A Crisis of Trust

Fang Yang spoke so highly of Divine Grain because it was food, not medicine.

No matter how good an immortal medicine or divine medicine was, the more often one took it, the weaker its effects became. Even spiritual fruits on the level of the Yellow Plum, Ginseng Fruit, and Peach of Immortality were no exception.

But food was different. Its effects were constant. No matter how many times or how much one ate, its effects would never diminish.

Meng Zhen was the Crown Prince of the Azure Dragon Clan and knew the ways of plants and trees inside out. The moment Fang Yang showed him Divine Grain, he saw its wonders.

The properties of Divine Grain could not be replicated by divine medicines or spiritual fruits.

"Just looking at it probably won't let you understand its true wonders. Why not try it yourself and see what it can do?"

Fang Yang curled his five fingers. Five streaks of cold light flashed, cleanly splitting the husk apart. The Divine Rice flew out.

The Divine Rice was translucent all over, with Innate Spiritual Qi flowing across its surface. Inside was an essence core shaped like an egg. Its vital essence and spiritual energy were perfectly sealed within, without the slightest leak.

"Mm!"

Meng Zhen made no empty show of politeness. He was genuinely interested in the Divine Rice.

Normally, the Divine Rice tasted better cooked, but this was no time to fuss over its flavor.

Meng Zhen manifested a dragon's maw, took a great bite, and swallowed the Divine Rice whole.

The instant it entered his mouth, a mass of energy formed from vital essence and spiritual energy spread through his body. It was exceptionally gentle, naturally merging with his magical power and replenishing his blood and qi.

Meng Zhen circulated his magical power and slowly worked the energy through his body. To his surprise, he refined it in no time!

"What pure Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. There isn't the slightest medicinal property in it, only the gentlest vital essence and spiritual energy. It doesn't replenish blood, qi, and spiritual energy as quickly as pills, but its strength lies in its balance and mildness."

Meng Zhen was delighted. Fang Yang hadn't lied to him. If such a divine treasure were widely distributed, it really could benefit all living beings.

"There's something even more remarkable."

Seeing Meng Zhen's reaction, Fang Yang smiled faintly and continued, "The parent plant of this crop doesn't feed on Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy as it grows. It absorbs the turbid qi of the earth."

"The parent plant has a special ability. After absorbing turbid qi, it can use sunlight to transform it into the spiritual energy within its fruit."

"That means it can be grown as long as there's soil and sunlight."

He looked steadily at Meng Zhen, his expression utterly serious. "Now you understand just how vital this crop is."

Meng Zhen drew a deep breath. Divine Grain had completely won him over.

The Azure Dragon Clan held a position of honor between Heaven and Earth. They ought to do their part to benefit all living beings.

Even if his Imperial Father refused to help, he would still mobilize all the resources of the Azure Dragon Clan to see this through.

"Good. When you said the Interception Sect was a sect that intercepted a glimmer of life for all living beings, I still had some doubts. Now I see that it's true. You're willing to share such a divine treasure with all living beings. You are a model for all gods and immortals."

Meng Zhen's Imperial Father, uncles, and aunts were all beings of immense merit. The pocket money in merit his Imperial Father gave him, along with the New Year's merit his uncles and aunts gave him, had made Meng Zhen a man of considerable merit himself.

He had no idea how difficult it was to earn merit, and he naturally overlooked Fang Yang's underlying motive.

Still, Fang Yang hadn't hidden the truth about this. He might be able to fool Meng Zhen, but he couldn't deceive Divine Lord Mengzhang.

The Four Spirits of Heaven-Opening and Empress Houtu were in similar circumstances. On their own territory, they could wield the power of a Sage.

"You flatter me, fellow Daoist. I'm doing this both for all living beings and for merit."

To Fang Yang's surprise, Meng Zhen didn't mind in the slightest.

He waved a hand. "My father often says that when judging a matter, you should look at people's actions, not their motives. You're doing what benefits all living beings and accords with the Heavenly Dao. Even if you have your own reasons, that's nothing to hold against you."

"Those hypocrites who claim to want nothing, yet secretly seize the fortune of Heaven and Earth and exploit all living beings, are the ones my Azure Dragon Clan despises most."

Meng Zhen's eyes were full of admiration. There wasn't the slightest trace of disdain or contempt.

"Come with me to East Pole Heaven. I'll order the great experts of my clan to join the two of us in seeing this through."

If the Primordial Wilderness were a nation, then the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth would be its royal family, while the Four Spirits of Heaven-Opening and their clans would be its Great Clans.

As a Primordial Great Clan that had lasted through three kalpas, the Azure Dragon Clan's civilization was clearly highly advanced—far beyond that of the Witch and Demon Clans. In comparison, the Human Clan was no more than a band of primitives living in the Stone Age.

Such an advanced civilization had also given the Azure Dragon Clan remarkably progressive ideas.

In Meng Zhen, Fang Yang saw the breadth of vision possessed by a Primordial Great Clan.

"Then I'll trouble you, fellow Daoist!"

Fang Yang cupped his hands and thanked him sincerely.

Whoosh!

A streak of purple light and a streak of azure light tore through the void, heading toward East Pole Heaven.

Not long after the two departed, Sweet Rain fell upon the immortal mountain Lü Yue had destroyed.

The life-rich rain spread evenly across every inch of the mountain, cleansing the land tainted by plague poison and restoring life to the withered plants and trees.

Even so, the immortal mountain could never return to its former glory.

Destruction was always easier than creation, especially when Lü Yue had even damaged the earth's ley lines.

The likes of Lü Yue could indeed lend the Interception Sect a show of strength, but the damage they did to its karmic fortune was unimaginable.

For now, Sect Master Tongtian's merit could still hold the damage at bay. Once it no longer could, the Karmic Debt would be shared among every Disciple of the Sect of Interception.

That was why the conflict between Fang Yang and the likes of Lü Yue could never be reconciled.

In Biyou Palace, Sect Master Tongtian sensed all the causes and effects, including Fang Yang's having dealt with Lü Yue.

He let out a long sigh. In it lay both the helplessness of disciples turning against one another and his frustration that Lü Yue had failed to live up to his hopes.

He had helped Lü Yue intercept a glimmer of life. Who could have guessed Lü Yue would go on to intercept the lives of all living beings?

In the end, Lü Yue had lost the glimmer of life he'd been given.

"Duobao, do you understand what your master means?"

Sect Master Tongtian looked below at Daoist Duobao, who was soaking in Chaos Divine Oil while cultivating the Myriad Treasures Golden Body Art. The question echoed in his heart.

Of all the Interception Sect's disciples, Sect Master Tongtian doted most on Daoist Duobao, because Duobao was a miracle he had created with his own hands.

Daoist Duobao had once been nothing more than a Treasure Mouse, and even Becoming Immortal had been beyond him. Only after meeting Sect Master Tongtian had he taken off like a rocket and cultivated to his current level.

Daoist Duobao's existence proved that the path of teaching without discrimination was viable.

As they spent more time together, Sect Master Tongtian and Daoist Duobao grew closer. Sect Master Tongtian no longer saw him as a disciple, but as a son.

After all, even Guangchengzi next door hadn't been put in charge of the Sect of Enlightenment's rules. There was no reason Duobao should have become an existence on the level of the Interception Sect's Vice Sect Master.

Fang Yang's existence was a warning Sect Master Tongtian had given Duobao. He hoped Duobao would turn back in time.

But the fact that such a question could arise in his heart proved that Sect Master Tongtian had little confidence left in Duobao.