This is Buying Time to Find Trouble, Tongtian Relinquishes Power!

On Golden Turtle Island.

After the Investiture of the Gods List faded from view, a glimmer of hope finally surfaced in the eyes of many Jie Sect disciples.

The rehearsal is not the final verdict.

This sentence sounded as if the three crimes listed on the Investiture of the Gods List today did not count.

It sounded as if the first inquiry had failed to pin down the Jie Sect.

It also sounded as if the second inquiry had forced the four quarters to take a step back.

But a single sentence from Zhao Xuan caused the hearts of the immortals, which had just begun to settle, to tighten once more.

Bi Xiao was the first who could not help herself.

"Senior Disciple Brother!"

"The list is not the final verdict."

"Then since the Investiture of the Gods List listed three crimes for our Jie Sect today, doesn't that mean they are null and void?"

Zhao Gongming did not speak.

However, his gaze also rested upon Zhao Xuan.

Holy Mother Guiling spoke as well.

"Since it is not the final verdict, how else could they change the blade?"

"Could it be that they would even defy the decree of the Dao Ancestor?"

"Do they dare?"

As soon as these words were uttered, many Jie Sect disciples around them raised their heads.

Having held it in for so long.

It felt as if they could finally exhale the breath trapped in their chests.

Zhao Xuan, however, did not smile.

He looked toward the direction where the Investiture of the Gods List had vanished, his expression terrifyingly calm.

Holy Mother Guiling's heart sank.

"Senior Disciple Brother?"

Zhao Xuan spoke.

"They do not dare."

"But they can, in the future, swap in a different charge."

The two words fell.

The joy that had just risen on Golden Turtle Island was instantly severed.

Zhao Xuan raised his hand and beckoned.

The Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger slowly descended before him.

The fourth page unfolded once again.

The profits and costs remained clear as day.

Heavenly Court gains divinity.

Chan Sect avoids the tribulation.

Western Sect gains power.

Xuan Sect order.

Jie Sect disciples die.

True spirits ascend the list.

Orthodoxy withered.

Old merits become crimes.

Tongtian loses sect.

All the characters remained.

That sigh had suppressed the day.

But the account had not been wiped clean by a single stroke.

Zhao Xuan looked at that page.

"Zixiao Palace says the rehearsal is not the final verdict."

"What is suppressed is today."

"This page has not vanished."

Duobao's knuckles tightened.

Holy Mother Guiling swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

The brightness in Bi Xiao's eyes faded rapidly.

Zhao Xuan's finger rested on the fourth page.

"Heavenly Court gains divinity—was this written wrong?"

No one answered.

"Chan Sect avoids the tribulation—was this written wrong?"

In the direction of Yuxu Palace, there was only silence.

"Western Sect gains power—was this written wrong?"

On Mount Sumeru, Zhunti's eyelids drooped slightly.

"Jie Sect sacrifices life—was this written wrong?"

This time, no one on Golden Turtle Island showed any satisfaction.

Zhao Xuan said, "None of it was written wrong."

"This debt still remains."

"It has merely been deferred."

As his voice fell.

At the bottom of the fourth page of the Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger, a line of small text slowly emerged.

Purple Heaven Decree: The rehearsal is not the final verdict.

Below that, four more characters were added.

This account temporarily sealed.

Temporarily sealed.

These two words were colder than any thunder.

On Golden Turtle Island, the joy on the faces of the disciples who had just thought the Jie Sect had won vanished completely.

Holy Mother Guiling gritted her teeth.

"Temporarily sealed?"

"When the cataclysm truly arrives, can this account be reopened?"

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"It can."

"Can they still change it?"

"They can."

A fierce glint flashed in Guiling's eyes.

"How?"

Zhao Xuan looked toward Yuxu Palace.

"As I said just now, by changing the charge."

These three words felt like a dousing of ice water.

Yun Xiao was the first to react.

She looked at the fourth page of the ledger, her voice heavy.

"Empty charges can no longer suppress us."

"They will find concrete crimes."

Zhao Xuan looked at her.

"Correct."

"If they cannot find them, they will force one into existence."

On Golden Turtle Island, the expressions of the immortals changed instantly.

Concrete crimes.

These two words were more sinister than the Heavenly Mandate.

Empty charges could be overturned.

They could be questioned.

They could force the Investiture of the Gods List into a deadlock.

But if they were to dig up a few disciples from the Jie Sect who had slaughtered living beings, bullied the weak, or stolen the foundations of others, and then pin those individuals' crimes onto the entire sect...

That was another blade.

Zhao Xuan looked at the immortals.

"The Jie Sect has ten thousand immortals coming to pay homage."

"This prosperity is also a fatal flaw."

"With so many disciples, good and bad are inevitably mixed."

"In the past, no one used this as a blade."

"From today on, they will."

Daoist Duobao's expression darkened.

A surge of chill erupted in Holy Mother Jinling's eyes.

Holy Mother Guiling gritted her teeth and said, "Who would dare take a few scoundrels and smear the entire Jie Sect?"

Zhao Xuan glanced at her.

"They dare."

Guiling faltered.

Zhao Xuan continued, "Today, the attempt to list sins on the Investiture of the Gods List has failed."

"The Heavenly Court cannot answer."

"The Chan Sect cannot answer."

"The Western Sect cannot answer."

6

"Zixiao Palace has temporarily sealed this ledger."

"If they want to continue the Investiture of the Gods, they must forge a new blade."

"Where is it easiest to obtain such a blade?"

No one spoke.

Zhao Xuan answered for them.

"From within the Jie Sect itself."

On Golden Turtle Island, the hearts of all the immortals turned cold.

Since they cannot suppress the accusations from the outside.

Those people will reach their hands into Golden Turtle Island.

