Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 176: Daoist Remnant

At this very moment, Guang Ming wished desperately that Lü Yang was here.

After all, if Lü Yang were here, his strength would be more than enough to handle Wu Cang. He wouldn’t have needed to bring him along, and none of this would have happened.

’What the hell is this thing!’

’That was Wu Cang... a cultivator at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment! How was he possessed so easily? Who is this being? The reincarnation of a Perfected Lord? A Foundation Establishment Perfection Grand Zhenren?’

In that instant, Guang Ming’s thoughts were a complete mess.

Then, "Wu Cang" turned his head to look at him. The Emperor’s Golden Seal of Tushita gradually dimmed, reverting to the form of a simple Talisman.

"You’re quite interesting as well."

"Wu Cang" smiled faintly. "The strongest of the karmic links clinging to you points directly to that fellow named Lü Yang. It seems he’s made quite a few enemies. A member of the Stain Sect, is he?"

Only "Wu Cang" himself knew how difficult it was for him to reawaken, let alone be reborn in another’s body and escape the prison set by that Primal Daoist. Back then, the dying Primal Daoist had pushed his Innate Ability to its absolute limit, using a great karmic link to draw a prison and seal him away.

Until the right Karma manifested, he could never leave.

And that karmic link was tied to the Primal Daoist’s successor. Only when that successor wielded the Myriad-Soul Banner and used it to guide him out could he emerge unscathed.

But in that scenario, he would have to willingly allow himself to be refined by the Myriad-Soul Banner.

Given the Myriad-Soul Banner’s domineering nature, once he was refined by it, he would be enslaved for all eternity. This was precisely the outcome the Primal Daoist had intended.

Now, however, the situation had taken a new turn.

Wu Cang’s appearance had given him a second option. Wu Cang was no longer a match for Lü Yang, yet the two were already bound by a karmic destiny.

*Wu Cang Kills Lü Yang.*

Under these circumstances, Wu Cang needed outside help.

And he was that outside help. As long as he was willing to assume Wu Cang’s identity and take on the karmic link to kill Lü Yang, he could break free from the Primal Daoist’s restraints.

How could he possibly give up such a heaven-sent opportunity?

In the next second, "Wu Cang’s" gaze fell upon Guang Ming. To his horror, Guang Ming saw a golden Splendid Light begin to emanate from his own body.

"This is your karmic link."

Perhaps because he was happy to be free at last, "Wu Cang" seemed quite talkative. "The Bodhisattva who sent you here was very kind. They even went out of their way to amplify your karmic link."

"At least two different Perfected Lords’ methods were used in this matter. One sent this Wu Cang to me, helping me escape. The other sent you to me, ensuring I could find my target the moment I was free. Now, I’m actually quite eager to meet this Lü Yang."

"Wu Cang’s" face was filled with curiosity.

After all, from what he knew, even in the talent-rich Stain Sect, there weren’t many Perfected Persons capable of attracting so much hatred that someone would orchestrate such a deadly trap for them.

"Come with me."

The next instant, "Wu Cang" lifted Guang Ming with one hand. At the same time, he tore the bright thread of the karmic link from Guang Ming’s body.

Using the karmic link as a guide, he could track his target across thousands of miles.

Then, "Wu Cang" took a single step—

........

’This [DANGER] warning... it’s getting stronger and stronger.’

On the vast, boundless sea, Lü Yang piloted the Void Crossing Golden Ship, transforming into a streak of light that kicked up colossal waves as he fled rapidly toward the mainland.

However, the [DANGER] warning above his head didn’t dim in the slightest. Instead, it grew an even deeper shade of scarlet.

’This change... could it be that I made the wrong choice?’ Lü Yang’s heart was filled with doubt. ’If I hadn’t made the wrong decision, why would the crisis be drawing ever closer?’

’What on earth happened?’

This was the first time Lü Yang had felt so powerless, as if he had reverted to his Qi Refining days, unable to deduce karmic links and left to the mercy of fate.

But in the next moment, Lü Yang shook off all distracting thoughts. He was completely different from who he used to be. Even if he couldn’t deduce the source of the crisis, he was not entirely without the power to resist... As this thought crossed his mind, he gripped the Imperial Decree Jade Token that Perfected Chong Guang had given him.

Perhaps he was too nervous, however, because his hand trembled, and the Imperial Decree Jade Token slipped from his palm.

