Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Although Progenitor Tingyou was pleased by Lü Yang’s worshipful gaze, he still waved his hand dismissively. "I’m not that incredible. There are still flaws in this method."

He was worried Lü Yang truly saw him as omnipotent, so he quickly added in a more serious tone, "According to my method, there’s an eighty percent chance of restoring Fellow Daoist Suo Huan. However, it’s another matter entirely whether a Fruit cultivated from a World Heaven Seed will have hidden dangers. It could potentially affect his future cultivation."

"And as I said before,"

"With the ’Borrowing Technique and Returning Pill,’ ’the method exists, the pill is formed; Dharma Destruction Leads to Pill Shattering.’ This is actually a major flaw, meaning the Fruit will have a hint of disharmony."

This is because the concept of ’Sealed and Entered the Grotto Heaven’ is an external addition.

This was Progenitor Tingyou’s previous line of research, and now that it has borne fruit, it essentially involves grafting a new concept onto the foundation of the Fruit of Spring Water.

This allows the new concept and the original Fruit to form a new, composite system.

Under normal circumstances, this would be fine.

However, if the Fruit ever suffers a heavy blow, the grafted concept will inevitably be the first thing to break off. When that happens, Suo Huan, whose existence is based on that concept, will surely be gravely injured.

Furthermore, because of this added concept, if Suo Huan later wishes to ascend to the Late Stage of Golden Core, it might be impossible for other Fruits to be attached to him. After all, a Fruit cultivated from a World Heaven Seed is fundamentally different from the Fruit of Spring Water. His path of cultivation may very well end here.

Progenitor Tingyou and Lü Yang laid out all the side effects.

But upon hearing this, Suo Huan just laughed. "And here I was wondering what the drawbacks were. Turns out it’s a mere trifle. Sir, Fellow Daoist Tingyou, there’s no need to hesitate any longer."

"Let’s do it!"

Suo Huan’s expression was completely open and frank.

Because that was truly what he thought. ’If the Fruit suffers a heavy blow, he’ll perish? Then I just have to protect the Fruit. That’s not a major problem at all.’

Besides, he usually spent his days within the Righteous Banner, tinkering with the Huanxu Heaven and trying to restore the form of the former Outer Realm. He rarely encountered dangers that could threaten his Fruit to begin with. If he did, he’d likely die anyway, so why fret over it? Thus, Suo Huan wasn’t concerned about this side effect.

As for his path of cultivation... that was somewhat important.

But Suo Huan had faith in Lü Yang. If his path of cultivation was truly severed, he believed Lü Yang wouldn’t abandon him. At worst, he could just start his cultivation over. He would always find a way back to the Great Dao.

Besides—

’With my current level of cultivation, reaching the Middle Stage of Golden Core would be difficult even if I spent a whole lifetime on it. My usefulness to Daoist Lü Yang is just too limited.’

Ultimately, he wasn’t durable enough.

Previously, in the Nourishing Life Master, when Lü Yang faced the combined assault of Ang Xiao and his two companions, he first tanked the hits with his Rebirth Appearance, and then with his own Dharma Body.

Only at the very end did he let Suo Huan take the damage.

Why?

Wasn’t it because Lü Yang was worried he would die suddenly from taking too much damage? In fact, Lü Yang’s worries were spot on; he really had almost died from it.

However, if he could attain the Middle Stage of Golden Core and gain the trait known as Pocket World Falling—even if his actual cultivation and combat power couldn’t keep up—he could at least rely on its immortal characteristic to drastically increase his damage-taking capacity. With his support, Lü Yang’s combat strength would surely take a qualitative leap!

Therefore, Suo Huan made his decision on the spot.

The gains were substantial, the side effects were acceptable, and it would allow him to be of great help to Lü Yang. What was there to hesitate about? This was more than he could have hoped for!

"For this matter... I’ll have to trouble you, Progenitor."

Seeing Suo Huan’s firm attitude, Lü Yang also nodded. He then cupped his fists toward Progenitor Tingyou. "If there’s anything I can do to help, Progenitor, just say the word."

Progenitor Tingyou paused at his words, then thought seriously for a moment.

