Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

In the eerie atmosphere, the two sides drew apart.

Mu Changsheng and the Old Dragon Monarch retreated to one side, while Lü Yang and Ang Xiao stood on the other. The two pairs each extended their Divine Sense to begin a private conversation.

"Young friend, we have a problem!"

The Old Dragon Monarch's expression was grim as he looked at Mu Changsheng. "If I'm not mistaken, those two from the Stain Sect… I'm afraid they're plotting to ambush True Monarch Gangxing!"

This wasn't actually difficult to guess.

Although he hadn't realized it at first, with his understanding of the Saint Sect True Monarchs, the Old Dragon Monarch quickly discerned Lü Yang and Ang Xiao's plan.

At this, the Old Dragon Monarch glanced at Lü Yang and Ang Xiao in the distance. "If nothing unexpected happens, they're probably discussing the feasibility of their plan right now. In all likelihood, they'll try to pull me in, but that's a deal with the devil. One wrong move and I could lose my life!"

Mu Changsheng's response to this was simple:

"Huh?"

He had absolutely no idea what was going on. He even carefully replayed the previous conversation between the Old Dragon Monarch, Lü Yang, and Ang Xiao in his mind.

'There wasn't much to it, was there?'

These guys were all so cryptic. They would fall silent after just a few words, their eyes darting about, before reaching some sort of tacit understanding.

'Damn it, what did you all figure out?'

For the first time, Mu Changsheng truly understood the meaning of a treacherous Immortal Dao.

'It makes sense, I suppose. Most who can become Perfected Lords are formidable, and these few are the absolute cream of the crop.'

'Whatever, forget it...'

Having fought uphill battles for so many years, Mu Changsheng adjusted his mindset quickly. He immediately grew serious. "So? What's your advice, Senior?"

The Old Dragon Monarch immediately revealed his ace in the hole:

"...Play both sides!"

Don't underestimate those three words. They represent the profound in the simple. It was by relying on this principle that he had managed to survive in a dump like the Immortal Pivot for so many years.

"First of all, if they really intend to ambush True Monarch Gangxing, do you think the two of them are enough?"

Mu Changsheng shook his head without hesitation. "Not enough."

No matter how weakened True Monarch Gangxing might be, he was still a Great Perfected Lord. Plus, he had the trait of Pocket World Falling, making him incredibly difficult to kill.

They'd be lucky not to get killed in the counterattack!

The Old Dragon Monarch nodded. "I've run the calculations. To ambush True Monarch Gangxing, we need to meet at least three conditions to have even a sliver of a chance."

"First, we must sever the infinite Resurrection granted by his Pocket World Falling. This is actually the easiest part. Within the Nourishing Life Master, not even the Netherworld can claim a Soul. As long as we can trap True Monarch Gangxing and prevent him from leaving the Nourishing Life Master, this problem is solved."

"Second, we need the strength."

At this, the Old Dragon Monarch held up three fingers.

"Ang Xiao, that other mysterious Saint Sect True Monarch, and even myself... the three of us combined would have no chance of killing True Monarch Gangxing. It's a pipe dream."

"We'd need at least one more powerhouse... Who do you think would fit the bill?"

Mu Changsheng didn't hesitate for long. "World Purger Fei Xue!"

World Purger Fei Xue's power was undeniable. Even in a one-on-one duel, True Monarch Gangxing might not be able to win unless he recovered his Great True Monarch Cultivation.

"You're right."

The Old Dragon Monarch nodded. "But if they succeed, that means three Saint Sect True Monarchs would be splitting the spoils with us."

"Do you think that's likely?"

"Three Saint Sect True Monarchs, splitting the spoils with us fairly and squarely?"

Mu Changsheng fell silent.

'Of course not!'

Besides, there was a fundamental conflict between World Purger Fei Xue and the Old Dragon Monarch. Fei Xue had coveted the position of Water Element Supreme Venerable for years, and the Old Dragon Monarch currently held that title!

"Without a doubt, they would definitely make a move to kill me!"

The Old Dragon Monarch gritted his teeth. "So we have to give up on this path with the Stain Sect. It's a lost cause... In that case, our only option is to side with the Sword Pavilion."

Mu Changsheng's eyes flickered at his words.

'That's not right.'

