Wen Zhong returned, Wu's promise!
Chaoge.
Nine Chamber Hall.
Inside the main hall, all was silent.
Wu, seated high on the throne, calmly gazed at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure below the prince.
Wu's face showed little emotion; he simply spoke calmly.
"Grand Tutor, you've come back after all."
Wen Zhong raised his head, his weathered face filled with determination.
"Your the King, the Interception Sect is in peril, and our sect is in imminent danger. As Jie Sect Disciple, I cannot fail to return."
His voice was strong and clear, without the slightest hesitation.
Di Xin remained silent.
He looked at the stubborn old man in front of him.
He could have enjoyed wealth and honor in Chaoge, and he was protected by the Human Emperor's Luck, so even Saint wouldn't dare to touch him easily.
But this old man chose a path fraught with peril.
"How's it going in the Northern Sea?"
Wen Zhong replied respectfully.
"The land of the Northern Sea is now basically pacified. Yuan Futong and the other seventy-two warlords have all been beheaded, and their forces have collapsed."
"Although we haven't quite reached the state Your the King desires—'never rebelling, and the people's hearts are with you'—we're not far off."
"I have ordered my two deputy generals Ji Li and Yu Qing, to lead the main army to garrison Northern Sea and promote Your Majesty's rule until Your the King's requirements are fully fulfilled before we can return to the capital."
"Grand Tutor, you've worked hard."
"For pacifying the Northern Sea and expanding the territory of our Great Shang Dynasty, I, on behalf of the millions of people of the Great Shang Dynasty, thank the Grand Tutor."
Wen Zhong bowed, his voice tinged with guilt.
"I dare not. I failed to achieve complete success and instead neglected public duty for private reasons; this is my fault."
Di Xin shook his head and did not dwell on the matter.
When does the Grand Tutor plan to return to Golden Ao Island?
Wen Zhong answered without hesitation.
Go back now.
"If it weren't for my need to return to the court to report to the King, I would have already gone to Golden Ao Island."
Wu fell silent.
He looked at Wen Zhong's resolute face and sighed softly.
This is Wen Zhong.
He was loyal to the emperor and also loyal to his teacher.
A person whose very bones are engraved with the words "loyalty and righteousness".
If Wen Zhong had been afraid of death and chosen to stay in Chaoge, he wouldn't be the Grand Tutor Wen who could have supported the Great Shang Dynasty.
That's precisely what I value in him.
Advise him?
It's completely useless, and there's no need to try to persuade them.
Forcing him to stay will only make him uneasy and tormented day and night.
That is not the way for a ruler and his subjects to interact.
After a long silence, Wu finally spoke.
"I know you will definitely go back, so I won't try to persuade you any further."
Be careful on your journey.
Hearing the King's understanding and caring words, Wen Zhong felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his tiger-like eyes even reddened slightly.
He bowed deeply to Wu.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your the King!"
What he feared most was that the King would force him to stay, at which point he would be in a dilemma.
Fortunately, the King understood him.
"Go."
"I'll wait for you to come back."
Wu turned away, no longer looking at him, leaving only his back view.
Wen Zhong took one last deep look at that tall figure, his fists clenching involuntarily beneath his armor.
"Your the King, I take my leave!"
"If I am fortunate enough to survive this journey, I will return to Chaoge and serve Your the King to the death!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around abruptly and strode out of the Nine Chamber Hall without any hesitation.
The footsteps faded into the distance until they disappeared.
The spacious hall fell silent once more.
Wu slowly walked to the outside of the palace gate and looked up at the sky.
A streak of light pierced through the clouds in the direction Wen Zhong had left, hurtling towards the East Sea with unwavering determination.
"Wen Zhong..."
Wu muttered to himself.
"I will give you a different ending."
"Although the journey to the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation is a dead end, there is still a chance of survival."
"I will ensure your safety during this Tribulation."
This was a promise he, as a Human Emperor, made to his most loyal subject.
East Sea.
Golden Ao Island.
