Chapter 41

He took out the token bestowed by Di Jun and continued, "Please inform Prince Di Yi that Tai Cang seeks an audience."

"Demon Emperor Token?!"

The Demon God's pupils constricted sharply, and his anger vanished at once. After examining the token closely, he smiled in realization. "So it is young friend Tai Cang of the Cang Sect! Forgive my earlier discourtesy. The Demon Emperor has long decreed that no one is to obstruct you should you come."

He turned to a member of the Demon Race in the group. "Bai Shang, lead young friend Tai Cang to meet the princes."

"By your command!"

The Demon Race member named Bai Shang stepped forward. After bowing to the Demon God, he gestured to Tai Cang. "Please follow me, fellow cultivator."

"Thank you for the trouble."

Tai Cang nodded and bowed once more to the Demon God. "This junior takes his leave."

The two then flew toward the Sun Star. Along the way, the guards all bowed to Bai Shang. "Greetings, Lord Bai Shang!"

Tai Cang was secretly surprised—the Sun Palace guards were all direct subordinates of Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi. For them to show Bai Shang such respect, his status within the Demon Race was clearly far from ordinary.

There was no record of Bai Shang in the ancient texts. The only explanation was that he was a descendant of one of the Ten Great Demon Marshals.

Among the Ten Great Demon Marshals, only Bai Ze bore the surname Bai—Bai Shang had to be Bai Ze's son.

When Tai Cang followed Bai Shang into the rear hall, the Golden Crow Princes, who were in the middle of a contest, immediately cheered:

"Bai Shang! You finally came! Hurry and drink with us!"

"Today, we must battle another three hundred rounds!"

Seeing this, Tai Cang became even more certain of Bai Shang's identity. If he were not Bai Ze's son, how could he be so familiar with Di Yi and the others?

"Fellow cultivator Tai Cang?" Di Yi suddenly caught sight of the figure behind them. Delight flashed through his eyes as he leaped down from the Fusang Tree. "It really is you!"

The other Golden Crow Princes turned their heads at once, immediately forgetting Bai Shang. "It really is fellow cultivator Tai Cang!"

"We thought you had forgotten us!"

"Bai Shang, you rascal! You brought fellow cultivator Tai Cang here without telling us beforehand. You should be punished with three cups!"

Tai Cang smiled and cupped his hands. "I have come this time because I have an important matter to request."

Di Yi and the others sobered. "Please speak freely, fellow cultivator. However, we have not yet undergone our coming-of-age ceremony, and Father does not permit us to interfere in clan affairs..."

"I only need eight Moon Laurel Tree branches." Tai Cang spoke frankly. "This concerns the foundation of my path."

"That's all?" Di Yi laughed, then slung an arm around Tai Cang's shoulders. "I thought it was something serious! Let alone eight branches, what would it matter if you took a dozen? Have a drink first. I'll send someone to cut them immediately."

Di Er and the others burst out laughing, stepping forward to pull Tai Cang and Bai Shang toward the Fusang Tree. "Fellow cultivator Tai Cang, why be so solemn over such a trivial matter? We thought you had some earth-shaking plan!"

"Exactly! We are all our own people. What are a few branches? Take however many you need."

"Fellow cultivator Tai Cang truly gave us a fright. Come, come, drink three penalty cups first."

"Little Ten, quickly have someone bring some Moon Laurel Tree branches!"

In the blink of an eye, Tai Cang had been surrounded and brought beneath the Fusang Tree, a wine cup somehow appearing in his hand. Looking at these enthusiastic Golden Crow Princes, he secretly sighed. These Heavenly Court nobles truly were generous with their gifts.

He truly could not bear to watch such forthright people suffer calamity in the future.

He had to raise his cultivation as quickly as possible. Perhaps he could lend them a hand during Houyi Shooting the Suns.

With his mind made up, Tai Cang no longer hesitated and began drinking heartily with Di Yi and the other Golden Crow Princes. During the feast, Di Yi formally introduced him to Bai Shang. Just as he had expected, Bai Shang was Bai Ze's son, and his cultivation had already reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, surpassing everyone present.

After several rounds of wine, when host and guests were all enjoying themselves, a great demon at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm came forward to report, "Princes, the Moon Laurel Tree branches have been prepared." With a wave of his hand, more than a dozen branches appeared before them.

Di Yi dismissed the messenger with a wave, then turned to Tai Cang. "Are these enough? If not, just say so."

"They are enough." Tai Cang smiled as he stored away the branches, then cupped his hands in thanks. "These items are extremely important to me, and I must return them to the Jie Sect at once. Once the matter is settled, may I come back and drink with you all again?"

