Yu Ding Zhenren intervened time and again.
He kept the pressure on Yang Tianyou's family, yet never allowed them to be captured outright.
His sole purpose was to make Yang Jian's family hate Haotian, the Jade Emperor.
Watching this, Tongtian's lips curled into a cold sneer.
So this was the true face of the Chan Sect: one face in public, another behind people's backs.
Their so-called disciples had all been acquired through swindling and deceit.
And they still had the nerve to look down on the Interception Sect.
After a moment's thought, Tongtian suddenly transmitted his voice. "Zhao Gongming, Sanxiao, come see me."
A short while later, Zhao Gongming and the Three Maidens of Sanxiao entered together.
"Greetings, Sect Master!" the three said in unison, bowing.
Tongtian nodded and glanced at the one man and three women before him.
They had been quite renowned during the Investiture Calamity, and they were also Tongtian's beloved disciples.
Otherwise, he would never have entrusted such deadly treasures as the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors and the Primordial Golden Dou to them.
At the sight of the three, a faint smile appeared on Tongtian's lips.
"Zhao Gongming, keep a close eye on Shen Gongbao for me."
"Don't let him wander around Golden Ao Island. That fellow has a silver tongue, so don't let him stir up trouble."
"It took some doing to trick him into coming to Golden Ao Island. Whatever you do, don't let him escape."
"Ah!"
Zhao Gongming and Sanxiao were dumbfounded by those words.
They had been wondering about it already. Shen Gongbao did not seem like a fool.
Why had he blundered so foolishly into the Interception Sect this time?
Never had they imagined that the Sect Master himself had tricked Shen Gongbao into coming.
Although they wondered why the Sect Master attached such importance to Shen Gongbao, they asked no further questions.
After all, in their eyes, Tongtian surely had his reasons for making these arrangements.
As his disciples, they only needed to carry out his instructions faithfully.
"We shall obey the Sect Master's command!" All four hurriedly nodded their assent.
Tongtian wasted no more time on the matter.
After chatting briefly with them and checking their cultivation, he spoke calmly.
"Zhao Gongming, I've found you two disciples."
"One is named Yang Jian, and the other Yang Chan."
"Wait, let me take a look!"
Tongtian sensed the situation around Yang Jian again before saying calmly, "His father and elder brother have now been killed, and his mother has been imprisoned beneath Peach Mountain. Hurry over and rescue your disciples. The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals are pursuing them right now."
"Incidentally, Yu Ding Zhenren of the Chan Sect has his eye on those two disciples of yours as well. You'd better hurry, lest the Chan Sect rescue them first and take them away."
"As for you, Sanxiao, your task is to stop Yu Ding Zhenren. Don't let him appear before your brother and the children."
"Of course, if the opportunity arises, send Yu Ding onto the Investiture of the Gods List."
"Understood?"
But all four of them looked utterly bewildered.
Of course they knew that Saint Tongtian had just arranged a disciple for Wuyun Xian.
He had even sent Taiyi Zhenren onto the Investiture of the Gods List over it.
And now he was giving Zhao Gongming disciples too?
"Sect Master, I already have two disciples..." Zhao Gongming could not help saying.
He truly could not understand it.
Giving Wuyun Xian a disciple was one thing, since he genuinely had none. But why do the same for him?
He already had two disciples. If he took on more, when would he have time to cultivate?
But Tongtian cut him off before he could finish. "Then take two more."
"Is there a problem?"
The corner of Zhao Gongming's mouth twitched. Of course there's a problem, but I wouldn't dare say so!
In the end, unwilling though he was, he could only nod and agree.
Only then did a smile spread across Tongtian's lips.
"In that case, I'll send you over!"
Without waiting for the four to answer, he waved a hand, and they felt heaven and earth spin around them.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves in a secluded valley.
Lush greenery surrounded them, and dense forest covered the mountains.
They could sense waves of magical power rippling nearby.
Zhao Gongming knew that had to be where his two ready-made disciples were.
He sighed.
"My three sisters, I'll leave Yu Ding Zhenren to you."
"I must go check on those two ready-made disciples of mine first. If they die, I won't be able to answer to the Sect Master."
"Remember, be careful!"
Once Sanxiao nodded, Zhao Gongming mounted his black tiger and charged toward the heart of the battle.
In the blink of an eye, he reached a hollow on the other side, where a boy of twelve or thirteen was shielding a little girl of seven or eight.
They were none other than Yang Jian and Yang Chan.
Yang Jian was still very young, and bleeding wounds covered his body.
Yet he still gripped an iron spear, his youthful face filled with anger and helplessness.
What most caught Zhao Gongming's attention was the third divine eye between Yang Jian's brows.
It shone brilliantly, divine light surging within it.
Clearly.
It was only thanks to this third divine eye that Yang Jian could barely hold his own against these Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.
At the sight, Zhao Gongming could not help exclaiming, "What a fine child!"
Apart from Wen Zhong, this was only the second time he had seen such a divine heavenly eye.
At that moment, Zhao Gongming genuinely began to feel fond of these two ready-made disciples.
"Yang Jian, Yang Chan, we have come by order of the Jade Emperor to arrest you and bring you back to the Heavenly Court to answer for your crimes."
"If you know what's good for you, come quietly."
"Otherwise, don't blame us for killing you!"
The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals wore full armor, their expressions cold and stony.
But on the other side.
Yang Jian's eyes blazed with fury as he roared, "You killed my father and elder brother, then imprisoned my mother!"
"Even if I die, I will never go with you!"
The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals facing him looked merciless, and their leader shouted, "Insolence!"
"Attack with me!"
At his command, the dozen or so Heavenly Soldiers and Generals charged at Yang Jian again.
But this time.
Before Yang Jian could act, a strange gust of wind swept in and blasted the entire group away.
Immediately afterward.
Zhao Gongming rode his black tiger to Yang Jian's side and regarded the brother and sister with satisfaction.
"My name is Zhao Gongming, a disciple of Saint Tongtian of the Interception Sect. Would the two of you be willing to become my disciples?" Zhao Gongming asked calmly.
He was different from Wuyun Xian.
Having spent considerable time in Yin Shang, he naturally understood worldly affairs and would not simply blunder ahead as Wuyun Xian did.
Yang Jian looked solemnly at the Daoist before him. After a moment, he said, "Honored elder, we have incurred the Heavenly Court's wrath."
"That is no matter. Once you join the Interception Sect, our sect will bear all the karmic consequences," Zhao Gongming replied calmly.
Hearing this, Yang Jian did not hesitate. "I, Yang Jian, pay my respects to Master."
He dropped straight to his knees, pulling his still-weeping little sister down beside him and quietly coaxing her.
A moment later, Yang Chan said fearfully, "I, Yang Chan, pay my respects to Master."
"Good. From this day onward, you two are disciples of Zhao Gongming."
Smiling, Zhao Gongming helped them to their feet. A surge of immortal essence then flowed into their bodies, stabilizing their injuries.
Only then did he say, "Come back to Golden Ao Island with me first!"
Before you continue