Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 495: The Basic Qualities of a Saint Sect Zhenren

At Foundation Establishment Perfection, Lü Yang had once again reached the pinnacle of his ten lives.

’That said, I’m still lacking a few things.’

Foundation Establishment Perfection, refining the Gold Attribute, ascending a Blessed Land—only then could one attempt the Seeking Gold Ascension Position and create a Grotto Heaven... The most crucial parts of this process were the Gold Attribute and the Blessed Land.

’I don’t need to worry about the Blessed Land. The Profound City Blessed Land is in harmony with my Heart Spirit. As long as I use my Abilities for Refining and merge it with my Dao Foundation, I can use it... Compared to that, the Gold Attribute is actually more trouble. I must use my Abilities to slowly refine it from my Soul. It’s not something that can be done overnight.’

Of course, there was a shortcut.

That was to use a First-Grade Official Position from the Dao Court for the refinement... However, after careful consideration, Lü Yang decided it was safer to rely on himself to refine the Gold Attribute.

’Besides, this won’t interfere with matters in No Heaven.’

With a turn of his thoughts, Lü Yang’s Divine Sense sank into the Myriad-Soul Banner. He saw Progenitor Tingyou sitting cross-legged within, four Abilities already coiling and rotating around his body.

"The Essence of All Flowers, the Guan Chou Sea, the Mist Crossing, and the Long Hatred Song!"

Lü Yang saw it clearly. These four were the exact Abilities corresponding to No Heaven. In half a year’s time, Progenitor Tingyou had successfully gathered all of them.

At this thought, Lü Yang’s expression suddenly turned peculiar.

’The Essence of All Flowers... The Progenitor sure has some stamina.’

Don’t be fooled by how effortlessly Lü Yang had obtained the Essence of All Flowers back then. That was only because he had a cheat—he relied entirely on his Talent Skill to withstand the Celestial Maiden Grand Array.

However, his method of clearing it was unique and completely beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person. The proper way was to find a flaw in the Array while entangled in the Celestial Maiden Grand Array and then break it through skill. In comparison, Lü Yang’s method showed no skill at all; it was all raw stats.

Just then, Progenitor Tingyou opened his eyes and said softly,

"...Is it time?"

He had Refined the four Abilities for No Heaven over a month ago, but because Lü Yang had yet to break through, he had chosen to wait.

Now that Lü Yang had broken through, all was ready.

In the next moment, Lü Yang cupped his hands in a salute. "I’ll be troubling you, Progenitor."

"No, it is I who should be thanking you."

Progenitor Tingyou shook his head. True, after he attained No Heaven, he would become an enemy to all Perfected Lords in the world and bring endless disaster, but so what?

He would be a Perfected Lord, after all!

This broken place hadn’t produced a Perfected Lord in many years. A single True Monarch Position was enough to drive countless Foundation Establishment cultivators mad. Who wouldn’t yearn for it?

This was especially true for Progenitor Tingyou. He considered his talent to be quite good, but what could he do against a Perfected Lord? A single sword strike from thousands of miles away could render him utterly powerless. He had experienced the gap between Golden Core and Foundation Establishment most profoundly, so he cherished this opportunity all the more and understood the immense value of a True Monarch Position.

The more he understood, the more grateful he was to Lü Yang.

"Progenitor, you must not let your guard down. This endeavor is not without variables," Lü Yang said gravely. "If I’m not mistaken, Minor Metal... that old scoundrel will also appear."

"Minor Metal?"

Progenitor Tingyou was taken aback. "Didn’t you make a deal with him...? Right. You’re both Saint Sect Zhenren. If it were me, I certainly wouldn’t be at ease either."

Breaking promises was a basic quality of a Saint Sect Zhenren.

Moreover, Lü Yang understood Minor Metal extremely well. He knew his philosophy; even if backed into a corner with no way out, he would never place his hopes entirely in the hands of an outsider.

’He will definitely go for No Heaven!’

’He might not truly want to attain No Heaven, but rather leave himself a way out, in case I don’t keep my promise and turn on him in the end.’

And this concern was, in fact, entirely justified.

