On Golden Turtle Island.
After the Investiture of the Gods List vanished, a glimmer of light finally surfaced in the eyes of many Jie Sect disciples.
A preview did not determine the final outcome.
That sounded as though the three crimes listed against the Jie Sect on the Investiture of the Gods List today didn't count.
As though the first question hadn't pinned down the Jie Sect.
And as though the second question had forced the four sides to retreat a step.
But one sentence from Zhao Xuan made the immortals' hearts, which had just begun to settle, rise again.
Bi Xiao was the first to lose patience.
"Senior Disciple Brother!"
"The list's revelations don't determine the final outcome."
"Then doesn't that mean the Investiture of the Gods List's three charges against our Jie Sect today are void?"
Zhao Gongming said nothing.
But his gaze also fell on Zhao Xuan.
Holy Mother Guiling spoke up as well.
"If it doesn't determine the final outcome, how else can they change their blade?"
"Would they dare to defy even the Dao Ancestor's decree?"
"Would they dare?"
At those words, many Jie Sect disciples around them raised their heads.
They had been holding it in for so long.
At last, it felt as if they could breathe out.
Yet Zhao Xuan did not smile.
He looked toward where the Investiture of the Gods List had vanished, his expression so calm it was frightening.
Holy Mother Guiling's heart sank.
"Senior Disciple Brother?"
Zhao Xuan spoke.
"They wouldn't dare."
"But in the future, they can change the charge."
The two words fell.
The joy that had just risen on Golden Turtle Island instantly died away.
Zhao Xuan lifted his hand and beckoned.
The Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger slowly returned to hover before him.
The fourth page opened again.
The gains and costs were still written out clearly.
Heavenly Court Gains Divinity.
Chan Sect Avoids Calamity.
Western Sect Gains Power.
Xuan Sect Order.
Jie Sect disciples die.
True Spirits appear on the list.
Orthodoxy Withered.
Old Merits Become Crimes.
Tongtian Loses Sect.
Every word remained.
That single sigh had suppressed today's reckoning.
But not one stroke had been erased from the ledger.
Zhao Xuan looked at the page.
"Zixiao Palace said the preview doesn't determine the final outcome."
"What it suppressed was today."
"This page hasn't been erased."
Duobao's fingers curled tight.
Holy Mother Guiling swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
The light in Bi Xiao's eyes quickly dimmed again.
Zhao Xuan's finger came to rest on the fourth page.
"Heavenly Court Gains Divinity. Was that written wrong?"
No one answered.
"Chan Sect Avoids Calamity. Was that written wrong?"
There was no reply from Yuxu Palace.
"Western Sect Gains Power. Was that written wrong?"
On Mount Sumeru, Zhunti's eyelids drooped slightly.
"Jie Sect Sacrifices Life. Was that written wrong?"
This time, not a single person on Golden Turtle Island showed any joy.
Zhao Xuan said, "None of it was written wrong."
"This account still stands."
"It's just been postponed."
As his voice fell,
a line of small text slowly surfaced at the bottom of the fourth page of the Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger.
Purple Heaven Decree: The preview does not determine the final outcome.
Beneath it, four more characters appeared.
This Account Temporarily Sealed.
Temporarily sealed.
Those two words were colder than any thunderbolt.
On Golden Turtle Island, the joy vanished completely from the faces of those disciples who had just thought the Jie Sect had won.
Holy Mother Guiling gritted her teeth.
"Temporarily sealed?"
"When the Great Calamity truly comes, can they bring this account out again?"
Zhao Xuan nodded.
"They can."
"Can they change it?"
"They can."
A fierce glint flashed in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes.
"How?"
Zhao Xuan looked toward Yuxu Palace.
"I said it just now. They'll change the charge."
Those words were like a splash of icy water.
Yun Xiao was the first to understand.
She looked at the ledger's fourth page, her voice heavy.
"Groundless charges can't suppress us anymore."
"They'll look for real crimes."
Zhao Xuan looked at her.
"That's right."
"If they can't find any, they'll force one into being."
The immortals on Golden Turtle Island all changed expression.
Real crimes.
Those two words were more sinister than the Heavenly Mandate.
Groundless charges could be disputed.
They could be questioned.
They could force the Investiture of the Gods List to give no answer.
But if they truly dug up a few Jie Sect disciples who had harmed living beings, abused their power, or seized others' foundations, then pinned the crimes of a handful of people on the entire sect—
that would be another blade altogether.
Zhao Xuan looked at the gathered immortals.
"The Jie Sect welcomed ten thousand immortals to its ranks."
"Such great prosperity is also a weakness."
"With so many disciples, some are bound to be good and others bad."
"No one used that as a blade before."
"Starting today, they will."
Daoist Duobao's expression darkened.
A chill surged in Holy Mother Jinling's eyes.
Holy Mother Guiling gritted her teeth. "Who dares use a few dregs to smear our entire Jie Sect?"
Zhao Xuan glanced at her.
"They dare."
Holy Mother Guiling froze.
Zhao Xuan continued, "Today, the Investiture of the Gods List failed to establish its charges."
"Heavenly Court had no answer."
"Chan Sect had no answer."
"Western Sect had no answer."
"Zixiao Palace temporarily sealed this account."
"If they want to continue the Investiture of the Gods, they'll have to produce a new blade."
"Where will it be easiest to find one?"
No one spoke.
Zhao Xuan answered for them.
"Within the Jie Sect."
The immortals on Golden Turtle Island felt a chill in their hearts.
The charges from outside couldn't suppress them.
So those people would reach into Golden Turtle Island.
Dig up old stories.
Magnify small mistakes.
