Sword Strikes the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, Zhunti and Jieyin Bleed Profusely!

"Interception Sect's first disciple?"

Zhunti and Jieyin froze. Seeing Tongtian Cult Leader approach in fury, their hearts both gave a violent lurch.

Among the Primordial World's four sects, aside from the Humanity Sect, the other three all had numerous direct disciples. The Expounding Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals alone numbered a full twelve direct disciples.

The Interception Sect likewise had seven or eight direct disciples.

Previously, they had guessed that Zhao Gongming was one of the Interception Sect's direct disciples. Otherwise, he wouldn't have carried such a Sage Talisman and caught them so off guard that they lost face badly.

But the Interception Sect's first disciple carried entirely different weight. Not only did he represent the inheritor of a great sect, he was also the heir to its orthodoxy and legacy!

Only a direct disciple with the most astonishing aptitude, and one most highly valued by a Saint, could become a great sect's first disciple.

Yet just now, they had actually considered using the Great Conversion Technique to forcibly convert the Interception Sect's first disciple to the Western Lands?

"Master, don't be angry. I think what my two uncles said made sense. Though the Western Lands are barren, their population is sparse and their doctrines profound. Why not let your disciple travel to the Western Lands and join my two uncles in studying its mysterious teachings?"

Just as Zhunti and Jieyin were considering how to explain themselves, Zhao Gongming suddenly spoke. He looked as though they had already "brainwashed" him and he longed for the Western Lands.

"Hmph! Zhunti, Jieyin, look at the fine work you've done!"

Tongtian Cult Leader's fury was nearly tangible. The sharp Sword Intent radiating from him made even Zhunti and Jieyin instinctively shudder.

But before the two could explain—

Ssh!

The Execution Immortal Sword in Tongtian Cult Leader's hand unleashed a terrifying sword light. As Zhunti and Jieyin's expressions drastically changed, it slashed viciously down toward Mount Sumeru, the Western Sect's ancestral court.

"What?"

Sensing the sharpness contained within that sword light, Zhunti and Jieyin instinctively brought forth a small flag. It fluttered with a rustle, transforming into ten thousand azure lotuses.

This was one of the Five-Directional Flags, the Azure Lotus Treasure-Colored Flag.

Yet beneath that sword light, even the Azure Lotus Treasure-Colored Flag was cleaved apart. The sword intent then struck straight at the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool.

Boom!

The terrifying might made Mount Sumeru tremble without end.

At the same time, under Zhunti and Jieyin's horrified gazes, the Western Sect's most important Eight-Treasure Merit Pool was actually slashed open with cracks. Nearly half the water of Fortune within it evaporated in an instant!

The sight made Zhunti and Jieyin's vision go dark. They nearly fainted on the spot from heartbreak.

The pool water within the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool was formed from the Western Sect's gathered Fortune.

In other words, Tongtian Cult Leader's furious strike had directly cut away nearly half the Western Sect's Fortune.

"Senior Brother Tongtian, our Western Sect has always been barren. Upon seeing such fine jade and rare talent, it was only natural that we wished to accept him as a disciple. Who could have known that he was Senior Brother Tongtian's first disciple? This matter was all a misunderstanding..."

"This is the Primary Seed of the Meritorious Golden Lotus. Let it serve as compensation and settle today's karma. What do you say?"

Suppressing the pain in his bleeding heart, Zhunti raised his hand and produced a gleaming golden lotus seed. Golden light of Merit blossomed from it, illuminating everything within ten thousand miles.

This was the Primary Seed of the Twelfth-Rank Meritorious Golden Lotus. In terms of value, it was comparable to an Upper-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and could cultivate a Ninth-Rank Meritorious Golden Lotus.

Naturally, its most valuable aspect was the Heavenly Dao Merit contained within it.

Zhao Gongming was slightly stunned by the sight. He hadn't expected his master, Tongtian Cult Leader, to be so protective of his own. At the slightest disagreement, he had slashed at Mount Sumeru, the Western Sect's ancestral court.

One had to know that during the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm, when the Three Skies, the Interception Sect's direct disciples, were bullied by Primordial Lord of Heaven and sent to the Investiture List, Tongtian Cult Leader hadn't even appeared.

But on second thought, times were different now.

The Interception Sect's Fortune was stable now, so Tongtian Cult Leader naturally had no more misgivings in his actions. Perhaps this was the real Tongtian Cult Leader.

But what surprised him even more was Zhunti and Jieyin's obedient attitude in offering compensation. The Eight-Treasure Merit Pool was the Western Sect's lifeblood.

