If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1430 The Lamenting Old Ghost of the Deer Cauldron
"Master Jingang, what are you doing here?"

Upon seeing the old Taoist Jin Gang, both Yan Wushuang and Jin Guang Daoist gasped in surprise.

The old Taoist priest Jin Gang glanced at them once, then lowered his head with a sorrowful expression and stood obediently below the steps.

"This is the Vajra Daoist of the Tianshan School of the 'Great Dao Sect'. Perhaps some people in the martial arts world of the North have heard of his name."

Ying Tong gave a brief introduction, then asked, "Master Jingang, what do you have to say about Yan Wushuang's awakening of innate wisdom?"

The old Taoist priest said in a hoarse voice, "Yan Wushuang's awakening of innate wisdom was not due to his extraordinary talent, but because I gave him an Eight-Turn Wisdom Pill last May."

"Jin Gang, what nonsense are you spouting?" Jin Guang Da Xian shouted.

He was a powerful immortal, indeed a great immortal to Vajra.

Jin Gang shrank back, his face showing fear and despair. But when he glanced at Grand Tutor Yu, he lowered his head and said indifferently, "I have sworn an oath to Heaven that once I am in court, I will not dare to utter a single word of nonsense."

Ying Tong said unhappily, "Great Immortal Jin Guang, I respect you for your virtue and profound wisdom, but you cannot break the rules and coerce an accomplice into not telling the truth in front of millions of people in Yan!"

Not only are the common people watching, but the Grand Tutor is watching too, and even the gods and spirits are sensing it!

The cries of the Yan people had ceased; instead, they stared wide-eyed, their eyes still wet with tears, looking in confusion at the principal offender and his accomplices inside the hall.

Jin Guang could only glare fiercely at Jin Gang before shutting his mouth and daring not to openly threaten him anymore.

Ying Tong said in a deep voice, "Jingang Daoist, you tell everyone what the 'Eight-Turn Wisdom Pill' is."

"The highest grade of pill is the nine-stage pill. The eighth stage is already considered an immortal pill. The Tonghui Pill awakens innate wisdom, allowing one to gain the experience and wisdom of past lives, and greatly enhances one's mental state and spiritual power," said the old Daoist Jin Gang.

Even after all this, most onlookers still have many questions.

Ying Tong then asked, "Is the Eight-Turn Insight Pill considered a rare treasure in the Immortal Realm? Compared to the Bone-Changing Pill, which we are more familiar with, which pill is more precious?"

Jin Gang said, "No matter how many times it's been upgraded, the Tonghui Pill is considered a rare treasure. Below the ninth upgrade, the Tonghui Pill is generally more valuable than the Yigu Pill."

Even though both are Nine-Turn Immortal Pills, for most Celestial Immortals, the Wisdom-Enlightening Pill is far more precious.

"Isn't the Tonghui Pill supposed to awaken memories of one's past life? Why is it so precious? What are the differences between pills of different grades?" Ying Tong asked.

Jingang said, "Most people naturally awaken their innate wisdom, only to feel that their memories of their past lives are like a dream."

It's all blurry and I can't remember clearly.

Familiarity only arises when encountering a corresponding scenario.

This is the most common awakening of innate wisdom, quite common even among ordinary people.

These words were very down-to-earth, and many people at the scene could understand them, or even have seen or experienced them.

Jingang continued, “Ordinary awakening of innate wisdom makes it difficult to increase intelligence. For immortals, ‘perfect awakening’ is even more necessary—the memories of the previous life are vivid, while everything experienced in this life is like a false dream.”

The same soul will have a different identity and personality after reincarnation.

After reincarnation, the immortal naturally wants to completely return to his 'true self' from his previous life.

Especially those immortals who have severed the three corpses, they regard their various lives after reincarnation as the root dust and delusions that obscure the true nature of reality.

Once the Tonghui Pill is taken, the illusion of reincarnation will be immediately broken, and the Daoist heart that severed the three corpses in the previous life will be restored.

Isn't this much more powerful than the Bone-Changing Pill?

Ying Tong nodded in realization and said, "I understand now. The Great Immortal has been reincarnated as a mortal and needs to fully awaken his understanding of the Great Dao from his previous life and restore his pure Dao heart. Therefore, he needs a high-grade Tonghui Pill."

But Yan Dan is not a celestial being.

You gave Zang Tu an eighth-grade Insight Pill, which is tantamount to completely erasing 'Zang Tu,' while Prince Dan seems to be possessed by a vengeful ghost. What's the point?"

