Chapter 763 - 758: Transaction
"Don’t kill me!"
The moment he entered Nourishing Life Master, Mu Changsheng roared. At the same time, his No Heaven began operating at full power, making his figure increasingly hazy and illusory.
"...."
Lü Yang opened his mouth to speak, then frowned in displeasure. "Daoist, what kind of person do you take me for? A Demon who kills at the slightest disagreement?"
With that, he retracted the Great Mighty Spirit Qi he had already formed at his fingertips.
Mu Changsheng: "..."
’And you have the gall to say you’re not a Demon!?’
That being said, he didn’t dare say it to Lü Yang’s face. He could only grumble internally while a wide smile bloomed on his face as he bowed respectfully.
"You are absolutely right, Daoist. I was being reckless."
"Your heroic image from that day, Daoist, fighting one against three and bathed in blood, is still fresh in my mind. I often marvel at it in private. Please forgive my slight loss of composure."
Two and a half years had passed, but every time Mu Changsheng recalled that battle, he felt a genuine, deep-seated fear. The fact that Lü Yang had managed to escape with his life made him seem like a Celestial Being. To be blunt, the hopeless situation Lü Yang had faced was far more extreme than the one he himself had endured in his past.
After all, in his day, it had been a battle of wits.
The Perfected Lords schemed against him, but none of them entered the fray personally. This gave him the chance to cultivate in peace all the way to the Foundation Establishment Perfection Realm.
But what about Lü Yang?
Ang Xiao had truly been out for blood. The mere aftershocks of that battle had left him trembling with fear. He would have died long ago if not for his No Heaven’s specialty in concealment.
Yet, it was precisely because of this that he scented an opportunity.
’The Old Dragon Monarch is still alive! The situation that day was too chaotic; I never got the chance to trigger the injury I left him. Now it can serve as my bargaining chip.’
Didn’t Lü Yang want to get revenge on the Old Dragon Monarch?
’Impossible! The Saint Sect Perfected Lords are known to be vengeful; how could he not want revenge? It’s simply that the Old Dragon Monarch is too powerful. That means my bargaining chip has value!’
With this in mind, Mu Changsheng immediately spoke up. "Daoist, over the past few years, the Old Dragon Monarch has convened the Four Seas Sect assembly several times. He has repeatedly summoned the other Demon Race Great Saints to discuss the matter of anchoring their Grotto Heavens to his. Compared to a few years ago, the attitudes of both Bright Pearl Great Saint and Profound Turtle Great Saint have begun to soften."
".....What?"
At these words, Lü Yang’s eyes narrowed. ’If the Old Dragon Monarch persuades the other Great Saints of the Four Seas Sect, won’t he become a Late-stage Great Perfected Lord?’
’How could I possibly get my revenge on him then?’
Seeing Lü Yang’s reaction, Mu Changsheng’s spirits soared. He knew his words had hit their mark. He didn’t press the advantage, however, and waited patiently.
Soon, Lü Yang came back to his senses and gave Mu Changsheng a deep look.
He naturally understood the other party’s intentions.
"What can you do about this matter, Daoist? And what do you want in return?"
He got straight to the point, wasting no words.
Mu Changsheng was just as direct. "I can ensure the Old Dragon Monarch is grievously wounded in an instant. As for what I want... I wish to see your Void Attainment Position!"
At these words, Lü Yang grew suspicious. ’It’s true I have a Void Attainment Position—my Sword Dao—but the Centome washed it completely clean long ago.’
’How could Mu Changsheng possibly know?’
Despite his thoughts, his expression didn’t change at all. Instead, he let out a light chuckle.
"A Void Attainment Position?"
Seeing his reaction, Mu Changsheng quickly added, "It must be a Void Attainment Position, right? Otherwise, how else could you have escaped with your life from a death trap like the one Ang Xiao laid?"
’Oh, a misunderstanding...’
Lü Yang thought to himself, ’The Centome’s Dao Body is causeless and effectless, and I made ample preparations. No one can divine the truth. So how could Mu Changsheng know? After thinking it through, it’s only logical that he would guess it was a Void Attainment Position. And from his expression, he doesn’t seem very certain either...’
As he sorted out his thoughts, Lü Yang had already given a slight nod.
"You are remarkably perceptive, Daoist."
’He really has one!?’
In an instant, Mu Changsheng—who had been anxiously worrying that his guess was wrong—was overjoyed. It was as if a light had appeared at the end of the tunnel.
He quickly suppressed his delight, however, and spoke cautiously. "It’s not that I don’t believe you, Daoist, it’s just that I come from a Loose Cultivator background. I’m not as distinguished as you, and I’m rather ignorant... Would it be possible for me to see your Void Dao Fruit? It would certainly broaden my horizons."
