Little did they know that none of those three supreme treasures belonged to Tongtian. Wang Yuan held absolute control over them. Let alone Kunlun Mountain—even if they were in Chaos, if he wanted them back, he could naturally retrieve them.
As for Tongtian, he left with another Innate Spiritual Vein, a Thirty-Sixth Grade Green Lotus, and a pair of supreme Innate treasures. They were hammer-shaped weapons, even more formidable, capable of both attack and defense.
This time, he concealed the heavenly secrets and secretly returned to Golden Turtle Island. Tongtian could not handle one against four.
"Master!"
When the people on Golden Turtle Island saw Tongtian return, they hurriedly knelt in greeting.
"Cultivate well."
Tongtian had little to say. He planted the Innate Spiritual Vein on Golden Turtle Island, then immediately left for Chaoge.
He absolutely had to carry out Uncle's instructions properly!
Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen had been in the rear palace when they suddenly felt a jolt in their hearts. The two hurriedly transformed into streaks of light and vanished.
"Greetings, Master!"
"Rise. I have something for you. Find a way to bring Zhou Wang out sometime soon. I... my Uncle... wants to see him." Tongtian was becoming increasingly at ease when speaking before his juniors.
"We shall obey Master's decree."
How could Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen dare refuse?
Besides, Tongtian was their faith. If Master Tongtian told them coal was white, they would believe it.
Tongtian was very confident in their safety. Unless a Quasi-Sage made a move, ordinary people could never harm them. Uncle had given them the Twelfth Grade Green Lotus for protection.
After Tongtian left, Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen returned to the rear palace and considered how to bring up the matter with Zhou Wang.
At Zhongnan Mountain lived a Qi Refiner named Yun Zhongzi. One day, on a sudden whim, he headed for Chaoge, only to discover two streams of Demon Qi soaring into the sky from within the royal palace.
"Hm? Demon Qi?!"
Although the Demon Qi was clearly of orthodox mystic lineage, Yun Zhongzi was extremely stubborn. He firmly believed that demons were evil. With that thought, he took pinewood from the mountain and infused it with magical power, fashioning it into a sword.
He immediately rushed to Noon Gate and directly requested an audience with the Human Emperor.
Seeing Yun Zhongzi's transcendent bearing, the gate official assumed he was no ordinary man. Not daring to neglect him, he quickly reported the matter to Zhou Wang.
Zhou Wang was holding court at the time. Upon hearing that a Daoist wished to see him, he immediately became displeased. "What Daoist is this?"
"This humble servant does not know, but he appears as ethereal as an immortal. He must be no ordinary man."
Zhou Wang had always despised matters concerning Immortals and Gods. If they were Immortals and Gods, they should simply remain so. Why meddle in mortal affairs?
That was also why Zhou Wang so detested rituals and sacrifices. Not only did they exhaust the people and drain the treasury, they also required the slaughter of slaves, disregarding all human morality.
"Refuse him."
The gate official was about to respond when Prime Minister Shang Rong suddenly said, "Wait! Great King, if the visitor is a true immortal who has attained the Dao, would it not be improper to slight him?"
Many others immediately echoed, "Precisely so, Great King. Our Human Race relies on immortals to seek wind and rain. We must not slight an immortal."
Zhou Wang was inwardly furious, but all the ministers below were saying the same thing. He nodded and said, "Fine. Bring the Daoist to my study!"
No one dared say anything further. Although they also wished to meet an immortal, their earlier persuasion of Zhou Wang had been motivated by that very desire.
Yet Zhou Wang did not give them the chance at all.
"Court is dismissed."
Zhou Wang left the hall with a dark expression. The ministers below withdrew as well, though they were displeased in their hearts and felt that Zhou Wang had gone too far.
Upon reaching his study, Zhou Wang casually picked up a book and began reading. At the same time, his thoughts churned. The enfeoffed lords had grown far too powerful, each with their own selfish schemes. Imperial authority faced immense challenges. In particular, several lords were likely beginning to entertain rebellious thoughts. Outside were powerful enemies in the Eastern Barbarians and Hundred Yue; within, the feudal lords watched like tigers eyeing prey.
Moreover, the ritual officials also posed a threat of seizing imperial power.