'I almost fell for that old dragon's trickery... *He* might not have any hope of working with the Stain Sect, but that's his problem. What does it have to do with me?'

Maybe it was because he had been steeped in this environment for so long, witnessing the casual betrayals between Lü Yang and Ang Xiao. Mu Changsheng almost subconsciously recalled the injuries and hidden dangers he had left inside the Old Dragon Monarch's body—the ones the dragon had concealed with No Heaven.

'This is my chance!'

'If the Old Dragon Monarch really sides with the Sword Pavilion and turns on the Stain Sect, that's my leverage! I can help the Stain Sect deliver a fatal blow at the critical moment!'

Thinking of this, he glanced at the Old Dragon Monarch again.

Mu Changsheng knew exactly why the old dragon had come to him with this supposed confession. It was simply because he saw Mu Changsheng as the weakest link, easy to pinch, and on bad terms with the Stain Sect.

However, Mu Changsheng had already figured it out.

'The cycle of revenge is endless. When I really think about it, my grudge with the Stain Sect isn't that deep. Even if it were, it's not something I can't temporarily set aside.'

More importantly, if he sided with the Sword Pavilion, he had nothing to offer them.

But if he sided with the Stain Sect, he at least had the Old Dragon Monarch as a bargaining chip.

'For the Old Dragon Monarch, siding with the Sword Pavilion is the better choice. But for me... siding with the Stain Sect is better!'

At this thought, Mu Changsheng suddenly felt as if a whole new world of possibilities had opened up.

As for the Old Dragon Monarch's claim that the Saint Sect True Monarchs would inevitably betray their allies after the fact, Mu Changsheng felt it had little to do with him.

'Betrayal only happens when there's a conflict of interest.'

'But I have No Heaven now, and I'm not after any Supreme Fruit Position Book from the sixth floor or higher. The Stain Sect and I have no real conflict of interest!'

The conditions for clearing the Nourishing Life Master were unique.

To clear it, one didn't necessarily have to obtain a book from the sixth floor or higher. He had feigned ignorance before, but he had actually suspected this for many years.

'If I'm not mistaken, the condition for clearing the Nourishing Life Master is to have one's Fruit take root in the Sea of Suffering and transform into a Great Dao. It's not just a matter of raw power.'

Carving out a Dao in the Sea of Suffering was something only a Void Attainment Position could achieve.

However, the Fruits that emerged from the Nourishing Life Master were the sole exception... Take No Heaven, for instance. Although it was not a Fruit born from a Void Attainment Position.

Its fundamental nature was not that different.

Other than the World Heaven Seed provided by the Nourishing Life Master as its foundation, every other image and Profound Mysterious aspect was something Mu Changsheng had woven himself.

This was, in truth, infinitely close to a Void Certificate.

More importantly, the World Heaven Seed itself possessed the trait of infinitely strengthening itself by swallowing the waters of the Sea of Suffering; its efficiency was just far inferior to that of a Void Attainment Position.

In other words—

'The entire reason the Nourishing Life Master exists is to create an opportunity for a Pseudo Void Certificate for those Cultivators who lack the ability to achieve a true Void Certificate.'

'That's the key!'

'Because only a Void Certificate can carve out a Dao in the Sea of Suffering and avoid being shackled by the Pocket World Technique, thus offering a path to becoming a Master of Dao! The stages here are a test, yes, but they are also a form of cultivation!'

'That is why this is the legacy of a Master of Dao.'

Thinking of this, Mu Changsheng let out a long breath. 'My No Heaven is just one final step away from being able to successfully carve out a Dao in the Sea of Suffering.'

'But I still don't understand what this final step is.'

'The root cause is that I've never seen a true Void Attainment Position, so I lack that experience. The Stain Sect should be able to help me with that.'

As the Heavenly God's favorite cub, Mu Changsheng knew many secrets.

So he knew perfectly well that Ang Xiao hadn't used the Mighty Power of the Fruit of Great-Forest Wood to reverse the world's Earth of Chen. He had used an unknown, special Fruit!

'That Fruit... it has to be a Void Certificate!'

At this thought, Mu Changsheng became even more resolute in his decision to side with the Stain Sect. And yet, at that very moment, the expression he showed the Old Dragon Monarch grew even more sincere.