"Nonsense! I am who I am, and Zang Tu is my reincarnation. I am a righteous person who has been reincarnated through the cycle of reincarnation, not a vengeful ghost!" Yan Wushuang exclaimed excitedly.

“I’ve already acknowledged that you are Prince Dan, so why are you getting so worked up? Using ‘possessed by a vengeful ghost’ is just an analogy to help ordinary people understand.”

Ying Tong scolded him and then asked Jin Gang, "Why did you give him the Eight-Turn Wisdom Pill for no reason?"

"What do you mean by 'for no reason'? This is a miraculous encounter, a divine destiny! I have a divine mandate; Heaven has allowed me to be reincarnated and return to drive out the tyrannical Qin and restore the Great Yan."

"As a protagonist destined by fate, it's perfectly normal for him to have extraordinary encounters and connections with immortals," Yan Wushuang shouted.

“Yan Wushuang, I am currently interrogating an accomplice, and it is not your turn to speak yet. You can listen in first, and if you have any questions, you can speak freely when it is your turn,” Ying Tong said.

"You deliberately misled everyone, and I can't even refute you on the spot?" Yan Wushuang said angrily.

"Fine, my previous statement is null and void. Vajra Daoist, why did you give Zang Tu the Eight-Turn Wisdom Pill?"
You know perfectly well that after taking the elixir, he will transform from Zang Tu into Prince Dan.

"Such a drastic change in personality and habits, could it be an arrangement of Heaven?" Ying Tong asked.

Jingang Daoren said, "That Eight-Turn Wisdom Pill was given to me by the Great Immortal Luding. He instructed me to pretend to have a chance encounter with Zang Tu and, under the guise of 'fate with immortals,' give him the pill."

Yan Wushuang stared in astonishment, "Pretend? Why pretend? Shouldn't the Tonghui Pill be my destiny?"

"Jin Gang, have you been coerced by someone?" Jin Guang Da Xian asked with a blank face.

"Bang!" Ying Tong slammed his gavel and shouted, "Jin Guang Dao Ren, please do not coerce accomplices in public!"

He swore to God that he had to tell the truth.

If you want to raise a question, you must wait until he finishes speaking, then walk to the door, raise your hand to the sky and swear a solemn oath before raising your question and presenting your evidence.

The celebrities inside the hall and the common people outside all looked at the golden light with strange eyes.

Jin Guang only regretted that there were too many people here, making it impossible for him to draw his flying sword and stab this mortal through the heart.

Ying Tong reminded Yan Wushuang again, saying, "The principal offender is the one questioning the accomplice. Don't interrupt!"
"Jin Gang Daoist, I ask you again, when the Great Immortal Lu Ding entrusted you with the task of delivering the 'immortal opportunity,' did he explain the reason?"

Jingang Daoist shook his head and said, "I know my own identity and am not qualified to pry into the plans of the Great Immortal Luding."

"To be favored by the great immortal and to be asked to do me a small favor, I am already extremely excited, how dare I ask any more questions?"

Jin Guang breathed a sigh of relief, but was still a little annoyed: even if he didn't believe in the integrity and morality of the Golden Steel Taoist, he should have believed in his teacher's methods and strategies. How could he have left such obvious loopholes?
Just as Jingang Daoren himself said, what is his status, and what is his teacher's status? Even if he has doubts in his heart, how can he be worthy of his teacher's explanation?

Ying Tong then asked, "Were you involved in Yan Wushuang's plan to assassinate me?"

Jingang Daoist shook his head repeatedly, "I knew nothing about this matter before the King was assassinated, so how could I have been involved?"

Ying Tong looked around and said, "You all heard the questioning of the accomplices. Do you have any questions?"
"Master Jin Guang, Yan Wushuang, you two were vying to speak earlier, now it's your turn."

Jin Guang said, "Your Majesty, although the Tonghui Pill is precious, it is a normal destiny of immortality. We cannot deny the fact that Prince Dan was born by the mandate of heaven and reincarnated to undergo tribulations."

Yan Dan died with resentment and regret; he gave up—

"Stop, stop!" Ying Tong waved his hand and said, "Daoist Master, don't just focus on sentimentality, I am conducting a trial!"

At this point, I'm only asking you if you have any objections to the statements made by the accomplice.

If you want to defend Yan Wushuang, you'll have to wait for the next step.

