Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

「Beyond the Heavens, in the Void Sea of Light.」

After much thought, Emperor Jia You gave his reply:

"Daoist, your strength is quite impressive. If you are truly willing to pledge allegiance with the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], I can agree to both of your conditions on my own authority."

Evidently, Emperor Jia You believed he had seen through Lü Yang's intentions.

'Since he wants to affiliate his [Fruit of Post-Road Earth], it seems he has no intention of completely abandoning his [Fruit of Celestial Fire]. He might even want to use this to break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core.'

'In that case, he plans to bring his [Fruit of Celestial Fire] and pledge allegiance directly to my Dao Court. This is actually a good thing. This way, he's bound to offend the Stain Sect, and he's already angered the Sword Pavilion. No one in the Pure Land would want him. By then, he'll be an isolated official in the Dao Court, and I'll be able to control him with ease...'

At this thought, Emperor Jia You immediately smiled and said, "It seems we'll be on the same side from now on."

"In the past, during the previous dynasty, the Zouyu Royal Family established the position of State Preceptor, a rank comparable to the Three Ministers. If you join my Dao Court, Daoist, I will surely treat you with the honors of a State Preceptor."

Lü Yang also revealed a relaxed smile upon hearing this.

"To a pleasant cooperation, then?"

"To a pleasant cooperation!"

Emperor Jia You said cheerfully, "Regarding the [Fruit of Post-Road Earth], I'll handle it as soon as possible... Do you need me to send the person over to you before the war officially begins?"

"That would be for the best, naturally," Lü Yang nodded.

Affiliating a Fruit Position was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

For the one affiliating, they could share the Pocket World Falling effect. This allowed them to gain the immortal Mid-Stage Traits even if they were only in the Early Stage of Golden Core.

In return, the host could call upon the affiliator's Power of Fruit Position.

Although with the [Fruit of Celestial Fire] he could use the [Fruit of Post-Road Earth] without Lü Yang's affiliation, if the affiliation was established, he could definitely call upon more of its Profound Mysterious.

With a great war approaching, every little bit of strength counted.

Soon, Emperor Jia You departed with the Seven Luminaries Heaven.

Meanwhile, with a flicker of his Heart Thought, Lü Yang once again slipped into the [Nourishing Life Master]. Immediately after, the Righteous Banner appeared, and billowing purple qi instantly surged forth.

"Progenitor... what are you all doing?"

As Lü Yang cast a spell to conceal the Karma Links, he looked in surprise at Progenitor Tingyou, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, Summon, and even Empress Xiao, who had all appeared of their own accord.

Then, Progenitor Tingyou shouted sternly:

"Do it!"

"Huh?" Lü Yang froze for a moment.

Before he could finish, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected and Summon flanked him on the left and right, while Empress Xiao pounced on him like a tigress and held him tight. The three of them worked together to restrain him completely.

This sudden action startled Lü Yang, but he didn't really resist. He just let the three of them restrain him with a puzzled expression. After all, he absolutely refused to believe that Progenitor Tingyou and the others would actually harm him. He just couldn't understand why they had suddenly moved against him.

Immediately after, Progenitor Tingyou strode forward.

BOOM!

Without any hesitation, Progenitor Tingyou's Qi trace surged, instantly reaching the level of a First-class True Monarch as he pressed a hand against Lü Yang.

Seeing this, Lü Yang blinked.

After a long while, Progenitor Tingyou finally withdrew his hand, his expression growing even more solemn and grim. "I can't find anything... It seems the sickness has already reached the core!"

"It's hopeless. Just start over."

Lü Yang: "???"

Witnessing this scene, Lü Yang finally began to understand. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Progenitor, don't tell me you think I've been influenced by the Master of Dao?"

"What else could it be?" Progenitor Tingyou retorted.

Seizing the [Eternal Sword]... just listen to how outrageous that plan sounds. Who wouldn't think Lü Yang had gone mad? Only a complete lunatic would dare to do something like this.

That was why they had moved to restrain Lü Yang.

It was for no other reason than to let Progenitor Tingyou examine him, terrified that, just like before, he had been inexplicably cursed by the Master of Dao.

After all, the [Eternal Sword] was something left behind by the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord. So what if he managed to steal it? Whether he could use it or not ultimately depended on the Sword Pavilion Daoist Lord's will. And as an outsider, not even a direct descendant of a Sword Pavilion family, wanting to use the [Eternal Sword]—how was that any different from seeking death?

"Look at yourself!"