Drive the timid to desperation.
Bring out the greedy.
Then use one person's wrongdoing to indict the entire sect.
And drive the words "Prosperous Yet Heterogeneous" home once more.
Zhao Gongming drew a deep breath.
"After the Dao Ancestor's decree came down, they got a chance to catch their breath."
"Next, they'll change blades."
Zhao Xuan nodded.
"Exactly. They'll change blades."
This time, even Bi Xiao fell silent.
That brief joy was gone.
Only an even colder anger remained in their chests.
Holy Mother Guiling abruptly turned to look beyond Golden Turtle Island.
"Then let them come!"
"Anyone who dares splash mud on the Jie Sect—I'll tear them apart!"
Zhao Xuan shook his head.
"We can't wait."
Holy Mother Guiling stared at him.
"Then what do we do?"
Zhao Xuan raised his hand and closed the Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger.
Golden Turtle Island fell utterly silent.
Some looked stunned.
Others were wary.
Someone else instinctively lowered his head.
Investigate the Interception Sect?
Investigate their own people?
An Outer Sect disciple couldn't help murmuring, "Senior Brother, if we do this, won't outsiders laugh at us?"
Zhao Xuan's gaze settled on him.
The disciple's face went pale.
Zhao Xuan didn't rebuke him.
"What outsiders are waiting to see has never been a joke."
"It's a handle they can use against us."
"If we don't investigate, that handle stays in someone else's hands.
"If we investigate first, we can break it right here on Golden Turtle Island."
The disciple shuddered all over and immediately lowered his head.
"This disciple understands."
Zhao Xuan turned to face the Ten Thousand Immortals on Golden Turtle Island.
"Starting today, Golden Turtle Island will close its gates and investigate itself."
"Anyone using Shangqing's name to bully the weak will be investigated."
"Anyone who harms living beings or seizes another's foundation will be investigated."
"Anyone who uses the Interception Sect's influence to seize someone else's cave dwelling or spiritual leyline will be investigated."
"Anyone who secretly accepts favors from the Heavenly Court, the Chan Sect, or the Western Sect, or leaks information from within the sect, will be investigated."
"Minor offenders will be punished."
"Serious offenders will be killed."
"Anyone whose crimes implicate the Shangqing Orthodoxy—"
Zhao Xuan's voice turned cold.
"Will have their cultivation crippled."
"And be expelled from the sect."
"If anyone dares to offend again under the name of the Interception Sect—"
"I will personally purge the sect."
At those words,
the hearts of the Ten Thousand Immortals on Golden Turtle Island all trembled.
Cultivation crippled.
Expelled from the sect.
Purge the sect.
Once those words had been spoken, no one dared treat them as mere admonishment.
Zhao Xuan meant to purge the sect.
The viciousness in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes only grew stronger.
"Good!"
"Investigate!"
"If there really is filth like that mixed in with the Interception Sect, I won't wait for outsiders to act. I'll tear them apart myself!"
Holy Mother Jinling stepped forward.
"I'll oversee the executions."
The three words fell, icy with killing intent.
Daoist Duobao was silent for a moment, then stepped forward as well.
"I'll verify the registry."
Holy Mother Wudang said softly, "I'll investigate the origins of the Outer Sect disciples."
Zhao Gongming said, "I'll investigate the disciples traveling outside the sect."
Yun Xiao picked up the thread.
"I'll investigate those entangled by karma."
Qiong Xiao narrowed her eyes.
"I'll find out who's hiding."
Bi Xiao's voice was cool and clear.
"Whoever runs, I'll catch."
At that moment, the emotions on Golden Turtle Island, suppressed by the Purple Heaven Decree, finally found an outlet.
No more shouting wildly.
No more bottling it up.
Settle the accounts.
Start by cleaning up their own house.
Then question the others.
Master Tongtian stood before Biyou Palace and finally spoke.
"Approved."
At that single word,
all the Interception Sect disciples raised their heads in unison.
Tongtian looked at Zhao Xuan.
"You have the authority to decide matters concerning the Investiture of the Gods."
"Starting today, you will oversee all matters involving the Great Calamity, disciples descending the mountain, dealings with other sects, and investigations into the crimes of our own disciples."
"Duobao, Jin Ling, Wudang, and Gui Ling will assist you."
Those words carried even more weight than "Approved."
Everyone on Golden Turtle Island understood.
Their master had completely handed over authority.
There was no need to ask Zhao Xuan about minor matters.
Ordinary affairs within the sect did not require troubling Zhao Xuan.
But whenever the Investiture of the Gods was involved, Zhao Xuan's word would decide.
From this moment on, Zhao Xuan truly held the blade that would let the Interception Sect evade the calamity.
Zhao Xuan bowed toward Biyou Palace.
"This disciple accepts the command."
Tongtian looked at him, warmth and heaviness mingling in the depths of his eyes.
"Xuan'er."
"Don't be afraid of offending people."
Zhao Xuan raised his head.
"This disciple isn't afraid."
Tongtian nodded.
"Then investigate."
"Whoever you find, deal with them."
"Those under the Shangqing banner have no reason to harbor filth."
The Ten Thousand Immortals on Golden Turtle Island bowed their heads in unison.
At that moment, they finally understood.
To lie low was to leave the gambling table first.
To retreat was to take back the hilt of the blade.
Zhao Xuan would seal up every weakness in the Interception Sect, one by one.
If anyone wanted to use the Interception Sect to settle a score,
the Interception Sect would first settle its own accounts.
If anyone wanted to use one disciple's wrongdoing to condemn the entire Interception Sect,
the Interception Sect would make sure those wrongs had nowhere to hide.
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