Although they said they wanted to scheme against [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao], reality was very cruel. A Great Perfected Lord wasn't that easy to scheme against.
And if they weren't careful, they would end up aiding the enemy.
It wasn't that [Sky-Shrouding] and Lu Yang, joining forces, were worse at playing mind games than [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]. The key lay in the disparity of strength between the two sides.
Not to mention anything else, as a dignified Great Perfected Lord, if he really had any doubts, he could just use his stature to suppress them, perform a divination on karma, and easily calculate all of [Sky-Shrouding] and Lu Yang's layouts. In the end, it was very likely that they would try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.
On this point, even the [Knowledge-Perception Barrier] couldn't help.
Because this was the purest disparity in strength. If [Sky-Shrouding] were still at the Late Stage of Golden Core, it wouldn't matter. But now, even a clever wife couldn't cook a meal without rice.
Of course, it wasn't completely hopeless.
We still have a small advantage on our side... that is, the Dao Fruit books within [Nourishing Life Master] are very important to [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao].
Important enough that the other party couldn't possibly give them up.
In other words, regardless of whether [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] discovered the danger, he would inevitably risk injury to retrieve the books from the sixth floor and above.
At the same time, he would inevitably bring the books down.
Because he couldn't maintain the combat power of a Great Perfected Lord for long. This point was crucial, and it was the key factor why he and [Sky-Shrouding] dared to scheme against him.
Otherwise, it would be courting death.
But aside from this, there was another variable... Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but glance at the Old Dragon Lord, who was standing beside Mu Changsheng with an innocent look on his face.
This old antique of the True Dragon Race could be called the best survivor in the entire Immortal Nexus. Sometimes his presence was pitifully low, almost as if he came with his own [Knowledge-Perception Barrier]. Standing next to Mu Changsheng, at first glance, one might think Mu Changsheng was the boss, making people accidentally overlook him.
But in reality?
If my previous deduction regarding [Heavenly Fire] wasn't wrong... Old Dragon Lord, this guy, besides colluding with the Dao Court, might also be colluding with the Sword Pavilion!
Could this old loach have a connection with [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]?
Thinking of this, Lu Yang frowned tightly. This was also the reason why he hadn't said in front of the Old Dragon Lord just now that they wanted to ambush [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao].
The Old Dragon Lord is still too important.
Supreme Dao Fruit, Middle Stage of Golden Core... having survived for so many years, even a pig would have accumulated extremely high Dao comprehension. If he suddenly turns traitor...
The consequences would inevitably be catastrophic.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang had already reached a conclusion: To ambush [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao], relying on the strength of the current group is definitely not enough.
To tip this balance, there had to be at least two more reliable people.
If following the Five-Tier Theory of Perfected Lords I divided before, [Sky-Shrouding] is undoubtedly Tier One, and I am roughly at the peak of Tier Two.
The Old Dragon Lord hasn't displayed the fundamental profound wonder of [Vast Ocean Water] yet. Estimating the enemy generously, count him as Tier One combat power. And [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao], even without unleashing Great Perfected Lord combat power, is a solid Tier One... The combat power of both sides is barely equal; neither can do anything to the other.
Even if the Old Dragon Lord really turns traitor, I can pin him down.
In that case, [Sky-Shrouding] plus two Tier One Perfected Lords, and [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] suffering heavy injuries... there should be a thirty percent chance of winning.
The problem was, where to find two Tier Ones?
Thinking of this, a name naturally popped out:
[Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue]!
She was undoubtedly Tier One, a Saint Sect Perfected Lord, and should also desperately need the Dao Fruit intelligence of [Nourishing Life Master]. Their interests aligned.
So she could be roped in!
Then what about the second one?
Lu Yang couldn't help but glance at the Old Dragon Lord again... If he didn't know this old fellow was involved with the Sword Pavilion, perhaps he wouldn't look for a second one.
After all, on the surface, the Old Dragon Lord and the Sword Pavilion are even enemies. Back then, it was [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] who personally went overseas, forcing the Old Dragon Lord to give up his eldest son White Chi. Who would have thought he was actually secretly communicating with the other party all along? This move is truly too sinister!
Even for him, it was because of his past life experiences.
Only then, through [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]'s intention to demote [Heavenly Fire], and the Old Dragon Lord possessing the inheritance of the current [Heavenly Fire], did he fill in the blanks and make a guess.
And once the guess proved true, the result would inevitably be disastrous.
[Sky-Shrouding] and Feixue might be fine. Because their Grotto-Heavens is unfallen, they can resurrect infinitely. [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] probably can't kill them.
At least it's very hard to kill them, after all [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao]'s own condition is also poor.
But I am different.
I am currently an Ancient Method Golden Core cultivator. I don't have any characteristic of infinite resurrection. If I really get slain by a Great Perfected Lord's sword, then I can only choose to restart.
This was also the advantage of the Grotto-Heaven Method.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh secretly. He subconsciously looked at [Sky-Shrouding], only to see the latter also frowning tightly, seemingly struggling as well.
...Troublesome.
With this thought, Lu Yang glanced at the Old Dragon Lord again.
Old Dragon Lord: "???"
What the hell! Keep looking at me... there's nothing on my face... Could it be you want to play tricks on me? Where did I provoke you bastards again?
The Old Dragon Lord felt bitter inside. He knew perfectly well that Mu Changsheng wanted to rope him in to check and balance [Sky-Shrouding] and Lu Yang. But he didn't want to go against the Saint Sect. He had hidden in safe places for so many years; when had he ever led the charge? This wasn't something he should do.
Especially Lu Yang's gaze, which made him feel extremely uneasy.
...Could he have guessed it?
Suddenly, the Old Dragon Lord's heart skipped a beat. He indeed still had a backup plan, but that backup plan was something he had hidden until now and never used externally.
No, impossible.
The more the Old Dragon Lord thought, the more afraid he became, his mind racing frantically:
I hid the plan for [Heavenly Fire] very deep. It hasn't even officially started yet. It's impossible for anyone to guess. I must be overthinking it.
But... that is the Saint Sect!
No, with the Saint Sect's style, even if they only guessed a trace of a clue, they would inevitably treat me as a hypothetical enemy. I can't possibly be their opponent!
The Old Dragon Lord weighed the pros and cons, and an idea gradually formed in his heart.
To deal with the Saint Sect, I still have to find the Sword Pavilion...
Anyway, cooperating with the Saint Sect... when the time comes, I'll definitely have a share in putting in effort, but not necessarily in the benefits. Maybe they'll even eliminate me in passing!
Of course, compared to them, that bunch of sword maniac in the Sword Pavilion isn't any better.
But by pulling the sword maniac in, i can let the dog bite another dog... with them fighting amongst themselves, I can fish better in troubled waters, and it will be easier to bargain and demand benefits.
Thinking of this, the Old Dragon Lord immediately collected his thoughts.
…
Jiangnan, Sword Pavilion.
Extreme Heaven Cliff. [Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao] suddenly opened his eyes. A trace of doubt surfaced in the depths of his eyes, then he smiled: "Fellow Daoist's visit is quite unexpected."
As his voice fell, the sea of clouds rippled.
After a short while, a figure gradually emerged from the sea of clouds. Indistinguishable as male or female, origin unclear, only a muffled voice transmitted from within:
"Fellow Daoist, do you know of the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness]?"