Chapter 37: The Deal
"Are you asking us to help push these bone seeds?"
The Double-Pupil Taoist slightly furrowed his brows but did not show the joy Wang Ba anticipated.
Seeing this, Wang Ba felt a twinge of suspicion. Could he have guessed wrong?
Nevertheless, he nodded and said:
"Indeed, we have no grievances with Senior Man. Now trapped here, cooperation benefits both parties, separation harms us both. I suppose Senior has rarely encountered any outside cultivators in this Immortal Forbidden Land over the years?"
"If it were me, having met someone who could save me from this cage, I wouldn't let go easily. So I knew early on that Senior wouldn't let us leave so effortlessly. Since that's the case, why not speak openly? We'll help you escape this cage, and you grant us a way out. What does Senior think?"
Upon hearing this, the Double-Pupil Taoist furrowed his brow even deeper, explaining seriously:
"I have no intention to harm you. However..."
He hesitantly glanced at the surrounding bone seeds, a glint of temptation, struggle, and hesitation flickering in his double pupil.
At this moment, the Six-fingered Divine Demon suddenly spoke up:
"Don't forget what you promised me."
The Double-Pupil Taoist relaxed his brow slightly and shook his head sternly:
"Rest assured, since I've promised you, I won't go back on my word."
Wang Ba narrowed his eyes and glanced at the Six-fingered Divine Demon and the Double-Pupil Taoist.
Although he didn't know exactly what transaction was between the two, he had roughly guessed some of it.
However, he didn't speak and continued to look at the Double-Pupil Taoist, speaking softly:
"If Senior Man has any concerns, feel free to express them. Two heads are better than one. Only by being open can we hope to escape from here."
Upon hearing Wang Ba's words, the Double-Pupil Taoist couldn't help but pace back and forth, deep hesitation and indecision evident in his eyes, apparent to anyone watching.
"Is it possible he's worried that by pushing the bone seeds, we'll absorb all the immortal blood, leaving the ancient cultivators with nothing?"
Yao Wudi flew back to Wang Ba's side and spoke through a shared thought.
Upon hearing this, Wang Ba watched the Double-Pupil Taoist's indecisive demeanor and nodded slightly.
He shared that thought.
Yet suddenly, another guess arose in his mind.
This Double-Pupil Taoist is an amalgamation of the will of many ancient cultivators. If these cultivators completely vanish, does it mean the Double-Pupil Taoist will also disappear?
Once this guess was born, Wang Ba suddenly felt enlightened.
If that's the reason, it explains why the Double-Pupil Taoist is so conflicted. It's like handing over the only weakness of an undying body into someone else's hands.
Not just the Double-Pupil Taoist, even between cultivators with intimate bonds, rarely does someone willingly do this.
This is beyond entrusting one's life and death; it's an extreme test of human nature.
And human nature is least able to withstand testing.
After all, given how the Double-Pupil Taoist casually produced an innate Dao Treasure containing twenty-four Innate Cloud Bans earlier, it's hard not to be tempted.
"No wonder he chooses to lure more living beings to share the chaotic will within the immortal blood."
Wang Ba quickly understood the other's line of thinking.
Compared to pushing the bone seeds and guiding the immortal blood, using living beings to share the burden is undoubtedly much safer.
And just then, the Double-Pupil Taoist seemed to have made up his mind. His gaze suddenly turned to Wang Ba, speaking softly:
"We can try it, but the bone seeds are of great importance. It's not that I don't trust you, but to prevent any..."
His gaze swept over Wang Ba, the Little Cang World, Yao Wudi, and the distant Wu Monkey King.
He then directly overlooked Wu Monkey King and Yao Wudi.
His eyes fell on Wang Ba and the Little Cang World.
Suddenly, he pointed towards the Little Cang World, speaking in a deep voice:
"I need to hold onto this world!"
"Once you've truly completed the task, I'll return it to you."
Without a second thought, Wang Ba flatly refused:
"Impossible!"
"It's absolutely impossible! Don't bring it up again!"
The Little Cang World is his foundation and one of the few means to counterbalance the Six-fingered Divine Demon.
If the Little Cang World is held by the other side, he would be like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others. He could never agree to this under any circumstances.
The Double-Pupil Taoist's relaxed brow immediately tightened again:
"I won't harm your domain, you don't need to worry."
The Six-fingered Divine Demon also chimed in seemingly neutrally:
"It's just a precaution, nothing to worry about... let's just hurry up!"
Wang Ba snorted coldly, remaining silent.
But it was clear to anyone that resoluteness was in his eyes.
The Double-Pupil Taoist's brow furrowed even deeper:
"Little Friend Ye, won't you compromise at all?"
Wang Ba retorted sarcastically:
"This is Senior Man's domain, why won't you take a step back?"
"Moreover, you already hold the sole means to leave this place. We wouldn't dare entertain any improper thoughts, so why do you insist on taking just my little world as a precaution?"
The Double-Pupil Taoist was momentarily at a loss for words.
He looked displeased, lowered his head in thought, and his gaze swept over the red-clad figure within the domain below. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he raised his finger towards that domain:
"In that case, let's each take a step back. I want to hold onto this person!"
Wang Ba's gaze concentrated as he looked at the still unconscious Yu Wuheng in the domain, frowning slightly.
He understood what the Double-Pupil Taoist was thinking: Yu Wuheng was undoubtedly the person with the highest cultivation realm inside, essential for the Little Cang World's navigation of the Realm Sea. Holding onto Yu Wuheng could also achieve the effect of restraining him.
But compared to holding onto the Little Cang World directly, it was indeed a step back.