Chapter 351: You're Called Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree

The Dao Men exerted immense pressure on Ling Shan, forcing the other side to send out a scapegoat. Zhao Gongming's single remark compelled them to prove their innocence, directly hitting their fatal weakness.

How could they possibly swear an oath to prove themselves?

As soon as they did, their deception would be exposed.

Immediately, an old Daoist changed his expression and angrily scolded, "Is the Dao Men incapable of anything beyond Tian Dao oaths?"

Zhao Gongming's face darkened at the rebuke, his magnificent beard fluttering and his eyes gleaming with sharp light. He gripped a golden wooden whip in his hand, while twenty-four stars materialized behind him.

At the same time, several figures stepped forward in unison, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Gongming.

Jin Ling Sheng Mu stood resplendent in her golden skirt, holding the Long Hu Ru Yi in her delicate hand, with five golden orbs of light emerging behind her.

Gui Ling Sheng Mu cradled a pale green bell, following closely behind her senior sister, her gaze now sharper than before.

Chi Jingzi held the Yin Yang Mirror in reverse grip, clad in his Ba Gua Xian Pao, his aura profound and enduring, like a wisp of cloud stretching into the nine heavens.

Tai Yi Zhen Ren advanced with hands clasped behind his back, a treasure cover hovering above his head with nine azure dragons coiled upon it, as if they might come alive at any moment.

Yu Ding Zhen Ren had a jade cauldron floating over his head, from which multicolored radiance cascaded, enveloping his form like that of an innate divine being.

Huang Long Zhen Ren adjusted his sleeves, glancing at the treasures of his fellow disciples and those from the neighboring sect, feeling a slight...

Touch of envy...

With these experts stepping forward to stand with Zhao Gongming, the Dao Men's might silenced the Ling Shan cultivators completely.

Behind them, the Grand Mage, Guang Chengzi, and Duo Bao Dao Ren stood proudly.

Countless immortals from the three teachings—some renowned, others obscure yet formidable—were all eager to act.

Any ripples of discontent that had begun to stir in the hearts of the Ling Shan cultivators were swiftly quelled.

The Dao Men immortals demonstrated through their actions that other methods were certainly available—they just doubted whether their opponents could handle them.

"Let him swear the oath."

One old Daoist muttered lowly, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger.

The middle-aged Daoist trembled all over, suddenly turning to kneel toward Ling Shan, bursting into tears as he cried,

"Teacher! Oh, Teacher!

What I have done has tarnished Ling Shan and disgraced your majestic dignity!"

Meanwhile, in a corner of Ling Shan,

Di Zang was whispering something to an old Daoist seated under a tree's shade; this scapegoat was under that old Daoist's control.

It seemed there was some unspoken understanding...

From within the Grand Mage's sleeve, Li Changshou transmitted a message through his paper effigy, and the Grand Mage's surroundings were instantly enveloped in a profound and obscure Yin Yang Dao rhythm.

Separated by hundreds of li and a grand array, the two clashed once more.

The old Daoist, guided by Di Zang, controlled the already "soul-possessed" middle-aged Daoist, who turned to kowtow toward Ling Shan and shout that cry to the teacher.

Then, the middle-aged Daoist stood up, facing the Dao Men experts with eyes full of grief and indignation.

"Zhao Gongming bullied me first! Though I spread that rumor, it was merely to vent my frustration for a moment. How dare you Dao Men make such a grand show of force!

You are merely using this as an excuse to suppress the Western Teachings and elevate your own Dao Men reputation!

How absurd!

Today, I will fulfill your desire for fame! But how will you repay the karma you owe the Western Teachings?"

With that, his aura surged wildly, golden light flashing within him as spiritual energy rapidly gathered around him—he was about to self-destruct!

But as soon as the light around him began, before the self-destruction could reach his primordial spirit, a massive hand appeared out of nowhere, pressing down on his shoulder and instantly sealing his immortal power.

Both sides' immortals were stunned.