Jin Guang Dao Ren was very displeased. As a dignified Golden Immortal, he couldn't even speak freely in front of a mortal.

"I have nothing to say."

"You are the eldest disciple of the Great Immortal of the Deer Cauldron. The Golden Steel Daoist said that the elixir came from the Great Immortal of the Deer Cauldron. Don't you refute that?" Ying Tong asked.

"Ah, this Golden Light Immortal is actually a disciple of the Deer Cauldron Immortal, no wonder~~"

The onlookers were once again astonished.

Jin Guang shook his head and said, "My silence does not imply agreement. I am truly unaware of this matter."

What I know is that Prince Dan endured various hardships in the underworld, driven by his desire to revive the Great Yan Dynasty—”

"Stop, stop!" Ying Tong said unhappily, "Daoist, your intention to use the old story of Yan Dan to incite the people of Yan to rebel against me and against the Great Qin is too obvious."

This is neither in line with your virtuous and profound conduct, nor does it do justice to the wisdom of the immortals.

You were too obvious, too clumsy, and too stupid.

The onlookers were in an uproar. They looked at Jin Guang with more vigilance, but when they looked at Prince Dan, the filter was removed and their gazes became much clearer.

"Asshole——"

Jin Guang flew into a rage. But before his roar could even be uttered and his aura could be released, Grand Tutor Yu also shouted, "You insolent scoundrel! How dare you, a traitor, run wild in the courtroom?!"

She slapped him across the face, delivering the "perfectly accurate slap" that Wang E often enjoyed.

Don't be fooled by its small size; it's essentially a Pro version of a powerful magic weapon, with a 100% hit rate and no way to dodge it.

Anyway, Wang E took countless blows and never managed to dodge a single one.

In terms of pure combat power, Jin Guang, a powerful Golden Immortal, might not be able to defeat Wang E when he is in a state of full divine power.

Moreover, Jin Guang has already triggered the Great Annihilation in front of "Fat Taoist Zhang Yi".

Grand Tutor Yu hadn't initially considered him a threat.

Only after he took the initiative to enter the hall and encourage Yan Wushuang did she activate the "Golden Light Killing Technique".

By now, they had already dismantled most of the golden light's supernatural powers and secret techniques.

Having found all his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, how could he possibly dodge?
"Boom!" The giant shovel slammed down on Jin Guang Dao Ren, slamming him to the ground and causing the main hall of the palace and the courtyard outside to shake violently.

However, the floor inside the hall did not sink into a large pit.

Because Grand Tutor Yu also used the supernatural power of turning the ground into steel at the same time.

The ground shimmered with golden light and was unbreakable. The Golden Light Taoist's bones cracked and broke in countless places, leaving him paralyzed and unable to move.

"Gulp~~" In the VIP seats, Zou Yan, the Yin-Yang School expert who had been the most grief-stricken earlier, couldn't help but swallow. His old face no longer showed any sorrow, but instead showed a bit of fear.

Because he knew "Golden Light Immortal".

With his profound understanding of Yin and Yang, he would have bowed and addressed the Golden Light Immortal as "Senior" upon meeting him.

—Grand Tutor Yu's reputation is truly well-deserved!

"You can treat me as a mere decoration, since the presiding judge is the King of Bohai, and I, the Grand Tutor, will only watch from the sidelines as is customary."

But you can't really treat me like a useless decoration.

"If you want to act arrogantly in front of me, Grand Tutor, you'd better think twice about your own capabilities."

Grand Tutor Yu remained seated in his chair without moving.

Those around her saw her wave her hand lightly, and an invisible "energy" sent the Golden Light Immortal flying. She then lightly touched the ground with her toes, making the floor of the hall glow with gold.

Then, Jin Guang Da Xian crashed to the ground. He tried to struggle, but Yu Tai Shi gently tossed out a teacup. The teacup spun around and landed "gently" on Jin Guang Da Xian's back. "Boom!"

The ground shook a few more times.

It was as if it weren't a cup, but a mountain peak.

In fact, it did become a mountain peak.

Grand Master Yu used his "Mountain Moving" supernatural power to borrow the power of Mount Tai and press it down on Jin Guang.

Jin Guang even had great difficulty raising his head.

"I refuse to accept this! Yu Fengxian, you claimed it was a fair debate, but I believed your nonsense and was caught off guard by your sneak attack! I refuse to accept this! I refuse to accept this!"

Do you think that the celebrities inside the palace and the common people outside are all blind?
The public trial will only consider reason, not supernatural abilities; this is a rule set by this Grand Tutor.

