"Good, initial results have been achieved. But why did everyone leave?" Wang Linchi asked, feigning ignorance.
He had been keeping an eye on these five people. Furthermore, even if he didn't closely watch them, their rebellious nature was as clear as day. Each of them harbored their own hidden agendas.
Lu Xing was the only one who returned. He had intentionally sent away the other four, hoping to win Wang Linchi's favor and thus get a head start.
"They had so urgent matters, so they left early," Lu Xing responded, feigning difficulty. It seed as if he were covering for the other four.
Any discerning person could see the awkwardness in Lu Xing's deanor. Wang Linchi, however, pretended not to notice. He let Lu Xing play out his act and chose not to pry further.
"Hmm, it's no problem if they have urgent matters; it's not as if anything significant is happening."
"Having you handle things puts at ease." Wang Linchi acted as if he valued Lu Xing over the others.
Lu Xing, however, found this odd. He tried to discern sothing from Wang Linchi's expression, but his face gave nothing away, leaving Lu Xing with no choice but to give up.
As for the sincerity behind Wang Linchi's words, Lu Xing dismissed them as hollow. They were both seasoned schers; neither was likely to reveal their true intentions so easily. It was just like Yang Song's previous attempt at sowing discord, which was built on the foundation that everyone had their own agenda. Yang Song wasn't foolish enough to play a losing hand.
"I am deeply grateful for the Alliance Leader's appreciation!" Lu Xing said excitedly.
Wang Linchi shook his head. "Now that the Golden Body Dharma Ability has been confird to possess the power to defeat giant beasts, next we should..."
"Alliance Leader, rest assured! We five are determined to eradicate these evil creatures for the sake of all life under heaven," Lu Xing pledged, interrupting before Wang Linchi could finish his sentence.
However, Wang Linchi said unhurriedly, "You've misunderstood my aning. Giant beasts are nurous, and new ones constantly erge. Relying on just the five of you to eliminate them would be far too ti-consuming and laborious."
"I intend to publicly release the Golden Body Dharma Ability, allowing everyone in the world to cultivate it. Then, we can eliminate the beast scourge together."
Wang Linchi's words stunned Lu Xing. He had never imagined Wang Linchi would plan to publicly release the Golden Body Dharma Ability. How could this be permissible?
"Absolutely not! Under no circumstances! Even for the five of us at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage, we can only use the Golden Body Dharma Ability once a day, and for less than the ti it takes to drink a cup of tea. How could other Cultivators possibly wield it?"
"Entrusting such a great Divine Skill to them would be a calamity, not a blessing!" How could Lu Xing tolerate others obtaining his exclusive privilege?
"Rest assured, this matter is simple. Cultivators at the Mahayana Realm can combine the strength of a hundred individuals. Although not comparable to you five, it would be sufficient to handle one giant beast."
"Further down, those in the Body Integration Realm can rge the power of a thousand, and those in the Cultivating Void Stage, ten thousand. They will naturally be able to form rit Giants."
Wang Linchi had no intention of indulging Lu Xing. Did he really think he could monopolize this power, given the current circumstances?
The reason for their desire to monopolize it was simple: they had never abandoned their plan to escape the Qiandao Realm. Otherwise, the other four wouldn't have tacitly agreed when Yang Song spoke up. It was rely because Wang Linchi still held so value in their eyes for the ti being.
A shadow crossed Lu Xing's eyes upon hearing Wang Linchi's explanation; murderous intent even began to stir within him. He only managed to forcibly suppress it because the Golden Body Dharma Ability had not yet been fully supplented.
"So that's how it is. The Alliance Leader is truly a great talent." Lu Xing knew he couldn't change Wang Linchi's mind. But that didn't matter; he had plenty of ways to ensure Wang Linchi could not successfully promote the Golden Body Dharma Ability.
Currently, the supre authority in the entire Qiandao Realm rested in the hands of Wang Linchi and the five of them, the Tribulation-crossing Virtue Cultivators. In their eyes, Wang Linchi was rely a puppet. Without them, he was less than insignificant. Moreover, as a re newcor to the Transcendance Tribulation Stage, how could he possibly contend with the five of them, all seasoned veterans of that stage?
When the ti ca, if Wang Linchi proposed one thing, they could use their power and influence to twist it into sothing else entirely. They would ensure that while the promotion of the Golden Body Dharma Ability appeared to proceed smoothly on the surface, in reality, it would never leave the Tao Tian League headquarters.
