Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 101: Brother Zhao, the Best Helper

The plan was perfect, but reality was cruel.

’I didn’t choose to inherit my cultivation from my past life, so the progress I made on the two Legendary Techniques, the Lunar Shedding Technique and the Soul Splitting Secret, wasn’t carried over either. It’ll take time to cultivate them again.’

Fortunately, with Guardian Su Nu, he could take a shortcut by using the Position of a Foundation-Stage Cultivator to directly empower his cultivation of Techniques. In a few months at most, he could restore his Foundation Establishment Divine Sense and regain the Position of a Corpse Shed Immortal, returning his cultivation to its peak from his past life.

At this thought, Lü Yang was no longer in a hurry to execute his plan.

’After all, this is sabotage right under the nose of a Foundation-Stage Cultivator. To be safe, it wouldn’t be too late to act after I’ve recovered my peak strength.’

He stepped out of his Cave Mansion and met with Liu Xin.

He received half of the Manual of Primal Qi from Liu Xin.

After watching the other man depart, Lü Yang used an Illusion Technique to conceal himself. Following a quick divination, he made his way to a remote Cave Mansion on Heaven Mending Peak.

At that moment, an enraged roar echoed from within the Cave Mansion:

"My destined opportunity! That was my destined opportunity, and someone stole it from me... Rational? You want me to be rational? How can I be rational?! What do I have left to be rational about?!"

That was Zhao Xuhe’s voice.

’Just as I expected. With my appearance, Perfected Panlong’s inheritance vanished, and Zhao Xuhe is once again at a low point in his life, screaming and cursing.’

A moment later, the gate to the Cave Mansion opened. Zhao Xuhe’s mistress, Fairy Qinghe, walked out, her pretty face cold. She turned back to shout, "Zhao Xuhe, we’re breaking up!" and then strode away without a second glance. Lü Yang did a quick divination. ’It seems she’s heading for Liu Xin’s Cave Mansion...’

Renewed sounds of smashing and crashing erupted from within the Cave Mansion.

Lü Yang used his power to see through the wall and soon spotted Zhao Xuhe venting his rage inside the Cave Mansion. A slight smile touched his lips. ’Senior Brother Zhao, that’s you alright!’

In this life, his greatest enemy was undoubtedly Arhat Fulong.

He didn’t plan on using the Dissolving Technique to start over. After all, Third-Grade Foundation Methods were inherently rare. Besides the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis, the only others were cultivation techniques from the Stain Sect.

’But the Stain Sect’s techniques... they feel even less reliable.’

’At least with the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis, I already know what the hidden danger is. But the Stain Sect’s Third-Grade Foundation Methods are still completely unknown to me.’

’So, it’s better to find a way to work with the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis.’

’Although the technique does have a hidden danger, it should only affect Qi Refiners. Otherwise, why would Fulong choose to interfere precisely when I’m breaking through to Foundation Establishment?’

’Wouldn’t he gain more by waiting to ’harvest’ me after I’ve reached Foundation Establishment?’

’But he didn’t do that... The only possibility is that once I succeed in reaching Foundation Establishment, I’ll be able to escape his control. That’s why he has to stop me beforehand!’

In other words, as long as he could break through to Foundation Establishment despite the interference, he would be able to handle this crisis!

That being said, Lü Yang was self-aware. Arhat Fulong had already refined a Heavenly Stem, and his cultivation at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment was far beyond what Lü Yang could currently challenge.

At least, not before he reached Foundation Establishment.

’So I can’t fight him head-on. I have to outsmart him.’

’Although I plan to vie for a position as a Direct Disciple to take shelter from him, I can’t pin all my hopes on them.’

’After all... this is the Stain Sect we’re talking about.’

’And a cunning rabbit has at least three burrows—how could a person have no plan B?’

So, Lü Yang had to have another plan, or even several, to ensure he could handle it when Arhat Fulong eventually came for him.

And Zhao Xuhe was one of those backup plans.

The next moment, Lü Yang directly unleashed his Divine Sense, violently flooding into Zhao Xuhe’s mind.

