Primordial Era: Becoming the Great Emperor of Humanity from the Start

Chapter 163 Schemes and Intrigues! (A long chapter of 10,000 words)

Jiang Heng began his secluded cultivation in Chaoge City. Accompanying him in this seclusion were the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, as well as Jiang Heng's original body.

There are a total of ten incarnations. Although they originated from one entity, they each have their own thoughts and are essentially independent beings.

This is also the terrifying aspect of the "Great Freedom of Others" method: it can transform into millions of beings and even travel through the river of time.

It is no exaggeration to say that ten incarnations are equivalent to Jiang Heng having ten times the enlightenment, and also have the miraculous effect of drawing inferences from one instance to another.

In this way, Jiang Heng naturally achieved incredible speed when he comprehended the mysteries of the Creation Mark.

Even the Sage Taiqing probably didn't expect that Jiang Heng had actually obtained an incomplete Creation Mark from the obsession of the Chaos Gods and Demons.

Having already comprehended countless years' worth of knowledge, and now having obtained the complete Creation Mark, Jiang Heng's rate of progress has naturally become unimaginable.

While Jiang Heng was in seclusion cultivating, Yang Jian and the others were not idle either; they were also constantly cultivating and striving to improve their cultivation levels.

After achieving great success in his cultivation, Yang Jian naturally wanted to storm into the Heavenly Court again to seek revenge against the Jade Emperor Haotian.

But Yang Jian also knew the importance of the matter. Now that the Shang Dynasty and Xiqi had been at peace for a thousand years, he could not give the Heavenly Court the opportunity to break the peace agreement.

Yang Jian knew that his current level of cultivation was entirely due to the help of Jiang Heng, the Human Emperor.

Without Jiang Heng, Yang Jian would at most be a Golden Immortal, and as a disciple of the Chan Sect, he would even have to cooperate with the Heavenly Court's powerful figures in Xiqi.

Yang Jian's gratitude towards Jiang Heng goes without saying, which is why he was able to temporarily suppress the deep-seated hatred in his heart.

Kong Xuan, on the other hand, was in seclusion cultivating the "Phoenix Treasure Technique." Because it was perfectly suited to him, Kong Xuan's strength was improving by leaps and bounds.

Although a thousand years is not a long time, Kong Xuan was confident that when he emerged from seclusion, he would definitely make further progress and become a strongman on par with Yang Jian.

When the time comes, and he fights against the group of powerful figures from Xiqi again, Kong Xuan will not realize that there is no one else who can match him.

Even the lofty sages, Kong Xuan wanted to try challenging them to see if they were truly invincible.

As for Nezha, it was quite unexpected that he was also diligently cultivating in seclusion.

Nezha was determined this time and did not slack off in the slightest. He vowed to use "one weapon to break all laws" to successfully refine the innate gourd.

"Finally, I've succeeded! With this treasure in hand, I'll see how those disciples of the Jie Sect can still act arrogantly in front of me!"

Nezha played with the red gourd in his hand, and could clearly feel the aura within it that was connected to his bloodline. A hint of pride unconsciously appeared on his face.

According to the supreme secret technique of "one weapon to break ten thousand laws" taught by Jiang Heng, Nezha spent hundreds of years to successfully refine the innate gourd.

The innate gourd has now become Nezha's magic weapon, engraved with Nezha's principles and beliefs.

The innate gourd has become an extension of Nezha's power, and can even enable Nezha to unleash a power that surpasses his own.

If he were to encounter Fairy Yunxiao again now, Nezha would be confident of defeating her, and it wouldn't be impossible for him to suppress Daoist Duobao in one fell swoop.

After successfully refining the Innate Gourd, Nezha was smug and had already reverted to his former carefree personality.

It's already quite remarkable that Nezha was able to cultivate in seclusion for such a long time. If he continued to cultivate any longer, Nezha felt he would go crazy.

After Nezha emerged from the pass, he was about to have some fun when he saw his father, Li Jing, waiting for him with a worried expression.

Li Jing is the general of Chentang Pass, so his appearance in Chaoge City is not a normal occurrence.

Although Nezha has regained his memories of his past life, he doesn't have much affection for his parents among the human race in this life.

