After guarding the gates for a hundred years, I drove the Heavenly Saint to madness.

The screen at the back of the lobby was pushed open.

The Fairy of Clouds stepped forward. A murderous intent shrouded her face.

The temperature in the entire lobby dropped to freezing point, and a layer of white frost condensed on the blue brick floor.

"Shen Gongbao..."

Yunxiao stared at the Taoist priest in the center of the hall, his voice filled with blood and hatred: "You traitor who betrayed your master and ancestors, how dare you show your face here?"

Zhao Gongming died tragically from the Seven Arrows of Nailhead, and his two younger sisters, Qiongxiao and Bixiao, perished on the battlefield.

Although these blood debts were committed by the Golden Immortals and Sages of the Chan Sect, when traced back to their source, which one of them wasn't caused by this person's words, "Fellow Daoist, please wait"?

Sensing the killing intent emanating from Yunxiao, Shen Gongbao trembled and turned deathly pale.

But faced with this oppressive force, this usually smooth-talking unlucky man did not kneel down and beg for mercy.

He took a deep breath, bracing himself against the murderous aura emanating from the sky, and straightened his spine.

"Fairy of the Clouds".

Shen Gongbao clasped his hands together, stared straight at the sky, his voice trembling, yet revealing a resolute determination.

"I know that many fellow Daoists of the Jie Sect have been implicated because of me, and the fairy's brother and sister have also been affected. I am guilty of grave sins and deserve to die ten thousand times over."

"But if you believe that I deliberately harmed my fellow disciples of the Jie Sect, or that I orchestrated this to curry favor with the Chan Sect... then I will speak my mind, even if it means death!"

Upon hearing this, Yunxiao's eyes flashed with even greater murderous intent: "You used your clever words and flattery to incite my disciples to descend the mountain and die. Do you have some kind of injustice to your name?"

"This humble Taoist priest is indeed wronged!"

Shen Gongbao raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, revealing a sense of desolation at being mocked by fate.

"My only wish is to support the Shang Dynasty and prove to the Primordial Heavenly Lord that my talent is absolutely no less than that of Jiang Ziya, who couldn't even achieve immortality!"

Shen Gongbao's voice echoed in the hall, filled with resentment and anger.

"I have a wide circle of friends, and I consider the immortals of the Jie Sect my closest confidants. My invitation to them to descend the mountain is a sincere plea for their assistance; I wish to share in their wealth and prosperity, and to partake in the fortunes of the mortal world!"

"How could I have known that the Xiqi camp had already laid a trap?"

"How could I have known that the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect would launch a coordinated attack against a few juniors? Or that even a sage would personally intervene?"

Shen Gongbao's chest heaved, and fear flickered in his eyes.

"Fairy, do you truly believe that all of this was something I, a mere Daoist, could have planned alone?"

He gave a bitter laugh and pointed to his nose: "What am I? Just a discarded disciple."

"Later, I finally understood. On the surface, the Primordial Heavenly Lord expelled me from his sect, but in reality, he wanted me to be the 'eye of calamity' that filled the Investiture of the Gods!"

"The sage's calculations are too deep; fate is like a knife! The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect have committed a calamity of slaughter, and someone needs to die in their place."

"The fault lies not in my initial intention to defy fate, but in the heartlessness of the sages of the Chan Sect who regard all living beings as ants!"

These heartfelt words echoed throughout the hall.

Upon hearing this, Yunxiao's fingers, which were gripping the sword incantation, stiffened.

The murderous intent in her eyes froze.

Shen Gongbao's words struck at the heart of the Great Calamity. How could she not know that the root of the tragedy of the Jie Sect was the deadly trap set by those sages working together?

Shen Gongbao was, at best, a puppet manipulated by fate and sages.

Even if he were killed, it wouldn't bring back Zhao Gongming and his two sisters, nor would it shake the very foundation of the Chan Sect's saint.

The lobby fell into dead silence.

Just as Yunxiao was caught in a dilemma, Xiao Wuji, who was sitting in the main seat enjoying tea, put down his teacup.

"Master, please calm down."

