Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 552: Perfected Person Hongtian

Lü Yang didn’t have to wait long on Lonely Heart Island.

「Three days later.」

Several streaks of Flying Light tore through the sky and landed just outside Lonely Heart Island. One of the figures was dressed in ornate robes, and a magnificent Official Position hovered conspicuously above his head:

[Immortal Court Sea Calming Envoy], a Second-Grade Official!

Not only that, but at this moment, the Official Position pulsated with Spiritual Mechanism. Above in the firmament, a visible network of the Great Dao manifested, casting down thousands of rays of Splendid Light. All of this light blessed the Official Position, continuously elevating its owner’s Qi trace until he nearly reached a Critical Point.

’For the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, that’s not weak at all.’

Lü Yang observed covertly, knowing this was an enhancement from the Immortal Dao Law. Since the Pseudo-History revered the Immortal Court, it wasn’t hard for the Immortal Dao Law to achieve such a scale.

Besides, strictly speaking, this was nothing compared to the Current World.

In the Current World, with him Ruling the World, the Immortal Dao Law had spread over nearly the entire continent and the Overseas, with only the mountain gates of the Saint Sect and the Sword Pavilion remaining untouched.

Even so, the Immortal Dao Law’s enhancement for Cultivators with Official Positions was still immense. While it wasn’t enough to let them fight across Realms, it had no problem pushing them to the Peak of their current Realm. More importantly, there were a vast number of these Cultivators.

It was a system that snowballed.

The larger the scale of the Immortal Dao Law, the stronger the Cultivators with Official Positions became. If they unified the world, they could even leap to become the strongest of the four major powers.

If that weren’t the case, he would never have left Master Chong Guang outside on his own.

After all, now that he had entered the Pseudo-History, he wouldn’t be able to sense it if Master Chong Guang attempted Seeking Gold... Of course, Lü Yang was certain Master Chong Guang wouldn’t act recklessly.

’Master Chong Guang is still a smart man. He’s an old Saint Sect Zhenren; the signs of Seeking Gold are impossible to hide. If he dared to try it, Empress Xiao and the Celestial Python would dare to go crash his party. With the Immortal Dao Law now spread across the world, if Master Chong Guang were to be distracted by Seeking Gold, he might not be a match for them, even with its enhancement!’

As the saying goes, a wise man submits to the circumstances.

At this point, his momentum from Ruling the World was already established. As long as Master Chong Guang wasn’t a fool, he wouldn’t risk opposing him at a time like this.

BOOM!

The next second, the Array on Lonely Heart Island activated. Suo Huan emerged with a smile, cupping his hands in a salute. "Envoy, your visit brings this humble Cultivator the greatest honor."

As a counterpart from a different history, Suo Huan had no difficulty at all impersonating Suo Lan. The reverence and humility in his every word and action were practically etched into his bones. Thus, the two envoys had no suspicions. Instead, they gave an arrogant nod and followed Suo Huan into Lonely Heart Island without any guard.

And then, both of them froze.

Because upon entering the island and stepping into a grand hall, they were met with the sight of Lü Yang. An intense, indescribable sense of crisis instantly welled up in their hearts.

’This is bad...’

Before the two could react, Lü Yang’s voice drifted over faintly:

"My two fellow Daoists, you were originally my disciples. After reincarnating, you infiltrated the various powers. How could you forget your past karmic links? Why haven’t you awakened?"

As his voice fell, the two men froze once more.

In that instant, under the influence of [Puppet], the two couldn’t help but recall their past lives. They then let out a long sigh and lamented:

"Heavens! To think we were the Lord’s subordinates!"

The next second, all wariness in their eyes had vanished as they looked at Lü Yang, replaced by pure loyalty. "Thank you, My Lord, for your Enlightenment in guiding us back to the Righteous Dao."

"It was nothing." Lü Yang grinned.

