A Master Manipulator

Watching Duobao swagger about, Bai Ze felt rather curious.

Duobao might have a carefree temperament, but not cultivating for three hundred years was exceedingly strange.

"Brother, what have you been doing these past three hundred years?"

At once, Duobao proudly planted his hands on his hips and said with a sway of his head:

"Of course, your brother here went to steal Master's Supreme Innate Spirit Treasure!"

Seeing Duobao looking so radiant and smug, Bai Ze asked in surprise:

"Brother, did you get it?"

Duobao's expression immediately fell. "No. Master was far too crafty; he never gave me a chance!

Several times, I was just about to succeed when Master suddenly appeared behind me.

And then..."

"And then he got a vicious beating. Even the soundproofing Array Formation in my Purple Bamboo Grove couldn't block his pig-slaughtering screams."

Guang Chengzi cut in, teasing him.

Duobao immediately glared at Guang Chengzi and said indignantly, "You're the one with too much to say!"

Guang Chengzi yawned, turned onto his side, and simply ignored him.

Duobao curled his lip and looked at Bai Ze. "Little brother, do you have any ideas about stealing Lingbao?"

The speaker had no such intention, but the listener took it to heart.

When Bai Ze heard that Duobao had spent the past three hundred years pursuing the Supreme Innate Spirit Treasure Violet-Gold Hammer and the Supreme Innate Spirit Treasure Fishing Drum,

then recalled how, after divining a way to obtain True Phoenix Blood Essence, he had considered gaining protectors during his nirvana,

an idea suddenly sprang to mind!

Perhaps on this journey out, he could obtain the Supreme Innate Spirit Treasures through Guang Chengzi's hand.

That would both add another trump card for this excursion, allowing Duobao and Guang Chengzi to protect him, and indirectly obtain Supreme Lingbao!

It could truly kill three birds with one arrow!

The only problem now was whether Guang Chengzi would help them.

Why should he help them?

These were Supreme Innate Spirit Treasures!

Though they were offspring artifacts, they were still exceptionally precious. Once Guang Chengzi obtained them, why would he hand them over?

Wouldn't it be better to keep them himself?

After all, Venerable Lingbao had never said that they had to belong to Duobao and Bai Ze if they stole them. If Guang Chengzi and Huanglong acquired them, they could likewise keep them for themselves!

Bai Ze glanced at Duobao and nodded faintly. "I have a rough idea."

Duobao's face immediately lit up. "What idea? Little brother, tell me quickly! Your big brother here has been drooling over those things for ages!"

Bai Ze smiled without speaking. Instead, he walked before Guang Chengzi and cupped his hands.

"Dao Brother, would you be willing to help us obtain those two Dharmic Treasures?"

As soon as Bai Ze said this, Duobao was somewhat stunned, while Guang Chengzi was somewhat surprised. Yet after glancing at Duobao, he decisively shook his head.

"Junior brother, your senior brother will never commit theft!

Forgive me, but I cannot help you with this matter."

Bai Ze was not surprised by Guang Chengzi's reaction. It could even be said that it was precisely what he had expected, for during the time they had spent together, he had thoroughly figured Guang Chengzi out.

Although Guang Chengzi was extremely tolerant toward them, he was a man of great integrity, even somewhat rigid. Especially when it came to teaching, he possessed an obsession bordering on compulsiveness.

Once he deemed something improper, he would never do it.

Much less stealing Lingbao.

But that did not mean Bai Ze had no way around it!

Before he could say anything, however, Duobao came over, pulled him aside, and whispered:

"Little brother, have you gone mad? With Senior Brother's temperament, forget helping us steal Lingbao—if he doesn't report us, that'll already be good enough!

How dare you ask him for help?"

Bai Ze pressed down his hand, gave Duobao a reassuring look, signaling him to remain calm, then went back before Guang Chengzi.

"Dao Brother, I am not asking you to help us steal Lingbao.

Rather, this little brother has sensed that this southern journey will inevitably bring a life-and-death crisis!

If we had those Lingbao to protect us, this journey south would surely go far more smoothly."

Guang Chengzi frowned slightly. "A life-and-death crisis? How could that be?

With Duobao and me at your side, even if we encounter something we cannot defeat, we can still ensure your safe retreat!"

At once, Duobao puffed out his chest, wanting to make a promise.

Seeing Duobao's appearance, Bai Ze was momentarily speechless and hurriedly transmitted his voice to him. "Whose side are you on? Do you still want the Lingbao or not?"

Upon hearing that, Duobao's half-raised chest immediately deflated, and the words at his lips changed as well.

"Senior Brother, Bai Ze's words cannot be taken lightly. He has a bloodline gift capable of divining fortune, misfortune, luck, and calamity.

Since he has brought this up, something beyond our control will certainly happen.

This is absolutely not alarmist talk! We must take it seriously!"

Guang Chengzi eyed Duobao and Bai Ze suspiciously. After lowering his head to ponder for a moment, he looked up and asked:

"When you say a life-and-death crisis, do you mean for yourself, or for the three of us?"

Naturally, Bai Ze understood Guang Chengzi's meaning. If only Bai Ze himself would suffer loss, then Bai Ze simply need not go, and there naturally would be no life-and-death crisis!

But how could he say that?

If he truly said so, then the True Phoenix Blood Essence would have nothing to do with him!

He did not want to miss out on the Nirvana Divine Ability, this life-saving trump card!

After all, True Phoenix Blood Essence was exceedingly difficult to obtain, and True Phoenixes lived together in one place. Even if one obtained it, one had to swallow it on the spot; it was impossible to take it away.

Compared to the Dragon Clan, who liked wandering everywhere and were easily caught alone, True Phoenix Blood Essence was even harder to acquire!

Not to mention that, according to the results of his divination, the three of them truly would encounter misfortune.

The only difference was that Duobao and Guang Chengzi would merely encounter misfortune, while he himself faced a life-and-death crisis!

However, considering Guang Chengzi's intelligence and wisdom,

Bai Ze decided that he would say what should be said and leave unsaid what should not be said—better yet, he would speak selectively!

"On this southern journey, the three of us truly will encounter misfortune. However, this gift of foreseeing danger is mainly personal to me.

This divination showed that I would face mortal danger, yet neither of you brothers was at my side.

Thus, I do not dare rashly draw conclusions about the fates of you two brothers."

Guang Chengzi's brows furrowed as he fell silent.

Duobao, however, exclaimed, "When you encounter a life-and-death crisis, neither of us will be at your side?"

Bai Ze nodded. "That is indeed the case. This concerns my own life and death—how would I dare speak recklessly and deceive you two brothers?"

Seeing Bai Ze's solemn, earnest expression, Duobao began to have doubts. Given his understanding of Bai Ze's cautious nature, Bai Ze would never spout nonsense over Lingbao in a matter like this!

For a moment, he also realized the severity of the situation. Frowning tightly, he said:

"Then don't go. The two of us can go instead!

At worst, we'll bring back a share for you!"

Hearing this, Guang Chengzi looked toward Duobao. "The matter is not as simple as you say."

Duobao anxiously asked, "What do you mean? Not going isn't an option either?"

Guang Chengzi did not answer, instead looking toward Bai Ze. "I presume Junior Brother has already divined this himself!"

Bai Ze nodded and smiled bitterly. "Indeed. I used my divine ability to divine the outcomes of you two brothers and discovered that the True Phoenix Clan already lives together in one place. Setting aside how we might obtain it and take it away,

simply acquiring True Phoenix Blood Essence would be extremely difficult!

Not to mention taking it away after obtaining the Blood Essence. By then, the Phoenix Clan would surely rise up and attack us as one!"