Why did he not make a move himself if he disliked the Western Sect so much?
Gu Changqing sneered inwardly, but smiled on the surface. "The Western Sect killed my subjects and slaughtered my fellow disciples. Their crimes are indeed unforgivable. I am deeply grateful to Uncle-Master Ran Deng for helping Changqing capture these traitors."
"Ah, there is no need for such formalities between family." Ran Deng sighed. "I have spent these years in secluded cultivation and never expected the Western Sect to become so brazen, daring to slaughter disciples of our Mystical School at will."
"That is not true!"
Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva shouted, "It was you who sent people to the Western Sect, proposing that we join forces to scheme against the North Sea and sever Great Shang's destiny!"
"Who are you to dare slander me?" Ran Deng snapped. "When have I ever sent anyone to the West?"
Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva continued, "Then why did you imprison Shi Ji in Golden Light Cave? Shi Ji is a disciple of Saint Tong Tian!"
"What nonsense! If not for Changqing's sake, I would have crippled you with one palm strike."
Gu Changqing frowned. "Uncle-Master Ran Deng, what happened to Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji?"
Ran Deng smiled. "I saw that Shi Ji had exceptional innate talent, so I had her temper her golden body in Golden Light Cave. As for imprisonment, that is pure slander."
"Besides, Shi Ji possesses an extraordinary treasure. How could a mere Golden Light Cave possibly hold her captive?"
After hearing Ran Deng's explanation, Gu Changqing believed about eighty percent of it.
Golden Light Cave was indeed an excellent place to temper a golden body. Shi Ji had the Primordial Chaos World Piercing Shuttle, so Ran Deng truly could not imprison her.
Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva went numb!
At this point, how could he not realize he had been played?
This supposed plot to murder and imprison them was all a fucking setup.
But...
The Exposition Sect and the Intercepting Sect had always been at odds. How had they suddenly become family today?
Gu Changqing could not figure out what medicine Ran Deng was selling either, so he could only smile. "Thank you, Uncle-Master Ran Deng, for putting aside past grievances."
"What are you saying? Has that bit of karma not already been settled? It is just..." Ran Deng looked as though he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Gu Changqing replied, "If Uncle-Master Ran Deng has something to say, please speak freely."
Ran Deng continued, "Changqing, you have captured so many experts of the Western Sect. If this enrages the Two Sages of the West, how will you handle the aftermath?"
Gu Changqing smiled. "Thank you for the reminder, Uncle-Master. Changqing has his own plan."
If capturing so many Western Sect experts did not draw out the Two Sages of the West, that would be strange.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Formation in Heavenly Mystery Abode had been drilled for many days already. Using it against one Saint would not be much of a problem. At the very least, it could hold one back for some time.
He still had tens of billions of merit. If he exchanged it for a batch of Innate Supreme Treasures, then even if a Saint came, that Saint would have to kneel.
As long as the Heavenly Dao endured, Saints could not die.
Throwing countless Innate Supreme Treasures at them might not kill a Saint, but smashing apart their saintly bodies would not be difficult.
Besides, the Two Sages of the West were relatively weak among the Saints.
Without a few tricks up his sleeve, how would he dare climb Liangshan?
If he did not have these trump cards, how would Gu Changqing dare act so recklessly?
Seeing Gu Changqing so calm and composed, Ran Deng frowned inwardly. Could this fellow have long since plotted with Tong Tian? The Four Swords of Zhuxian cannot be broken without four Saints. If Tong Tian comes, the Two Sages of the West will have no choice but to accept their loss.
If Tong Tian comes, would all my planning not go down the drain?
Thinking this, Ran Deng said again, "Since Changqing and Senior Brother Tong Tian already have plans in place, I shall not meddle further."
Meddle?
Could this fellow really be here to help him?
With that thought, Gu Changqing said, "Uncle-Master Ran Deng misunderstands. Master does not know that I came to the North Sea. The reason I am so confident is that I believe justice lies in the hearts of the people, and that my two uncles from the West will not make things difficult for a junior like me."