Fortunately, his other hand shot out in time to catch the falling Imperial Decree Jade Token, preventing it from hitting the deck. A soft chuckle followed.

"Be careful, Daoist..."

In that instant, time itself seemed to freeze. A handsome youth with flowing robes, who had been thousands of miles away just a moment before, suddenly appeared right beside Lü Yang!

BOOM!

Before the newcomer could even finish his sentence, in that split second, the Imperial Decree Jade Token in his hand exploded, and a figure emerged from within.

At almost the same time, a Divine Power Radiance flashed across Lü Yang’s body.

Separation!

The next second, Lü Yang vanished from his spot, leaving only "Wu Cang" and the figure that had emerged from the Imperial Decree Jade Token to stare at each other in bewilderment.

"Hm? A Daoist Remnant..."

The one who stepped out of the Imperial Decree Jade Token was a middle-aged man with a sinister and severe expression. The moment he saw "Wu Cang," a look of surprise appeared on his face.

But in the next second, an indescribable Mighty Power descended with a roar. A crisp CRACK, like a silver vase shattering, echoed as the middle-aged man’s figure was instantly erased. In response, however, the transcendent Qi trace that had surrounded "Wu Cang" instantly weakened to an extreme degree.

For a moment, all things fell into a silent void.

The collision of this unnameable Mighty Power, something far beyond the Foundation Establishment Level, silenced Heaven and Earth. A long time passed before a figure reappeared.

"...BASTARD!!!"

"Wu Cang" stood in mid-air, holding the long-since-fainted Guang Ming, his expression ugly. "’Just like that Primal one... it’s a karmic Innate Ability...’"

The moment he had appeared, Lü Yang should have been dead.

The Imperial Decree Jade Token was certainly powerful, but it needed to be activated. Without activation, it was just a useless piece of metal. "Wu Cang" had never intended to give Lü Yang the chance to activate it.

However, Lü Yang’s Innate Ability had exceeded his expectations. He had forcibly maintained a moment of clarity, activating the Imperial Decree Jade Token in that single instant. This not only broke through "Wu Cang’s" lockdown and dealt him a heavy blow, but also allowed Lü Yang to successfully escape his grasp.

"Did you think you could escape?"

"Wu Cang’s" expression was chilling. He licked his lips, once again pulling on the karmic thread from Guang Ming’s body. After locking onto Lü Yang’s position, he took another step.

ROAR—!

This time, a monstrous Sea of Blood greeted him.

The Blood Sea Heaven-Filling Grand Array!

Billions of tons of seawater, empowered by the Position of the Abi Sword, formed a colossal wave that crashed down toward "Wu Cang." He, however, paid it no mind.

His gaze fell upon Lü Yang, who was inside the Array.

In an instant, Lü Yang felt his consciousness sink under "Wu Cang’s" gaze. In a daze, he seemed to see a giant hand reaching for him.

Wherever the giant hand passed, the Sea of Blood and the Sword Qi all melted away like ice and snow, unable to exist. The two were clearly not opponents on the same level. Just as the hand was about to pass through the Array’s defenses and close around his neck, Lü Yang finally unleashed his Ability.

Differentiation!

A cool stream of Qi swept through his Spiritual Space, clearing his consciousness once more. The Divine Power Radiance struggled to appear, but it once again helped Lü Yang vanish from his spot.

Separation!

Lü Yang’s second disappearance finally wiped the confident smile from "Wu Cang’s" face, replacing it with a cold indifference.

「Meanwhile, nearly ten thousand miles away.」

"Wu Cang...?"

Lü Yang’s figure emerged from the void, accompanied by a Divine Power Radiance. A look of shock lingered on his face. He had recognized his attacker.

But he couldn’t understand it at all. The Wu Cang he had nearly cut in half just a few days ago—how had he transformed, in the blink of an eye, into a Great Power that he was completely unable to fight? Even a Foundation Establishment Perfection Grand Zhenren was probably no stronger than this. What in the world had happened?

KRAK!

A crisp sound, like shattering colored glass, rang out beside Lü Yang. He then saw a rift in space and, on the other side of it, "Wu Cang."

"Daoist, please stay..."

The voice carried a demonic quality. Though Lü Yang resisted with all his might, he found himself involuntarily standing still, as if choosing to surrender without a fight.

There was no road to Heaven, no gate into the Earth.

’Am I going to die!?’