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

Chapter 226 The Nine-Year Agreement and the Strategy of Dividing Troops

Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.

"Xiao Wuji possesses a supreme treasure and has three Quasi-Saints—Yunxiao, Minghe, and Zhenyuanzi—as his allies. Pingxin, on the other hand, resides in the Netherworld and is one with the Dao of Earth."

"If we all rush forward and gather at Jiepai Pass, Pingxin will surely bring the power of the Netherworld to forcibly cross the boundary to provide support. At that time, a chaotic battle will break out, and complications will easily arise."

Yuanshi Tianzun sneered and analyzed the enemy's combat strength with extreme precision.

"Although Pingxin has the advantage of being on the home field, he is ultimately limited by his foundation. At most, he can only suppress one Heavenly Saint."

"As for Yunxiao, Minghe, and Zhenyuanzi, these three barely managed to cross that threshold and reach the realm of Quasi-Saints by relying on the fortune of the City God and the Underworld."

"But a sage is still just a sage!"

A hint of extremely arrogant contempt flashed in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes: "One who has not transcended the Heavenly Dao cannot enter the Primordial Great Luo."

"How could such a cunning and deceitful sage truly rival us, the sages of the Heavenly Dao?"

Both Zhunti and Jieyin nodded slightly upon hearing this, deeply agreeing.

Below the level of a sage, all are but ants. Although a near-sage might withstand a few blows, under the relentless crushing force of the sage's inexhaustible Heavenly Dao essence, defeat is only a matter of time.

Therefore, this decisive battle should be carried out by dividing forces.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable slammed the God-Slaying Spear onto the jade ground, producing a muffled boom, thus sealing the final outcome.

"At that time, the two of you will personally travel to the Netherworld!"

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at the two Western Saints: "You two don't need to fight Pingxin to the death. Just use your magic weapons to hold off Pingxin and those three Quasi-Saints of the Jie Sect."

"And I, wielding this demonic weapon of the Demon Ancestor, will personally journey to the mortal realm's boundary pass!"

The murderous intent in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes surged, as if he could already see the scene of the city falling and people dying.

"As long as you two fellow Daoists cut off the Netherworld's support, I only need half an hour to tear apart that damned Primordial Chaos Pure Land with this God-Slaying Spear and completely annihilate Xiao Wuji!"

"With Xiao Wuji dead and the formation broken, the overall situation of the Jie Sect is like a tree without roots."

"At that time, I will immediately go to the Netherworld to join you two, and the three of us will surround you. The situation will be entirely in our hands, and the remnants of the Jie Sect will surely crumble without a fight!"

After listening to this meticulously crafted strategy of dividing forces for a decisive victory.

Zhunti and Jieyin silently pondered in their hearts.

There's no need to directly confront the maddened Primordial Celestial Lord wielding a supreme weapon of slaughter, nor to forcefully confront that bizarre formation.

For the two saints, simply going to the Netherworld to buy time was a sure-fire way to make money.

Moreover, once Xiao Wuji dies, their three personal disciples, who are being held captive at Jiepai Pass, can be successfully rescued.

"Brother Yuanshi's insight is profound."

Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged a glance, no longer hesitating. They clasped their hands together and readily agreed to the plan of dividing their forces.

With the general direction settled, the three saints began to discuss the specific details of the operation.

The guide, his brow furrowed, moved the prayer beads in his hand and raised a very real concern.

"Brother Dao, your plan is excellent. But when shall we make our move?"

The Guide Daoist looked somewhat apprehensive: "Dao Ancestor Hongjun just intervened in the Netherworld to stop the fighting and personally established the rule that the Heavenly Realm, the Human Realm, and the Netherworld should be separated."

"Although the Dao Ancestor has not explicitly issued a decree strictly forbidding us from taking action again, the rules have only just been established."

Jieyin sighed and pointed directly to the danger: "If we were to take this ancient weapon and overturn the table at Jiepai Pass right now, it would be tantamount to slapping the Dao Ancestor in the face in front of all living beings in the Three Realms."

"It is unwise to anger the Dao Ancestor for no reason."

