"Junior Sister, Fellow Daoist Minghe's time is up. Send him on his way as well!"
Yunxiao said coolly, "As you command, Senior Brother!"
Minghe was stunned!
Then he sneered. "You want to send me on my way? What a joke!"
He truly did not believe it.
Even Duobao, the foremost of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace, had been unable to do anything to him. What could Yunxiao possibly do?!
Cheers erupted from the Western Teachings!
Duobao had backed down!
Duobao had been beaten into backing down!
Teacher Minghe was still the strongest!
Although Duobao was completely unhurt, they felt that forcing him back already counted as victory!
The Ten Thousand Immortals of the West had never realized that the idea of Duobao being invincible had already taken deep root in their hearts!
Yunxiao said calmly to Minghe,
"Fellow Daoist, it is time to send you on your way. Please!"
Her tone was utterly calm, as though two neighbors were merely exchanging greetings.
Yet what she said left Minghe choked with rage!
So, in the eyes of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace, he was some insignificant nobody whom anyone could bully?
Minghe hardened his heart. Fine. I may not be able to blow up Duobao, but can I not blow up Yunxiao?!
With a savage grin, he waved his arm.
Over a thousand avatars surged toward Yunxiao in a dense swarm!
Outside the formation, Yuanshi was somewhat concerned. "Junior Brother, will Martial Niece Yunxiao be all right?"
The Sage was genuinely puzzled.
In his view, even Duobao had been unable to deal with Minghe.
Could Yunxiao manage it instead?
Yunxiao's cultivation was roughly on par with Duobao's.
Her Supernatural Powers were presumably much the same as well.
How could she possibly do anything to Minghe?
Taishang and Nuwa also looked over, the curiosity in their eyes plain to see.
Tongtian chuckled. "Duobao finds dealing with Minghe somewhat taxing, but if Yunxiao takes his place, it will truly be easy!"
Seeing the puzzled expressions of the three Sages, he said with a smile,
"Yunxiao's treasure is the Hunyuan Golden Dou!"
The Three Saints of the Mystic Gate immediately revealed expressions of realization. How could they have forgotten this treasure!
Minghe was doomed!
"Minghe is doomed!" In Zixiao Palace of the Thirty-Third Heaven, Hongjun wore a solemn expression.
The Fengshan Calamity had reached this point, and the situation was already clear.
Whichever side won the battles between disciples would claim the final victory!
Yet Hongjun did not think highly of Minghe at all!
Yunxiao's Hunyuan Golden Dou completely countered him!
But if Minghe fell, the Western Teachings would truly be sent back to square one overnight!
No!
He could not allow the Western Teachings to fail so thoroughly!
Hongjun casually drew a line, opening a spatial gateway.
"Fellow Daoist, have you not arrived yet?!"
An aged voice answered from beyond it,
"I still need three quarter-hours!"
Hongjun sighed... Three quarter-hours. He could only hope Minghe would hold out until then!
Facing the oncoming swarm of Minghe avatars, Yunxiao showed not the slightest fear.
She turned her wrist.
A golden dou appeared in her jade-white palm.
The dou was a murky black-yellow Chaos hue and emitted a faint radiance of Merit.
Yunxiao gently struck the Hunyuan Golden Dou.
Boundless force suddenly erupted from within it, locking onto the Minghe avatars charging at the forefront and dragging them into the dou in an instant!
With people inside, the dou began to rotate slowly.
Its suction continued without end, growing ever stronger.
No matter how many Minghe avatars charged toward it, all of them were absorbed inside.
The more it absorbed, the faster the Hunyuan Golden Dou rotated!
The black-yellow radiance on the dou gradually grew denser.
Minghe suddenly cried out, "What treasure is that?!"
To his horror, he discovered that his Karma connection with the avatars taken into the Hunyuan Golden Dou had been severed!!
The Karma had been cut off!
That meant those Quasi-Saint avatars had vanished!
Minghe stared fixedly at the Hunyuan Golden Dou. To his terror, he saw a layer of faint Merit light rising from it.
Empowered by Merit, the dou's suction grew stronger and stronger.
Even if Minghe's avatars wanted to flee, they could not. They were forcibly dragged into the Hunyuan Golden Dou!
Yunxiao said calmly, "This is the Innate Spiritual Treasure Hunyuan Golden Dou bestowed upon me by my master, Tongtian. It excels at capturing people and objects!"