Progenitor Tingyou wore an expression of bitter disappointment. "Today you dare to snatch the [Eternal Sword]; I can't even imagine what you'll dare to do tomorrow! You need to wake up!"

"Progenitor, I really haven't been cursed by the Master of Dao. I'm perfectly clear-headed right now," Lü Yang said with a wry smile.

Progenitor Tingyou looked skeptical. "In your Previous Life, you also thought you were perfectly clear-headed!"

"This time is different!"

Lü Yang tried his best to explain, "I'm not the same as I was in my Previous Life! In this life, I have achieved Dao Heart Perfection! Even the Master of Dao can no longer influence my mind."

'Really? I don't believe you.'

"It's true! I have a plan..."

Seeing that Progenitor Tingyou and the others were still skeptical, Lü Yang had no choice but to lay his entire plan bare, explaining all the details.

「Some time later.」

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected and Summon had released their grip, though Empress Xiao was still sitting in Lü Yang's lap. Progenitor Tingyou, for his part, wore a deeply contemplative expression.

"...You're taking a huge risk," Progenitor Tingyou said through gritted teeth. "This is insane!"

Lü Yang nodded, not denying it.

But that was cultivation. At this level, what path didn't involve risk? In Lü Yang's view, he had at least a forty percent chance of success, which was more than enough to take the gamble!

'Worst case, I'll just start over.'

Reining in his thoughts, Lü Yang looked at everyone seriously. "Progenitor, Master, be honest with me. Do you think my plan is feasible?"

After a moment of silence, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was the first to speak. "I have no problem on my end."

At these words, Progenitor Tingyou's brow furrowed even deeper. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "Given your situation, you could afford to be more cautious."

"You don't need to get involved in the chaos of the outside world. Just focus on conquering the [Celestial Human Residual Consciousness]. Hide in here, and no one will ever find you. Not even the Master of Dao could do anything to you. You could just cultivate peacefully for a few thousand years and build up your foundation. Why must you take this risk?"

"Progenitor, it's not yet time for that."

Lü Yang shook his head. "I have read all the Fruit Position Books of the [Nourishing Life Master]. But what's learned on paper is always shallow. I am still too far from the Void Certificate I desire."

"I need more."

Lü Yang's plan had two objectives.

First, of course, was to use the [Eternal Sword] to forcibly break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core... but in this regard, he knew his own foundation was far from sufficient.

The probability of failure was high.

Thus, there was a second objective, a backup plan in case the forced breakthrough failed: abandon the push to the Late Stage and instead devour the affiliated Fruit Positions!

"I already possess the Profound Mysterious of the [Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire] and the [Fruit of Spring Water]. If I can get an Earth and a Gold, I'll be nearly at Perfection... If I devour two Fruit Positions in one go, even if I can't break through to Great Perfected Lord, I can still raise my combat power to the absolute peak below that level!"

"And that's just a secondary benefit."

"More importantly, by doing this, I will have devoured four of the Five Elements Fruit Positions. With only one left to go for Perfection, my Cultivation will increase immensely."

"Once I achieve Five Elements Perfection, I can attempt to attain the Void Certificate."

Lü Yang's every word was resolute. "That is when I will truly settle down, spending a thousand, or even several thousand years, to accumulate my foundation."

Furthermore, he had also considered another factor.

The [Supreme Dao Transformation].

This super Enlightenment Talent Skill, which he had fleeced from Progenitor Tingyou, could only be used once per lifetime, and he had already used it up for this life.

In other words:

'No matter how hard I try to settle down and accumulate in this life, even if I spend several thousand years, the effect won't be as good as starting over in the next life and cultivating for one minute with the [Supreme Dao Transformation]. Since that's the case, what's the point of accumulating now? I should take this gamble and fight for greater opportunities for my Enlightenment in the next life!'

.......

Lü Yang convinced Progenitor Tingyou.

The Righteous Banner billowed, and the figures vanished one by one. Only Empress Xiao was kept behind by Lü Yang, a fact that brought a look of surprise to her own face.

"Daoist... you still have the inclination for... this?"

Faced with a pair of beautiful eyes as gentle as water and full of flirtatious charm, Lü Yang coughed and said with a straight face, "Don't be ridiculous. Am I the type to lose sight of the big picture for a moment of pleasure?"

"I've kept you here, Daoist, to discuss a matter of great importance!"

"Then please speak, Daoist... Ah-nom," Empress Xiao nodded.

"Hiss... In short, I feel that your Fruit Position, the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, has its own merits. I want to see if we can develop it further."

"Mmph..."