Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 510: Coercion

Celestial Wu City, the Junior Tutor’s Mansion.

By now, Li Taian’s eyes were bloodshot. He ceaselessly deduced the karmic links, his hands moving with such fury they seemed to nearly spark, while his Divine Sense frantically scoured the entire city.

He had only one objective: to find Lü Yang.

Yet he found nothing. But on second thought, Li Taian felt this was only to be expected. ’After all, that’s a Bhagavat. How could I possibly calculate his location?’

Yes, Li Taian was now convinced that Lü Yang was a Bhagavat.

"Will there be a problem on the Empress’s side?"

Li Taian looked at the Junior Tutor and said in a low voice, "If I’m not mistaken, I fear the Commander of Five Armies has already been corrupted by the Bhagavat. If they were to corrupt the Empress..."

"Don’t worry."

The Junior Tutor shook his head. "The Celestial Wu Hall is where the Immortal Dao Law is most concentrated. The Empress has its protection. Even a Bhagavat could not possibly corrupt her."

If that were not the case, why would he have sat by and watched Empress Xiao recruit the Commander of Five Armies alone?

"If it really is a Bhagavat... Her Majesty the Empress will have her own judgment. The outcome will be nothing more than her luring the Commander of Five Armies into a trap to kill them. Her personal safety is not a concern."

"That’s good."

Li Taian breathed a sigh of relief. He then looked down over the entire city again, but was overcome by a deep-seated doubt. ’Where on earth did that Demon Dragon go?’

...

"I request that Her Majesty the Empress grant this subject the Emperor’s Token and authorize the arrests."

Lü Yang stood his ground, the Commander of Five Armies arrayed behind him. The six men stood as one, and upon seeing this, Empress Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply.

"A Bhagavat?"

The moment the thought surfaced, Empress Xiao’s first reaction was that it was absurd.

’That damn Bhagavat! Wasn’t coming to the Dao Court once enough? You had to come a second time? Why the hell don’t you go to the North and South of the River and pick a fight with the Saint Sect Sword Pavilion?’

Meanwhile, Lü Yang’s face darkened.

"Your Majesty the Empress, please don’t speak so carelessly. Where do I look like a Bhagavat?" Lü Yang turned to the Commander of Five Armies. "Do you all think I look like one?"

The Commander of Five Armies replied in unison, "Not at all!"

This only made Empress Xiao more certain. ’It’s definitely him!’

At this thought, Empress Xiao actually regained her composure. An incarnation of the Bhagavat would never admit to being one, so she decided to address him as a fellow Daoist.

"Fellow Daoist Du Huan has been very busy tonight."

"Your Majesty, I am humbled." Lü Yang said flatly. "Although I have caused some minor disturbances, everything this subject has done has been for the good of the Dao Court."

"That is why I came with the Commander of Five Armies to see you."

"I implore Her Majesty the Empress not to hesitate any longer. Otherwise, this situation could very well escalate into a large-scale civil war within the Dao Court. I hope Your Majesty will consider the countless citizens of the East."

These words gave Empress Xiao pause. He sounded so righteous, almost like someone from the Sword Pavilion...

’What are the origins of this Demon Dragon?’

Though Empress Xiao was filled with doubt, her beautiful face tightened as if facing a great enemy. "And if I refuse? What do you intend to do then, Daoist?"

The words had barely left her lips when Empress Xiao saw the Commander of Five Armies behind Lü Yang move as if with one mind. They suddenly took a step back and then exited the grand hall.

BANG!

As the doors of the grand hall swung shut, only Lü Yang and Empress Xiao remained in the vast, empty chamber. The atmosphere instantly grew cold and murderous.

"If Her Majesty the Empress does not grant her approval, then I will not be leaving today."

At these words, Empress Xiao’s expression turned grim. In a low voice, she asked, "This is acting before reporting... Do you intend to purge the entire Dao Court of its officials?"

"A Demon Cultivator of the Dragon Race, committing such treason."

"Do you not fear punishment from the Master of Dao?"

Lü Yang shook his head. "Your Majesty worries too much. How could Lower Cultivators like us possibly fathom the will of the Master of Dao? The Empress should not place her hopes in that."

Empress Xiao fell silent for a moment.

In the next second, she suddenly opened her mouth. A divine sound that could pierce metal and shatter stone erupted from her lips, about to burst out of the great hall and instantly echo through all of Celestial Wu City.