After all, Lü Yang had also made a deal with Ang Xiao for the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire. He was selling the same item to two different buyers; he didn’t really care who got cheated.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang quickly warned him, "In any case, Progenitor, as you try to attain No Heaven this time, that old scoundrel Minor Metal will very likely compete with you in secret."

"You absolutely must not be careless."

Although, in terms of the outcome, Lü Yang wouldn’t be at a disadvantage no matter who attained No Heaven, he still had his own selfish reasons. That old scoundrel Minor Metal was unwilling to enter the Myriad-Soul Banner, so he naturally wasn’t as close to Lü Yang as Progenitor Tingyou. A perfectly good Fruit should obviously go to one of his own people.

"Don’t worry, I understand."

Heeding Lü Yang’s reminder, Progenitor Tingyou nodded. "No Heaven is crucial to your plans. I will give it my all and not let it be snatched away by someone else."

"I respectfully see you off, Progenitor."

Under Lü Yang’s gaze, Progenitor Tingyou smiled and nodded. Then, his consciousness, borne aloft by the four Abilities, plunged thunderously into No Heaven!

...

Layers of the Cloud Sea, overlapping Illusion Realms.

Progenitor Tingyou’s consciousness resided within, strolling leisurely as he sized up his surroundings with great interest. He had actually never entered No Heaven before.

However, as a Banner Spirit, so long as Lü Yang actively cooperated, he could share the Banner Master’s experiences. Therefore, he had indirectly entered No Heaven, and had seen Primal Daoist Mu Changsheng, who existed only as a consciousness. Otherwise, he never could have imitated Mu Changsheng’s Consciousness Stripping Technique out of thin air in his Previous Life.

Of course, there was still a difference between indirect and direct experience.

Viewing it indirectly, some things were always shrouded in mist; seeing it directly was much clearer.

’After all, strictly speaking, that boy Lü Yang... hmm, he’s mainly just hardworking enough. That’s how he’s achieved what he has today. There’s a lot he doesn’t actually understand.’

Thinking of this, Progenitor Tingyou couldn’t help but smile.

But he quickly reined in his stray thoughts and stood still within the Cloud Sea. His gaze shifted, only to see another figure emerge from the other side of the Cloud Sea.

The newcomer had an ordinary face, his identity revealed only by the piercing, sky-soaring sharpness between his brows.

Upon seeing the other person, Progenitor Tingyou sighed inwardly:

’That boy was actually right.’

Immediately after, he cupped his hands and said in a clear voice, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Chong Guang."

On the other side, Minor Metal frowned upon hearing this. "And who might you be, Daoist? To have come this far, you should have some reputation in the world."

"Just a nameless nobody."

Progenitor Tingyou waved his hand dismissively. "On the contrary, Daoist, since you already have a chance at the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, why come here seeking another Fruit?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Minor Metal immediately understood. ’Is this the senior who can Fake Hold the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire? No, that’s not right. Is this that senior’s subordinate? What an extravagant gesture... A Fruit, even if it’s from an Outer Dao, is still a True Monarch Position. That senior just gave it away like that?’

However, the more he thought about it, the more vigilant Minor Metal became.

With such an extravagant gesture, and given he’s very likely a senior from my Saint Sect, would he really Fake Hold the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire and help me forge my path to the Golden Core?

Minor Metal didn’t quite believe it!

But in that case, was he supposed to compete with Progenitor Tingyou for No Heaven? Wouldn’t that be tantamount to offending the mysterious senior behind him?

If he managed to snatch it, that would be one thing.

But if he failed, it would be a double loss. Without No Heaven, the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire would also be out of the question. His Dao path would be cut off for good!

Thinking of this, Minor Metal fell into a rare state of hesitation.

After all, a True Monarch Position was at stake; he had no choice but to be cautious.

But just then, ripples once again appeared in the Cloud Sea. The next moment, a white-haired, wizened old man ambled out from the clouds.

It was none other than Primal Daoist Mu Changsheng!

However, Mu Changsheng ignored Minor Metal. His attention was immediately fixed on Progenitor Tingyou, his eyes filled with confusion.

In the next moment, he spoke cautiously, with a hint of uncertainty:

"Banner Spirit?"