Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 190: The Confident Blood Demon Zhenren

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: The Confident Blood Demon Zhenren

「Inside Embracing Mountain.」

"This Blood Demon Island is truly something else. The suppressive force is so strong that even Foundation-Stage Cultivators can only fly; it’s nearly impossible to use any kind of teleportation technique."

Ying Tongshou surveyed his surroundings as he flew on his stream of light.

As far as the eye could see, countless mountain peaks stood tall, yet there wasn’t a soul in sight—only a ground littered with bleached bones and all manner of strange Artifacts.

"Another one!"

Suddenly, Ying Tongshou reached out, snatching a pagoda-shaped Artifact from the forest below. Ghastly white smoke continuously drifted out from within it.

This haul made Ying Tongshou beam. It was the third Artifact he had found since entering the Secret Realm. Though useless to a Foundation-Stage Cultivator like himself, such items were excellent for rewarding subordinates and fostering loyalty. After all, who would mind having an extra Artifact?

A moment later, an excited look appeared on Ying Tongshou’s face once more.

This time, however, another stream of Flying Light shot over from the distance and cut him off. As the light faded, it revealed its occupant: none other than the Great Cultivator of Unity, Elder Lin.

........

Meanwhile, in Soul-Devouring Valley, a treacherous land meticulously crafted by Lü Yang...

Five Harmonization-stage cultivators from the Immortal Alliance, led by Mu Huan, were gathered just outside the valley, painstakingly collecting the Soul-Devouring Smoke from within, bit by bit.

"This is all good stuff."

Mu Huan remarked with feeling, "Even we would be utterly disoriented if we so much as touched this smoke. If it could be refined into an Artifact, its power would be incredible!"

But at that moment, a celestial light descended from the sky.

After the Splendid Light faded, Lü Yang’s figure appeared. He glanced at Mu Huan and the others, then nodded in satisfaction. ’They’re taking my Artifacts.’

’The karmic link is forged!’

The next second, Lü Yang performed the Deceit Heaven Technique. He used the new karmic link from the Soul-Devouring Smoke to transfer the Power of Celestial Punishment—which the Blood Demon Zhenren had previously offloaded onto him via the Abi Sword—to Mu Huan and his group. Instantly, Lü Yang felt his Spiritual Essence clear up, and his entire being felt refreshed.

"What did you do!?"

Mu Huan, however, demanded sharply. He couldn’t perceive the shift in karmic links or the transfer of the Power of Celestial Punishment, but his intuition screamed that something was wrong.

"What did I do?"

Lü Yang narrowed his eyes, then adopted a look of profound self-righteousness. "You forcibly seize my Artifact, and you have the gall to ask what I did?"

"Besides, your group from the Azure Sun Cultivation Realm has committed heinous crimes, using living beings as cultivation materials. Today, you will suffer celestial punishment, and I will act on Heaven’s behalf! I will uphold justice for the weak and slaughter every last one of you Demons!"

At these words, Mu Huan actually laughed in exasperation.

"Uphold justice for the weak? We’re merely Overseas Wanderers. If you truly wanted to uphold justice, you should be going after that Sword Cultivator. Why pick on us?"

Lü Yang shook his head. "Because he’s too strong."

’Always best to pick on the weaker ones.’

Mu Huan was struck speechless. Then, as if a thought occurred to him, he looked at Lü Yang and asked probingly, "Your Excellency is a Cultivator from the Stain Sect?"

"..."

’How did he figure that out? Do I not look like a good guy?’

With a look of resignation, Lü Yang simply waved his hand.

"You know too much!"

ZWEEEN—!

The Abi Sword materialized in mid-air, and its Sword Light slashed down. Seeing this, Mu Huan and his men would never dare to face it head-on. They immediately tried to flee, only to feel an immense pressure descend upon them.

Embracing Mountain!

In an instant, the suppressive force weighing on Mu Huan and his men multiplied severalfold. Their movements froze abruptly, and they could only watch helplessly as the Sword Light descended.

THUMP!

The Sword Light whipped around their necks, and in a flash, the five Great Cultivators of Unity became headless corpses, their True Qi and flesh drained completely dry.

