Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 517: The Patriarch’s Backup Plan, An Unexpected Surprise

Lü Yang didn’t indulge in the illusion of a "sixty-percent chance of success" for long, for he knew full well that this feeling was nothing but the moon’s reflection in water, a flower in a mirror.

’The North and Overseas have only submitted in name.’

’This kind of submission only fulfills the basic requirements for the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]. Without true ’governance,’ the foundation is unstable. In truth, I don’t have a sixty-percent chance of success.’

What would a truly perfect attempt to seek the [Fruit of Celestial Fire] entail?

The entire world must be unified, its qi traces merged into a single, pure, and flawless stream. To Seek Gold under such conditions would be like ascending to the throne—a matter of course, with no possibility of failure.

However, as long as a single place remained un-unified, this corner of Heaven and Earth would contain impure qi. This was irrelevant in daily life, but during his attempt to Seek Gold, the impure qi from these un-unified territories would rise up to oppose him, disrupting his efforts and slashing his chances of success by three-tenths out of thin air.

’It looks like I have a sixty-percent chance of success.’

’But without complete unification, the disruption from impure qi slashes that by three-tenths. Then, holding a title in name only, without actual governance, slashes it by another three-tenths... The result is that my chances are actually less than thirty percent.’

There are no shortcuts when Seeking Gold.

If he had been relying on wishful thinking, losing himself in that moment when all nations paid homage and voices hailed him as "Your Majesty," then he might as well have been waiting for death.

That said, Lü Yang was still satisfied.

’A title in name only, without actual governance... This problem is easy to solve. Overseas, the True Dragon Race can enforce my rule, and in the North, the Saint Sect just needs to seal its mountain gates.’

Of course, doing so would be equivalent to carving flesh from the other Perfected Lords. The True Dragon Race, however, would be more than happy to do it Overseas. And as for Minor Metal, a Saint Sect Zhenren, he wouldn’t care in the slightest—it wasn’t *his* flesh on the line, after all. When it came to being generous at others’ expense, he was always exceedingly magnanimous.

This way, the sixty-percent chance of success is only reduced by three-tenths, leaving me with just over forty percent.

’If I then occupy the South, boosting my chances to eighty percent, then even without taking the Pure Land in the West, after the three-tenths reduction, I’ll still have over a fifty-percent chance of success.’

At this thought, Lü Yang cursed inwardly.

’In other words, to attain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], it’s either a one-hundred-percent guarantee or a little over a fifty-percent chance... What the hell? Are these odds even meant for a human to attempt?’

The [Fruit of Celestial Fire] was like this, but what about the [Fruit of Great-Forest Wood]?

How did Ang Xiao manage it back then?

He had spent the accumulated resources of ten lifetimes and racked his brain just to get this far. Ang Xiao had only one chance, so how did he do it?

........

As the saying goes: hold large meetings for small matters, and small meetings for large matters.

The grand ceremony was for all to see, meant to establish Lü Yang’s Position in the Dao Court. Beyond that, however, there were matters that required private discussion.

「Inside Celestial Wu Hall.」

"I must thank you both for your efforts today."

Lü Yang smiled faintly and offered a cupped-fist salute to Celestial Python and Minor Metal. As the "Emperor Huanming" of the Dao Court, for him to take the initiative to bow was a great show of respect.

Thus, Celestial Python didn’t hesitate. Despite being Lü Yang’s elder, he decisively returned the salute, intentionally lowering his stance to show his deference. On the other side, although Minor Metal’s expression remained cold and unyielding, his movements were no slower than Celestial Python’s as he, too, returned Lü Yang’s gesture.

At the same time, Empress Xiao emerged, a wine flagon in her hand.

POP!

She opened the flagon, and the aroma of wine instantly filled the air. Lü Yang personally poured, filling everyone’s cups before raising his own.

"From this day forward, we are as one."

"You all should understand: if you wish to Seek Gold, I must first become a Perfected Lord. Only with my protection can you succeed. Our interests are aligned."

This went without saying for Empress Xiao; her path to Seeking Gold was entirely dependent on Lü Yang.

