had spent years trying every method he could think of.

It wasn’t until a while ago, when Daoist Hongtian of the Yama Dao took the initiative to find him and offered to build bridges for him, that he finally saw a glimmer of hope.

After all, that man had once been a Perfected Lord!

Not only did he have the backing of the Yama Dao, but it was said he had also joined the Immortal Court, becoming the State Preceptor personally appointed by the Celestial Wu Royal Family. His Cultivation had reached the pinnacle.

An opportunity like this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

At this thought, Suo Lan’s mood brightened. With Daoist Hongtian pulling the strings and support from the various factions, he might actually have a real shot at Seeking Gold this time.

’The best is yet to come!’

With that in mind, Suo Lan immediately began to prepare the meeting place. Since he was going to meet with envoys from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect, he wanted to leave a good impression.

’I’ve heard the Immortal Court values pomp and ceremony above all else. Maybe I should go gather some skylight to make this place look a bit more magnificent...’

Suo Lan frowned in frustration. Gathering skylight was no easy task; it would take some time to accomplish, and he didn’t have that much time to spare.

Fortunately, at that moment, the young man in white who had been standing beside Suo Lan the entire time took a ray of skylight from his sleeve and thoughtfully offered it to him.

"Daoist, how about this?"

Suo Lan looked up in surprise, his eyes reflecting the image of the white-robed young man. He didn’t find anything amiss. Instead, as if struck by a realization, he laughed and said:

"It’s perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

With that, he took the skylight from Lü Yang’s hand and used it to illuminate the once crude reception hall, which now truly took on the appearance of a palace chamber.

Only after finishing all this did he clasp his hands, respectfully yield his position to Lü Yang, and wait quietly for his instructions, his eyes clear and lucid.

Puppet!

Lü Yang flicked his sleeve and sat down, studying the Suo Lan before him with a slight frown. ’Puppets are useful, but getting information from them is still a bit too troublesome.’

After all, whether controlled by the Puppet skill or refined into a Banner Spirit for the Myriad-Soul Banner after death, they essentially lost their sense of self. He had to ask targeted questions to get answers, and if his questions weren’t specific enough, or if he failed to ask something, the puppet wouldn’t provide the information.

’Forget it.’

Thinking this, Lü Yang couldn’t be bothered to waste any more time. He had been patient with Chen Dao before because he was worried that too much commotion would attract the attention of a Perfected Lord.

But out here in the remote Overseas, he had no such concerns.

SHIMMER!

The next second, a pure white light bloomed at Lü Yang’s fingertip. It was as gentle as the Taiyin and carried an aura that could reverse Yin and Yang, a concept of gestation and birth.

Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light!

At the same time, the Myriad-Soul Banner stirred, and the Banner Spirits that were once the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and his son drifted down. The expressions on their faces were now starkly different.

When Chen Xin’an first appeared, his complexion was ruddy, a clear sign that he had been living well inside the Myriad-Soul Banner lately and had recovered from his previous psychological trauma. However, upon seeing the Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light in Lü Yang’s hand, his once-ruddy face instantly turned deathly pale again.

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak, on the other hand, had yet to grasp the situation.

’What’s going on?’

Then he saw Lü Yang toss the Celestial Mother’s Birth Profound Light in his hand, and the moment it struck Suo Lan, Suo Lan began to turn disturbingly alluring at a visible rate...

"Go!"

Lü Yang said no more. With an old hand like Chen Xin’an to guide the newcomer, he was confident that someone with the Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s excellent aptitude would learn quickly.

Like father, like son, going into battle together.

So, after giving the order, he walked out of the Quiet Chamber and even thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

...

「One day later.」

When Lü Yang entered the Quiet Chamber again, Suo Lan was lying collapsed on the floor. Not far away stood the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and Chen Xin’an, both looking miserable.

"Good work."

Without another word, Lü Yang recalled the two Banner Spirits into the banner. He then called out Summon and gestured with his hand. "Kill him. Let’s see what happens."

Hearing this, Summon glanced at the mangled form of Suo Lan, and the corner of his eye twitched slightly.

"Don’t mind him."

Seeing his reaction, Lü Yang shook his head. "If my guess is correct, these people probably aren’t real... Go on, kill him first. Let’s see what changes."

Summon nodded and pointed a finger.

The next second, Suo Lan, who was lying on the ground, was reduced to ashes. However, the usual phenomena that accompany the death of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—such as the collapse of Spiritual Qi—did not occur.

Suo Lan simply vanished.

It was as if he had never existed. In his place, Summon’s eyes suddenly flew open, and his already powerful Qi trace surged, rising dramatically out of nowhere!

Seeing this, Lü Yang’s eyes also lit up. He asked in a low voice:

"What is it?"

Summon closed his eyes to perceive the change for a moment before looking at Lü Yang and saying respectfully, "Reporting to my lord, just now, this subordinate suddenly saw a glimpse of the future."

"Saw the future?" Lü Yang raised an eyebrow.

"To be precise, I can now deduce a future through karmic links... It’s very clear. As long as I am willing to act according to the karmic links shown on that causal thread, I will inevitably reach the corresponding future. Even if I don’t follow it, it can help me identify and correct many of my past mistakes and omissions."

Summon’s explanation brought a flash of understanding to Lü Yang:

’So that’s how it is. This must be the function of the "Origin" that World Purger Fei Xue mentioned. A future, and all the karmic links needed to reach it!’

But that raised a question:

’Can this... potential... only be absorbed by killing one’s own counterpart in the Pseudo-History, or can... anyone do it?’

If it’s the former, then it’s not very valuable.

After all, the Stain Sect is gone. He wouldn’t have a counterpart in this Pseudo-History to begin with. Even if he did, it would be of no help to him whatsoever.

But if it’s the latter...

’Then its value is immense!’

While pondering this, Lü Yang was also using his authority as Banner Master to inspect the memories that the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and his son had extracted using the Heaven-Mending Skill. His eyes suddenly lit up:

’That Daoist Hongtian contacted him, built bridges for him, and even invited people from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect to help him with his Seeking Gold Ascension Position?’

This was all falling into his lap.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang immediately looked at Summon:

"Wake all the Banner Spirits. Set up an Array right here, one that can block all Karma Links."

Having just arrived, Lü Yang decided to keep a low profile.

’I killed this Suo Lan. If people from the Immortal Court and the Sword Sect come looking for him later and find out, they’ll launch a massive investigation. That could be troublesome. Better to just kill them all.’