However, Nezha did not have any conflicts with his parents in this life. Moreover, as a human, blood ties are always something that are difficult to sever.

"Why is Father here? Has something happened?" Nezha stepped forward and asked.

"Nezha, you've finally come out of seclusion! Something terrible has happened! Your two older brothers have been detained by the Chan Sect!" Li Jing said with a worried expression.

"What? What's going on?" Nezha was slightly taken aback and said in disbelief.

Later, through Li Jing's explanation, Nezha finally understood what had happened. It turned out that it was all because of the battle against Xiqi back then.

Nezha's two older brothers, the eldest brother Jinzha, became a disciple of Manjushri, the Heavenly Venerable of the Chan Sect, from a young age, and was a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect.

The second elder brother, Muzha, was also a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect. He had been a disciple of Puxian Zhenren, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, since childhood.

Li Jing himself became a disciple of the True Man Du'e of Kunlun Mountain. Although True Man Du'e was not a disciple of the Chan Sect, he had a close relationship with the Chan Sect.

The relationship between Li Jing's family and the Chan Sect is self-evident. It was only natural that Taiyi Zhenren wanted to take Nezha as a disciple.

However, because of Jiang Heng's presence, Nezha not only did not join the Chan Sect, but also became Jiang Heng's capable henchman.

Although Nezha did not win a single battle in the two battles against Xiqi, it was because he was facing powerful experts at the peak of the Quasi-Saint level.

Both Fairy Yunxiao and Daoist Duobao were top experts in the Xiqi army, and their strength was beyond question.

The fact that Nezha could fight to a draw with both Fairy Yunxiao and Daoist Duobao on his own is enough to demonstrate Nezha's strength.

Moreover, all the disciples of the Chan Sect knew that Nezha's cultivation time was not long, even shorter than Yang Jian's.

Given such extraordinary talent, it's perfectly normal that the Chan Sect still harbors designs on Nezha.

Therefore, after the battle of Xiqi, the Chan Sect had some ulterior motives. They first sent Nezha's two older brothers to persuade Li Jing to abandon the darkness and join the light.

Li Jing wasn't stupid, and he didn't agree easily. But what the Chan Sect did next was completely unexpected; they actually imprisoned Jinzha and Muzha.

"Father, does the Chan Sect mean for me to go to Chen Tang Pass alone?" Nezha asked, quite puzzled.

It's fairly normal that the Chan Sect would take their anger out on Jinzha and Muzha because of Nezha.

On the surface, the Chan Sect members all appear to be enlightened immortals, claiming to be a prestigious and righteous sect, but in reality, they do quite a few shameless things behind the scenes.

What puzzled Nezha was why the Chan Sect wanted him to go to Chen Tang Pass alone? Shouldn't they have sent him to Kunlun Mountain?

Chen Tang Pass is still the territory of the human race, not the location of the Chan Sect. So why send Nezha to Chen Tang Pass?

"I don't know why either, but I have no other choice but to come to you. You must save your two brothers!" Li Jing said helplessly.

As a father, Li Jing naturally couldn't stand by and watch his two children perish, but he was also in a dilemma about letting Nezha take the risk.

The fact that the Chan Sect sent Nezha alone to Chen Tang Pass is obvious to anyone with a brain; they clearly had ulterior motives.

"Father, please wait a moment, I will go to Chentang Pass with you immediately!" Nezha said in a deep voice.

Although Nezha had a lively personality, he was not someone who didn't know what was important, so he wouldn't rush to Chentang Pass on a whim.

Before heading to Chentang Pass, because Jiang Heng was still in seclusion, Nezha told Jiang Ziya and the others about this matter.

Before the situation became clear, Jiang Ziya could only tell Nezha to be careful, but he did not stop Nezha from going to Chentang Pass.

Then, Nezha, together with Li Jing, hurriedly headed towards the direction of Chentang Pass.

Finally, Jiang Ziya said with a solemn expression, "The Chan Sect is causing trouble again at this time; I'm afraid their schemes are far-reaching!"

"With Nezha's strength, even if the Chan Sect has some schemes, it wouldn't be difficult for him to escape unscathed!" Yang Jian said.

Nezha has successfully refined the Innate Gourd, making him one of the top-ranking Quasi-Saints.

