After saying goodbye to his three younger sisters, the last trace of caution in Zhao Gongming's heart was quickly swept away by the praise and flattery of the junior brothers and sisters around him.
After basking in cheers and admiration for several days on Golden Ao Island, his heart, swollen with one victory after another, could no longer be restrained.
He couldn't wait to refine the several new treasures he had just acquired, especially the Qiankun Ruler, and make them his own.
Legend had it that if the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads were combined with the Qiankun Ruler, they could evolve into the Twenty-Four Heavens, a miniature world.
Such power already exceeded the bounds of a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and could rival some of the weaker Innate Supreme Treasures.
Once he succeeded, Zhao Gongming's strength would reach an entirely new level.
By then, the Golden Immortals of the Sect of Explanation and Daoist Randeng would all be ants, unworthy opponents in his eyes.
He might even dare to say, "I can fight a Saint!" to a Saint's face!
Golden Ao Island was safe, but there were too many people around. It wasn't a suitable place to refine a treasure of such importance.
So, after bidding Sect Master Tongtian farewell, Zhao Gongming mounted his Black Tiger once more and left Golden Ao Island in high spirits. He planned to find a secluded immortal island deep in the Eastern Sea and go into seclusion.
His confidence was through the roof. With the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads protecting him, he felt he could go anywhere in the Primordial Era.
He headed east, flying tens of millions of miles before reaching the heart of the Eastern Sea.
Before long, an island steeped in immortal aura and rich with spiritual energy came into view.
The island was covered in exotic flowers and plants. Waterfalls cascaded down its slopes, springs flowed, and auspicious beasts roamed. It was clearly an exceptional paradise.
"Mm, this will do."
Zhao Gongming nodded with satisfaction and rode his Black Tiger down to a mountain at the island's center.
He found a smooth boulder and sat cross-legged, preparing to take out the Qiankun Ruler and the Sea Calming Divine Beads.
Just then, a mild voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait."
Zhao Gongming's heart jolted. He whipped around.
He hadn't even noticed when someone had appeared behind him!
A short, shifty-looking Daoist in a yellow robe stood not far away, his face rather unpleasant and his eyes darting about.
The Daoist wore a kind smile and looked at him with a beaming expression.
Alarm bells rang in Zhao Gongming's mind.
Anyone who could approach him so silently had unfathomable cultivation!
He immediately stood up and summoned the Twenty-Four Sea Calming Divine Beads above his head. Veils of light descended, shielding him.
"Who are you? Why did you sneak up behind me?" Zhao Gongming asked gravely, his eyes full of wariness.
Seeing how tense he was, the yellow-robed Daoist hurriedly waved his hands and smiled. "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to panic. I mean you no harm."
He gave Zhao Gongming a respectful bow and introduced himself. "I am Zhunti, of the Western Teachings. I happened to be traveling through this area today and noticed that you possess great fortune and blessings, and share a bond with the West. So I came to meet you."
"The Western Teachings? Zhunti?"
Zhao Gongming's brows drew together.
He had naturally heard of the two Saints of the Western Teachings.
They were famous for their shamelessness and for going around "saving" those with a destined connection—in plain terms, poaching disciples from other sects.
He never thought he'd run into them today.
And the one who had come was a Saint himself!
Zhao Gongming's heart sank at once.
He might be arrogant, but not so arrogant that he thought he could truly stand against a Saint.
Then he reconsidered. He was a disciple of the Interception Sect, and his master was Sect Master Tongtian. Even if Zhunti was a Saint, surely he wouldn't dare kill him in broad daylight?
Somewhat reassured, he said coldly, "So you're Saint Zhunti. My apologies for failing to recognize you. But I am a disciple of the Eastern Mystic Gate and the Interception Sect. I doubt I share any bond with the Western Teachings. Please leave, Saint."
He dismissed Zhunti outright.
Zhunti didn't seem offended in the slightest. He kept smiling as before.
"Fellow Daoist, you're mistaken."
He slowly stepped closer and spoke with a silver tongue. "A destined bond is a wondrous thing. Though you were born in the East, your path aligns with the West. Just look at yourself: decisive in battle, and determined to punish evil. Those are the very qualities of a Guardian King Kong of my Buddhist faith!"
