Using the Jie Sect's Strengths Against Them; First, Test the Heavenly Court!

On the other side, after Zhao Gongming left Biyou Palace with the Three Xiao Sisters, he did not immediately return to his own cave dwelling.

The four siblings stood upon a sea cliff.

The East Sea was vast, with waves stretching for ten thousand miles.

Bi Xiao gazed toward the horizon where the sea met the sky, her expression uncharacteristically dejected.

"Big Brother, will the future that Senior Brother Zhao Xuan spoke of truly come to pass?"

Zhao Gongming remained silent for a long time.

If it were before, he would have certainly laughed and told Bi Xiao that it would not.

They were disciples of the Jie Sect.

They had their Master.

They had their fellow disciples.

They feared no one.

But now, he could not bring himself to say it.

Because Zhao Xuan had already correctly predicted the first event.

Haotian had truly gone to Zixiao Palace.

The Investiture of the Gods List was truly about to appear.

Then what of the things that followed?

The Nail-Head Seven-Arrow Book.

The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.

The Sages descending to the field themselves.

The defeat and death of the Three Xiao Sisters.

Thinking of this, Zhao Gongming suddenly felt an indescribable chill.

He was not afraid of death.

What he feared was that, due to a moment of misplaced loyalty, he would drag his three sisters into a death trap.

Zhao Xuan was right.

What some people were calculating was precisely the Jie Sect disciples' heavy emphasis on loyalty.

You value the bonds of fellow disciples?

Fine, then they would kill your close friends to lure you down the mountain.

You value the bonds of siblings?

Fine, then they would kill your brother to lure you into setting up a formation.

You value the bonds of your sect?

Fine, then they would drag the entire Jie Sect into the Great Calamity step by step.

In the end, every Jie Sect disciple would believe they were fighting for righteousness.

Yet in the eyes of others, they were merely names walking voluntarily onto the Investiture of the Gods List.

Thinking of this, for the first time, Zhao Gongming felt a chill run down his spine.

Yun Xiao said softly:

"Big Brother, if what Senior Brother said is true, then no matter what happens in the future, we must not easily descend the mountain."

Qiong Xiao frowned.

"But what if someone harms our fellow disciples?"

Yun Xiao looked at her.

"Then we must first investigate clearly whether this is a trap intentionally laid by others."

Qiong Xiao was stunned.

Bi Xiao gritted her teeth.

"Are you saying we must hesitate even when it comes to revenge?"

Yun Xiao sighed softly.

"It is not hesitation."

"It is refusing to let hatred lead us by the nose."

Hearing this, Zhao Gongming could not help but smile bitterly.

"I never expected that among us siblings, it would be Yun Xiao who understood this first."

"It seems Senior Brother is right; the Jie Sect has placed too much weight on loyalty all these years."

"Valuing loyalty is certainly not a mistake."

"But if someone deliberately uses loyalty as a trap, and we foolishly walk right into it, that is not loyalty—it is having no brain."

Bi Xiao opened her mouth, wanting to retort.

Yet she suddenly realized that she could not refute it at all.

Because wasn't that exactly how they were trapped in the future?

According to the Eldest Senior Brother's prophecy.

Zhao Gongming is harmed.

The Three Xiao Sisters seek revenge for their brother.

The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation achieves a great victory over the Chan Sect.

Then the Sages enter the fray.

Everything seems to follow a logical progression.

But if viewed from a higher vantage point, this is clearly a path paved long ago.

They each believed every step was their own choice.

But in reality, someone had been waiting for them ahead all along.

That is the most terrifying part.

Therefore, every step they take from now on must be taken with the utmost caution.

Value loyalty and affection?

One must be alive to do so.

Otherwise, all the principles one insists upon are merely empty talk.

A sea breeze blew gently.

The four of them possessed vast divine powers and boundless magic, yet at this moment, they felt a sense of desolation.

Inside Biyou Palace.

Master Tongtian summoned Zhao Xuan once again.

Only the master and disciple were present in the hall.

"Xuan'er, your words today were very heavy."

Zhao Xuan lowered his head and said:

"This disciple knows."

"You demanded the decision-making power for the Investiture of the Gods in front of everyone; this is no longer a mere suggestion."