Within the Chan Sect, apart from the sage Yuanshi Tianzun, there is no other powerful figure who can rival Nezha.

"Since the Chan Sect has set up this scheme, how could they have been completely unprepared? Now that the Human Emperor and Kong Xuan are both in seclusion, only you can go and make the trip!" Jiang Ziya said.

Nezha's strength was already fully revealed in the last battle against Xiqi, and the Chan Sect could not have failed to consider this when they set up their scheme against him.

This is why Jiang Ziya had some concerns and wanted Yang Jian to secretly go to Chentang Pass as well.

With two top experts, Yang Jian and Nezha, on the side, even if the Chan Sect has any schemes, they can completely deal with them with their strength.

"In that case, I'll go take a look!" Yang Jian said, and before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared.

"The Chan Sect," Jiang Ziya murmured to himself, countless thoughts unconsciously swirling through his mind.

Speaking of which, both Jiang Ziya and Yang Jian were once disciples of the Chan Sect. Even now, Yang Jian has not openly betrayed the Chan Sect.

Yu Ding Zhenren not only saved Yang Jian's life, but was also his mentor. Yang Jian could never forget this kindness.

Therefore, unless forced to, Yang Jian actually did not want to confront the Chan Sect, which was also what Jiang Ziya was worried about.

But there is no other way now. Jiang Heng and Kong Xuan are both in seclusion, and the only top expert that the Great Shang Dynasty can offer is Yang Jian.

At the same time, although Jiang Heng was also in seclusion cultivating, he was not completely unaware of what was happening in the outside world.

Jiang Heng knew perfectly well that the Chan Sect was plotting against Nezha. The next moment, Jiang Heng awoke from his meditative state.

This is the extraordinary nature of the "Great Freedom of Others Technique": even if Jiang Heng does not go into seclusion to cultivate, the other incarnations of him can do the same.

"The Chan Sect? It's not in the Chan Sect's style to cause trouble at this time. Could it be for some other reason?" Jiang Heng thought to himself.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Heng did not continue his seclusion, but instead took a step forward and headed towards Chen Tang Pass.

Nezha and his companions rushed to Chen Tang Pass, but they did not see any disciples of the Chan Sect. Instead, they received a message that they would meet again at sea.

Nezha, on the contrary, felt that this was more normal. After all, Chen Tang Pass was still human territory, protected by the Nine Provinces Great Array, so the Chan Sect would not dare to act recklessly.

The situation is different overseas. Although those places are nominally considered human territory, the human race's control over them is not very strong.

The Four Seas were granted to the Dragon Clan by the Human Emperor, and are considered the Dragon Clan's territory, but the Dragon Clan's strength is not considered strong.

This is why overseas lands are a melting pot of all sorts of people, including many rogue cultivators, making them one of the more chaotic places in the primordial world.

Nezha and Li Jing then hurriedly traveled overseas, and finally found the disciples of the Chan Sect on an unknown fairy island.

However, there are actually not many disciples of the Chan Sect on this immortal island; there are only two: Guang Chengzi and Cihang Daoren.

Beside Guang Chengzi and Cihang Daoren were two quasi-saints of the Western Sect, namely Maitreya and Bhaisajyaguru.

"Hmph! You disciples of the Chan Sect are so shameless, threatening me with your disciples. You are utterly shameless."

"Now that I'm here, release my two brothers at once!" Nezha roared.

Jinzha and Muzha were disciples of the Chan Sect, yet they were being used to threaten Nezha, and this was spreading, which was truly hilarious.

"Nezha, don't worry, your two older brothers are fine and not in any danger, but you won't be able to see them for the time being!"

"If you want them to be safe and sound, you must promise to do something for us. After you do it, you will naturally be able to see your two brothers!" Guang Chengzi said.

"What is it? If you want me to betray the Human Emperor, then you shouldn't say anything!" Nezha said in a deep voice.

"Of course, I don't want you to betray the Human Emperor, nor do I want you to join the Chan Sect. This is a piece of cake for you!" Guang Chengzi said.

"Oh? I'd like to see what you've gone to such lengths to bring me here!" Nezha said in a deep voice.

Hearing Guang Chengzi's words, Nezha secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he didn't betray the Human Emperor and join the Chan Sect, Nezha didn't think there was anything that could be difficult for him.

