As steady as a statue!
Minghe's unease grew increasingly severe.
He absolutely did not believe in some plan involving the immortals of Biyou Palace turning against one another!
That was practically impossible!
Tongtian had expelled his unworthy disciples, abolished his own Sage position, and dissolved the Interception Sect all for the Interception Sect immortals within the grand array!
How could their relationship possibly be poor?
Anyone who thought so was insulting their own intelligence!
Then there was only one possibility!
Minghe felt a chill in his heart: whether it was Duobao or the other seven immortals, they all absolutely believed that even under these circumstances,
Duobao could still handle it with ease!
That conclusion sent a chill through Minghe's heart!
Duobao definitely still had a hidden trump card!
But another question remained unresolved!
Why did Duobao not activate the Immortal Slaying Sword Array?
Wouldn't it be better to directly slaughter all the Western Teachings disciples?
Why go through so much trouble?
Minghe frowned in thought. Then, inadvertently, he saw a scene that left him utterly incredulous:
The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings, from Lu Ya downward, actually wore expressions of fear!!
He had not seen wrong. It truly was fear!
Minghe was somewhat baffled.
Had these people gotten it wrong?!
Clearly, it was his thousand-plus Quasi-Saint-level avatars besieging Duobao.
What were they afraid of?
He was only one person!
Wait!
Minghe placed his divine sense beside Lu Ya and viewed the battle from his perspective.
He saw Duobao mechanically throwing punch after punch.
Every punch turned several of Minghe's Quasi-Saint-level Blood God Son avatars into bloody mist!
It was simply terrifying!
!!!
Minghe suddenly realized!
He stared at Duobao in horror.
Minghe instantly understood Duobao's plan!
This bastard... he was actually trying to shatter the Dao Hearts of the Western Teachings' Ten Thousand Immortals!
Another cultivator might truly fail to understand the importance of a Dao Heart!
But Minghe was different!
He had once been the Demon Sect Leader and understood the importance of the Dao Heart better than anyone.
Those in the Netherworld Demon Sect who could ultimately rise to high positions were basically all people with steadfast Dao Hearts.
Those with poor temperaments could only fall to the very bottom and suffer endless bullying!
Duobao could clearly have directly activated the Immortal Slaying Sword Array and ended this calamity.
But he refused to!
His ambitions were immense. Duobao wanted to destroy the Western Teachings' Ten Thousand Immortals in a single battle!
The Western Teachings' doctrine was to cultivate this life and seek the next.
It placed extremely high demands on one's temperament—what could an ascetic achieve without a steadfast Dao Heart?!
He wanted to destroy the Western Teachings' ten thousand disciples in one battle!
Minghe felt a chill in his heart!
Duobao was truly vicious!
He actually dared to do it!
Even killing a man by attacking his heart was no more than this!
There were only three hundred and sixty-five slots on the Investiture of the Gods List,
but Duobao was clearly not satisfied with such results. He wanted to settle Qian-Kun in one battle!
If Duobao truly succeeded... no one knew how much longer the Western Teachings' rise to prominence would be delayed!
Duobao's standing in Minghe's mind abruptly rose to the most terrifying position!
Minghe understood even more clearly
that when he took control of the Western Teachings in the future, Duobao would likely become his most troublesome opponent!
A cold light flashed in Minghe's eyes!
Duobao absolutely could not be allowed to continue growing!
He was already a Peak Quasi-Saint.
If he continued growing, who could handle him?
This was the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, the Immeasurable Calamity.
If he did not seize this chance to eliminate Duobao, when would he ever get another opportunity?!
A cold glint flashed through Minghe's eyes.
Since his avatars could not withstand a single punch from Duobao, such sacrifices held no meaning whatsoever!
Minghe made his decision in an instant!
Either do nothing, or go all the way!
Minghe shouted, "Fellow Daoist Duobao, what a formidable Great Dao of Strength!"
"Does this kind of siege leave you dissatisfied?"
"Let me raise the difficulty a little!"
Duobao became alert.
What was Minghe trying to do?
Just as he was puzzled, several of Minghe's avatars lunged at him.
Duobao was about to throw a punch when his expression abruptly changed!
