Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 544: The Stain Sect’s Old Undying One is Too Wicked

Hearing Yu Zhou’s reply, Lü Yang was lost in thought.

He was pondering a question: if World Purger Fei Xue could emerge from that tangled history, couldn’t others do the same?

Ultimately, did the people within that tangled history even know their own circumstances?

’Otherworldly Luck.’

’Did he truly fail in his pursuit of the Fruit of Celestial Fire and reincarnate, or did he find another path and secretly cross into the current world, just like World Purger Fei Xue?’

’No, that’s not right... That tangled history is very likely the Bhagavat’s Land of Enlightenment. How could the Bhagavat allow people to escape so frequently? The Zouyu Descendants are one thing, since that was the handiwork of the Saint Sect Ancestral Master. But what about World Purger Fei Xue? How did she escape?’

Even the Saint Sect Ancestral Master couldn’t repeatedly extract people from that tangled history.

After all, a single Zouyu Descendant was enough of a bargaining chip against the Bhagavat. Extracting anyone else would only grate on the Bhagavat’s already sensitive nerves.

The losses would outweigh the gains.

At this thought, Lü Yang suddenly looked at Yu Zhou again. The man’s expression was tense; he clearly knew more but dared not speak of it openly.

’Is he trying to hint at some important secret?’

Lü Yang mused, glancing again at the Celestial Emperor’s Radiant Book in his hand. Its author had lamented that among all the Emperor Fruits, only the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood could be attained.

’What’s so special about that?’

In the current world, this was already an open secret. Ang Xiao had attained the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood, becoming the first Perfected Lord in all of history to achieve an Emperor Fruit—

!!!

The next second, Lü Yang’s expression changed abruptly. His gaze burned like a torch as he stared intently at the old man before him. ’Ang Xiao... Could he be like the Zouyu Descendants? If that person with Otherworldly Luck truly did cross over into the current world, is it possible that he’s the Ang Xiao who has now reached Attainment?’

’No... that’s not right. My reasoning is flawed.’

Lü Yang’s thoughts raced as he recovered from his shock. ’The timing is wrong. Ang Xiao is a veteran Perfected Lord of the Saint Sect; he’s been around for tens of thousands of years.’

Furthermore, there was even stronger evidence.

’If Ang Xiao were truly that person with Otherworldly Luck, he would have to know about the Seven Luminaries Heaven. How could he have left that lingering threat out there Beyond the Heavens?’

What’s more, transitioning from the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire to the Fruit of Celestial Fire is at least conceivable, as they are both Fire Element Fruits. But changing from the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire to the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood is just too far-fetched. It seems utterly unrealistic... Still, one thing is certain: Ang Xiao knows of the tangled history’s existence.

’That means he’s had contact with people or events from that place, at the very least.’

At this thought, Lü Yang couldn’t help but marvel. As a veteran Saint Sect True Monarch, Ang Xiao was a veritable treasure trove, privy to far too many secrets.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang had come to his own understanding of this so-called "tangled history."

’I shouldn’t overcomplicate it. Ultimately, it’s a creation separate from the current world.’

’To be blunt, this tangled history is nothing more than another form of Simulation Realm—one created by the Bhagavat.’

With this realization, Lü Yang had the beginnings of a solution for the Zouyu Race’s problem. He also finally understood what Yu Zhou had been hinting at, both directly and indirectly:

’He’s implying that if the Zouyu Descendants could get out, they can also get back in!’

’Furthermore, since the fundamental nature of that tangled history is similar to a Simulation Realm... a Simulation Realm should produce a similar effect.’

This gave Lü Yang at least two ways to solve the problem of the Zouyu Descendants.

’I can either find the entrance to that tangled history within the Saint Sect and send them back, or I can just put them into a Simulation Realm.’

Both approaches followed the same logic: if you can’t solve the problem, get rid of the people causing it. After all, he couldn’t possibly go and rule that tangled history himself. And if Yu Zhou wasn’t lying, there might even be a Perfected Lord presiding over it. Therefore, sending the Zouyu Race away was the more viable option.

Soon after, however, Lü Yang’s brow furrowed.

