Above the Eastern Sea, monstrous waves surged as a giant beast began to wreak havoc.
It opened its enormous mouth and swallowed countless sea creatures.
Just as it was about to kill again, it suddenly found itself flying through the air.
An invisible force bound it and carried it into the sky, before dropping it onto land.
Though it had yet to develop intelligence, the powerful auras radiating from the people before it instinctively filled it with fear.
Ye Changqing tossed the pill in his hand into the beast's mouth and watched as its soul slowly dissipated.
"What a vicious pill!"
Zhao Gongming and San Xiao said with furrowed brows.
Imagining what would happen if their Senior Disciple Brother took the pill, they couldn't help shuddering.
All four of them reached the same conclusion: they had to stay by their Senior Disciple Brother's side and protect him...
"Senior Disciple Brother, why did you make us spare that beast, True Person Huang Long, twice?"
Thinking of what Huang Long had done, Zhao Gongming asked through gritted teeth.
Ye Changqing smiled and looked at them. "Do you really think I let him go?"
Zhao Gongming and San Xiao all nodded. If their Senior Disciple Brother hadn't told them to hold back earlier, how could True Person Huang Long have escaped Three Immortal Island?
"What do you think is the most effective form of scheming?"
"Killing without leaving a trace?"
"No. The most effective form of scheming is an open conspiracy!"
Ye Changqing was ready to give them another lesson.
Fortunately, this time the Chan Sect had played along, allowing Zhao Gongming and San Xiao to see just how despicable their methods were.
When they met again during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, they would strike without hesitation.
Now it was time to show them what it meant to destroy someone's mind.
True Person Huang Long was already disliked by Venerable Primordial and the other disciples of the Chan Sect. He had suffered one grievance after another.
Even so, he couldn't bear to leave the Chan Sect. Without the title of a Saint's disciple, he had nothing.
The first time Ye Changqing let him go, he had already made the other Chan Sect disciples suspicious.
Given True Person Huang Long's strength, there was no way he could have escaped Ye Changqing's grasp.
The two sects had a deep-seated feud. The more unscathed True Person Huang Long returned, the more suspicious it seemed.
The second time, True Person Huang Long had chosen to prove his innocence by returning to Three Immortal Island to poison Ye Changqing.
He had watched Ye Changqing take the pill with his own eyes, and watched him slowly die.
Then, under the "relentless pursuit" of Zhao Gongming and San Xiao, he had fled back to Kunlun Mountain.
By now, the Chan Sect disciples had surely heard that Ye Changqing was dead.
So what if he appeared before them again, swaggering as if nothing had happened?
Wouldn't True Person Huang Long, convinced that Ye Changqing was dead, be unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River?
And what if the Chan Sect realized it was Ye Changqing's scheme?
Once the seed of suspicion was planted, it would grow into a towering tree when stirred again.
Even if True Person Huang Long shamelessly clung to his place in the Chan Sect, he would be tormented by doubt.
That was what it meant to destroy someone's mind!
With this, Ye Changqing wouldn't even have to lift a finger, and the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect would effectively be one disciple short.
Zhao Gongming and San Xiao suddenly understood, and couldn't help admiring their Senior Disciple Brother's methods.
Though their Senior Disciple Brother was gravely injured and no different from an ordinary mortal, he could still manipulate the Chan Sect disciples as if they were toys in the palm of his hand.
They lamented how naïve they were. If their Senior Disciple Brother wasn't around someday, how would they deal with that pack of Chan Sect scoundrels?
In Jade Void Palace, True Person Huang Long knelt before Venerable Primordial, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
Seated above him, Venerable Primordial had his eyes closed as he divined the secrets of heaven, yet all he found was chaos.
He opened his eyes and looked down at True Person Huang Long. "You... really saw Ye Changqing die?"
True Person Huang Long kowtowed and swore fervently. "This disciple would never dare deceive you, my Saint Master."
"If I speak even one false word, may I die beneath the rolling thunder!"
Venerable Primordial furrowed his brows and waved for him to leave.
After True Person Huang Long left, Daoist Randeng's figure appeared nearby.
He, too, was baffled. If Ye Changqing had died, why was the Interception Sect so calm?
Yet Huang Long didn't seem to be lying. So what was going on?
"Shall we send Guang Chengzi to investigate?"
Daoist Randeng could only suggest this.
As the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect, Guang Chengzi was Venerable Primordial's most beloved disciple.
During the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Guang Chengzi had served as the teacher of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and earned the fortune of the human race. He was also the most powerful of the Twelve Golden Immortals.
Venerable Primordial trusted him completely. He was the perfect person to handle this.
At Peach Blossom Spring Cave on Nine Immortals Mountain, Guang Chengzi had just returned to his abode when he received Daoist Randeng's message. He set out at once.
Though he looked down on the disciples of the Interception Sect, he didn't dare be careless.
Zhao Gongming and San Xiao were only outer disciples, but they were still not to be underestimated.
He changed his appearance and concealed his presence before cautiously heading to the Eastern Sea to carry out his mission.
The laughter and merriment on Three Immortal Island made Guang Chengzi frown.
Was Ye Changqing really dead?
"Thanks to Huang Long's warning, Senior Disciple Brother survived the disaster. When we meet again, we really must thank him properly!"
Zhao Gongming laughed, raised his wine cup, and drained it.
Bixiao nodded in agreement. "I never expected there to be such a good person among the Chan Sect disciples."
The next moment, Ye Changqing appeared before Guang Chengzi, looking perfectly fine.
"All right, all right. Let's not let anyone overhear us."
"We can't repay a benefactor's kindness by harming him..."
Guang Chengzi was instantly furious. That traitor, Huang Long!
In his blazing rage, he accidentally let his guard down, and Zhao Gongming and the others noticed him immediately.
Ye Changqing's expression changed as well. He shouted at San Xiao, "This is bad! Kill him!"
"Don't let him leave Three Immortal Island alive..."
The moment he was exposed, Guang Chengzi summoned his escape light and fled.
But he was a step too late. The island's protective formation had already risen.
He had no choice but to bring out the Fan Tian Seal and unleash its full power, forcibly breaking a gap in the formation so he could escape.
"Beat him half to death. Just leave him enough strength to get back and deliver the message."
Ye Changqing's voice sounded in Zhao Gongming and San Xiao's ears.
Guang Chengzi was different from True Person Huang Long. Venerable Primordial favored him greatly.
The more wretched his fate, the more Venerable Primordial's fury would be roused.
Even if Venerable Primordial didn't act, Guang Chengzi, having suffered such a loss, would never spare True Person Huang Long.
That would make it absolutely impossible for True Person Huang Long to keep his place in the Chan Sect!
But Ye Changqing knew these were only minor tricks. In the face of absolute power, all schemes were useless.
In the future, San Xiao would die at the hands of Venerable Primordial and Laozi.
"Looks like it's time to go seek outside help!"
Ye Changqing gazed at the sky, turning his eyes toward the primordial chaos and the direction of Empress Wa's Palace.
"It's time to make some careful plans!"
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