Chapter 32: A Sudden Whim: Using Qilin as a Royal Carriage

While a series of events were unfolding on Jinao Island,

a major event also occurred in Zhaoge City.

Su Daji had not yet attempted to bewitch Di Xin.

The fortune of the Yin-Shang dynasty had not diminished, which greatly troubled the Chan Sect.

Yun Zhongzi had no choice but to write a poem he had prepared in advance on the outer wall of the path that Grand Tutor Du Yuanxian had to take on his way home from the Astrological Observatory.

"Demonic vapors foul the palace, while holy virtue spreads in the Western lands..."

After reading the poem on the wall, a trace of gloom flashed in Yun Zhongzi's eyes.

"Millennium fox demon, I don't believe you will remain inactive this time."

Then, he looked toward the direction of the imperial palace.

"This poem points out that a demon is wreaking havoc in the palace, causing the fortune of the Cheng Tang line to decline. Western Qi will surely take over the world. By dragging the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, into this, he will have no choice but to rebel, even if he doesn't want to."

The next day.

Grand Tutor Du was dragged to the Noon Gate and beheaded for spreading demonic rumors and insulting the sovereign.

Shang Rong resigned from his position as Prime Minister and returned to his hometown.

Yun Zhongzi sat in a teahouse, watching the situation at the imperial palace with a leisurely expression.

He picked up the teapot, slowly poured the tea into a cup, then lifted the cup to his lips and took a light sip.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Although the situation is slightly different from the original plan—Du Yuanxian did not die from Su Daji's bewitchment, but by Di Xin's own order—the result is the same: he is dead, and my task can be considered complete."

After Grand Tutor Du died, his soul did not enter the Netherworld; instead, a gravitational force pulled his soul toward East Kunlun.

Yun Zhongzi smiled.

"It seems the Great Calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has begun. Mere disciples of the Jie Sect are no match for me."

"I remember it's been a long time since I found some nameless Jie Sect disciples to snack on. Why not go find a few now to enjoy myself?"

"After I'm done enjoying myself, I'll come back to properly toy with this tiny Yin-Shang court."

Three Immortals Island.

Gu Xiu was meditating when the system sounded.

"Ding!"

"Du Yuanxian has been beheaded, Shang Rong has resigned and returned home, and Yun Zhongzi's scheme has succeeded. He is now planning to find some nameless Intercept Sect disciples to snack on. Event options triggered; please make a choice, Host."

"Option One: Ignore it. Reward: One thousand years of cultivation!"

"Option Two: Go and watch, witnessing Yun Zhongzi's evil deeds. Reward: Glazed Purifying Fire! (This fire is pure and flawless, capable of purifying all filth and evil in the world.)"

Hearing the system's prompt, Gu Xiu was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't expected Yun Zhongzi to return to Zhaoge and get Grand Tutor Du killed.

But he didn't find it strange at all; he only went to Zhaoge to complete a task and returned as soon as it was done.

If the Chan Sect found their plans altered, they would certainly rearrange new ones to bring the situation back into their control; he couldn't stay in Zhaoge forever to stop them.

However, if there were tasks, he would still do them.

Moreover, Gu Xiu didn't care whether the Yin-Shang dynasty fell or not.

He had already planned that after Jiang Ziya descended the mountain, if the situation went wrong, he would imprison Wen Zhong.

As long as Wen Zhong wasn't used as a pawn by others or acting as a "pig teammate" to harm his own side, the Chan Sect would surely change their plans again. He would only intervene when it concerned the Jie Sect. As for the two sides supporting mortal dynasties to decide the winner, that was something the Chan Sect, Ren Sect, and Western Sect had coerced Tong Tian into agreeing to when signing the Investiture of the Gods; there was no need to play along with them.

If they wanted to fight, they should do it directly. Using mortal dynasties as pawns caused too much collateral damage and would lead to the suffering of the common people.

As for the claim that many Jie Sect disciples were officials in Shang and that their fortune was linked to the Jie Sect, that was nonsense. In all of Zhaoge, only Wen Zhong was a formal disciple.

The two formal fourth-generation disciples guarding the passes, Hu Lei and Yu Hua, were peripheral figures and insignificant.

This was also why Tong Tian ignored the Investiture of the Gods and let his disciples quietly recite the Huangting Scripture. Unfortunately, the schemes of the Four Sages were too formidable; using one Shen Gongbao and one Wen Zhong, they lured out all the important disciples of the Jie Sect.