However, this only made Nezha more curious about what Guang Chengzi and his group were up to.

"Nezha, as long as you break into the Dragon Clan and kill the current Dragon King of the East Sea, your two older brothers will be safe and sound!" Guang Chengzi said in a deep voice.

"Kill the Dragon King of the East Sea?" Nezha was slightly confused, completely unaware of what Guang Chengzi and the others wanted to do.

"That's right! As long as you kill the current Dragon King of the East Sea, everything else is none of your business!" Guang Chengzi said in a deep voice.

"What if I don't agree? You people dare to appear in front of me. Suppressing you is not difficult for me."

"Once you are suppressed, exchanging you for my two brothers should be a piece of cake!" Nezha said in a deep voice.

As he spoke, a powerful aura belonging to a peak Quasi-Saint suddenly emerged from Nezha's body, pressing down on Guang Chengzi and the others.

Upon sensing Nezha's powerful aura, Guang Chengzi and the others instantly changed color, realizing that Nezha's strength had actually increased.

In just a few hundred years, Nezha's strength has improved again. What an terrifying speed of cultivation!

Having finally calmed himself down, Guang Chengzi immediately said, "Do you think we dared to come to see you without any preparation?"

If you dare to make a move now, not only will your two brothers die instantly, but the thousand-year-old truce agreement will also be null and void!

Nezha's expression instantly turned gloomy. With his current strength, suppressing Guang Chengzi and the others was indeed not a difficult task.

However, this would mean that Nezha took the initiative to attack Guangchengzi and other disciples of the Chan Sect, and Nezha naturally represented the Shang Dynasty.

The peace treaty that lasted for a thousand years will become a mere decoration, utterly useless, because Nezha made the first move.

At that time, both Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu will have a reason to take action, and Taiqing Shengren will be unable to stop them.

As for the matter of the Chan Sect imprisoning Jinzha and Muzha, Nezha couldn't say anything, because Jinzha and Muzha were, after all, disciples of the Chan Sect.

The master punished his disciple for making a mistake, which is why he imprisoned Jinzha and Muzha. What can outsiders say?

But Nezha himself understood that Guang Chengzi and the others were actually threatening him with the lives of Jinzha and Muzha in order to force him to compromise.

Although Nezha did not have a deep affection for Jinzha and Muzha, they were still family after all, so how could he just stand by and watch his two older brothers die?

"Alright! I promise you, but if you break your word, I, Nezha, swear I will kill you!" Nezha said in a deep voice.

"Good! This is the wise choice. The Dragon King of the East Sea is just a Great Luo Golden Immortal. Killing him will be a piece of cake for you."

"Don't worry, as long as you can kill the Dragon King of the East Sea, we will definitely keep our promise and release your two brothers!" Guang Chengzi said smugly.

At this moment, Guang Chengzi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just now, in the face of Nezha's terrifying aura, Guang Chengzi and the others really had a hard time breathing.

Guang Chengzi and the others were actually quite nervous, fearing that Nezha might really disregard everything and kill them all.

Fortunately, Nezha did not lose his mind and eventually agreed to their request, which was naturally the best outcome for Guang Chengzi and the others.

Nezha ignored the smug smiles on Guang Chengzi and the others' faces. From that moment on, Nezha truly harbored murderous intent.

"Hmph! Once the thousand-year truce is over, I will definitely wipe out these people!" Nezha thought indignantly.

However, no matter how angry he was, Nezha knew that he had to agree to Guang Chengzi's conditions.

Although Nezha was puzzled as to why Guangchengzi would ask him to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea, it was not a difficult task for him.

Since the target was only the Dragon King of the East Sea, not a powerful human, Nezha felt no burden whatsoever, and was even somewhat relieved that Guang Chengzi had made such a offer.

Nezha was not going to waste any time. He took a step and headed towards the East Sea Dragon Palace.

After walking for a while, Nezha suddenly sensed a familiar presence and quickly stopped. Sure enough, he saw Yang Jian appear in front of him.

"Yang Jian, what brings you here?" Nezha asked awkwardly.

"Of course I was worried about you, so I came along to check on you. I heard what Guang Chengzi and the others said just now!" Yang Jian said.