He hurriedly retreated, but how could there be time?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Duobao was actually blasted backward!
Yet the mighty figures within the grand array were not surprised at all that Duobao, who had just been rampaging invincibly and slaughtering in every direction, had been sent flying.
Minghe's avatars had self-detonated!!
Minghe had self-detonated!
No!
Minghe's avatars had self-detonated!!
It was not one avatar self-detonating, but several avatars detonating together!
These avatars were all Quasi-Saint-level!
The mighty figures were all stunned!
They simply could not believe Minghe would make such a decision!
These were Quasi-Saint-level avatars!
Although these avatars were not as highly cultivated as Minghe himself, nor were their attainments as profound.
Even speaking harshly, they possessed only his form and not his essence!
But no matter what, each was still a Quasi-Saint avatar!
What was more, Minghe's Blood God Son avatars were exceptionally mystical and could be used as second lives!
Anyone who obtained such avatars would treasure them beyond measure.
But Minghe did not!
He directly self-detonated them!
Duobao was also extremely surprised. Minghe truly was willing to part with them!
Minghe said coldly:
"Duobao, I already know what you are thinking."
"The reason you alone resisted my thousand-plus Blood God Son avatars, refusing to let Fellow Daoist Jinling and the others help you."
"You even refused to activate the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, increasing the difficulty for us to break the array."
"Did you really think I could not see through you?"
Minghe casually pointed at the Western Teachings' Ten Thousand Immortals.
"You wanted to use your invincible bearing in this battle to crush the confidence of my Western Teachings disciples, destroying this generation of disciples at their very foundation!"
"What a ruthless scheme!"
An uproar immediately erupted within the grand array!
The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings, from Lu Ya downward, were all shocked and furious!
Minghe had struck directly at the thoughts in their hearts!
Facing the siege of Minghe's thousand-plus Quasi-Saint-level avatars, Duobao had shattered several with every punch, like an undefeated demon god!
That invincible bearing had been deeply imprinted in their hearts.
All the Western Teachings disciples unanimously believed that no one could defeat Duobao in this state.
Duobao was invincible!
That notion had unknowingly been planted in the hearts of the Western Teachings disciples, including Lu Ya!
At any rate, Lu Ya absolutely did not believe he could shatter so many Quasi-Saint avatars like Duobao!
No!
Facing more than four, he would have already fallen!
Unlike other cultivators, Lu Ya knew how his uncle, the Demon Emperor Taiyi, who was invincible in single combat, had fallen!
He had been defeated by the self-detonation of several Ancestral Witches.
Do not forget that Eastern Emperor Taiyi had the protection of the Chaos Bell!
But what about Duobao before them?
Barehanded, he had not even suffered the slightest injury!
Invincible!
Overwhelmingly invincible!
Lu Ya was certain of it.
When Minghe suddenly exposed Duobao's scheme, fear rose from the depths of Lu Ya's heart—fear of Duobao!
Not only had he failed to dispel Duobao's invincible image,
he had instead deepened it even further!
Lu Ya was like this, and so were the Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings!
The surviving Chan Jiao immortals' expressions changed drastically!
Duobao... was actually this wise?!
Just now, Duobao had been high-spirited, shattering several of Minghe's avatars with every punch.
Yet he had not left the Chan Jiao immortals with such a terrifying impression.
After all, more than a thousand Minghe avatars packed together were simply too shocking.
More than half their attention had been focused on Minghe's avatars.
They were worried!
Their distrust of Duobao was the main reason.
Now, after learning of Duobao's scheme from Minghe,
the Chan Jiao immortals all sucked in cold breaths. Duobao could scheme so deeply?!
Only then did Guang Chengzi and the others belatedly realize: "Fellow Daoist Duobao surpasses us by far. We likely will never catch up to his attainments in the future."
And there were another seven Peak Quasi-Saints like Duobao on this battlefield!
The remaining Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao all wore bitter expressions!
Outside the grand array, the Sages were also greatly shocked!
The two Sages of the Western Teachings were both shocked and furious.
Zhunti instantly arrived beside the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, preparing to force his way inside.
How could the Sages of the Mystic Gate possibly let him have his way?
