Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Three days later, Ang Xiao and the Old Dragon Monarch both arrived in the South. True Monarch Gangxing then personally came forward and welcomed them into the Sword Pavilion.

The news quickly spread throughout the world.

At first, even the disciples of the Sword Pavilion were skeptical. After all, Ang Xiao was a Saint Sect True Monarch, and the Old Dragon Monarch was a beast from Overseas.

’The likes of them, worthy of entering our Sword Pavilion?’

’It has to be fake news!’

However, soon after True Monarch Gangxing sent a transmission both inside and outside the Sword Pavilion to issue an official statement, the tide of public opinion immediately turned:

Without a doubt, it must have been the Sword Pavilion’s just and incorruptible nature that attracted the Saint Sect True Monarch, Ang Xiao, persuading him to abandon the darkness for the light and ultimately embrace the Righteous Dao. As for the Old Dragon Monarch, the True Dragon Race was, after all, the former nobility of Heaven and Earth; they couldn’t be completely classified as common, horned beasts.

In short, the Sword Pavilion had always been very flexible.

However, some Golden Core Perfected Lords keenly perceived the underlying issue: What could have possibly happened to compel these three Great Powers to form an alliance?

Soon, some made the connection to the recent celestial phenomenon.

Then, with some intentional leaks from the Sword Pavilion, a few Perfected Lords finally divined the karmic links involved, which threw them into an even greater state of shock.

"The Saint Sect produced two Perfected Lords comparable to Fei Xue?"

"How is that possible!"

What kind of person was World Purger Fei Xue?

You have to understand, before Ang Xiao appeared in the current world and before Progenitor Tingyou had achieved the Dao, she was the only one in the entire Immortal Pivot to have completed the Ascension Ceremony.

Everyone knew this.

If that weren’t the case, where would World Purger Fei Xue’s title of "Number One in Combat for Five Thousand Years" have come from? It was because she, too, had once announced it to the world!

But now, the Saint Sect had suddenly produced others just as powerful as her?

What a joke!

........

「South. The Sword Pavilion.」

On Zenith Cliff, a streak of Flying Light descended from the sky. It suddenly parted, and a handsome youth walked out from within—it was none other than True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde.

The youth’s face was filled with distress.

Despite his dashing, youthful appearance, his seemingly young body was already permeated with the aura of death. He was only a few years away from his one-thousand-year lifespan limit.

But he quickly composed his expression and pulled himself together.

Next, he looked around Zenith Cliff and saw five figures standing there. The Qi trace of each one far surpassed anything he could have imagined.

’Gangxing, Gai Frost, Teng Guang, Ang Xiao, the Old Dragon Monarch...’

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde swallowed, a few doubts rising in his mind. ’Gangxing has never invited me to his private gatherings before.’

’He actually sought me out this time?’

’Don’t tell me he saw that my lifespan is almost up and has some life-or-death mission for me? These Sword Species... they’re not above pulling something like that!’

At this thought, bitterness filled True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s heart.

After all, even if it were true, what could he do? If he wanted to return to the True Monarch Position after reincarnating, he had no choice but to curry favor with these Perfected Lords.

With that, he immediately adjusted his attitude, cupped his hands in a salute, and said,

"Zhengde greets you, fellow Daoists."

"No need for formalities, fellow Daoist."

True Monarch Gangxing chuckled and raised a hand. "We are discussing an important matter with fellow Daoist Ang Xiao. You’ve arrived at the perfect time, fellow Daoist."

’An important matter?’

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde froze for a moment. He subconsciously glanced at Ang Xiao and saw the human figure that had been manifested in his hand.

White robes, white hair, a young man.

His features, however, were obscured by a hazy halo of light, making it difficult to discern his identity. Only his transcendent, otherworldly aura was particularly striking.

’This person looks so familiar.’

The next second, a memory buried deep in his heart—one he thought was long dead and gone—suddenly began to resurface, and his expression froze.

"This is the mysterious Perfected Lord."

