Taiyi Dao Fruit

In the gloomy cavern, a burst of firelight sprang up, illuminating several silhouettes around it.

Jiang Luo, with his hands behind his back, paced back and forth in front of the fire, his eyes intently staring at the captive as he said, "There's an old saying in the Divine Country that goes, 'A wise man submits to circumstances.' I believe..."

"Stop!"

Jiang Li, who was meditating and regulating his breathing, opened his eyes and called out, "Where did you learn that from?"

"Ah?" Jiang Luo looked startled, "It was taught by Brother Jiang Chong, he said it was a method of interrogation personally passed down by you."

Jiang Li: "..."

Jiang Chong, also known as Yang Chong, was the first Jiang Clan member Jiang Li encountered and had personally experienced Jiang Li's methods of interrogation.

Jiang Li had not expected him to beautify it into a teaching, and then pass it on to Jiang Luo.

Wasn't this teaching a good person to do bad things?

"I certainly didn't pass on such a thing."

Jiang Li helplessly shook his head, then said, "Don't interrogate him anymore, the people of the Taiping Sect are believers. If you want to test their faith, this little bit of time is not enough."

They had been traveling fast, leaving the rainy area behind, but they had also used up a lot of energy, so they found a hidden cave to temporarily restore their power. After taking a Replenishing Essence Pill, Jiang Luo, who had the least amount of power, recovered the fastest. The pill quickly replenished his power, so he thought about interrogating Cao Yuanlong.

But the Taiping Sect was a religious sect, and it was not so easy to pry open the mouths of people from such forces.

Jiang Luo was merely engaging in futile effort.

"Then let's spare him for the time being, let him struggle on for a few more days," Jiang Luo looked at Cao Yuanlong, his eyes showing disgust, "People like you who collude with Devil Cultivators are a blight on this world every day you live, contaminating the air. It's your good fortune to live a few days longer."

Jiang Luo's family had perished at the hands of Devil Cultivators, so he harbored an intense disgust towards them.

He followed Jiang Li with unwavering loyalty, not just to seek revenge, but also partly due to Jiang Zhuyun's collusion with Devil Cultivators. It was because of that move that Jiang Luo completely gave up on the Jiang Family main house.

However...

"Collusion with Devil Cultivators?" Cao Yuanlong lay on the ground, but his spirit was undiminished; he sneered and said, "My Taiping Sect is a reputable sect. How could we collude with Devil Cultivators? This is clearly the work of the demonic people from the Devil God Sect, what does it have to do with us?"

A simple sentence to clear the relationship, and his righteous tone made it seem like there might really be some truth to it.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Luo's eyes flashed with flames as if exploding, and a thick killing intent surged up instantly. Had it not been for Jiang Li wanting this live captive, he would have dismembered Cao Yuanlong on the spot.

"The Devil God Sect really lives up to its reputation as a scapegoat specialist," Jiang Li couldn't help but remark.

And here we are, in such a short time, the Devil God Sect was taking the blame again.

And if a severe drought truly happened, it would certainly be pinned on the Devil God Sect.

"Junior Brother, you've got it wrong," Gongsun Qingyue spoke up at this moment, her voice faint, "The Devil God Sect having its current reputation is no injustice; rather, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the current chaos in the world indeed bears some responsibility of the Devil God Sect."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Jiang Li inquired curiously.

From his personal point of view, the current rain situation might not necessarily be related to the Devil God Sect.

Plotting matters in secrecy is crucial, and such disaster-creating endeavors must not be recklessly disclosed. Should the Devil God Sect be consulted and then betray them, the Taiping Sect's reputation would be completely destroyed.

Jiang Li believed that these Transformation Snakes were most likely cultivated by the Taiping Sect themselves to shift the blame onto the Devil God Sect.

The Transformation Snakes summoned rain to facilitate the plan, and afterwards, their identity as Devil Cultivators could be used to shift the blame onto the Devil God Sect. Achieving their goal without tarnishing their reputation was a perfect arrangement, a true win-win situation.

Even now, with Cao Yuanlong captured, the Taiping Sect could easily blame everything on the Devil Cultivators without any concerns for their reputation. After all, the masses they intended to deceive wouldn't be affected by the truth, and even if some knew it was the Taiping Sect's doing, it wouldn't hinder the Sect's growth.

But Gongsun Qingyue was saying that the incident did indeed involve the Devil God Sect.

"Any demon, ghost, or monster that praises my true name can be one of our Sect members," Gongsun Qingyue said. "This is an edict personally decreed by the Great Venerable of the Devil God Sect, and it is also why the Sect cannot be thoroughly eradicated. Essentially, any demon, ghost, or monster can directly become a member of the Devil God Sect. Junior Brother, do you know what this implies?"

Jiang Li felt his heartbeat quicken quietly, his heart pumping faster for some astonishing feat, some mad intent.

He unconsciously lowered his voice as he replied, "This indicates that the Great Venerable of the Devil God Sect has handed out a key to all factions, a key to unleash malice."

Committing all the misdeeds while the Devil God Sect bears the blame.

It seemed unfair, even wrongful for the Devil God Sect, but what was the reality?

With a ready scapegoat, factions began to act more recklessly. No matter what, the Devil God Sect bore the blame, so what was there to fear? Seek revenge, root out evil, just go after the Devil God Sect.

Just like the Taiping Sect's plan this time.

The rain clouds were transported by the Transformation Snakes, which indeed belonged to the Devil God Sect. Their extremely low criteria for joining enabled the Transformation Snakes to become members with ease. Therefore, it was the Devil God Sect's doing.

The Great Venerable of the Devil God Sect, with his own strength, had lowered the moral threshold of the people in the Divine Country.

And for this, he paid the price with the hodgepodge nature of the Devil God Sect and the hatred and hostility of countless people.

But none of it mattered.

All the hatred and hostility would be in vain if they couldn't kill him.

No matter how mixed the Devil God Sect became, as long as the Great Venerable lived, the Sect would not perish.

"Exactly," Cao Yuanlong laughed heartily, "Even if you capture me, what of it? You cannot use this to slander my Sect. Moreover, once the rumor spreads, the Devil God Sect will acknowledge the deed as their own, absolving my Sect of any connection."

One willing to strike, and another willing to be struck, no one can say anything on the matter.

"But if we stop the Transformation Snakes from continuing to transport the clouds, halt the progression of the drought, it will foil your plans."

Gongsun Qingyue rose to her full height, exuding a calm demeanor yet also evoking a sense of supremacy, "As for how the Taiping Sect shall be dealt with, that will be determined by the future."

She was undisturbed by Cao Yuanlong's words, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

Stopping the drought would thwart the Taiping Sect's almost successful scheme, and all else could wait for later discussion.

As she spoke, Gongsun Qingyue walked out of the cave, unknowingly clenching a Jade Seal in her hand.

She infused True Qi into the Jade Seal, and Pure Light spread from it, while Gongsun Qingyue declared, "County Magistrate of Jingyun County, come to me at once."

Her voice merged with the Pure Light, resonating endlessly, akin to the sound of the heavens, tinged with an invisible celestial authority.

Moments later, white Qi rose from the ground in front of the cave, and a middle-aged man dressed in official robes slowly ascended from beneath, bowing to Gongsun Qingyue, "County Magistrate of Jingyun County, Ren Zihe, pays his respects to the Upper Envoy."