That's right, the instant he received the message from the retained image and realized there was an opportunity here, Lu Yang, who had been coveting Sky-Shrouding's Golden Nature for a long time, had a plan.
The plan was also very simple.
First, take out a storage bag as bait, making Sky-Shrouding hesitate to attack for fear of damaging the prize. Then, use his most powerful method to launch a sneak attack.
If successful, he could smoothly extract Sky-Shrouding's golden nature.
If failed, he would at most lose a storage bag.
Of course, given Sky-Shrouding's keen eyesight, Lu Yang didn't dare to pull any tricks lest he outsmart himself. So he really stuffed things inside.
As for the result of the plan, it could only be said to be neither good nor bad.
I didn't get the Golden Nature... Although Sky-Shrouding was injured, the injury wasn't severe. I didn't truly break through his defense to find an opportunity to seize his Golden Nature.
But on the other hand, the effect of this strike was definitely solid. It's enough for me to regain a certain initiative in the subsequent interaction with Sky-Shrouding. Otherwise, with Sky-Shrouding's strength crushes me in all aspects, I could only be suppressed by him. Wanting benefits and dividing things would mean suffering losses...
While Lu Yang was still calculating gains and losses here.
Over there, Sky-Shrouding's mood was not very good. For a time, the hand holding the storage bag was trembling slightly. He couldn't help sighing in his heart.
Hunting wild geese all day, yet today I got my eyes pecked by a goose!
He was careless.
Is it because I haven't left the Netherworld for too long? Plus, usually I'm the one plotting against others, rarely being plotted against, somy reaction was actually half a beat too slow.
If it were tens of thousands of years ago— before he hid in the Netherworld, how could he have been fooled by Lu Yang?
At worst, it would be neither loss nor gain. But now, he took some treasures that were like scraps, but damaged his dharma body. Judging from the situation, he feared he wouldn't recover without thirty to fifty days.
The next second, Sky-Shrouding's eyes suddenly became sharp.
...Never mind!
He had always been able to pick up and let go. Cursing a few times in his heart meant he was over it. The problem was... since he had suffered this loss, he couldn't take less of the benefits!
This little bit right now was not enough!
Thinking of this, Sky-Shrouding immediately said in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoist, you and I are allies now. As allies, good things naturally should be shared together. Hiding and tucking things away is not what an ally does."
He saw very clearly that Lu Yang definitely wanted to talk about this windfall from heaven.
The reason was simple. If Lu Yang really didn't want to talk, why deliberately take out a larger one after the storage bag in his hand was snatched by him?
Deliberately making him envious?
Impossible. Since he could make a fortune silently, why expose it? Since the other party took it out and let him know, there must be another reason.
He wants my Golden Nature?
Sky-Shrouding pondered in his heart, vaguely guessing Lu Yang's intention, but became even more vigilant: Golden Nature, how can this thing be casually given to outsiders?
Thinking of this, Sky-Shrouding sighed again. This could also be considered the uneven division of spoils unique to the Saint Sect. In the end, he feared it would still have to be decided by fists.
Although injured now, he was still full of confidence.
Getting hit before was mostly because I was single-mindedly trying to grab things. I was careless and didn't dodge, so he succeeded. This time it won't be that easy.
He had to admit, the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] was very powerful.
But before activation, it also required a locking process.
Before, he was caught off guard and locked onto by Lu Yang first, so he couldn't avoid it and could only choose to take this hit hard, suffering a minor injury.
But this time he was being prepared. if he use the Knowledge-Perception Barrier to protect karma in advance and avoiding Lu Yang's lock, then no matter how powerful the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] was, it wouldn't hit him. If it didn't hit, it would be meaningless—only wasting a large amount of spiritual power in vain. After a few more times, Lu Yang would be at his mercy.
With this thought, Sky-Shrouding was about to act immediately.
However, just at this moment, Lu Yang spoke:
"What Senior said is not wrong. Since you and I are both allies, we indeed shouldn't hide and tuck things away... How about this, you and I split the spoils equally?"
Hearing this, Sky-Shrouding stopped his movement instantly.
