Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 247: Simply Beasts

’It’s in the Netherworld...’

Lü Yang grew pensive. He was no stranger to the Netherworld—it was the place of reincarnation, where countless souls came and went. But what did "it" refer to?

"It’s the Chen Yin Earth."

Just then, World Purger Fei Xue, who was beside him, provided the answer. "Ang Xiao... Although I’m not certain that man was him, I’ll just assume it was."

"Ang Xiao hid the Chen Yin Earth in the Netherworld, where it can’t be reached from the Current World. I suspect he’s in there himself. No wonder there was never any news of his reincarnation after his last death. The same goes for this time; although he showed a sliver of his Mighty Power, that was the extent of it. He’s not invincible."

"He’s got some nerve."

"He sent the Chen Yin Earth into the Netherworld, where he’s been setting up his plans for thousands of years. I fear he’s plotting to seize the position of Lord of the Netherworld."

"If he had been allowed to continue in secret, he might have actually had a chance of succeeding."

"But now that Minor Metal has exposed him, everyone is watching him like a hawk. It won’t be so easy for him to get away with it again."

As she finished, a look of glee spread across World Purger Fei Xue’s face.

"This time, the Perfected Lords from all sides joined forces. And while we couldn’t defeat him, we at least managed to hold him back, preventing him from interfering with the Chen Earth’s return to Yang throughout the world."

"It’s a shame Minor Metal couldn’t ascend to his Fruit."

"If he had, it would have completely shattered Ang Xiao’s scheme, knocking him down from the Late Stage of Golden Core. At that point, we wouldn’t even have to lift a finger—the Netherworld itself wouldn’t have spared him!"

"After today, I estimate he’ll have to spend another long stretch of time trying to twist the Chen Earth back. In the past, that might not have been a problem, but with the millennial tribulation approaching, he might not get another chance to become a Master of Dao. Golden Core Perfection will be his limit, and on top of that, he’ll become everyone’s target."

"Haha! He deserves it!"

As she finished, World Purger Fei Xue slapped her thigh and doubled over with laughter. Her dignified mask seemed to slip, revealing a frenzied, unhinged side.

Lü Yang, however, listened with a heart pounding in terror.

The reason was simple: World Purger Fei Xue was telling him far too much. These were secrets that only Perfected Lords should know, yet she was revealing all of them to him.

’What is she planning?’

"Don’t be so afraid."

World Purger Fei Xue looked at Lü Yang with a smile. However, her laughter was utterly cold, like a blizzard in the dead of winter, containing not a single shred of warmth.

"I intend to grant you an opportunity."

Lü Yang didn’t dare hesitate. He immediately bowed. "Please instruct me, Perfected Lord."

"With Minor Metal dead, I have no one left to use. Moreover, I suffered considerable damage in this great battle and need time to recover. I will have to seal my Grotto Heaven."

"I will give you thirty years."

"If you can refine the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and achieve Mid-stage Perfection within thirty years, then with that Quasi-Essence Artifact left behind by the Perfected Fortune, you’ll be able to serve as a Great Trueman."

"At that time, you will be the next Interim Sect Leader of the Stain Sect."

At these words, Lü Yang held his breath, scarcely believing what he had just heard. ’Interim Sect Leader? Me? Is she just making an empty promise?’

’But thirty years...’ Lü Yang’s brow quickly furrowed.

The path of the Great Dao was difficult. A Foundation-Stage Cultivator’s progress was measured in centuries; it wasn’t as simple as just finding the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and then refining them to break through.

The key was Cultivation.

Only with sufficient Cultivation could one find the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and refine them into an Innate Ability. But he had just broken through to the Mid-phase; how could he possibly possess the deeper Cultivation required?

Besides, finding the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches required the support of Merit and Fortune, and he had just had a third of his siphoned away by Minor Metal. It was already a struggle to keep his mind from being clouded by Tribulation Qi. How much Merit and Fortune could he possibly have left to sense the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches? This was asking the impossible.

World Purger Fei Xue naturally saw what Lü Yang was thinking.

"Rest assured. If I said thirty years, it’s because I’m confident it can be done... Of course, you’ll need to take a small risk."

Then, she looked Lü Yang up and down once more.

"Right now, the only things standing between you and Mid-stage Perfection are Cultivation and Fortune. But there are ways to quickly make up for both. Let’s start with your Cultivation."

"The second of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches for the Fruit of Rampart Earth is Yin Wood."

"Yin Wood is in the Earth Evil Position. Its nature is the same as Jia Wood from the Position of Heavenly Stems—both are Yang Wood. The comprehension of one can be applied to the other."