"This disciple knows that as well."

Master Tongtian looked at him.

"Then how dare you say it?"

Zhao Xuan was silent for a moment, then looked up and said:

"Because if I do not speak, the Jie Sect will perish."

Master Tongtian's gaze narrowed slightly.

Zhao Xuan continued:

"Master, this disciple knows that these words today were offensive."

"I also know that not everyone in the Jie Sect may be convinced by me."

"Junior Brother Duobao considers the big picture, Junior Sister Jin Ling advocates for war, Junior Sister Gui Ling has a fiery temper, Junior Brother Gongming values loyalty, and the Three Xiao Sisters value affection."

"None of these are bad things."

"But the most terrifying aspect of the Investiture Great Calamity is that it specifically uses the strengths of the Jie Sect to destroy the Jie Sect."

Master Tongtian did not speak.

Zhao Xuan said slowly:

"The Jie Sect has many disciples, so the Investiture of the Gods List must be filled by the Jie Sect."

"Jie Sect disciples value loyalty, so others only need to kill one to lure out a whole group."

"Jie Sect disciples do not care about origins, so others can insult us as being born from eggs and dampness, lacking in virtue."

"Jie Sect disciples are willing to address injustices in the Primordial World, so others can use the big picture and the common people to hold us hostage."

"Jie Sect disciples respect their master and the Dao, so once Master enters the game, ten thousand immortals will follow."

"Master, this is not a normal battle of magic."

"This is taking the teachings, the destiny, the hearts of the people, and the very nature of my Jie Sect, and turning them into a net to trap us."

"The more we continue to act as we have in the past, the more certain our defeat becomes."

These words finally caused a noticeable change in Master Tongtian's eyes.

Because Zhao Xuan had touched upon the crux of the matter.

The Jie Sect was the Jie Sect precisely because it taught without discrimination, because it valued loyalty and righteousness, because its disciples were numerous, and because it dared to seize a glimmer of survival for all under heaven.

But if the future Investiture Great Calamity were truly to use these very things to lock the Jie Sect into a death trap, then the situation would be dire indeed.

Was he, Tongtian, expected to personally renounce his own teachings?

No.

Zhao Xuan clearly understood this as well.

So, he spoke immediately:

"Master, this disciple does not intend to renounce the Jie Sect."

"Teaching without discrimination is not wrong."

"Valuing loyalty and righteousness is not wrong."

"Seizing a glimmer of survival for all living beings is even less wrong."

"What is wrong is that some take the goodwill of my Jie Sect for granted."

"What is wrong is that some treat the loyalty of my Jie Sect as a weakness to be exploited."

"What is wrong is that some enjoy the benefits of my Jie Sect maintaining order in the Primordial World, while simultaneously cursing my disciples for being ignorant of the heavenly mandate."

"Since that is the case, my Jie Sect does not need to change its path."

"We only need to pull our hands back for a time."

"Let the beings of the Primordial World see for themselves just how long their so-called stability can last without the helping hand of the Jie Sect."

Master Tongtian remained silent for a long time.

Then, he suddenly smiled.

"Are you suggesting that we let the Primordial World fall into chaos?"

Zhao Xuan shook his head.

"It is not this disciple who makes the Primordial World chaotic."

"The Primordial World has always been chaotic."

"It is only because, for these many years, my Jie Sect disciples have been suppressing it for them."

"Now that we stop suppressing it, the chaos will naturally rise to the surface."

"But this karma cannot be laid at the feet of the Jie Sect."

A hint of approval appeared in Master Tongtian's eyes.

"You have certainly thought this through clearly."

Zhao Xuan gave a wry smile.

"This disciple only saw it clearly after witnessing the future."

"In the past, I also believed that the Jie Sect's gathering of ten thousand immortals was a sign of great prosperity."

"Only now do I understand that without clear-headed decision-making, a gathering of ten thousand immortals can also be a gathering of ten thousand lambs waiting for the slaughter."

"Having many disciples is not a mistake."

"But having many disciples without knowing when to pull back is a grave error."

Master Tongtian nodded slightly.

"Then how do you intend to proceed?"

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Xuan's eyes.

"I will test them once."

"Test what?"

"Test the Heavenly Court."

Master Tongtian raised an eyebrow.