Within the barrier, Qin Hong looked at the unusually calm Shen Gongbao before him and smiled faintly.
With his back to Shen Gongbao and his little hands clasped behind him, he spoke in an even, emotionless tone:
"You can experience it for yourself, Senior Brother Shen."
"I will only say this: the Investiture of the Gods Calamity requires deaths. Only when enough people have died will it come to an end."
"This calamity was caused by the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Sect of Enlightenment. They are destined to face the calamity, and facing it requires deaths!"
"Second Uncle does not wish for the Twelve Golden Immortals he raised and favors to die, so he will scheme and plot to have others take their place in the slaughter."
"However, the more people who die, the greater, heavier, and harder to bear the karma will become!"
"Even as a Saint, surely he would not be willing to bear it!"
"When that time comes, it will be Senior Brother Shen's time to shine."
"Bear the karma..."
At this point, Qin Hong paused. He turned around, his gaze sharp and imposing as he emphasized each word:
"Go die!"
Qin Hong's voice struck like a thunderclap, like a massive hammer smashing viciously into Shen Gongbao's heart.
Although Shen Gongbao did not completely believe Qin Hong's words, he would consider them himself and seek out the truth himself.
And based on Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning's sudden concern for him and improved attitude these past few days, combined with Qin Hong's words, Shen Gongbao knew that it was almost certainly true!
After neglecting him for so many years, he had suddenly become so attentive. There had to be something suspicious behind such abnormal behavior!
Now that Qin Hong had pointed it out, Shen Gongbao immediately understood the truth of the matter.
"So this is how you, Yuanshi, have schemed against me?"
"I, Shen Gongbao, have worked for the Sect of Enlightenment. When have I ever not given my all? Yet this is the outcome I receive?"
"Ha ha ha..."
At this moment, Shen Gongbao's heart was filled with boundless desolation.
Seeing Shen Gongbao like this, Qin Hong did not speak to disturb him.
The matter had already been laid bare. As long as Shen Gongbao was not an idiot, he would certainly make the right choice!
Moreover, Shen Gongbao had always been exceptionally intelligent.
At once, Shen Gongbao bowed to Qin Hong.
"I have lived this long, yet I never imagined I had been deceived for so long."
"Now that I have suddenly awakened, I hope Junior Brother Qin Hong will help me join the Interception Sect and seek a chance of survival!"
Seeing that Shen Gongbao had indeed made the right choice, just as he had expected.
The indifference on Qin Hong's face faded. Though he was delighted beyond measure, he showed none of it, instead using his little hand to help Shen Gongbao up.
"Senior Brother Shen, there is no need for this. However, if you join the Interception Sect now, you will be personally pushing yourself into a place of eternal damnation!"
"Mm, why?" Shen Gongbao was utterly shocked and deeply confused!
"Senior Brother Shen is a pawn Second Uncle has cultivated for a long time. Would he really let you leave so easily?"
"Furthermore, Second Uncle is jealous by nature and holds grudges over the slightest offense. If Senior Brother Shen comes to our Interception Sect, Second Uncle will definitely refuse to let the matter rest!"
"He may even kill you outright. At best, he would preserve your soul and use Divine Abilities to control you, making you run errands for him. In the end, you would still bear the karma and remain unable to escape death!"
"For now, Senior Brother only needs to pretend you know nothing and remain in the Sect of Enlightenment, gathering intelligence for our Interception Sect from every angle. This will also allow you to verify whether what I have said is true or false!"
"As the Young Sect Master of the Interception Sect, though I do not hold a Saint's position, I can promise Senior Brother that any who benefit our Interception Sect will be repaid a thousandfold!"
"And anyone who schemes against or plots against our Interception Sect will certainly face attacks and retaliation from the depths of the underworld to the ends of heaven!"
By the end, Qin Hong's killing intent was fully revealed. He made no effort to conceal it.
That killing intent was both meant to give Shen Gongbao confidence and to warn him.
Since ancient times, the proper way to treat people had been to wield both the stick and the carrot.
Qin Hong trusted Shen Gongbao, but he would not trust him completely!
This arrangement was just right!
Hearing Qin Hong's words, Shen Gongbao pondered for a long while.
"Thank you for your guidance, Junior Brother Qin Hong. Then I shall follow Junior Brother Qin Hong's arrangements."
Shen Gongbao was no fool. He understood both the benefits Qin Hong offered and the warning he gave, and he accepted them calmly. Such an arrangement truly was the best one!
"However..." A trace of worry appeared on Shen Gongbao's face.
"Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning is a Saint. There is no guarantee that what Junior Brother and I discussed today will not be discovered!"
A Saint heard all things. Even if an ordinary person merely spoke a Saint's name, the Saint would sense it, let alone divine the actions of a mere Shen Gongbao.
"Do not worry. My father gave me a treasure that can conceal the Heavenly Secrets!"
"Even a Saint cannot divine it. Only the two of us know of what happened today."
"Truly?" The last trace of concern on Shen Gongbao's face vanished.
"But... Jiang Ziya and Linghe know about the two of us!"
"Should we..."
Shen Gongbao's voice abruptly stopped there, and intense killing intent filled his eyes.
Seeing Shen Gongbao like this, Qin Hong smiled faintly. To develop killing intent so quickly and act so decisively—he was indeed someone worth noting!
Although Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning had plotted to use him as a scapegoat, Shen Gongbao might later realize it and attempt to scheme against Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning in turn. Yet the gap between them was simply too great, and he would ultimately be unable to escape death!
Qin Hong intended to use both Shen Gongbao and Linghe.
But unlike Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning, Qin Hong would ensure that those who worked for him without ulterior motives met a good end rather than becoming scapegoats.
"There is no need," Qin Hong said calmly.
"Linghe is nothing to worry about. As for Jiang Ziya, I will make him disappear as well!"
"You only need to cultivate diligently, seize your opportunities, and secure an open and honorable future for yourself!"
Whether deliberately or not, Qin Hong was stirring up the ambition in Shen Gongbao's heart. Such things grew little by little.
The greater his ambition became, the more he would need, and the greater the role he could play.
"Very well. I, Shen Gongbao, will certainly not fail Junior Brother Qin Hong's trust, nor will I fail Saint Tongtian!"
Shen Gongbao lowered his head and bowed to Qin Hong.
Qin Hong neither approved nor disapproved of Shen Gongbao's change in address. He merely smiled faintly.
Then Shen Gongbao seemed to think of something and asked in confusion:
"Junior Brother Qin Hong, Jiang Ziya could simply be killed. Why go to the trouble of taking him away?"
"Could it be that Jiang Ziya also has..."
"Hehe, a good guess! Jiang Ziya is merely an ordinary mortal. His talent and foundations are both lacking. Even if he is of the Human Race, there are so many among the Human Race more outstanding than him. Why was he specifically chosen as a disciple?"
"Moreover, the calamity is now at hand!"
Hearing Qin Hong's words, blazing flames appeared in Shen Gongbao's eyes.
Indeed, aside from being someone without fur or horns, what did Jiang Ziya have?
Yet he had become Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning's disciple?
And even his youngest, final disciple!
He had only been at Jade Void Palace for a few days, yet he received Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning's favor at every turn. Shen Gongbao had witnessed it all.
It had driven him mad with jealousy.
Now, after hearing Qin Hong say this, he instantly understood Jiang Ziya's significance and said no more.
He immediately bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Junior Brother Qin Hong!"
Before you continue