"...Oh? Split equally?"
This bastard has such a good heart?
He wouldn't be hiding another storage bag, right?
"I won't hide from Senior either."
Lu Yang grinned: "Based on the portion in Senior's hand, I still have three portions here. Besides that, there are also four Ancient Method scriptures and classics."
Hearing this, Sky-Shrouding rolled his eyes, immediately calculating in his heart: Hestill have three portions. So in total there are four [Five Elements Star Essence] and four drops of [Sun Moon Profound Fluid], plus four Ancient Method scriptures... This is a big amount. Should be relatively close to the real number.
At the same time, Lu Yang continued to speak:
"Now that Senior and I are allies, I can split these things equally with Senior... But correspondingly, Senior also has to help me with a small favor."
"Golden Nature is a no-go."
Sky-Shrouding guarded strictly, resolutely not allowing Lu Yang to extract his golden nature.
"I don't need Golden Nature."
Lu Yang smiled and shook his head. He naturally saw Sky-Shrouding's vigilance towards him, knowing that hoping to extract golden nature through exchange was definitely hopeless.
To seize his Golden Nature, one could only use force!
However, his current strength was insufficient, so Lu Yang could only temporarily throw this thought to the back of his mind. Changing the topic he said: "Rest assured, it's really just a small matter."
After speaking, he took out four jade slips from the storage bag. Each jade slip presented brilliance at this moment, emerging with complex characters one by one. The patterns forming the characters each had an image, like flowers, birds, fish, insects, dragon scripts, and phoenix seals. All were pictographic characters Lu Yang had never seen before.
"Please translate this, Senior."
Lu Yang spread his small hands: "Four Ancient Method scriptures, all written in characters I haven't seen. But with Senior's knowledge, you must know them, right?"
Of course he knew!
Sky-Shrouding raised his eyebrows slightly, recognizing this kind of pictographic character. It was the heaven divine script before the creation of the Grotto-Heaven Method. Legend had it that it was created by a Dao Lord.
But it gradually became extinct later.
Thinking of this, Sky-Shrouding grinned immediately: "...Sure, let's trade."
As his voice fell, he swept directly with his divine intent, translating the contents of the four jade slips once, compiling them into a booklet, then sending it to Lu Yang.
Lu Yang looked down. In an instant, four streaks of red light intertwined in the depths of his eyes, turning into uniform handwriting:
[Big Trap! Do not cultivate!]
This old beast, his heart is too black!
Lu Yang sighed in his heart, then pushed the things back again: "Senior better not waste mental effort in vain. Let's be honest and trade properly."
Hearing this, Sky-Shrouding was stunned: "What, did I translate wrong?"
That look was full of innocence and bewilderment.
If not for the warning of the [Immortal Nexus Survival Guide], Lu Yang might really have believed it. However, now, he just shook his head firmly:
"I'll give Senior two more chances."
"If really not working, then let's fight."
Hearing this, Sky-Shrouding laughed instantly: "Oh right, I just remembered I seem to have indeed got a few places wrong. Wait a moment, let me correct it."
Soon, a new translation was freshly baked.
Lu Yang focused his eyes to look again.
[Small Trap, best not to cultivate it.]
"..."
After a moment of silence, Lu Yang pushed the things back again: "One more time."
This time Sky-Shrouding didn't make unnecessary quibbles anymore, but simply extended his hand towards Lu Yang: "The things, give half first then talk."
Lu Yang directly took out a drop of [Sun Moon Profound Fluid] and sent it over.
Seeing this, Sky-Shrouding didn't dilly-dally either. Putting away the item, he corrected a few characters on the translation again. Only then did the [Immortal Nexus Survival Guide] stop warning.
"Many thanks, Senior." Only then did Lu Yang put away the jade slips, then handed over the remaining items together.
On the other side, Sky-Shrouding took the things, amazed in his heart: This kid actually has a way to distinguish if there are problems with the content I gave?
Tsk, he really hard to deal with...
Thinking of this, the two raised their heads in unison, looking at each other.
Then both revealed sincere smiles.