In terms of disaster and dragging people onto the list, Wen Zhong was no worse than Shen Gongbao.

Gu Xiu shook his head and sighed, turning his gaze to the system panel options before him.

The first option, to ignore it and receive one thousand years of cultivation, was directly dismissed.

The second option, rewarding a new type of exotic fire, the Glazed Purifying Fire, was quite attractive.

Moreover, the nameless Jie Sect disciples were not true disciples; they had simply come to Jinao Island to listen to the Way and seek some cultivation methods. He had killed several himself, so Gu Xiu didn't care whether these people lived or died.

What he cared about was what Yun Zhongzi meant by "snacking."

He thought for a moment.

"By 'snacking,' does it mean Yun Zhongzi wants to eat these people?"

Thinking of this, Gu Xiu chose Option Two.

He wanted to go and see what exactly was going on.

"Ding!"

"Selection successful. Task duration: half a month. Please complete the task as soon as possible, Host; once time expires, the task will be void!"

After the system sounded, the coordinates of Yun Zhongzi also appeared in his mind.

"A one-month deadline. With so much time, it seems this task should be quite interesting."

As he spoke, Gu Xiu transformed into a streak of light and flew away from Three Immortals Island.

Yun Xiao stood in the pavilion, watching Gu Xiu leave, an unusual look in her eyes.

"Gu Xiu, where is he running off to again?"

At this moment, Qiong Xiao ran over: "Big Sister, Big Sister, I have good news to tell you."

"Second Sister, what good news?" Withdrawing her gaze, Yun Xiao said in a gentle tone.

"Your disciple recorded the Eight-Nine Profound Art into the library, and Master, through deduction, directly deduced the Nine-Nine Profound Art."

Surprise flashed in Yun Xiao's beautiful eyes; she hadn't expected Gu Xiu to cause such a stir.

"Second Sister, let's go to Jinao Island and take a look."

"Big Sister, Second Sister, looking at you, is there some good news?"

Just as the two were about to leave, Bi Xiao suddenly popped up.

Seeing Bi Xiao, Yun Xiao couldn't help but go up and lightly tap her forehead.

"You girl, you still know how to come back, and you even used a puppet to fool us."

Bi Xiao rubbed her forehead and stepped forward, acting spoiled: "Big Sister, there was a reason for that, don't be angry anymore, tell me what the good news is."

Yun Xiao shook her head lightly, a bit helpless against Bi Xiao.

"It's that disciple of mine who obtained the Chan Sect's Eight-Nine Profound Art. Master combined it with the content of the Nine-Turn Profound Art fragments and what our sect possesses to deduce the Nine-Nine Profound Art. We don't know the specifics yet, so we plan to go and see."

As Gu Xiu's ally, Bi Xiao's eyes lit up as soon as she heard Gu Xiu was involved again.

"It's about your precious disciple? Then Big Sister, Second Sister, let's hurry and see what's going on."

Yun Xiao tapped Bi Xiao's nose.

"You're the impatient one, let's go."

Leaving Three Immortals Island.

Gu Xiu headed toward the coordinates of Yun Zhongzi's location.

Yun Zhongzi's position kept changing, presumably searching for targets.

Feeling his speed was a bit slow, he thought of the Water-Fire Gourd Tong Tian had rewarded him with, which contained a universe within and nurtured two water-fire Qilin.

He had already refined it; he wondered if he could use the two Qilin as a royal carriage.

Thinking this, he took out the Water-Fire Gourd and chanted a spell.

The gourd radiated a strange light, with water and fire intertwined, swirling around it, and deep roars came from within.

Following this, a raging flame and a surging torrent of water rushed out from the gourd, circling in the sky.

Accompanied by earth-shaking roars, they transformed into two Qilin.

The Water Qilin was deep blue and crystal clear, stepping out on waves and raising its head to let out a clear roar.

The Fire Qilin was bright red, majestic and awe-inspiring, its four hooves stepping on fire, raising its head to let out a long, deafening roar. ===== CHAPTER 33 =====

The Fire Qilin, with a body entirely crimson red, looked majestic and awe-inspiring; its four hooves trod upon fire, and as it raised its head to let out a long roar, the sound was deafening.