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As for why the Infinite Immortal wanted to control Shen Gongbao?
First, Shen Gongbao was one of the few who knew the Infinite Immortal's true face and understood all of his deeds. Not having him under control would surely make the Infinite Immortal uneasy.
Although everything the Infinite Immortal did was for the sake of the Chan Sect, and his master had tacitly approved of his actions, it was ultimately something that could not be spoken of openly.
If everything were truly exposed, the Infinite Immortal would inevitably face punishment from his master.
Second, based on George's speculation about the development of the Investiture of the Gods, the Infinite Immortal perhaps wanted to control Shen Gongbao to secure an early advantage for the Chan Sect in the upcoming Great War of the Gods.
As the eldest disciple of the Chan Sect and the acting agent of the Jade Void Palace, the Infinite Immortal should know the inside story of the War of the Gods.
The list on the Investiture of the Gods should have already been drafted when the Three Pure Ones refined the list.
The difference was that, according to normal development, the cultivators on this list were supposed to enter the Investiture of the Gods alive and become righteous gods of the Heavenly Court, meaning they wouldn't be completely subject to the Jade Emperor's control.
For the disciples of the Three Sects, this could be considered a good thing—after all, there was no loss, and they secured an official position.
However, among the Three Sects, the ones with the most names on the list were the disciples of the Jie Sect, who were all from the Demon Race. This clearly did not align with the interests of the Chan Sect.
Therefore, the Infinite Immortal wanted to use Shen Gongbao—the Chan Sect disciple with the best relationship with the Jie Sect disciples—to scheme and draw those Jie Sect members on the list into the trap.
In the end, their bodies would perish, their Dao would vanish, and their souls would enter the list, turning them completely into puppets of the Heavenly Court.
In this way, even if the Jie Sect disciples made up the majority on the list, they would pose no threat to the Chan Sect.
Of course, these were merely speculations George made based on memories from his previous life combined with the current situation. Whether this was truly the case remained to be seen.
"Roar!"
Just then, a tremendous dragon roar erupted in the sky.
A massive Azure Dragon tore through the air, charging straight toward Chentang Pass with obvious malicious intent.
"Barrier Beasts!"
Li Jing and Lady Yin flew to the top of the city wall, commanding the Barrier Beasts left behind by Taiyi Zhenren to activate the barrier, temporarily blocking the Azure Dragon outside the walls.
However, the Azure Dragon possessed extraordinary strength. After several consecutive impacts, it actually shattered the barrier set up by the Barrier Beasts on the spot.
"Three Dragon Kings, act now!"
Following Shen Gongbao's command, the Dragon King of the West Sea, the Dragon King of the South Sea, and the Dragon King of the North Sea appeared simultaneously. Three massive dragon breaths spewed forth, killing the Azure Dragon on the spot.
However, after the Azure Dragon was destroyed, it transformed into a walking staff and returned to the hand of an old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face, dressed in Daoist robes.
The arrival was none other than the eldest disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Lord (Yuanshi Tianzun), the acting sect master of the Jade Void Palace, the Infinite Immortal.
"Hmph. The Dragon Race... there is indeed a problem."
Upon discovering the appearance of the three Dragon Kings, the Infinite Immortal did not seem overly surprised.
Taiyi Zhenren had brought two disciples to participate in the Immortal Ascension Exam, one of whom was the Third Prince of the Dragon King, Ao Bing, who had also turned out to be the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl. This had already aroused his suspicions.
Although Taiyi Zhenren's explanation was seamless, and the other junior brothers at the Golden Immortal Conference agreed with Taiyi's viewpoint, he still felt something was fishy.
He had originally planned to use the Dragon Race for alchemy, and this was the perfect opportunity to probe them.
With the Great War of the Gods imminent, Chan Sect disciples needed more immortal elixirs to increase their cultivation.
However, after years of capturing by the Demon Capture Squad, powerful demons in the lower realm were becoming harder and harder to catch, and weak demons couldn't be refined into high-quality elixirs.
Thus, he set his sights on the Four Seas Dragon Race.
The Four Seas Dragon Race was powerful and commanded countless sea demons. If they could all be refined into immortal elixirs for the Chan Sect disciples to consume, the strength of the Chan Sect would surely skyrocket.
