Inherently Pure-Hearted?

Duobao took two dazed steps back and scratched his head irritably:

"This won't work, that won't work! Then what are we supposed to do?!

Forget it, let's not go at all. We'll just stay in the courtyard!"

Bai Ze and Guang Chengzi glanced at Duobao, but neither spoke.

After a long while, Guang Chengzi finally asked, "Junior Brother Bai Ze, are you certain that with that Lingbao, we can retreat unscathed?"

Bai Ze nodded. "Whether it is the Violet-Gold Hammer or the Fishing Drum, either can exert a certain influence over the Phoenix Clan!

Furthermore, this item belongs to the Celestial Venerable. Once the Phoenix Clan's great powers see it, they will surely be wary and not dare personally enter the fray to hunt down juniors like us.

That way, we will have a chance to escape with our lives!"

Guang Chengzi nodded at those words. Bai Ze was not wrong. His martial uncle had once carried this treasure into the Phoenix Clan; the Phoenix great powers would certainly be wary upon seeing it!

Moreover, the lightning of the Violet-Gold Hammer and the sound waves of the Fishing Drum could also have a certain effect on those Phoenix Clan members with extreme speed.

It truly was not a bad choice.

But asking him to steal his martial uncle's Lingbao... when he searched his heart, he could not do it.

Yet if he did not go, and his Dao heart was thus veiled in dust, it would inevitably affect his future breakthroughs!

For a moment, Guang Chengzi's expression twisted, his brows knotted into a twist of dough.

Watching Guang Chengzi struggle, Bai Ze knew the fire was hot enough.

He only needed to add one more handful of fuel, and success would be his!

He immediately said, "Senior Brother, are you troubled over stealing the Lingbao?"

Guang Chengzi nodded, his expression somewhat gloomy.

"Indeed. I truly cannot do such a thing as theft. If I must steal a Lingbao for this matter, I would rather let my Dao heart gather dust!"

"Steal? Senior Brother, when did I ever say we were going to steal it?"

Bai Ze looked at Guang Chengzi in astonishment, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"What do you mean?"

Guang Chengzi was somewhat bewildered. Suspicion flashed in his eyes as he said, "Didn't you say all this because you could not steal the Lingbao yourselves, so you wanted me to steal it for you?"

Bai Ze immediately shook his head with a laugh. "Senior Brother, when did I ever tell you to steal it? And when did I ever say we had to use this treasure?

"My cultivation is shallow. Even if this treasure were given to me, I would find it difficult to unleash the full power of its restrictions.

"I said all this so that Senior Brother would borrow this treasure from the Celestial Venerable, then return it to him after we came back!

"Where did your thoughts run off to, Senior Brother?"

Guang Chengzi looked at Bai Ze, who did not know whether to laugh or cry, and was utterly dumbfounded!

"Borrow it?"

"That's right. From beginning to end, I was saying that Senior Brother should borrow it, then return it someday. I never once asked Senior Brother to steal it.

"Not to mention, knowing your character as I do, how could I possibly make you face such a dilemma?"

Bai Ze shook his head with a smile. He inadvertently glanced at Duobao, who was impatiently trying to speak, then subtly shook his head to signal him not to say anything.

He then looked at Guang Chengzi. "Senior Brother, is this knot in your heart resolved now?"

Guang Chengzi revealed an embarrassed smile. "I wronged Junior Brother. However, I still have one question!"

"Please ask, Senior Brother."

"Why do you not explain this matter to the Celestial Venerable with Duobao and borrow the Lingbao yourselves?"

Guang Chengzi stared into Bai Ze's eyes as he asked meaningfully.

Bai Ze's expression did not change. He pointed at Duobao, who stood nearby looking utterly confused, his face flushed red.

"Senior Brother, considering what Brother Duobao has done over these past three hundred years, do you think he still has any credibility before the Celestial Venerable?

"Would the Celestial Venerable believe the two of us?

"Back then, the two of us received harsher punishment because of this very matter.