"Fellow Daoist, do you know that despite your great reputation, you are already caught in a great calamity, burdened by karmic debt? You killed Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and Taiyi Zhenren, forging a tremendous karma. Would Venerable Yuanshi of the Sect of Explanation ever let this go? Your life is now hanging by a thread!"
Zhao Gongming snorted. "So what? I'll deal with soldiers when they come and block the water when it comes. I, Zhao Gongming, dared to kill them, so I'm not afraid of their revenge!"
"Foolish! Utterly foolish!" Zhunti looked heartbroken. "Fellow Daoist, you're courting death! Venerable Yuanshi is a Saint. If he disregards his dignity and attacks you, how could you stop him? Your master, Sect Master Tongtian, can protect you for a time, but can he protect you forever?"
"If you stay in the Interception Sect, your future is bleak. In the end, you'll be reduced to ashes, placed on the Investiture of the Gods, and enslaved by the Heavenly Court, with no freedom for all eternity!"
Zhunti's words rang in Zhao Gongming's ears like a demonic incantation, striking his heart one by one.
Zhao Gongming didn't say so, but he knew that his current situation was indeed perilous.
Seeing Zhao Gongming's expression waver, Zhunti pressed his advantage at once.
"But, fellow Daoist, you still have another path!"
He pointed westward, his face filled with reverence and longing.
"Join the Western Teachings! The West is a pure land of bliss, free of killing and strife. If you're willing to join us, I can make you a Victorious Fighting Buddha, second in status only to my senior brother and me!"
"My senior brother, Saint Jieyin, can use the water of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool to cleanse the karmic debt of your killings and restore your pure nature!"
"Most importantly!" Zhunti's gaze fell heatedly on the Sea Calming Divine Beads above Zhao Gongming's head and the Qiankun Ruler in his hand.
"Your twenty-four beads and this Qiankun Ruler are destined to evolve into the Twenty-Four Heavens! They are the foundation of a supreme Buddhist realm! If you're willing to use these treasures to anchor the fortune of the Western Teachings, you'll earn immeasurable merit—far more than killing Golden Immortals of the Sect of Explanation!"
"Then, with merit upon you and fortune protecting you, you won't just safely weather this calamity. You'll even have a chance to attain the Primordial Dao and become a Saint!"
"Fellow Daoist, this is your bright path, your great opportunity! What are you waiting for?"
Zhunti's speech was so eloquent that heavenly flowers seemed to rain down and golden lotuses to spring from the earth.
What a tempting future he had painted!
Become a Buddha, earn immeasurable merit, and even attain sainthood!
Any Quasi-Saint powerhouse would have been sorely tempted to hear such an offer.
Yet Zhao Gongming only stared coldly at him.
When Zhunti had talked himself hoarse and finally stopped, looking at him expectantly,
Zhao Gongming smiled.
His smile was full of contempt and mockery.
"Are you finished?"
He looked at Zhunti and spoke one word at a time.
"If you're finished, then..."
"Get lost!"
"You shameless bald monk! You've come all the way to poach me, Zhao Gongming! And now you want to trick me out of my treasures? Do you take me for a three-year-old?"
"I am the senior disciple of the Interception Sect, and my master is the Supreme Saint Tongtian! Even if I die, I'll never betray my sect and go to your godforsaken West to become some bald Buddha!"
"If you know what's good for you, get out now! Otherwise, don't blame my Sea Calming Divine Beads for failing to recognize you as a Saint!"
Zhao Gongming's words were firm and uncompromising. He showed no mercy at all.
He had reached the utmost contempt for Zhunti's shamelessness.
The smile slowly disappeared from Zhunti's face.
His eyes turned cold, too.
"You refuse a toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
He sighed softly, as if full of helplessness.
"Zhao Gongming, since you share no bond with my Buddha, I suppose I'll have to... 'save' you by force."
Before the words had even faded, an enormous golden palm blotted out the sky and sun as it came crashing down on Zhao Gongming!
At last, the Saint had bared his fangs!
Before you continue