On the celestial island, the once magnificent scene of Ten Thousand Immortals Paying Homage and the melodious strains of celestial music is long gone.
Instead, a somber and tragic atmosphere prevailed.
Tens of thousands of Jie Sect Disciple the Jie Sect were practicing an extremely profound formation in their respective areas.
Boundless Baleful Qi intertwined with celestial light, soaring into the sky and causing the winds and clouds over the East Sea to change color, with the vast blue waves surging.
A streak of light pierced the sky and landed in front of the Jade Palace; it was Wen Zhong, who had just returned from Chaoge.
Without pausing for a moment, he headed straight for the depths of the island to the Cave Abode of his master Saint Mother Jinling.
Inside the Cave Abode of the Saint Mother Jinling.
Upon seeing Wen Zhong, the Saint Mother Jinling showed little joy, but instead let out a soft sigh.
"Wen Zhong, you shouldn't have come back."
Upon Wen Zhong immediately knelt down on the ground.
"Master!"
"The Interception Sect is in peril; how can its disciples live on in this world!"
The Saint Mother Jinling looked at her kneeling disciple and slowly shook her head.
"Foolish child, you're so confused."
You are different from others.
"As the Great Shang Dynasty Human Clan, you bear the Fortune of the Human Clan and are protected by the Human Emperor."
"As long as you stay in Chaoge peacefully and don't get involved in this Tribulation calamity, you might still have a glimmer of hope to survive this Tribulation."
"Now you've walked right into our trap, returning to this Golden Ao Island. Aren't you just courting death!"
The words of the Saint Mother Jinling were filled with sorrow and regret.
This was one of her most prized disciples, and she truly did not want to see him perish in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, his True Spirit enshrined on the Investiture of the Gods.
Wen Zhong raised his head, his face showing no trace of regret.
"I understand everything you have said, Master."
"But I am a disciple of the Interception Sect!"
"My master imparted the Daoist teachings to me, my Grandmaster gave me a new life, and my fellow disciples treated me like brothers."
"If I were to stand by and watch my sect suffer this Great Calamity, watching my master and fellow disciples fight to the death for the Interception Sect, while I alone cower in Chaoge City, clinging to life..."
"Disciple, I cannot do it!"
His voice was resolute and filled with an unwavering will.
Even if it means death and the dissipation of my soul, I will stand with my Interception Sect and my fellow disciples to fight for that last glimmer of hope for our Jie Sect!
The Saint Mother Jinling looked at him quietly, at his resolute face.
After a long while, her heartbroken expression gradually turned into a hint of relief.
Yes.
This is truly her disciple.
These are the true disciples of the Interception Sect.
The principle of "education for all, Ten Thousand Immortals Paying Homage" is based on this spirit of fearlessness in the face of power and unity of purpose!
"Good, well said."
A smile appeared on the face of the Saint Mother Jinling, though it carried a hint of sorrow.
"Truly worthy of being my disciple, Jinling."
Get up.
"Thank you, Master!" Wen Zhong stood up.
The Saint Mother Jinling continued.
"Your Grandmaster is in seclusion, refining a Magic Treasure to make final preparations for the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation."
"It's not convenient for me to see you right now."
"Now that you've returned, go and follow the orders of your Martial Uncle Yunxiao, and together with the disciples of the Interception Sect, quickly familiarize yourself with the operation of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation."
Without the slightest hesitation, Wen Zhong immediately bowed and accepted the order.
"Yes, Master!"
"Disciple, I will go now!"
After saying this, he bowed again and turned to leave the Cave Abode.
As the Saint Mother Jinling watched her disciple's departing figure, she finally couldn't help but speak.
"Wen Zhong."
Wen Zhong paused, then turned around.
"Does Master have any further instructions?"
The Saint Mother Jinling opened her mouth, but couldn't bring herself to say "Be careful in everything."
In this battle, how can one be considered cautious?
Entering the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation means facing a nine-out-of-ten chance of death.
In the end, she simply waved her hand.
"Go."