"He is the third Perfected Lord to complete the Ascension Ceremony, after myself and Fei Xue. And yet, I can’t divine any of his karmic links, nor can I trace his origins."

Ang Xiao continued his explanation. Compared to Lü Yang, the existence of Progenitor Tingyou was far more alarming to him. This was, after all, the first time he had ever encountered someone whose origins were a complete mystery. He had brought the matter up hoping to consult with Gangxing and the Old Dragon Monarch to see if they could uncover his identity.

But after a long period of deliberation, they still came up with nothing.

Seeing they were at an impasse, Ang Xiao couldn’t help but sigh. He decided to temporarily give up on identifying Progenitor Tingyou, but just at that moment—

"CLANG!"

The Magical Sword in True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s hand suddenly dropped, crashing heavily onto the ground. He seemed completely unaware, his expression a mask of disbelief, as if he were lost in a dream.

"Ting... Ting... Ting..."

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s strange behavior immediately drew everyone’s attention. Ang Xiao’s eyes in particular lit up. "Fellow Daoist, do you recognize this person?"

"I don’t..."

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde shook his head, almost as a reflex. But he quickly caught himself, his face flushing crimson with inexplicable shame and anger.

"No, I recognize him."

The next second, he shook his head again. "No, that’s not right. It’s impossible... How could it be? I must be mistaken, but that aura..."

Unlike Ang Xiao and the Old Dragon Monarch, Progenitor Tingyou hadn’t left a deep enough impression on them to be recognized. If he had revealed his true face, perhaps they would have known who he was. But based on his aura alone, it was too difficult for them to tell.

But it was different for True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde.

For a thousand years, Progenitor Tingyou had practically become his Heart Demon—a unique case among Golden Core Perfected Lords. He would recognize the man even if he were reduced to ash!

He had recognized him, but he refused to believe it.

After all, in his memory, Progenitor Tingyou was merely at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Yet this person before him was comparable to World Purger Fei Xue—a supreme Great Power who far surpassed Zhengde himself!

How was this possible?

It made no sense at all!

Moreover, the otherworldly aura of the Progenitor Tingyou that Ang Xiao was displaying seemed even more profound than that of the man in his memories.

All these signs made him subconsciously reject the suspicion in his heart.

"It can’t be Tingyou..."

’Absolutely impossible!’

Ignoring True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde, whose mind was clearly in turmoil, Ang Xiao’s eyes narrowed. He almost instantly recalled who Tingyou was.

And then he froze.

’Tingyou... that stunning Loose Cultivator from the Foundation Establishment stage... it’s actually him? Did he fake his death back then? If so, that would explain it.’

’A stunning Foundation Establishment cultivator from a thousand years ago... if he faked his death to escape and secretly attained a different Fruit, then reaching this level in a millennium, while still outrageous, isn’t entirely incomprehensible. After all, World Purger Fei Xue’s cultivation speed was similar back then. Progenitor Tingyou would just be a little faster.’

’In any case, knowing his origins is better than being completely in the dark.’

"Great Perfected Lord!"

Just then, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde, who had been looking utterly dazed, suddenly raised his head. He stared intently at True Monarch Gangxing and said in a hushed voice,

"You... You have to save me!"

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde gritted his teeth. "You were the one who took action back then, helping me suppress Tingyou! You know as well as I do... this man must be eliminated!"

"I know."

True Monarch Gangxing said calmly, "I have already discussed this with fellow Daoist Ang Xiao. You need not worry; your life is in no danger."

"Really?" True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s eyes lit up.

"Of course." True Monarch Gangxing nodded. "Fellow Daoist Ang Xiao has already offered to take you in, so you need not worry about your thousand-year lifespan limit."

"As for Tingyou and that other mysterious Perfected Lord..."

As he said this, a profound killing intent surfaced in the depths of True Monarch Gangxing’s eyes. "Leave him to me. I will find a way to take care of him."

Just then, a splendid light flared into existence.

Within it was a Jade Scroll used for communication. However, the sender’s name that appeared on it caused True Monarch Gangxing to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"Pure Land Lotus... Why is she contacting me now?"