Xiao Wuji stood up, his tone gentle, and released a wisp of world power to suppress the killing intent surrounding Yunxiao.

He walked up to Shen Gongbao, looked at the Taoist priest who was covered in sweat but still had his neck stiff, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

Although he is unlucky, his resourcefulness and courage to argue his case in a life-or-death situation truly make him a talented individual.

In the quagmire of a great calamity, it is often those with a strong will to survive who are most effective.

"Fellow Daoist Shen."

Instead of following Shen Gongbao's lead in denouncing the sage, Xiao Wuji got to the point.

"Since you have already realized that you are nothing more than a pawn in the hands of the Primordial Celestial Lord, why have you risked your life to come to my Jiepai Pass today?"

"They must have come to surrender?"

When Shen Gongbao saw Xiao Wuji speak, he knew that his life was spared.

He suppressed his grief and indignation, bowed, and said with a fawning smile, "General Xiao's divine might is unparalleled; he can even force a sage to retreat."

"If this lowly, stray dog ​​could serve under the command of the Great Marshal, it would be an immense honor for me!"

"No problem."

Xiao Wuji returned to his seat, tapped his fingers on the table, and asked:

"However, I do have a question I'm curious about."

"Now, outside this Jiepai Pass, the Chan Sect has a dense network of spies. In addition, the Sage himself intervened a few days ago, and all forces are keeping a close eye on every little thing happening here."

Xiao Wuji looked at Shen Gongbao with a half-smile: "Fellow Daoist, how did you manage to evade the eyes and ears of the Chan Sect and enter my General's Mansion, a mere outcast?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Gongbao's smile froze.

His mustache twitched, he touched his nose, and his eyes darted around.

His mustache twitched, he touched his nose, and his eyes darted around.

"Well... I enjoy traveling around, so I do have a wide circle of friends. I know several fellow Daoists from all walks of life. Therefore... I am well-informed and have more connections."

Seeing Shen Gongbao's evasive words, Xiao Wuji understood perfectly.

What does it mean to have a wide circle of friends?

This guy is clearly a spy who can play both sides!

The fact that he was able to bypass the Chan Sect's blockade and arrive at Jiepai Pass at this time indicates that he still maintains contact with the Chan Sect or other forces.

He came to seek refuge partly out of necessity for survival, but also partly out of a desire to find out the details of Jiepai Pass.

But Xiao Wuji didn't care at all.

In the face of absolute power, any conspiracy or trickery is futile.

Shen Gongbao was nothing more than a casual move that he could use at any time.

His true source of confidence lies in his trump card: the Primordial Pure Land. As long as Shen Gongbao can disgust others, he is a perfectly competent tool.

"Having many friends? That's a good habit."

Xiao Wuji did not expose him; instead, he clapped his hands in praise.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked toward the distant west.

"Since you have such a wide circle of friends and so many connections, fellow Daoist..."

Xiao Wuji put down his teacup, his tone calm yet resolute:

"Do you... know anyone in the Western Paradise?"

Shen Gongbao's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

His triangular eyes widened as he stared at Xiao Wuji, who sat in the high position.

Western religion?

This general just thoroughly offended the Chan Sect and humiliated Yuanshi Tianzun, and now he's actually setting his sights on those two Western sages?!

"What... what does the General mean..." Shen Gongbao swallowed, his voice hoarse.

Xiao Wuji looked at him, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Those two sages in the West love to use the pretense of having a connection with me to come all over the East and plunder my land."

"A few days ago, the Sage Zhunti even reached out to the city walls of my Jiepai Pass."

Xiao Wuji tapped his fingers on the table, making a "tap, tap" sound, like tolling some kind of death knell.

"It is impolite not to reciprocate. I also want to see just how powerful the supernatural powers and magic of the Western religion really are."

Xiao Wuji leaned forward, staring into Shen Gongbao's eyes:

"Fellow Daoist, didn't you want to surrender? Then consider this your pledge of allegiance."

"Go to the West and invite a few Western Christians to visit Jiepai Pass. If you can invite a few of significant figures..."

Xiao Wuji's smile deepened: "It's not difficult for me to ensure your safety."