"The Two Sages of the West may seem far removed in the west and uninvolved in Eastern affairs, but their petty schemes have never ceased. Their wolfish ambitions are obvious to all!"
"Besides, among the sects of the Four Sages, only the Western Sect has two sages in one sect!"
"In terms of top-tier combat power, they are the greatest threat!"
"This disciple believes—"
"We should win over Nuwa Palace, draw the Western Sect into the tribulation, and make them share the pressure!"
"Then we can concentrate our strength and suppress the Clarifying Sect!!"
After he finished speaking,
Daoist Duobao's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
He secretly thought, This Junior Nephew Jiang possesses exceptional talent, intellect, and strategic insight!
Yet there was one thing—
He held grudges far too deeply!
Yuding Zhenren had merely belittled Shi Ji a few times during their battle.
Yet Jiang Yun had remembered it to this extent. Not only had he killed the man, he was now even plotting against the entire Clarifying Sect!
Lord Tongtian fell silent for a long while before suddenly letting out a sigh. "When I founded the sect, I made a vow: teachings without distinction, to seize a thread of life for all living beings."
"If I abandon my disciples merely to preserve myself, that would not be my way!"
"This time, the Interception Sect has no path left to retreat!!"
Tongtian suddenly raised his head, his gaze like a sword as it pierced straight toward Jiang Yun. "Jiang Yun!"
"This disciple is here!"
"Since you have such a plan, do you have the confidence to lead the disciples of the Interception Sect and carve a path out of this Epochal Tribulation?!"
Jiang Yun's heart shook, yet he did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately knelt and declared, "This disciple dares not claim certain victory!"
"But this disciple is willing to brave fire and water for the Interception Sect, and would not shrink back even in death!!"
"Good!!"
Under everyone's stunned gazes, Lord Tongtian slowly extended a hand and grabbed at the void.
Clang—!!!
A clear, impassioned sword cry rang through heaven and earth!
A treasured sword, wholly jade-green in color, appeared in Tongtian's hand.
"This is the Green Duckweed Sword!!"
"It is the treasure with which your grandmaster attained the Dao!!"
Lord Tongtian's expression was solemn. With a point of his finger, the Green Duckweed Sword descended before Jiang Yun.
"Until the Epochal Tribulation ends, this sword shall be wielded by you!!"
"From this day onward, you shall exercise the authority of the Interception Sect's vice sect leader in my stead!!"
"Any disciple of the Interception Sect, whether a direct disciple or an outer disciple, may be dispatched by you as you please! Should anyone refuse, hold this sword and execute them first, then report it afterward!!"
Boom—!!!
This time, even Daoist Duobao could no longer remain seated. His face was filled with shock!
The authority of a vice sect leader?!
Wielding the Green Duckweed Sword?!
The authority granted was simply too great!
It was practically handing the command of the entire Interception Sect over to Jiang Yun!
Jiang Yun's pupils constricted sharply. Looking at the Green Duckweed Sword before him, his hands trembled faintly.
This was an immense trust, but also a responsibility heavy beyond measure!
He hesitated for a moment before instinctively looking toward Shi Ji beside him.
Lord Tongtian seemed to see through Jiang Yun's thoughts and said blandly, "Rest assured."
"From this day onward, Shi Ji will cultivate in the side hall of Azure Roaming Palace on Golden Turtle Island, under my personal protection."
"Until the Epochal Tribulation ends, she will not take even half a step away from Golden Turtle Island!"
Only upon hearing this did the last trace of concern in Jiang Yun's heart finally dissipate!
Since his grandmaster trusted him so deeply, and since his simple-minded master's safety was assured!
Then let them fight!!
The path of cultivation had always been a path of contention!
"This disciple, Jiang Yun, accepts the command!!"
"I will not betray Grandmaster's great trust!!"
"I will ensure that the Interception Sect passes safely through this tribulation!!"
Lord Tongtian waved his hand, dismissing everyone to make their preparations.
Once the great hall was empty,
Lord Tongtian remained seated quietly upon his cloud bed, his gaze seemingly piercing through endless time and space toward the unknown future.
After a long while, a faint sigh echoed through the hall.
"The Great Dao is fifty, Heaven derives forty-nine, and one escapes—"
"That one which escaped has revealed a variable."
"Jiang Yun... I hope that this time—I have not misjudged you!"
Golden Turtle Island.
Led by Water and Fire Boy, Jiang Yun and his master arrived at an unused cave dwelling overflowing with spiritual energy, where rosy light flickered faintly.
