After completing his mission perfectly, Fang Yang left East Pole Heaven with his face practically glowing.
His grand plan to earn merit could now get underway.
Although merit wasn't as miraculous as the legends claimed—it couldn't make even a Sage hesitate to act— the greater one's merit, the more favorably Heaven and Earth would treat them.
Those with great merit were more likely to earn the favor of the Heavenly Dao, giving them more possibilities in the future.
At the Golden Immortal of the Great Unity realm, one's possibilities for the future were equivalent to the number of Other Selves one possessed.
The more Other Selves he had, the greater his cultivation and magical power would be after he Proved Dao.
Fang Yang's goal was to become the foremost Great Luo the moment he first attained the realm. Naturally, he had to plan carefully when it came to merit.
The atmosphere in Penglai Island's Hall of Seven Immortals was heavier than ever. Daoist Duobao sat in the seat of honor, while the Seven Immortals of Penglai, Luo Xuan, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, Alpha, Delta, Beta, and the other Interception Sect Immortals stood arranged in the hall according to their cultivation levels.
More than seventy percent of the Interception Sect's disciples had gathered in the hall to pay their respects to Daoist Duobao.
"Senior Brother!"
Led by the Seven Immortals of Penglai, the Interception Sect Immortals bowed in unison before Daoist Duobao.
Daoist Duobao was magnanimous and benevolent, and he treated his fellow disciples with affection, caring deeply for his junior brothers and sisters. His prestige in the Interception Sect was immense.
Every disciple in the Hall of Seven Immortals was wholeheartedly devoted to Daoist Duobao, and they were willing to do everything they could to support him in enforcing the sect's rules.
But today, they had gathered on Penglai Island not to pledge their loyalty to Daoist Duobao. They had been frightened by Fang Yang's actions.
Fang Yang might not be a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and so might not be able to do anything to some of them—but not all of them were Great Luo Golden Immortals.
If Fang Yang could suppress Lü Yue, he could suppress them too.
"Senior Brother, Fang Yang is ruthless and unfeeling! To curry favor with the Azure Dragon Crown Prince, Meng Zhen, he attacked a fellow disciple and suppressed him. As the one in charge of enforcing our sect's rules, you must stand up for Senior Brother Lü Yue!"
A red-faced daoist wearing a Flame Crown stepped forward first and pleaded with Daoist Duobao.
His eyes burned with righteous fury, and he looked ready to fight Fang Yang, that cold and heartless man, to the death.
The red-faced daoist was Luo Xuan, Lü Yue's close friend. Their relationship was like that between Zhen Yuan and Hong Yun, or the Two Sages of the West.
Ever since learning that Fang Yang had suppressed Lü Yue for a full thousand years, Luo Xuan had been grinding his teeth in anger.
If Fang Yang weren't a Core Disciple, Luo Xuan would have gone to Yao Tianjun long ago and used the Soul Scattering Formation to teach Fang Yang a harsh lesson.
After Luo Xuan, the Four Saints of Nine Dragon Island quickly spoke up as well.
"That's right, Senior Brother! Senior Brother Lü Yue fought Meng Zhen to uphold the prestige of our sect. As a Core Disciple of our sect, Fang Yang not only refused to fight for us, but turned around and attacked Senior Brother Lü Yue. He has no respect for our teacher, let alone our sect."
"Senior Brother, you're the backbone of all us junior brothers and sisters. You must handle this matter impartially and give Senior Brother Lü Yue justice."
Daoist Duobao's gaze swept over the indignant crowd, and his smile grew gentler.
He raised a hand slightly, and the immortals fell silent at his gesture.
"Junior brothers and sisters, I understand how you feel. Junior Brother Fang Yang was indeed wrong in how he handled Junior Brother Lü Yue's case. However, Junior Brother Lü Yue spread a plague, which did violate our sect's rules. Junior Brother Fang Yang may have suppressed him because he had no other choice."
The immortals in the hall were taken aback. Had their Senior Brother taken their new junior brother's side and decided to abandon them, his fellow disciples from the outer sect?
It had to be said, Zhao Gongming was terrible at managing the outer sect.
Though he was the Senior Brother of the outer sect, most of his subordinates had ended up joining Daoist Duobao's side.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Lü Yue cultivated the Great Plague Art to improve his strength and make our Interception Sect famous. Some living beings were indeed harmed, but once Senior Brother Lü Yue's cultivation was complete, he could intercept a glimmer of life for even more creatures. Senior Brother, please forgive him this time, considering his unwavering loyalty to our sect."
"Senior Brother, you once said that correcting a mistake after recognizing it was the greatest good. Even if Senior Brother Lü Yue was in the wrong, as long as he changed his ways, that would be the greatest merit."
The immortals spoke up one after another, pleading for Lü Yue. They feared Daoist Duobao would side with Fang Yang and punish Lü Yue.
They were just like Lü Yue. If Lü Yue were held accountable, they wouldn't fare much better.
"Alas, if only he'd thought of that before."
Daoist Duobao sighed softly, his voice full of helplessness. "Junior Brother Fang Yang is young and hot-blooded. He doesn't understand that when water is too clear, there are no fish. This is also my failure. I didn't guide him properly, and so he acted too harshly, hurting the bonds between fellow disciples."
"Junior brothers and sisters, I hope you'll all be forgiving toward Junior Brother Fang Yang."
He spoke earnestly, his face practically spelling out the words "sincere and heartfelt."
Seeing Daoist Duobao plead for Fang Yang, the immortals were deeply moved.
"Very well. I've already made my decision on this matter. Come with me to Golden Ao Island and ask our teacher to forgive Junior Brother Lü Yue."
Daoist Duobao had no intention of confronting Fang Yang.
Fang Yang had merely dealt with a disciple who had violated the sect's rules. Both in principle and in practice, Daoist Duobao had no reason to go after him.
If Daoist Duobao simply asked Sect Master Tongtian to drop the matter of Lü Yue spreading the plague, he could get Lü Yue out without falling out with Fang Yang.
The immortals were all amazed by Daoist Duobao's righteousness reaching the heavens.
Having a Senior Brother so loyal and compassionate was the greatest blessing they could ask for.
Only Daoist Duobao would tolerate them, turning a blind eye time and again so they could escape punishment under the sect's rules.
Now, even knowing that Lü Yue had committed a grave offense, Daoist Duobao was still willing to plead for him before Sect Master Tongtian.
Such loyalty was like that of a parent who had given them a second life.
On Golden Ao Island, Fang Yang had already met with Sect Master Tongtian.
A dark cloud hung over the great hall in Biyou Palace, as if a storm were about to break.
Sect Master Tongtian said nothing. He only watched Fang Yang quietly, waiting for him to speak.
"Master, this disciple wishes to enslave Lü Yue. I ask for your permission!"
Fang Yang's opening words were so startling that even Sect Master Tongtian hadn't expected them.
It was one thing for Fang Yang to say this to Meng Zhen. But he had come before his master and was still making such an outrageous demand.
"Do you know that Lü Yue is your junior brother?"
Sect Master Tongtian's expression remained unchanged, making it impossible to tell whether he was pleased or angry.
Fang Yang was no less composed than Sect Master Tongtian. He spoke plainly.
"Lü Yue is a wretch, furred and horned, born from wetness and eggs. Such a creature isn't fit to be an immortal, much less a disciple of the Orthodox Pangu. From the moment he used living beings to brew plague poison, he ceased to be a disciple of the Interception Sect—and he certainly ceased to be my junior brother."
"A beast furred and horned deserves to be enslaved!"
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