The Era of Saints Ends

Gu Changqing chuckled, "Thank you, two Senior Uncles. It was a pleasure working with you."

The Two Sages: "What cooperation?"

Gu Changqing continued, "As long as the Human and Chan Sects don't bother me, I won't move against them again."

Laozi and Yuanshi felt relieved upon hearing Gu Changqing say this.

Although this negotiation came at a great cost, they had at least preserved the foundations of their two sects.

At this point, Jie Yin stood up and said, "Since the peace talks are over, we'll take our leave."

The Two Sages of the West were afraid Gu Changqing would try to fleece them again and were ready to make a quick escape.

After a brief farewell, they quickly fled into the distance.

Dong—

The Chaos Bell rang.

The Two Sages of the West rubbed their foreheads and returned.

They had been blocked by the Chaos Bell.

The ringing of the Chaos Bell startled all the Sages.

Especially Laozi and Yuanshi.

"Gu Changqing, what do you intend to do?"

Yuanshi immediately jumped up.

Gu Changqing gave an awkward smile and replied, "Don't misunderstand, Second Senior Uncle. Changqing just didn't want our peace talks to be disturbed, so I used the Chaos Bell to protect Wa Palace."

I'll believe you when pigs fly!

We are all Sages, who would dare to disturb us?

Yuanshi and Laozi instantly felt that things were not right. Looking with their spiritual eyes, they saw that outside Wa Palace, even a large expanse of Primal Chaos was covered by the Chaos Bell.

Laozi frowned and said, "Gu Changqing, do you really intend to exterminate us?"

He truly hadn't expected Gu Changqing to be so insidious.

"First Senior Uncle misunderstands. I really just wanted to protect Wa Palace."

As Gu Changqing spoke, he put away the Chaos Bell.

The moment the Chaos Bell was put away, countless messages flooded into the spiritual seas of the Two Sages.

They were all cries for help.

The Two Sages looked at the human world with their spiritual eyes, and a chill ran from their feet straight to their heads.

Gu Changqing had indeed left them their foundations, but only their foundations remained.

Apart from the Eight Scenery Palace and the Jade Void Palace, the Human and Chan Sects had been completely wiped clean.

Even the Eight Scenery Palace and the Jade Void Palace were surrounded.

Pfft!

Yuanshi immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, nearly fainting, and Laozi's face was also ashen.

They had been tricked!

This kid was too vicious!

Who could have imagined Gu Changqing would dare to use tens of thousands of disciples as bait?

And who could have imagined Gu Changqing had made such extensive preparations in the human world?

In this Tribulation, the Human and Chan Sects had lost!

They lost completely and caught off guard!

The Two Sages of the West were even more terrified in hindsight. Fortunately, the Western Sect retreated quickly, otherwise, they would have been finished as well.

Even Nüwa's expression changed.

Too ruthless!

No wonder this kid agreed so readily back then; he had been planning this all along!

Tong Tian: Should I get a dog and take it for a walk?

With this kid in the Intercepting Sect, what's left for me to do?

Fortunately, this kid is my disciple. If he had become the Second Senior Brother's disciple, I'd be the one spitting blood right now.

Laozi, having recovered his senses, sighed inwardly and said, "Gu Changqing, can you give us a way out?"

When they had the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner, they could still barely put up a fight.

No, even with them, they couldn't!

They had sworn an oath to the Heavenly Dao not to attack the Human Race, and Gu Changqing was also part of the Human Race!

Until the Heavenly Dao oath was lifted, they could only passively endure.

Gu Changqing stated, "Those below the Earth Immortal realm may remain. As for those above, they must either withdraw from the human realm or be eternally confined to Eight Scenery Palace and Jade Void Palace."

Gu Changqing had issued an ultimatum to the Two Sages.

He extended a finger, and the Power of the Great Dao shimmered at its tip.

Gu Changqing continued, "I know that Heavenly Dao oaths are difficult to bind the two Senior Uncles. Although I, Changqing, am not talented, and possess no Saint Demise Pill, I was fortunate enough to grasp a trace of the Power of the Great Dao."

A threat!

A blatant threat!

All the Sages were alarmed upon seeing that trace of power at Gu Changqing's fingertip.

It appeared minuscule, yet it contained the power to destroy everything.

So that was the Power of the Great Dao!

Laozi sighed helplessly, "The Human Sect will withdraw from the human realm."

Gu Changqing then looked at Yuanshi and asked, "And Senior Uncle Yuanshi?"

"The Chan Sect will withdraw from the human realm!"

Yuanshi gritted his teeth. If they didn't withdraw, they would be permanently imprisoned on Kunlun Mountain.

Withdrawing was merely a temporary abandonment of interests in the human realm.

Even if they couldn't scheme within the human realm, they could still scheme in the heavens.

If they didn't agree, there would be no place for the Chan Sect, neither in the heavens nor on earth.

The Two Sages of the West saw Laozi and Yuanshi yield, and knowing that the era of the Sages had ended, they couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy, like a fox grieving the death of a rabbit.

This time, Gu Changqing had used the Investiture of the Gods Calamity to eliminate the Human and Chan Sects. Would he find a reason to eliminate the Western Sect next time?

Where there were interests, there would be conflict.

Conflict always found a reason.