"Summon the Three Solitaries to the palace to save me!"

Empress Xiao held nothing back in this cry for help. Even if it couldn’t escape the inner palace, if Crown Prince Longxing heard it, his arrival would at least provide some assistance.

However, in the next instant, a Splendid Light bloomed behind Lü Yang, unfurling like a breathtaking scroll painting. Mighty and vast, mountains and rivers surged from the level ground as the sun, moon, and stars rose in the sky. They wove together, converging into an immense domain that completely swallowed Empress Xiao’s cry for help.

[Mountain and Sea Map of the Imperial Decree]!

As this Innate Ability unfurled, it was as if Heaven and Earth themselves had been replaced. It instantly cut Empress Xiao off from the outside world, and what made her turn even paler was—

"A Blessed Land!?"

For a moment, Empress Xiao was stunned. ’A Blessed Land... Only those at the orthodox Foundation Establishment Perfection can condense one, but this man clearly cultivates the Incense and Candle Divine Dao...’

At this thought, Empress Xiao hastily formed a Daoist Hand Seal.

"Disperse!"

The [Seven Luminaries Heaven] appeared in her hand, and a Splendid Light immediately fell upon Lü Yang. However, his Position at Foundation Establishment Perfection showed no sign of wavering.

Seeing this, Empress Xiao finally understood.

’This Demon Dragon... he didn’t achieve Foundation Establishment Perfection through the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, but through his own self-cultivation. He has long since perfected all his Abilities!’

But how was that possible?

At this thought, Empress Xiao was horrified. ’This Demon Dragon... according to the official records, when he entered the East, he was clearly only at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment!’

How long has it been since then?

One year? Two years?

Even with the boons from his Official Position, his True Dragon background, and the Immortal Dao Law to rapidly advance his Cultivation, breaking through to the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment would have been an incredible achievement.

But Foundation Establishment Perfection? And not just an ordinary one at that—he’s already condensed a Blessed Land! This kind of cultivation speed meant he was either the reincarnation of a Perfected Lord or a Bhagavat toying with mortals. And as for a Perfected Lord reincarnation... the only one in the last five thousand years was Fortune, so that possibility was ruled out.

’Then he can only be a Bhagavat!’

Empress Xiao took a deep breath. A Splendid Light gradually materialized around her, making her already peerless beauty seem all the more sacred and untouchable.

The Splendid Light condensed behind her head, gradually forming a full moon of pure, flawless Mythical Light. Lü Yang’s expression changed to one of surprise at the sight. In his Previous Life, he himself had relied on the [Seven Luminaries Heaven] to achieve Foundation Establishment Perfection. He could see it clearly now: Empress Xiao was just like he had been!

That full moon of Mythical Light was, astonishingly, formed from her Abilities.

’[Exquisite Heart], [Holding True Qi], [Huiyuan Skill], [Heavenly Order], [With the World]... All five Outer Path Divine Techniques are the same as mine.’

And that wasn’t all.

Because Empress Xiao also held the Official Position of [Fruit of Roadside Earth], a celestial light shone brightly above her head, and her title of [Empress Ci Sheng Ling Si] also manifested an Ability.

"...Interesting."

A smile touched Lü Yang’s eyes. Although the level of Cultivation Empress Xiao displayed was surprising, he was currently in need of a good whetstone!

The next second, the entire Kunning Palace began to tremble slightly.

...

The Inner Palace, outside Kunning Palace.

The Commander of Five Armies stood guard solemnly before the doors, while Crown Prince Longxing, whom Empress Xiao had sent out earlier, paced back and forth nervously.

"Five generals, is my mother alright? I still need her to oversee the situation..."

"Please rest assured, Your Highness."

The Commander of Five Armies said in unison,

"Her Majesty the Empress only said that she wished to enter a period of seclusion, and she ordered the five of us to guard the doors. No one is to enter without permission. We ask that Your Highness wait for a little while."

Crown Prince Longxing grew agitated at their words.

However, Empress Xiao’s authority over him was so ingrained that he didn’t dare to argue. Turning to look back, he discovered that Kunning Palace was emitting tremors and muffled rumbles.

"What’s going on?"

The Commander of Five Armies glanced over at the palace, then said nonchalantly, "It seems Her Majesty the Empress is having a breakthrough. Your Highness need not worry. It will be over in a little while."