True Person Taiyi

In the sky.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was conversing with an old man with a white beard.

Di Xin's guess was entirely correct; the person who had arrived, this old man with a white beard, was none other than Primordial Lord of Heaven's disciple... True Person Taiyi.

"Disciple Wen Zhong greets Uncle-Master Taiyi!"

Wen Zhong had met True Person Taiyi once when he was by his Master Golden Spirit Mother's side, which was why he recognized him.

Although he and Zhao Gongming had broken the sect's order and treated each other as equals, and Zhao Gongming was of the same generation as True Person Taiyi, the closeness of their relationship was different.

The Chan Sect and the Jie Sect shared the same origin. By seniority, Wen Zhong should indeed call True Person Taiyi "Uncle-Master."

True Person Taiyi glanced at Wen Zhong, merely nodding slightly and humming.

This attitude was very unfriendly!

Even for two fellow disciples who didn't have much affection for each other, despite the difference in seniority, they wouldn't be so cold and arrogant!

Wen Zhong's mind raced, and he felt he had found the reason.

His voice was no longer as enthusiastic as before. He merely performed a ritual bow as a courtesy and said, "Uncle-Master Taiyi, Yang Jian, disciple of Uncle-Master Yu Ding, transformed into the Sky-Howling Dog and trespassed into the forbidden palace, intending to harm the Great King. Wen Zhong's intervention was merely to resolve the Great King's danger. To be frank, Yang Jian's actions were indeed inappropriate."

Yang Jian's Master, True Man Yu Ding, and True Person Taiyi were both disciples of Primordial Lord of Heaven, making them fellow disciples.

His relationship with True Person Taiyi was nowhere near as close as Yang Jian's relationship with True Person Taiyi. He only assumed that True Person Taiyi's displeased reaction was due to Yang Jian's matter.

True Person Taiyi's two white eyebrows slightly raised: "Your affairs have nothing to do with this humble Taoist, nor am I bothered to inquire. This time I came to Chaoge because my Universe Ring was stolen. Through divine sense, I sensed this treasure has fallen within Chaoge City. Wen Zhong, since you are the Grand Tutor of Yin Shang, you should give this humble Taoist an explanation, shouldn't you?"

"What? Uncle-Master's Universe Ring is also lost?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong was stunned and exclaimed.

"What do you mean by 'also'?" True Person Taiyi keenly caught the implication in Wen Zhong's words and asked, his eyes slightly opening and closing.

Chaoge had inexplicably become the target of everyone's criticism. Wen Zhong couldn't help but let out a wry smile: "To be honest, Uncle-Master, before today, Yang Jian's Sky-Howling Dog, Zhao Gongming's Dragon Binding Rope, Lady Yunxiao's Golden Flood Dragon Scissors, and Lady Bixiao's Primordial Gold Dou were also reported missing. According to their senses, they also fell within Chaoge City. It is precisely because of this that this disciple rushed back from the Northern Sea today, wanting to investigate the truth of the matter. Otherwise, Chaoge City would be in chaos. Uncle-Master asks for an explanation, but from where should I begin?"

"Such a thing has happened?" True Person Taiyi was greatly astonished.

Wen Zhong revealed another wry smile: "Uncle-Master Taiyi, that's not all. Two disciples from Nuwa's Palace, the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and the Nine Nether Pure Maiden, are also in Chaoge City. I heard that the demon race has also lost treasures."

True Person Taiyi nodded slightly. Wen Zhong could not lie about this matter, as such things were easily verifiable.

He released his divine sense and observed briefly, then nodded again: "Indeed. Have those fellow Taoists found any clues?"

"Let's... head towards Chaoge Mountain. It's not convenient to talk here." As he spoke, True Person Taiyi's gaze flashed, and he made the suggestion.

"What about Yang Jian?"

Wen Zhong hesitated.

True Person Taiyi looked towards a certain spot in the city and then said, "You don't need to worry. I'll summon Yang Jian to accompany us. While you are away from the Royal Palace, I guarantee that no accidents will occur here."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master!"

Since True Person Taiyi said so, Wen Zhong immediately felt relieved. True Person Taiyi was quite famous among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, and his guarantee would certainly not be an issue.

At that, he followed True Person Taiyi to fly towards the west of the city. His gaze swept towards where the other had looked just now, and he saw Yang Jian had already transformed into the appearance of a young scholar and was trailing behind them.

Within a few breaths, the three of them arrived deep within Chaoge Mountain.

From different directions within Chaoge City, several more streams of light flew towards them.

The streams of light descended and converged in one place, and everyone revealed their figures.

Zhao Gongming, the Three Ladies of Auspicious Clouds, the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden, the Nine Nether Pure Maiden, and others had all gathered here.

After exchanging greetings, Zhao Gongming took the lead and asked, "Senior Brother Taiyi, why have you suddenly come to Chaoge City and summoned us all together?"

At this point, although the conflict between the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect was not very obvious, the two sides rarely interacted, and their relationship was definitely not intimate.

True Person Taiyi did not conceal anything and directly stated, "My Universe Ring was stolen and fell into Chaoge City. I heard that several fellow Taoists have had similar experiences, so I specifically invited you all to jointly analyze the whereabouts of the treasures."

"Ah, Senior Brother Taiyi's Universe Ring is also lost in Chaoge City?"

Zhao Gongming looked extremely surprised, but he immediately felt a sense of balance. It seemed that the ones who lost things were not just the second-generation disciples of the Jie Sect; the second-generation disciples of the Chan Sect were also involved.

Otherwise, if Yang Jian spread this matter in the future, they would truly lose all face.

True Person Taiyi's expression turned a bit grim, and he merely nodded slightly: "Do any of you fellow Taoists have any findings?"

Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of Auspicious Clouds exchanged glances. Lady Yunxiao spoke first: "We have found nothing so far. Originally, we couldn't determine if the thief was still in Chaoge City or if they had already left after succeeding. Now, judging from Senior Brother Taiyi's theft, the culprit is still in Chaoge City."

True Person Taiyi's white eyebrows furrowed: "If you can't find the main culprit, can't you even narrow down the scope of suspicion?"

This tone was somewhat unfriendly, clearly implying that those present were useless.

Lady Qiongxiao, being hot-tempered, immediately interjected: "The scope is naturally there. Besides you, True Person, and fellow Taoist Wen Zhong, everyone here is a suspect. But without evidence, can you suspect them arbitrarily?"

True Person Taiyi glanced at Yang Jian, who was already showing signs of anger, and coldly snorted: "Nonsense, everyone here is a victim, what is there to suspect? Yang Jian doesn't have the ability to steal all your treasures without anyone noticing."

"Uncle-Master, please enlighten me. This disciple will explain the detailed situation to you."

Earlier, Qiong Xiao had clearly targeted him. Although Yang Jian was indignant, he dared not make a move, as the Jie Sect had the strongest power here, and Lady Qiongxiao's attitude towards True Person Taiyi had changed.

She no longer addressed him as "Senior Brother" but directly as "True Person."

He worried that if they continued to clash, more unpleasant things might happen.

True Person Taiyi also realized his tone had been inappropriate just now, so he silently nodded.

Then, Yang Jian truthfully recounted the situation: how he lost his Sky-Howling Dog, how he sensed Chaoge, how he used the Sky-Howling Dog's vital blood to search, and how he encountered the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and the Nine Nether Pure Maiden.

He also described, without reservation, the arrival of Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of Auspicious Clouds, the subsequent loss of more heavy treasures, and even his own investigations and two attempts to probe King Zhou.