Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 343: Talent and Hard Work, Shen Metal in Hand

It was all rather absurd, to be honest.

From start to finish, Lü Yang had only wanted a single strand of Shen Metal. Yet, because of it, he had been swept up into the schemes of who knows how many Perfected Lords.

’It was the same in my Previous Life when I sought the Yin Wood.’

He had inexplicably fallen for Ang Xiao’s Veil of the Trees and been played for a fool, schemed against alongside that Summon. Just thinking about it now was enough to bring a flood of bitter tears.

At this point, he couldn’t even be bothered to curse.

But thankfully, his suffering was finally about to pay off. With a great war between the Perfected Lords imminent, no one had time to bother with him. ’If I don’t slip away now, when will I?’

With that thought, Lü Yang immediately summoned Master Xiuxin. He then took out the Shen Metal, planning to have her deliver it to the Hidden Sword Manor shortly. Then, his main body would strike, killing the courier and seizing the treasure. Using the Tribulation Wave to kill left no karmic links, making it impossible for anyone to divine the cause and effect of the event.

’Of course, this isn’t foolproof.’

’But Ang Xiao and World Purger Fei Xue have bigger things to deal with right now. Even if they notice something is amiss, they won’t have the time to come after me.’

That would be enough time for him to go into hiding again.

As for his clone, it could simply reincarnate.

While there was no denying this plan was still very risky, it was the safest method Lü Yang could think of. There was no other choice.

’I can’t just give up on the Shen Metal, can I?’

’If a Perfected Lord still manages to track me down after all this, then I’ll have to admit they’re incredible. They can have my life. Worst case scenario, I’ll just start over and let the Centome give me a clean slate...’

However, just then...

"Wait... Don’t be hasty."

The voice came from within the Myriad-Soul Banner. Lü Yang’s movements froze. He hurriedly unfurled the Banner and looked at Progenitor Tingyou, who had just awakened from his Meditation.

"Progenitor!"

Lü Yang’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. "You’ve finished Refining the medicinal power already?"

"It was alright."

Progenitor Tingyou stroked his chin. "How should I put it... I feel like the medicinal power didn’t strengthen me as much as I’d expected, but it still had some effect."

At this, he glanced at the Shen Metal in Lü Yang’s hand and said in a low voice, "I did some divining for you earlier. If you take this strand of Shen Metal out, there are too many variables, and it would be very easy for someone to track. Even if no one is paying attention to you now, it doesn’t mean they can’t follow the clues to find you later."

"This..."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang’s expression darkened. If even Progenitor Tingyou was saying this, his confidence in his original plan plummeted.

"...I understand."

He was not a greedy person. He had been willing to take the gamble because he thought there was a chance of success. But if it was truly hopeless, he wouldn’t act recklessly.

Indecisiveness only leads to trouble!

"I will give up the Shen Metal right now..."

Before Lü Yang could finish, Progenitor Tingyou interrupted him again. "Don’t be so hasty... Your method may be flawed, but I can help you."

Hearing this, Lü Yang’s eyes lit up. "...Really!?"

"Yes. That’s what I was just divining for you."

Progenitor Tingyou looked calm and composed as he explained, "First, using someone else to retrieve the Shen Metal leaves too many openings and creates too many karmic variables. It’s absolutely not a viable option."

"The only way is to have your clone deliver it directly to your main body."

"This process must not be detected by anyone. Afterward, your clone must commit suicide and reincarnate, heading to the Netherworld to erase all traces using the Power of Reincarnation."

"Hmm..."

Lü Yang wasn’t an idiot. Hearing Progenitor Tingyou’s explanation, he understood. "Progenitor, you mean using the Dharma Body for long-distance transport?"

The Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body!

This Dharma Body was both a Spiritual Treasure and one of his Abilities. When used as an Ability, it could switch back and forth between his main body and his clone.

However, Lü Yang soon frowned. "That’s true, but if the Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body refines the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, there’s no way to extract them again. Even if I get it back, I won’t be able to use them to refine my Abilities or break through to the next Realm."

"That’s simple."

At this, Progenitor Tingyou finally broke into a smile. "My suggestion is to hide the Shen Metal in the Myriad-Soul Banner and then take it away along with the Dharma Body!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yang instantly understood.