From the moment Nezha left Chaoge City, Yang Jian followed behind him. However, Nezha never noticed Yang Jian.

"I'm going to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea now, are you going to stop me?" Nezha asked hesitantly.

Yang Jian shook his head and said, "I'm not trying to stop you. I just think that Guang Chengzi's decision to send you to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea is definitely not simple."

"It's just killing the Dragon King of the East Sea. With Guang Chengzi and the others' strength, it wouldn't be difficult at all. Why go to such lengths and insist on your intervention?"

"Yeah! Why do I have to take action?" Nezha muttered to himself, full of doubt.

According to Guang Chengzi, the Dragon King of the East Sea was merely a Great Luo Golden Immortal, and any Quasi-Saint could easily kill him.

While the dragon race has existed since ancient times and does possess some strength, there are no quasi-saints among them now.

Whether it's breaking into the East Sea Dragon Palace or killing the East Sea Dragon King, neither is difficult, so why must Nezha take action?

"Never mind, I can't figure it out either. All I know is that if I don't kill the Dragon King of the East Sea, my two older brothers will probably not escape unscathed."

"If there are any serious consequences to this matter, I, Nezha, will bear them all. Yang Jian, I hope you will not stop me!" Nezha said in a deep voice.

"This matter is no ordinary one, Nezha, you'd better think it over!" Yang Jian said in a deep voice.

Just as Nezha was about to say something, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from not far away:

"Guang Chengzi and his group certainly have grand schemes, but this matter should have nothing to do with the Chan Sect. The one hiding behind it should be the Western Sect!"

Yang Jian and Nezha were slightly startled and looked toward the direction from which the sound came, but their faces immediately lit up with surprise.

"Human Emperor, you've emerged from seclusion?" Yang Jian and Nezha exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

Jiang Heng had been in seclusion cultivating. Otherwise, Nezha would have definitely informed Jiang Heng of this matter before heading to Chentang Pass.

"I should have continued my cultivation, but as Yang Jian said, this matter is of utmost importance, and I have no choice but to temporarily leave seclusion!" Jiang Heng said.

Nezha was slightly startled, and said with self-reproach, "It's all because of me that Guang Chengzi and the others had an opportunity to take advantage of us!"

Nezha had already realized that Guang Chengzi and the others indeed had ulterior motives. If he really killed the Dragon King of the East Sea, things would probably go very wrong.

"For my human race, blood ties are something we cannot sever. If you remain unmoved, I will truly be disappointed!" Jiang Heng said.

Jiang Heng showed no remorse for Nezha's choice; on the contrary, he greatly admired it.

What makes humans human is the kinship and affection between them. If they lose even this basic emotion, they are not worthy of being called human.

"What the Human Emperor just said means that the one plotting this was not the Chan Sect, but the Western Sect?" Yang Jian asked in surprise.

"That's right! The Chan Sect might scheme against our human race, but they would never scheme against the dragon race!" Jiang Heng said.

"Scheme against the dragons? What's there to scheme against the dragons?" Nezha asked, puzzled.

"Hahaha! You don't know much about the dragon race, so naturally you wouldn't know that although the dragon race is not very strong, it is not weak either."

The Dragon Clan occupies the four seas and has accumulated a great deal of fortune, which is naturally very attractive to the Western Sect! Jiang Heng said with a smile.

Since submitting to the human race, the dragon race has always maintained an extremely low profile, and rarely even appears in the primordial world.

Over time, the dragon race naturally became obscure. In fact, many people among the human race today are unaware of the dragon race.

Nezha and Yang Jian's conversation just now was more about guessing what the Chan Sect's scheme was, but they never took the Dragon Clan seriously.

"According to what the Human Emperor just said, does the Western Sect want to subdue the Dragon Clan?" Yang Jian asked in confusion.

"The dragon race is the guardian beast of our human race, and its destiny is connected with that of our human race. And the Western religion cannot prosper without good fortune."

"If we can subdue the Dragon Clan of the Four Seas, the Western Sect will be able to gather enormous fortune immediately, and it won't be difficult for it to flourish!" Jiang Heng said.

Jiang Heng was not surprised at all that the Western Sect wanted to subdue the dragon race. In later generations, the Eight Heavenly Dragons of the Western Sect were not just for show.