Zhunti cursed Tongtian furiously!
"Tongtian, what fine disciples you have raised, daring to damage my sect's disciples' Dao Hearts!"
Duobao's scheme—
No!
The scheme of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace—had not been seen through even by the two Western Sages.
Only after hearing Minghe's reminder did they belatedly realize it!
Looking back now, were there not flaws everywhere!
Duobao had trapped the Western Teachings' Ten Thousand Immortals with the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, so why had he not activated it?
Zhao Gongming clearly cultivated the Great Dao of Space Law, so why did he not go forward to help?
Why had the other six Golden Immortals been standing by and watching?
So they had planned this from the very beginning!
They did not merely intend to destroy the Western Teachings disciples physically—they intended to destroy them spiritually as well!
They were truly ruthless to the extreme!
The two Sages of the West could not help feeling vexed.
They said that onlookers saw things more clearly, so why had they failed to see it just now?
After thinking it over carefully, they immediately understood why!
The initial loss of three thousand Grand Unity Golden Immortals had diverted the attention of the Two Sages of the West!
That was why they had failed to notice that Duobao had never actually used the Immortal Slaying Sword Array!
But how had those three thousand Grand Unity Golden Immortals perished?
Their cultivation had merely been too low to withstand the four disasters of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind that were everywhere within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, so they had turned to ash!
That was all!
The two Western Sages could not help blaming themselves!
Before Tongtian could speak, Yuanshi used a single sentence to choke back the words of the two Western Teachings Sages.
Yuanshi sneered, "Have you two fellow Daoists forgotten? This is the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, a genuine Immeasurable Calamity!"
One strike, one kill!
That was right!
The Immeasurable Calamity existed to clear away the Karma of heaven and earth.
Naturally, one had to use every method available!
Anyone who held back and ended up dying because of it... would be utterly foolish!
Yuanshi exchanged looks with Taishang and Nuwa, and each saw admiration in the others' eyes.
The eight direct disciples of Biyou Palace were ruthless enough toward their enemies!
They were all Peak Quasi-Saints and True Immortals of Fortune and Virtue. There was no need to doubt their cultivation or character.
The only concern had been their temperament and schemes.
But now, there was no need to doubt them at all!
They were simply perfect!
They would be the next generation of pillars of the Mystic Gate.
The Mystic Gate had worthy successors!
Yuanshi felt that Duobao was simply too suitable in every way. He looked honest and steadfast, yet the schemes in his belly were no less formidable than Yuanshi's own.
If Duobao had not been Tongtian's prized disciple, Yuanshi would have wanted to take Duobao as his disciple himself!
But the moment he remembered that Duobao was Tongtian's chief disciple and favorite student—
Yuanshi immediately grew depressed!
He was gratified that the Mystic Gate had worthy successors.
But whenever he thought of his own disciples, his heart and liver ached!
How could the gap between people be so great?
Their masters were clearly all among the Three Pure Ones.
Tongtian clearly rarely schemed—Tongtian's expulsion of unworthy disciples, self-abolition of his Sage position, and dissolution of the Interception Sect did not count as scheming in Yuanshi's eyes!
That had been a path to survival Tongtian found through his own Dao.
Jie—perceiving the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, seizing a sliver of life!
True scheming meant placing pieces without a sound, laying groundwork across thousands of miles, and quietly creating an inevitable killing situation.
Even if someone noticed it, they would be unable to break free!
That was what counted as scheming!
What did all that other stuff amount to?!
Duobao was excellent material, but unfortunately, Tongtian did not know how to teach him properly. It was somewhat wasteful!
But whenever Yuanshi thought of his own disciples—
Compared with Duobao, they were practically rotten wood!
Yuanshi was a man who cared about his face!
Yet among the disciples of the Three Pure Ones, his were the most disappointing—how humiliating!
On the Investiture of the Gods Battlefield, the Sages were arguing.
Inside the great array,
Minghe walked toward Duobao step by step.
His expression grew increasingly solemn.
"Duobao, I am the commander of the Western Teachings in this calamity."
"How can I allow you to so easily destroy a generation of Western Teachings disciples?!"