Upon hearing the guide's reminder, the fanaticism in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes subsided slightly. He was not a mindless brute and naturally knew the consequences of angering Hongjun.

"What you say is absolutely right, fellow Daoist."

Yuanshi Tianzun pondered for a moment, then nodded in deep agreement: "We certainly cannot offend the Dao Ancestor. At this moment, the winds are blowing fiercely, and we should indeed avoid his sharp edge."

Yuanshi Tianzun raised his head, his deep eyes flashing with a calculating light that seemed to have shrewdly planned for eternity.

"Senior Brother Taiqing and that scoundrel Tongtian have just entered the cycle of reincarnation. Reincarnating and cultivating anew, awakening the mysteries within their wombs, will take an immense amount of time. Why don't we set the day of our breakthrough nine years from now!"

Nine years!

Upon hearing this, Zhunti's eyes lit up: "Nine is the ultimate number, which can be considered to fulfill the Heavenly Dao."

"Moreover, nine years later, the reincarnations of Taiqing and Tongtian will inevitably be mired in the quagmire of reincarnation in the mortal world. The disciples of the Jie Sect will inevitably be distracted and exhausted in their search for Tongtian."

"At that time, the Netherworld will be empty, making it the perfect opportunity for us to launch our attack!"

"That's exactly right."

Yuanshi Tianzun let out a cold laugh. He raised his right hand and lovingly stroked the cold, ancient demonic runes on the God-Slaying Spear.

"Furthermore, this God-Slaying Spear is an artifact born from the Demon Ancestor, possessing deep demonic nature and being unruly. Using it directly to defend against enemies might result in a backlash from its malevolent energy."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable revealed another core reason for setting the nine-year period: "I need these nine years to activate the Jade Purity Origin of the Jade Void Palace, to cleanse and nurture this ferocious weapon day and night."

"Only after I completely erase the remnants of the Demon Ancestor's consciousness within it, transforming them into my own exclusive weapon, can I unleash its destructive power to its fullest extent!"

Everything was meticulously planned and executed.

This not only avoids the Dao Ancestor's sharp edge but also utilizes the time difference of reincarnation, maximizing the power of the trump card.

"That's good, that's good."

Cundi and Jieyin chanted the Buddha's name together.

The three Heavenly Saints sat upright in the Jade Void Palace, exchanging cold smiles.

a■■n■

In the primordial world, the four seasons cycled.

Despite the turbulent undercurrents in the heavens, the human world has ushered in a rare period of peace.

Jiepai Pass, the main hall of the General's Mansion.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly, dispelling the chill of early winter.

Xiao Wuji, dressed in plain white clothes, sat upright in the main seat of the hall.

He held a military treatise in his hands, his expression calm and composed, yet he exuded an aura of commanding authority that was as deep and unapproachable as an abyss.

In the center of the lobby.

A Taoist priest dressed in a Bagua robe and sporting a mustache with two strokes resembling the character "八" (eight), stood respectfully below.

He didn't even dare to straighten his back; his whole body was slightly hunched over, and he didn't even dare to breathe.

It was Shen Gongbao, the former outcast of the Chan Sect and now a "great hero" of Jiepai Pass.

At this moment, Shen Gongbao felt extremely anxious, as if he were walking on thin ice.

Looking back on everything that has happened in these past few months, it feels like a dream.

Shen Gongbao would break out in a cold sweat every time he thought about it.

He was incredibly grateful that he had been quick-witted back then, and under the terrifying killing intent of the Cloud Emperor, he decisively chose to abandon the darkness and embrace the light, clinging tightly to Xiao Wuji, this powerful and influential figure.

If he had stuck to his principles back then, or continued to follow Jiang Ziya in the Xiqi camp, he probably wouldn't even have his ashes found now; he would have become cannon fodder on the Investiture of the Gods list long ago.

"Your subordinate Shen Gongbao greets the Commander-in-Chief."

Shen Gongbao suppressed all his ulterior motives. He lowered his posture to the lowest level, bowing deeply with utmost respect, his voice filled with humility and awe.

"I wonder what orders the Commander-in-Chief has summoned me here so urgently today?"

Shen Gongbao lowered his head, secretly speculating in his heart.

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