Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 152: Tribulation

After watching the Master of Heaven Mending Peak depart, the smile on Lü Yang’s face slowly faded, replaced by a look of genuine confusion.

’Something’s not right...’

’He just believed me like that?’

To be honest, Lü Yang hadn’t expected the Master of Heaven Mending Peak to trust him at all. After all, a seasoned old Demon like him shouldn’t be so quick to trust an outsider.

However, the situation was different from what he had imagined. The Master of Heaven Mending Peak hadn’t seemed to doubt him in the slightest. He had accepted Arhat Fulong’s Golden Body Relic with great satisfaction and then rushed back, seemingly in a hurry to give it to Chen Xin’an and help him break through to Foundation Establishment.

This was clearly out of character for a Stain Sect Perfected Person.

’Blinded by greed...’

Lü Yang performed a quick divination with his fingers, a sense of wonder in his heart. The Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s current bizarre state could actually be explained in a single sentence.

He had suffered a massive loss of Merit and was now entangled by Tribulation Qi.

Under the divine punishment at the Skull Mountains, Zhao Xuhe had died instantly, Arhat Fulong was condemned to ten lives as a pig and a dog, and the two Perfected Persons from the Divine Martial Sect had become sacrifices for the Abi Sword.

Only the Master of Heaven Mending Peak survived.

But survival didn’t mean Heaven and Earth had spared him. With most of his Fortune and Merit stripped away, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s mind was now clouded by tribulation.

’When one’s mind is clouded by tribulation and the Spirit Platform is stained with dust, they no longer delve into matters they would normally see through at a glance. They fail to notice the most obvious abnormalities, act recklessly, and become irritable and prone to anger. Unless a greater power intervenes to help, even if they enjoy a moment of glory, they are doomed to a bleak end...’

At this thought, Lü Yang was suddenly horrified.

’This Vast Skull Mountains Ley Line is practically a Merit Nuclear Bomb. Besides the direct explosive power, it even has fucking after-effects. This seems a bit too intense...’

The crucial part was that these after-effects were undetectable.

To the point that even the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, who should have been sinister and cunning, had been reduced to this state... As he thought of this, a difficult notion surfaced in Lü Yang’s mind:

’...What about me?’

The next second, Lü Yang swiftly formed a sign with his Magic Formulas. A brilliant Splendid Light burst forth from his Dao Foundation, washing over his entire body like a clear spring and cleansing it of impurities.

[Differentiation]!

As the Ability continued to operate, Lü Yang’s vision gradually cleared. He abruptly recalled an obvious problem that he had previously overlooked:

’Did I... just give that thing away too easily?’

According to the customs of the Stain Sect, his best move would have been to extort the Master of Heaven Mending Peak for all he was worth. That way, it would be less likely for the man to grow suspicious of him.

But what had happened instead?

He hadn’t haggled at all, simply handing over Arhat Fulong’s Golden Body Relic. If he were the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, he would have been suspicious long ago!

’[Differentiation] didn’t completely sever the karmic links!?’

’No... it’s just that my Cultivation is insufficient. The connection was severed, but some threads remained, leaving a lingering influence...’

Lü Yang sucked in a sharp breath. His face turned snow-white, and cold sweat dripped down his brow. It was a long while before he slowly recovered, his heart heavy.

’On the bright side, as the mastermind behind the destruction of the Vast Skull Mountains Ley Line, the impact on me isn’t as severe as it is on the Master of Heaven Mending Peak. This is already thanks to [Differentiation]. Plus, I swallowed the Divine Martial Sect’s Merit and Fortune, which is why I still have a chance to remain clear-headed.’

Someone who had truly sunk into it, like the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, would probably never wake up.

The power of Heaven and Earth... was it really this terrifying!?

In an instant, Lü Yang—who had grown a little arrogant from manipulating karmic links and outlasting Arhat Fulong—shrank back, a bone-deep chill washing over him.

The karmic links of Heaven and Earth were not so easily trifled with.

Although his Innate Ability gave him a unique advantage in this area, even the best swimmer can drown, and the best rider can fall. If you play with fire, you will eventually get burned!

’What is this godforsaken place...’

All this time, Lü Yang had held Perfected Lords of the Golden Core in the utmost awe. After all, the image from the Battle for the Dao—of a being who could pluck the sun and moon from the sky—was still fresh in his memory.

