Ambush

"The Sky-Flipping Seal!"

Shen Gongbao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Guangchengzi!

The leader of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan, and the personal disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, actually set up an ambush here, disregarding the dignity of a sage, and brazenly attacked!

How dare she?

This is a fight to the death!

Under the supreme pressure of the Heaven-Turning Seal, the concealment Array Formations of the Sky-Flipping Seal -Duntian Boat was as fragile as paper, shattering inch by inch in an instant.

That terrifying power directly locked down all of Shen Gongbao's vital energy.

There's nowhere to escape, nowhere to hide!

Those who disobey will die!

Shen Gongbao felt an overwhelming surge of anger and sorrow. She had just found belonging in the Interception Sect; was she destined to perish here today?

At this critical moment, a beam of light shot out from his arms on its own!

Buzz--

Twenty-four illusory pearls suddenly appeared, their azure light flowing and evolving into the Twenty-Four Heavens worlds!

Although this small world is merely a phantom, far inferior to the original, it forms a world of its own.

It's the Sea-Calming Pearl!

It was a wisp of protective magic power left on him by his Senior Brother Gongming!

The Sky-Flipping Seal crashed down, striking the Twenty-Four Heavens illusory figures of the heavens.

Rumble--

The Twenty-Four Heavens trembled violently, collapsing and vanishing one after another.

Just a breath!

He only held out for a moment!

However, for Daluo Golden Immortal, even this brief moment of respite can mean the difference between life and death!

"Shangqing Xuanshu, Divine Thunder Dispels Illusion!"

Shen Gongbao, inspired by a stroke of genius, unleashed the thunder magic bestowed upon him by the Saint Mother Jin Ling to its fullest potential.

Sizzle!

A bolt of purple divine lightning, as thick as a child's arm, burst forth from his fingertips and slammed into the void in front of him!

The space shattered like a mirror, a pitch-black spatial rift was forcibly torn open, behind which was a chaotic and violent force of earth, water, fire, and wind.

"Guangchengzi, I, Shen Gongbao!"

With a roar, she steered the Duntian Boat into the crevice.

The next instant, the crack closed, and the remaining power of the Sky-Flipping Seal crushed the last trace of Daoist energy in this place.

(PS: The plot of the Chan Sect does not appear much in this book, so the realm is corrected here.)

Because of Chu Feng, the overall combat strength of the Primordial World was boosted (due to the increased resources provided by the system).

The powerful beings who have names and identities in the Chan Jie sect, whose cultivation has improved by one major realm or more, that is, the level of Daluo Golden Immortal to Half-step Hunyuan Grand Unity.

Additional setting: Although Daluo Golden Immortal are immortal and indestructible, they are still subject to the influence of the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao is now halfway to the Great Dao, and can easily manipulate those with lower cultivation levels.

The Primordial World Great Dao is still stronger than Chu Feng's. Its Great Dao is special as it is a combination of the Three Thousand Great Daos. Its current strength is comparable to the Primordial Chaos Dao Venerate Realm of the Primordial Chaos World, as shown in Chapter 244.

Reason: The cultivation level of the Great Dao is also affected by the world one is in, and since the Primordial World has been upgraded, the strength of the Great Dao has increased dramatically.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Gongbao finally emerged from the spatial turbulence, only to find himself surrounded by a vast, boundless black ocean.

North Sea!

She was randomly teleported here.

"Puff--"

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and Shen Gongbao's face turned deathly pale.

He withstood the aftershocks of the Sky-Flipping Seal and forcibly activated the unfamiliar divine lightning, causing his primordial spirit to be violently shaken.

She looked down at the Duntian Boat in her hand, her heart aching even more.

This treasure boat, a gift from Duobao Sister Duobao, is covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and the hidden array patterns at its core have become dim and lost their spiritual power.

"The core array pattern is damaged and will require at least three years of nurturing to recover..."

Shen Gongbao examined the area and his heart sank.

This means his biggest trump card for survival is temporarily useless.

Back to Golden Ao Island?

No, since Guangchengzi dared to make a move, the Interception Sect has probably already laid a trap around him. Going back would be like walking into a trap.

Just as they were pondering their next move, several disheveled demonic lights flew in from afar, followed by several menacing cultivators, clearly in pursuit.

Shen Gongbao frowned. He didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but when he saw the demon king in the lead, his heart stirred.

She recognized him; he was Yuan Futong's deputy general, one of the seventy-two warlords of the North Sea.

With a flick of his finger, a barely perceptible bolt of lightning flashed, and the pursuing cultivators instantly turned to ashes.

The demon king, having narrowly escaped death, hurriedly stepped forward and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you so much for saving my life, senior!"

"Yuan Futong against the Shang dynasty and has been wiped out by Grand Tutor Wen's army. Why are you still here?" Shen Gongbao asked calmly.

The lieutenant looked sorrowful. "We originally intended to seek refuge at the Demon Master Palace. But who knew... who knew the Demon Master Palace had already closed its gates."

Is the Demon Master Palace under lockdown?

Shen Gongbao felt a chill run down his spine once more.

Who is Demon Master Kunpeng? A guest of the Purple Heavens Palace, Demon Master of the ancient Heavenly Court, he has always held himself in high esteem.

Even she has chosen to live in seclusion; the state of affairs in the world is probably more perilous than she imagined.

Actually, she didn't know.

Kunpeng's sealing of the mountain was just an excuse; he actually stayed at the Volcano of Immortality.

After much deliberation, Shen Gongbao concluded that the most dangerous place was perhaps the most Shen Gongbao one. Without lingering, he forced himself to endure his injuries and, concealing his presence, quietly made his way towards Chaoge.

