Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

"I’m such a fool, really."

"I should have realized it the moment Mingfeng had her epiphany and let out that first ’Ah!’ As one of the Immortal Core People, how could I be so careless!"

At this moment, Lü Yang’s mind was full of curses.

However, his expression did not waver in the slightest. Even though he was panicking internally, his demeanor remained composed as he nodded quite naturally.

"That’s a nice name. Let’s go with that."

"As long as you like it, Daoist."

Hearing this, Mingfeng once again revealed that compassionate smile that sent chills down his spine. She then smiled and said, "Then I will arrange for personnel to report this to our superiors.

"Please wait here for a moment, Daoist. I will be right back."

With that, Mingfeng turned around and left the laboratory. She even hummed a little tune under her breath along the way—a melodious and cheerful melody, clearly indicating that she was in quite a good mood.

On the other hand, Lü Yang’s blood ran cold.

He couldn’t help it. Everything that had just unfolded before his eyes had completely exceeded his expectations and shaken him to the core, making him feel a surge of coldness shoot straight up from the soles of his feet to his Skull.

Only one question remained in his mind.

"Why?"

"This makes no sense," he thought.

"This is clearly the Star Palace, far away from the Immortal Pivot, and the Daoist Lord of the Magical Power Dao is presiding over it... With all these conditions, why the hell did I still run into Bhagavat!"

"What the hell is the Daoist Lord of the Magical Power Dao even doing?"

For Lü Yang, even though there were Four Great Daoist Lords in the Immortal Pivot, he had always only been extremely wary of Bhagavat. This wasn’t because Bhagavat was overwhelmingly powerful.

In fact, it was the exact opposite. Because Bhagavat was the youngest and the weakest among the Four Great Daoist Lords, the oppressive pressure he exerted on Lower Cultivators was the strongest. After all, the other Daoist Lords couldn’t care less about the petty gains in the Current World. Only Bhagavat would obsessively plot and lay out schemes in the Current World every few days.

In short, he was obsessed with smurfing in rookie realms.

"It was like this in the Celestial Mansion. Sichou’s Residual Thought fussed about for ages and paid a tremendous price, only to discover that the main body’s consciousness had long been molded into Bhagavat’s image.

"And now it’s the exact same thing in the Star Palace! He’s like a lingering ghost!

"Is there any justice left in this world?"

After a brief moment of panic, Lü Yang calmed down again. "No, that’s not right... This makes no sense. The Star Palace Daoist Lord isn’t a crippled piece of trash like Si Chou.

"With Bhagavat acting like this, there’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed.

"Unless..."

At this thought, an even more terrifying conjecture made Lü Yang’s heart sink to the bottom of the ocean. "...Bhagavat and the Star Palace Daoist Lord have some sort of private deal!"

This speculation was even more horrifying.

Because Lü Yang couldn’t help but recall his previous battle in the Star Palace, where he stomped Star Monarch Fang Ritu to death. That feat had been witnessed by everyone.

Lü Yang wasn’t worried about the other Daoist Lords. Merely revealing his Dharma Body wasn’t enough to attract their attention. However, Bhagavat was different. This entity was clearly a maverick who delighted in stealing the opportunities of the younger generation. He was probably shameless enough to do something like a Golden Core Perfected Lord robbing an Artifact from a Qi Refining Talent.

Being targeted by Bhagavat was absolutely the worst luck a Cultivator could ever face!

"No, I need to stay calm.

"At the very least, Bhagavat shouldn’t have made a move on me yet. I haven’t sensed any consciousness modification from Bhagavat right now, and my Perfect Dao Heart hasn’t given me any warning."

Lü Yang was already very familiar with Bhagavat.

Including Bhagavat’s terrifying "Everyone for Me" methods. After experiencing it so many times, and even enduring it personally, he had deduced its underlying patterns.

"First of all, Bhagavat’s consciousness modification isn’t applied randomly.

"It has prerequisites.

"Based on my experience, this condition should be based on karmic links, such as a Cultivation Technique inheritance or a fortuitous encounter. The most typical example of the former is a Cultivation Technique.

"In the Pure Land, regardless of who a person was or what their Cultivation was before, as long as they join the Pure Land and practice the Monk Cultivation Technique, the Enlightenment Mahayana Sutra, they will be transformed into a Monk and become a part of Bhagavat. This is the karmic link of inheritance. Once you receive Bhagavat’s inheritance, you belong to Bhagavat.