"If a cultivator enters my dou, then regardless of cultivation, once the dou turns, a thousand years of cultivation will be stripped away!"
"And if it encounters something filthy and impure... then it can only wait to be refined!"
Minghe's expression changed drastically!
It stripped away magical power and purified filth!
This was his natural nemesis!
Minghe was greatly alarmed and hurriedly waved his hand, trying to recall his Quasi-Saint avatars.
But it was already too late!
The Merit light of the Hunyuan Golden Dou blazed brightly!
A great net actually rose from within the dou.
The cultivators within the formation were all at least Grand Unity Golden Immortals.
They could see it clearly!
This was clearly the manifest Karma Web!
The Karma Web stretched infinitely, linking one Blood God Son avatar of Minghe after another. Even Minghe himself was caught by the Karma Web!
Minghe's face changed in terror!
Gritting his teeth, he ruthlessly ordered his Quasi-Saint avatars to self-destruct!
The Hunyuan Golden Dou spun as swiftly as a top.
Endless force surged forth, firmly immobilizing all of Minghe's avatars.
Not a single avatar managed to self-destruct!
All of them were dragged into the Hunyuan Golden Dou.
One after another, their Karma connections with Minghe were severed.
Minghe's Primordial Spirit throbbed wildly.
A sudden premonition arose, and his Primordial Spirit issued a warning.
His face turned deathly pale!
An immense terror descended upon him.
Minghe knew that if he could not escape this Hunyuan Golden Dou, it would be his end!
Boundless power pulled at him.
No matter how he struggled, Minghe could not break free!
Slowly, step by step, he was dragged toward the Hunyuan Golden Dou.
The disciples of the Western Teachings were all in an uproar!
Amid their shocked cries, Minghe was unwillingly dragged into the Hunyuan Golden Dou!
Yunxiao fiercely slapped the Hunyuan Golden Dou, making it spin even faster!
Outside the formation, the Two Sages of the West both revealed their Dharma Images, drew their treasures, and charged straight into the formation!
Jieyin stood atop the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, holding Precious Banner and Prayer Beads in his hands.
Zhunti manifested an eighteen-armed, twenty-four-headed Golden Body Dharma Image.
The two Sages looked utterly crazed as they forcibly stormed the formation!
"I cannot allow you to barge in as you please!"
Yuanshi smiled and struck the top of his head.
From his Primordial Spirit Sea of Consciousness emerged the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, layered threefold within and without.
It was said to have been formed from the vast righteous energy in Great God Pangu's chest and possessed inconceivable defensive power.
The moment the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud appeared, it emitted endless brilliance.
Five-colored divine light dyed the heavens, while the immortal music of the Eight Treasures resounded throughout the universe.
Yuanshi did not attack. He simply expanded the range covered by the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, instantly blocking the attacks of the two Sages.
Taishang pointed a finger.
A painting flew forth from his Primordial Spirit Sea of Consciousness.
The painting was a murky black-yellow Chaos hue, with Great Dao Talismans and Heavenly Dao Prophecies flickering within it.
The painting shifted slightly, transforming into a golden bridge beneath Taishang's feet.
Taishang stepped lightly upon it.
The two Sages of the West immediately felt the surrounding spacetime freeze, while even Karma and Fate were locked in place.
Zhunti gritted his teeth. "The Taiji Diagram!"
This was Taishang's supreme treasure, the Taiji Diagram.
It was said to be the Innate Supreme Treasure formed from the back of the Pangu Sky-Opening Axe, Great God Pangu's Chaos Spirit Treasure.
Among the three great treasures, it was the foremost in trapping foes.
The moment this treasure emerged, all movements of the two Sages of the West were restricted.
Tongtian raised his right index and middle fingers together, forming a sword seal.
A grand and righteous sword qi shot straight into the heavens, as if it would split the sky in two.
With a point of his hand,
the sword qi shot directly toward Jieyin and Zhunti.
The two Sages of the West were horrified and hurriedly raised their treasures to block it.
Boom!
Jieyin and Zhunti were sent flying at once.
From the moment the Two Sages of the West rushed over,
to when Yuanshi, Taishang, and Tongtian made their moves, it had all happened almost simultaneously.
Nuwa sneered from the side.
There was no need for her to act at all.
The Two Sages of the West had grown accustomed to acting shamelessly. Did they truly think they could fight two against four?