Following that hand, they saw only an arm and a rotating Tai Ji Diagram...

Three old Daoists from Ling Shan immediately struck out, but as they moved, the arm had already dragged the middle-aged Daoist into the Tai Ji Diagram!

In a flash, the middle-aged Daoist appeared before Zhao Gongming, suppressed by the five Ding Hai Shen Zhu that sealed his body and spirit!

The turn of events happened too quickly.

No one expected the Grand Mage to seize the "key figure" so effortlessly, right under the noses of the Western Teachings' experts.

The Ling Shan old Daoists surged forward, but the Dao Men immortals advanced in unison, their pressure intensifying and halting the old Daoists in their tracks.

The Grand Mage said calmly,

"Why rush to self-destruction when the matter isn't clear?

Explain the full details of this incident—how you spread the rumor and whether you had accomplices.

We of the Dao Men will punish you accordingly. Whether you choose to end your life is your own decision; it creates no karma with us."

The middle-aged Daoist's eyes widened, filled with indignation.

A Ling Shan old Daoist shouted,

"This is Xi Niu He Zhou, before our teacher's presence! For you Dao Men disciples to act so boldly and seize someone from the Western Teachings, do you even respect the face of the saints?"

"Do not speak recklessly of saintly face," Duo Bao Dao Ren replied indifferently. "We are all disciples of saints. It is up to us disciples to uphold our teachers' dignity, not to engage in underhanded schemes that undermine our foundations. Now that you have no recourse, you drag your saint's face out as a shield.

In doing so, who is truly disregarding the saintly face—you or us?"

The old Daoist's face flushed red as he retorted, "Your skill at sophistry is truly formidable!"

Guang Chengzi interjected, "If we follow your logic, then this time the Western Teachings spread rumors and slandered the Dao Men's Jie Jiao—was that not disregarding my teacher Tong Tian Shi Bo's face?"

"What does a mere rumor have to do with saintly face?" another Ling Shan old Daoist stepped forward, laughing. "Today's matter is simply a private grudge between two individuals. Both the Dao Men and the Western Teachings were established by saints, so why make it so tense?

Why not let Zhao Gongming decide for himself?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Tai Yi Zhen Ren said leisurely, "The Western Teachings are truly skilled. When we speak reason, you mention face; when we mention face, you talk of emotions.

It seems you've claimed all the moral high ground, making it look like we're the ones bullying the weak today."

The old Daoist laughed, "I meant no such thing, but if you say so..."

"Exactly," Tai Yi Zhen Ren nodded slowly, cutting him off calmly, "We're here today precisely to squeeze you soft targets. If you're not convinced, fight; if you are, hold it in."

Li Changshou, overhearing this, nearly burst out laughing.

This Tai Yi Zhen Ren was quite the character.

As the verbal exchanges continued, the Western side was clearly on the defensive, leaving Li Changshou quite impressed.

The Dao Men immortals, who usually seemed straightforward, were only that way because the Dao Men had been peaceful for so long, sparing them the need for intrigue.

Now, showing a bit of verbal sharpness revealed the true essence of the three teachings' immortals.

At that moment, Zhao Gongming ignored the gloomy expressions of the Western old Daoists and looked down at the man at his feet. He withdrew two Ding Hai Shen Zhu, allowing him to speak.

"Go on, explain how you spread the rumor."

The middle-aged Daoist showed anger, but it quickly faded. Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Gongming pulled an old scroll from his sleeve and tossed it onto the man's chest.

"After you explain, you'll still need to swear the oath."

The man's face changed again. Now under the control of the Dao Men experts, he had no chance to resist.

How could he swear the oath?

Doing so would expose everything, tarnishing the Western Teachings' reputation and causing their saint's face to plummet, turning them into a laughingstock of the Great Wilderness. Their claims of "you have affinity with us" would only rely on mind-controlling curses.

The Ling Shan old Daoists pondered frantically, while the Dao Men immortals pressed forward step by step.