Currently, all the powerful beings in the primordial world are focused on the human race, and the Investiture of the Gods is the most anticipated event in the primordial world.

No one paid any attention to the dragons, and no one would have thought that the Western Church would target them.

Therefore, this is naturally the best time for the Western Religion to plot against the Dragon Clan.

When everything settles down and the subjugation of the Dragon Clan by the Western Sect is a foregone conclusion, even if other saints discover this, they will be powerless to stop it.

After all, the key now is to fight against the human race. The Chan Sect even needs the help of the Western Sect, so why would they really turn against the Western Sect?

"Since the Western Sect wants to subdue the dragon race, why did they send me to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea?" Nezha asked, quite puzzled.

"As I just said, the dragon race is the guardian beast of our human race, and its fate is connected with that of our human race. How could the dragon race be willing to submit to the Western religion?"

Nezha is not only a human, but he also represents me, the Human Emperor. If Nezha were to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea, what would the Dragon Clan think?

"At this point, it wouldn't be difficult for the Western Sect to use both kindness and force to make the Dragon Clan bow down and completely side with the Western Sect!" Jiang Heng said.

Upon hearing Jiang Heng's words, Nezha and Yang Jian broke out in a cold sweat. They had never imagined that the Western Sect's schemes were so profound.

If Jiang Heng hadn't appeared, Yang Jian probably wouldn't have been able to stop Nezha either. If Nezha had broken into the East Sea Dragon Palace, he would definitely have killed the East Sea Dragon King.

In this case, the dragon race will probably really drift further and further away from the human race, just as Jiang Heng just said, and may even completely turn to the Western religion.

"Thank goodness you came, Your Majesty, otherwise I would have made a terrible mistake!" Nezha said with lingering fear.

"You're right. Once the dragon race sides with the Western religion, our human race will immediately suffer a great loss of fortune and may even decline."

"At that time, coupled with the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, our human race will be swept away by the countless gods and Buddhas and become a tool for all sides to scheme for their own destiny," Jiang Heng said in a deep voice.

Neither Yang Jian nor Nezha realized the gravity of the situation. Even the Western Religion probably hadn't considered this.

The powerful beings in the primordial world all know that the dragon race had submitted to the human race in ancient times, becoming the human race's guardian beasts and connected with the human race's destiny.

But even a sage probably doesn't know that this was actually a scheme that Jiang Heng had painstakingly planned for a long time to complete.

Humanity is indeed the protagonist of the primordial world, but it only gathers most of the fortune in the primordial world, not all of it.

Whether it's the Heavenly Court, the Sage Sect, or other beings, they all occupy a portion of the destiny of the primordial world to varying degrees.

Under Jiang Heng's painstaking planning, the demon race was completely defeated, the Heavenly Court became obscure, and its fortune was weakened to the extreme.

The Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Witch Clan have all submitted to the Human Clan, and can be said to have become an inseparable part of the Human Clan.

All of these factors have contributed to the ever-growing fortune of the human race, to the point that even Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao are wary of it.

It is no exaggeration to say that in the primordial world today, a full 80% of the fortune is concentrated in the human race.

Humanity, as a race in the original historical trajectory, was also a protagonist of heaven and earth, and thus possessed such immense fortune.

The immense fortune not only enabled the human race to prosper and produced a multitude of geniuses, but it was also extremely crucial for Jiang Heng.

In the primordial world, anyone who cultivates to the Golden Immortal realm or above will know that fortune, though seemingly invisible and intangible, is extremely crucial.

Whether it's striving for a higher realm or safely surviving a major calamity like the Investiture of the Gods, fortune plays a crucial role.

The stronger the human race's fortune, the more confident Jiang Heng will be when he attempts to reach a certain supreme realm in the future.

Dragons may seem insignificant, but they are an integral part of the human race's immense fortune. If they were to side with the Western religion, the human race's fortune would inevitably be damaged.

The principle that prosperity inevitably leads to decline is an eternal truth. Humanity's fortune has now reached its peak, and once damaged, it is very likely to decline directly.

This actually aligns perfectly with the interests of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao, which makes Jiang Heng wonder if this was the work of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

That's why Jiang Heng didn't continue his secluded cultivation, but instead came to the East Sea because of this matter.

