Shen Gongbao was still chattering away, telling how he had stolen the Investiture of the Gods from Mount Qi by deceiving Heaven and feinting east while attacking west. His brows and eyes brimmed with pride and disdain, as if he took satisfaction in having changed the course of the world single-handedly.
Suppressing the storm raging in his heart, Tan Ping faintly sensed the River of Time roaring. History's fierce rejection was about to surge toward him, so he put on a look of utter shock and said:
"Fellow Daoist, you actually obtained this treasure! It is the key to this tribulation!"
"This is a grave matter. I'll take you into the Myriad Water Ancestor Mansion at once!"
Shen Gongbao's vanity was thoroughly gratified. He turned to look toward the vast sea of stars, where rippling waterlight shimmered in the depths, pointed in that direction, and laughed heartily. "This way, fellow Daoist!"
Before his words had even faded, he suddenly heard a clear, melodious ring. His thoughts grew hazy, then a sharp pain struck the back of his head. His vision went black.
"You..." Shen Gongbao struggled to turn around and stared blankly at Tan Ping. His body quickly went limp, and he fainted, floating amid the illusory waves.
"Forgive me, fellow Daoist!" Tan Ping gripped a Purple Gold Bell in one hand and held an Eight-Edged Mace, seeming both heavy and weightless, in the other. Through clenched teeth, he spoke, his gaze filled with ruthless savagery.
He absolutely could not let the history of the Investiture of the Gods change drastically. Otherwise, the Other Shore Beings would suffer no more than a certain degree of backlash—not enough to cripple them—while he and the other mighty figures and Great Divine Ability Users would have to go through everything all over again