Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 497: May the Path Ahead Be Worry-Free for Future Disciples

In that instant, Heaven and Earth were thrown into turmoil.

Meanwhile, all the Foundation-Stage Cultivators who practiced the No Heaven Ability looked up to the sky, where they were astonished to see an illusory star slowly ascending.

"What... is that?"

"Is that the Fruit created by Mu Changsheng? Is he trying to become a Perfected Lord with it?"

This time was different from when Minor Metal ascended. With no Ang Xiao to draw their fire, the world’s Perfected Lords naturally reacted in a completely different manner.

"Amitabha!"

The Pure Land was the first to act. In the West, the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha, a being of peerless beauty whose every glance overflowed with alluring charm, manifested her Dharma Body.

In the next instant, the Bodhisattva intertwined her fingers. Her palms faced upward, her elegant fingers spreading like a blooming lotus. In the center of this lotus-like gesture, she held a Splendid Light of supreme purity. This light connected to the stars above and the Lay Lines below. She then sent it sweeping from afar toward the manifestation of No Heaven.

In that moment, countless gazes were fixed on the scene.

In the East, Lü Yang’s expression was tense. ’The Fruit corresponding to this Bodhisattva... is the Fruit of Hairpin-Brace Metal! She’s going all-out with her very first move...’

That ray of Splendid Light was none other than the Fruit Position Profound Mysterious of the Fruit of Hairpin-Brace Metal!

Its name was the Hidden Gold Chamber!

"Gold Qi lies hidden, its form incomplete. Stored in a maiden’s chamber, it enhances splendor and reveals the Fa. This is called the Fruit of Hairpin-Brace Metal..." Its Divine Fruit Position’s greatest strength was debuffing and buffing!

Therefore, if No Heaven were struck by this Splendid Light, it would immediately succumb to the "hidden" imagery. All its Divine Effects would first be weakened by a third, and then its very Position would plummet. On the other hand, the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha’s own Divine Effects and Position would be enhanced as a result.

BOOM!

The next instant, the Splendid Light struck No Heaven with perfect accuracy. But a moment later, it passed straight through, completely unimpeded.

"...Hm?"

Seeing this, the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha’s elegant brows furrowed slightly. The feedback from her Divine Effect felt wrong, as if she hadn’t hit anything at all.

’It’s both real and illusory... How is that possible?’

At that moment, it wasn’t just the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha; the other Perfected Lords also revealed their astonishment, having witnessed the profound change that had just occurred.

’A Divine Fruit Position?’

This was a privilege possessed only by orthodox Fruits, one that could only be channeled through a Golden Core Cave Heaven. A common Outer Dao Fruit Position should not have such a Divine Effect.

Yet now, No Heaven had displayed a technique similar to that of an orthodox Fruit. There might still be a difference, but it wasn’t a large one. It was precisely this Divine Effect—the ability to switch between reality and illusion—that had allowed No Heaven to evade the Bao Lian Hidden Buddha’s Splendid Light!

Even Lü Yang was taken aback by this.

’In my Previous Life, that old scoundrel Minor Metal used a similar technique, but it doesn’t seem like it was as powerful as the Progenitor’s. He can even withstand a Divine Fruit Position?’

At that very moment, No Heaven trembled.

Then, a figure strode out, his face veiled by layers of cloud-like light. Only his eyes were visible as he scanned the four corners of the world.

It was Progenitor Tingyou.

Unlike Minor Metal, who had possessed both a Blessed Land and the Gold Attribute when he ascended, eventually attaining the Facing Truth Void Grotto Heaven. Progenitor Tingyou, in comparison, was far less prepared.

’I haven’t Refined a Blessed Land, nor did I have time to refine my Gold Attribute. Fortunately, the essence of No Heaven is an Outer Dao Fruit Position, so it doesn’t require such things. This Fruit Position Imagery, though, is quite handy. Its offensive power is average, but it’s peerless at evading calamities and disasters. It makes me very difficult to kill...’

Progenitor Tingyou silently contemplated the profound mysteries of his Fruit.

