Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Sea of Clouds, Holy Fire Cliff.

Billowing purple Qi permeated the vast Secret Realm within the Cave Mansion, obscuring all Karma Links. But within that purple Qi was a scene that would trigger a severe case of trypophobia.

The entire Secret Realm of the Cave Mansion had been practically hollowed out, transformed into a giant basin. Inside this basin, countless rice-sized insects swarmed, their wings vibrating with a low hum. The sound, initially faint, was amplified by the sheer size of the swarm, transforming into a heaven-shaking thunder.

—Qi-eating Insects!

These were the Extraterrestrial Alien Species that Lü Yang had obtained during the Battle for the Dao. However, the cost to raise them was immense, so he hadn’t invested much effort into them back then.

But now, with the endless treasury of the Stain Sect to back him, Lü Yang had thrown money at the problem, allowing the Qi-eating Insects to undergo a qualitative leap in a short period.

"1,296,000,000."

Lü Yang’s spiritual perception swept across the basin, confirming the current number of Qi-eating Insects. This quantity seemed to have reached some kind of unseen, preordained limit.

The number of Qi-eating Insects could no longer increase beyond this point.

However, this also meant that no matter how many were lost, as long as the swarm wasn’t completely wiped out, it could quickly regenerate back to its peak number of 1,296,000,000.

Of course, the number was a secondary concern.

More importantly, thanks to Lü Yang’s no-expense-spared cultivation, this particular Extraterrestrial Alien Species had finally unleashed a potential it had never shown in his previous lives.

At the same time, Lü Yang also gleaned a few secrets from this process:

’These Qi-eating Insects appear to be living creatures of flesh and blood at first glance, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. They’re less like living beings and more like a form of Magic.’

In the past, Lü Yang’s Cultivation had been low, and he viewed people and things from the perspective of a Lower Cultivator, so he was naturally ignorant. Now, however, he had a new understanding. From his point of view, the Qi-eating Insects themselves were a form of Magic that had reached Major Mastery through refining, which someone had then deliberately released into the Immortal Pivot.

’What are Qi-eating Insects?’

’Essence of flesh and blood, pure and impure Spiritual Qi, they devour everything in Heaven and Earth. These are the Qi-eating Insects. For an Outer Realm, they are truly destructive.’

Just the 1,296,000,000 Qi-eating Insects in his possession, if released into an Outer Realm that hadn’t yet produced a Fruit, could perhaps devour it to the point of collapse in an instant.

Even in an Outer Realm that had produced a Fruit and was protected by Mighty Power, this swarm of Qi-eating Insects could still consume all of its Spiritual Qi, forcing it into an End of Dharma era!

"This is practically a phenomenon," Lü Yang mused.

[Phenomenon of Devouring]!

’If I recall correctly, Qi-eating Insects once appeared Overseas, controlled by a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator who formed a massive swarm.’

’In the end, however, the swarm was exterminated by a Bodhisattva from the Pure Land.’

’Perhaps they acted to exterminate them because they discovered the destructive nature of the Qi-eating Insects, wanting to prevent irreversible damage to the Immortal Pivot.’

Thinking of this, Lü Yang grew even more astonished. ’This Qi-Eating Insect Swarm undoubtedly possesses the Mighty Power of a Perfected Lord now. But to reach this stage without Seeking Gold or needing a Fruit... all it takes is a constant supply of Rare Treasures and Spiritual Qi. This method of growth can’t even be called Cultivation.’

That was why he had concluded it was a form of Magic.

Only Magic grew this way, by refining external objects to endlessly improve itself—just like the Great Mighty Spirit Qi.

Lü Yang couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, ’The person who created this Daoist Art is a real bastard!’

’Although the Qi-eating Insects seem to obey me on the surface, there must be a hidden, higher-level authority.’

’The one who created this Daoist Art.’

’That person scattered the Qi-eating Insects across countless Outer Realms, allowing them to exist as an Extraterrestrial Alien Species that can enhance one’s power, compelling others to raise them willingly.’

’Others expend resources and effort, and even damage their own Outer Realms in the process.’

’And yet, he can just sit back and reap the benefits.’

’Such a shameless, self-serving method, and a form of Magic at that... Could it be a Perfected Lord from Profound Wall? After thinking it over, they’re the only ones who fit...’

At Lü Yang’s level, many secrets of the Void Sea of Light were no longer secrets. He already knew that there were four super Outer Realms within the Sea of Light: the Immortal Pivot, the Celestial Mansion, the Star Palace, and the Profound Wall. However, compared to the others, the Profound Wall was far more mysterious and unknown.

’The Celestial Mansion, the Star Palace, and the Profound Wall.’

’The Celestial Mansion was formed from the Corpse of Si Chou, the Master of Dao for the Dao of Arcane Body. The Star Palace was likely created by the Master of Dao for the Dao of Arcane Power. None of this is a secret.’

