Cooperation (Part 2)

On a small hill behind the mountain, a solitary old tree stood in the middle of an empty expanse.

Wang Sen arrived at the location and saw a phantom standing beneath the tree, flickering and indistinct, impossible to see clearly.

"Shadow Illusion Technique?" Wang Sen chuckled. "Not many people learn this. If I were to investigate, I might just be able to find you."

Ning Ye replied, "I'm afraid that would only lead to disappointment."

Wang Sen understood; this was certainly not part of the ability system the other party had made public.

Without wasting breath, Wang Sen went straight to the point: "There is something I would like your help with."

Ning Ye was amused. "I haven't even asked you for a favor yet, and you're already asking me for one?"

"As you said, cooperation benefits both. This matter will be good for you as well."

"Tell me."

Only then did Wang Sen begin to explain.

He had joined the sect a year earlier than Ning Ye and was currently at the seventh level of the foundational mental cultivation method. In reality, however, Wang Sen had also practiced several secret arts of the Wood Puppet Sect, and his true strength was likely stronger than the average peak Cang Xiang Realm cultivator.

Of course, that wasn't the point. The point was that after much reflection, Wang Sen had concluded that his biggest problem was his lack of a master.

Having no master not only meant being unable to receive extra care, but most importantly, it meant having no backing.

Don't let the fact that Ning Ye wasn't particularly favored by Zhang Liekuang fool you; in reality, aside from Chen Changfeng, he rarely encountered any trouble. This wasn't because the Black and White Divine Palace was a harmonious place, but because he had a master, and thus, he had backing.

The path of cultivation was never peaceful, and bullying was a common occurrence.

But no matter how much bullying went on, it generally wouldn't reach the disciples who had masters—unless it was someone like Xu Yanwen from the Heavenly Dipper Sect bullying a disciple under the Human Demons, which was considered normal.

Because of this, Wang Sen had always wanted to rely on a powerful figure, giving himself something to lean on so he could have better prospects.

"You want to find a master, what does that have to do with me?" Ning Ye asked.

Wang Sen replied, "The Soul-Severing Human Demon lost a disciple and intends to fill the vacancy. He isn't planning to take in new recruits, but rather to select some from the outer sect who already have a foundation."

The Soul-Severing Human Demon, Chang Duanhun?

One of the Nine Great Human Demons?

The Four-Nine Human Demons of the Black and White Divine Palace were divided into the Nine Demons, Nine Lords, Nine Absolutes, and Nine Kings.

The Seven Kill Heavenly Blade was one of the Nine Absolutes, while the Soul-Severing Human Demon was one of the Nine Demons. His strength was formidable, and his methods were even more ruthless than Zhang Liekuang's.

When Zhang Liekuang killed, it was at least because the other party had provoked him.

When the Soul-Severing Human Demon killed, he needed no reason. If he was in a good mood, he killed a few people; if he was in a bad mood, he killed a few people; if the weather was nice, he killed a few people; if the weather was bad, he killed a few people.

To him, killing was a pleasure.

Since it was for amusement, why would he need a reason?

Wang Sen said, "I have been working hard to build connections these days and have grown close to Song Jiumao, a disciple under the Soul-Severing Human Demon. With his recommendation, I am already a candidate, but there are two other competitors, which is a bit troublesome."

"You want me to help you eliminate these two competitors?"

"Yes."

"What's in it for me?"

"If I become a disciple of the Soul-Severing Human Demon, I can be of greater help to you. If you kill them, you can also obtain sufficient spoils from them."

"I don't need you to arrange things for me if I want to kill and loot. As for the benefits of you becoming a disciple of Chang Duanhun, that's too ethereal."

"Then what do you want?"

Ning Ye lowered his head, thought for a moment, and asked, "What mission did the Wood Puppet Sect assign you?"

Wang Sen hadn't expected him to ask this and was stunned for a moment, but he still replied, "There is no specific mission. My main task right now is to improve myself. Only by standing at a sufficient height can I have the opportunity to play a role."

That was true; without enough strength, no matter how much one stirred up trouble, it would only be a ripple on the surface of a lake.

Just like Ning Ye, who had done so many things, yet to the Black and White Divine Palace, it was as if they hadn't even felt a thing.

Of course, unlike Wang Sen, every action Ning Ye took was a cornerstone for his future plans. For instance, successfully making arrangements within the Inspection Hall allowed Ning Ye to have a clear grasp of every move the hall made, thereby allowing him to better protect himself.

In this regard, Wang Sen was not as capable as Ning Ye.

Hearing Wang Sen say this, Ning Ye said, "There must be a general direction, right? You wouldn't choose the Soul-Severing Human Demon so easily just because of one Song Jiumao."

Wang Sen hadn't expected Ning Ye to be so meticulous, so he had to say, "The high-level members planted here by the Wood Puppet Sect found out that the Black and White Divine Palace will soon have a major operation, which may be related to the Wood Puppet Sect, and Chang Duanhun is one of the people in charge. The sect hopes I can find out the purpose of this operation."

Related to the Wood Puppet Sect? And Chang Duanhun, one of the Four-Nine Human Demons, is one of the people in charge?

