Interception Sect's Response! Parting with the Green Duckweed Sword!

Azure Roaming Palace.

Kong Xuan's expression was grim, killing intent raging in his eyes.

Lingxiao had not hesitated to wield the authority of the Heavenly Dao to suppress the Golden-Winged Great Roc, effectively branding it a monstrous fiend. This had invisibly affected the Phoenix Clan's fate, and even Kong Xuan himself had been caught up in it.

"Though the Golden-Winged Great Roc may have committed countless wrongs, it is not Lingxiao's place, as a traitorous disciple, to punish it. Now Senior Brother Gongming and the Golden-Winged Great Roc are suppressed beneath the Thunder Pool, while Senior Brother Immortal Dingguang is also in grave danger. How do you think we should handle this matter?"

Kong Xuan spoke in a low voice, looking toward Daoist Duobao, Holy Mother Wudang, and the others.

Lord Tongtian was in secluded cultivation, sorting through the Interception Sect's fate. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not show himself; otherwise, a Saint's dignity would be utterly swept away.

At present, all matters of the Interception Sect were handled by Daoist Duobao, the senior brother, with the other personal disciples assisting him.

Holy Mother Turtle Spirit's face was frosty as she chimed in, "Lingxiao commands the Godslaying Spear and the World-Destroying Black Lotus. He has already fallen into the demonic path and will become a devil that brings calamity upon all living beings. Only by rising against him together can we suppress him."

"It is simply that Penglai Immortal Island is guarded by the Taiyin goddess Wangshu, a mighty expert at the middle stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm. She will not be easy to deal with. So long as we harm Lingxiao, she will strike without hesitation."

"And what is even more troublesome is that if our master acts against Lingxiao, we will also draw threats from Zhenyuanzi and Daoist Hongyun. Our Interception Sect has truly sunk into the mire now!"

Fury, vexation, regret!

Holy Mother Turtle Spirit had never imagined that before the Investiture of the Gods Calamity had even begun, the Interception Sect would lose three peak cultivators, along with several hundred inner and outer disciples.

And the culprit was actually a traitorous disciple of the Interception Sect!

At that moment, a thought rose in Holy Mother Turtle Spirit's heart: what would things be like if Lingxiao were still in the Interception Sect?

"Could it be that our Interception Sect truly has to use the Green Duckweed Sword to compensate Lingxiao?"

Yunxiao's voice was icy as she questioned everyone.

Lu Ya, Zhao Gongming, and the others had acted on their own initiative and gone to trouble Lingxiao. This was an open secret among the Interception Sect's disciples; even Lord Tongtian had tacitly approved it under the pretext of seclusion.

Yet the outcome had fallen far short of expectations!

Now the entire Interception Sect had been thrown onto the defensive!

"The Green Duckweed Sword is one of Master's natal treasures. How can that petty wretch Lingxiao be allowed to possess it? I shall head to the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation at once to seek an audience with Master!"

Daoist Duobao was beside himself with rage, then headed toward the depths of Azure Roaming Palace!

At this moment!

Within the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, sword intent soared to the heavens as blood-red light flashed.

Lord Tongtian sat cross-legged atop a cloud platform. Opposite him sat the regal and graceful Nuwa. Though both appeared calm and unruffled, fury smoldered faintly within their chests.

All because of Lingxiao!

Parting her red lips, Nuwa said coolly, "Lingxiao shows no respect for Saints and scorns Heaven's majesty. Before the masses, he openly declared that he would cut down this palace. Senior Brother Tongtian, you truly raised quite the traitorous disciple!"

"Originally, this palace could not be bothered to involve itself in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, but Lingxiao's ambitions are immense. Thus, I am willing to join hands with you, Senior Brother, and face Lingxiao and the Heavenly Court, who press forward step by step."

Among the Saints of the Primordial World, the Three Pure Ones stood foremost. Nuwa and Jieyin were evenly matched, while Zhunti ranked at the bottom!

After the Witch-Demon Calamity came to an end, the Heavenly Dao fate controlled by the Demon Race Heavenly Court, which Nuwa had relied upon, continuously waned. Both her cultivation speed and her authority over the Heavenly Dao were slipping away from her.

Now that Lingxiao had offended her as well, she naturally wished to scheme against him!

Hearing this, Lord Tongtian said with an ashen face, "Lingxiao has already invited death upon himself. Were it not for Zhenyuanzi and Daoist Hongyun protecting him, I would certainly grind his bones to dust and uphold the might of the Interception Sect."

"Unfortunately, the Dao Ancestor bestowed upon him the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, even appointing him the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole. This makes it difficult for us to interfere in the affairs of the Heavenly Court any longer. We can only seek to gain fate amid this Investiture of the Gods Calamity."

"I have only one question now: can the remnants of the Demon Race support a Demon Court?"

When a Saint was enraged, Heaven and Earth trembled.

Lingxiao had forcefully slain Immortal Dingguang and suppressed his Primordial Spirit's true spirit within the Investiture of the Gods. Moreover, Zhao Gongming and the Golden-Winged Great Roc were still in his hands, so Lord Tongtian did not dare act rashly.

Ever since Lingxiao departed, karmic debts of slaughter had continuously tainted the Interception Sect's fate. Even as Lord Tongtian washed them away with Great Dao merit, he could only barely slow the rate at which they accumulated.