But the rules apply to everyone.

You scoundrel, you acted arrogantly in public, unleashing your immortal power and Taoist magic. It was about to harm the innocent and leave corpses strewn everywhere. I, the Grand Tutor, intervened to stop you and save the King of Bohai and the surrounding people. Is that wrong?
Was it wrong to allow you to act recklessly and abuse your power?

Grand Tutor Yu pointed to the nearby celebrities and common people, "Ask them if they are convinced."

Everyone had different expressions and remained silent.

Grand Tutor Yu called out, "Zou Yan, you are the most famous scholar in Yan, you speak."

Old Man Zou stood up and said, "The Golden Light Immortal was probably just acting on impulse and had no intention of harming anyone."

Of course, it was more in accordance with the rules for the Grand Tutor to intervene in time and prevent a clash of supernatural powers from breaking out in the hall.

I admire you greatly!
Moreover, the Grand Tutor was kind-hearted and only suppressed you, the Golden Light Immortal, without using any killing methods.

At this moment, the immortal was only unable to move, but he was still able to defend Yan Wushuang.

"The Grand Tutor will probably release you after the public trial."

Grand Tutor Yu glanced at him and said, "King of Bohai, you may continue."

Ying Tong's face was flushed, and his voice was even louder, "Regarding the statement made by Daoist Jin Gang, Yan Wushuang, Daoist Jin Guang, do you have anything to say?"

Jin Guang lay motionless on the ground, glaring angrily at him.

Yan Wushuang's feelings were somewhat complicated at this moment.

He was indeed kept in the dark and did not understand the Deer Cauldron Immortal's plan.

He remained silent.

"Very well, you have nothing to say. Guards, summon the Great Immortal Lu Ding and have him explain the matter of the 'Eight-Turn Wisdom Pill' in public." Ying Tong said.

Upon hearing this, the onlookers inside and outside the hall all showed expressions of shock.

Jin Guang looked at him with the same eyes one would use to look at someone with brain damage.

The celestial being looked at the old ghost of the Deer Cauldron with surprise and doubt.

The old ghost of the Deer Cauldron sneered repeatedly, "I want to see what tricks that old demon will play."

Then he and the other immortals, including Fuqiu Gong, immediately saw another old eunuch come out from the back hall.

The old eunuch was holding a red lacquered wooden tray covered with a yellow silk cloth.

The yellow cloth was lifted, revealing a sandalwood box about the size of a rice cooker.

The moment he saw the wooden box, the old ghost of the Deer Cauldron felt a chill in his heart and had a bad feeling.

Lifting the lid of the wooden box revealed a human head—the dwarf head of the Wooden Bucket Taoist.

"Ah, is this the head of the Deer Cauldron Immortal?" Exclamations arose from all inside the hall.

Uncle Xie Chen, who had been silent until now, suddenly changed his expression and exclaimed, "Oh no! Yu Fengxian is going to use your physical body to forcibly summon your spirit!"

Quick, come with me, we need to go to Fengdu right now!

Only the power of the underworld can fully protect your departed soul.

Before the words were finished, the old ghost of the Deer Cauldron suddenly let out a shrill scream, "No~~~"

His voice, along with his soul, stretched and deformed, turning into a gray-black line.

The gray line flew uncontrollably toward the head below.

"Save me! My uncles, fellow Daoists, save me!"

His cries for help were distorted and changed in tone, as if they came from another world.

"Lingbao Tianzun, comfort my body. Your light shines upon my soul, protecting my form and spirit. May my three souls be eternal, and my vital essence never perish. May inner demons be dispelled, and external evils not invade."

Without hesitation, Fuqiu Gong and the others immediately formed hand seals and chanted the "Lingbao Tianzun's True Words for Strengthening the Soul".

The effect is very good.

Immediately, wisps of gray lines were forcibly pulled back and reformed into the Deer Cauldron Old Ghost in front of them.

"No!"

But the old ghost continued to wail, "My heavenly soul and earthly soul have been lost and forcibly summoned into my head."

"No~~~" At the same time, a cold wind rose in the hall, and the evil energy moved with the wind, forming a visible tornado. In the wooden box at the center of the tornado, Lu Dingxian, who was now only a human head, opened his eyes and roared in grief and anger, "Yu Fengxian, you have gone too far. Assassinating me was not enough, you even desecrated my body and humiliated my soul. You deserve to die!"

(End of this chapter)