Zhang Sanfeng: It's perfect to use you to pave the way for the Divine Venerable!

"Fellow Daoist, proceed on your path."

Zhao Gongming's expression was cold, devoid of any pity.

In a Calamity, it's either you die or I die. Mercy towards enemies is cruelty towards oneself.

He pointed a finger, and a Sea Calming Divine Bead transformed into a stream of light, shooting directly towards Chijingzi's head.

"Master, save me!!!"

Under the threat of death, Chijingzi let out a desperate roar.

However, even with the power to move mountains and fill seas, Venerable Yuanshi, who was far away on Kunlun Mountain, could not reach him in time.

"Bang!"

The Sea Calming Divine Bead struck Chijingzi's head without suspense.

This Golden Immortal of the Sect of Explanation, following in Guangchengzi's footsteps, had his brains splattered and his Nascent Soul annihilated.

Another True Spirit flew out from his shattered immortal body, carrying endless regret and fear, and was pulled into oblivion by a mysterious suction force in the void.

In the Investiture of the Gods Space.

Shen Zhaochi picked up his brush and wrote down Chijingzi's divine position behind his name.

"Chijingzi, Golden Immortal of the Sect of Explanation. He has now met his destiny and is to be enshrined as the 'Star Lord of Heavenly Phenomena'."

"Second one, done."

Shen Zhaochi looked at the new golden name added to the list, feeling pleased.

"This efficiency is quite good."

He put away his cinnabar brush and looked towards the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain.

He eagerly awaited the magnificent expression on Venerable Yuanshi's face when he discovered that another one of his precious disciples had been added to the list.

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.

Deathly silence.

Utter silence.

In the main hall, the glazed jade lamp representing Chijingzi's life essence, following the fate of Guangchengzi's lamp, shattered into dust with a "crack."

The remaining ten Golden Immortals, along with Baihe Boy, stared blankly at the fragments on the floor, their minds completely blank.

Another... another one died?

How long has it been?

Guangchengzi Senior Brother's body is barely cold, and Chijingzi Senior Brother has already followed him?

What in the world is going on?

Did their Sect of Explanation poke a hornet's nest?

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

This time, Venerable Yuanshi did not roar or bellow.

He merely let out a series of unintelligible shrieks, filled with endless pain and madness.

The Saint's Dao heart had completely collapsed at this moment!

A terrifying aura, ten times more ferocious than the last time, swept out from him. The entire Jade Void Palace began to shake violently under the impact of this aura, and countless restrictive runes flickered unstably, seeming on the verge of collapse at any moment.

"Tongtian! Zhao Gongming!!"

"I will not rest until I have slain you!!!"

Venerable Yuanshi's eyes had turned blood red. He stood up from his cloud bed, his proof of Dao supreme treasure—the Pangu Banner—appearing in his hand.

A terrifying killing intent, as if capable of splitting heaven and earth, instantly filled the entire hall.

This time, he was truly going to disregard everything and act personally!

"Master! Absolutely not!"

At this critical juncture, Daoist Randeng once again "stepped forward," grabbing Venerable Yuanshi's leg.

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He wept with tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse.

"Master! You are a Saint! How can you lower yourself to act personally for the sake of a disciple's affairs! This is precisely Jiejiao's scheme!"

"They simply want to provoke you into acting! Once you act, my junior brother Tongtian will have an excuse to act as well! By then, if Saints descend, the Calamity will spiral out of control, karma will become entangled, and the Dao Ancestor will hold us accountable. Our Sect of Explanation will be in peril!"

"Get lost!" Venerable Yuanshi kicked Daoist Randeng away, his bloodshot eyes fixed on him. "Are you telling me to just stand by and watch as my disciples are killed one by one by them?"

"Of course not!" Daoist Randeng got up from the ground, his face filled with "loyalty" and "heroism."

"Master! We cannot let our disciples' deaths go unavenged! But we must use the right methods!"

"Zhao Gongming wields the Sea Calming Divine Beads and possesses immense power. Indeed, none among our Sect of Explanation disciples can match him. Both Senior Nephews Guangchengzi and Chijingzi died because of this. This is our fault, our lack of skill!"

"But vengeance must be sought!"

Randeng's tone shifted, his gaze hardening with a resolute and tragic air.

"Master! Your disciple is unworthy, but I am willing to make another trip to the East Sea! I know I am no match for Zhao Gongming, but I am willing to sacrifice myself to pave a path to survival for the remaining junior disciples!"

"On this journey, I seek not victory, but only to... reclaim the lost treasures of my junior disciples and diminish Zhao Gongming's arrogance! Even if I die, I will spill my blood on him! For Master, for the Sect of Explanation, I will shed my last drop of blood!"

What loyalty and righteousness these words conveyed! What a noble sacrifice!

The remaining ten Golden Immortals were moved by Randeng's "sincere outpouring."

True Lord Taiyi and the others even felt a pang of shame. They had only been thinking of asking their Master to intervene, never considering that Randeng, despite his age, possessed such courage.

"Master Randeng, you cannot!"

"Teacher, you mustn't go to your death!"

Venerable Yuanshi looked at Randeng, a flicker of emotion crossing his bloodshot eyes.

He had always looked down on Randeng, deeming his origins insufficient and his disposition opportunistic.

Yet, in the Sect of Explanation's most perilous hour, it was this "outsider" who proved to be the most reliable.

In contrast, his own direct disciples offered nothing but calls for battle or demands for his intervention, none presenting any constructive suggestions.

The contrast was stark.

"Very well."

Venerable Yuanshi finally suppressed the killing intent in his heart.

He helped Randeng up and sighed, "I see your loyalty. But I cannot send you to your death. My Sect of Explanation can no longer afford such losses."

"Master!" Randeng said with feigned urgency, "Your disciple is not going to his death! I have my own magical treasures, the Lingjiu Lamp and the Qiankun Ruler. Though they are no match for the Sea Calming Divine Beads, I am confident I can protect myself and hold my ground. I merely need... an opportunity!"

His true objective was finally revealed.

He wasn't going to fight Zhao Gongming to the death; he was going to "deliver" something.

He was going to deliver his other supreme Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Qiankun Ruler!

This plan had already been discussed with Shen Zhaochi.

Shen Zhaochi had told him that the twenty-four Sea Calming Divine Beads, combined with the Qiankun Ruler, would trigger a massive karmic entanglement. This entanglement would ultimately lead Zhao Gongming down a path to ruin.

And this path to ruin would be personally paved for him by two of the most formidable figures in the Primordial Era.

The Western Teachings, Jieyin, and Zhunti!

"Good!" Venerable Yuanshi pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "Be extremely careful on your journey. Remember, your mission is to seize the treasure when the opportunity arises; do not engage in prolonged combat. If the situation becomes unfavorable, prioritize your own safety!"

To give Randeng a better chance, he even temporarily lent him his protective treasure, the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud.

"This cloud will protect you; only a Saint can break it. Go now."

"Your disciple... thanks Master for your great kindness!"

Randeng accepted the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud with feigned tears of gratitude and bowed deeply once more.

Then, he rose and, with the tragic aura of "the wind whistles and the Yi River is cold, a warrior departs, never to return," turned and walked out of the Jade Void Palace.

Watching his departing back, the remaining ten Golden Immortals felt a profound sense of respect.

Only Venerable Yuanshi, gazing at Randeng's retreating figure, had a complex expression, lost in thought.

As soon as Randeng stepped out of the Jade Void Palace, the tragic look vanished from his face, replaced by a cold, triumphant smile.

"Zhao Gongming, the grand gift I've prepared for you has arrived."

"I hope you will like it."

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