The Two Sages of the West might be two as one, and one as two.
But were the Three Pure Ones not also a trinity?
What a joke!
They could only blame themselves for humiliating themselves!
The Two Sages of the West had come fully armed, yet each of the Three Pure Ones had used only a single move: Yuanshi provided defense, Taishang locked down spacetime, Karma, and Fate, while Tongtian had delivered only one sword strike!
After one exchange, the Two Sages of the West were defeated!
Yuanshi's face darkened. "Could it be that you two Fellow Daoists intend to act shamelessly?"
"What did you two Fellow Daoists say before this calamity began?"
"How the Investiture of the Gods Calamity developed would be left entirely to the disciples!"
"We Sages were not to interfere. Otherwise, we would violate the Heavenly Dao oath."
"Those words still ring in our ears. Are you two going to go back on your word?"
Yuanshi pointed into the void.
"You must understand that every word and action of us Sages is overseen by the Heavenly Dao!"
"Are you going to defy the Heavenly Dao?!"
His voice rang like thunder, heard not only throughout the Earth Immortal Realm, but clearly across the Three Realms and Six Paths!
Jieyin and Zhunti's faces turned green!
Yuanshi was right.
They had indeed said those words before the battle began.
At that time, the Western Teachings commanded Ten Thousand Immortals, with two renowned Quasi-Saints of the Primordial Era, Minghe and Lu Ya, leading them.
Among them, Minghe was even one of the three greatest Quasi-Saints!
Who could have imagined that the Western Teachings would lose?!
No one!
At the time, the two Sages of the West had truly been brimming with confidence.
Yet they had never imagined that the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace were all Peak Quasi-Saints.
Still less had they imagined that every one of them was a True Immortal of Fortune and Virtue.
Most absurd of all, Minghe had used his ultimate trump card, yet he had failed to harm even a single hair on the Eight Immortals!
Instead, Yunxiao, one of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace, had now sealed him inside the Hunyuan Golden Dou.
In this battle, Minghe had displayed sharp insight, fearlessness, decisiveness, and a willingness to sacrifice.
The two Sages of the Western Teachings had already decided that Minghe was the most suitable candidate to lead the Western Teachings.
Moreover, Duobao, first among the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace, was exceedingly cunning. He clearly had an honest-looking face, yet his skill in schemes was no less than Yuanshi's.
Looking across the Western Teachings, apart from Minghe, no one could contend with him!
The two Sages reached the same conclusion: Minghe could not die!
He absolutely could not be listed on the Investiture of the Gods List!
He had to become the next leader of the Western Teachings.
Otherwise...
The Western Teachings would face Biyou Palace's endless suppression—Duobao's schemes were not easy for even two Sages to see through.
Without finding him an opponent, the two Sages of the West would never know peace!
Jieyin steadied himself and put away his treasures to demonstrate goodwill. He pressed his palms together and spoke directly.
"Four fellow Daoists, how about the Western Teachings concede this battle?"
Zhunti also withdrew his Golden Body Dharma Image. The two Sages were remarkably straightforward—they were used to acting shamelessly, and were even more decisive than other Sages!
Was being shameless really so easy?
One had to understand people's hearts!
One had to know when one could act shamelessly and when one could not.
Otherwise, making an inappropriate move at the wrong time
would only backfire!
The Two Sages of the West were experts in this regard.
Zhunti could not help trembling slightly at Jieyin's words, but in the end, he raised no objection.
The situation was already obvious.
The Four Saints of the Mystic Gate had joined forces. The two Sages of the Western Teachings could not defeat them!
The Four Saints of the Mystic Gate feared that they would act shamelessly, but how could the Two Sages of the West not be wary in return?
Otherwise, why had Zhunti made such an agreement at the beginning of the calamity?
In the end, both sides merely had their reservations!
Yuanshi wore a strange expression. "No!"
Jieyin was stunned.
Zhunti flew into a rage and shouted, "Yuanshi, do you truly intend to exterminate us completely?"
"Do not forget that the West also has two Sages!"
He truly had not expected Yuanshi to be so ruthless that he would not rest until every disciple of the Western Teachings had been reduced to ashes.
Yuanshi glared at him.
"Do not threaten me so casually. If you anger me, do you believe I will give them a strike from the Pangu Banner?"
Zhunti's expression changed at once.
