A Sage's Scheme

"Yunting, Zidian."

High above in the void, Hong's figure took shape. Bewilderment clouded his youthful face as he looked down at Shen Gongbao and asked softly, "Was the one who just spoke so recklessly and insulted heaven and earth Second Uncle's great-granddisciple?"

At the sight of Hong himself, the tension gripping Yunting and Zidian eased at once. They hurriedly bowed again. "Greetings, Dao Lord Hong! This man is indeed Shen Gongbao, Lord Xuanxiao's great-granddisciple. His reckless words were not meant to offend you or the Great Dao of heaven and earth. Please judge him fairly!"

Then they turned to Thunder Marsh and Shen Gongbao, who had yet to recover from the shock. Their expressions hardened with fury. "That was far too reckless and outrageous! Shen Gongbao, there's no excusing what you did!"

Thunder Marsh stood beside them, utterly stunned, his mind ringing.

He had known his sect was no ordinary one, but he had never imagined its foundations ran so deep that it had ties to the Humanity Path!

Shock and sudden understanding filled him.

Hong, meanwhile, looked genuinely hurt and indignant. He glared at Shen Gongbao and grumbled, "How rude! I've always kept to myself, cultivating quietly or sleeping. Why would he insult me in front of everyone for no reason?"

Hong had now developed the full awareness of a ten-year-old child, and authority over the Humanity Path was gradually returning to his own hands.

Since the Three Realms had been established, the paths of heaven, earth, and humanity had each governed their domains. The Heavenly Dao ruled over all, supreme and unchallenged; the mountains and rivers of the Human Realm fell under Hong's control, while Houtu guarded the Netherworld and Lunhui.

As master of the Humanity Path, Hong held a position of supreme authority. No one had ever