"The most typical example of the latter is myself.

"In the lifetime where I proved the Fruit of Celestial Fire, because the Outer Dao Fruit Positions I devoured were all related to Bhagavat, my Dao Heart was invaded and modified by Bhagavat’s consciousness."

Thinking of this, Lü Yang was suddenly startled. "Oh no!

"Bhagavat’s inheritance... Since Mingfeng has already become a part of Bhagavat, could the tutorial she provided also be problematic? Will the Patriarch be in danger?

"No, that’s impossible.

"I’ve long developed the habit of scanning things with the Immortal Core Survival Guide before interacting with them. I didn’t find any issues when I took the tutorial earlier."

If that was the case... did Bhagavat arrive afterward?

When?

A scene rapidly flashed through Lü Yang’s mind. "That ’Ah!’ sound!

"Right when I brought out the Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder and Mingfeng had her epiphany, Bhagavat descended... Because of the Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder? Why would it alert Bhagavat?"

Lü Yang was completely baffled.

Right at that moment, the laboratory doors were suddenly pushed open. Mingfeng strode in, her compassionate smile remaining unchanged. "Hao Yuan Shangzhen has agreed.

"All the factories on the home planet have begun producing the components, and the Star Map Seven Treasures Glazed Tree project is officially moving forward. It’s estimated that experimental prototypes will be produced within three months. To repay you, Daoist, you can be the first to use it once it’s finished. How about it? Are you happy, Daoist?"

Lü Yang hurriedly nodded. "Happy, very happy..."

Mingfeng offered an elegant smile. "Oh, by the way, Hao Yuan Shangzhen sent word that the array artifacts for extracting lifespan have been completed. He requests that you meet with him once more, Daoist."

"Really?"

As soon as she said this, Lü Yang forcefully suppressed the wild joy in his heart and deliberately feigned dissatisfaction. "Extracting lifespan? Elder Haoyuan is being a bit too impatient."

"What? Do you not want to go, Daoist?" Mingfeng asked with a light chuckle.

"That’s not it."

Lü Yang shook his head. "He is my senior, after all, and his Cultivation far exceeds mine. I still need to go see him. Never mind, I will come back another day to seek your guidance on array artifacts."

He didn’t dare to show the slightest hint of abnormality.

At this moment, he felt like a docile little lamb standing before a wolf in sheep’s clothing, liable to be torn to shreds at any second.

Right then, Mingfeng moved.

She suddenly raised an eyebrow. Her compassionate smile seemed to fade slightly. Without saying a word, she simply narrowed her eyes and quietly scrutinized him.

"..."

Lü Yang didn’t dare to avert his gaze. He desperately maintained a stiff expression and silently counted in his head.

It wasn’t until he counted to three that he tilted his head, adopting a confused expression of "Why aren’t you speaking?", and locked eyes with Mingfeng.

"Daoist?" Lü Yang took the initiative to speak.

"Hehe..."

The next second, Mingfeng let out a soft chuckle that sounded like silver bells. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with light, and Lü Yang could even clearly see his own reflection in her pupils.

"It’s nothing. I was just zoning out for a moment.

"Since Hao Yuan Shangzhen is the one asking, you indeed shouldn’t refuse, Daoist. As for the Array Treasure Dao... I believe you and I will have plenty of time to discuss it in the future.

"Go quickly and return soon, Daoist."

"Forget about it, I’m absolutely never coming back!"

Lü Yang cursed inwardly while offering another polite remark. He then quickly walked out of the laboratory and saw Star Monarch Fu Chen waiting outside.

He opened the Star Gate and left the home planet.

It wasn’t until he completely exited the home planet, and the prickling gaze that felt like daggers on his back was blocked by the boundless void and vanished into nothingness, that Lü Yang finally let out a long breath.

"My Lord?"

Beside him, Star Monarch Fu Chen revealed a look of confusion. This immediately sent Lü Yang into a fuming rage. "Damn it, you guys don’t even know you’re harboring a ghost in your own home?" he thought.

After a moment of silence, Lü Yang clenched his teeth and said in a low voice,

"...Take me to see Hao Yuan Shangzhen immediately!"