At this, World Purger Fei Xue pointed a finger at a Spirit Light next to Lü Yang—the Immortal Tree Spirit Embryo he had obtained from Ye Guyue. "Minor Metal’s Innate Divine Technique was also Jia Wood," she said. "The Spirit Embryo it transformed into contains his insights."

"I can ask a Perfected Person to help you."

"If we refine this Spirit Embryo into a Great Pill, consuming it will naturally increase your relevant Cultivation, allowing you to meet the conditions for absorbing the Yin Wood."

"..."

Lü Yang was dumbfounded.

’So this is what it feels like to have a Perfected Lord as a backer? A Cultivation bottleneck that could have troubled me for a century, solved just like that? What an incredibly powerful patron!’

"As for Merit and Fortune, that’s even simpler."

World Purger Fei Xue continued in a casual tone:

"Didn’t you obtain the Qian Heaven One Yuan Supreme Heavenly Divine Technique? Go perform Qi Collection. Gather enough, and Heaven and Earth will naturally reward you with Fortune."

The essence of a Second-Grade Cultivation Skill is to plunder the Fruits of other Outer Realms to supplement one’s own, thereby earning the favor of one’s own Fruit. Therefore, it stands to reason that the more fruitful your Qi Collection is—the more you plunder—the more generous Heaven and Earth will be with their rewards.

But there are risks.

"The Pure Land has also dabbled in the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, which corresponds to the *Qian Heaven One Yuan Supreme Heavenly Divine Technique*. As such, you are now a thorn in the Pure Land’s side."

"...This disciple understands."

Lü Yang clasped his hands in a salute. He knew this was the "risk" World Purger Fei Xue had spoken of. He would have to face whatever trouble the Pure Land might bring head-on!

World Purger Fei Xue was about to seal her Grotto Heaven, so she definitely wouldn’t be able to look after him. At most, her name would serve as a deterrent.

In other words, only if he could withstand the pressure from the Pure Land and grow strong through his own means and abilities would he be a suitable candidate for Interim Sect Leader of the Stain Sect.

’Minor Metal probably went through the same thing back then.’

A wave of realization washed over Lü Yang. He was now facing the Pure Land in the West, just as Minor Metal had once faced the Perfected Fortune. This was simply the way of the Stain Sect.

"I hope to see you again in thirty years."

Seeing that Lü Yang understood, World Purger Fei Xue nodded. "Few have ever been to the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, which corresponds to the *Qian Heaven One Yuan Supreme Heavenly Divine Technique*."

"If you want to learn more, go find Miaoyin."

At this, World Purger Fei Xue glanced at Ye Guyue not far away, a teasing look on her face. "Besides, you have a thing for her type."

"Perfected Lord, you misunderstand me!"

His reputation was at stake, so Lü Yang hurriedly explained, "This disciple has no interest in the fairer sex. It is all for the sake of pursuing the Dao! I am merely forcing myself, really."

World Purger Fei Xue laughed. "Just like our founding master!"

Then, as if remembering something, her tone suddenly shifted. "By the way, I know you’ve obtained the First Grade True Qi that Mu Changsheng developed."

"But the Void Verification Technique is illusory and insubstantial... Give it up. Don’t delve too deeply into it."

Lü Yang was slightly taken aback, but he quickly realized that "Mu Changsheng" must be the Primal Daoist’s true name.

"Please enlighten me, Perfected Lord," Lü Yang quickly pleaded.

World Purger Fei Xue didn’t elaborate, instead revealing a secret in a soft voice. "The Netherworld I just mentioned... you’re no stranger to the place of reincarnation."

"Which Fruit do you think the Netherworld corresponds to?"

In an instant, Lü Yang’s pupils contracted!

’Without a doubt, the Netherworld isn’t part of the Five Elements, and it has no connection to any Fruit... It was brought into existence through a Void Certificate! Or rather, it’s something from an outside world!’

’But if it was from a Void Certificate... then what about the person who certified it into existence?’

’Where is the Lord of the Netherworld?’

In that instant, Lü Yang understood everything.

’That’s right. A First-Grade True Skill—the Void Verification Technique—does indeed point directly to the Nascent Soul realm. But on the other hand, it must also be bait deliberately set by the Nascent Soul Daoist Lords!’

’Specifically designed to fish for external Fruits like the Netherworld!’

’As soon as someone succeeds with the Void Certificate and an external Fruit takes the bait, they’d be disposed of, just like killing the donkey after it’s done its work. It’s all to prevent anyone from actually using it to break through and become their equal.’

’What a bunch of bastards!’

Lü Yang couldn’t help but curse the shamelessness of the Nascent Soul Daoist Lords in his heart.

’In a situation like this, who would dare attempt a Void Certificate? Unless... someone could spirit away the resulting Fruit without being discovered by a single Nascent Soul Daoist Lord...’

...Huh?