Celestial Python, having been chosen by Buddhist Destiny, could only seek refuge under Lü Yang’s banner.

And as for Minor Metal, it was even more obvious. Without Lü Yang’s Fake Holding of the Fruit of Lamp-Cover Fire to reverse the Earth of Chen, he had no hope of Seeking Gold.

And so, as Lü Yang finished speaking, all three raised their cups and drank them dry. Seeing this, the smile on Lü Yang’s face widened.

"Today is a most joyous day!"

Soon, after several rounds of drinks, Minor Metal looked to Lü Yang and said in a low voice, "Now that the dynasty is established, the next step is the South, isn’t it?"

"Indeed."

Lü Yang didn’t deny it. Both had a tacit understanding to leave the West for last. After all, when it came to the Bhagavat... well, those who knew, knew. It wasn’t a place an ordinary person could tread.

However, the South wouldn’t be easy either. The greatest trouble there was—

"Demon-Vanquishing Perfected, Ye Guangji."

Minor Metal’s brow furrowed. "How do you plan to deal with him, the greatest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the world? If you can’t handle him, you’ll never be able to take the South."

"Don’t worry. I have my own plans for this."

’Besides, I don’t actually have to do anything. As time passes, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected will eventually take himself and the Pure Land out in a blaze of glory... but there’s a risk to that plan.’

The reason was simple: Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was too good at stalling.

’In my Previous Life, he stalled for a full thirty years before he went to the Pure Land to self-destruct. If Exorcist Zhenren hadn’t given him a nudge, he would have stalled even longer...’

That was the problem. The longer the delay, the stronger the connection the All True Monarchs would have to the Current World. For the first ten years, they might still find it difficult to observe this world. But after thirty years, short of being unable to manifest without burning their Grotto Heavens, the All True Monarchs would have basically regained their full surveillance over the Current World.

’I can’t afford to wait that long.’

’To attain the [Fruit of Celestial Fire], I must ensure that no Perfected Lord can interfere with the Current World... Perhaps I should find a way to check on the Progenitor’s arrangements.’

Soon, the banquet concluded.

As Minor Metal and Celestial Python departed, Lü Yang put his arm around Empress Xiao, heading back to Kunning Palace. At the same time, he sank his Heart Spirit into the Myriad-Soul Banner.

Soon, he saw an orb of light.

This was the key left by Progenitor Tingyou. With it, Lü Yang could enter the [Eternal Joy Garden], a place the Progenitor had created specially for him before departing.

’Come to think of it, I’ve just been letting the [Eternal Joy Garden] operate on its own until now.’

As Lü Yang reached for the orb of light, he mused, ’After all this time, I wonder how much it has developed...’

The next second, the scene before Lü Yang’s eyes changed abruptly.

And then he froze.

RUMBLE!

Looking up at the heavens, Lü Yang’s jaw dropped. The light from the [Fruit of Celestial Fire] high above, which shone down upon him, had suddenly surged, increasing by several-tenths!

’This feeling... is it the South?’

At this thought, Lü Yang looked down at the orb of light in his hand. A massive flood of information poured into his Spiritual Space, and he instantly understood the reason for this sudden change.

’It was the Progenitor!’

’Of course... I never hid anything from the Progenitor. He knew about my True Dragon Body and my deal with Minor Metal. He must have calculated long ago that if I took charge of the Dao Court, the North and Overseas would effectively be mine. The only remaining problems would be the South and the West, so he made arrangements.’

During this time, the [Eternal Joy Garden] had done only one thing.

It had been frantically recruiting new members in the South. And the high-and-mighty Sword Pavilion, with its hands-off policy toward the South, had somehow failed to notice a thing!

Not only that, but under Progenitor Tingyou’s design, the [Eternal Joy Garden] had specifically recruited Sect Leaders and high-ranking members from the various major and minor Sects responsible for governing regions throughout the South.

With that, the result was obvious:

’Now, in the South, with the exception of the Sword Pavilion, all other territories have been covered by the [Eternal Joy Garden]. The [Fruit of Celestial Fire] has actually recognized them as being under my rule!’