With nearly half its water evaporated, it was equivalent to losing nearly half its Fortune. If it had been anyone else, Zhunti and Jieyin would probably have fought to the death.

Clearly, in the Primordial World, strength was king in the end. A big fist was the only hard truth.

Tongtian Cult Leader was powerful, so everything he did naturally became justified. Only by possessing sufficient strength could one protect oneself in this dangerous Primordial World.

Likewise, when the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm arrived, Zhao Gongming would need enough strength to protect himself and prevent the Three Skies' tragedy from repeating itself.

"Oh?"

Tongtian Cult Leader looked at the Primary Seed of the Meritorious Golden Lotus without revealing anything, but the Execution Immortal Sword in his hand remained lowered not in the slightest. The Sword Intent around him was still incomparably sharp.

"This..."

Zhunti and Jieyin wore bitter expressions. The Western Sect had been incomparably barren to begin with; taking out this Primary Seed of the Meritorious Golden Lotus was already making them bleed heavily.

But if they didn't settle today's karma, and the Execution Immortal Sword struck again, their losses would be even more shocking.

What made it worse was that they were in the wrong today. Even if they took the matter before Dao Ancestor Hongjun, it would likely be useless.

"This is a Geng-Metal Bodhi Branch, along with this Bitter Bamboo Leaf. Both are treasures for comprehending the Dao. Let them be included as compensation!"

With a raise of his hand, Zhunti produced a golden branch and a lush green leaf. His heart hurt so much that his facial features were nearly scrunched together.

The Two Western Sages' true forms were the Bodhi Tree and Bitter Bamboo, two of the ten supreme Innate Spiritual Roots. The Bodhi Branch and Bitter Bamboo Leaf were both renowned treasures for comprehending the Dao. Their effects in assisting Dao comprehension were worth two Upper-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. In other words, they had already taken out three Upper-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures as compensation. That might have meant little to other Saints.

But for the barren Western Sect, it was like cutting flesh from their bodies!

"Hmph. Let this be a small punishment and a stern warning. If there is a next time, don't blame me for disregarding our fellow discipleship!"

Tongtian Cult Leader spoke coldly. Heavenly Dao Sages were undying and indestructible. With his understanding of the Two Western Sages, this was already their limit.

"Of course, of course!"

Zhunti and Jieyin repeatedly agreed, instinctively breathing a sigh of relief. Then they hurried away in a disheveled and miserable state.

This time, their losses had been far too great. Not only had their Fortune been halved, they had also lost three Upper-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.

Fortunately, there were still quite a few Great Supernatural Beings in the Primordial World. They couldn't possibly run into a Saint's first disciple every time. If they shook down a few more people, they could make up for these losses.

"Disciple, by slashing the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool, your master will likely incur no small karmic entanglement. Of course, that isn't what I wish to tell you."

"If you encounter danger again, simply call your master's name!"

As Zhunti and Jieyin departed, a cloud condensed from visible Karmic Power formed above Tongtian Cult Leader's head. The Western Lands were barren because, during the Dao-Demon Strife, Luohou had self-destructed and blown the entire western region's earth veins and spirit veins of the Primordial World to pieces. This was why Hongjun owed the Western Land an enormous karmic debt, and also why the Two Western Sages could attain sainthood. Tongtian Cult Leader's sword strike against the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool had seemed dashing, but in truth, he too had to pay no small price.

Of course, Zhao Gongming was the Interception Sect's hope. Whoever dared touch this precious disciple of his—he would rather give up his Saint Fruit Position than let the matter end easily!

"This disciple understands!"

Zhao Gongming blinked. Feeling Tongtian Cult Leader's protection, he was somewhat moved.

Of course, although Heavenly Dao Sages appeared to wield Heavenly Dao Authority, they were likewise bound beneath the Heavenly Dao and constrained in countless ways.

Walking through the Primordial World with a Saint at one's back could only guarantee one's safety. To truly transcend a Tribulation, one still had to rely on one's own strength.

Tongtian Cult Leader had been strong enough during the Investiture of the Gods Cataclysm, hadn't he? The Four Swords of Execution could not be broken without four Saints, yet in the end, he could only be imprisoned in the Purple Cloud Palace.

Heaven's will was like a blade. Before the course of a Heavenly Dao Tribulation, even Saints were merely mantises trying to stop a chariot.

Whoosh!

Tongtian Cult Leader moved, vanishing directly from where he stood.

Zhao Gongming's gaze then fell upon the three treasures floating before him.