In the East China Sea, within Jiejiao, Duobao lost no time in taking action alongside Zhao Gongming upon receiving Tongtian's orders. Because of his mastery over sealing techniques, Masui was decisively conscripted to become a member of the law enforcement team. The two men first began screening the disciples on Jinao Island. Those free of karmic burdens were immediately inscribed upon the Biyou Golden List as official disciples of Jiejiao, enjoying the sect's protection and sharing in its Qi fortune. Those with minor karmic burdens who showed true repentance and a willingness to turn back from the brink were accepted as registered disciples under Jiejiao's shelter, though they did not share in its Qi fortune, pending observation of their future conduct. Those burdened with heavy karma were forbidden from calling themselves Jiejiao disciples; instead, they were classified as probationary out-of-sect disciples with a set deadline to cleanse their karma and be reassessed. Those unrepentant were to be expelled from Jiejiao, leaving the sect with the right to purge its own house.
In an instant, a massive tremor shook Jiejiao from top to bottom.
As everyone well knew, many Jiejiao disciples originated from the Demon race, and their karmic debts were nothing short of towering. Upon hearing this decree, they were completely dumbfounded.
Among the Attendant Seven Immortals—no, wait, they were only the Attendant Five Immortals now—Chang'er Dingguangxian gathered the first-generation disciples, all of whom were heavily burdened with karma.
One fierce-looking individual spoke up. "Senior brothers, we cannot simply sit here and await our doom. Let us all go together to Biyou Palace to see Master and ask him to punish Duobao." A chorus of agreement instantly filled the room.
Piluxian rebuked him. "Fools! Senior Brother Duobao's actions clearly have Master's backing, and the law enforcement team is unmistakably aimed at us. Besides, a sliver of hope remains for us yet. As long as we cleanse our minds, see our true nature, and honestly mend our ways, we will still be Jiejiao disciples."
Winged Immortal disagreed. "Senior brother, you are quite wrong. With the heavy karma we carry, how easy do you think it is to wash it clean? Furthermore, the evaluation standards are decided entirely by Duobao's word alone. This is clearly targeted at us."
Qiu Shou Xian and Ling Ya Xian had always shared the same perspective as Winged Immortal. Both sides held fast to their own views and argued endlessly. One faction maintained that simply obeying orders would not only wash away their personal karma but also allow them to continue enjoying the conveniences granted by the status of Jiejiao disciples. The other faction argued that they could not sit back and wait for death, but must fight against Duobao and the law enforcement team to safeguard their own interests.
Golden Light Immortal remained silent throughout, keeping his thoughts entirely concealed.
Seeing this, Chang'er Dingguangxian stepped in. "My fellow senior and junior brothers, stop arguing. At a time like this, we must unite; otherwise, we will play right into Duobao's hands. Are we not Jiejiao disciples as well? By what right should whatever Duobao says go? Let us all go see Master together and ask him to make the decision."
"Right, right! Let's go find Master together." Piluxian shook his head in silence. Golden Light Immortal glanced at them, then turned and left without a word. Seeing this, several disciples in the crowd remained quiet; too afraid to leave, they simply shrank back toward the edges of the room.
Noting their reaction, Chang'er could say nothing more. He knew these people were incapable of achieving great things, and since his own group lacked the strength to stand alone, relying merely on their small circle could never shake Duobao's standing in Master's eyes. With no other choice, he settled for the next best option, telling everyone to keep in touch, avoid being divided and conquered by Duobao, and lie low for now to see what Duobao really wanted and how he would proceed. "Let us sit back and watch how things unfold."
Observing all this from afar, Tongtian said nothing, nor did he offer Duobao any hints. These were matters for the younger generation, and he would not lean toward either side. Although certain individuals would eventually betray Jiejiao, that would happen only after the sect's destruction. Only Chang'er...
Ceasing his thoughts, Tongtian returned to meditation.
Ever since Duobao promulgated the decree in accordance with the Master's commands, the entire sect had quieted down. Those true cultivators who walked the path of righteousness were naturally overjoyed, coming early to Duobao's residence to register. They rallied around him, becoming the vanguard of Duobao's rectification efforts. Meanwhile, certain powerful cultivators who preferred solitary asceticism—adhering to the principle of leaving others alone unless provoked—made no special moves and simply continued their personal practices. Although some of these individuals carried karmic burdens, these had arisen from normal conflicts with others rather than the wanton slaughter of the innocent, so Duobao left them alone, merely having them register on the Jiejiao Golden List without disturbing their cultivation. He knew these people were the backbone of Jiejiao and harbored no unforgivable sins. Yet, there remained another faction that took the decree lightly and continued on their own reckless way.
Today, a group of outer sect disciples ran afoul of Duobao. A pack of minor demons had attacked a human race settlement, launching a gluttonous feast with the humans as their food. By the time Duobao and his companions arrived, not a single soul among the hundreds of thousands in the tribe had survived. Duobao's face looked as though ink could drip from it, and Zhao Gongming was shaking with rage, stepping forward to strike. Yet those disciples lacked all situational awareness; one of them even held a human heart aloft and said, "Senior brothers, come try this! It's simply delicious, and it even boosts your cultivation."
