At this moment, a line of icy blue text appeared before Shen Gongbao:
[Optional Task 1: Personal Dignity Cannot Be Trampled]
[Requirement: Argue your case forcefully against Yuanshi Tianzun, proving that your wounding of Jiang Ziya was justifiable]
[Time Limit: Three days]
[Difficulty: Three stars]
[Reward: Shen Gongbao's self-esteem]
[Optional Task 2: A Wise Man Submits to Circumstances]
[Requirement: Publicly apologize to Jiang Ziya]
[Time Limit: Three days]
[Difficulty: One star]
[Reward: One Gold-tier lottery draw (Novice perks upgraded by two tiers)]
Shen Gongbao's fingertips hovered over the light screen before he suddenly let out a low chuckle. The surrounding ice crystals reflected the mocking curve of his lips. Just how terrified was the system of him choosing the first option? It had even deliberately upgraded the reward by two tiers.
Rest assured, however, in this lifetime he would no longer wrong himself just to please other people's gazes.
In this lifetime, his eyes would be fixed entirely on money.
A mere apology wasn't going to cost him a pound of flesh.
Without any hesitation, Shen Gongbao tapped directly on Task 2.
………………
At the peak of Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.
Ten thousand paths of golden light intertwined with thousands of auspicious vapors.
A twelve-petaled lotus platform floated in the void while Yuanshi Tianzun sat high upon a cloud bed, enveloped by celebratory clouds and overwhelming sage prestige.
Wuliang Xianweng walked up the stone steps, along the way meeting many disciples who had just finished listening to Yuanshi Tianzun's lecture, and they enthusiastically bowed to greet him.
Wuliang Xianweng smiled and responded to each of them in turn.
Looking at the immortal and graceful Wuliang Xianweng, the disciples couldn't help but sigh with admiration:
"He truly deserves to be our Chan Sect's senior grand disciple, a genuine embodiment of immortal bearing!"
"This is what a Chan Sect disciple ought to look like! Unlike that Shen Gongbao, with his corpse-pale complexion, prominent cheekbones, and narrow eyes. Only such a creature draped in fur and horns would do something as heinous as harming a fellow disciple!"
"Exactly. Who knows what Tianzun was thinking back then, actually letting this single rat dropping ruin the entire pot of porridge at our Yuxu Palace!"
Those whispered murmurs slithered into his ears like venomous snakes. The smile on Wuliang Xianweng's face gradually faded, and his fingers tightened slightly within his wide sleeves.
He remembered those excessively calm eyes of Shen Gongbao in the Ice Prison.
Junior Brother Shen was not as despicable as they made him out to be.
Everything he did was simply to prove himself.
Yet when all was said and done, Junior Brother Shen's actions had been far too reckless, which was why he had incurred the resentment of his fellow disciples.
Wuliang Xianweng shook his head.
After this matter was over, he would properly guide Junior Brother Shen, help him turn over a new leaf, and win back the recognition of his peers.
Right now, the most urgent priority was to first obtain Master's forgiveness.
Lost in his thoughts, Wuliang Xianweng arrived inside Yuxu Palace before he even realized it. Looking up at Yuanshi Tianzun seated high upon the cloud bed, he first offered a respectful bow and then said in a clear voice:
"Master, this disciple has a petition!"
Yuanshi Tianzun's pristine white Daoist robe shimmered with three thousand karmic runes. Golden lotuses sprang from the earth wherever the hem of his robe swept, and a purplish-gold vertical mark sat between his eyebrows, opening and closing as chaos was born and perished. Looking at the nervous Wuliang Xianweng, he spoke coldly:
"What is it?"
Wuliang Xianweng gritted his teeth, pulled back his Daoist robe, and knelt on both knees:
"Master, Junior Brother Shen has already admitted his wrongdoing. Please rescind the punishment, Master."
Hearing Wuliang Xianweng's words, Jiang Ziya stepped forward as well, kneeling beside Wuliang Xianweng, and spoke in a clear voice:
"Master, since Senior Brother Shen has already admitted his mistake, I beg you to spare him this once, Master. The Ice Prison is bitter and freezing; it is not something Senior Brother can endure."
