Immortal Pilu might have forgotten that Long-Eared Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal, who was also one of the Seven Attendant Immortals, had already died at Ye Changqing's hands.
So why would Ye Changqing care about one more insignificant clown like him?
The entire Golden Ao Island was protected by a grand formation. For now, he could only suppress his anger and wait for Sect Master Tongtian to return.
He would definitely make a thorough complaint against Ye Changqing before his master.
After Daoist Duobao drove Immortal Pilu and the others off Golden Ao Island, the battle between Zhao Gongming and Ma Yuan was on the verge of erupting.
Though Ma Yuan was only at the Golden Immortal realm, his body was incredibly powerful.
As a zombie, his entire body was steeped in Corpse Poison. He was certainly a difficult opponent.
Senior Disciple Brother had said that even the weakest opponent must never be underestimated. One should face them with the full force of a lion hunting a rabbit.
Zhao Gongming took a deep breath, gripped his Golden Whip, and channeled his magic power into a strike aimed at Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan's head.
Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan, immediately took out an Immortal Sword to block the blow.
The tremendous impact sent Ma Yuan flying back tens of thousands of zhang.
Fortunately, the Jie Sect had many disciples, and the Azure Palace was spacious enough.
As the place where a Saint preached, the Azure Palace had also been infused with merit and Dao Rhyme. It was now no inferior to a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure, and its sturdiness was naturally beyond question.
In the blink of an eye, the two had established who was stronger. In terms of magic power, Ma Yuan was certainly no match for Zhao Gongming.
But in close-quarters combat, that was another matter.
Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan, opened his gaping maw and spewed out a dense cloud of Corpse Fiend Qi. In an instant, the entire hall was shrouded in gloom.
Countless wails and cries of anguish rang out from within the black mist. They were the resentments of the living beings Ma Yuan had killed.
All the Jie Sect Disciples instantly understood Senior Disciple Brother's intentions. A contemptible wretch like this truly wasn't fit to stand among them.
Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan's eyes glowed red within the black mist. He was the only one who could see clearly.
He kept changing position, quietly edging closer and closer to Zhao Gongming.
This black mist not only blocked vision, but could also disturb the mind and attack the Primordial Spirit.
Even Zhao Gongming, a Quasi-Saint expert, would be affected.
What's more, the mist was laced with his Corpse Poison. Anyone who inhaled even the tiniest amount would be at his mercy.
The moment Zhao Gongming showed the slightest opening, it would be the end for him!
"Now!"
Taking advantage of the moment Zhao Gongming turned his back, Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan, silently appeared behind him. He curled his fingers into claws and reached for Zhao Gongming's back.
A bloodthirsty smile tugged at his lips. He had never eaten a Quasi-Saint's heart before.
It had to taste delicious, right?
What he didn't know was that Ye Changqing had given Zhao Gongming the Soul Suppressing Bell. Soul attacks were completely useless against him.
The hazy water vapor released by the Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls also kept the Corpse Poison away from his body.
Zhao Gongming had deliberately left him an opening!
Bang!
Zhao Gongming swung his Golden Whip with all his might, striking Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan, squarely in the chest.
A metallic clang rang out. No one could have imagined that Ma Yuan's body was so hard.
As Ma Yuan flew backward, he spewed out another large cloud of Corpse Fiend Qi.
A triumphant smile appeared on Ma Yuan's face. Zhao Gongming had never been his target.
In the blink of an eye, he had flown right up to Ye Changqing.
He had only one chance. He immediately unleashed his divine ability, and the hand behind his head swelled with the wind as it reached for Ye Changqing.
"Senior Disciple Brother..."
Bixiao cried out from within the black mist. Ma Yuan had already seized Ye Changqing.
"I've won!"
Ma Yuan grabbed Ye Changqing by the legs and pulled with all his might, tearing him in two on the spot.
A still-beating heart fell into his hand, and he greedily swallowed it in one bite.
"Did it taste good?"
Zhao Gongming's voice suddenly rang out in front of him, making him jump.
Only then did Ma Yuan realize he had fallen into an illusion formation. Everything he had just seen was merely an illusion.
The hand behind his head was stretched out in front of Zhao Gongming. He had never pulled it back...
Cold sweat beaded on Ma Yuan's forehead. He had a bad feeling.
Bang!
The Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, carrying the power of the Four Seas, struck that arm from every direction. The pain of broken bones and torn tendons nearly made him pass out.
The hand behind his head was ruined!
Given enough time, he might have been able to cultivate another one. But would he live to see tomorrow?
"Go!"
Zhao Gongming summoned another streak of golden light, bound Ma Yuan tightly with the Dragon Binding Rope, and brought him before Ye Changqing.
"Senior Disciple Brother, spare me!"
"I won't dare do it again..."
Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan, knelt and begged for mercy. But had he really changed?
While everyone was completely off guard, Ma Yuan bared the two fangs in his mouth and lunged to bite Ye Changqing's neck.
All was fair in war. Getting him to stop killing was harder than killing him.
Since he was going to die either way, he might as well taste Saint Blood before the end.
"Come, Sword!"
Daoist Duobao shouted, holding the Immortal Slaying Sword as he stepped in front of Ye Changqing.
A flash of sword light cleaved Immortal Yi Qi, Ma Yuan, in two from head to toe.
The Immortal Slaying Sword's sword energy immediately destroyed his vitality and snuffed out his consciousness.
Ma Yuan had never dreamed that he would die the same way as the people he had killed.
What goes around comes around. Who can escape Heaven's justice?
Every cause and effect has its destined measure!
Suddenly, a streak of golden light flew in from beyond the heavens and landed in the Azure Palace, where it unfurled.
An Imperial Decree slowly opened, revealing a single character.
Dao!
The decree radiated an overwhelming pressure that forced everyone present to their knees.
Only Ye Changqing remained seated, unharmed.
He gave a cold snort. He didn't need to guess to know this was the work of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
The character Dao had been written with sweeping strokes, its Dao Rhyme flowing through it. It was clearly the Heavenly Dao's own work, which was why it possessed such power.
"Sever!"
Ye Changqing gave a quiet command. A strand of Great Dao Will flew from his sea of consciousness and slammed into the decree.
Before the Great Dao, the Heavenly Dao could only meekly yield.
The light faded from the decree, and it fell from midair into Ye Changqing's hand.
As expected, Ye Changqing spat out another mouthful of blood.
Setting everything else aside, the Great Dao backlash was quite useful against the Heavenly Dao and all beneath it.
It just cost him a bit of his life...
Once he unfolded the decree, a solemn voice rang out from within.
"Sect Master Tongtian is to proceed at once to Purple Heavens Palace and join the council to discuss the reconstruction of the Heavenly Court!"
Ye Changqing sighed. What was coming was almost here.
This gathering at Purple Heavens Palace to discuss rebuilding the Heavenly Court marked the beginning of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
But why had this Imperial Decree ended up in his hands? That was certainly intriguing.
Perhaps the Heavenly Dao was testing him.
A courtesy in return for a courtesy!
Since the Heavenly Dao wanted Ye Changqing to go, he might as well make the waters even murkier.
"Master is not in the Primordial World. From this moment on, I will serve as the Interception Sect's acting leader!"
"Duobao, hear my command!"
"While I'm away at Purple Heavens Palace, you will handle all affairs on Golden Turtle Island!"
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