Scheming in Secret, Deceiving for a Supreme Treasure

Gu Changqing secretly contacted Di Xin, ordering Fei Jian and E Lai to lead the cultivators from the Heavenly Mystery Abode to swiftly sweep away the forces of the Human and Chan Sects.

After issuing the command, he quietly summoned the Chaos Bell, using it to envelop the Wa Palace and the surrounding chaotic space, severing the Wa Palace's connection to the Primordial World.

The next day, negotiations resumed.

This time, Gu Changqing relented, stating that the Human and Chan Sects could keep their disciples below the Earth Immortal realm.

Laozi and Yuanshi were secretly pleased to see Gu Changqing give in. They thought that if they could just drag it out for a few more days, they would surely be able to preserve the foundations of both sects.

At that point, as long as Tong Tian and Gu Changqing didn't intervene, the Human Realm would still be under the control of the two sects.

Unable to reach a consensus, both parties agreed to resume negotiations on another day.

It was on this very day that Fei Jian and E Lai, each leading five thousand Great Luo Golden Immortals, swept through the peripheral forces of the two sects.

Antarctic Immortal Elder was startled to see E Lai leading several thousand Great Luo Golden Immortals, clearing out the Chan Sect's peripheral forces in just one day. His little heart trembled with fear.

Where did the Human Race get so many masters?

All of them Great Luo Golden Immortals!

This is just…

Antarctic Immortal Elder wanted to cry.

He wanted to send reinforcements but found that there was simply no one to send.

The enemy forces were too strong, overwhelmingly strong.

The distress calls he sent to Yuanshi Tianzun also went unanswered.

Helpless, Antarctic Immortal Elder had no choice but to recall the masters of his sect and retreat to the Jade Void Palace.

As the Chan Sect's main base, the Jade Void Palace was protected by a powerful formation, making it difficult for E Lai and his forces to breach it.

The Human Sect suffered the same fate as the Chan Sect.

In just one day, only the main bases of the two sects remained.

Inside Chong City, the Martial Accomplishment King received the news and led his army in a counterattack.

Although Chong City's forces numbered only three hundred thousand, among these three hundred thousand armored warriors were hundreds, even thousands, of Great Luo Golden Immortals, including Shi Ji, who was comparable to a Quasi-Sage.

Jiang Ziya was completely dumbfounded.

When did Chong City get so many masters?

His distress message flew back to the Jade Void Palace, only to sink into the ocean without a trace.

Antarctic Immortal Elder couldn't even manage the Jade Void Palace; how could he possibly spare any energy for Jiang Ziya?

The opposing force, despite numbering a million, was routed by a single charge.

King Wen, overwhelmed by grief and despair, died on the spot.

Jiang Ziya had no choice but to take King Wen's remains and flee towards Xiqi, gathering the remaining soldiers along the way.

The Martial Accomplishment King naturally pursued them, seizing the opportunity to press the attack. The soldiers of Great Shang had endured humiliation for so long; when else would they get a chance to avenge themselves if not now?

By evening, the Investiture of the Gods List in Jiang Ziya's hands was full; all that remained was for him to name the individuals.

As soon as he spoke, this Tribulation would be over.

But he was unwilling!

The masters of the Human and Chan Sects had not even appeared, and yet they had lost. He was not reconciled.

When the Saints returned, that would be his chance to turn the tables.

Gu Changqing transmitted a message to Di Xin: "How is the situation?"

"A great victory!"

Di Xin could barely contain his joy, exclaiming, "It's all thanks to Teacher's brilliant strategy."

Gu Changqing shook his head slightly. Such overwhelming power, and yet they still failed. There was truly nothing more to say.

In the current situation, the only ones who could resolve the crisis for the two sects were the Buddhas of the Western Sect.

Unfortunately, before the Two Sages of the West departed, they strictly forbade the Western Sect from interfering in the affairs of the Eastern Lands.

Even though they understood the principle of "when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold," they dared not defy the strict orders of their two sect leaders.

They could only throw the various distress letters into the Eight Treasures Merits Pool to feed the turtles.

Of course, these turtles were not just any turtles.

At this moment, Wuyun Xian was still on Golden Turtle Island, training his female disciples.

Gu Changqing was about to cut off the connection when he heard Di Xin say, "The only downside is that Fei Jian and E Lai are having difficulty breaking into the Eight Scenery Palace and the Jade Void Palace."

Gu Changqing replied, "No need to force your way in. Just surround them. Kill anyone who tries to enter or exit." After saying this, he cut off the connection with Di Xin.

On the third day, negotiations continued.

After much back-and-forth, Gu Changqing said, "It's not impossible for the Human and Chan Sects to retain their foundations."

"Oh?" Laozi asked in surprise, "What conditions does Fellow Daoist Changqing have?"

Gu Changqing replied, "My Eldest Martial Uncle and Second Martial Uncle must not act against the Human Race."

"Alright!"

Laozi agreed without a second thought. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were trapped in Flame Cloud Cave, and there were no powerful experts among the Human Race.

Even though Gu Changqing was of the Human Race, they didn't need to make a move.

Because even if they did, they couldn't win.

Even Yuanshi readily agreed.

At this moment, they overlooked the ten thousand Great Luo Golden Immortals within the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.

They simply regarded these ten thousand Great Luo Golden Immortals as Gu Changqing's personal soldiers and paid them no mind.

After all, that formation could trap Yuanshi; they just assumed it was a trump card Gu Changqing kept for himself.