’Only the Profound Wall...’

’As the super Outer Realm created by the Master of Dao for the Dao of Arcane Arts, I have never come into contact with it. Even trying to divine its karmic links reveals nothing of its location.’

His intuition told Lü Yang that the Profound Wall was likely the most troublesome of all.

Putting everything else aside, the simple fact that he didn’t have complete control over the Qi-Eating Insect Swarm was already giving him a major headache.

’Fortunately, I have my own methods.’

The next second, Lü Yang formed a Daoist Hand Seal. The Righteous Banner fluttered, and the billowing purple Qi instantly became a galactic waterfall, crashing down into the pit where the Qi-eating Insects resided.

Instantly, wails of agony rose from within the pit.

’Although its essence is a form of Magic, in the Current World, it manifests as a body of flesh and blood. And if it has a physical body, it can naturally be refined into a Banner Spirit!’

In that instant, the Qi-Eating Insect Swarm in the pit suddenly erupted into a frenzy. They broke free from Lü Yang’s control and began to madly devour the purple Qi flowing from the Righteous Banner. It was clear that the person behind the scenes had sensed Lü Yang’s attempt to seize control and was trying to stop him.

"You think you can stop me from so far away?"

Seeing this, Lü Yang gave a cold smile. He swiped with two fingers, and a flame erupted from his fingertip. The Engraving Laws Magic activated, and the intangible logical karmic links were instantly modified.

*I am the Demon-Vanquishing Perfected*.

CLANG! CLANG!

The next second, a Sword Light flared. He borrowed the power of the Sword Dao from thin air and made a light slash at the void, producing a deafening crack.

BANG!

The moment the sound exploded, it was as if some unseen connection had been severed. The rioting Qi-Eating Insect Swarm immediately calmed down.

Lü Yang didn’t hesitate, changing his Daoist Hand Seal.

"Refine!"

The refining was instantaneous!

A moment later, all 1,296,000,000 Qi-eating Insects in the pit vanished. In their place, an exquisitely beautiful young woman drifted down.

The young woman was completely naked, as if flawlessly carved from pink jade. She appeared innocent and pure, but a cunning glint shone in her beautiful eyes. Upon seeing Lü Yang, however, she didn’t dare to be disrespectful. She quickly prostrated herself, knocking her head on the ground three times with audible thuds, and said in a sweet, delicate voice, "Your servant greets you, Master!"

Lü Yang glanced at her and said, "Put on some clothes. How improper."

"Your servant thought Master would like it..."

"Ridiculous!" Lü Yang said with a righteous expression. "You’ve completely misjudged your master!"

The young woman looked aggrieved, but she still gave a little shake. Her fair, rosy skin instantly changed, transforming into a loose Daoist Robe.

This was the Qi-eating Mother Insect.

In the entire, massive Qi-Eating Insect Swarm, only this mother insect possessed intelligence and even a Soul. As long as she didn’t die, the Qi-Eating Insect Swarm would never go extinct.

Her current appearance as a young woman was merely a facade.

The true Qi-eating Mother Insect was only as thick as a fingernail and difficult to see. The physical body she currently inhabited was actually an aggregation of the 1,296,000,000 lesser insects.

When in Combat, as long as the mother insect was kept in a safe place, the other lesser insects could be sent out. No matter how many were lost, as long as nothing happened to the mother insect, her master could continuously infuse her with immense Mana, and she could easily regenerate the lesser insects.

"Since you’ve gained intelligence, you should have a name."

Lü Yang thought for a moment, then smiled. "I’ll call you Jade Maiden."

As soon as he spoke, Jade Maiden became so excited that she kowtowed several more times, proclaiming loudly, "Thank you for the name, Master! Your servant will dedicate herself to serving you faithfully!"

Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction.

However, at that very moment...

RUMBLE!

In an instant, a violent tremor swept through the Cave Mansion. Lü Yang had Jade Maiden wait to the side, then walked out of the Cave Mansion and looked up at the vault of the sky.

What met his eyes was a streak of Sword Light.

The Sword Light rose from the South, spanning the entire land from north to south. A vast spiritual perception roared out from it, and its edge was pointed directly at Lü Yang, making its intentions clear:

"...You want to fight me?" Lü Yang raised an eyebrow.

At that moment, it wasn’t just him; every Cultivator who saw the Sword Light understood its True Intent: True Monarch Gangxing had issued a challenge to battle!

This was not just a battle for the Dao between the Sword Pavilion and the Stain Sect to decide the future of the Immortal Pivot. It was also a battle between True Monarch Gangxing and Lü Yang for the Supreme Venerable seat of the Fruit of Celestial Fire.

A clash between the Righteous and Demon Daos—a battle of life and death!