Every day, Zhou Wang considered how to resolve these problems. As he pondered, footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Great King, the man has arrived."
"Send him in."
Two people entered from outside. One was a gate official, while the other was a white-robed Daoist, ethereal as an immortal and possessing an extraordinary temperament.
"This daoist is Yun Zhongzi, a Qi Refiner of Jade Pillar Cave on Zhongnan Mountain. Greetings, Your Majesty." He merely gave a slight bow, which displeased Zhou Wang.
"Under all Heaven, is there any land that is not the king's land? Why do you not kneel when meeting me?"
Yun Zhongzi merely smiled. "This daoist was born among clouds and dwells amid wind, dust, and dew. When has the Great King's realm ever encompassed wind and water?"
What a glib-tongued Daoist.
"So the Daoist dwells amid wind, dust, and dew. Dust in the wind is tiny to behold, while the essence of dew falls upon grass and trees. Both are exceedingly small, yet the Daoist is so tall. How can you live in such a tiny place?"
Yun Zhongzi froze. He had not expected Zhou Wang to be so fond of questioning. But how was he supposed to answer? Tell him that he could change his size at will?
Zhou Wang would certainly demand to see it then. Those who cultivated the Dao avoided the Three Lights and could not display magical power before mortals.
Thinking this, Yun Zhongzi smiled. "This daoist scatters in the wind and shatters in the dew."
Zhou Wang nodded. "So that is how it is. I never expected the Daoist to be human scum."
"Human scum?"
"After scattering and shattering, do you not become fragments? You have worked hard, Daoist, becoming human scum." Zhou Wang said expressionlessly.
Yun Zhongzi furrowed his brow. In truth, he did not quite understand Zhou Wang's words either.
"Enough. Daoist, why have you come to see me?"
"Great King, this Daoist resides in Jade Pillar Cave on Zhongnan Mountain. As I had nothing to do in my idle retreat, I gathered herbs atop the high peaks. Suddenly, I saw Demon Qi piercing through the royal palace and strange vapors rising from the inner gates. My Dao heart lacks no virtue, and kind intentions ever follow me. This daoist came to meet the Great King specifically to eliminate this demon."
Zhou Wang snorted coldly. "Utter nonsense, using demonic words to deceive the masses! You Daoist are truly insolent. How could there possibly be demons in the rear palace?"
"Great King, demons cannot be seen by mortal eyes. I possess an object that can help Your Majesty subdue the demon. It is called Ju Que—hang it upon the Dividing Palace Tower, and within three days it will surely subdue the demon."
Having said that, Yun Zhongzi presented the Ju Que sword made of pinewood.
Zhou Wang took it and found that it was merely a pinewood sword, no larger than his palm.
"Then... I shall try it."
In truth, Zhou Wang was also suspicious. As the Human Emperor, he feared being harmed by demons as well.
Yun Zhongzi smiled. "Since that is so, this Daoist shall take his leave."
Without another word of farewell, he drifted away.
Zhou Wang took the Ju Que sword and hung it from the Dividing Palace Tower.
Not long after it was hung, Zhu Wushuang frowned. "Senior Sister."
Xiang Wuchen emerged from behind her. "What is that object? It looks like something from the Jade Clarity Sect."
The Ju Que sword gleamed with golden light, waves of sword intent blanketing the entire Dividing Palace Tower.
Yun Zhongzi's cultivation was indeed not low, having reached the Golden Immortal realm. In the original Investiture of the Gods World, the Nine-tailed Fox had possessed only a thousand years of cultivation. Naturally, Yun Zhongzi's Ju Que sword could easily subdue Da Ji.
But things were different now. Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen had already attained immortality. A casually made pinewood sword was nowhere near enough to harm them.
It was simply infuriating.
"Damn Clarification Sect!"
"They have gone too far!"
Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen's expressions turned cold. Yun Zhongzi's actions were no different from provoking them.
"Hmph, does he really think a lousy wooden sword can harm us sisters?" Xiang Wuchen's heart stirred, and a green lotus suddenly rose beneath her feet.
Azure light also enveloped her entire body.
She reached out and removed Ju Que. The Ju Que sword trembled slightly, but it was merely mortal wood and could not contain much of Yun Zhongzi's magical power. Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen acted together and directly shattered the magical power upon it.
Before you continue