Gu Changqing continued, "It's impossible for me to keep an eye on both Martial Uncles all the time. I ask that both of you make a Heavenly Dao vow."

"You!"

Yuanshi was so angry he wanted to hit someone, but unfortunately, he couldn't win.

"I swear, I will not act against the Human Race."

Laozi immediately made the Heavenly Dao vow. Anyway, he hadn't intended to act against the Human Race.

He had already lost face; losing it again wouldn't matter.

Oaths, they were all meant for Hongjun's ears. Once the Tribulation ended, as long as Hongjun was pleased and erased the karmic consequences of the vow, making it or not making it would be the same.

Seeing that Laozi had already made the Heavenly Dao vow, Yuanshi quickly understood the key point and also made a Heavenly Dao vow.

Gu Changqing saw them make the Heavenly Dao vows and then said, "As for the second condition..."

Pfft!

Tong Tian couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

That was too f*cking brilliant!

Laozi and Yuanshi's faces were as dark as the bottom of a pot. Kid, you didn't say that was the first condition at the time!

What the hell!

If there was a second, there would be a third, and countless more!

You're playing us!

Just because Gu Changqing had omitted three words at the time, he had tricked them into a pit.

Although the pit wasn't big, and the damage wasn't significant, the humiliation was extreme.

If they had known what was happening in the Human Realm, they would have realized the pit was very deep, and the damage was even greater than the humiliation.

The Chaos Bell could manifest the Great Dao's principles, so it could naturally block the Heavenly Mystery.

Moreover, being in the midst of a Tribulation, the Heavenly Mystery was already obscure, and the Saints were completely unaware that the Human Realm had changed.

Gu Changqing then said, "Martial Uncles, don't be angry. There are only two conditions in total."

Laozi saw Gu Changqing say this, and his expression softened slightly. He then asked, "What is the second condition?"

"The condition is very simple," Gu Changqing said with a smile. "Hand over the Pangu Banner and the Taiji Diagram. I have a connection with these two treasures."

Zhun Ti: That sounds like my line.

Tong Tian: Kid, you're ruthless enough! You open your mouth and demand their Innate Supreme Treasure. Not even a lion has such a big mouth.

"Dream on!"

Yuanshi immediately retorted.

Gu Changqing ignored Yuanshi, instead pulling out a list and reading names one by one.

Who was who, what their cultivation level was, what their status in the Intercepting Sect was, where they were, who killed them, and so on...

He read for a full two hours. After finishing, he said to Laozi, "Below Chong City, Xuandu assisted Zhou in their tyranny. I merely cut off his Three Flowers. His cultivation level dropped, but he can always cultivate it back. A dead person has nothing left."

"Eldest Martial Uncle, do you think I showed mercy to the Human Sect?"

Laozi nodded helplessly. With Gu Changqing's cultivation, killing Xuandu would be as easy as a flick of a finger.

Gu Changqing continued, "But how did your Human Sect treat the disciples of the Intercepting Sect? You killed every one you saw, two if you saw a pair. Your methods were so cruel and your actions so ruthless that gods and men were enraged."

"At this point, asking for a Spiritual Treasure from Eldest Martial Uncle isn't too much, is it?"

Not too much?

Laozi wanted to vomit blood.

You crippled Xuandu!

Don't you have any idea who we were killing?

Is the Taiji Diagram just a Spiritual Treasure?

"Not too much."

Laozi forced a smile. No matter what, those scoundrels were disciples of the Intercepting Sect, and Xuandu was indeed not dead.

The Taiji Diagram was gone, but he could just ask Hongjun to help retrieve it.

Gu Changqing bullying them was like slapping Hongjun in the face.

No matter how powerful Gu Changqing was, could he be stronger than Hongjun?

Laozi decisively handed over the Taiji Diagram.

He would settle accounts after the Tribulation.

Gu Changqing then said to Yuanshi, "If Senior Brothers Taiyi and Guangchengzi hadn't been so intent on killing Senior Sister Shi Ji, would they have fallen victim to the Tribulation?"

"I, Gu Changqing, have given many treasures to the Twelve Golden Immortals, even giving a High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure to the traitor Jiang Ziya."

"During this Tribulation, has anyone from my Intercepting Sect harmed others? Even your third-generation disciples are unharmed. Has my Intercepting Sect not been benevolent and righteous enough?"

"But how has your Chan Sect treated our Intercepting Sect? You've killed without mercy!"

"The Mysterious Sect shares the same origin, and the Three Pure Ones are one family. In Second Senior Uncle's eyes, is there still any affection left?"

"Hmph!" Yuanshi snorted coldly and also took out the Pangu Banner.

He certainly wasn't having a change of heart; he was simply in a difficult position.

It was more dignified to hand it over willingly than to have it snatched.

Didn't Nüwa and Tong Tian's expressions change?

Gu Changqing's words made even Tong Tian want to cry out in injustice.

Nüwa even looked at the master and disciple with immense sympathy, as if they were the victims.

Damn it, we were the ones being bullied, alright?

Laozi and Yuanshi were incredibly frustrated, but at least they had preserved the foundations of their two sects.

Accounts would always be settled.

Revenge would always be exacted!

Both of them wished they could hack Gu Changqing into a thousand pieces.

He was too shameless, too good at twisting things, and too damn strong.

The Two Sages of the West looked at Gu Changqing with admiration.

This was a true master!

After the negotiation, he had given nothing yet had freely acquired two Innate Supreme Treasures.