Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

World Purger Fei Xue gradually frowned under Lü Yang’s fervent gaze.

After all, with the blessing of the Holding Candle’s profound mysteries, Lü Yang’s gaze could uncover secrets, giving her the unsettling feeling of being seen through completely.

’The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire...’

The very Fruit that should have helped her advance was now standing in opposition to her. The thought soured World Purger Fei Xue’s mood even further.

Her expression turned hostile as she looked at Lü Yang.

But she quickly regained her composure, her face showing deep thought.

As a Perfected Lord of the Saint Sect, World Purger Fei Xue was unlike most of her peers. It wasn’t that she was incapable of scheming, but she rarely bothered with it.

Ever since her debut, most people she encountered were simply not worthy of her schemes. Even when faced with an enemy’s plot, she would charge headfirst into a known danger, crushing it with absolute power and rendering all their painstaking plans futile.

This time, however, was different.

Neither Ang Xiao nor the man before her, Lü Yang, was an opponent she could simply crush. She would have to focus her entire Heart Spirit to face them seriously.

So, in the end, she was the first to speak. "Daoist, what brings you here? Who do you wish to kill?"

She had a very clear understanding of herself. For Lü Yang to seek her out for no apparent reason, the most likely explanation was that he wanted to borrow her strength to kill a powerful enemy.

"Ah... Elder, you see right through me."

At the same time, Lü Yang came back to his senses. Although he was fascinated by the method World Purger Fei Xue used to sublimate the profound mysteries of her Fruit, he was here on official business.

’I’ll worry about the profound mysteries of Fruits later.’

With that thought, his expression turned serious, and he said in a low voice, "I have come for the sake of your Dao path, Elder... May I ask if you know of the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness?"

At his words, World Purger Fei Xue’s eyes narrowed.

Then, she nodded and said flatly, "I do."

’She really knows!’

Lü Yang was surprised but kept his expression neutral. "If you know, then things will be much simpler... I have a fortuitous opportunity for you, if you are interested, Elder."

As he spoke, Lü Yang flipped the candlelight in his hand over.

[Night Exorcism]!

The flame flickered, and a profound darkness instantly replaced the light, spreading out from him as its center. It carried a strong concealing intent, obscuring all karmic links and Karma Links.

Since he was inviting her to join his cause, he naturally had to discuss the benefits first. Plus, they were both Perfected Lords of the Saint Sect, so Lü Yang didn’t bother with pleasantries or deliberate concealment. He directly laid out all the information about the Nourishing Life Master, including the plan to ambush and kill True Monarch Gangxing.

"What do you think?"

Lü Yang smiled. "If you are interested, Daoist, I can immediately provide you with the coordinates of the Nourishing Life Master. However, you will have to find the karmic links yourself."

"But I do have some clues..."

"There’s no need."

Before he could finish, World Purger Fei Xue shook her head. Not a trace of ferocity could be seen on her exquisite, perfect, jade-like face. Instead, a playful, ambiguous smile appeared.

"I have a karmic link to the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness. Just give me the coordinates, Daoist."

Lü Yang immediately fell silent. ’She has a karmic link? No, that’s not it. She also holds one of the keys to the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness!’

This was a pleasant surprise!

"So... you’re willing to cooperate, Daoist?"

"Of course."

World Purger Fei Xue grinned at his words, finally revealing a hint of the ferocity Lü Yang was familiar with. "But there’s one thing I need to confirm."

"Killing Gangxing is no problem, but how will we divide the book on the Emperor Fruit afterward?"

Lü Yang replied with a frank expression, "It will be a free-for-all."

In other words, whoever grabs it, gets to keep it.

World Purger Fei Xue nodded. "A wise choice."

Then, she changed the subject. "However, according to you, that Old Loach from Overseas might lean toward the Sword Pavilion. In that case, we might not have enough people."

"Or are you planning to invite Hai Guang?"

"Is there any reason not to?" Lü Yang retorted.

World Purger Fei Xue shook her head. "There’s no reason not to. In fact, that old fellow Hai Guang would probably be delighted. After all, his cultivation has been stagnant for many years."

She didn’t really have strong opinions about the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven. After all, she was the one who had benefited from their past interactions, and she was confident she could suppress the veteran Perfected Lord. Thus, she acted magnanimously, even proactively offering to lead Lü Yang to his Cave Mansion.

「Holy Fire Cliff, You God’s Profound Void Grotto Heaven.」

The moment Lü Yang and World Purger Fei Xue arrived outside the Grotto Heaven, the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven sensed their presence, and his eyes shot open to gaze at them from afar.