Zhao Gongming then heard a voice in his ear—it was Li Changshou's careful reminder...

"Be cautious, elder brother; the saint is likely about to appear."

Almost as soon as Li Changshou spoke, auspicious light filled Ling Shan, and a sigh echoed from all directions, astonishing many of the three teachings' immortals.

Could they really force the Western Teachings' saint to show himself today?

If the opposing saint appeared first, they could already claim a great victory—in this era of the six saints, compelling a saint to reveal himself was a triumph.

Amid the auspicious light, countless clouds condensed into a massive saintly apparition thousands of zhang high.

The apparition slowly raised its hand, and from the clouds, a golden light emerged, "slowly" hurtling toward Zhao Gongming.

Zhao Gongming was about to counter, but a figure suddenly appeared before him—it was the Grand Mage, shielding Zhao Gongming and the other Dao Men disciples.

The Tai Ji Diagram manifested, and the Xuan Huang Pagoda appeared!

The Grand Mage said nothing, his eyes flashing with divine light and Dao rhythms swirling around him. The Xuan Huang Pagoda above his head scattered streams of profound energy, while the Tai Ji Diagram in his hand expanded with the wind.

The golden light that struck was actually a precious tree.

This tree stood several zhang tall, with few branches but lush leaves, shimmering with seven treasures' spiritual light and embodying innate great Dao principles, enhanced by the unique Dao rhythm of a saint.

This tree was called the Qi Bao Miao Shu, a treasure that had witnessed the Hun Yuan Dao.

In that instant, the Qi Bao Miao Shu swept horizontally, its true target being the middle-aged Daoist before Zhao Gongming.

The Tai Ji Diagram intercepted it midway, shrinking to three zhang in diameter, holding the flying treasure at bay.

As the two innate treasures clashed, the reverberations of the great Dao shook outward. A vertical shockwave swept through, agitating spiritual energy across a hundred thousand li.

Amid the thunderous roar, the sea of clouds dispersed, the earth cracked, and a faint white scar stretched across the sky for tens of thousands of li.

After a brief standoff, the Tai Ji Diagram's Yin Yang energies gently rotated, nearly sending the Qi Bao Miao Shu plummeting straight down!

Fortunately, another Dao rhythm wrapped around the tree, and it vanished in a flash back into the Ling Shan cloud apparition.

The Grand Mage remained composed, his breath steady and his own Dao rhythm undisturbed. He extended his left hand, and the Tai Ji Diagram returned to him.

"Shi Shu Zu, why this sudden strike? Have we offended your saintly dignity?"

From the cloud apparition came a faint Dao rhythm...

"Today’s matter is clear to me. It was mischief from a wayward disciple; the Western Teachings will handle the punishment."

The Grand Mage was about to respond when the paper effigy in his sleeve poked his arm...

Know when to stop; today's victory is already complete.

The Grand Mage subtly acknowledged this, slipping the Kun Lun Ruler into his sleeve for Li Changshou to grasp, allowing direct mental communication.

As soon as Li Changshou connected, he sensed the Xuan Huang Pagoda's somewhat frenzied spiritual thoughts:

"The Diagram is awesome, totally awesome! It nearly snapped that little sapling! What a joke, hauling out that Seven Treasures potted plant to embarrass itself!"

Then came a cool, androgynous spiritual thought:

"The little disciple has arrived; mind your manners. You're a senior, after all."

The pagoda fell silent at once, like a serene tower amid peaceful years.

Back to business.

The Grand Mage asked how to proceed next. He wanted to mock the Western Teachings a bit, as the saint had appeared twice before, and from past experience, showing too much softness would only lead to pent-up frustration.

Li Changshou had a ready response, transmitting his words word by word through the layers of treasures.

The Grand Mage soon smiled confidently, looking up at the saintly apparition and feeling the slightly admiring gazes of his juniors, then proclaimed,

"Shi Shu Zu, though this rumor is a small matter, it nearly sparked a civil war between the two Dao Men branches."

