Chapter 138: Neither Can Be Offended

After the disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect expressed their opinions, Wang Changsheng discovered that the majority of them had actually chosen to ally with the He family.

This was a favorable phenomenon. At the very least, it indicated that these disciples of the Corpse Refining Sect possessed the ability to be flexible and adapt to circumstances.

"It seems that the supporters of an alliance with the He family still hold the majority," Wang Changsheng concluded. "Since that is the case, I will make a trip to both the Casual Practitioners Pavilion and the He family to see what their intentions are."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Very well. Chen Yuan, accompany me to the Casual Practitioners Pavilion," Wang Changsheng said.

The Casual Practitioners Pavilion was a renowned sect within the Shentian Realm. Although it lacked a supreme master at the Golden Core realm, its numbers were vast. According to what Wang Changsheng knew, the pavilion had sent over a hundred people to participate in the God of War's Tomb this time, and that was not even counting the numerous rogue cultivators hidden outside the city.

The Casual Practitioners Pavilion occupied a rather remote location within the small town. When Wang Changsheng arrived, he found over a hundred of their members crammed into a small building, looking extremely crowded.

The cultivators of the Casual Practitioners Pavilion were no strangers to Wang Changsheng and Chen Yuan. Upon seeing the two of them arrive, every practitioner in the pavilion wore a solemn expression.

After all, in terms of strength and prestige, the Casual Practitioners Pavilion fell far short of the Corpse Refining Sect.

Wang Changsheng managed to meet with Zhang Mingyuan without any obstacles.

"Pavilion Master Zhang, long time no see!" Wang Changsheng immediately cupped his fists in a greeting.

Seeing Wang Changsheng, Zhang Mingyuan also cupped his fists and returned the salute. "When we first met, Executive Wang, you had not even begun your cultivation. When we met again, you were already an executive of the Corpse Refining Sect. And now, seeing you once more, I never expected that the entire cultivation world of the Shentian Realm would already be well aware of Executive Wang's prestigious reputation."

"You flatter me, Pavilion Master Zhang. I merely happened to meet the right opportunities; in truth, every step I took was fraught with caution," Wang Changsheng said with a helpless, bitter smile. "As Pavilion Master Zhang can see, my personal cultivation and strength are truly not worth mentioning. All of this is thanks to the Corpse Refining Sect."

Zhang Mingyuan did not continue with the polite pleasantries and instead asked straight to the point, "I wonder what brings Executive Wang here today?"

Zhang Mingyuan remained vigilant against Wang Changsheng. After all, Wang Changsheng was now an executive of the Corpse Refining Sect, and his actions and intentions could no longer be viewed through the lens of a minor cultivator from the past.

"I believe that with Pavilion Master Zhang's profound insight, the very moment you saw me, you already understood the reason for my visit," Wang Changsheng said with a faint, enigmatic smile.

Hearing this, a bitter expression crossed Zhang Mingyuan's face.

He waved his hand toward the surrounding area, and the other members of the Casual Practitioners Pavilion immediately withdrew. Wang Changsheng gave Chen Yuan a look, and Chen Yuan also stepped out of the room.

When only the two of them were left in the room, Zhang Mingyuan flicked his sleeve and set up a sound-isolation barrier.

The moment Wang Changsheng walked toward the pavilion's building, it had already drawn the gazes of many cultivators in the town. For him to visit the Casual Practitioners Pavilion at such a critical juncture, his intentions were undoubtedly worth pondering.

"Executive Wang, let me speak frankly. Before you arrived, Cloud Palace Peak had already sent people to see me," Zhang Mingyuan said with a bitter smile. "Does Executive Wang know what I want to do most right now?"

"What is that?" Wang Changsheng asked, perplexed.

"Right now, I only want to lead all the cultivators of the Casual Practitioners Pavilion back. They have no business coming here to throw their lives away!" Zhang Mingyuan said in a solemn, helpless tone. "In the power struggles among you major sects, you completely disregard our lives, treating us merely as pawns. In the end, the ones who suffer the most casualties are still us minor sects."

What Zhang Mingyuan said was indeed the truth.

"Yet, Pavilion Master Zhang, you have no way to alter this situation, do you?" Wang Changsheng countered. "Therefore, the best approach is to ally with a major sect. That way, you can enjoy the shade beneath a great tree."

"But we are the ones who must charge into battle, and we are the ones who reap the fewest rewards in the end..." Zhang Mingyuan said, looking helpless.

"That, too, is unavoidable!" Wang Changsheng said without any concealment, his voice deep. "Once you have no choices left, the ones who suffer first will undoubtedly be you minor sects!"

"Furthermore, if you wish to turn the tables in a desperate situation, you must participate," Wang Changsheng continued. "With Pavilion Master Zhang's intelligence, you must have thought of all this long ago. The fact that you still brought people here means that Pavilion Master Zhang also wishes to take a gamble!"

Wang Changsheng's words left Zhang Mingyuan in silence, for everything Wang Changsheng had said was already anticipated by him.

And that was precisely what Zhang Mingyuan found most exasperating!

"Cloud Palace Peak has also approached me," Zhang Mingyuan said, staring intently at Wang Changsheng. "The terms offered by Cloud Palace Peak are extremely generous. We do not need to charge into battle for them; we only need to utilize our advantage in numbers as rogue cultivators to help them locate the legacy."

"And the reward?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"The reward offered by Cloud Palace Peak is to help the Casual Practitioners Pavilion cultivate ten Golden Core realm disciples!" Zhang Mingyuan replied in a grave tone.

Judging by Zhang Mingyuan's expression, Wang Changsheng could tell that he was already tempted by the offer from Cloud Palace Peak.

"Ten Golden Core realm cultivators is indeed a substantial gesture," Wang Changsheng remarked.

