Cai Chao rambled on, observing the Heavenly Dao elder's expression.
If it weren't for Zhang Ergou previously revealing certain matters about the Liuhai Sect, and the fact that luring Cai Chao here was a joint scheme between the Heavenly Dao elder and Zhang Ergou.
The Heavenly Dao elder would have truly been deceived by Cai Chao.
After all, what he said was plausible and well-founded.
During their conversation, the Heavenly Dao elder also glanced at Zhang Ergou from time to time, as he heard from Cai Chao that some treasures had been lost from the Liuhai Sect.
This was perhaps the primary reason why the Liuhai Sect's leader, Liu Xun, had ordered Zhang Ergou to be watched.
Although Zhang Ergou had told him before that he was being targeted, he hadn't explained why.
Even though Zhang Ergou mentioned being inexplicably captured by the Liuhai Sect, given the brat's character, he wouldn't let the Liuhai Sect off so easily.
It seemed that the matter of the stolen treasure Cai Chao mentioned wasn't a lie.
However, these weren't the things that concerned the Heavenly Dao elder. What he was more interested in were the schemes the Liuhai Sect had plotted, as Zhang Ergou had told him before.
Judging by all signs, the Liuhai Sect's ambitions this time were significant.
The Heavenly Dao elder still chose to believe Zhang Ergou, as Cai Chao had been lured here precisely as Zhang Ergou had predicted, and everything unfolded as Zhang Ergou had described.
The Liuhai Sect must have some unspeakable secret.
"Stop rambling, tell me the truth!" the Heavenly Dao elder interrupted Cai Chao impatiently.
"Elder, what I'm saying is all true."
Cai Chao quickly replied. Despite possessing the cultivation and strength of the early Nascent Soul stage, he felt no inclination to resist.
"Is that so? It seems I'll have to perform a soul-searching on you to uncover the truth then?"
Seeing Cai Chao's refusal to speak the truth, the Heavenly Dao elder smiled indifferently, as if what he said was a commonplace matter.
"Elder, elder, every word I speak is true, absolutely no falsehoods. If you don't believe me, I can swear upon my Dao heart."
Cai Chao, seeing that the Heavenly Dao elder didn't believe him, said hurriedly.
"Swear an oath, very well, swear it!" the Heavenly Dao elder watched Cai Chao mockingly.
"You're forcing my hand!"
Suddenly, Cai Chao roared and struck out with a palm towards the Heavenly Dao elder.
Zhang Ergou, who was watching the scene from a tree branch, was greatly startled. Cai Chao's sudden attack was completely beyond his expectations.
However, the Heavenly Dao elder seemed to have foreseen this.
He casually waved his hand, neutralizing Cai Chao's palm strike, and a palm print that seemed almost tangible shot towards Cai Chao.
Puff!
Cai Chao spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at the Heavenly Dao elder with utter horror.
The Heavenly Dao elder's casual strike not only neutralized his full-powered attack but also severely injured him.
It was clear that the Heavenly Dao elder's cultivation was far beyond the initially perceived late Nascent Soul stage.
"You are, Trans... Trans..." Cai Chao's eyes were filled with terror.
"Silence!" However, before he could finish speaking, the Heavenly Dao elder cut him off with a wave of his hand, sending Cai Chao tumbling head over heels with a single slap.
He, a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator and an elder of the Liuhai Sect, had never suffered such humiliation.
But Cai Chao felt no anger at all, as he believed the Heavenly Dao elder's cultivation had long surpassed his own by a vast margin.
"I ask, you answer. If you dare deceive me in the slightest, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The Heavenly Dao elder's gaze turned cold. He immediately cast a barrier, enveloping the two of them.
What they discussed inside, Zhang Ergou, standing outside on the tree branch, could only watch helplessly, unable to hear anything.
With no other recourse, he could only stand on the tree branch and grumble about the Heavenly Dao elder.
"You old rascal, abandoning me after I've served my purpose. I paid such a heavy price, almost risked my life, and you don't even want me to know."
"Unbelievable!"
Zhang Ergou muttered to himself while examining his surroundings.
"Brat, what are you muttering about?"
Zhang Ergou was startled and immediately turned around, only to find the Heavenly Dao elder's smiling face just a foot away from him.
"Elder, I was just praising your meticulous work."
Zhang Ergou naturally wouldn't tell the truth. Flattery, no matter how seasoned, always works. Everyone, no matter how important, enjoys hearing nice things.
When it came to flattering in person, Zhang Ergou had never admitted defeat.
"Is that so? Why did it sound different to me just now?"
The Heavenly Dao elder continued to smile at Zhang Ergou, making him shiver.
"Elder, you must have misheard. Your disciple was indeed praising you."
Zhang Ergou continued to press on, gritting his teeth.
"So, you're saying my hearing is failing?" The Heavenly Dao elder squinted at Zhang Ergou.
Damn it! If he agreed with the Heavenly Dao elder, he'd be calling him deaf.
If he denied it, he'd be admitting he was lying.
For the second time, Zhang Ergou felt a sense of helplessness when facing the Heavenly Dao elder.
"Elder, what did you do to that fellow?"
Seeing Cai Chao lying motionlessly on the ground, Zhang Ergou quickly changed the subject.
"That kid is too cowardly. For someone who's a Nascent Soul cultivator, I don't know how he even reached that stage."
Speaking of the unconscious Cai Chao, the Heavenly Dao elder seemed to have found a topic to his liking.
"Why do you say that, Elder?"
Zhang Ergou, sensing the Heavenly Dao elder's interest, quickly pressed on.
"Tell me, a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, was scared unconscious by me. With such psychological fortitude, to actually reach the Nascent Soul stage, it's a miracle."
The Heavenly Dao elder continued to complain, clearly unimpressed by Cai Chao's performance.
"Oh dear, Elder, please stop beating around the bush."
Zhang Ergou was exasperated.
"You insolent brat, are you getting impatient? You haven't even told me your own secret yet!"
The Heavenly Dao elder was clearly doing this on purpose.
"What makes you say that, Elder?"
Zhang Ergou was somewhat puzzled. How could the Heavenly Dao elder discover his secret?
"Aren't you going to explain why you suddenly vanished into thin air just now?"
Boom!
Zhang Ergou's mind exploded. He suddenly remembered that in his panic, he had entered the black iron sphere's small world.
He had forgotten that the small world was completely isolated from the outside, and once he entered it, no trace of him could be sensed externally.
Clearly, the Heavenly Dao elder had noticed the anomaly during his brief disappearance. Even for a fleeting moment, it couldn't escape the senses of a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Who's there?" the Heavenly Dao elder suddenly shouted.
Just as Zhang Ergou was about to concoct an excuse, a powerful aura descended upon them.
The Heavenly Dao elder's expression turned extremely grave, his eyes fixed on the area behind the towering ancient trees.
Zhang Ergou also looked towards the distance with tension, yet he couldn't see anything.
It was as if his vision was being deliberately obscured by something.