’But... the Saint Sect Ancestral Master was most likely the one who brought the Zouyu Descendants out. If I send them back, wouldn’t that be a slap in the Ancestral Master’s face?’

That left only one option:

The Simulation Realm!

Lü Yang organized his thoughts, but his expression remained grave. ’That’s right. Being inside a Simulation Realm should shield them from the effects of the tangled history.’

Primal Daoist Mu Changsheng was a case in point.

At this thought, Lü Yang immediately looked at Yu Zhou and said, "Thank you for your clarification, Daoist. However, it seems your esteemed clan didn’t actually need me to make this trip."

From the way Yu Zhou was acting, he clearly knew that Lü Yang stood in his way. And the head of the Zouyu Race was obviously a pragmatic man. Logically, if simply hiding in a Simulation Realm could solve the problem, the Zouyu Race could have handled it themselves. Why would they wait until now?

Unless... Lü Yang’s heart sank.

"Has something happened to the Simulation Realm?"

At these words, a bitter expression crossed Yu Zhou’s face. He nodded and said, "Your Excellency is perceptive. The Simulation Realm has been sealed."

Lü Yang was taken aback. "Sealed?"

This was an unexpected development. He gaped, and based on his clear understanding of the Saint Sect’s methods, a theory immediately formed in his mind:

’The Ancestral Master has made his move?’

’Sealing the Simulation Realm... isn’t that a hint for me to send the Zouyu Descendants back into that tangled history? Does the Ancestral Master no longer need his leverage against the Bhagavat?’

If he could help it, Lü Yang wanted nothing to do with that tangled history. After all, the enmity between him and the Bhagavat already ran deep. He was practically tap-dancing on the Bhagavat’s last nerve. If he were to enter that tangled history and get further entangled in the Bhagavat’s schemes, there would truly be no going back.

And yet, he had no choice.

’The Simulation Realm is sealed, and I can’t force it open... They’re forcing my hand! Forcing me into conflict with the Bhagavat, forcing me to explore that tangled history!’

Those old monsters from the Saint Sect are despicable!

Once he put it all together, Lü Yang’s expression darkened. He looked at Yu Zhou’s anxious face and instantly understood the role the old man was playing:

A puppet for the old monsters of the Saint Sect.

’From the moment the Simulation Realm was sealed, he must have guessed the Saint Sect Ancestral Master’s intentions. All that was left for him was to play his part... How typical of those old monsters.’

Unlike the Bhagavat, who often mingled with the Lower Cultivators, the old monsters of the Saint Sect only made moves that mattered.

Back then, Mu Changsheng had plotted for ages, yet one of the Saint Sect’s old monsters did just one thing—imprison him in the Simulation Realm—and his entire plan fell apart.

It was the same this time.

The Saint Sect’s old monster hadn’t done anything else. By simply sealing the Simulation Realm, he had ensured that events would naturally unfold just as he wished.

But the question remained: what did the Saint Sect’s old monster actually want?

’He can’t possibly be trying to kill the Bhagavat, can he?’

For a moment, Lü Yang’s thoughts spun. It felt as if countless threads of clues were tangling together, branching into infinite possibilities, making it impossible for him to distill the truth.

’So this is what it feels like for a Lower Cultivator to try and fathom the will of their betters... The Celestial Will is truly inscrutable!’

After a long while, Lü Yang let out a deep breath of Muddy Qi and said to Yu Zhou, "Tell me. Where... where did you all enter the Saint Sect from?"

He didn’t have it all figured out, but he knew what he had to do.

He had no choice in the matter. Whatever the Saint Sect Ancestral Master’s plans were, as long as Lü Yang still wanted to attain the Fruit of Celestial Fire, he had to play along.

"Your Excellency."

The old man heard him and quickly bowed, his voice laced with trepidation. "We do not know the exact location. One moment we were somewhere else, and in the blink of an eye, we were in the Sea of Clouds."

"But... World Purger Fei Xue is certain to know!"

At this, Yu Zhou suddenly lowered his voice. "Knowing her style, she would only feel safe keeping something so important close by."

"Perhaps Your Excellency should take a look in her personal chambers?"