Unable to suppress his fury any longer, Zhao Gongming unleashed his Sea-Suppressing Pearls, preparing to beat them to death. Duobao snapped out of his shock and blocked him. Looking in confusion at Duobao, Zhao Gongming heard him say, "Junior Brother Gongming, calm your impatience. Junior Brother Masui, take them all into custody and bring them back to Jinao Island for trial."
Realizing the situation was turning against them, the opposing group instantly scattered in all directions. Masui hurriedly cast out his golden hoops, but a few fleeing fish still managed to slip through the net. Seeing this, Duobao smiled faintly and said, "It's fine. They will deliver themselves right to our doorstep. Let's return to Jinao Island."
Back on Jinao Island, the staggering minor demon rushed frantically to Chang'er Dingguangxian. "Senior Brother Chang'er, save me! Save me! They've all been captured!"
Chang'er remained silent. It was he who had incited these people in the first place, hoping to test Duobao.
Upon returning to Jinao Island, Duobao struck the Biyou Golden Bell to summon the disciples for an assembly.
When nearly everyone had gathered, the crowd noticed a row of disciples kneeling in the plaza and hurriedly asked, "What happened?" "What's going on?" Similar questions rippled continuously through the crowd.
Clapping his hands to draw everyone's attention, Duobao spoke. "Master has just promulgated the sect rules. These disciples slaughtered the human race, violating those rules. Their conduct is vile, and their sentence is death by the Five Thunders." With that, he prepared to carry out the execution.
Chang'er cast a glance at the disciple who had returned to report earlier.
Catching the hint, that disciple stepped forward and shouted, "Senior Brother Duobao, wait! We had a legitimate reason. That human race hunted down our descendants, and we went to take revenge!" Hearing this, the kneeling disciples on the ground burst into grievances as well, claiming they were merely taking revenge rather than slaughtering the innocent, that they had not broken the sect rules, and that Duobao had no right to judge them. They even accused Duobao of attempting a rebellion.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading! The next part is even more exciting!
At this sight, Zhao Gongming was so enraged he could barely speak. Without a word, he summoned his golden whip, strode forward, and struck down the arguing minor demon until his soul was scattered into nothingness, then proceeded to execute the rest with a single blow each.
Before Duobao could even reach out to stop him, Chang'er wore a triumphant smile. This whole affair had clearly been engineered by him. When the disciples below witnessed this, uproar ensued: *If they are killed just like that without a trial, will we also be struck dead on the spot?*
At that moment, another Demon race disciple cried out, "This is unfair! The law enforcement team is abusing its power! Are we Jiejiao disciples supposed to tuck our tails between our legs whenever we go out from now on? If someone bullies us, are we not even allowed to fight back? I want to see Master! I ask Master to uphold justice for us!" In an instant, followers gathered in droves.
Realizing immediately that he had fallen into a trap, the upright and straightforward Zhao Gongming flushed crimson with anxiety.
Duobao saw instantly that they had stirred public outrage. He had originally intended to hold a public trial to set things right, but he had failed to notice them provoking Zhao Gongming, who had killed the culprits right in front of everyone on the spur of the moment. Furthermore, their souls had been instantly obliterated on the spot, leaving no chance even to summon their spirits. This was unmistakably a setup. Duobao cast a deep, piercing look at the disciples below.
"Silence!" he commanded, sweeping his formidable Daluo Golden Immortal pressure across the area. The pressure left the disciples below unable to speak, yet resentment remained palpable on every face.
Sighing, Duobao said, "Zhao Gongming abused his personal authority and beat untried disciples to death. He is hereby stripped of his position on the law enforcement team and sentenced to confinement for ten thousand years."
Knowing he had walked right into a trap and brought trouble to Senior Brother Duobao, Zhao Gongming swallowed his grievances in silence, agreed to the punishment, and retreated to his cave dwelling without another word.
Although the disciples below were on the verge of making further trouble, they were reined in by Duobao's emotionless stare, and soon scattered in small groups.
In Zhao Gongming's cave dwelling, Duobao and the others gathered to comfort him.
Apologizing to Duobao, Zhao Gongming said, "Senior Brother Duobao, I have brought you trouble."
Duobao smiled and replied, "As long as Junior Brother doesn't hold it against me, that's all that matters. They are merely clowns acting out of desperation; what does it matter if they think they've won a round? Junior Brother Gongming, you are simply too straightforward. The only reason I punished you was to prevent you from being pitted against the other disciples."
Zhao Gongming sighed, still filled with remorse, believing he had dealt a severe setback to the plan for rectifying the sect.
Seeing this, Yunxiao said to him, "Eldest brother, you must remember: in the Primordial World, might makes right. When reasoning fails, you rely on your fists. They resorted to such devious tricks precisely because they dared not confront the law enforcement team head-on, attempting instead to hijack the disciples and use overwhelming public sentiment to halt the law enforcement team's operations."
Hearing this, Zhao Gongming understood at last. Confidence returned to his demeanor as he said, "Many thanks for the reminder, Sister. This elder brother understands. I will remember this lesson."
Seeing this, everyone present nodded in agreement.
Over at Chang'er's residence, laughter and celebration filled the air as they declared that Duobao was nothing special after all, and that a minor scheme had sufficed to halt the law enforcement team's next move.
Tongtian observed the confrontation between the two sides from afar. Ceasing his attention, he trusted that Duobao would handle the matter properly.