Lü Yang smiled at his words.
"Why not?"
The next moment, the Righteous Banner emerged. The Demon-Vanquishing Perfected obligingly opened his Sea of Suffering, allowing Mu Changsheng to behold the Majestic Sword Dao rooted within it.
Only a Void Attainment Position could forge a Dao in the Sea of Suffering. Mu Changsheng, of course, knew this, and the sight instantly convinced him.
’It really is a Void Attainment Position!’
The next moment, all his hesitation vanished. His eyes shone as he looked directly at Lü Yang. "If you truly intend to deal with the Old Dragon Monarch, Daoist, I am willing to lay down my life in your service!"
He then revealed everything he had done while treating the Old Dragon Monarch’s wounds, explaining sincerely, "My No Heaven’s profound mystery is called the ’Transformation of True and False.’ While it can convert what is real into what is false and vice-versa, my own Cultivation is insufficient, so the conversions are flawed."
This was originally a secret of Mu Changsheng’s Dao path.
But to win Lü Yang’s trust, he revealed it anyway. To ensure Lü Yang understood completely, he even performed a live demonstration.
"An object turned from false to true grows weaker over time."
"An object turned from true to false grows stronger over time."
"In other words, the Old Dragon Monarch’s injuries have probably been getting worse and worse. Once I withdraw my profound mystery, a minor injury will instantly become a fatal one!"
After Mu Changsheng finished explaining, Lü Yang was stunned.
’What a huge trap!’
’Is the Old Dragon Monarch wary of this? Probably not, because Mu Changsheng is an Outer Dao Perfected Lord... What’s there to be wary of from an Outer Dao Perfected Lord?’
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but glance at Mu Changsheng again.
’Although this didn’t happen to me, I must still be vigilant... One can’t underestimate anyone in this world. Even if they’re just from an Outer Dao, one must still take precautions!’
At this thought, an enthusiastic smile appeared on Lü Yang’s face.
"Excellent, excellent!"
"Your willingness to leave the darkness for the light is a truly virtuous act, Daoist... However, I have a few things to take care of first. How about I contact you once they’re handled?"
’What other choice do I have?’
Mu Changsheng answered without hesitation, a fawning smile on his face. "Of course!"
He recalled the old days when he was still in the Foundation Establishment Realm, full of pride and unwilling to stoop to such sycophancy. But ever since becoming a Perfected Lord, he had become more and more adept at getting the timing just right.
Then, he took out a sliver of spiritual perception and handed it to Lü Yang to make contact easier.
Lü Yang accepted the sliver of spiritual perception, then suddenly changed the subject. "Oh, by the way... that Fruit Position Book for your No Heaven, Daoist. Could you leave it behind for me to take a look?"
Mu Changsheng was stunned by his words.
’He wants to see my Fruit Position Book?’
This was a different matter entirely. His No Heaven had been cultivated from a World Heaven Seed, which meant its corresponding book could be altered at will!
’What if Lü Yang takes my book and starts making random changes? What if it causes my Fruit to collapse?’
But Lü Yang had his reasons. "Regarding the Transformation of True and False of No Heaven, I need to read the book to confirm that what you said is correct."
"Besides, if I have some leverage over you, Daoist, I’ll feel more at ease."
Having said that, Lü Yang didn’t forget to add with feigned sincerity, "Of course, if you no longer wish to see the Void Attainment Position... I won’t force you in this matter."
Mu Changsheng: "..."
’How could he not want to see the Void Attainment Position! He wanted to so badly he dreamed of it. Only by comprehending the mysteries of the Void Attainment Position could he pass the trial of the Nourishing Life Master.’
’His entire Dao path was at stake. How could he possibly hesitate?’
’Besides, with a Cultivation like Lü Yang’s, he probably wouldn’t covet my No Heaven. At the end of the day, it’s just an Outer Dao.’
Thinking of this, Mu Changsheng gritted his teeth and took out a thin book.
"Then I’ll lend it to you for the time being, Daoist!"
Seeing this, Lü Yang’s eyebrows raised, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes.
Everything he had said before was just an excuse. Lü Yang had asked for the Fruit Position Book of No Heaven not for himself, but for Progenitor Tingyou.
’No Heaven... is ultimately from the same source as the Progenitor’s Sorrowless Heaven. If I give it to the Progenitor to study, it might lead them to some kind of breakthrough.’
Years ago, in his quest for the Fruit of Celestial Fire, he had allowed Progenitor Tingyou to attain the Fruit of Sorrowless Heaven. As a result, they were now mired in the predicament of the Outer Dao, their Cultivation unable to advance a single inch. Though Lü Yang never spoke of it, the matter had always weighed heavily on his heart. That was why he had taken the initiative this time, hoping he might be able to help the Progenitor break through this impasse.