Unfortunately, during several Golden Immortal Conferences, when he had the Deer Boy test the waters, his junior brothers all disagreed with dealing with the Dragon Race.
The main reason was that there was no just cause. Attacking the Dragon Race, which had already surrendered, would damage the reputation of the Chan Sect and make them a laughingstock to all cultivators in the world.
Therefore, to avoid damaging the Chan Sect's reputation, they needed a valid reason.
His original plan was to transform his walking staff into an Azure Dragon to attack Chentang Pass, kill a few mortals, and create the illusion that the Dragon Race had left the East Sea to attack humans.
Then, before the facts could be confirmed, he would personally lead the Demon Capture Squad to refine the entire Dragon Race into immortal elixirs.
With the Dragon Race exterminated and the testimony of the people of Chentang Pass, everything would seem reasonable, and no one would pursue the matter further.
As for Ao Bing, the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl, he would be easy to handle.
If he dared to resist, he would be branded as an accomplice of the Dragon Race. They could even frame the swap of the Demon Pill and Spirit Pearl as a conspiracy by the Dragon Race, killing him directly to refine a supreme-grade immortal elixir.
If he didn't resist, they would slowly brainwash him, making him atone for the sins of the Dragon Race and eventually becoming a loyal enforcer for the Chan Sect.
Now it seemed that what Taiyi said might not have been the truth after all. The matter of the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Pill might indeed be related to the Dragon Race.
Otherwise, how could the three Dragon Kings, who were supposed to be suppressed in the submarine purgatory, appear at Chentang Pass?
But this actually made things better.
He could simply destroy all of Chentang Pass, kill the three Dragon Kings, and leave their corpses there to create the illusion that the three Dragon Kings had attacked Chentang Pass. It would be even more seamless.
If the Dragon Race didn't have rebellious intentions, how could the three Dragon Kings suppressed in the submarine purgatory appear at Chentang Pass?
The East Sea Dragon King would be unable to defend himself, and perhaps he could even utilize the power of the Demon Pill.
"Eldest Senior Brother, I trust you have been well!"
Holding a lightning whip, Shen Gongbao appeared in front of the three Dragon Kings, looking angrily at the Infinite Immortal.
The Infinite Immortal clearly hadn't expected Shen Gongbao to be here. However, after a second thought, combining all the information, he roughly guessed what was happening.
So, he took the initiative to accuse:
"Shen Gongbao, you are colluding with the Dragon Race. What are your intentions?"
"I should be asking you... what are your intentions in capturing my father!"
Shen Gongbao pointed his lightning whip at the Infinite Immortal, his face full of rage.
The Infinite Immortal raised an eyebrow.
"Who said I captured your father?"
"Only you know my family's situation. If not for your instruction, how could Nezha and Ao Bing's Immortal Ascension Exam target my father? Furthermore, the arrow wound on my brother is clearly the work of your disciple, the Deer Boy."
Shen Gongbao laid out the evidence he possessed with clear logic.
Hearing this, the Infinite Immortal stopped pretending and stroked his beard.
"As expected of a talent this old man introduced to the sect. Nothing escapes your eyes."
Seeing Shen Gongbao and guessing the situation with the Demon Pill and Spirit Pearl, the smile on his face grew even wider.
Originally, he was afraid the Demon Pill wouldn't believe him, but now things were secure.
Shen Gongbao discovers his brother is injured, and in a rage, commands the three Dragon Kings to slaughter Chentang Pass. It was logical and reasonable. Leaving the two unconscious Barrier Beasts alive, who didn't know the truth, would make it perfect.
It was simply flawless.
"Deer Boy, Crane Boy, come out!"
With a wave of his hand, a man and a woman appeared behind him. They were his two disciples, possessing strength close to that of a Golden Immortal.
Guessing that the situation at Chentang Pass was not simple, he had brought his two disciples along just in case.
His main body was accompanying his master in refining the Investiture of the Gods. What remained at the Jade Void Palace was merely an incarnation created from his magical walking staff, capable of exerting at most the power of a Taiyi Golden Immortal.
(End of Chapter)