"...You two are working together?"

In an instant, the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven’s mind raced. ’The Dao of Arcane Body? And the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire... A while ago, not even the Master of Dao could find a trace of him.’

’The Celestial Human Residual Consciousness?’

To a veteran Perfected Lord like him, it wasn’t hard to guess where Lü Yang and Ang Xiao had gone. After all, there weren’t many places that could escape the Master of Dao’s sight.

The next second, the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven spoke in a ghostly tone, "Who are you going to kill?"

"..."

Lü Yang was momentarily speechless.

’The way he says it makes me sound like some natural-born killer. World Purger Fei Xue was the same. These Perfected Lords of the Saint Sect have a deep misunderstanding of me.’

’And here I am, such a peace-loving person.’

Lü Yang smiled. "We’re going to kill True Monarch Gangxing! Myself, Elder Feixue, and Elder Ang Xiao will be joining forces. What do you say, Elder Hai Guang? Are you interested in joining?"

"...What’s in it for me?"

"The opportunity of the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness." Lü Yang repeated the information about the Nourishing Life Master, causing the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven’s expression to shift slightly.

Because of Fei Xue, his position in the Saint Sect had always been rather awkward. He had nothing and could only choose to live in seclusion, his cultivation making no progress. If not for this, he wouldn’t have helped Fortune before, but alas, it was all for naught. He fought a battle and gained nothing.

But now, Lü Yang had offered him a new path.

’The Nourishing Life Master.’

’It records information on all the Fruits in the entire Void Sea of Light and can help one achieve a Pseudo Void Certificate... Perhaps this is my chance to advance further.’

Thinking of this, the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven said decisively, "I can make a move. However, I don’t have the karmic link to enter the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness. You’ll need to solve that for me. Also, I won’t tie up the Old Dragon Monarch for too long—an incense stick’s time at most. Once the time is up, I’m leaving."

"Agreed."

Lü Yang nodded readily. The time it took for an incense stick to burn wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either. In a Combat between Perfected Lords, a single breath could decide life and death. It should be enough.

As for the karmic link requested by the True Monarch of Contained Light and Floating Heaven, it wasn’t a problem for him.

’After all, I have the Dragon Map.’

’As part of the Guardian Lineage, the Dragon Map can provide a maximum of three karmic link slots for entering the Celestial Human Residual Consciousness. I already gave one to Demon Subduing Zhenren.’

’Sparing another one for Hai Guang is more than enough.’

’But I can’t give it to him right away.’

’It’s best to string him along and give it to him just before the battle. Otherwise, if he gets the benefit first, he’ll definitely turn his back on us and run when the time comes.’

In this regard, the reputation of the Saint Sect’s Perfected Lords was well-known.

’Speaking of which, I wonder how True Monarch Gangxing is doing.’

’Did he really go to the Star Palace?’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang glanced toward the South. The person True Monarch Gangxing had seen before wasn’t Ang Xiao, nor was it the Old Dragon Monarch.

It was actually him.

The reason he had incited the other party to go to the Star Palace in search of the Guardian Lineage was simple: he wanted to find a way to wear down his opponent’s condition first.

’The Star Palace... it’s a Super Great Boundary Heaven on par with the Celestial Mansion. It shouldn’t be a problem for them to hit True Monarch Gangxing with something nasty and injure him a bit first, right?’

...

「Void Sea of Light, Star Palace.」

As a Super Great Boundary Heaven, this place was different from the Immortal Pivot and the Celestial Mansion. It wasn’t a continental structure but a vast, boundless, and majestic starry sky.

Its name was the Ten Thousand Lands Realm.

As its name implied, this starry sky contained over ten thousand continents and countless stars, all interconnected and gathered together, ultimately forming four great Star Constellations that stood within the realm.

The stars within each Star Constellation outlined a completely different image. Viewed from afar, they were unmistakably the Four Symbols: the Cyan Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. They stood guard in the four cardinal directions, encircling a majestic palace that shone like a great sun, radiant with splendid light and containing countless jade towers and pavilions.

This was a famous forbidden ground in the Void Sea of Light.

Though not as infamously perilous as the Immortal Pivot, it still held a great and terrible reputation. Ordinary Outer Dao True Monarchs dared not approach and would choose to steer clear.

Today, however, things were different.

A beam of Sword Light had suddenly appeared, shattering the realm’s barrier and streaking through the void. It was an unbelievably arrogant display that, in the blink of an eye, drew the gazes of countless Cultivators!