Several days later, she slipped away from all eyes and ears and returned to the National Preceptor's Mansion in Chaoge.

The mansion remained the same, only now it exuded a sense of desolation.

He had just changed out of his Daoist robes and hadn't even settled in when a trusted retainer came in whispering, "Grand Preceptor, the King has secretly summoned you."

Shen Gongbao's heart stirred, and he entered the palace that very night.

Longde Hall, the lights were on, but only Di Xin was there.

The Human Emperor shed his courtly majesty, his face bearing a trace of worry and confusion.

"Imperial Advisor, you're finally back."

When Di Xin saw Shen Gongbao, it was as if he had found his pillar of support, and he waved his hand to dismiss those around him.

"Why has Your Majesty summoned me so late at night?"

Di Xin was silent for a moment, then lowered his voice to a very low level. "Ever since Su Hu offered his daughter Daji entered the palace, I have often felt distracted and indulged in the pleasures of love."

But... I sometimes have a feeling that she is secretly protecting me."

Shen Gongbao was greatly surprised by these words.

Di Xin continued, "Three days ago, Fei Zhong presented me with a cup of fine wine at a palace banquet. After drinking it, I experienced severe abdominal pain and almost fainted."

It was Daji. She dismissed everyone and, through her breath, sent a strange, warm current into my body.

Although I recovered on the spot, she was pale and said that she had caught a cold and was still recuperating at the Shouxian Palace."

Poisoned wine? Daji's rescue?

Shen Gongbao stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, may I, this humble Daoist, examine your meridians?"

"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Preceptor."

Shen Gongbao extended two fingers and placed them on Di Xin's wrist pulse, carefully transferring a wisp of pure Shangqing lightning power to him.

Thunder magic is extremely yang and powerful, and is most effective at dispelling evil.

The wisp of lightning energy traveled through Di Xin's meridians and quickly made a discovery.

Deep within Di Xin's heart meridian lingered an extremely sinister and eerie aura, clearly a remnant of some kind of deadly poison.

Around this poisonous gas, there was an equally powerful yet gentle and pure Yao Qi that enveloped it layer by layer, slowly dissolving it.

However, this demonic Yao Qi seemed to be running out of steam, clearly having been greatly depleted.

It's Daji's innate demonic essence!

Shen Gongbao withdrew his finger, his expression grave. "What Your Majesty said is true. That cup of wine was indeed a strange poison. If it weren't for the pure demonic energy protecting your heart meridian, you would have already turned into a pool of pus and blood."

"Empress Su saved your life at the cost of her own cultivation."

"Just as I thought!"

Di Xin clenched his fists, a fierce glint in his eyes. "As the ruler of the Great Shang, how dare someone commit such a treasonous act in the palace! Why would Daji do this?"

The two exchanged a glance and instantly devised a plan.

Shen Gongbao said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this matter is strange."

The best course of action now is to pretend to continue being misled, and even show more favoritism, in order to reassure the mastermind behind the scenes.

"I, the humble Daoist, will infiltrate the inner palace to secretly investigate the true intentions of the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb."

"Alright! I'll leave everything to the Imperial Advisor!" Di Xin nodded emphatically.

That night, Shen Gongbao cast an invisibility spell, his figure flickered, and he transformed into an inconspicuous moth, silently sneaking into the Shouxian Palace.

The palace was filled with the smell of medicine, creating a somber atmosphere.

Daji sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, her pretty face pale and her breath weak.

Behind her, nine enormous phantom fox tails loomed in and out of sight, their light dimmed by more than 70% compared to usual.

Hu Ximei (a pheasant spirit) and Noble Lady Wang (Jade Pipa Spirit) were anxiously protecting her, their faces full of worry.

Hu Ximei sighed, "Sister, why are you doing this? Is it worth sacrificing five hundred years of cultivation to save Di Xin?"

Daji slowly opened her eyes, revealing a bitter smile, "Ximei, have you forgotten Empress Nuwa's secret order?"

Her voice was weak as she said, "The Empress's Imperial Decree is to order us to infiltrate the palace and wreak havoc on the Shang Kingdom."

But the second secret order instructed us to secretly protect Di Xin and help him survive this Tribulation of Killing. This rescue has likely alerted certain entities, and we fear we may be about to expose a weakness."

Noble Lady Wang replied with concern, "Sister is right."

Those hypocrites from the Chan Sect can't wait any longer; the real killing move they've planted in the palace isn't us at all.

Do you really think those two treacherous ministers, Fei Zhong You Hun, are loyal to the king?

They had long been controlled by those two bald monks of the Western Religion using secret methods, becoming pawns in the overthrow of my Great Shang!

The amount of information was overwhelming; Shen Gongbao felt his mind reeling.

Chan Sect, Western Religion...

It turns out that the imperial court was already rife with undercurrents and lurking dangers!

Daji and her companions are not enemies at all; on the contrary, they are allies lurking deep within!

Without further hesitation.

The moth flashed in the air and transformed back into Shen Gongbao, landing in front of the three demons.

"Fellow Daoists, your expressions of shock are surely due to my abrupt arrival."

Hu Ximei and Noble Lady Wang immediately unleashed their magical weapons, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Although Daji was startled, she remained relatively calm and forced herself to ask, "Grand Preceptor, weren't you on Golden Ao Island? What brings you here?"

Shen Gongbao looked at them and said, word by word, "Since you three fellow Daoists are inclined towards the Yin Shang Dynasty, why not be frank with each other?"