Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 335: Seizing the Treasure

Having decided to perform the Exorcism and Protection of the Dao, Lü Yang naturally had to be fully prepared.

The Array Patterns he was currently drawing were no ordinary ones. Following Cheng Xian’s guidance, he was restoring the Array that had originally existed within the South Celestial Gate.

’These Arrays were shattered by the invasion of the Perfected Lords.’

’But that doesn’t mean it was weak. It was simply because there were too many Perfected Lords, and they were shameless enough to just gang up on it from the very beginning. That’s the only reason it seemed so fragile.’

’If I can restore even a corner of it and gain control...’

’Even if it can’t unleash its peak power, it should be more than enough to trap these Early Stage and Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment cultivators!’

While performing the Array Formation, Lü Yang also activated his Puppet ability, using the eyes of the Yun Family’s Ancestor and Master Xiuxin to observe the situation at the Celestial Capital Palace.

This made it easier for him to adjust his plans as the situation developed.

RUMBLE!

Finally, as several Foundation-Stage Cultivators skilled in Arrays broke through the Array Patterns, a delicate fragrance suddenly wafted out from the previously sealed Celestial Capital Palace.

This single wisp of fragrance was enough to send several cultivators with insufficient Cultivation into a state of intoxicated bliss. Their faces flushed crimson, and by the time they regained their senses, their bodies were overwhelmed by the sudden influx of energy. They had to retreat in a sorry state, not even qualified to approach the Celestial Capital Palace!

"What a potent Pill Fragrance!"

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak took a deep breath and felt his Mana increase slightly. He even gained new insights into the Magical Techniques he had already mastered.

"This is... a Qi Pill that aids in Enlightenment!"

Meanwhile, Ye Guyue had also identified the Qi Pill’s properties. Her beautiful eyes sparkled. "This palace and my Sword Pavilion share karmic links."

In an instant, both of them had completely forgotten about Lü Yang.

After all, the great opportunity before them was what truly mattered for their path to the Dao; everything else could be set aside. At this thought, they both quickly regained their calm and composed demeanor.

’Cooperate?’

Neither of them was a fool. They knew a place containing such a great treasure would be heavily guarded. Without cooperation, obtaining it would be next to impossible.

As for the conflict between the righteous and demonic factions? To a Saint Sect Zhenren, that was naturally of no concern. As long as the benefits were sufficient, any conflict could be set aside.

From the Sword Pavilion’s perspective, however, this wasn’t cooperation.

It was merely a temporary postponement of the Exorcism and Protection of the Dao. They would first seize this opportunity to increase their strength. Once they were stronger, they would be even more capable of carrying out their duty.

One had to prioritize.

Soon, the two of them arrived before the great gates of the Celestial Capital Palace. In the next moment, they both reached out and pressed their hands upon the doors.

RUMBLE!

Instantly, with a muffled thud, both the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and Ye Guyue frowned. An immense pressure suddenly bore down on them.

’Is this... testing our Position?’

Ye Guyue’s expression flickered, but she quickly calmed down, realizing it was merely a test with no real killing power.

’Strange...’

Meanwhile, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak began to ponder. ’This Ye Guyue is indeed in the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment. She isn’t using any tricks to feign her power.’

He knew about the Celestial Capital Palace.

’After all, the Saint Sect was the first to break into the Profound Spirit Realm, so we gathered a great deal of intel beforehand. The Celestial Capital Palace was part of that intelligence.’

’That’s why I deliberately brought Ye Guyue along—to test the Cultivation of this famous Female Sword Cultivator from the Sword Pavilion. The result, however, is a bit surprising. It’s not that she isn’t strong. Ye Guyue is very strong, at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection, and a Sword Cultivator to boot. Even I don’t have absolute confidence in defeating her.’

’The problem is, she’s still not strong enough!’

’I’ve cultivated the *Heaven-Mending Skill* and can commune with Heaven and Earth. My Spiritual Sense is exceptionally sharp, and I can clearly feel an unknown danger here...’

’But if the danger isn’t from Ye Guyue, then who could it be from?’