"Hmm... You can be my Protector."

Lü Yang: "..."

A moment later, with a dark expression, Lü Yang sat down in a corner of the thatched hut. Progenitor Tingyou, meanwhile, officially began, starting to perform the Secret Technique on Suo Huan.

"Pfft..."

A suppressed laugh came from beside him, causing Lü Yang to glare angrily in that direction. He saw it was the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, who was also crouching nearby, cradling a sword.

"Master, that’s not fair," Lü Yang complained.

"What ’Master’?"

The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected tilted his head. "Speaking of which, I’ve been curious. Daoist, you sometimes call me Master. I really don’t deserve such a title."

Hearing this, Lü Yang pursed his lips. Only then did he remember that the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected before him was not the Master from his last last life who had led him into the Sword Pavilion—the one who, at the Foundation Establishment realm, had used his Sword Intent to slash through the Unity, and in the end, had even forced the Bhagavat to personally intervene. His relationship with this man was more like that of like-minded Daoists.

This made him feel a little melancholic.

Possessing the Centome, he should have been able to undo all his regrets. Yet, he felt that the experiences of each life were unique.

The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was one such case.

Suo Huan was another. No matter how many times he called him Daoist, this person was no longer the one from long ago who had shared his suffering and with whom he had depended on for survival.

This was also why he valued Progenitor Tingyou so highly.

Because, strictly speaking, only Progenitor Tingyou had joined him before he had made his name, had experienced the most lives with him, and was the person he knew best.

But Lü Yang quickly pulled himself together.

Then, he looked at the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected and, without hiding anything, said bluntly, "That was from my previous life. You wouldn’t know about it..."

He recounted the story of that life.

He held nothing back about the life where the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected had been his Master, his voice tinged with nostalgia. The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected listened intently.

After a long while, he finished his story.

"...Interesting."

The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected rubbed his chin and suddenly smiled. "Sounds like something I would do. I never expected that you and I, Daoist, once shared such a history."

After speaking, he patted Lü Yang’s shoulder. "You’ve had it rough."

"..."

Staring at the hand on his shoulder, Lü Yang was stunned again, but he quickly recovered and smiled. "This is nothing. The real hardship is yet to come."

He was, after all, the man who was going to become a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord.

The true struggle still lay ahead!

Thinking of this, Lü Yang dusted off his sleeves, stood up, and couldn’t be bothered to change his form of address anymore. He smiled, "On the contrary, Master, I’m the one who has made you upset recently."

At these words, the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was taken aback.

Lü Yang said with a sigh, "Master, did you think I couldn’t tell? Ever since we lost the Netherworld while plotting against Ang Xiao, you’ve become completely silent."

The plot against Ang Xiao was the culmination of Lü Yang’s ten lifetimes of cultivation.

He had changed many things to make it happen, to make Ang Xiao fall from his pedestal... But to achieve his goal, there was one thing he could not change, no matter what.

Chongguang Gold.

"The blood sacrifice of all the mortals in the entire Qing Country... I couldn’t change that. Not because I was unable, but because I was unwilling... I have disappointed you, Master."

Lü Yang gave a solemn bow.

The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected fell silent. After a long moment, he shook his head. "Things can always be rebuilt... I am not a pedant. You shouldn’t take it to heart."

"After all..."

At this point, the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected suddenly looked up at Lü Yang. Despite being a Sword Cultivator, he seemed somewhat fragile at this moment. "This is just how the world is."

He wasn’t opposed to killing, only to it affecting mortals. In his eyes, it was only natural for Cultivators to risk their lives against one another for the sake of their Dao path. But mortals were innocent... So Lü Yang’s guess was correct. The incident in the Qing Country was indeed a knot in his heart.

But if this was how the world was, what could be done?

Because of this belief, he was already considered an outcast in the Sword Pavilion. Was he now supposed to distance himself from Lü Yang over it as well? All he could do was give a helpless, bitter smile.

But in the next second, Lü Yang spoke.

"It is now."

The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected froze, only to see Lü Yang looking at him with a resolute expression. "But it won’t always be... Master, you must know that Heaven never truly seals off all paths!"