"I admit that with your cultivation and magical power combined with the Law of Strength, you are nearly invincible in a one-on-one battle!"
"Other than Sages, you are the first to shatter several of my Quasi-Saint avatars with a single punch!"
Minghe's face remained expressionless.
"But it ends here!"
"Even if I have to stake my life, I cannot become a sinner of the Western Teachings!"
Minghe waved his hand.
Over a thousand avatars charged straight at Duobao.
The few avatars at the very front did not give Duobao any chance to throw a punch!
Cackling grotesquely—they self-destructed!
These were Quasi-Saint self-destructions!
They swept through the entire great array!
Duobao bore the brunt of it. Though he wanted to kill Minghe, faced with that boundless impact, he could only defend himself first!
Once he began defending, he could not stop!
At first, three or four Quasi-Saints self-destructed together.
Then five or six Quasi-Saints self-destructed together.
After that, more than a dozen Quasi-Saints self-destructed together!
The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings watched with surging emotions, unable to contain themselves.
Their fear of Duobao slowly faded away!
Lu Ya immediately understood Minghe's strategy.
How did one deal with the greatest terror in one's heart?
Face it head-on!
Defeat it!
Duobao was invincible?
Then send him to his death!
What did it matter how invincible a dead man had been?!
Great God Pangu had been a Half-step Great Dao Sage—was he not invincible enough?
Yet he had fallen.
When cultivators mentioned him, who would be afraid?
They merely revered him!
By the same reasoning, they simply had to kill Duobao!
Any form of invincibility would become history!
The shadow hanging over the Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings would naturally dissipate!
Lu Ya deeply admired Minghe.
He admired Minghe's decisiveness!
So many Quasi-Saint avatars, discarded without hesitation or even the slightest frown.
Lu Ya could not match that resolve and willingness to sacrifice!
No wonder the two Sages had designated Minghe as the Western Teachings' successor rather than him!
Lu Ya was completely convinced by the three great powers!
Minghe had no time to feel heartache over his Blood God Son avatars.
The killing intent in his heart toward Duobao only grew stronger!
How many Quasi-Saint avatars had he already self-destructed?
Dozens?
Hundreds?!
Yet aside from looking somewhat miserable, Duobao had not suffered even the slightest injury!
This filled Minghe with immense terror!
Duobao definitely still had another trump card!
He could not be allowed to use it.
Otherwise, Minghe and the Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings would be the ones in trouble!
Minghe gritted his teeth.
With a wave of his hand, another thousand Quasi-Saint-level avatars appeared.
These were his last Quasi-Saint avatars.
He had originally intended to use them as his final trump card.
But now, he could no longer afford to hold back!
He had to kill Duobao first!
As long as Duobao fell, any number of lost avatars would be worth it!
But if Duobao was not eliminated, the fate of both Minghe and the Western Teachings would be exceedingly miserable.
What frightened Minghe even more was—
Duobao had already been blasted into such a miserable state,
Yet the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace showed no intention of helping him whatsoever!
At this moment, Minghe instead hoped that these Biyou Palace immortals were arrogant!
The more arrogant, the better!
It would be best if he killed Duobao in one go before they finally realized what had happened!
He... was actually hoping his enemies would make a mistake!
Minghe's heart was filled with mixed emotions!
Duobao suddenly retreated. As the master of the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, the entire sword array was under his control!
At last, he used his authority!
He escaped Minghe's encirclement—otherwise, he truly would have been in an extremely sorry state.
Duobao had a feeling that now was not the time to use his trump card.
Minghe was greatly shocked. Duobao was actually no longer stubbornly enduring it!
Panic rose in his heart.
Yet he taunted aloud, "Fellow Daoist Duobao, you are an invincible existence in single combat. How can you flee in the middle of battle?"
Duobao laughed. Shaking his head, he said,
"There are countless extraordinary people in the Primordial Era. Who would dare claim to be invincible in single combat?"
"I understand what you mean, Fellow Daoist, but our attributes are incompatible. Fighting you would put me at a slight disadvantage!"
"Why not let Junior Sister Yunxiao fight you instead?"
Duobao said with a smile,
Before you continue