Jie Yin pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "My junior brother Zhun Ti and I have long been exhausted and wish to rest outside the heavens. I wonder if Daoist Changqing would be willing to look after the Western Sect for us?"

Jie Yin understood clearly: since they would be driven out sooner or later, it was better to withdraw gracefully.

Gu Changqing once again looked at Jie Yin with high regard and said, "Changqing owes the Western Sect a karmic debt, and will naturally look after it. Have the two Senior Uncles made up their minds?"

"Our minds are made up!" Jie Yin continued, "Under the leadership of the Human Emperor, the human realm will naturally usher in an era of glory."

"Good," Gu Changqing replied. "I killed Mahavairocana, so I shall give you another Tathagata."

As he spoke, he directly exchanged a Merit Incarnation using millions of merits.

The Merit Incarnation, solemn and dignified, bowed to the Sages: "Amitabha, Tathagata greets all Sages."

Then he turned to Gu Changqing and said, "Greetings, Daoist Changqing."

Upon seeing Tathagata, Jie Yin immediately understood that Gu Changqing had been prepared all along.

Gu Changqing used the Power of the Great Dao to sever his connection with Tathagata, saying, "From today onwards, you are you, and I am I. We have no karmic ties, and will have no more karmic ties."

Seeing Gu Changqing do this, Jie Yin immediately expressed his thanks: "Many thanks, Daoist Changqing."

With the karmic ties severed, Tathagata was now the Tathagata of the Western Sect.

If they weren't severed, Tathagata would be Gu Changqing's Tathagata.

There was a world of difference between the two, and this was the benefit of withdrawing gracefully.

Gu Changqing smiled, "This was originally where your Western Sect's Luck lay."

Jie Yin chuckled bitterly in his heart, Luck my foot! Isn't it because I was quick to be sensible?

Tong Tian looked at Gu Changqing, his heart a mix of emotions.

Gu Changqing's series of tactics were cruel, ruthless, and grand!

They also clearly showed his attitude.

From the very beginning, from the moment he left Golden Turtle Island, his plan had already commenced.

What he wanted to win was never just the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, but the Sages, and the entire human realm.

Perhaps, his plan had begun the moment he set foot on Golden Turtle Island.

This was a conspiracy, a conspiracy to scheme against the Sages.

Which human could Proving the Dao of Mixed Origin in just over a decade?

Impossible!

Unless he was already Primal Chaos!

Thinking of this, Tong Tian also felt a chill of fear.

If he hadn't always yielded to him, the Intercepting Sect would probably have been finished too!

The Human Race!

They had played a truly grand game!

The Sages had lost, but they didn't know who had defeated them.

Fortunately, the Intercepting Sect was preserved.

Tong Tian pondered for a long time, and finally felt at peace.

"Changqing, from today onwards, I pass the position of Sect Master of the Intercepting Sect to you. I will retire with your Senior Martial Uncle and Second Martial Uncle."

Gu Changqing: What's gotten into this old man?

Gu Changqing wasn't as complicated as the Sages thought; he had just been getting lucky all along.

"Master, I..."

Before Gu Changqing could finish, Tong Tian took out the Four Swords of Zhuxian, handed them to Gu Changqing, and said, "The Four Swords of Zhuxian are the symbol of the Intercepting Sect. I pass them to you today."

"I..."

Gu Changqing finally accepted the Four Swords of Zhuxian and took over the Intercepting Sect.

Tong Tian looked at Laozi and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Eldest Brother!"

Then he bowed respectfully to Yuanshi, "Greetings, Second Brother!"

"Third Brother!"

"Third Brother!"

With no more disputes over interests, the long-lost affection between them returned.

There were no excessive words, just one "Eldest Brother," one "Second Brother," and two "Third Brothers."

Years of affection were contained within.

Years of grievances were also contained within.

Gu Changqing was also moved by the Three Pure Ones and came before Laozi, bowing respectfully.

"Greetings, Senior Martial Uncle."

As he spoke, he took out the Taiji Diagram and returned it to Laozi, saying, "Senior Martial Uncle, the matters of the mortal realm were beyond my control."

"Let it be, let it be."

Laozi recalled how carefree and unrestrained the three of them had been when heaven and earth first opened.

Seeing that Laozi was unwilling to accept it, Gu Changqing said, "The Taiji Diagram is where Senior Martial Uncle's Dao lies. Senior Martial Uncle, please do not decline."

At this moment, Tong Tian took the Taiji Diagram and said, "I'll accept it on behalf of your Senior Martial Uncle. And also, bring out your Second Martial Uncle's Pangu Banner!"

I've been tricked for so long, taking two of your treasures isn't too much, right?

Gu Changqing took out the Pangu Banner and gave it to Tong Tian, smiling, "We're family, what's the rush?"

"You little rascal, you're asking for a beating, aren't you!"

Feigning anger, this was a master's last stubbornness.

Gu Changqing then took out the Chaos Bell and gave it to Tong Tian, saying, "The Three Pure Ones are one family. How can these three supreme treasures be separated? The Chaos Bell is for Master."

"At least you have a conscience, you little rascal!"

Tong Tian snatched the Chaos Bell from Gu Changqing's hand, feeling completely at ease.

How wonderful it would be if you were truly my disciple!