Ning Ye lowered his head and pondered for a while before saying, "Wait for me."

As he spoke, the black shadow vanished.

Wang Sen felt a bit confused, but he had no choice but to wait.

At the same time, Ning Ye's consciousness had already entered the Thousand Mechanism Hall to activate the Kunlun Mirror.

Ning Ye could not have foreseen an operation involving the Four-Nine Human Demons, but for plans that had already been set in motion—things belonging to the past—it was much easier for Ning Ye to deduce and calculate, provided the opponent hadn't used spells to conceal them.

Fortunately, the Black and White Divine Palace really hadn't taken many precautions to keep this operation secret—people in the immortal sects rarely had the awareness to keep information confidential. Unless it was an extremely top-secret matter, they generally only bothered to conceal things like treasures and resources.

It is precisely because of this that while it is difficult for Ning Ye to investigate the Thousand Mechanism Hall Fragment, investigating the trial contents and operational information is relatively convenient.

A moment later, Ning Ye had understood the ins and outs of the matter. After thinking it through, he exited the Thousand Mechanism Hall and returned to Wang Sen's side.

He said, "Does the Wood Puppet Sect have a secret branch in Muliu Town?"

Wang Sen was greatly alarmed, "What do you know?"

Muliu Town is located on the border between the Tian and Mo continents, and it actually falls within the territory of the Ink Continent. However, the Wood Puppet Sect had established a secret branch there. This was something even Wang Sen was not aware of, but as a man of deep schemes, he would not admit it easily.

Ning Ye had already said, "This secret branch has been discovered by the Black and White Divine Palace, and Chang Duanhun is going there to eradicate it."

Wang Sen was puzzled, "Why would a single branch require Chang Duanhun to take action personally?"

Ning Ye replied, "Because the Wood Puppet Sect discovered a secret location there, and within that secret location is a Soul-Parasite Ancient Tree that will mature in a short while."

Soul-Parasite Ancient Tree?

Wang Sen understood immediately. This was a treasure, especially for the Wood Puppet Sect, as it was a top-tier material for crafting high-level puppets.

No wonder they had to establish a branch there, and no wonder Chang Duanhun had to go personally; the person in charge of that branch certainly would not be weak.

Ning Ye said, "I have already investigated the information for you, and I can also help you kill the people. As for the conditions... I want a portion of the Soul-Parasite Ancient Tree."

Wang Sen looked troubled, "This..."

Ning Ye replied, "Without this information, the Soul-Parasite Ancient Tree would certainly no longer belong to the Wood Puppet Sect, and the local person in charge would even die miserably because of it. But now that you have the information and can prepare early, the ancient tree will surely be yours. You will have performed a great service; it is not excessive to propose some conditions."

"That may be so, but I am, after all, a member of the Wood Puppet Sect. Conditions aren't proposed like that."

"That is your business. You don't mean to tell me you don't even have the ability to solve such a small problem?"

"This... alright, I will do my best."

"The list."

Three days later.

Someone discovered two corpses at the foot of the mountain; they were precisely Wang Sen's two rivals.

Judging from the scene, it appeared that the two had fought each other to the death. Since both of them happened to be competing to become a disciple of the Soul-Severing Human Demon, the motive was clear.

And so, just like that, Wang Sen officially became a disciple of the Soul-Severing Human Demon.

When he received this news, Wang Sen was stunned for a long time.

He had imagined many methods Ning Ye might use to kill them and had prepared various excuses to clear his own name, but he had not expected such an outcome.

Combining this with what he had seen that night, Wang Sen finally confirmed one thing.

Illusion!

This person who was secretly in contact with him must be extremely proficient in illusion techniques, which coincided perfectly with the incident at Huaiyin Mountain that day.

Being able to make two people at the seventh level of mental cultivation kill each other meant that the illusion techniques were already highly advanced. Although the other party kept insisting that his methods were not on the public stage, such methods could not necessarily be hidden completely.

Quietly, Wang Sen also began to build his own list of suspects, and Ning Ye, because he possessed the Floating World Bead, was also included.

He did not want to betray anyone; he simply felt that since the other party knew him, but he did not know the other party, he was far too passive.

Wang Sen did not like being passive.

No one likes being passive.

A month later, a shocking piece of news was reported back.

The three great human demons of the Black and White Divine Palace led a team to attack the Muliu Town branch, but unexpectedly encountered an ambush by the Wood Puppet Sect, who had been prepared for a long time. Two of the Four-Nine Human Demons were killed on the spot, and countless disciples were killed or injured. Only the Soul-Severing Human Demon managed to escape alone, and his newly accepted disciple, Wang Sen, risked his life to save him. Despite being severely wounded, Wang Sen endured great hardships to shake off the pursuers and carried the Soul-Severing Human Demon all the way back to Nine Palaces Mountain.

That same day, the Soul-Severing Human Demon announced the end of Wang Sen's trial period, officially accepting him as a personal disciple and bestowing upon him the Duanhun Blade Scripture. Wang Sen's prestige was unmatched for a time.

Half a month later, Ning Ye received his gift.

A section of the Soul-Lodging Ancient Wood.