The Inside Story, Part Two

"How do you know so much when you're so weak? Or is it that you have a special status in the Western Sect?" Zhang Rongfang, slightly surprised.

What he meant by saying this was to question the authenticity of the other party's information.

"I... I am Cheng Hui, the Tower Master of the Golden Wing Tower under the Western Sect!!" Cheng Hui hurriedly replied. "As long as you don't kill me, I can help you obtain a lot of top-secret information from the Western Sect! And information from the Eastern Sect too!"

"Top secret information?" Zhang Rongfang was intrigued.

What he fears most now is what dangers still exist within the Worship God system.

Spirit Guard, Spirit Vein, Spirit General.

These are the three levels of Worship God.

Just how powerful are the Spirit General? And how powerful are the Gods and Buddhas?

Among the various factions, which possess Spirit General and which do not? What are their respective purposes and stances? Having more and broader sources of information would be extremely beneficial for his future development and in terms of maximizing advantages and minimizing disadvantages.

Immediately, he grabbed Cheng Hui, leaped into the air, and rushed towards the Quiet Room.

The Martial Arts Field here is open on all sides and is not a place for interrogation.

Soon, Quiet Room.

The door was closed.

Only the seriously injured Cheng Hui and the calmly seated Zhang Rongfang remained.

"Speak. First question. How exactly did the Eastern Sect fall back then? The Imperial Tutor was so powerful, where did he go?"

"Since you are the Golden Wing Tower Master and were once subordinate to the Eastern Sect, you should know the secrets behind this."

Zhang Rongfang stared intently at Cheng Hui, who was groaning softly.

"I don't know much." Cheng Hui knew that if he dared to say he knew nothing at all, his death would be imminent.

He had realized that the so-called Daoist Daozi of the Great Dao Sect in front of him was not himself, but another master hiding here, playing the role of Zhang Ying to fish.

The person in front of me is most likely a hidden master of the Great Dao Sect.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so incredibly powerful.

He was already Three Voids away from becoming a grandmaster, yet he couldn't last twenty moves against his opponent.

Therefore, this person could absolutely not be Zhang Ying. Even if Zhang Ying had started practicing martial arts from the womb, he could not possibly reach the level of this person.

"Say it first, and I'll judge whether it's right or wrong," Zhang Rongfang urged calmly.

"Okay," Cheng Hui said, gathering his thoughts.

"Back then, the Eastern Sect actually had the support of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion. The Great Bright Light Temple and the current Great Dao Sect's Heavenly Treasure Palace both had a Snow Rainbow Pavilion Worship God partner for each of its masters."

They work in pairs, and their strength is terrifying.

My investigation concluded that the Eastern Sect collapsed entirely because Ling Emperor abandoned his support for it.

Just like the Eastern Sect's testing and research on the Worship God system, this was actually set up by His Majesty's oral decree.

Eastern Sect was merely the Walker, but later, for reasons unknown, His Majesty changed his stance and placed all the blame on the Eastern Sect.

Clearing his throat, Cheng Hui carefully adjusted his bones, took some medicine for his injuries, and continued speaking.

"As for Imperial Tutor Damir, his strength as Great Grandmaster of the Extreme Realm is terrifying. But if we're talking about Number One Under Heaven, he probably wouldn't be qualified."

In fact, based on the analysis of various intelligence reports, the Imperial Tutor's strength is also related to a peerless divine weapon called the Emperor Earth.

"Emperor Earth? A peerless divine weapon??" Zhang Rongfang was stunned. How did this get involved with weapons?

Cheng Hui coughed twice.

"Emperor Earth, also known as Earth Earth, is named after the Kun shape of the earth. It is the personal equipment of the Imperial Tutor Damir. To be precise, it is not a knife or a sword, but a set of Arm Gauntlets."

With the Arm Gauntlets and the Imperial Tutor, one is truly invincible.

