Mingxing Peak.
Zhi Xin sat on the edge of the cliff, ditating in silence.
The fierce wind stirred his robes, his pale hair fluttered with the gusts, his silhouette exuding loneliness and desolation.
"Deep affection does not endure, excessive wisdom invites wounds."
These eight words could sum up the first half of Zhi Xin’s life.
Though he possessed great talent, he had insisted on exhausting his Primordial Energy to assist his Taoist couple in crossing a tribulation. When the attempt failed, he then devoted hundreds of years searching for ways to cure her.
Too sentintal.
If not for this, he might have ascended to a higher position much earlier.
If he chose to forget those past events and abandon avenging a dead soul, the burden could have been much lighter.
Yet, if this were the case, Zhi Xin wouldn’t truly be himself.
At this thought, Zhi Xin suddenly stood up.
Gazing into the distance, deep in contemplation.
"It’s not over yet..."
Zhi Xin muttered to himself, his gaze resolute.
Song Lin’s plan had its rits—short-term gains could easily be achieved.
But retaliation afterward was an inevitable outco.
Although the retaliation wouldn’t be severe, under the watchful threats from certain mbers of the Taoist School, it would still be devastating.
However, for Zhi Xin, the plan was far from complete.
Although he had successfully built his reputation, it wasn’t yet at the level where others would kneel in reverence.
This plan still lacked its final crucial piece.
Without this last piece, the rise of Donghua Jungle would be unimaginably arduous.
The Taoist system was rigid, with countless thods for those in power to erase individuals without a trace.
The only reason he had survived thus far was because of his usefulness.
But this couldn’t last much longer.
Even if they dared not harm him directly, wouldn’t they target those around him?
When friends, disciples—one by one—fell victim to villainous harassnt because of him, Zhi Xin would never stand idle.
His character dood him to such entanglent.
Zhi Xin’s gaze gradually beca firm.
Suddenly, a tunneling light descended from the horizon.
Ziyun gently landed, her expression calm as she looked at Zhi Xin.
This ti, she neither pleaded nor threatened and instead spoke directly:
"The Taoist School has delivered its punishnt: Donghua Jungle must pay ten billion dharma coins, Song Lin is stripped of his position as Taoist, and he’s to be confined for a hundred years. After those hundred years, Donghua Jungle will no longer bear the surna Song."
"What does this have to do with ? I am certainly not Donghua Jungle’s Taoist,"
Zhi Xin replied indifferently.
"The Heavenly Master will kill you! The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master has covertly approved this. Even if you die, they won’t hold the Heavenly Master accountable. Your existence disrupts the Taoist Alliance’s stability."
This detail had indeed escaped Zhi Xin’s notice.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master wouldn’t kill him, but neither would he allow him to roam freely.
Instead, he’d sanctioned the Holy Might Heavenly Master to act.
That was precisely why Zhi Xin never considered appealing to the Spirit Treasure Sect for justice.
Both sides were equally vile.
"Am I destined to die?"
Zhi Xin paused briefly, then asked.
Earlier, he had received word from Song Lin.
Taoists from Yin Spring Palace, including two Thunder Tribulation cultivators, had already sworn allegiance to Donghua Jungle, rendering Zhi Xin’s influence less critical.
"Certainly, but you have a better choice—make your death more aningful. It will benefit others and yourself. The Heavenly Master personally made this promise, and I’m willing to swear on it."
Seeing Zhi Xin hesitate, Ziyun pressed onwards.
"The past is past; I truly intend to repay you. Ending up like this is the result of your obstinacy."
What Ziyun did not know was that Zhi Xin had long uncovered Holy Might’s true identity.
Ziyun’s reappearance was nothing but a ploy orchestrated by Holy Might, not re coincidence but deliberate intent.
"Now, it’s ti for you to consider."
Zhi Xin pondered for a long while before finally nodding.
...
Donghua Jungle.
Chuu Yuying and her entourage ca to pay a visit.
"Master, what brings you to my humble abode?"
Song Lin greeted them at the gate, accompanied by the Three Capitals and Five Masters and twenty-seven temple masters.
In accordance with the Taoist School’s etiquette, they ca forward to welco them.
Chuu Yuying smiled faintly, adopting an official tone.
"Is everyone gathered? I have a decree to announce."
"In light of recent upheavals, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master has delivered his punishnt: initially, Donghua Jungle was to pay a fine of ten billion dharma coins and have your position as Taoist revoked. However, the Holy Might Heavenly Master has stepped in to shoulder the burden, sparing you from punishnt."
Everyone exchanged glances.
Song Lin fell into contemplation—this matter wasn’t as simple as it appeared.
Holy Might wouldn’t show kindness out of goodwill; there had to be a hidden agenda.