The Abi Sword’s excited cry echoed through the clouds. Lü Yang nodded in satisfaction at the sight. ’In my Previous Life, killing twelve Harmonization cultivators allowed the Abi Sword to restore its second Divine Effect, Li Wei. Now that I’m killing them all over again in this life, I wonder if it can restore another one?’

At this thought, Lü Yang extended a finger and traced a line of celestial light in the air.

The light flickered, projecting images of everything currently happening within Embracing Mountain. This was his Innate Divine Technique, so naturally, he had complete mastery over its functions.

In fact, it was because he was pulling the strings behind the scenes that everyone had been forced to separate.

If they had all banded together, he would never have found an opportunity to divide and conquer. Only by splitting them up could he hunt them down as he was now.

The next second, Lü Yang vanished.

’Tonight, I’ll hunt to my heart’s content!’

........

「At the heart of Embracing Mountain, on the true Blood Demon Island.」

In the deepest reaches of Blood Demon Island, within a palace constructed entirely of bone, lay a truly staggering sight.

It was an impossibly bizarre tree.

Its roots were tendrils of flesh and blood, its bark resembled human skin, and its leaves were shards of bone that chimed sharply as they rustled.

But in the next second, the tree underwent a sudden change. An exquisitely vibrant crimson flower bloomed at its very crown. The petals then fell away, swiftly revealing a fruit. Shockingly, the fruit was shaped like a human infant, complete with limbs and tightly shut eyes!

’Hmm... Have I woken up?’

The infant opened its eyes. Its undeveloped face revealed a look of confusion that was both plain to see and startlingly human.

’Why so soon?’

According to his calculations, it should have taken at least three more generations of Sword Masters to siphon off the Celestial Punishment afflicting him. Only then would he have been able to recover to his current state.

But now, he had somehow awakened ahead of schedule!

The Celestial Punishment had also lessened by an inexplicable amount.

’Could it be that my luck is good? Perhaps this generation’s Sword Master of the Abi Sword is blessed by great Fortune and possesses profound Merit, allowing him to siphon away more of the Celestial Punishment?’

Thinking of this, he immediately began to assess the situation.

Soon, the newly conscious Blood Demon Zhenren opened his eyes. The infant’s small eyes showed deep confusion, and he looked utterly bewildered.

’Where is this?’

’How did my Blood Demon Island get so big?’

The Blood Demon Zhenren’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper. He tried to divine the karmic links, but Lü Yang had long since used the Prophetic Orrery to conceal all Karma Links, so he naturally came up with nothing.

Just then, a tremendous crash echoed from outside:

BOOM!

Majestic Sword Qi tore into Blood Demon Island. It was Ye Xingfeng! He was on a wild rampage, carving a path of destruction straight toward the Blood Demon Zhenren!

’Something’s not right... Have I been set up?’ 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The Blood Demon Zhenren’s expression soured. He instantly understood that someone must have screwed him over. It seemed this generation’s Sword Master of the Abi Sword was quite resourceful.

As an old-school Saint Sect Zhenren, the Blood Demon Zhenren was no fool. A moment’s thought was all it took to grasp Lü Yang’s plan. ’He’s trying to kill me with a borrowed knife! On one hand, he helps me resolve the effects of the Celestial Punishment and sever our karmic links. On the other, he sends someone else to deal with me. He wants to be the fisherman who profits while the snipe and the clam fight?’

’He has certainly grasped the true methods of our Stain Sect... A pity he’s still too young!’

A mocking smile played on the Blood Demon Zhenren’s lips. ’Daring to plot against a Great Trueman... he truly doesn’t know his own place.’

Even now, at the weakest point in his life, he wasn’t someone just anyone could scheme against.

For a Great Trueman, power wasn’t just about personal strength, but also status and backing!

This was especially true for a Great Trueman from the Stain Sect like him, who had a Perfected Lord as his backer!

In a situation like this, who could possibly kill him?

For this reason, even with Ye Xingfeng’s blade nearly upon him, and even knowing he’d been set up, the Blood Demon Zhenren wasn’t the least bit panicked.

’As long as I release my own karmic links and stop concealing them, Fortune the Perfected Lord will sense me immediately. Once the Perfected Lord takes action, won’t saving me be as easy as flipping his palm?’

’As for that Stain Sect junior’s little scheme?’

’It was nothing but a joke!’