’Forget it... The Great Dao lies before me; I can’t just refuse to compete for it. This Celestial Capital Palace was once the residence of a Perfected Lord, so a little danger is to be expected.’

’At least this place has already been plundered once by the Perfected Lords. Now, the world is divided among them, both to completely devour the Fruit and to "raise" us Lower Cultivators. So there definitely won’t be any inescapable, fatal traps. Anything that’s left should be considered a test the Perfected Lords have left for the likes of us!’

At this thought, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak made his decision.

After all, you only live once. There is only one path to the Dao, and no one can start over. If you don’t fight for it when you have the chance, you may never get another!

"Go!"

The next second, he summoned a Flying Light and entered the Celestial Capital Palace directly. Ye Guyue followed close behind, and the other Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment cultivators refused to be left behind.

The first thing to greet their eyes was a Pill Furnace situated in the very center of the palace hall.

The furnace was shaped with the eight trigrams, perfectly stable and balanced. Only its lid was ajar, revealing a single, radiant Elixir Pill resting within. The Pill Fragrance emanated from it.

’The Daoist Harmony Immortal Pill!’

Looking through the eyes of the Yun Family’s Ancestor and Master Xiuxin, Lü Yang’s gaze immediately fell upon the Elixir Pill. Soon, however, a strange expression crossed his face.

’The Daoist Harmony Immortal Pill, though inside the furnace, wasn’t in the center. Instead, it was pushed into a corner, looking like a mere leftover...’

’This Pill Furnace... don’t tell me it’s already been looted?’

Lü Yang could almost picture it: a Perfected Lord barging into the pill chamber, throwing open the Pill Furnace, and sweeping up every valuable Qi Pill inside.

Only a single Daoist Harmony Immortal Pill remained, likely left behind because it was useless to a Perfected Lord.

’That must be it! Otherwise, given the ways of the Perfected Lords, they would have taken everything, leaving nothing behind, even if a pill had only the slightest use for them.’

Even leaving this one behind was an act of kindness in Lü Yang’s eyes. After all, judging others by his own standards, if it had been him, he wouldn’t have cared whether the Qi Pills were useful to him or not—he would have taken them all first! Even if he just took them home to eat like candy, he wouldn’t have left a single one for anyone who came after.

CRACK...

Just then, a crisp sound startled everyone present. They followed the noise with their eyes and saw a lush, leafy Spirit Root Immortal Plant.

’The Immortal Root!’

In that instant, a chill ran through Lü Yang’s heart.

The reason wasn’t the Spirit Root, which was fabled to grant immortality. It was the headless corpse leaning against it.

The corpse was petite. Its neck was bare, yet no blood seeped out. It was dressed in a Daoist Robe, upon which a Dao Scripture was inscribed in golden thread, each character a profound gem. But the most terrifying sight was its blood-stained finger, which had written a single, solitary character upon the ground.

’This is bad!’

Instantly, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak and Ye Guyue felt their bodies grow heavy. A furious roar, filled with a hatred as endless as a raging river, thundered in their ears:

"EXECUTE!"

Through the eyes of the Yun Family’s Ancestor and Master Xiuxin, Lü Yang saw the change inside the palace hall clearly. He patted his chest, his heart still pounding with fear.

’Good thing I didn’t go!’

’That headless corpse was clearly an Earth Immortal in life. I suspect it was the Daoist Child who tended the fires for the Supreme Venerable of the Profound Spirit Realm, and it cultivated the Supreme Venerable’s Dao Lineage.’

’This one word is the same as the True Words Technique Cheng Xian used before.’

’It has even evolved a step further into the Celestial Constitution Law!’

’For an Earth Immortal, a being comparable to a Great Trueman, to leave behind such a word written in blood, they must have poured all their lifelong Mana and Abilities into it.’

’To a Perfected Lord, it might be nothing more than a gentle breeze, not even worthy of their attention.’

’But for someone in the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment, it’s an instant kill!’

’But since the person is dead, it only has the power for a single strike... and it only targets the one or two strongest people present. If I had gone, it would have undoubtedly targeted me!’

Fortunately, he hadn’t gone.

Which meant the unlucky ones were Ye Guyue and the Master of Heaven Mending Peak!