Jiang Ziya had mediocre talent and was taken in by Yuanshi. Because he stepped into Jade Void Palace with his left foot first, he was punished with guarding the mountain.
One day, he saw auspicious clouds drifting across the horizon. Looking closely, he saw a breathtakingly beautiful female immortal standing upon a splendid brocade.
That brocade contained all things beneath heaven, concealing the profound principles of heaven and earth.
Eight Trigrams Dragon Beard Scarf?
Shi Ji Niangniang!
Shi Ji Niangniang had always enjoyed a virtuous reputation. Yet she came from the Intercepting Sect and had never associated with the Enlightenment Sect. Why had she come to Kunlun Mountain today?
"Jiang Shang greets Fellow Daoist Shi Ji."
When Shi Ji descended from the clouds, Jiang Ziya immediately stepped forward to greet her.
Among the thirty thousand disciples of the Intercepting Sect, Shi Ji was one of the few Jiang Ziya held in favorable regard.
"Jiang Shang?" Shi Ji frowned slightly. "Do you know Jiang Ziya?"
Jiang Ziya suspected nothing and smiled. "Jiang Shang is Jiang Ziya. What business does Fellow Daoist have with me?"
"You are Jiang Ziya?" Joy rose in Shi Ji's heart. She had truly found what she sought without even wearing out her shoes!
She could kill him with a single palm strike at the foot of this mountain, then flee thousands of miles away without anyone knowing.
Though Shi Ji could not bear it in her heart, killing intent still flashed through her eyes as she pointed at Jiang Ziya's brow from afar.
Poor Jiang Ziya had still been thinking of exchanging a few words with Shi Ji. He never expected murderous intent to arrive first.
He was merely a Heavenly Immortal and possessed no formidable treasures. Faced with Shi Ji's ambush, he had no power to resist.
My life is over!
Jiang Ziya had never imagined that after cultivating for decades, he would die today beneath Kunlun Mountain.
Still less had he imagined that Shi Ji would be the one to kill him!
Such was fate!
Just as Jiang Ziya closed his eyes and awaited death, he suddenly heard an angry shout.
"Stop!"
The newcomer was Taiyi Zhenren.
"Shi Ji, how dare you attack Junior Brother Ziya beneath Kunlun Mountain!"
"Senior Brother Taiyi?"
Upon seeing Taiyi Zhenren, Jiang Ziya suddenly felt as though he had escaped death.
No matter how powerful Shi Ji was, she could not possibly be a match for Senior Brother Taiyi.
"Junior Brother Ziya, you have been frightened."
Taiyi Zhenren comforted Jiang Ziya, then said to Shi Ji, "Master had long predicted that someone would harm Junior Brother Ziya. I never expected it to be you. Has the Intercepting Sect run out of people?"
Clearly, he looked down on Shi Ji.
Shi Ji said coldly, "The Intercepting Sect has countless disciples. To kill you, I alone am enough."
Perhaps she had not been confident of killing Taiyi before, but times had changed. With the Merit Saint Garment protecting her, why should she fear Taiyi Zhenren?
Though Merit Treasures were not adept at offense, their defense was invincible.
Unless the opponent also possessed a Merit Treasure, they would not even have an opportunity to harm her.
Shi Ji directly summoned the Merit Saint Garment, and dazzling golden light immediately illuminated the world.
Vast power of merit surrounded her body, making others afraid to look directly at her.
"This..."
A Merit Treasure?
Jiang Ziya's heart trembled. He had never expected Shi Ji to possess such a supreme treasure.
My life is over!
Perhaps she could not do anything to Senior Brother Taiyi, but killing him would be effortless.
But why was she determined to kill him?
Taiyi said disdainfully, "A Merit Treasure? Is that the reason for your arrogance?"
As he spoke, he summoned the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi that Yuanshi Tianzun had lent him.
The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi possessed merit from the creation of heaven and earth and could neutralize the merit power of a Merit Treasure to the greatest extent.