He was indeed eager to return. It was not that he truly wished to save Duobao and the others, but that he needed to complete his plan to leave the Jie Sect before they broke through. If he delayed too long and they overcame the Nine Tribulations, all his plans would come to nothing.

"Of course." Di Yi readily agreed. Through their earlier conversation, they had gained a rough understanding of Tai Cang's intentions. Though they did not understand why he wished to leave the Jie Sect, they respected his choice.

Di Yi raised his cup in invitation. "Then we shall await your return, fellow cultivator. When the time comes, I'll take you somewhere wonderful!" He gave a mysterious smile, while the other Golden Crow Princes also showed excited expressions. Even Bai Shang, who was usually calm, looked expectant.

"It's a deal!" Tai Cang took in everyone's expressions and agreed without hesitation. Though he did not know where Di Yi meant, anything that could move even Bai Shang was surely extraordinary.

He drained his cup in one gulp. "Everyone, Tai Cang will take his leave first." Before his words had faded, he transformed into a streak of golden light and shot into the skies, racing toward the Kunlun Mountains.

"Prince Di Yi!"

Watching Tai Cang's departing figure, Bai Shang frowned slightly. "Tai Cang is ultimately a member of the Cang Sect, not a child of our Demon Race. Why bring him to the forbidden grounds?"

"Father once said that region concerns the future fortune of the Demon Race. Unless absolutely necessary, outsiders must never learn of it."

At those words, Di Er and the others all turned to look at Di Yi. Although none of them had opposed bringing Tai Cang along, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi had indeed strictly forbidden outsiders from entering the forbidden grounds.

"The laws!"

A faint smile rose at the corner of Di Yi's lips, his gaze blazing. "You have not noticed it yet, but I sensed it clearly."

"Not long ago, I comprehended the law of fire, so I am particularly sensitive to fluctuations in laws."

"When I saw Tai Cang this time, I sensed a powerful aura of laws around him, and what he controls is precisely the law of space."

As he spoke, a sharp light flashed in Di Yi's eyes. "There are still many unsolved mysteries within the forbidden grounds. Many areas are sealed by spatial barriers, and even if Father and Uncle joined hands, they could not break them in a short time."

"If Tai Cang helps us, however, it will be different. He bears the law of space and will surely be able to help our Demon Race break through most of the spatial restrictions and take control of that region sooner."

The others came to a sudden realization and cupped their hands in praise:

"Prince Di Yi is truly farsighted!"

"Big Brother truly sees farther than anyone!"

"Tai Cang is of noble character. He will certainly keep the secret."

"Once the restrictions are broken, Father will surely be delighted. He may even permit us to leave the palace and travel!"

Tai Cang knew nothing of this.

At this moment, he was racing toward the Kunlun Mountains with the Moon Laurel Tree branches when a streak of golden light blocked his path near the mountain gate.

"Wait, young friend Tai Cang!"

As an ethereal voice echoed through the air, the golden light scattered into starlike motes, and Zhunti's figure slowly emerged.

"Zhunti?"

"Why is he here?"

Tai Cang's heart tightened, though he still bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Sage. May I ask what guidance you have for me?"

Zhunti smiled kindly and waved his sleeve, isolating the surrounding heaven and earth. "Young friend, you share a profound karmic affinity with my Western Teachings. Why not enter my sect as a direct disciple?"

"Your affinity with the Jie Sect is drawing to an end. Since we all belong to the Cang Sect, why not turn to the West instead? My senior brother and I will surely teach you everything we have. We will not treat you harshly as Tongtian has."

What a fine conversion technique!

Tai Cang's gaze darkened slightly, and he immediately understood Zhunti's intent.

The Western Teachings were by no means a good place—when he left the Cang Sect in the future, how could Laozi spare a traitor to the sect? Even if Jieyin and Zhunti were both Sages, how could they contend against the foremost of the Three Pure Ones? Moreover, the Western Two Sages owed an enormous debt to the Heavenly Dao when they attained Sagehood. Joining their sect would be no different from severing his own path.

Tai Cang looked up at Zhunti and said calmly, "Sage Zhunti, forgive me, but I cannot agree."

"Regardless of what may happen in the future, I am still a member of the Jie Sect for now. I will never consider joining another sect."

"Besides, has Sage considered the consequences of preventing my return to Kunlun?"

In an instant, a sharp sword aura tore through the air, ripping apart the barrier Zhunti had set up. Its remaining force did not diminish as it crashed heavily into Zhunti.

