[Sky-Shrouding] was acting.
What a joke. With his tens of thousands of years of experience and shrewdness, how could he let his emotions show on his face? If he really wanted to fall out, he would have long since been digging out his heart and lungs to fight Lu Yang.
Deliberately cursing in anger was just a stance.
Even the surging divine sense and the attempt to seize back control of the [World-Retribution Incarnation] were all deliberate actions, used to lower Mu Changsheng's vigilance.
The reason was simple.
This trade... can actually be done.
Because Mu Changsheng actually hopes to sell the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] intelligence in his hands to us, as he still has to guard against the Old Dragon Lord turning on him!
He's actually thought it through very clearly. He knew we would definitely come to find him, so he won over the Old Dragon Lord. His original intention was to have the Old Dragon Lord and us check and balance each other. If we can't enter [Nourishing Life Master] and only the Old Dragon Lord can accompany him, then he'll be the one with a headache when the time comes.
Thinking of this, [Sky-Shrouding] glanced at Lu Yang again.
This bastard should have seen through this point too, right?
So he's doing the opposite, holding Mu Changsheng in a bind, and then taking the opportunity to extract an extra benefit for himself. What deep scheme.
For a moment, even [Sky-Shrouding] couldn't help but admire it.
If Mu Changsheng was on the first level, then Lu Yang was on the third.
But... I'm on the fifth level!
[Sky-Shrouding] sneered in his heart. He deliberately expressed an angry attitude just now, not only to confuse Mu Changsheng but also to confuse Lu Yang.
For Mu Changsheng, he should want to sow discord. My deliberate expression of anger will look like success to him, and his vigilance will drop. And for my mysterious ally, my expression of anger will seem like I'm putting on a fake show to cooperate with him, so he won't guard against me too much.
However, this was just a facade.
He had already made up his mind: As soon as Mu Changsheng gave the coordinates and karma of [Nourishing Life Master], he would immediately turn the fake show into reality and directly snatch the coordinates and karma away!
Entering [Nourishing Life Master]... just having me alone is enough!
With just me, I can fully satisfy Mu Changsheng's need to keep the Old Dragon Lord in check. With one less person to split the cake with me, I'll earn even more!
[Sky-Shrouding] was calm in his heart, but the struggle on his face became even more intense.
At first glance, it seemed he was going all out, and it really made Lu Yang waver slightly. However, in reality, even more power was deeply hidden by him.
But he miscalculated one point.
That was—Lu Yang was truly sincere about the trade.
So when he felt [Sky-Shrouding] start to struggle, attempting to seize back control of the [World-Retribution Incarnation], Lu Yang not only didn't relax his vigilance...
He guarded against it even more seriously.
After all, he and [Sky-Shrouding] had a prior record of falling out... Thinking of this, Lu Yang immediately roused his full attention, ready to dig out his heart and lungs at any moment.
"...How about it? Is it a deal?"
Lu Yang looked at Mu Changsheng with a solemn face. At the same time, a strand of divine sense separated from his fingertip, within which countless talismans flowed. It was precisely the coordinates of [The Mortal World].
At these words, Mu Changsheng was the one put in a tight spot. His thoughts had indeed been calculated by [Sky-Shrouding], and for a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
But soon, he regained his calm and smiled. "Of course."
As his voice fell, a strand of divine sense rose from Mu Changsheng's fingertip: "Recorded within are the coordinates of [Nourishing Life Master], as well as the corresponding karma."
Lu Yang frowned slightly upon hearing this. "What I want is Fellow Daoist's method for making [Wú Yǒu Heaven] generate a profound wonder."
"I understand."
Mu Changsheng nodded. "However, these two are essentially the same thing. Because to improve an Unorthodox Dao Fruit, [Nourishing Life Master] is crucial."
"...Alright then." Lu Yang nodded.
Seeing this, Mu Changsheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just as [Sky-Shrouding] thought, he truly needed Lu Yang and his partner to enter [Nourishing Life Master] to keep the Old Dragon Lord in check.