Streams of Profound Yellow Energy shot into the heavens, making Taiyi Zhenren appear incomparably sacred.
"Junior Brother Ziya, do not panic. Master had already foreseen this."
Taiyi Zhenren continued, "Shi Ji, what other methods do you possess? Use them all!"
Jiang Ziya: Had I fallen into some kind of trap?
Seeing how thoroughly prepared her opponent was, Shi Ji knew that she had fallen into an ambush.
This time, she feared that instead of killing someone, she would be buried herself.
Only now did she understand the deeper meaning behind Gu Changqing's warning.
Do not make things difficult for Jiang Ziya!
It was likely not merely because Jiang Ziya was innocent, but because this had been a scheme from the start.
Who was plotting against whom? Who could say for certain?
So Junior Brother Changqing had already seen through everything!
Shi Ji sighed inwardly and charged at Jiang Ziya once more.
Even if she died, she would drag someone down with her.
Aside from its merit power, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi was itself a powerful offensive treasure.
The current Taiyi Zhenren was not someone she could deal with.
"Petty tricks!"
Taiyi Zhenren gave a soft shout, and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi struck toward Shi Ji's crown.
Bang!
Shi Ji was struck head-on.
The radiance of the Merit Saint Garment instantly dimmed.
Had the Merit Saint Garment not protected her, that blow would likely have scattered her soul.
What a powerful treasure!
Despair rose in Shi Ji's heart.
If another blow like that came, she would likely perish here.
She had died before achieving her goal.
So be it. It was a pity that she could not repay the karmic debt she owed Junior Brother Changqing.
When she looked at Jiang Ziya, her gaze was filled with guilt.
Perhaps this was for the best!
She would not have to kill someone against her conscience. Instead, Shi Ji felt relieved.
Jiang Ziya: What is going on with you?
Shi Ji's killing intent toward him was real, and so was her guilt.
When a person was about to die, their words were kind.
The eyes could not lie.
Jiang Ziya was utterly bewildered.
"Demoness, die!"
Taiyi Zhenren summoned the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover again. He intended to scatter Shi Ji's soul.
"Senior Brother, do not!"
Jiang Ziya stepped in front of Taiyi Zhenren and said, "Fellow Daoist Shi Ji is renowned for her virtue. Why must Senior Brother exterminate her completely?"
Seeing Jiang Ziya plead for her, Shi Ji felt even more ashamed.
Taiyi Zhenren said angrily, "Junior Brother, move aside! She was trying to kill you!"
Jiang Ziya said again, "Perhaps Fellow Daoist Shi Ji has some hidden difficulty."
"Hidden difficulty? I think she has ulterior motives!"
Taiyi Zhenren said furiously, "Every disciple of the Intercepting Sect is fierce and vicious. Even if Shi Ji has a reputation, she is likely only seeking fame. Junior Brother Ziya, do not be softhearted!"
Seeing that Taiyi Zhenren was determined to kill Shi Ji, Jiang Ziya could only retreat helplessly.
Whether in strength or status, he was inferior to the Twelve Golden Immortals.
He could not sway Taiyi Zhenren's will.
Shi Ji rose to her feet and smiled bitterly. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ziya. This tribulation was destined to be mine."
"Not necessarily!"
A cold shout rang out, followed by the sound of something tearing through the air. Gu Changqing arrived before Shi Ji.
"Junior Brother Changqing, why have you come?"
Gu Changqing smiled bitterly. "If I had not come, Senior Apprentice Sister would have met her tribulation."
"In the Primordial World, it would be far too regrettable for a beautiful and kind-hearted immortal like Senior Apprentice Sister to meet her tribulation."
Shi Ji's pretty face flushed slightly, and she felt even more grateful.
She owed Junior Brother Changqing more and more.
Taiyi Zhenren frowned slightly. "Fellow Daoist Changqing? Have you also come to kill Junior Brother Ziya?"
