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Chapter 263: Chapter 260: Disloyal and Unfilial
Yellow Sky City, Yellow Heaven Dao Sect.
This was a large palace complex equivalent to a city within a city.
Just one year ago, the entire Yellow Heaven Dao Sect had over thirty thousand disciples and one hundred thousand servants. These people traveled to and fro among palaces and courtyards of different layouts, embodying the distinction of rank and status.
The highest in status were undoubtedly the Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, who were the Supreme Elders.
They, including the Yellow Heaven Dao Sect Master Zhang Lingjian, resided in the Heavenly Dao Tower at the core of the Yellow Heaven Dao, issuing commands.
This Heavenly Dao Tower was also the most central structure of the Yellow Heaven Dao.
Following them were the palaces where the Divinity Transformation Elders resided.
These palaces were also filled with halls, courtyards, and pavilions.
Those who owned a hall were often Refining God Elders.
Those living in a courtyard were protectors and outstanding individuals among the True Disciples.
As for the pavilions...
They were owned by ordinary True Disciples or Stewards.
Beyond that were the residences of ordinary disciples, Outer Disciples, and even menial workers, living one to a room, or several crammed into a room.
These residences were strictly divided by class and rank.
But this was only a part of the division of power within the Yellow Heaven Dao. The real power held by the upper echelons was far beyond the lower levels’ imagination.
...
At this moment, in the palace of the Refining God Elder named Fang Zhengming, Elder Yu Fan hurried over with a group of Law Enforcement Elders.
"Elder Yu, what is the meaning of this? My son is young, has already cultivated the Hugging Pill, and has future prospects of attaining Refining God status. What has he done to warrant such a commotion?"
Fang Zhengming, following the hurried steps of Yu Fan and others, kept inquiring and said, "Could there be some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding? There is no misunderstanding; the clues we have are very clear."
Yu Fan walked briskly and soon came to a courtyard within the palace.
At that moment, several people were practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, quite happily.
During this time, the Yellow Heaven Dao had encountered a great disaster, with heavy casualties, including many elders, protectors, and even core True Disciples.
Those who survived, though grieving, saw that the death and injury of many middle and high-ranking members meant a number of positions had become vacant.
To boost morale, quite a few had already been promoted.
Fang Yichen and Xie Xiaowan were among them.
The other disciples in the courtyard at this time had come to congratulate the two.
Upon seeing Yu Fan and his group enter the yard, the two immediately collected their divine senses and stepped forward to pay their respects: "Greetings to the Elder..."
"Fang Yichen, Xie Xiaowan, for the crimes you committed, take them away," said Yu Fan with no desire to waste time, waving his hand.
Seeing that Yu Fan was serious, Fang Zhengming had to step in despite the difference in status: "Elder, what wrongs have my son and daughter-in-law committed? Please enlighten us, Elder. Surely we must not wrongly accuse good people over some idle rumors."
"What wrongs?" Yu Fan glanced at Fang Zhengming and scoffed, "Speaking of Xie Xiaowan, she ignored her Master’s teachings, betrayed her Master, that’s disloyalty; in times of Master’s trouble, she stood by and watched, that’s unfilial; outside, she continuously misled others, damaging her Master’s reputation, that’s unkind. In times of crisis, she even colluded with others to kick someone while they’re down, that’s unjust. For such a disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust person, should she not be severely punished!?"
Fang Yichen and Xie Xiaowan listened and were dumbfounded.
How did they betray their Master?
Weren’t they currently cultivating under Refining God Elder Fang Zhengming?
How could they...
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!" cried Fang Yichen hastily.
"There is no misunderstanding," Yu Fan said coldly, glancing at him, "you’re not much better either, luring other people’s disciples, causing others to betray their sect, committing such acts of disloyalty, unfilial behavior, unkindness, and injustice. You shall be considered an accomplice, even the principal offender, and your crime is one degree more severe."
"Elder Yu, this is really a mistake. Yichen has been cultivating with me, and the same is true for Xiaowan. How could the two of them betray me? Aren’t we all well?" Fang Zhengming hastily said.
"Who said it was about you?" Yu Fan looked at Xie Xiaowan, "Don’t forget who your real Master is!"
"My real Master..." Xie Xiaowan was stunned and then seemed to realize something, her face turning pale.
Fang Yichen and Fang Zhengming quickly guessed who Yu Fan’s referred to as "Master," and their faces immediately changed.
Fang Zhengming, in a low voice, said, "Elder, that Gu Jinlai... is our enemy. He has always harbored wolfish ambitions towards our Yellow Heaven Dao, and has never rested for a day. Although Xiaowan is his disciple, she has since renounced evil and turned to virtue. If we deal with her now... it will be causing pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies."
"Nonsense!" Yu Fan glared at Fang Zhengming, "Governor Gu and Star State, as members of the Tian Nan Alliance, are our allies. During the Tianhe Demon chaos, if it wasn’t for Governor Gu’s timely arrival with his forces to Yu Yuntian City, annihilating the demons, Yellow Heaven Dao might have faced destruction. Such a person is a great benefactor to our Yellow Heaven Dao, yet in your mouth, he becomes someone with wolfish ambitions? It seems you also intend to imitate Xie Xiaowan’s ungratefulness, disloyalty, and unfilial behavior! Law Enforcement Elders, where are you? Arrest Fang Zhengming together with them!"
Upon hearing this, Fang Zhengming’s face turned pale.
He suddenly realized something.
The attitude of the higher-ups had changed.