"If that's really the case, then I truly deserve to die!" Nezha said with deep regret.

"I see. But since the Western Sect was behind all of this, why would Guang Chengzi be involved?" Yang Jian asked.

According to Jiang Heng, the plan was to imprison Jinzha and Muzha, thereby forcing Nezha to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea and alienate the dragon race from the human race.

Whether it was a combination of kindness and coercion used to force the dragons to submit, all of this was actually orchestrated by the Western Religion behind the scenes.

If that's the case, Guang Chengzi wouldn't be able to participate in this matter. Because the Western Sect's subjugation of the Dragon Clan doesn't actually align with the interests of the Chan Sect.

Even though there is a cooperative relationship with the Western religion, the sage Yuanshi Tianzun probably does not want to see the Western religion truly flourish.

"I'm afraid this leader of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect has already secretly become someone else's henchman!" Jiang Heng said disdainfully.

In ancient times, Guang Chengzi, unwilling to be humiliated by Jiang Heng, once called a deer a horse.

After the incident, both the Chan Sect and Guang Chengzi lost face. Guang Chengzi was punished by Yuanshi Tianzun and harbored resentment towards the human race ever since.

At the time, Jiang Heng felt that what Guang Chengzi was doing was definitely not as simple as it seemed on the surface. Now, thinking back, there must be the shadow of the Western religion behind it.

To be honest, the Western Church has kept a low profile all these years, but it has done just as much in secret.

Whether it was plotting to assassinate the Human Emperor and thus instigate the Investiture of the Gods, or scheming for the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the Western Sect did just that.

Furthermore, during the Investiture of the Gods, they repeatedly sowed discord between the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect, and secretly cooperated with the Chan Sect. The Western Sect did the same thing.

Moreover, it is not difficult to see from the two disciples of the Chan Sect, Guang Chengzi and Cihang Zhenren, that the Western Sect's plans were indeed exceptionally far-reaching.

In the original historical trajectory, after the Investiture of the Gods calamity ended, four of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect betrayed the Chan Sect and joined the Western Sect.

Even the vice-leader of the Chan Sect, the Daoist Randeng, eventually betrayed the Chan Sect and became the Dipankara Buddha of the Western Sect.

The Chan Sect worked hard and finally overwhelmed the Jie Sect, becoming the victor in the Investiture of the Gods, but in the end, they only benefited others.

Judging from the final outcome of the Investiture of the Gods, the Heavenly Court and the Western Sect ultimately benefited the most from the life-and-death struggle between the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect.

The rise of the Heavenly Court was an inevitable trend of Heaven, which needs no further explanation. However, the fact that the Western Sect gained the greatest benefit was beyond everyone's expectations.

While the Daoist Ancestor Hongjun may have intentionally pushed things along, the Western Sect's own schemes were more crucial.

"Does the Human Emperor mean that Guang Chengzi and Cihang Zhenren have secretly defected to the Western Sect?" Yang Jian asked, slightly surprised.

"Not bad!" Jiang Heng said.

As the most favored of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect by the Primordial Heavenly Lord, Guang Chengzi's betrayal of the Chan Sect sounds unbelievable, but it is also reasonable.

Guang Chengzi is now facing numerous setbacks within the Chan Sect, making his life difficult and causing him to be looked down upon by many of its disciples.

Although Yuanshi Tianzun favored Guangchengzi, Guangchengzi remained so incompetent that Yuanshi Tianzun's attitude towards him was subtly changing.

If nothing unexpected happens, Guang Chengzi should still have something on the hands of the Western Sect, so it wouldn't be surprising if he betrayed the Chan Sect.

"I'm going to settle accounts with those bastards from the Western Sect right now!" Nezha said, his anger growing with each passing thought, his voice filled with murderous intent.

After hearing Jiang Heng's words, Nezha understood that he could never kill the Dragon King of the East Sea, and therefore could not fulfill his promise to Guang Chengzi.

As a result, Jinzha and Muzha were naturally in grave danger, and Nezha had no choice but to vent his anger on the Western Sect.

"Stop! The Western Sect deserves to die, but saving your two brothers is more important!" Jiang Heng said in a deep voice.