"No, no."
Gu Changqing smiled. "Senior Brother Ziya and I bear no grudge against one another. Why would I make things difficult for him?"
As he spoke, he exchanged for a High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure, the Universe Heart-Protecting Mirror, handed it to Jiang Ziya, and said, "Senior Brother Ziya's fate has been filled with hardship. I offer this Heart-Protecting Mirror to Senior Brother Ziya. Would it be enough to resolve the karma between Senior Brother Ziya and my Senior Apprentice Sister?"
"This..."
Holding the Heart-Protecting Mirror, Jiang Ziya felt deeply conflicted.
A High-Grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure was something he could only dream of obtaining. Yet whether Shi Ji would be spared was not for him to decide.
Gu Changqing said again, "When will vengeance upon vengeance ever end? Karma should be resolved, not tied further. So long as Junior Brother Ziya does not hate Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji, this karma shall be considered settled."
Jiang Ziya smiled bitterly. "Fellow Daoist Shi Ji's mistake was not intentional. Ziya naturally will not harbor resentment."
"Good!" Gu Changqing said. "I believe Senior Brother Ziya."
He then turned to Taiyi Zhenren. "Senior Brother Taiyi, could you show mercy for Changqing's sake?"
Taiyi Zhenren frowned. "I owe Junior Brother Changqing a karmic debt. If this were a private grievance, I would naturally show leniency. But Shi Ji trespassed into Kunlun and attempted to assassinate Junior Brother Ziya. This is no longer a personal grievance."
Gu Changqing said again, "I can compensate on behalf of Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji."
Taiyi Zhenren said again, "I know Junior Brother Changqing is kindhearted, and I also know that Junior Brother Changqing is not stingy. But Master's orders cannot be defied. I will apologize to Junior Brother Changqing another day."
"Junior Brother Changqing may leave. Shi Ji stays!"
Taiyi Zhenren issued his final ultimatum.
Gu Changqing smiled bitterly inwardly. So this was what it meant for a Sage not to interfere? So this was the orthodox lineage of the Mystic Gate?
Gu Changqing looked up at Kunlun Mountain, then said, "What if I insist on taking Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji away?"
Taiyi Zhenren smiled bitterly. "Then I can only offend you."
"Junior Brother, hurry and leave!"
Seeing that Taiyi Zhenren was determined to kill her, Shi Ji said, "Junior Brother, this is my fault alone. Let me bear it by myself."
Shi Ji had already resolved herself to die and did not wish to implicate Gu Changqing further.
Gu Changqing smiled. "If I intended to leave, I would not have come. If anything happens to Senior Apprentice Sister, who will care for your two young attendants?"
"I..."
Shi Ji looked ashamed and said, "Then I ask Junior Brother to care for those pitiful children."
"Heh heh!" Gu Changqing smiled. "You should care for them yourself."
As he spoke, Gu Changqing placed one hand on Shi Ji's shoulder and replaced her with a new Merit Saint Garment.
He then turned to Taiyi Zhenren. "I had no wish to become enemies with the Enlightenment Sect. But if Senior Brother Taiyi insists on making things difficult for Senior Apprentice Sister Shi Ji, then forgive me for being discourteous."
As he spoke, Gu Changqing summoned the Merit Saint Sword.
If they did not settle this today, they likely would not be able to leave Kunlun.
Another Merit Treasure!
Taiyi Zhenren's heart trembled. At a glance, he could tell that the Merit Saint Sword was a Merit Treasure that combined offense and defense, utterly different from Shi Ji's Merit Saint Garment.
But that was not even the most terrifying part!
Shi Ji's Merit Saint Garment had been damaged, yet Gu Changqing had restored it to its original state with a wave of his hand.
What kind of immortal method was that?!
They had all underestimated this final disciple of the Intercepting Sect!
At this moment, Taiyi Zhenren was no longer as confident as before.
Before you continue