126: Chapter 126: Deceiving Master Qingyi!

Not a single Elder in the Myriad Laws Sect doubted that Zhao Changsheng was acting on the orders of the Twin Saints of Heavenly Star.

Of course, it wasn't exactly a lie either!

As Zhao Changsheng left the Myriad Laws Sect, he unexpectedly encountered a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

It was none other than Layman Qingyi, the man who had forced him to become a Disciple shortly after his arrival in the Chaotic Star Sea.

Upon seeing his Revered Master, Zhao Changsheng immediately cupped his hands in greeting.

"Disciple greets Revered Master. Congratulations on your recovery, Revered Master."

His tone was sincere and his attitude earnest, making it impossible to find any fault.

"The Star Palace Grand Elder heavily injured this old man; that was your doing as well, wasn't it?"

Seeing this Disciple, who had only recently joined and had already advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage, Layman Qingyi felt as if he were dreaming, yet he had to admit it was reality.

And it was this very Disciple who had nearly sent him to the Yellow Springs, almost costing him his life when the Star Palace Grand Elder nearly beat him to death.

"Revered Master must be joking. How could I have such audacity? My relationship with the Star Palace is purely cooperative, with no other dealings. My purpose here is to unite various forces to slay the Six Paths Extreme Saint. If Revered Master is interested, you may also participate."

Zhao Changsheng answered with neither arrogance nor humility, stating his purpose and even extending an invitation.

Upon hearing Zhao Changsheng's objective, the expression of his Revered Master, Layman Qingyi, changed instantly.

"Your Star Palace actually intends to move against the Six Paths Extreme Saint? What immense boldness! And you are quite daring to take on this task. Truly, you have no fear of death. Do you think that because you condensed a Nascent Soul before the age of a hundred, you are invincible in the Cultivation World and no one can touch you?"

Layman Qingyi immediately pointed out the fact that Zhao Changsheng had condensed a Nascent Soul before reaching a hundred years of age.

"Naturally, I don't think that. Revered Master is truly joking. I was forced by circumstances; if I didn't take this task, I would likely have been dead and buried long ago."

Zhao Changsheng replied with a smile, showing no signs of discomfort. On the contrary, he appeared quite calm and composed, as if speaking of something trivial.

"You certainly have a way with words. But do you still remember what you promised this old man back then?"

This time, Layman Qingyi did not refer to himself as 'Revered Master' but as 'this old man'.

"I naturally remember. However, I currently have no time to help Revered Master complete that matter. I hope Revered Master will forgive me. Once I finish my task, I will go to assist Revered Master. But to ensure I can complete the task as quickly as possible and increase the chances of success, could I trouble Revered Master to assist me a little?"

Zhao Changsheng's invitation actually made Layman Qingyi laugh out of anger.

"I am but a Nascent Soul Early-stage Cultivator; I don't have the courage to move against the Six Paths Extreme Saint. Even if you have the help of the Star Palace and various Fellow Daoists, I still lack the nerve. So, you had better find someone else."

Laughing in anger, Layman Qingyi flatly refused Zhao Changsheng's invitation without hesitation.

As a Loose Cultivator, the most important thing was to preserve one's own life. For such a dangerous matter, unless his head had been squeezed by a door, he would never agree.

"If I could guarantee that after the matter is settled, I could help Revered Master advance to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage, would Revered Master be interested then?"

Zhao Changsheng wasn't surprised by Layman Qingyi's refusal; instead, he directly increased the stakes.

"Advance to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage? Are your words true?"

Layman Qingyi's expression changed slightly as he pressed for confirmation.

After all, for any Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, this was a temptation difficult to refuse.

"If not for this, how would I dare take on such a thorny task? If not for this, where would I get the courage to accept such a mission? It is precisely for this reason that I am risking everything to take on this nearly impossible task and am doing my utmost to invite Fellow Daoists who have grudges against the Six Paths Extreme Saint, all so I can break through to the Middle Nascent Soul Stage as quickly as possible."

Zhao Changsheng continued his nonsense, but the expression on his face appeared incomparably sincere.

"Even so, I will not agree."

Facing the 'pie in the sky' Zhao Changsheng had drawn, Layman Qingyi still shook his head in refusal.

"Then, if I could help Revered Master extend your Lifespan, would you be willing?"

Since raising the Realm didn't work, Zhao Changsheng pulled out another 'pie': extending Lifespan.

What is cultivation for? Naturally, it's for longevity. What is longevity? It is Lifespan!

This temptation, he believed, no Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator would refuse.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Layman Qingyi was moved—truly moved.

But he still felt that if he agreed, he might never return and would die there.

"I... still don't want to die so soon."

Trusting his intuition, Layman Qingyi shook his head and refused again.

Layman Qingyi had always trusted his intuition. It was this keen intuition that had allowed him to avoid many fatal disasters and gain numerous benefits and opportunities, enabling him to reach his current Realm.

Even though his remaining Lifespan was short, he still did not want to take such a great risk.

"That really is a pity, a great pity. You should know that the Six Paths Extreme Saint has a stalk of heaven-mending ganoderma in his possession. This is an ancient Spirit Medicine that can extend one's Lifespan by a hundred years if consumed raw. If refined into a Heaven-Origin Longevity Pill, it can extend one's Lifespan by a hundred and fifty to sixty years."

Facing Layman Qingyi's refusal, Zhao Changsheng continued to talk nonsense.

"heaven-mending ganoderma? How could such an ancient Spirit Medicine, which only exists in ancient texts, be obtained by the Six Paths Extreme Saint? Are you deceiving me?"

Hearing Zhao Changsheng's nonsense, Layman Qingyi frowned and questioned him.

"Revered Master must be joking. If not for this reason, does Revered Master think the Twin Saints of Heavenly Star have had their heads squeezed by a door, choosing to move against the Six Paths Extreme Saint so early and so quickly? It is precisely to obtain this heaven-mending ganoderma. After all, their own Lifespans are running out, but if they can add another one or two hundred years of Lifespan, perhaps they will have a chance to successfully break through to the Soul Transformation Stage in the future. What kind of temptation is this for them? Does Revered Master not understand? Or do you not comprehend? Do I need to explain in detail?"

Zhao Changsheng chuckled, his tone equally earnest and sincere.

"Even so, I will not believe what you say."

Layman Qingyi took a deep breath and finally decided it was better to give up.

Although the temptation was great, even if they actually took action, such a thing might not necessarily fall into his hands. And if it did, it would only invite disaster.

He had already been psychologically scarred by the Star Palace Grand Elder and was naturally unwilling to offend the Star Palace again.