Digging up old affairs.

Exaggerating minor mistakes.

Cornering the timid.

Luring the greedy.

Finally, taking the faults of one to condemn the entire sect.

And then, nailing the label of "Prosperous Yet Heterogeneous" back onto them.

Zhao Gongming took a deep breath.

"After the Dao Ancestor's decree came down, they caught their breath."

"Next, the blade will be changed."

Zhao Xuan nodded.

"That's right, the blade will be changed."

This time, even Bi Xiao fell silent.

The brief moment of satisfaction from earlier had vanished.

Only a colder rage remained in their chests.

Holy Mother Guiling turned her head abruptly, looking outside Golden Turtle Island.

"Then let them come!"

"Whoever dares to splash dirty water on the Jie Sect, I will tear them apart!"

Zhao Xuan shook his head.

"We cannot wait."

Holy Mother Guiling was stunned.

"Then what should we do?"

Zhao Xuan raised his hand and closed the Investiture of the Gods Accountability Ledger.

"We shall investigate first."

Golden Turtle Island fell silent in an instant.

Some were stunned.

Some were suspicious.

Others instinctively lowered their heads.

Investigate the Jie Sect?

Investigate their own people?

An outer disciple couldn't help but whisper, "Senior Brother, won't doing this make us a laughingstock to outsiders?"

Zhao Xuan's gaze landed on him.

The disciple's face turned pale.

Zhao Xuan did not reprimand him.

"What outsiders are waiting to see has never been a joke."

"It is a handle."

"If we don't investigate, the handle remains in the hands of others."

"If we investigate first, the handle will be broken right here on Golden Turtle Island."

The disciple shuddered and immediately lowered his head.

"This disciple understands."

Zhao Xuan turned around and looked at the Ten Thousand Immortals of Golden Turtle Island.

"Starting today, Golden Turtle Island is closed for internal investigation."

"Those who bully the weak in the name of the Shangqing Orthodoxy, investigate."

"Those who slaughter living beings and seize others' foundations, investigate."

"Those who rely on the prestige of the Jie Sect to forcibly occupy caves and spiritual veins, investigate."

"Those who privately accept benefits from the Heavenly Court, the Chan Sect, or the Western Sect and leak information about the sect, investigate."

"For minor offenses, punishment."

"For major offenses, execution."

"For those who implicate the Shangqing Orthodoxy."

Zhao Xuan's voice turned cold.

"Abolish their cultivation."

"Expel them from the sect."

"If anyone dares to offend again in the name of the Jie Sect."

"I will personally purge the sect."

As these words fell.

The hearts of the Ten Thousand Immortals on Golden Turtle Island all trembled.

Abolish cultivation.

Expel from the sect.

Purge the sect.

Once these words landed, no one dared to treat it as a mere lecture anymore.

Zhao Xuan was going to purge the sect.

The ferocity in Holy Mother Guiling's eyes grew even more intense.

"Good!"

"Investigate!"

"If such scum really has mixed into the Jie Sect, there's no need for outsiders to act; I'll tear them apart myself!"

Holy Mother Jinling stepped forward.

"I will preside over the executions."

Three words fell, cold and murderous.

Daoist Duobao was silent for a moment before stepping forward as well.

"I will verify the roster."

Holy Mother Wudang said softly, "I will investigate the origins of the outer disciples."

Zhao Gongming said, "I will investigate the disciples traveling abroad."

Yun Xiao took up the thread.

"I will investigate the karmic entanglements."

Qiong Xiao narrowed her eyes.

"I'll check who's hiding."

Bi Xiao's voice was cold and clear.

"Whoever runs, I'll catch."

At this moment, the sentiment on Golden Turtle Island, long suppressed by the Purple Heaven Decree, finally found its outlet.

No more chaotic shouting.

No more holding back.

Clear the accounts.

Clear one's own first.

Then question others.

Master Tongtian stood before Biyou Palace and finally spoke.

"Granted."

The word fell.

All the Jie Sect disciples looked up in unison.

Tongtian looked at Zhao Xuan.

"You already have the power to decide on the matters of the Investiture of the Gods."

"From this day forth, all matters involving the tribulation, the descent of disciples down the mountain, dealings with outside sects, and the investigation of disciples' crimes shall be under your total command."

"Duobao, Jin Ling, Wudang, and Gui Ling shall assist you."

This sentence carried more weight than "Granted."

Everyone on Golden Turtle Island understood.

The Master had completely delegated his authority.

Minor daily matters did not need to be brought to Zhao Xuan.

Routine internal affairs did not need to disturb him.

But for anything involving the Investiture of the Gods, Zhao Xuan's word was final.

From this moment on, Zhao Xuan truly grasped the blade with which the Jie Sect would avoid the tribulation.

Zhao Xuan bowed toward Biyou Palace.

"This disciple accepts the command."

Tongtian looked at him, his eyes holding both gratification and gravity.

"Xuan'er."

"Do not fear offending others."

Zhao Xuan looked up.

"This disciple is not afraid."

Tongtian nodded.

"Then investigate."

"Whoever you find, so be it."

"There is no reason for the Shangqing Disciples to harbor filth or hide corruption."

On Golden Turtle Island, the Ten Thousand Immortals bowed their heads in unison.

At this moment, they realized for the first time.

To slack off is to leave the gambling table first.

To retreat is to first reclaim the hilt of the blade.

Zhao Xuan was going to seal every crack in the Jie Sect, one by one.

Whoever wanted to use the Jie Sect to balance their accounts.

The Jie Sect would first clear its own accounts.

Whoever wanted to use the mistakes of individual Jie Sect disciples to pin crimes on the entire sect.

The Jie Sect would first ensure those mistakes had nowhere to hide.