Caught off guard, Zhunti was sent flying by the slash, his Sage body covered in blood. Though he recovered in an instant, he could not hide his disheveled state.

"Tongtian!"

After steadying himself, Zhunti was enraged, his eyes filled with resentment. That sword strike had come too quickly and too fiercely. Not only had it damaged his dignity, it had utterly humiliated him before Tai Cang.

"Go back to your West!"

Tongtian's commanding voice resounded between heaven and earth, leaving no room for doubt. Four spatial rifts opened before Zhunti, and the Four Swords of Zhu Xian gleamed with chilling light.

"Zhu Xian Sword Formation!"

Zhunti's expression changed drastically. Even as an undying and indestructible Sage, he did not dare face this peerless killing formation head-on. Catching Tai Cang's amused gaze, he was both ashamed and furious, yet had no choice but to retreat.

"Tongtian, this is not over!"

After leaving behind those harsh words, Zhunti cast an unwilling glance at the Four Swords of Zhu Xian, then transformed into a streak of light and fled westward.

Tai Cang witnessed everything, and his heart was filled with emotion. Though they were both Sages, the gap between the Western Two Sages and the Three Pure Ones was actually so vast. Tongtian could wound Zhunti with a casual sword strike, and the Zhu Xian Sword Formation could even shatter the void. The might of a Sage was indeed unfathomable.

"Return quickly."

Tongtian's voice transmission sounded by his ear. The spatial rifts then closed, and the killing aura between heaven and earth gradually dispersed.

"So this is the Sage realm..."

Tai Cang muttered to himself. An existence beyond the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm truly stirred longing in one's heart. Though the road ahead was long, he believed that one day he would reach this realm.

Gathering his thoughts, Tai Cang transformed into a golden rainbow that cut through the skies, heading straight for the Kunlun Mountains.

Within the Upper Clarity Palace.

When Tai Cang returned to the Upper Clarity Palace, Deng Hua and Deng Qiu immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Brother Tai Cang."

The two were filled with gratitude. Though they had only cultivated the Supreme Pure Heaven-Connecting Art for a short time, they could already clearly feel their cultivation improving. They owed all of this to Tai Cang. Had he ever shown any intention of recruiting them, they would have long since joined his side.

Tai Cang nodded slightly, swept his gaze across the two of them, and walked straight into the Upper Clarity Palace. Footsteps sounded within the hall. Many Jie Sect direct disciples were still undergoing tribulations, while Laozi and Yuan Shi were unexpectedly seated inside as well.

The Three Pure Ones had gathered...

Tai Cang thought to himself, then quickly stepped forward to bow. "Greetings, Grand Clarity Sage! Primordial Clarity Sage! Supreme Clarity Sage!"

After speaking, he immediately took out the Moon Laurel Tree branches and placed them in the hall. He said to Tongtian, "Sage, I have brought back the items you required."

Tongtian looked at Tai Cang with a complicated expression, then waved his hand and threw the eight Moon Laurel Tree branches toward Duobao and the others. In an instant, clear radiance flowed forth, and cold energy entered their consciousness seas, helping them steady their minds against the Nine Tribulations.

After doing so, the complicated look in Tongtian's eyes vanished in an instant. He said solemnly, "Now that you have fulfilled our agreement, from this day forth, you are no longer an inner disciple of the Jie Sect."

As soon as his words fell, Tai Cang felt the fortune of the Jie Sect being drawn from his body. Yet this trace of fortune had little effect on him, for he was still an orthodox member of the Cang Sect, acknowledged by Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao. So long as the Cang Sect did not decline, this fortune would not disappear.

"Thank you, Supreme Clarity Sage."

Tai Cang felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted. Ever since entering the Jie Sect, he had always worried about the future calamities. He had once wanted to change something through his own efforts, but it had ultimately been futile. Duobao and the others' exclusion, along with Tongtian's favoritism, had long worn away his goodwill toward the Jie Sect. Now that the bond between master and disciple had been severed, his Dao heart instead became clearer, and his cultivation advanced further.

"Tai Cang."

Tongtian slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sharp as lightning. "Though you are no longer a member of my Jie Sect, you are still a member of the Cang Sect. There is a matter that has troubled me for some time, and I hope you can resolve my confusion."

At these words, not only was Tai Cang surprised, even Laozi and Yuan Shi showed astonishment. With Tongtian's ability to penetrate heaven and earth, there was actually something he needed to ask Tai Cang about?

"Please speak, Sage."