Laozi no longer knew what to say. After reviewing the whole affair, they finally discovered that Tongtian had fallen for a scam-and now he had dragged them all into it. People, possessions, wealth: everything had vanished into emptiness. They seemed to have been swindled out of absolutely everything.
"Everyone, I know I seem to have made a mistake. But this is only a guess. Right now, I really can't be certain whether Lin Tian deceived me."
"If we really were deceived, then we've embarrassed ourselves all the way to Granny's doorstep. I've let you down."
Under everyone's accusations, Tongtian kept apologizing. His apologies were sincere, but they were useless.
"You still aren't certain? Tongtian, look at what you have left, then look at us! What do we have? Nothing! Our Saint Positions, cultivation, merit, bodies-everything is gone!"
"If that isn't a scam, what is it? Self-sacrifice for the good of others?"
"Tongtian, what is that brain of yours made of? Why can't you ever learn your lesson?"
The Primordial Heavenly Venerable berated Tongtian until he was drenched in a torrent of abuse. His lungs felt ready to burst with rage. He wasn't the only one who had been deceived-all seven Saints had been taken in! They had been reduced to this wretched, ghostly state-no, they weren't even ghosts.
There was no light for them in heaven and no door open to them on earth. They had no idea whom they could turn to with their grievances.
"Heh, Primordial, curse me all you like. Seeing you like this actually gives me a little pleasure! Who told you to be so stupid and fall for it too? Weren't you driven by greed, hoping to get a great Dao Saint Position? Why didn't you question it back then? You were fawning all over