Better to channel than to dam!

If Lu Ya established a Demon Court, these karmic debts of slaughter could be diverted onto the Demon Court's fate. Lord Tongtian would then lessen some of his pressure, while Nuwa could become his staunchest ally.

Lord Tongtian knew that this junior sister's ambitions were no less great than his own!

"As for Kunpeng, this palace need only coerce and entice him, and he will obediently join the Demon Court! Four of the Ten Demon Marshals have fled deep into the starry void. So long as the Demon Court is reestablished, they will come to pledge allegiance."

"Xihe and Changxi are no ordinary figures. With them suppressing the stars, the Heavenly Court will be unable to stir up any waves!"

"What this palace truly cares about, however, are the Golden-Winged Great Roc and Kong Xuan. Behind them stands the Phoenix Clan, whose lineage has been passed down since the Beast Calamity. If they could become the mainstay of the Demon Court..."

Dao sounds rang out in waves, steeped in profound Dao resonance.

With only a few words, Nuwa laid bare the Demon Race's foundations and her plans before Lord Tongtian.

A Heavenly Dao Saint could not be insulted!

Under Zhenyuanzi's pressure, Nuwa had suffered a blow to her dignity and returned defeated!

Nuwa had no desire to let these many karmic debts and hatreds become her inner demons. Only by scheming Lingxiao to death and overturning the Heavenly Court could her Dao heart flow freely.

"Disciple Duobao requests an audience with Master!"

Outside the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, Daoist Duobao's voice suddenly rang out.

"Enter!"

Lord Tongtian spat out a word in a deep voice. Very soon, Daoist Duobao appeared in the center of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, treading upon the void. A flicker of emotion rippled through his eyes, but he quickly suppressed his shock.

"Greetings, Master. Greetings, Martial Aunt Nuwa!"

Daoist Duobao performed a Daoist salute and bowed. Then he slowly said, "The traitor Lingxiao has insulted a Saint, slaughtered disciples of my Interception Sect, and even coveted Master's Green Duckweed Sword. I ask Master to instruct me on how this matter should be handled!"

His words struck the ground like iron, steeped in hatred.

Daoist Duobao deeply regretted that, when Lingxiao had severed his karma with the Interception Sect, he had allowed that wretch to leave Lun Kun Mountain.

Had Lingxiao been strangled in the cradle, the Interception Sect would not be facing so many troubles now.

"Lingxiao is protected by Zhenyuanzi and Daoist Hongyun. I believe we cannot act rashly without restraint, or Zhenyuanzi will once again use the Primordial World's earth veins to threaten us!"

"I ask Senior Brother Tongtian to part with his spiritual treasure and exchange the Green Duckweed Sword for the Golden-Winged Great Roc, Zhao Gongming, and Immortal Dingguang. Lingxiao must also make a promise that he will no longer rely on Zhenyuanzi and Daoist Hongyun to commit evil deeds!"

"To guard against any contingency, you and I should visit Five Estate Temple and reason with those two fellow Daoists!"

Better a dead fellow Daoist than a dead poor Daoist!

Nuwa still had her eye on the Phoenix Clan behind the Golden-Winged Great Roc. She was unwilling to watch it remain suppressed by Lingxiao, so Lord Tongtian could only be made to painfully part with what he loved.

One Green Duckweed Sword in exchange for three disciples, the Six Souls Banner, twelve Sea-Calming Pearls, and the Yin-Yang Two Qi Bottle—and Zhenyuanzi and Daoist Hongyun would no longer interfere in Lingxiao's affairs.

What was there not to rejoice over?

"That rebellious disciple possesses the foundation of the World-Purifying White Lotus. He covets my Green Duckweed Sword surely to strengthen his origin and temper his foundation and innate endowment. Are we supposed to raise a tiger only to invite calamity?"

Lord Tongtian's teeth ached. He truly found it difficult to let go.

As one of his natal supreme treasures, the Green Duckweed Sword allowed his Sword Dao to reach its utmost limits. If he simply handed it over, would that not make the living beings of the Primordial World laugh at him?

"Senior Brother commands the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and many top-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasures. How can you ruin the greater plan over a single Green Duckweed Sword? Kong Xuan is devoted solely to cultivation and will certainly be unwilling to involve himself in the affairs of the Demon Race. Thus, only the Golden-Winged Great Roc can be used by us."

"Exchanging the Green Duckweed Sword for the Phoenix Clan's support—what is there not to rejoice over?"

Nuwa's gaze burned as she stared at Lord Tongtian.

Turbulent waves surged within Daoist Duobao's heart. He had never expected Nuwa and Lord Tongtian's scheme to run so deep, even involving the Phoenix Clan.

Yet at the thought of the Green Duckweed Sword falling into Lingxiao's hands, Daoist Duobao's heart ached so badly his liver and gall seemed ready to split.

"Fine!"

Lord Tongtian hardened his heart and directly severed his connection to the Green Duckweed Sword.

Then, he began giving instructions to Daoist Duobao!

"This disciple obeys Master's command. I will certainly bring back the three junior brothers!"

Daoist Duobao put away the Green Duckweed Sword, then headed beyond the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation!

Lord Tongtian and Nuwa's figures gradually turned illusory.

The two headed for Five Estate Temple...