....

As the effects of his drunkenness wore off, Zhao Xuhe’s eyes snapped open. In the haze between sleep and waking, fragmented memories suddenly surfaced in his mind.

’Where am I...’

Zhao Xuhe glanced around in a daze, taking a long moment to gather his wits. Only when the fragmented memories in his mind began to sharpen did a look of sudden realization dawn on his face.

’...These are memories from my past life!’

In the memories, Zhao Xuhe saw a young man who bore a strong resemblance to him. He walked on air, rode the winds, and laughed defiantly at Heaven and Earth—the very picture of high-spirited ambition.

’So that’s it... I was Perfected Panlong in my past life!’

It all clicked for Zhao Xuhe.

’No wonder I felt such an affinity for Perfected Panlong’s cultivation technique—it was mine all along! As for the merit from three lifetimes, I must have accumulated that when I was a Perfected Person.’

’As for why I don’t have more memories or the innate talent expected of a Perfected Person’s reincarnation... that’s normal too. The legacy of a Perfected Person is drained after five lifetimes, and this life is the fifth. My limit is approaching, and many of my wondrous abilities have been lost. Otherwise, how could I have fallen into such a pathetic state?’

Zhao Xuhe didn’t doubt the memories in the slightest.

After all, the memories were logical and consistent, each piece fitting perfectly with the next. Even the parts that initially seemed flawed could be given a reasonable explanation after a moment’s thought.

Most importantly, one thing in the memories was undeniably real.

"The Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis!"

Zhao Xuhe focused his mind, and the text of the Ninefold Dragon Metamorphosis surfaced in his thoughts, word for word. It even came with corresponding insights and annotations!

’There’s no doubt about it! These must be my insights on the technique from my past life!’

What’s more, the memories even included the Imperial Dragonrise Scroll. This made Zhao Xuhe so ecstatic that he nearly started dancing for joy in his Cave Mansion.

However, his expression quickly grew solemn again.

’Someone is definitely plotting against me in this life!’

After a moment’s thought, Zhao Xuhe’s sharp mind quickly zeroed in on the culprit:

’The Master of Heaven Mending Peak!’

If Zhao Xuhe had felt a shred of reverence for his master before, as a disciple of the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, all that remained now was bitter resentment.

’That old bastard is a Perfected Person himself, what right did he have to take me, the reincarnation of another Perfected Person, as his disciple?

He was clearly taking advantage of my status! And when the legacy I left for myself suddenly vanished, I went to ask that old bastard, and he actually said my fated connection to it had ended? That’s just a load of absolute nonsense...’

’Don’t tell me he skimmed off the inheritance I left for myself!’

The more Zhao Xuhe thought about it, the angrier he became. It took a long while for him to calm down. ’...That old bastard is powerful. I can’t let him find out that I’ve awakened the memories of my past life.’

’I’ll endure this humiliation for now!’

’And wait for the opportune moment!’

Zhao Xuhe’s gaze was resolute, as if he had truly become the all-powerful Perfected Panlong from his memories. ’In this life, I will absolutely return to Foundation Establishment!’

’Even if I face countless hardships and dangers, I will defy the heavens!’

.....

Watching Zhao Xuhe in his Cave Mansion, vowing to the heavens and regaining his resolve, Lü Yang smiled in satisfaction.

The so-called "past life memories" were, of course, all fabricated by Lü Yang. Empowered by Su Nu, he could now subtly implant thoughts in the minds of others.

Strictly speaking, Zhao Xuhe had now become Lü Yang’s bait.

And the big fish Lü Yang intended to catch was none other than Arhat Fulong!

’In this life, I’ll first help Zhao Xuhe attempt his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. Let him draw all of Arhat Fulong’s attention. Then, I’ll make my own attempt.’

This would buy him the time he needed to break through.

To put it bluntly, he was using Zhao Xuhe as a shield.

’Senior Brother Zhao, you can rest in peace. If you can take this hit for me in this life, I’ll even waive the interest on the Contribution Points you owed me from the life before last...’