"Arm Gauntlets. Emperor Earth" Zhang Rongfang was shocked.

What kind of equipment and weapons can enable a mortal master to dominate the world and even make Worship God Great Grandmaster unable to raise his head?

"Later, the Eastern Sect tried many times to create a weapon similar to Emperor Earth, but all attempts failed," Cheng Hui continued.

Zhang Rongfang unconsciously recalled the Secret Cache weapon he had obtained, the All Under Heaven Blade.

If there weren't specific goals to be achieved, the Eastern Sect wouldn't have bothered to expend resources to create such a special weapon.

"Continue. What about the Spirit General? Just how powerful are Spirit General?"

"This..." Cheng Hui's face showed a hint of helplessness. "I don't know much about this either. However..."

Seeing that the other person's expression was off, he quickly changed the subject.

"However, it's still okay to say a little bit."

He smiled.

"Spirit General, known as Divine General in the Ling Ting, are responsible for suppressing major events in various regions."

Among the various forces, only one or two are considered top-tier.

Such overwhelming and absolute military force is impossible to exceed.

"As for just how strong Spirit General, it's beyond human capability. It's an absolute martial force that surpasses even Great Grandmaster."

"Even stronger than the Imperial Tutor back then?" Zhang Rongfang was somewhat confused about the difference.

"Rumor has it that the Imperial Tutor was defeated and killed by several Spirit General back then," Cheng Hui answered cautiously.

"If you can't even defeat Spirit General, how can you claim to be the Number One Under Heaven?" Zhang Rongfang retorted.

"Because the Spirit General, also known as the Divine General, is not a human general. Moreover, back then, it should have been a siege," Cheng Hui said seriously. "Furthermore, according to the clues that the Golden Wing Tower has investigated over the years, the Great Ling Divine General is not actually under the command of that person."

Zhang Rongfang was slightly taken aback.

In an instant, many parts of his mind connected.

No wonder Master Chongxuan mentioned before that the Great Ling Imperial Palace rarely summons Divine General to pay homage.

If the Divine General are loyal to the gods, not to the imperial authority, and may even have the intention of restraining the imperial authority.

"That explains a lot of things," Cheng Hui continued. "So, we also suspect that the collapse of the Eastern Sect was most likely a backlash caused by the failure of the imperial power to challenge the divine power."

This secret was also deduced by him through extensive intelligence gathering and analysis.

It had always been hidden in his heart.

Finally speaking out, Cheng Hui felt an indescribable sense of relief.

"The Imperial Tutor failed in his challenge and died, which led to the collapse of the Eastern Sect. His Ling Emperor's defection was merely a last resort. Is that what you're trying to say?" Zhang Rongfang's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was already in turmoil.

If that's the case.

So, is this vast Great Ling ruled by emperors or Gods and Buddhas? "I don't know," Cheng Hui lowered his head, "This is just my speculation."

For a moment, both of them fell silent.

Zhang Rongfang had imagined many possibilities.

I've also considered that the Ling Emperor might be the mastermind behind everything, the root culprit.

But at this very moment, outside the window, birds are singing and flowers are blooming, and cicadas are chirping loudly.

But Zhang Rongfang, sitting in the Quiet Room, felt a chill in his heart.

"There's another question." He took a deep breath. "Since the Imperial Tutor was the Number One Under Heaven martial artist in the world, who is now the Number One Under Heaven after his death?"

"I don't know. No one can occupy that position. Many Great Grandmaster can't determine a winner unless they truly fight each other."

Great Grandmaster are all figures whose status and position far exceed what ordinary people can imagine; the power they wield is astonishing. Therefore, it is even less likely that they would easily engage in a full-force battle.

Therefore, it is unclear who is truly the Number One Under Heaven today.

However, Cheng Hui paused.

"But what?"

Thirty years ago, there was a battle between Great Grandmaster.