After a moment, he raised his head and looked around. His gaze swept faintly over Lü Yang before turning toward the South, and a mischievous smile suddenly touched his lips.

The next instant, the cloud-like light concealing his face dissipated, and his voice proclaimed:

"I, Tingyou, have attained Sorrowless Heaven Overseas."

RUMBLE!

In the next instant, the Sword Pavilion, which had been quiet until now, erupted into chaos. A sword-wielding youth rose to his feet on Zenith Cliff, staring dumbfoundedly toward the Overseas.

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde: "???"

’What did I just hear? Tingyou became a Perfected Lord?’

’This is impossible!’

At that moment, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde was nearly lost in overwhelming self-doubt, his handsome, youthful face contorting several times.

"HAHAHA!"

Seeing this, Progenitor Tingyou threw his head back and laughed.

As he laughed, the Abilities known as Essence of All Flowers, Guan Chou Sea, Mist Crossing, Long Hatred Song, and Inheritance of the Flame manifested around him one by one.

CRACK!

In the next instant, with a deafening crack like shattering glass, everything happened just as Lü Yang had predicted. Their foundations stripped away, Perfected Lords began to be forced into seclusion one after another.

The order in which they were forced into seclusion was determined by their level of Cultivation.

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde was the first, followed by the Bhumba Bodhisattva. High in the celestial vault, all the Fruit Position Stars were fading into oblivion.

However, Progenitor Tingyou was not satisfied.

’...It’s not enough!’

Progenitor Tingyou exhaled deeply. ’Even with the Perfected Lords entering seclusion, it was easy to imagine that Lü Yang would still face countless trials and tribulations. By then, I would be too far away to help.’

’I must do more.’

’Simply forcing the world’s Perfected Lords into seclusion is far from enough!’

’I can do more!’

The next instant, Progenitor Tingyou’s increasingly ethereal form opened its mouth. A magnificent, celestial voice, carrying an unseen Mighty Power, rapidly spread to the four corners of the world.

"I have attained Sorrowless Heaven and hereby establish the Eternal Joy Garden. Anyone in this world, cultivator or mortal, can be guided to the Eternal Joy Garden. By completing the bounties offered, you can be granted Cultivation Techniques, Abilities, Spiritual Treasures, and Spiritual Materials... The Eternal Joy Garden exists for no other reason than to open a path of advancement for all the people of this world..."

In the East, Lü Yang let out a long breath of Muddy Qi.

For at the very moment Progenitor Tingyou’s voice echoed across the land, a Mighty Power suddenly descended from nowhere, using the connection between the Banner Spirit and the Banner Master to enter the Myriad-Soul Banner.

’This is...’

Lü Yang swept it with his Divine Sense and instantly understood. It was the authority to control the Eternal Joy Garden, passed on to him by Progenitor Tingyou.

’The Eternal Joy Garden... an extremely clandestine existence, rooted within the major powers yet separate from them. If I can control it, I’ll indirectly control all the Cultivators selected by it. This will be an immense boon for my future Ritual of Ruling the World!’

Lü Yang raised his head, his gaze turning toward Sorrowless Heaven.

In a daze, he thought he saw Progenitor Tingyou looking down, their gazes meeting. The Progenitor then gave him a smile full of hope and expectation.

’Progenitor...’

He had attained Sorrowless Heaven, not No Heaven.

This was partly because Progenitor Tingyou had made a slight modification to No Heaven, but also because it embodied his fondest wish:

’May the disciples who come after me walk a path free of sorrow.’

The next instant, Sorrowless Heaven vanished into seclusion.

Even through the Myriad-Soul Banner, he could no longer contact Progenitor Tingyou. It wasn’t that something was blocking the connection; it felt more like the distance between them had become too vast to cross.

"...Huuu!"

Lü Yang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his composure was restored. An instant later, a message descended from the Immortal Dao Law:

’Emperor Jia You, the Three Ministers are about to enter seclusion.’

’Urgently summon all officials to the palace!’