The entire process caused not the slightest ripple. The only faint fluctuations of karmic links were completely nullified by the Array that had been set up on Lonely Heart Island beforehand.

After that, there was no more suspense. When a Cultivator with an Official Position dies, the position returns, which would expose the truth of the situation. Therefore, Lü Yang didn’t act against him. Instead, he turned his gaze to the other Cultivator from the Sword Sect. With a single thought, the man took on an expression of noble sacrifice, allowing Lü Yang to strike—

BOOM!

With the fall of a single palm, the Sword Sect Cultivator was turned to ash. Almost simultaneously, Lü Yang felt a sense of sudden clarity as countless images flooded his vision.

It was a man’s life.

He was born into a great family of the Sword Sect, living a life of luxury from a young age. He never had to worry about cultivation resources, achieved Foundation Establishment step-by-step, and finally accepted a family mission to go Overseas to gain experience...

Lü Yang watched all the way to the man’s proper ending, the one he would have had if he hadn’t met him.

Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, unable to achieve Perfection, dying when his lifespan ran out.

And throughout this process, his insights, his experiences, and all the corresponding karmic links now appeared clearly before Lü Yang’s eyes.

CRACK!

The next second, the images shattered.

Lü Yang looked at his own palm, a realization dawning on him. ’Decent karmic links... a pity I’m stronger than him, and the karmic links I carry are heavier.’

The man’s karmic links were crushed by his own.

After all, he was already at Peak Foundation Establishment. The possibilities of a mere Late Stage of Foundation Establishment Cultivator were worthless to him, and naturally of no use.

But—

’If it were a Cultivator who is currently at Foundation Establishment Perfection but is destined to become a Perfected Lord in the future, his possibilities would be of great use to me!’

At this thought, Lü Yang’s heart burned with excitement:

’At the very least, I’ve successfully verified one thing: even if they aren’t a counterpart, I can still seize their possibilities through killing!’

Almost immediately, Lü Yang thought of Daoist Hongtian. The man was suspected to be attempting to attain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire] again. Having failed once before, he must be full of confidence to try a second time. If Lü Yang were to kill him and seize his possibilities, it would be a huge boon!

’No, killing him directly would be too wasteful.’

Lü Yang shook his head, his brows furrowed tightly.

’I have to help him obtain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], and then, in the instant right before he succeeds, I’ll kill him. The possibilities I seize that way will be the most valuable!’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help but sigh with emotion:

’Fortune, oh Fortune... even in another Pseudo-History, you can still be of such immense use to me. You truly are my great Fortune!’

In my Previous Life, you were the key to turning the tables.

It seems in this life, I’ll have to rely on you again!

Just then, Lü Yang’s brows suddenly lifted.

At that moment, outside Lonely Heart Island, the morning sun crossed the sky. Its Splendid Light fell upon the sea, seemingly paving it with a layer of gold foil, which reflected an illusory and majestic scene.

Within it, a figure stood silently.

He had a handsome, elegant face and was draped in golden robes. He held a Book in his left hand, his right hand clasped behind his back, and an Official Seal hung at his waist. He looked both majestic and ethereal.

’It’s Daoist Hongtian...’

Lü Yang was astonished. This Daoist Hongtian was Fortune’s counterpart, yet he lacked the air of dejection that Fortune had accumulated over five thousand squandered years. Instead, he was filled with soaring fighting spirit. If his face weren’t identical to Fortune’s, Lü Yang wouldn’t even have been certain of his identity.

He just stood there, quietly watching Lonely Heart Island.

His gaze met Lü Yang’s from across the Array. The expression on his face shifted several times, from confusion to curiosity, and finally to an indescribable sense of anticipation.

The next second, he took a step.

With that single step, he walked out of the reflection on the sea’s surface. His Qi trace was Returning to the Truth, having also reached the Profound Mysterious state of Peak Foundation Establishment.

A clear, bright voice drifted over on the wind:

"Might I ask for this Daoist’s name? ...Are you from the outside world?"