"Get up!"
"I did not mean to blame you, but you bear responsibility for what Chang Er did as well. As my eldest disciple, you should have kept your junior brothers and sisters in line. Today, I sentence you to a hundred years of wall-facing reflection. Do you accept?"
Hearing Tongtian's words, Duo Bao quickly replied, "This disciple accepts. I am willing to accept the punishment!"
"Enough. Stand to the side."
After Duo Bao stepped aside, Tongtian looked at Chang Er Ding Guang Xian. "Wretch, I have not treated you poorly. Why did you betray the Intercepting Sect and betray me? What benefits did the Two Sages of the West offer you that were worth betraying your own sect?"
Hearing Tongtian's words, Chang Er hurriedly begged for mercy. "Master, I was merely confused for a moment. Please give me one more chance. This disciple will never betray the Intercepting Sect again."
"You still expect there to be a next time? Hmph!"
As soon as he spoke, Tongtian clenched his five fingers. In an instant, the invisible giant hand crushed Chang Er Ding Guang Xian's body to pieces. Not only that, his Divine Soul was crushed apart at the same moment.
The instant Chang Er Ding Guang Xian fell, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, far away in the west, suddenly opened their eyes and exchanged incredulous looks.
Zhun Ti said, "Senior Brother, Chang Er has fallen."
"Chang Er's death is of little consequence, but why has the Western Sect's fortune suddenly dropped so drastically? This is truly strange."
"Senior Brother, Chang Er's death caused the Western Sect's fortune to decline by so much. Could it be that he would have made an enormous contribution to our Western Sect in the future? If so, our losses are far too great."
"Now that Tongtian has discovered that we incited his Intercepting Sect disciple to defect, he will likely come looking for trouble before long. We should first think of how to deal with Tongtian."
"Tongtian is no weaker than Yuanshi, and he also possesses a vicious formation like the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation. If he sets it up in the west, our Western Sect will be finished."
At those words, Jie Yin's expression darkened.
He now understood that, given Tongtian's temperament, Tongtian would certainly come looking for trouble. If Tongtian truly came to Mount Sumeru and set up the formation, they would be utterly unable to protect the Western Sect.
When that happened, not only would the west be devastated, but the sect's disciples might also be slaughtered to the last.
Thinking of this, Jie Yin could not help but feel a headache coming on.
"Alas! If we had known this would be exposed, we should never have planted a spy within the Intercepting Sect."
"Junior Brother, things have come to this. We can only do our utmost to hold Tongtian back. First, strengthen the Mountain Protecting Grand Formation. Then, with the combined strength of our entire sect, perhaps we may be able to withstand the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation."
Zhun Ti let out a sigh. "This is our only option now."
Meanwhile, Taiqing and Yuanshi arrived outside Zixiao Palace. But when they tried to enter, an immense force blocked them outside.
Seeing this, the two of them were instantly dumbfounded.
The entire Zixiao Palace was shrouded by an immense force. They had no way whatsoever to enter it.
Taiqing said to Yuanshi, "Second Brother, Master seems to have been sealed away. But who could possess such formidable abilities?"
"Eldest Brother, whoever it is, we certainly cannot enter now. Let me first see whether I can communicate with Master."
As soon as he spoke, Yuanshi shouted toward Zixiao Palace, "Teacher, can you hear our voices?"
Inside Zixiao Palace, Hongjun, who had been wandering with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. He then said toward the outside, "What have you come to see me for?"
Seeing that Hongjun could hear them, the two immediately revealed delighted expressions.
Taiqing said, "Teacher, how did you come to be sealed within Zixiao Palace?"
"I was sealed within Zixiao Palace by a mysterious great expert. Even now, I have yet to understand that person's purpose in doing so."
"What important matter have you two come to see me about?"
Taiqing said, "Teacher, we came to ask whether there is a way to counter talismans. We have fought the Human Emperor many times, yet every time, we were beaten without the slightest ability to resist. His methods are too strange, and we have no way to deal with them."
Hearing Taiqing's words, Hongjun could not help but fall into thought.
Trying to counter the other party's talismans was simply impossible. Unless they could trap him and prevent him from moving freely, there was no way. But Hongjun had observed Ling Wudao before. Trying to trap him with a formation or a treasure simply would not work. Thus, dealing with the Human Emperor was extremely difficult, unless they could crush him with absolute strength.
"Counter his talismans? Even I have no solution. The Human Emperor's talismans possess too many abilities. Even I cannot see through just how many abilities they contain."
"However, it is not as though there is no way to deal with the Human Emperor. As long as I break the seal, I can suppress him with absolute cultivation."
"The force sealing Zixiao Palace is gradually weakening. I believe I will be able to break the seal before long. When that time comes, I will personally suppress the Human Emperor."
"Since you have come today, I happen to have a task for you. The Demon Race suffered considerable losses in its war against the Human Race, while the Witch Race is now acting with increasing arrogance. I want you to help the Demon Race obtain a great deal of merit. Only then can the Demon Race recover its strength in a short time."
Hearing Hongjun's words, the two immediately looked troubled.
Yuanshi said, "Master, merit is extremely difficult to obtain now. How are we supposed to help the Demon Race acquire Heavenly Dao merit?"
"You need only do this...!"
After hearing Hongjun's explanation, the two slowly nodded. "We understand!"
With that, Taiqing and Yuanshi vanished directly from outside Zixiao Palace. Inside the palace, a sinister smile appeared on Hongjun's face.
"Yuanshi, Taiqing, serve me well! Once the Witch and Demon Tribulation ends, I will certainly make the Three Pure Ones slaughter one another, hahaha!"
Meanwhile, on Golden Turtle Island, Tongtian inexplicably felt a faint sense of unease, as if someone were plotting against him.
Why did I suddenly feel so uneasy? Could Hongjun have already begun plotting against me? I must form an alliance with Wudao as soon as possible. Only then will the Intercepting Sect have a sliver of hope.
With that thought, Tongtian said to Duo Bao and the others, "All of you, return and cultivate. I have matters to discuss with Wudao. Without my summons, no one is to barge into Biyou Palace."
Hearing this, the Intercepting Sect Disciples all replied, "Yes, Teacher!"
Just as the Intercepting Sect Disciples were about to leave, Ling Wudao spoke. "Wait. Tongtian, have your disciples remain in the square for now. Otherwise, you may have to gather them again later."
Tongtian's gaze sharpened, as though he had thought of something. He said to Duo Bao, "Remain here and meditate. Once Wudao and I have finished our discussion, I will naturally summon you."
"Also, Duo Bao, go ring the Heavenly Bell and summon every Intercepting Sect disciple who is training outside back to Golden Turtle Island. Any disciple who refuses to return will be treated as a traitor to the sect."
At those words, Duo Bao was greatly alarmed. Something major was definitely about to happen. Based on what he knew of his master, Tongtian would never summon all the disciples back to Golden Turtle Island unless there was a major matter.
Thinking this, Duo Bao quickly replied, "This disciple understands!"
As soon as he spoke, Duo Bao vanished from where he stood.
After Duo Bao left, Tongtian said to Wudao, "Come, let us discuss this in detail inside Biyou Palace."
With that, Tongtian took the lead and walked toward Biyou Palace. Seeing this, Ling Wudao followed Tongtian inside.
Once the two entered Biyou Palace, the entire square instantly erupted into commotion.
The Intercepting Sect Disciples all whispered among themselves. With a solemn expression, Bixiao said to Yunxiao, "Elder Sister, did you notice? That man named Wudao is only at the Qi Refining Stage Late Phase, yet just now, he was able to hold Chang Er Ding Guang Xian, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, in his hand."
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