Nezha immediately turned from anger to joy, looking at Jiang Heng with anticipation, and asked, "Does Your Majesty perhaps have a way to rescue my brother?"

"Why is that so difficult? Since the Western Religion wants to play, we might as well play along!" Jiang Heng's face was full of a strange smile.

"Then what should I do?" Nezha asked impatiently.

"All you need to do is continue killing the Dragon King of the East Sea!" Jiang Heng said with a smile.

"What?" Nezha froze on the spot, saying in disbelief.

Jiang Heng just spoke for a long time, explaining the Western Sect's plot in detail. Why is he still being asked to kill the Dragon King of the East Sea?

If the Dragon King of the East Sea were to die at the hands of Nezha, wouldn't the Western Sect's scheme be considered a success? What would become of the human race then?

"You don't need to worry about anything, just follow my instructions. You need to do it this way," Jiang Heng said slowly.

Yang Jian and Nezha were increasingly surprised. In the end, their gazes toward Jiang Heng were filled with shock.

After Jiang Heng finished speaking, Nezha repeatedly confirmed that he hadn't misheard, then took another step forward and rushed towards the direction of the Dragon King of the East Sea.

After Nezha left, Yang Jian also soared into the sky, but instead of heading to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, he headed towards the Golden Cloud Cave of Jade Spring Mountain.

The Golden Cloud Cave on Jade Spring Mountain is the cave of one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, and also the abode of Yang Jian's master, the Jade Cauldron Immortal.

"Next, a big show is about to begin!" Jiang Heng muttered to himself.

Just as Jiang Heng said, since the Western Sect has so many schemes and plots, Jiang Heng might as well have some fun with the Western Sect.

Jiang Heng really wanted to know how the Chan and Jie sects would react if the Western Sect's entire scheme were exposed.

Even if the course of the Investiture of the Gods calamity changes because of that time, it is uncertain.

But one thing Jiang Heng was absolutely certain of: the expressions on the faces of the two Western Saints would be truly fascinating.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Heng, Nezha continued on his journey with a focused expression, and hurriedly arrived near the East Sea Dragon Palace.

As the core of the Dragon Clan, the East Sea Dragon Palace is naturally guarded by powerful members of the Dragon Clan, so discovering Nezha, who had not concealed his presence, was not a difficult task.

"The East Sea Dragon Palace is a sacred place; no unauthorized entry is permitted. Please leave immediately!" The powerful dragon immediately stopped Nezha.

"roll!"

With a single punch, Nezha unleashed his peak Quasi-Saint level power, instantly knocking those dragon clan experts unconscious.

With Nezha's current strength, the powerful dragons guarding the East Sea Dragon Palace were naturally no match for him, and he was defeated in a single exchange.

Nezha arrogantly barged into the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, encountering no significant obstacles along the way.

Just as Nezha broke into the East Sea Dragon Palace, Guang Chengzi and the others nearby witnessed everything.

"As expected, Nezha has come to the East Sea Dragon Palace. With his strength, killing the East Sea Dragon King is no problem at all!" Guang Chengzi said, his face full of pride.

"Everything is planned. With the death of the Dragon King of the East Sea, the Dragon Clan will surely be thrown into chaos. At that time, our opportunity will come!" Maitreya said.

"We have been planning this moment for many years, and we are confident that it will be foolproof!" the pharmacist said.

At this moment, seeing Nezha rampaging through the East Sea Dragon Palace without any resistance, Guang Chengzi and the others' smug expressions grew even stronger.

So what if Nezha is powerful? They can easily make him obey with a little trickery, and he can be played with like a puppet.

They were just a hair's breadth away from completing their plan. By then, even if Nezha realized something was wrong, it would be too late.

Soon, amidst the eager anticipation of Guang Chengzi and the others, Nezha ventured deep into the East Sea Dragon Palace and found the East Sea Dragon King.

The Dragon King of the East Sea has gathered many dragon experts around him, including several Grand Luo Golden Immortals.

But what are Great Luo Golden Immortals compared to a powerful figure like Nezha? They are nothing more than ants.

Without any suspense, Nezha swiftly and decisively defeated numerous powerful dragons and killed the Dragon King of the East Sea.

"It's done!" Guang Chengzi and the others said with joy.

(End of this chapter)