Five against one, the advantage is mine! Lu Xing sneered inwardly. He should just honestly focus on deducing the Divine Skill; why bother with all these other matters?
"Great talent? Not at all. Everything I'm doing is for our own sakes," Wang Linchi said with a smile.
What he said was true; everything he did was for himself. It looked like fun and gas, but in reality, he was finding ways to bleed the entire Qiandao Realm dry. Afterwards, he would let Lu Xing and the other four ascend to the Green Nether Fairyland. This wasn't because he was kind-hearted, but because he needed these five as a virus to infiltrate the Green Nether Fairyland in advance. Incidentally, he would also let these five experience the treatnt of slaves. After all, since they so desperately wanted to ascend, Wang Linchi would satisfy their desire.
Did they truly believe the Golden Body Dharma Ability given by Wang Linchi would be anything good? Anything he was willing to give out was bound to have a major flaw.
This Divine Skill could drastically stimulate the pollution contained within a Cultivator's rit. Cultivating this incomplete version would, after three minutes, cause one to shed the rit Giant's 'skin'. However, if one successfully cultivated the complete version, this 'skin' would transform from temporary to permanent. At that point, it could even change your very species.
A polluted version of Ultraman was no re jest.
Hearing Wang Linchi claim it was for 'their own sakes,' Lu Xing's mind raced, wondering if there was so other sche afoot. He gritted his teeth and, steeling himself, asked, "Alliance Leader, please enlighten ."
"You, you... usually so astute. How can you be so slow now?" Wang Linchi said, looking as if he were disappointed in an unteachable student.
This left Lu Xing rather bewildered. Wang Linchi was speaking in riddles; how was he supposed to understand anything?
"If we possess enough rit Giants, then within the span of a generous tea break, we could lead everyone to ascend together..." Wang Linchi let his words trail off.
Yet, Lu Xing understood in an instant. So that was the plan!
Wang Linchi was building upon Hu Heng's Ascension plan, but with his own refinents. The true purpose was to pave a path for their own escape. If they wished to ascend and depart, they could not bypass the Sky-Devouring Huge Beast. If it were only them, they would be a very conspicuous target. However, if they brought other rit Giants along, they would have nurous shields. With enough rit Giants to act as cannon fodder, they could seize the chance to charge into the Ascension Channel and reach the Green Nether Fairyland.
"Many thanks for the Alliance Leader's guidance! I was indeed slow-witted," Lu Xing hastily replied.
He had always believed this Lingyuan Hermit acted for the country and its people. But today, he saw that the man's reputation was undeserved; he harbored such a grand sche! However, this had nothing to do with him. What he valued was his own successful Ascension, thereby escaping this ss of the Qiandao Realm.
"It wasn't much of a hint; you would have figured it out on your own eventually," Wang Linchi replied leisurely, then added, "In that case, the task of promoting this Golden Body Dharma Ability falls to you."
"You must ensure that everyone successfully masters this Divine Skill."
With such benefits on the line, Lu Xing accepted without hesitation. "Rest assured, Alliance Leader, this technique will undoubtedly spread throughout the world!"
After so maneuvering, Wang Linchi finally had him convinced. It wasn't exactly deception; if Wang Linchi had truly intended it, he could indeed have made it happen. The main issue was simply whether Wang Linchi wanted to do so or not.
After seeing Lu Xing off, he muttered to himself, "These people are all clearly very intelligent. Why don't they apply that cleverness where it's actually needed? Their minds are completely filled with sches, calculations, and endless fighting, aren't they?"
"But one can hardly bla them. Living in this kind of environnt where the strong are revered, everyone becos like this."
"It's fortunate that my reforms have taken effect. Otherwise, 'survival of the fittest' would still be a core principle here."
In the Cultivation era before the rit Era, incidents such as robbery with murder and the annihilation of entire families were countless. Often, the cause was as simple as the other party possessing resources that soone else coveted. This 'survival of the fittest' atmosphere even ant that for two or three days after comrcial events like auctions or trade fairs concluded, the surrounding areas would beco peak zones for battles over spoils.
Things are a bit better now. Cultivators no longer need vast amounts of resources for their practice as they did in the past; rit is gained through grinding. Consequently, the 'survival of the fittest' ntality has gradually diminished, and public order has significantly improved. Apart from encounters with giant beasts, everything is quite stable.
"Unfortunately, all of this is rely a superficial, illusory peace." Wang Linchi was, at this very mont, gradually dismantling this fragile order for his own profit.
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