"Bitter and freezing in the Ice Prison? That place was originally meant for imprisoning great demons. How is it suddenly unsuitable for Shen Gongbao?"
A sharp voice rang out. It was Judulsun, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals.
Jiang Ziya pressed his lips together and explained:
"But after all, he is Senior Brother Shen. He is surely different from the demons of the outside world."
Judulsun sneered:
"They are all creatures draped in fur and horns, what difference is there? Junior Brother Jiang, you are simply too kind-hearted. You were injured this badly by that beast, yet you are still speaking up for him!"
Jiang Ziya flashed a shy smile:
"Senior Brother Shen just wanted to win too badly, which is why he struck me so heavily. In ordinary times, he would certainly never be like this."
Judulsun smiled disdainfully:
"Junior Brother Jiang, you always think the best of people—no, I should say you think too well of demons. A creature draped in fur and horns like Shen Gongbao dared to launch such a heavy attack against a fellow disciple in full view of everyone. In some other place, goodness knows what even more outrageous things he might do! If you ask me, he should be left in the Ice Prison to reflect on himself a while longer, lest he goes about bringing further disgrace to our Yuxu Palace once he gets out!"
Hearing this, quite a few people present couldn't help nodding in agreement.
Seeing this, Wuliang Xianweng grew somewhat anxious and hurriedly looked at Yuanshi Tianzun:
"Master, Junior Brother Shen truly knows he was wrong this time. Besides, no matter what, he is still a second-generation disciple of our Yuxu Palace. It really doesn't sound good for him to be locked away in the Ice Prison. Please rest assured, Master, once he comes out this time, I will certainly guide him properly and make sure he never commits such an error again."
Yuanshi Tianzun pondered for a moment:
"Tomorrow, take my tally seal and retrieve him!"
Wuliang Xianweng was overjoyed:
"Thank you, Master!"
Yuanshi Tianzun's expression turned stern:
"Do not celebrate too early either. Judulsun is not wrong: Shen Gongbao dared to attack a fellow disciple in broad daylight, which clearly shows he has not deeply comprehended our Chan Sect's teachings. If he is simply released just like that, who knows what wrongdoing he might commit next time? Tomorrow, you must have him publicly apologize to Ziya. That is the bottom line."
"Rest assured, Master, I will supervise Junior Brother Shen and make him apologize to Jiang Ziya."
This was a point Wuliang Xianweng had already considered beforehand.
Severely injuring a fellow disciple was a mistake Junior Brother Shen should not have committed under any circumstances.
Apologizing to Junior Brother Jiang was only right and proper.
Yuanshi Tianzun waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw.
Upon walking out of Yuxu Palace, Jiang Ziya said with a hint of worry:
"Senior Grand Brother, I know Senior Brother Shen's temperament. Making him apologize to me in front of everyone would undoubtedly feel worse than death to him. He will certainly never accept it. Besides, my injuries aren't severe anyway. Why don't we just drop the whole matter of Senior Brother apologizing?"
Wuliang Xianweng waved his hand:
"Junior Brother Jiang, mistakes must be acknowledged when they are made. Rest assured, I will handle the matter of Shen Gongbao's apology."
"Junior Brother Jiang, you really are just too kind-hearted. A mere apology—what on earth does that Shen Gongbao think he is? Why couldn't he accept it?"
With that, Judulsun turned his gaze to Wuliang Xianweng:
"Senior Grand Brother, I feel that a mere apology is letting that Shen Gongbao off far too easily."
"Although Master already intends for Junior Brother Jiang to wield the God-Conferring Board this time, Master explicitly stated before the Yuxu Palace martial arts competition that the winner would decide who holds the God-Conferring Board. As disciples, how can we put Master in a difficult position?"
"If you ask me, tomorrow we should make Shen Gongbao voluntarily give up the right to wield the God-Conferring Board. That way, it will preserve Master's dignity while also offsetting the crimes of that scoundrel Shen Gongbao. What do you think?"