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*****
"The Primordial Spirit Treasure, the Heart-Piercing Lock!"
As George gripped the treasure bestowed upon him by the Grandmaster of Heaven, he couldn't help but marvel at Tongtian's generosity. This lock was a supreme treasure for ambushes and captures, easily rivaling the famous Immortal-Binding Rope held by Ju Liusun of the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals.
In the original timeline, Tongtian had given this to the One-Qi Immortal Yu Yuan to capture Ju Liusun. Unfortunately, Yu Yuan had been a step too slow, getting bound by the rope before he could even trigger the lock. George vowed not to make the same mistake.
Following the assembly, the disciples returned to their respective grottos to begin their closed-door cultivation. George was no exception. Now that he was officially an "inner-circle" junior brother, the Three Fairies held nothing back, teaching him the full breadth of the Jie Sect's profound arts.
During this period, George balanced his study of Daoist magic with visits to other Jie disciples. He frequently traveled to Biyou Palace to consult with Tongtian on the laws of the Great Dao. Because of George's vast knowledge of laws from other universes, these "consultations" often turned into deep philosophical debates. Tongtian found himself increasingly enlightened by George's unique perspectives, growing incredibly fond of this "exceptionally perceptive" young disciple.
Meanwhile, the war between the Western Zhou and the Shang Dynasty officially ignited.
Jiang Ziya descended with the Investiture List, but instead of heading straight to Xiqi, he first took an official post in the capital, Chaoge, to gather intelligence. Shen Gongbao, enticed by Yuanshi Tianzun's promises of immortality for his family and a seat among the Golden Immortals, also took a post in the Shang court. There, he assisted Daji—sent by Nüwa—in corrupting the Shang Emperor and eroding the dynasty's providence.
Everything seemed to be following the original script of Yuanshi and Lao Tzu. The only minor deviation was that Yuding Zhenren had never found a disciple named Yang Jian, leaving a gap in the third-generation protectors. But to a Saint, this was a manageable hiccup.
Eventually, Jiang Ziya was driven out of Chaoge by Daji and Shen Gongbao. He settled by a river in Xiqi, fishing with a straight hook until King Wu of Zhou "took the bait," making him Prime Minister. As the war escalated, Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong—the legendary three-eyed general and Jie Sect disciple—led the Shang armies to crush the rebellion.
In the original plan, Shen Gongbao was supposed to act as the "recruiter," luring Jie Sect disciples out of their grottos to be killed and placed on the Investiture List. Instead, Shen Gongbao was currently standing beside George inside Biyou Palace.
"Little Black Dragon, you're here! Come, see the treasure I just finished forging!"
Tongtian excitedly produced the Purple Electric Hammer. He valued George's input; even though the disciple wasn't a Saint, his suggestions for weapon refinement were always brilliant.
"Master, I believe if you modify this rune here, the lightning discharge will be more concentrated," George suggested, drawing on his experience with lightning laws from other worlds.
Tongtian made the adjustments instantly. Seeing the hammer's power spike, he nodded in satisfaction and shoved it into George's hands. "This one is for you. The Heart-Piercing Lock is for trapping; this hammer is for killing."
George thanked him, genuinely pleased. While he could offer advice, he lacked the Saintly flame required to forge a weapon capable of harming a Saint. The Purple Electric Hammer was exactly what he needed.
"Master," George's expression turned serious. "I have a report concerning the Investiture List. I fear our Jie Sect will not be able to remain on the sidelines for long."
Tongtian frowned. "I have already given the decree. As long as you stay in your grottos, the war will pass you by. I know Wen Zhong has asked the Four Saints of Nine Dragon Island for help, but if they choose to leave, that is their karma."
"Master, please listen," George interjected. He stepped aside to reveal Shen Gongbao.
"Disciple Shen Gongbao pays respects to Martial Uncle!"
"Ah, Shen Gongbao," Tongtian remarked. "A pity you joined my brother's sect. With your talent, you would have progressed much further under my wing."
"Master," George continued, "Senior Brother Shen has information about the internal orders of the Chan Sect."
Shen Gongbao, following George's lead, confessed everything. He revealed that Yuanshi Tianzun had ordered him to feign loyalty to the Shang, but his true mission was to act as a catalyst—inciting Jie Sect disciples to leave their mountains one by one to be slaughtered by the Chan Sect, thus filling the vacancies on the Investiture List.
"Impossible!" Tongtian stood up, his aura flickering. "My brothers would not calculate against me so ruthlessly!"
"Master, do not go to them yet," George cautioned. "The orders were given through the Immortal Wuliang. Yuanshi can simply deny them and claim Shen is lying. Furthermore, I suspect the Great Supreme Elder (Lao Tzu) is in on it. He prioritizes the Human Dao, and a purge of our sect benefits his vision."
Tongtian fell silent. He knew that while he was superior in combat, his brothers were far better at calculating the secrets of heaven. If they were truly working together, they would have masked the omens from him.
"If Shen Gongbao is telling the truth..." Tongtian's eyes turned cold. "But how can I verify this without alerting them? If I leave Biyou Palace or peer into Kunlun, they will know."
"Master, I have developed a new divine art," George said. "I call it 'Secrecy.' It can shield one from the gaze of the heavens. I used it to bring Brother Shen here without being detected."
George demonstrated the Secrecy authority of the Darkness Pathway. It was a power from another world, fundamentally different from the laws of the Great Desolate. Tongtian's eyes lit up as he studied it. He quickly mastered the concept and used it to cloak himself, George, and Shen Gongbao.
Together, they vanished from Golden Island and reappeared at Sishui Pass, the front line of the war.
Below them, the battle was raging. The Shang army, led by Zhang Guifang and the Four Saints of Nine Dragon Island, was clashing with Xiqi's forces. On the Zhou side stood Jiang Ziya, the beast Longxuhu, and the apprentices of the Immortal Wuliang. Most notably, two of the Twelve Golden Immortals—Wenshu and Puxian—were present.
Noticeably absent were Nezha and his brothers. In this world, Nezha hadn't committed suicide; he was safe on the Three Immortal Islands. Li Jing had resigned and joined them, and Jinzha and Muzha, disillusioned after the Chan Sect tried to turn their brother into a pill, had also abandoned the war.
As Tongtian watched from the shadows of Secrecy, he saw the trap beginning to close around his disciples, exactly as Shen Gongbao had described. For the first time, the Grandmaster of Heaven realized his "brothers" were playing a game where the cost was the lives of his children.
(End of Chapter)