"Especially given what Brother Duobao has done over the past three hundred years, it is even more impossible for us to borrow it!"

At this point, Bai Ze shook his head with a bitter smile, then changed the subject.

"But Senior Brother is different. With your upright character, where you would rather let your Dao heart gather dust than commit theft, the Celestial Venerable will absolutely trust you!

"Furthermore, after Senior Brother borrows the Lingbao, you can keep it in your own hands. Then there will be no fear of us secretly causing trouble!"

Upon hearing this, Guang Chengzi immediately felt as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun. Smiling, he said:

"Junior Brother Bai Ze, there is no need to belittle yourself so. I still trust you.

"Even if someone wanted to cause trouble, it could only be Junior Brother Duobao. It absolutely could not be you!"

Duobao's eyes immediately widened. "Senior Brother, what do you mean? Am I that kind of person?

"Clearly, little brother Bai Ze is the one who is that kind of person! You cannot wrong me like this!"

The corner of Bai Ze's eye twitched. He truly wanted to slap Duobao's mouth shut. They were on the verge of success, so what was he stirring up trouble for?

When he stole a glance at Guang Chengzi and found that Guang Chengzi had not believed Duobao's words at all, but rather dismissed them with disdain, Bai Ze finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He hurriedly said, "Brother, you cannot slander me. I am inherently pure-hearted and simple in nature. How could I possibly be such a sinister and cunning person?!

"On the contrary, Brother, the things you have done over these years truly make people too ashamed to speak of them!"

Duobao's eyes widened, and his face reddened. "Bai Ze, you bastard..."

Before Duobao could finish, Guang Chengzi waved a hand to interrupt him. "Duobao, are you willing to accept Junior Brother Bai Ze's suggestion?

"If you are unwilling, then we will let this matter end here!"

Duobao fiercely glared at Bai Ze. In the end, he could only lower his head and sigh.

"I'll listen to Senior Brother. I guarantee I won't secretly cause trouble!"

Guang Chengzi smiled faintly. "Good. Since that is so, you and Junior Brother wait here. I will be back shortly!"

With that, he flashed away and vanished.

Duobao then lunged forward in one stride, seized Bai Ze by the neck, and shook him relentlessly as he roared:

"You thick-browed, big-eyed, inherently pure-hearted Bai Ze! Is this how you ruin someone's reputation?!

Huh?!"

Dizzy and seeing stars from Duobao's shaking, Bai Ze said subconsciously:

"Brother, with that notorious reputation of yours, where would you need me to ruin it? Aren't these all facts?"

Duobao flew into a rage. "Aiya, aiya, aiya! I'll strangle you, you bastard!"

Seeing that Duobao was getting serious, Bai Ze hurriedly said, "Brother, if you keep strangling me, I won't give you the Violet-Gold Hammer!"

"You still have the nerve to mention the Violet-Gold Hammer? To hell with your Violet-Gold Hammer! It is with Senior Brother now, not in my hands!

This is the method you came up with?"

Bai Ze was sprayed full in the face with Duobao's spittle and was left speechless.

"Brother, this is a scheme, a scheme! Why are you getting anxious?"

"Hmph, what kind of bullshit scheme is this? You already said Senior Brother is borrowing it. When he comes back, won't he still have to return it?"

Bai Ze patted Duobao's hand and asked, "Brother, tell me: will this Lingbao be easier to obtain from Senior Brother, or from the Celestial Venerable?"

Duobao froze slightly upon hearing this. The movement of his hands immediately stopped. "You mean... we change targets and steal it from Senior Brother?"

Bai Ze rolled his eyes at Duobao. "Let go of me first."

Duobao immediately released him and looked at Bai Ze suspiciously. "Speak. What do you mean?"

Bai Ze rubbed his neck. Duobao was surprisingly strong.

He then looked at Duobao helplessly. "Brother, let me ask you: once Senior Brother borrows it, will he have to use it?"

Duobao nodded. "Isn't that obvious? Of course he'll have to use it. What does that have to do with stealing the Lingbao from him?"