Ten Golden Core realm cultivators were enough to enhance the foundation of the Casual Practitioners Pavilion. If the pavilion seized this opportunity well, it could even advance to the next level!

"Ten Golden Core realm cultivators are of paramount importance to the Casual Practitioners Pavilion," Zhang Mingyuan said solemnly. "The situation in the Southern Territory is intricate and complex right now. With these ten Golden Core realm cultivators, the position of the Casual Practitioners Pavilion will be much more secure!"

"Then, Pavilion Master Zhang, let me ask you: which is more important, the legacy, or ten Golden Core realm disciples?" Wang Changsheng asked with a faint smile.

A sect like the Casual Practitioners Pavilion inherently lacked a deep foundation. Once they obtained the legacy, they would possess the foundation required for a rise to prominence.

Since Pavilion Master Zhang had brought people to the God of War's Tomb, he undoubtedly desired the legacy as well.

"Executive Wang jokes!" Zhang Mingyuan said with a bitter smile. "The legacy is exceptionally important to our pavilion. However, even if we were to obtain it, I fear we would not be able to protect it..."

"Very well, Pavilion Master Zhang, I will lay my cards on the table as well. If the Casual Practitioners Pavilion allies with us, once you obtain the legacy, our Corpse Refining Sect can ensure your safety!" Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice. "Should you obtain the legacy and feel that the Southern Territory is no longer safe, we can even protect your migration to the Black Desolation Plains."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingyuan did not show any sign of being moved.

Although Wang Changsheng's proposal seemed extremely tempting and grand, compared to Cloud Palace Peak, it was far less practical.

If they chose to ally with the Corpse Refining Sect and failed to obtain the legacy, wouldn't they have simply been working for the Corpse Refining Sect from beginning to end?

If it were guaranteed that the Casual Practitioners Pavilion would obtain the legacy, Zhang Mingyuan would undoubtedly choose the Corpse Refining Sect without hesitation!

"What do you need our Casual Practitioners Pavilion to do?" Zhang Mingyuan asked, changing the subject.

"It's very simple," Wang Changsheng said gravely. "Provide us with information on Cloud Palace Peak's movements at any time and, when necessary, help us stall them."

"That is impossible!" Zhang Mingyuan immediately refused.

Wang Changsheng said helplessly, "I know this is somewhat difficult for the Casual Practitioners Pavilion, but this is indeed what is required of you."

"You can also look at it this way..." Wang Changsheng continued. "Once you obtain the legacy, what our Corpse Refining Sect will have to face is the entire cultivation world of the Shentian Realm!"

Zhang Mingyuan fell into a deep contemplation.

Ultimately, he looked at Wang Changsheng and said helplessly, "Executive Wang, please forgive me, but I cannot agree to this transaction."

"With the strength of the Casual Practitioners Pavilion, stalling Cloud Palace Peak is simply impossible," Zhang Mingyuan said with a bitter smile. "I cannot use the lives of the pavilion's cultivators as a stake in a gamble!"

Seeing Zhang Mingyuan's refusal, Wang Changsheng did not drag things out. He stood up directly and said, "Since that is the case, I will not disturb Pavilion Master Zhang any further."

With that, Wang Changsheng turned as if to leave.

"Wait, Executive Wang!" Zhang Mingyuan called out, stopping him in his tracks.

"What? Have you changed your mind?" Wang Changsheng asked with an enigmatic smile.

"No..." Zhang Mingyuan replied. "I certainly dare not agree to that transaction. Whether it is the Corpse Refining Sect or Cloud Palace Peak, my Casual Practitioners Pavilion can afford to offend neither..."

"Then..." Wang Changsheng prompted.

"I have a different transaction I would like to discuss with Executive Wang!" Zhang Mingyuan said solemnly.

"Let's hear it." Wang Changsheng sat back down, waiting for Zhang Mingyuan to speak.

"Our Casual Practitioners Pavilion will continue to provide the Corpse Refining Sect with the locations and movements of Cloud Palace Peak," Zhang Mingyuan said gravely.

"And what do we need to do in return?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"The Corpse Refining Sect needs to do nothing at all," Zhang Mingyuan stated firmly. "Should our pavilion find the legacy, we do not need the Corpse Refining Sect to step in and protect us. I only require Executive Wang's promise that the Corpse Refining Sect will not make a move against the Casual Practitioners Pavilion when that time comes!"

Hearing this proposed transaction, Wang Changsheng fell into contemplation.

For the Casual Practitioners Pavilion, relying on their numerical advantage gave them a higher probability of obtaining the legacy. In essence, they were trading information on Cloud Palace Peak's movements for a promise that the Corpse Refining Sect would not harass them after they acquired the legacy.

"And then? You will continue your dealings with Cloud Palace Peak, allowing them to help you cultivate your disciples?" Wang Changsheng asked with a faint, mocking smile. "What a clever calculation. Are you not afraid of offending both the Corpse Refining Sect and Cloud Palace Peak at the same time?"

As expected of someone capable of leading the Casual Practitioners Pavilion, Zhang Mingyuan had managed to secure benefits from both sides while offering virtually nothing in return. If the pavilion failed to get the legacy, they would still have gained ten Golden Core realm disciples cultivated with Cloud Palace Peak's help.

And if they did obtain the legacy, they would secure a promise of non-interference from the Corpse Refining Sect!

Such shrewdness made even Wang Changsheng want to applaud him.

Unfazed by Wang Changsheng's exposure of his scheme, Zhang Mingyuan said with a helpless sigh, "Executive Wang, there is no other way. Only the legacy is worth the Casual Practitioners Pavilion taking a gamble. As for other benefits, our pavilion simply cannot afford to stake anything on them."