Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 522: Kan and Li True Method of Positional Shift

Although the thought of going all-in against the Bhagavat was incredibly tempting, Lü Yang took a deep breath and suppressed the bold, dangerous idea.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling, but the timing was wrong.

’I know nothing about the current situation in the Pure Land in the West. I only know that the Bhagavat has upped the ante and empowered the Buddha’s Son, but I don’t know in what specific way.’

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated.

’If I rashly assume the Fake Golden Position, what if they have a way to counter it and manage to stall for time, waiting until the position’s duration expires?’

’No need to rush. I’ll meet their every move by holding my ground.’

With this in mind, Lü Yang quickly cleared his thoughts. He realized that in this situation, he didn’t need to take the initiative; the Bhagavat would come to him.

’The most pressing matter right now is myself.’

To forge iron, one must first be strong.

At this thought, Lü Yang actually smiled. He stopped paying attention to the Cloud Sea Golden Buddha in the West and rose from the Dragon Bed.

"Is this phenomenon related to you?"

Lü Yang turned toward the voice and looked at a corner of the Dragon Bed. Empress Xiao was clutching a corner of the covers, saying softly, "The West is manifesting its skills. It seems you truly aren’t an incarnation of the Bhagavat."

"What, are you scared?"

Lü Yang could see the terror in Empress Xiao’s heart at a glance and gave a composed smile. Empress Xiao, however, stared wide-eyed, asking him in disbelief:

"Aren’t you afraid?"

Only then did Lü Yang understand. To most Perfected Persons, what a high and mighty figure was the Bhagavat? Even if He were just "fish-bombing," it was not something they could withstand.

Fear was the only logical reaction.

And yet, Lü Yang had weathered many storms. After ten lifetimes, he hadn’t a shred of reverence left for the Bhagavat. Furthermore, he now had the Daoist Court Daoist Lord at his back. Judging from the feedback of the Immortal Dao Law, the Daoist Court Daoist Lord clearly wanted him to pull himself together, not bring shame upon them, and go pick a fight with the Bhagavat.

At this thought, Lü Yang couldn’t help but chuckle. "Actually, you get used to it after a few times."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he turned and left Kunning Palace, heading for the Celestial Wu Main Hall. Before long, a streak of Flying Light descended from the sky and entered the hall.

The newcomer radiated a sharp aura, his expression solemn. It was Minor Metal.

The moment he stepped into the great hall, Minor Metal’s eyes fell upon Lü Yang. His gaze was as penetrating as candlelight as he said in a low voice, "That was directed at you just now?"

"Correct."

Lü Yang looked perfectly composed. "The Buddha’s Son, his Buddhist Destiny and karmic links... I imagine it won’t be long before that Buddha’s Son from the West comes personally to grant me Enlightenment and guide me into the Pure Land."

Hearing this, Minor Metal’s brows knitted together. He asked in a low voice, "Fake Holding?"

Lü Yang shook his head and gave Minor Metal a meaningful look. "If I were to use Fake Holding now, I’m afraid there would be no place for you, Daoist. You should understand this."

If he were to use Fake Holding, he would only have two choices.

Either he could reverse the Earth of Chen to sabotage Ang Xiao, and then, to prevent Minor Metal from Seeking Gold first and turning the tables, he would have to kill him with a single blow. Or, he could choose not to reverse the Earth of Chen and instead directly sever Minor Metal’s path to the Dao... It was easy to see that either option would mean turning against Minor Metal.

Minor Metal was clearly aware of this as well, and he let out a soft sigh.

Immediately after, he reached into his robes and, to Lü Yang’s surprise, took out a Jade Scroll, handing it over. It was engraved with patterns of the sun and moon, causing Lü Yang to raise an eyebrow.

"This is..."

"Before I left, this was given to me by the group of Zouyu Descendants that the Stain Sect took in." Minor Metal’s expression was solemn. "A True Skill is recorded within."

Lü Yang immediately understood the subtext. ’So he stole it.’

In the next moment, a look of delighted surprise filled his eyes. "A True Skill corresponding to the Fruit of Celestial Fire?"

Minor Metal nodded.

Seeing this, Lü Yang immediately took the Jade Scroll and immersed his Heart Spirit within. He quickly learned the name of this True Skill: the Kan and Li True Method of Positional Shift.