Having finished the announcent, Chuu Yuying approached Song Lin with a smile:
"The past is past, and the Heavenly Master’s magnanimity ans no pursuit. Focus on peaceful developnt moving forward; I think highly of you."
"Hmm."
Song Lin responded ambiguously.
Soon, news of this matter spread across the Taoist School, and many sang praises of the Holy Might Heavenly Master’s benevolence.
At the sa ti, another piece of information circulated within a smaller circle.
Zhi Xin announced his indefinite retreat to breakthrough the Fire Tribulation, relinquishing his position as Heavenly chanism Minister.
"Why?"
Song Lin was puzzled, wondering why Zhi Xin had gone into seclusion without even notifying him.
Instead, he simply left him a letter through another person.
Still, it wasn’t all bad news.
Should Zhi Xin successfully cross the Fire Tribulation, his cultivation level would surpass all but those who had yet to face the Thunder Tribulation.
But the situation was far more complex; Song Lin realized they needed an investigation.
World in the Pot.
Donghua Taoist Song Lin, the Three Capitals and Five Masters, twenty-seven temple masters, two Jungle Taoists, along with the Three Capitals and Five Masters they brought—but their temple masters did not attend, as they weren’t completely trustworthy.
Additionally, eight envoys from the Evil Exorcism Altar and representatives from the Yin Spring Palace.
Song Lin sat at the head seat, flanked by Zhonghuang Zi and Yuanbo, as well as the Evil Exorcism Altar envoy Xiangling, Capital Managent Institute’s Shi Yinhua, and others like Guu Ling and Fei Hong.
Seeing so many masters gathered, Zhonghuang Zi couldn’t help but marvel.
He hadn’t expected Song Lin to rally such a powerful assembly.
"What are everyone’s thoughts on the matter of the annual coin tax?"
Song Lin presented the matter of the Taoist Alliance’s annual coin tax to the group.
The news stirred disdain within the gathering.
"Funding the enemy, utter humiliation."
"Submissive lackeys! Loyal dogs to the demons."
The collective response was unsurprisingly negative.
"Six Heavenly Old Qi, Stagnant Qi rises most strongly—truly, the Taoist was right."
Zhonghuang Zi remarked.
He had recently studied the Six Heavenly Old Qi theory and found it profoundly accurate.
The world’s chaos stemd precisely from the existence of these six corrupt energies.
Song Lin stood up, turning to gaze at a plaque near the jungle, which read: "The celestial energies wide and vast, our Dao flourishes forever."
"In the Immortal Dao, life is treasured, while the Ghost Dao values its end. These individuals naturally clash with our ideals. They are destined to be mortal foes. Therefore, those of Donghua must collaborate sincerely, building their own strength to seize control of their destiny."
"Allow to introduce Zhonghuang Zi and Yuanbo, both Thunder Tribulation cultivators!"
All eyes turned to these strangers, finally grasping their identities.
Zhonghuang Zi deliberately emitted an overwhelming aura, convincing everyone of their authenticity.
Thunder Tribulation cultivators?
Donghua Jungle had Thunder Tribulation cultivators? Two of them, at that! Such revelations bolstered confidence within the group regarding the alliance.
Previously, many harbored doubts about their capacity to challenge Holy Might, but with such allies, their confidence surged.
Then ca the ritual: praying to the heavens and forming the alliance with blood.
Though blood pacts lacked true binding power, everyone’s nas were recorded. Should retribution follow, there would no escaping it.
In no ti, the alliance was established, involving three jungles, one hidden pulse, and a collection of allies.
The alliance’s terms were simple: shared honor and disgrace, mutual cooperation, resource sharing, among others.
Qin and the Five Qi Jungle sequentially dispatched temple masters to practice the newly introduced cultivation techniques, and Taoist Temple reforms implenting Donghua Rules comnced.
A three-year reform period was set, after which the two jungles beca subject to oversight by the Evil Exorcism Altar.
"Greetings to the Alliance Hierarch!"
With the ceremony complete, everyone stood and spoke in unison.
Song Lin, wielding unparalleled power, unsurprisingly beca the Alliance Hierarch.
All this transpired in secrecy.
Song Lin deliberately selected the temple masters’ reporting day, and the two Jungle Taoists arrived covertly, ensuring no outsiders were aware of the World in the Pot alliance.
...
Heavenly Master’s Dojo.
The Holy Might Heavenly Master received news of Zhi Xin’s retreat and couldn’t help but smile.
Zhi Xin had finally yielded.
The Holy Might Taoist School would soon gain another Primordial Spirit cultivator, perhaps paving the way for his bid to beco Taoist Alliance Celestial Master.
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