The Pangu Banner was also one of the Three Heaven-Opening Artifacts, and the greatest treasure of slaughter and creation in the Primordial Era!
Yuanshi said irritably,
"Have you two fellow Daoists forgotten?"
"This is the Investiture of the Gods Calamity. Until the Investiture of the Gods List is filled, it cannot stop."
A hint of helplessness appeared on his face.
"This matter is not up to us, but to the Heavenly Dao!"
Hiss!
Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions changed simultaneously!
How had they forgotten the most crucial matter?
It was true that Sages reigned supreme in the Primordial Era!
But above Sages, there was still the Heavenly Dao!
What the Heavenly Dao decided, Sages could only obey.
The Two Sages of the West fell silent.
Zhunti gritted his teeth. "Fellow Daoists, do not go too far!"
Yuanshi pretended not to understand Zhunti's hidden meaning at all.
"Fellow Daoist, do not speak nonsense. We four fellow Daoists have been chatting with you outside the grand formation all this time!"
Zhunti was so furious that smoke seemed to pour from his seven orifices.
Was that what he meant?
Anyone with sense knew that was not what he meant!
Yet Yuanshi was still deliberately twisting his words.
Zhunti roared, "Tell your disciples not to go too far!"
Yuanshi's face darkened immediately. "Are you insulting me?"
"Do you want to fight?!"
All the Sages could clearly see that resentment!
Zhunti was caught off guard by Yuanshi's sudden change of expression. How did I end up looking like the guilty party?
Jieyin recalled how the Chan Jiao disciples had performed inside the grand formation.
He immediately understood: Zhunti had misspoken!
If Minghe's performance in the Western Teachings could be called a pleasant surprise,
then the performance of the Eight Great Disciples of Biyou Palace had been dazzling.
By comparison, the performance of Chan Jiao's immortals had been utterly unacceptable!
Yet Zhunti had asked Yuanshi not to go too far.
To Yuanshi's ears, was that not simply an insult?
Jieyin tugged Zhunti and transmitted the cause and effect to him through divine sense.
Zhunti was dumbfounded. He had never expected there to be such a complication.
How could Yuanshi fail to notice the little exchange between the Two Sages of the West?
His face darkened even further, darker than the bottom of a pot!
Yuanshi had always been renowned throughout the Primordial Era for his unmatched wisdom.
Yet in this Investiture of the Gods Calamity, the performance of Chan Jiao's disciples had thoroughly disgraced him.
Yuanshi was a man who cared about his dignity!
Now, before all the Sages, he had become utterly shameless!
How humiliating!
"Later, I will definitely train those Chan Jiao disciples properly. Just wait!"
The two Sages of the West were helpless!
Now, they could only hope that Duobao would not be too ruthless.
How could the Mystic Gate Sages fail to see through their thoughts?
The Sages sneered inwardly.
The struggle for orthodox lineage was cold and merciless.
Who would go easy on them?
Duobao?
He was the legitimate chief disciple of the Mystic Gate!!
How could he fail to understand the greater picture?
If he did not understand the greater picture, could he have thought of destroying an entire generation of Western Teachings disciples in a single battle?
Keep dreaming!
Most of the Four Saints' attention remained fixed on the Two Sages of the West.
They could foresee that as Duobao continued his actions,
the Two Sages of the West would surely go mad.
But that was precisely what they wanted to see!
Duobao, well done!
Inside the grand formation,
the Hunyuan Golden Dou in Yunxi's hand spun rapidly.
The one sealed within the Golden Dou was Minghe, one of the three greatest Quasi-Saints in the Primordial Era.
Completely refining him was truly not easy.
Yunxiao had already done everything she could.
Fortunately, she had previously absorbed and refined over a thousand Blood God Son avatars. Thus, the Hunyuan Golden Dou was already familiar with the process, and everything went smoothly.
Speaking of it, Minghe was truly unlucky beyond measure.
Just as Duobao had said, any other Quasi-Saint would suffer a disadvantage when facing him.
Yet Minghe had happened to encounter Yunxiao.
The Hunyuan Golden Dou in Yunxiao's hand was an Innate Spiritual Treasure. It contained boundless space and excelled at capturing people and objects.
But that was not its most important function.
The Hunyuan Golden Dou's most important function was purification!
Its direct manifestation was the stripping away of one's magical power.
Each turn of the Golden Dou removed a thousand years of cultivation.
Before you continue