"Kan is water, and Li is fire. The harmony of water and fire refers to the transformations of Yin and Yang, which also represents the Fruit of Celestial Fire. The so-called Kan and Li Proper Position is the location of the Fruit of Celestial Fire... This True Skill is a Miao Fa that the Zouyu Royal Family, from a previous Dao Court dynasty, specifically sought out in their quest for the Fruit of Celestial Fire."

Minor Metal offered a brief explanation.

Meanwhile, Lü Yang had already called upon the Immortal Dao Law for its empowerment, entering a state of super-cultivation and rapidly absorbing the Knowledge from the True Skill in his hand.

’This True Skill isn’t meant for Combat.’

Gradually, a look of understanding, mixed with a hint of awe, appeared on Lü Yang’s face. "This is a Dao-seeking method for risking it all, a gamble to win big!"

’The Fruit of Celestial Fire is difficult to obtain; everyone knows the requirements for its Magic Instrument are far too demanding. However, it is an Emperor Fruit, so how could it not be coveted? In their attempts to achieve this Fruit, our predecessors exhausted every possible method and proposed countless solutions. This True Skill is one of the most brilliant among them.’

The principle behind the True Skill was also quite simple:

’Attaining the Fruit of Celestial Fire directly is hopeless due to the issues with its Magic Instrument. That being the case, one must find an alternative—a more circuitous path to Attainment.’

’In short, one must first cultivate a different Fire Fruit Position.’

’After all, the conditions for other Fruits are not nearly as demanding. One can first use them for Seeking Gold, and then, during the ascension in the Flying Ascension Blessed Land, activate this True Skill.’

’At that time, as long as one can find the Kan and Li Proper Position—the location of the Fruit of Celestial Fire—one can use this True Skill to forcibly alter the direction of their flying ascension. They can jump from their current Fire Fruit Position to the Fruit of Celestial Fire, seeking to attain it instead and bypassing the strict limitations of its Magic Instrument!’

It sounded incredibly tempting.

In reality, however, this was an extremely risky maneuver. Because one was cultivating a different Fire Fruit Position while seeking the Fruit of Celestial Fire, rejection was highly likely.

Besides, just starting this True Skill was incredibly difficult.

The Kan and Li Proper Position was extremely hard to find. It wasn’t a fixed location but was constantly changing like a wave, rising and falling without cease.

’...In the end, it’s just a pipe dream.’

No wonder the Cultivators of the Fruit of Celestial Fire had gradually died out. Compared to other Fruits, this one was simply not meant to be attained by people.

To have been able to develop such a True Skill, one could only imagine how many countless people had thrown themselves into the effort, one after another, sacrificing their very lives to pave the way of the Dao. Yet even after such enormous sacrifice, the result was but a sliver of hope. Before they could perfect it, their own lineages were exhausted by the long march of time.

’However...’

Lü Yang mused to himself. Under the empowerment of the Immortal Dao Law, his Enlightenment was greatly enhanced. Otherwise, he would have called out Progenitor Tingyou long ago.

Gradually, an idea began to form:

’This True Skill might not be usable for Seeking Gold... but if I use it with the Fake Golden Position, simply as a way to link up to a Fruit, it might just have a miraculous effect!’

’After all, Progenitor Tingyou’s Yama Hall allows one to assume a Fake Golden Position without any restrictions! It doesn’t require a Magic Instrument; as long as you have the corresponding Gold Attribute, you can use Fake Holding on the corresponding Fruit... Before, I could only use Fake Holding on the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire, but if I add the Kan and Li True Method of Positional Shift to adjust it—’

’Could it be that I can use Fake Holding on the Fruit of Celestial Fire?’

At this thought, Lü Yang’s breathing instantly grew heavy. The Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire was decent, but compared to the Fruit of Celestial Fire, it was nothing but rotten garbage.

’If I didn’t have to worry about the consequences, it might be worth a try...’

In the next moment, the current Commander of the Imperial City Department, Xiao Shan, strode into the Celestial Wu Hall. He first bowed, declared his loyalty, and then said in a grave voice:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch has arrived from the border."

Lü Yang’s eyebrow twitched. "What is it?"

"It’s the West!"

At this, Xiao Shan seemed to recall something from the report, a look of fear crossing his face. "According to the dispatch, a Demon Monk has appeared from the West."

"He has come from afar, saying he is here for ’Buddhist Cultivation’."