Now, however, he was changing his mind.

A Perfected Lord was certainly terrifying, but even a Perfected Lord, when they wiped out the entire Wu Ghost Sect back then, hadn’t chosen to directly destroy the Skull Mountains’ Lay Line!

From this, it was clear that even for a Perfected Lord, the influence of karmic links, Merit, and Fortune likely held some sway over them. It might not be much, but it was definitely there. When compared to the heaven-shaking Mighty Power of a Perfected Lord, it only went to show just how deep the waters of this world ran.

’Fortunately, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak I’m facing is in an even worse state than I am...’

This was the subtlety of Fortune.

If it had been any other Stain Sect Perfected Person, the flaw Lü Yang had revealed would have been fatal. But because it was precisely the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, it instead allowed him to come to his senses.

At first glance, this seemed like a coincidence.

However, if one analyzed it from the perspective of Fortune, it was because he had swallowed the Divine Martial Sect’s Merit and Fortune—his fate was not yet to die, whereas the Master of Heaven Mending Peak’s Fortune had already run out.

’...Entangled by Tribulation Qi, his true retribution is probably still to come.’

.......

「Sea of Clouds, Heaven Mending Peak.」

The moment the Master of Heaven Mending Peak returned, the world spun around him. He found himself teleported into a palace hall, where a lavishly dressed handmaiden approached him respectfully.

"Master, the Mistress wishes to see you."

"...She wants to see me?"

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak frowned. He wanted to refuse, but her attitude—teleporting him here directly—made it clear that refusal was not an option.

Thinking this, he followed the handmaiden deeper into the palace.

Before long, a Quiet Chamber came into view. Eighteen stunningly beautiful handmaidens stood on either side of the room, each in a different pose, as still as statues.

And in the center, surrounded by them, was a graceful figure seen from behind.

Her voluminous black hair was coiled in a bun, pierced by a Snake Head Hairpin. The dangling ornaments on the Hairpin swayed gently. She wore a Red Long Dress that faintly revealed the snow-white skin beneath.

Beneath the hem of her long dress, a gentle breeze revealed a pair of fair thighs. Her bare feet, without shoes or socks, trod lightly on the clouds, as smooth as jade with a rosy, translucent glow. A pair of bright silver anklets adorned her ankles, chiming with every step, a sound that could ensnare the soul.

In an instant, the scent of Sandalwood Incense filled the air.

Yet, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak felt no stirrings at this sight. Instead, an impatient look crossed his face. "Is it about that same matter? If so, there’s no need to say another word."

A moment later, the graceful figure slowly turned.

To the chiming of the silver anklets on her feet, a face of breathtaking beauty and dignified grace was revealed, at once stately yet concealing a bewitching charm.

"...Must you insist on making Shu Qian take the tribulation in your stead?"

Her words were like a plea, like a whisper, inspiring an uncontrollable sense of pity, enough to topple one’s Divine Soul and make them agree to her every demand.

But the Master of Heaven Mending Peak was dismissive.

"Don’t try that routine on me... Besides, I may be using Qian’Er to take my tribulation, but aren’t you also planning to use her to break through the confusion of the womb after your reincarnation?"

"...Hmph!"

The next second, like a spring breeze turning to frozen snow, the woman’s voice became chilling. "Chen Taihe, since you already know, why must you ruin my reincarnation?"

"You’re worrying for nothing."

The Master of Heaven Mending Peak said flatly, "If I break through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment and achieve the rank of Great Trueman, I will naturally be able to divine your reincarnated body and retrieve you."

"But what if you fail?"

The woman’s voice was grave. "If you fail, and Shu Qian dies, my time will be short. I won’t have time to cultivate a second one. How will I break through the confusion of the womb then?"

At this, the woman stared intently at the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, hoping he could give an answer that would satisfy them both.

In the end, however, all she heard was an answer that left no room for argument:

"I will not fail!"

At these words, a look of disappointment flashed in the woman’s beautiful eyes, but she instantly regained her composure and said coldly, "Chen Taihe, you will regret this."

To this, the Master of Heaven Mending Peak just sneered.

"Ruo Xiang, don’t you forget, I am the Master of Heaven Mending Peak of this generation!"