United as One, Wen Zhong Arrives

Tongtian sank into contemplation, while Duobao began overseeing the Interception Sect.

Duobao's abilities were beyond question.

He first gathered everyone together. Rather than raise any other matters, he began by announcing something.

Their sect leader, Saint Tongtian, had relinquished his Heavenly Dao Sage's Dao Fruit to secure a thread of hope for the Interception Sect.

Boom!

At those words, everyone in the Interception Sect was shaken to the core.

Their faces went pale and their minds went blank. Then tears streamed down their cheeks. Facing the cave abode where Tongtian cultivated in seclusion, they solemnly knelt and kowtowed three times.

He had done it for disciples like them...

And they were nothing but creatures born of wetness and eggs.

Thinking of how the other great sects treated them, then of how Tongtian treated them, they could not help comparing the two.

Every one of them felt gratitude mingled with shame.

"Even if I, Duobao, must shed my last drop of blood, I will fight to the death for the Interception Sect!"

"For the Interception Sect, we will slaughter every invading enemy!"

"Our master's kindness to us is as vast as heaven and as deep as earth. Even ten thousand deaths could not repay a fraction of it!"

"Those damned hypocrites of the Chan Sect! Our master offended them because of us. Even if I die, I must kill

"one of their people!"

"Kill the Chan Sect!"

With Duobao's roar, everyone in the Interception Sect was swept into a frenzy.

They had initially struggled to understand why Tongtian had relinquished his Sage Dao Fruit.

But with Duobao's explanation, they finally understood completely.

To dispel the Interception Sect's tribulation aura and keep them out of the great Investiture of the Gods tribulation, Tongtian had willingly relinquished his Sage Dao Fruit.

What a magnificent act of selflessness!

Could even their own parents have done more?

As the saying went, when a ruler treated his ministers as his hands and feet, they regarded him as their heart and soul; when he treated them as dogs and horses, they regarded him as a stranger; when he treated

them as dirt and weeds, they regarded him as an enemy.

Tongtian had treated them so generously-creatures clad in scales and armor, born of wetness and eggs, despised by every other great sect.

How could the members of the Interception Sect not be grateful for his kindness?

Even if Tongtian now ordered them to die, they would willingly go to their deaths.

Looking at the frenzied crowd before him, Duobao could not help smiling.

The fact that he would become Buddha Tathagata, the helmsman of Western Buddhism, in later ages proved that Daoist Duobao knew perfectly well how to manage a great sect and unite everyone as one.

This was familiar territory for him!

Had he not bound the entire Interception Sect into a single rope with just a few words?

Tongtian had originally relinquished his Sage Dao Fruit solely so that he could pursue the primordial Dao. He had never taught Duobao any of this.

Yet Duobao had mastered it without a teacher and thoroughly taken everyone in.

"Please quiet down, everyone. I still have a decree from our sect leader to announce."

At Duobao's words, everyone fell silent. Only then did he unfold the decree. "From this day onward, everyone must return to Golden Ao Island within ten years. I believe you all already know this. Of course, those serving as officials in Chaoge are exempt."

"Second, from this day onward, Golden Ao Island will permit entry, but not departure."

"Anyone who wishes to leave Golden Ao Island must obtain a written order from our sect leader."

"Our sect leader has exhausted his efforts to keep you out of the great tribulation. I therefore hope you will strictly observe these two rules. Otherwise, you will be expelled from the Interception Sect outright."

They drew sharp breaths.

At Duobao's words, everyone fell silent.

To be honest, had Duobao issued this decree before making his announcement, everyone might have obeyed it in the future, but

there would inevitably have been trouble now. They would also have felt deeply uncomfortable afterward, and over time, that discomfort might even have turned into resentment.

After all, this decree restricted them far too severely.

But now that they knew Tongtian had even abandoned his Heavenly Dao Sage's Dao Fruit for their sake, they truly regarded the Interception Sect as their home.

And they regarded Tongtian as their family.

Thus, even those who did not understand remained silent.

They could understand that Tongtian truly had their best interests at heart.

"We shall obey our sect leader's decree!"

After a short while, everyone spoke in unison.

Clearly, they had all accepted it.

Only upon seeing this did the heavy stone in Duobao's heart finally settle.

He had genuinely feared that issuing this decree would throw everyone into turmoil. They might not dare rebel against the Interception Sect, but resentment would certainly have lingered in their hearts.

Fortunately, it had all been resolved smoothly.

After most of the Interception Sect disciples dispersed, Daoist Duobao turned to Golden Spirit Holy Mother.

"Junior Sister, Master has issued a decree asking your disciple Wen Zhong to come to Golden Ao Island as soon as possible."

"What does he want Wen Zhong here for?"

"The Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip have fallen into Master's hands. Wen Zhong is the person Master has chosen to carry out the Investiture of the Gods."

"He's been given such a wonderful opportunity?"

Upon hearing Daoist Duobao's words, Golden Spirit Holy Mother immediately said, "I'll send him a message right now."

She formed hand seals with both hands, then nodded to Daoist Duobao a short while later.

"Wen Zhong said he has some matters to handle in Chaoge. He'll arrive within five days!"

"Then there's no problem."

Once that was settled, Daoist Duobao gathered the four principal disciples and the seven attending disciples in the main hall of Biyou Palace. Only then did he take out the Qingping Sword.

Seeing the astonishment on their faces, Duobao spoke directly.

"From this day onward, I will oversee the Interception Sect on Master's behalf."

"Starting today, you will manage all of Golden Ao Island for me and fully seal the sect-protecting formation. Unless someone has a written order from our sect leader,

"entry will be permitted, but departure forbidden."

"Of course, the number of people on Golden Ao Island will continue to grow, so everyone must obey the Punishment Hall's instructions."

"Zhou Kui, you must take charge of this as soon as possible."

Naturally, no one objected to Duobao's arrangements.

Time passed swiftly.

On the fifth day, Tongtian opened his eyes in the midst of cultivation.

He sensed that Wen Zhong had arrived.

Tongtian sent a private voice transmission directly to Daoist Duobao, instructing him to have Wen Zhong come straight to this cave abode.

A short while later, Wen Zhong entered the hall, bowed, and said, "Wen Zhong pays his respects to the sect leader."

Tongtian nodded and waved his right hand. The Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip landed in Wen Zhong's hands.

He studied the imposing man before him, who would be conferred the title of Universal Thunder Lord of the Nine Heavens even after his death.

After all, not just anyone was qualified to receive the title of Lord!

And in the Heavenly Court of later ages, almost all those who held high positions would have come from the Interception Sect.

Tongtian was very pleased with Wen Zhong.

"Wen Zhong, do you know that the Chan Sect has chosen Xiqi, while our Interception Sect has chosen Great Shang?"

At this, Wen Zhong could not help asking, "Sect Leader, is this truly unavoidable?"

He held the position of Grand Preceptor in Great Shang and had served four generations of rulers. He had deep feelings for Great Shang.

Now that he faced such a situation, he naturally wanted to fight for a chance on Great Shang's behalf.