With their strength, joining forces is enough to suppress the Old Dragon Lord, perfectly forcing the Old Dragon Lord to stand on the same front as me.
Only in this way can I fish in troubled waters.
Thinking of this, Mu Changsheng handed over the divine sense in his hand. On the other side, Lu Yang similarly handed over his divine sense. The two strands of divine sense exchanged in the air.
There was no need to distinguish true from false.
Because the coordinates of the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] were secondary; what was important was the karma of being permitted entry into the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]. This kind of karma couldn't be faked.
So no matter who it was, at this moment, they all determined in their hearts:
The coordinates were real!
In the next second, in a flash of lightning, Mu Changsheng discovered the Old Dragon Lord behind him suddenly grab his hand, then pull him forcefully backward.
"Senior!?" Mu Changsheng almost thought the Old Dragon Lord was about to turn on him.
However, soon, the Old Dragon Lord's voice rang in his ear: "Little friend still doesn't understand the Saint Sect enough... forget it, they're about to fight—
"Fuck!!"
Mu Changsheng: "Huh?"
BOOM!
A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering noise broke Mu Changsheng's further thoughts. In an instant, he only saw that [World-Retribution Incarnation] explode with a bang!
At this moment, Lu Yang and [Sky-Shrouding] didn't hesitate at all. Not only did they start fighting for the [World-Retribution Incarnation], but even their main bodies inside [The Mortal World] attacked directly. By the time Lu Yang came back to his senses, [Sky-Shrouding]'s large hand had already skillfully pierced through his chest.
In response, Lu Yang simply gave a ferocious grin.
"This move again?"
Immediately after, while using the [Future Life Aspect] to transfer the damage, he turned and fired a streak of [Tribulation Evil Profound Light]. Gloomy colors surged out!
But this time, [Sky-Shrouding] was prepared.
"Right back at you."
Before his voice fell, he formed a seal. The [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] had long since covered him, making it impossible for the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] to complete the first step of karmic locking.
For a moment, the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light] hung in mid-air just like that, seemingly caught in some contradiction—unable to fall, yet not dispersing... Lu Yang wasn't surprised to see this. After all, with [Sky-Shrouding]'s cultivation, making him suffer a loss once was possible, but making him suffer the same loss again was inherently difficult.
Restricting his [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] is enough.
Lu Yang calculated in his heart. To avoid the [Tribulation Evil Profound Light], [Sky-Shrouding] had to utilize most of the profound wonders of the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] to protect himself.
This was his advantage.
[Sky-Shrouding] specializes in Dao Fruits, and his attainments in the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] can be called the peak of perfection. But conversely... without the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier], his strength will also decline!
While pondering, Lu Yang had already taken out the Dharma Contract he had signed with [Sky-Shrouding] earlier.
"Senior, you breached the contract!"
The Dharma Contract activated. Instantly, massive karma crashed down, intending to expel [Sky-Shrouding]'s main body from [The Mortal World], never to return.
"What breach of contract? Did I sign anything?"
[Sky-Shrouding] didn't panic in the slightest. Then, Lu Yang saw that on the Dharma Contract in his hand, the portion of aura belonging to [Sky-Shrouding] vanished in the blink of an eye.
[Sky-Shrouding] used the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] to forget the matter of signing the Dharma Contract.
The act of signing the Dharma Contract was thus erased.
What Dharma Contract? Just an illusion!
However, seeing this, Lu Yang's expression remained calm, because this was also within his expectations. He certainly hadn't counted on [Sky-Shrouding] truly abiding by the Dharma Contract.
What he wanted was for [Sky-Shrouding] to breach the contract.
If he wants to breach the contract, he must go through the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier]. In this way, I can further consume his profound wonders... To this extent, I should be able to fight him.
Facing [Sky-Shrouding], Lu Yang's combat logic was very simple: Since he couldn't compare in strength, and couldn't rapidly increase his strength in a short time, then switch thinking. Don't strengthen himself; instead weaken his opponent. Drag him down to the same level as himself first, then fight!