’Hide the Shen Metal inside the Myriad-Soul Banner. The banner is one with the Dharma Body. When the Dharma Body is recalled, the banner goes with it—and so does the Shen Metal!’

’What’s even better is that the Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body has been cleansed by the Centome, leaving it without cause or effect. Wrapping the Shen Metal in such a layer is equivalent to isolating it from all external karmic links. Absolutely no one would be able to divine the slightest clue. Then, by getting rid of the clone, there would be no evidence left!’

The only problem was the Myriad-Soul Banner.

"This treasure can only hold Banner Spirits and inanimate objects. The Position of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches is extremely high, so normally, the banner shouldn’t be able to contain them..." Lü Yang said, looking toward Progenitor Tingyou.

Progenitor Tingyou nodded confidently.

"...It can be done!"

At that moment, Lü Yang was incredibly glad he had chosen to feed the Daoist Harmony Immortal Pill to Progenitor Tingyou. ’See? The return on investment has arrived!’

He acted on the thought immediately.

Lü Yang immediately began to sort through his spoils. Aside from the Immortal Root, which he needed to keep to complete his mission, he split everything else.

Seventy percent for him, and thirty percent left for the Sword Pavilion.

.......

「South, Hidden Sword Manor.」

WHOOSH!

In an instant, the Heavenly Qian Totalizing All Manifestations Dharma Body appeared before Lü Yang’s main body. Without a second thought, he sent his Divine Sense into the Myriad-Soul Banner.

The next second, Lü Yang’s eyes were nearly blinded by a dazzling array of splendid lights. His gaze fell upon the Metal Qi he had longed for, the Six Ding Divine Fire used for Alchemy by the Supreme Venerable of the Profound Spirit Realm in the Celestial Capital Palace, and all the various Spiritual Materials from the entire South Celestial Gate.

The treasures clattered as they piled up, filling nearly half of the Myriad-Soul Banner.

For a moment, the myriad radiances and countless divine lights made Lü Yang gulp several times before he could compose himself and suppress the turbulent emotions in his heart.

’Mine... It’s all mine!’

Lü Yang knew exactly how significant this was.

With Progenitor Tingyou’s help and the Myriad-Soul Banner as a transport channel, he would never again have to worry about being unable to transfer his clone’s gains to his main body!

’I’ve made it this far all thanks to the hard work of my Talent Skill!’

Without any hesitation, Lü Yang took out the Tribulation Wave and activated its Divine Effect, hacking away at the Shen Metal with the singular purpose of severing its karmic links.

After he had cleanly severed all the karmic links on it, Lü Yang used the Divine Effect of Dongming to inspect it.

’There really are no other marks on it... I’m a little surprised. Although the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had cleansed it for me once, I had always suspected that the Perfected had secretly placed his own mark on it afterward. But now, it seemed he hadn’t?’

Lü Yang still trusted the Divine Effect of the Tribulation Wave. If even it couldn’t detect anything, then he would just have to accept it. Thus, he hesitated no longer.

He grabbed it and began Refining it in an instant!

HUU...

In that instant, Lü Yang felt his Immortal Spirit Body finally break through its bottleneck. Without needing the Profound Mysterious effect of Empowerment, a second Divine Power Radiance appeared!

Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment, achieved!

’If I added the Profound Mysterious effect of Empowerment, that would make Three Divine Techniques, bringing me to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection! And if, on top of that, I added my two Void Divine Techniques...’

’Divine Power Perfection!?’

Lü Yang was shocked by his own speculation. However, when he actually tried it, the result left him feeling helpless, though it was not unexpected.

Foundation Establishment Perfection was different.

’At Dao Foundation Perfection, one refines the Gold Attribute and forges a Blessed Land. It’s impossible to achieve that through Fake Holding by simply cobbling my Abilities together into a chaotic stew.’

’If I really tried to force it, my body would just explode!’

Just as Lü Yang was reflecting on this, suddenly—

"Hm?"

Lü Yang’s brow furrowed. He saw that his two Void Divine Techniques, the Essence of All Flowers and the Guan Chou Sea, had inexplicably begun to tremble!

"Is this... a change in No Heaven?"

"Who did this?"

Lü Yang’s head snapped up.

Although he had no proof, an inexplicable intuition surfaced. "...Minor Metal?"