If he could avoid revealing his trump cards, he should. And if he could pull in a free thug, why not?
Hm?
Kid, you are still too young!
When Ran Deng heard Gu Changqing say this, his interest immediately rose.
Once the Two Sages of the West arrived, the kid would be done for.
Then, when he and his senior brother stepped in to save him, would the kid not be moved?
As long as they could bring him into the Exposition Sect, the Investiture of the Gods would be nothing more than benefits delivered straight to their sect.
Ran Deng said again, "Changqing, escorting so many prisoners alone is quite inconvenient. Let me accompany you for a stretch of the journey. This long road through wind and snow is filled with unknown dangers."
"Thank you, Uncle-Master Ran Deng."
A free thug, just as expected!
But what Ran Deng wanted, Gu Changqing could not discern for the moment.
Along the way, the two chatted merrily, while the Western Sect group sank into despair.
Ran Deng was too shameless!
They did not hate Gu Changqing, since Gu Changqing belonged to an opposing faction to begin with.
But Ran Deng was different!
They had been partners!
If Ran Deng had not stirred things up back then, why would they have eagerly run all the way to the North Sea to eat snow?
Who could have expected that, in the end, he would simply sell them out?
They had never seen anyone so brazenly shameless!
Whether furious or aggrieved, they could only swallow their resentment.
At this point, no matter what they said, Gu Changqing would not believe them.
The matter of Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva killing people might well have been orchestrated by Ran Deng from start to finish.
After all, it was far too easy for a Quasi-Saint to frame a Great Luo Golden Immortal.
At this moment, the Western Sect experts wanted nothing more than to use Ran Deng as a human lantern.
He was utterly detestable!
What they did not know was that Gu Changqing had already believed them.
He could doubt the matter of Shi Ji's imprisonment, but he did not doubt in the slightest that Ran Deng had colluded with the Western Sect.
Even knowing that Ran Deng's words were full of holes, Gu Changqing did not expose him. He wanted to see what Ran Deng was truly after.
Besides, a free thug was still worth using.
Horses were naturally slower than flying, and Ran Deng had no intention of urging them onward. The slower, the better.
After traveling less than a hundred li, a demonic wind suddenly swept past, rolling up thousands of heaps of snow.
Gu Changqing's eyes turned cold. He had not waited for the Two Sages of the West, yet the Demon Clan had arrived instead.
"Ran Deng!"
"Surprised? Is this unexpected?"
Seeing Demon Clan experts descend, Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva shouted.
Ran Deng frowned. "Could it be that your Western Sect has colluded with the Demon Clan as well?"
"Bullshit!"
Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva roared, "It is your Exposition Sect that has colluded with the Demon Clan." Though he roared, his voice gradually weakened.
He had once told Ran Deng that the Western Sect had other forces in the North Sea.
Ran Deng smiled. "If there were no collusion, why would they come looking for you here?"
Gu Changqing silently watched Ran Deng and Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva trade barbs. Though everyone's acting was lacking, the plot was certainly entertaining.
Having just arrived in the North Sea, the Exposition Sect, Western Sect, and Demon Clan had all made their entrances. He had to admit, this welcome ceremony was quite distinctive.
Who was the fish, who was the bait, and who was the angler?
Could they even tell?
Gu Changqing swept his gaze over the arriving Demon Clan members: two Demon Saints, more than a dozen great demons, and countless demon troops following behind them.
Quite the grand display!
The leading Demon Saint looked at Ran Deng, confusion in his eyes.
Was Ran Deng not on their side?
Why was he chatting so warmly with Gu Changqing?
If that was the case...
Then this was troublesome!
Capturing Gu Changqing and rescuing the Western Sect would likely be as difficult as ascending to heaven!
"What demons dare block my path!"
Gu Changqing shouted, his voice shaking the land for a hundred li.
Before you continue