Gu Jinlai and the forces of Lingxiao City behind him had shown unparalleled strength in the battle at Yu Yuntian City, even slaying the Champsosaurus King, deeply shocking the Yellow Heaven Dao high-ups. Consequently, the Yellow Heaven Dao changed their stance toward Lingxiao City, wishing to mend their relationship.
At least while the massive army of Lingxiao City has yet to withdraw from Yellow State, the higher-ups of the Yellow Sky Sect must be extremely cautious and maintain this friendly relationship as much as possible.
And to maintain this relationship...
Receiving Xie Xiaowan, who betrayed her original sect to join them, means she must be handed over.
Not just Xie Xiaowan, but her son Fang Yichen as well...
"Elder Yu..."
Fang Zhengming wanted to say something else.
But Yu Fan stared at him with a cold gaze, "Elder Fang, do not deceive yourself."
This warning immediately made Fang Zhengming look even paler.
Do not deceive yourself.
Clearly, if he wanted to protect his son at all costs, there would only be one result—he himself would also be sacrificed.
He couldn’t stand against Gu Jinlai.
The Yellow Sky Sect couldn’t either.
Man is the knife and I am the fish; such is the situation.
"Father..."
Fang Yichen’s eyes were filled with terror, "I can’t fall into Gu Jinlai’s hands, otherwise, he... he will definitely kill me..."
Fang Zhengming glanced at his son, his teeth clenched, "Elder Yu, if I have Xiao Chen divorce now, could we possibly..."
Upon hearing this, Fang Yichen, as if grasping at a lifesaving straw, quickly said, "Yes! Divorce! I am willing to divorce!"
Xie Xiaowan, whose face had gone pale, was struck by thunder upon hearing Fang Yichen’s words.
She looked at the man who just yesterday had spoken of growing old with her together, her body trembling slightly in disbelief: "You..."
"What about me?"
Fang Yichen was eager to sever ties with Xie Xiaowan, "From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. You go back to your Purgatory Sect and submit to your master, Gu Jinlai’s, disposal. Stop entangling with me."
"Fang Yichen!"
Xie Xiaowan stared at him wide-eyed, her eyes brimming with sorrow and rage.
"Elder Yu, my son Chen and Xie Xiaowan have clearly separated their paths. May I ask if it’s possible for you to make an exception?"
Fang Zhengming hurriedly said.
"Fang Yichen’s name was brought up by Lingxiao City, what do you think?"
Yu Fan looked at Fang Yichen’s shameful about-face and said coldly before gesturing with his hand, "Take him away!"
Upon hearing this, Fang Zhengming’s expression darkened, and he dared not say another word.
Fang Yichen’s face turned ashen, "Why is this happening, why is this happening..."
But Yu Fan and the others no longer paid him any attention.
At that moment, the law enforcement elder at their side thought of something, "Elder, when Fang Yichen brought the disciple Xie Xiaowan from Governor Gu to our Yellow Sky Sect, Governor Gu, in retaliation, also took away a female disciple from our Yellow Sky Sect named Li Muqing... Now Li Muqing has been married to Governor Gu’s disciple Gu Xiangyang for many years. What do you think, Elder, about sending Li Muqing’s father along with Elder Yu Jin to Yuntian City... could this be beneficial for the negotiations regarding the Immortal Essence Gold?"
His words made Yu Fan’s eyes light up, and he quickly said, "Feasible! Li Muqing? Who is her father, have him accompany Elder Yu Jin to Yuntian City right away! If we can get Lingxiao City to demand less Immortal Essence Gold, our Yellow Sky Sect will acknowledge his great merit."
"Yes."
The elder promptly went to carry out the order.
...
The Yellow Sky Sect was trying every possible means to make Gu Jinlai withdraw his troops.
On the other hand, Shang Zhenbei hurriedly transmitted the report of the battle at Tianhe back to the Imperial Capital.
This report was soon presented before Emperor Qian, Jiang Tianji.
"Ten units of Immortal Essence Gold."
Jiang Tianji glanced at it briefly before looking down at the three men below him.
In front of him stood three men.
Wang Yizhi, Zhang Hanhai, and Long Yuantu.
These three, all ministers of the Daqian Cabinet, each possessed a cultivation at the very least at the level of Primordial Spirit True Monarch.
Among them, the most powerful Wang Yizhi was an undoubted Deva.
"How do My Loyal Subjects regard this?"
"Indeed, this war weapon possesses tremendous power; I have also heard of it. It is said that using special artillery shells, any Undying Demon Body not yet at Small Achievement, or Upper-level Demon not focused on defense can be blasted to death. If we had a few tens or hundreds of these, supplemented by the elite of the Imperial City, perhaps we could reclaim Sun State and annihilate the demons nestling there."
Zhang Hanhai was the first to respond.
"Tens or hundreds of such machines, wouldn’t that require hundreds or thousands of units of Immortal Essence Gold? So much Immortal Essence Gold could help cultivate an Immortal Golden Body for a Peak Devas! This action is not advisable!"
Long Yuantu immediately objected, "I wonder if it would be possible for our Heavenly Masters to replicate it?"
"They can replicate it, but it would need time, and the efficiency is extremely low."
Jiang Tianji said, "Without the crafting formula, Lord Wan and Heavenly Lord Zhang would need one to two years to refine just one unit. Other Heavenly Masters would be even slower, taking likely a decade or decades to refine one."
"Then let him hand over the crafting formula."
Wang Yizhi said calmly, "In my opinion, such a war weapon should remain in the hands of the Imperial Family. If left to others, should Lingxiao City harbor ulterior motives... our current actions would only be aiding the enemy."
As he spoke, he slightly stressed his words, "If I’m not mistaken, His Highness the Star King is in Star State."
