Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 498: Assassinate Emperor Jia You

"By my order, the entire city is to be placed under lockdown!"

At Lü Yang’s command, the Imperial City Department immediately responded. Soon, Cultivators of the Incense and Candle Divine Dao were seen riding their Flying Lights, beginning to seal off Celestial Wu City from the inside out.

This was not him acting recklessly.

Rather, it was a direct order from Emperor Jia You, issued through the Immortal Dao Law. On the surface, it seemed the Emperor still held him in high regard, but Lü Yang smelled danger.

’The Imperial City Department was established less than half a year ago. It was originally only responsible for keeping the peace within Celestial Wu City, at most raiding the mansions of a few corrupt officials. Now, we’ve suddenly been ordered to lock down the entire city. It looks like a grand show of force, but it’s actually spreading our limited strength thin, turning it into scattered sand.’

This was a move to divide the Incense Cultivators of the Imperial City Department, making them easier to suppress.

’If I enter the palace right now, I’m afraid Emperor Jia You will immediately strip me of my Official Position. The Imperial City Department and even the Incense and Candle Divine Dao will be reorganized along with me....’

This wasn’t hard to understand.

After all, as long as Emperor Jia You was around, his Middle Stage of Golden Core Cultivation was enough to suppress any chaos. No matter how powerful the Imperial City Department became, it would be nothing more than the moon’s reflection in water or a flower in a mirror.

However, once Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers all disappeared, the Imperial City Department—which could use Incense Divine Power to quickly create Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators and was controlled by the True Dragon Race—would become a source of turmoil. While it might not be enough to overthrow the Dao Court, it would certainly exacerbate the chaos in the East, and that could not be tolerated.

But Lü Yang wasn’t panicking.

While on his way to the Celestial Wu Hall, Lü Yang used a wisp of his spiritual perception to secretly send out the Grotto Heaven Fragment containing Fortune, passing it to a fellow official on the road.

He had taken control of this official long ago using his Puppet technique.

The official’s name was Chen Yuanli. He was from the All Heaven Department and, like the Commander of the All Heaven Department, Ning Haohai, was a disciple of the Grand Protector, one of the Three Ministers. He had a Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

’I’m counting on you....’

The next moment, Lü Yang activated his Puppet technique. Through his puppet, Chen Yuanli, he opened the Grotto Heaven Fragment and contacted Ang Xiao’s spiritual perception.

Soon, a response came from Ang Xiao:

"Daoist... what a move!"

The appearance of the Fruit of Sorrowless Heaven had clearly affected Ang Xiao in the Netherworld as well, sending an indescribable, bone-deep chill through him.

At that moment, he had only one thought: ’Thank goodness I reacted quickly!’

The Fruit of Sorrowless Heaven had taken away all the world’s Perfected Lords. Combined with Lü Yang’s fake holding of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, if he hadn’t taken the Fruit of Sand-Within Earth and the Fruit of Pewter Metal beforehand—ensuring he could maintain his Late Stage Realm even with the Earth Reversal of Chen—he would probably be a fish on the enemy’s chopping block right now!

What a terrifying scheme!

At this thought, Ang Xiao’s wariness of Lü Yang instantly soared to its peak. A suspicion grew stronger in his heart: ’Could this person really be the Bhagavat?’

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed true!

Meanwhile, Lü Yang had no time to worry about what Ang Xiao was thinking. He said directly, "Senior, do you remember our agreement? It’s time for you to make a move."

Lü Yang’s tone was urgent as he quickly stated his demand. "Right now, the Dao Court’s Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers are gathered together, about to go into seclusion. I need you, Senior, to use that hidden sword strike of yours on them. Make sure they can’t leave a single word behind. It would be best if you could grievously injure them."

"..."

In a flash, Ang Xiao understood Lü Yang’s intentions. ’Such immense ambition! He’s deliberately trying to stir up chaos so he can usurp the Dao Court?’

’If I make a move, I’ll be the one taking the blame for this.’

Despite this, Ang Xiao didn’t waste words. He asked bluntly, "What’s in it for me?"

"What do you want, Senior?"

"The Hongyun Gold Attribute!"

