With a plan in mind, Qin Hong turned his gaze back to Linghe.
"Although the Sect of Enlightenment has fewer people than our Interception Sect, there can't be only this handful, right?"
"Other than Shen Gongbao, is there anyone else?"
Hearing Qin Hong's words, Linghe hurriedly replied,
"There are other disciples, but aside from Martial Uncle Shen Gongbao, who is barely passable, most of the other second-generation disciples aren't qualified!"
"Oh, right. There's also Master's recently accepted final disciple. He's about the same age as Martial Uncle and is called Jiang Ziya. He's in Jade Void Palace."
"Though he is Heavenly Venerate's final disciple, his cultivation isn't impressive! He's even weaker than I am!"
When Jiang Ziya was mentioned, Linghe's face visibly darkened, filled more with resentment than anything else.
Jiang Ziya was just a child. Other than being Human Race, his talent was lacking, his foundation was lacking, and even in a sacred cultivation ground like Jade Void Palace, he had failed to achieve anything. Why did someone like him deserve to be accepted as Heavenly Venerate's disciple?
Even he, Linghe, had never received such favor!
Hm?
Who?
Jiang Ziya?!
The moment Qin Hong heard the name Jiang Ziya, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Jiang Ziya's role in the Investiture of the Gods was to uphold the mandate of heaven and command the Investiture of the Gods Scroll.
In the original Investiture of the Gods, Jiang Ziya had been obsessed with cultivating the Dao and becoming an immortal, abandoning his wife to ascend Jade Void Palace.
At first, Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning had rejected him because his talent was insufficient.
After all, while Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning looked down on those covered in fur and bearing horns, he also despised those without talent or a proper foundation!
Yet for some reason, Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning had later not only accepted Jiang Ziya as his disciple, but also entrusted him with the task of overseeing the Investiture of the Gods Scroll. He had even granted him the authority to freely mobilize the Sect of Enlightenment's senior brothers and disciples in aid of the great undertaking.
Such a major matter as the Investiture of the Gods had not been entrusted to the Twelve Golden Immortals, but to Jiang Ziya, a cultivator who had not even become an immortal.
Did that really seem appropriate?
Could it have been a coincidence?
No. There was only the slightest difference between coincidence and destiny.
Now that he thought about it, Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning had clearly planned this long ago when he accepted Jiang Ziya as his disciple.
The worse Jiang Ziya's talent, foundation, and cultivation, the easier he would be for Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning to control.
After all, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was full of schemes. Jiang Ziya merely needed to follow Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning's plan step by step.
If Jiang Ziya had been powerful enough while also bearing the responsibility of the Investiture of the Gods, he would have become an unpredictable chess piece. That was not something Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning wished to see.
"Hehe, good Second Uncle. I never expected you to have schemed so thoroughly in every respect!"
With a cold laugh in his heart, Qin Hong immediately decided to begin with Jiang Ziya.
Jiang Ziya was a crucial chess piece painstakingly cultivated by Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning.
As long as he could control Jiang Ziya, he could at least throw half of Yuanshi's plans into disarray.
"The Investiture of the Gods Calamity, guided by the Heavenly Dao, plotted by Saints, reshuffling the primordial world!"
"You all feared my father and the Interception Sect at the height of our power, so you joined forces to scheme against us. Hehe!"
"You sent the Interception Sect's disciples to their deaths one by one and onto the list, even forcing my father into eternal imprisonment beyond the heavens. What a wonderful scheme!"
"Yet you never would have imagined that all your painstaking plans would merely make a wedding dress for the Western Sect. Hahaha, Buddhism was fated to flourish?!"
"My father was schemed against by you, but I won't be some fool. Since you plotted against us, you should be prepared to be plotted against in return!"
At that thought, the chill on Qin Hong's face instantly vanished, replaced by gentle warmth.
Blinking his large eyes, he tugged on Linghe's arm with his little hand and said in a soft, sweet voice,
"Little Martial Nephew Linghe, we are both under the Three Pure Ones. We are fellow disciples."
"We should love and care for one another. Little Martial Uncle only struck you earlier because my father was insulted!"
"Little Martial Nephew, don't take it to heart!"
"From now on, I'll call you Little Lingling!"
"Is that okay, Little Lingling..."
Qin Hong held Linghe's arm and kept shaking it. His drawn-out tone lingered by Linghe's ear, and his spoiled little manner was unbearably adorable.
"Hm? This..."
Linghe had no idea why Qin Hong had suddenly become like this, even calling him Little Lingling. The whole scene was rather shocking!
Seeing Linghe remain silent, Qin Hong continued to act cute.
"Little Lingling, you're the first disciple under Second Uncle whom I've met. That makes you my good friend!"
"I came here today because my father watched me too closely, so I sneaked out to play with you. Don't tell Second Uncle, okay? If my father finds out, he'll definitely punish me!"
Linghe barely heard what Qin Hong said. His mind was entirely occupied by the fact that Qin Hong actually considered him a friend.
The friend of Saint Tongtian's son?
The friend of the Interception Sect's Young Sect Master!
Remember, he was not being called Martial Nephew because of seniority, but a friend because of their bond.
This was huge!
Linghe was incomparably delighted. Even being beaten had been worth it.
As the friend of a Saint's son and the Interception Sect's Young Sect Master, even the Twelve Golden Immortals would have to treat him with utmost respect—aside from his master, Immortal Weng of the South Pole, of course.
This status was practically a massive leap upward!
"Hey, Little Lingling, did you hear me?"
Qin Hong pulled the daydreaming Linghe back to his senses.
"Mhm, mhm. We're friends now. What is it, Little Martial Uncle Hong'er?"
Seeing Linghe eagerly seize the opportunity, Qin Hong smiled in satisfaction. A tiny bit of benefit was enough to make him useful to me.
Besides, it was an intangible benefit. Hahaha, I'm truly brilliant!
"Little Lingling, you just promised to bring Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya over to play. I'm bored to death on Jin'ao Island!"
Qin Hong's little face turned cold as he complained unhappily.
"But Little Lingling, don't let anyone else know. Sneaking off to play during cultivation is bad, after all. If you get punished by Second Uncle because of me, I'd feel terrible."
By now, Linghe had been completely wrapped around Qin Hong's finger.
Look at him. Though he was Saint Tongtian's son, of noble status, and had even beaten me, he didn't have the slightest bit of arrogance. He considered me a friend and even thought of me.
"Alright, Little Martial Uncle. Wait here. I'll secretly bring them over right away."
"Mhm, Little Lingling, you're the best!" Qin Hong blinked at Linghe, clapped his hands, and laughed.
Linghe was completely immersed in the joy of Qin Hong treating him as a friend. He gave it no further thought, assuming they were simply going to play together.
Before long, when Linghe's aura drew near, two unfamiliar auras accompanied it.
"Linghe, why did you drag us over here so mysteriously? I still need to cultivate!"
A slightly hoarse voice rang out.
"Martial Uncle Shen, you'll know once you arrive. Please don't be impatient!"
"Besides, Martial Uncle Shen, you already cultivate so diligently. You will surely have a chance to become one of the Golden Immortals."
Linghe consoled Shen Gongbao.
Everyone in Jade Void Palace knew that Shen Gongbao's greatest wish was to become one of the Golden Immortals.
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