Daoist Sect martial arts Great Grandmaster of unknown origin, he single-handedly fought against two Great Grandmaster from the Western Sect and the True One Sect, and emerged victorious.

That mysterious man is considered the Second Under Heaven, second only to Damir. Beyond that, there's not much more information; intelligence among Great Grandmaster is beyond the reach of someone at my level.

Zhang Rongfang nodded, indicating his understanding.

He is now glad that he restrained his impulse and did not slap Cheng Hui to death.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have known so many secrets.

"One last question."

His eyes were fixed intently on the other person.

"I have been thinking about this. The lifespan of those who Worship God gods is far beyond that of ordinary people. So why is it that over the years, the number of Worship God has remained small, and ordinary people rarely know of their existence?"

Given the development of the various sects in the Great Ling, it would only take a dozen years to grow to several times their current size.

Why don't they expand their training programs? Why are they still so fixated on missionary work and territorial expansion?

Cheng Hui's heart tightened; this was a very sensitive issue.

"I've also thought about this. Based on the intelligence gathered and analyzed, I suspect that the number of Worship God is influenced by the power of the Gods and Buddhas themselves."

The power of Gods and Buddhas is determined by the size of the sect and the scope of its control.

This is a possibility I've conjectured based on the correspondence.

The specific reason is unclear.

Having occupied a high position in the Golden Wing Tower for many years, he had naturally made such speculations long ago.

Moreover, he had already had some doubts.

Now, hearing Zhang Rongfang's question, he became even more certain.

The expert who completely suppressed him, the expert who was impersonating Dao Child Zhang Ying, was definitely not Worship God.

Judge based on a series of questions asked by the other party.

This person is very likely a master who does not Worship God!

"So, apart from the Ling Ting, the strongest forces in Worship God now should be the Western Sect and the Daoist Sect?" Zhang Rongfang continued to ask.

"Theoretically speaking, it should be." Cheng Hui nodded.

"One last question," Zhang Rongfang continued.

"You're at the very end of the list now?" Cheng Hui was speechless.

But outwardly he dared not utter a sound.

"This is truly the last one," Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice.

He seemed to have seen through Cheng Hui's thoughts.

"Please ask," Cheng Hui's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly smiled ingratiatingly. As long as he could survive, he'd do anything, even eat shit, let alone ask a few questions! "I want to ask you," Zhang Rongfang narrowed his eyes, "Do you know who I am?"

"..." Cheng Hui's heart tightened instantly, and a terrifying sense of threat shot straight up from his back to the top of his head.

"You are..." Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He opened his mouth, his throat dry and his blood surging.

"Great Dao Sect Daozi, Zhang Ying!"

Laugh!!

A fleeting phantom image flashed by in an instant.

Two figures flashed and moved simultaneously.

Cheng Hui got up and rushed out the window.

But before he could even leap halfway, a large hand had already gripped his neck tightly.

An immense, irresistible force dragged him back.

"Don't kill me. I've been protecting Ye Bai and Heavenly Maiden!" In a flash, Cheng Hui blurted out these words.

The immense squeezing force, stuck at his neck, brought him to a sudden stop.

'Success!' Cheng Hui was overjoyed, knowing he had made the right bet; this person before him was definitely related to the remnants of the Eastern Sect! "Back then, I only pretended to submit to the Western Sect, but in reality..."

Suddenly he paused, feeling his blood and energy rapidly decreasing and leaking out from the arteries on both sides of his neck.

"Me!? You!?"

He struggled and kept hitting Zhang Rongfang's right arm with both hands.

But it was all too late. "Even if I didn't kill you, Western Sect wouldn't let you live in the end." Zhang Rongfang at the other party.

"Don't you understand? It's all because you know too much."

Cheng Hui's last arm slammed weakly against Zhang Rongfang's hand, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

Click.

Finally, his head lolled to the side, his neck snapped, and he fell to the ground as an incredibly Azure Elder and desiccated corpse.