Ang Xiao stated his condition. Ultimately, he didn’t need Lü Yang’s help to trigger the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire; the key was Fortune.

’As long as I can get the Hongyun Gold Attribute, he won’t be able to fake holding the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire and won’t be a threat to me. And with the Hongyun Gold Attribute, I can find a way to use it to draw the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire into the Netherworld myself. The key to everything is the Hongyun Gold Attribute. Obtaining it means I won’t lose out.’

The next moment, Lü Yang gave his answer:

"Done!"

It was a firm and unhesitating reply... but after hearing it, Ang Xiao sneered. "Who do you take me for? You think I’ll believe an empty promise?"

"Then what will it take for you to believe me, Senior?"

"Hand it over first..."

"Impossible!"

Lü Yang sneered back. "Senior, you’re looking down on me too much. You think I’d believe your promise? I bet you’re planning to take it and run!"

The two of them reached a stalemate.

But soon, Ang Xiao offered a new proposal. "Leave the Hongyun Gold Attribute in a certain place. After I deliver that sword strike, I’ll go and retrieve it."

This wasn’t a transaction.

It was a Combat: The Hongyun Gold Attribute would be placed elsewhere, and both sides would use their own methods. Whoever managed to take it first would be the winner of this Combat.

"Deal!"

Lü Yang agreed immediately without hesitation, but inwardly he was sneering. ’You still think you can get the Hongyun Gold Attribute? The moment you unleash that sword strike, I’ll destroy the wisp of your spiritual perception inside the Grotto Heaven Fragment. By then, you’ll have no way to interfere with the Current World. Even if the Hongyun Gold Attribute is sitting right in front of you, you won’t have the ability to take it....’

"It’s a deal!"

Meanwhile, Ang Xiao was also sneering inwardly. ’Use that sword strike to slash Emperor Jia You and the Three Ministers? How could a strike from a Late Stage of Golden Core cultivator be wasted like that?’

The transaction was just a pretense. Ang Xiao’s true target was Lü Yang’s real body!

’Since he dares to scheme for the Dao Court, he must hold a high and powerful position. That being the case, when Emperor Jia You announces his seclusion to all the officials, his real body is certain to be present!’

And when that time came, it would be the perfect opportunity to kill him with one strike.

And once he was dead, whether he had the Hongyun Gold Attribute or not would naturally be irrelevant.

With both men harboring their own ulterior motives, they walked into the Celestial Wu Hall. Soon, everyone saw four increasingly illusory figures at the head of the hall.

The moment he entered the hall, Lü Yang felt Emperor Jia You’s gaze fall upon him.

Without any hesitation, Lü Yang strode forward, performed a grand salute, and proclaimed, "Your humble servant, Du Huan, greets Your Majesty. I implore Your Majesty to reclaim this servant’s Official Position!"

Another preemptive strike.

Emperor Jia You was visibly stunned. He had never expected Lü Yang to bring it up himself before he even had the chance. Could it be that this man was truly a deeply loyal subject?

However, Emperor Jia You quickly regained his composure.

Loyal or not, once he and the Three Ministers went into seclusion, the Dao Court could not have a True Dragon occupying such a high position. He would not leave such a hidden danger for the Dao Court.

Of course, he still needed to appease him.

After all, they were only going into seclusion, not actually dying.

Besides, Lü Yang’s attitude was indeed excellent. So, even though Emperor Jia You had decided to deprive Lü Yang of his Official Position, he still put on a magnanimous air and said:

"Do you know what it means to be a loyal and devoted servant of the state?"

"This is what it means to be a loyal and devoted servant of the state!"

Having finished his praise, Emperor Jia You was about to deprive Lü Yang of his Official Position. But before the words could leave his mouth, Lü Yang used his Puppet technique to contact Ang Xiao.

"Do it!"

The next second, the Puppet-controlled official from the All Heaven Department, Chen Yuanli, stood up. Then, under the astonished gazes of the countless officials around him, he shouted:

"For the Crown Prince!"

SHIIING!

With the cry of a sword, Ang Xiao’s spiritual perception, operating from within the Grotto Heaven Fragment in Chen Yuanli’s hand, instantly unleashed the Sword Light he had hidden away.

In an instant, the Sword Light engulfed everything!