"Senior Sister Shi Ji, this place is called Listening Wave Cliff. Other than the cultivation grounds of several direct senior brothers, it has the densest spiritual energy on the island. Master specifically instructed that it be reserved for Senior Sister's cultivation."
Water and Fire Boy wore a broad smile, his tone ingratiating.
Given Jiang Yun's current standing in the Interception Sect, Water and Fire Boy naturally understood the importance of treating him well.
"Sorry for the trouble, Martial Uncle."
Jiang Yun casually bestowed several spirit fruits on Shi Ji's behalf and sent the boy away.
After setting up the cave dwelling's restrictions, Jiang Yun did not immediately enter seclusion.
Instead, he first went to the side hall to visit his master, Shi Ji.
The master and disciple chatted about everyday matters, and Shi Ji inevitably gave him another round of earnest reminders.
Seeing Jiang Yun's current accomplishments, her eyes were filled with relief and pride, along with worry she could not conceal.
Jiang Yun comforted her thoroughly before returning to the quiet chamber at Listening Wave Cliff.
Sitting cross-legged atop a meditation cushion, Jiang Yun let out a long breath of turbid air, his expression gradually turning solemn.
"Purple Lightning Hammer—"
With a flip of his palm, a small hammer wreathed in violet light and crackling arcs of lightning appeared in Jiang Yun's hand.
A Supreme-Grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure!
It contained forty-one Xiantian Divine Restrictions and was a heavy offensive treasure bestowed by Lord Tongtian.
"The Investiture of the Gods has already begun. Although Yuding is dead, the Clarifying Sect will never let the matter rest. The next clash will only be more dangerous."
"I must refine it as quickly as possible and turn it into immediate combat power!"
Jiang Yun hesitated no longer. His consciousness sank into the Purple Lightning Hammer as he began refining it with all his strength.
In the blink of an eye, ten years passed.
On this day, a terrifying streak of violet lightning flashed through the quiet chamber, and even the void seemed to have been torn apart.
Jiang Yun slowly opened his eyes. It seemed as though a sea of lightning churned within their depths.
"After ten years of hard work, I have finally completed the initial refinement of this Purple Lightning Hammer!"
Though he had only initially refined it, he could already wield it as easily as an arm and unleash most of its power.
With a single hammer blow, it could invoke the Nine Heavens Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. Even a Daluo Golden Immortal at the peak stage would be blasted into ashes without a powerful spiritual treasure for protection!
"Hu—"
Jiang Yun put away the Purple Lightning Hammer and began sorting through his current assets and strength.
"First, the arrays!"
"[Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array]: I already have forty-nine Profound Yin Banners. Combined with eighty-one Baleful Corpses at the Daluo Early Stage, its power is sufficient to contend against an ordinary Early Quasi-Sage!"
"[Chaos-Reversing Nebula Grand Array]: using the Star Map as its core and three hundred sixty-five Star Pearls as its foundation, it draws upon the power of the stars across the heavens. It combines offense and defense, and can likewise contend against a Quasi-Sage!"
These two grand arrays were Jiang Yun's greatest support at present.
"Second, spiritual treasures!"
As Jiang Yun counted the items in his possession, even someone as composed as him could not help but let the corners of his lips rise slightly.
Lower-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure: Mountain River Pearl!
Middle-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure: Great Sun Purple Sun Mirror!
Upper-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure: Four Symbols Bell!
Upper-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure: Star Map!
Supreme-Grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure: Purple Lightning Hammer!
And the Supreme-Grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure: Twelve-Grade Reincarnation Purple Lotus!
This treasure was far too precious. Not only was its defensive power astonishing, it also contained the Law of Reincarnation and concerned his future plans for the Underworld. It could not yet be revealed, lest it draw the covetous eyes of sages.
"Though my assets are substantial—"
Jiang Yun frowned slightly, his understanding of the situation perfectly clear.
"Though the two grand arrays appear powerful, they have both reached bottlenecks."
"For the [Chaos-Reversing Nebula Grand Array] to advance further and attain the world-destroying power of the Ancient Demon Race's Zhou Tian Star Dou Grand Array, it must have the Supreme-Grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, the River Chart and Luo Book, to suppress its core."
"Unfortunately, the River Chart and Luo Book are in the hands of the demon master Kunpeng. That old demon is hiding in the Northern Sea Eye, and his strength is unfathomable. I cannot touch him for now."
"As for the [Lunar Dark-Baleful Grand Array], it still lacks thirty-two Profound Yin Banners and has yet to gather the full number of eighty-one!"
"If I can complete the Profound Yin Banners, this array's power will surely surge!"
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