From the cloud apparition came the reply: "Since I have spoken, the karma here is resolved. What more dissatisfaction do you have?"

Many of the impatient Jie Jiao immortals wanted to retort, but Duo Bao Dao Ren suppressed them with his aura.

The Grand Mage laughed, "With the saint present, we should naturally withdraw to respect your dignity. As juniors, we dare not offend a saint's face.

However, today's incident concerns the very foundation of the Dao Men. If we leave like this, how should we handle future rumors?"

The saint responded,

"From today, Ling Shan shall be sealed for a thousand years. No disciple may leave without my command."

The Ling Shan old Daoists chorused their assent.

Many Dao Men immortals pondered this carefully and quickly spotted the loophole.

This implied that disciples could leave if given a saint's order.

Duo Bao Dao Ren produced a jade talisman, activated it before the crowd, and asked into it,

"Ling Ya, is the teacher in the palace?

Oh, he is? Don't disturb him yet. If anything happens to me, go tell him.

Yes... yes, I'm at Ling Shan. My disciple and Gongming Shi Di were bullied... The Western saint has already appeared; I might not make it back..."

The jade talisman vibrated slightly with a few affirmations.

Duo Bao Dao Ren then put away the talisman, stepped forward to stand with the Grand Mage, and gazed at the distant saintly apparition.

He whispered, "Xuan Du Shi Xiong, shall we take on the Western Teachings today?"

"We must not be rude to the saint," the Grand Mage admonished sternly. "To respect the Western saint is to respect the three teachers. Saints transcend the mundane and are all-powerful; their face is paramount."

Duo Bao Dao Ren chuckled, "You misunderstand, Shi Xiong. I mean to spar with these Daoists. How could I dare strike at a saint?

Ling Shan was once a pure blessed land, but it's accumulated so much filth, burdening the saint's face.

Perhaps the saint will even thank us for this."

As the Jie Jiao senior brother finished speaking, the Jie Jiao immortals all turned toward the saintly apparition, while the Western old Daoists' expressions shifted uneasily, preparing for another round of confrontation.

Another sigh echoed...

The saint said slowly,

"The Dao Men is destined for great prosperity; why mock the Western Teachings?

Let this karma be fully resolved with that wayward disciple's end, and Zhao Gongming's ties with the Western Teachings are wiped clean."

No sooner had the saint spoken than the middle-aged Daoist before Zhao Gongming, along with that precious scroll, disintegrated into dust and scattered away!

Li Changshou's heart stirred.

This saint had directly influenced the Karma Dao!

The saint added, "How about that?"

The Grand Mage pondered briefly, then bowed to the saintly apparition,

"In that case, we must honor Shi Shu Zu's decree."

Duo Bao Dao Ren glanced at the Ling Shan old Daoists and sighed, "To make your own saint intervene personally—aren't you all a bit too restless?"

With that, he bowed to the saintly apparition,

"With the karma settled, we won't impose further."

Guang Chengzi timely added, "Shi Shu Zu, please understand: as our teacher often says, accepting disciples requires observing their character and origins.

As the saying goes, the Dao is not taught lightly, nor the law granted carelessly.

Do not let a few unscrupulous disciples tarnish the Western Teachings' name.

With today's karma resolved, we take our leave."

At that, the Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao immortals bowed to the saintly apparition and turned to depart grandly on clouds.

The Grand Mage, Duo Bao Dao Ren, and Guang Chengzi lingered a moment longer, waiting for Zhao Gongming and the others to retreat safely, then bowed once more to the saintly apparition before vanishing.

As he left, Duo Bao Dao Ren's voice echoed across the heavens,

"A saint's face is a treasure disciples would risk their lives to protect.

Yet these Western disciples dare not even speak—why did the saint bother taking them?"

"Watch your words," Guang Chengzi cautioned.

The final sound was just the Grand Mage's light laugh.