Above the Nine Heavens, Yu Yuan held the Central Jia Ji Yellow Flag in his hand, while the Randeng Daoist, like a fired cannonball, was smashed and flew away.

Originally, Zhao Gongming and Yun Xiao saw Yu Yuan afflicted by the Glazed Heart Fire and immediately sensed disaster brewing, rushing forward to rescue their nephew.

To their astonishment, in just the blink of an eye, the tide of battle had completely turned.

Yu Yuan gripped the Central Jia Ji Yellow Flag in one hand and swung the Mixed Gold Hammer in the other, brutally crashing it down upon Randeng Daoist's head, stunning the Vice Sect Hierarch of Chan Sect, stars swirling before his eyes.

"Excellent opportunity!"

Although Zhao Gongming didn't understand how Yu Yuan had accomplished this, the chance to severely injure Randeng Daoist presented itself, and naturally, he would not let it slip by.

Without any hesitation, he brandished his Golden Whip at Randeng Daoist, and also summoned all twenty-four Ocean Stabilizing Pearls.

Randeng Daoist suddenly lost the Central Jia Ji Yellow Flag and, before he could react, was smashed away by Yu Yuan's hammer; in this moment, Zhao Gongming took advantage of the situation, his face displaying an indiscernible gravity.

Once, with the Central Jia Ji Yellow Flag in hand, he faced the encirclement of several opponents without fear, but now, deprived of the flag's protection, he immediately felt an immense pressure, leaving him almost unable to breathe.

The twenty-four Ocean Stabilizing Pearls, gleaming with an aquamarine light, whistled through the air, shining like stars, emanating terrifying waves of energy.

Randeng Daoist had reason to believe, should he be struck, he would most likely perish on the spot.

The Ocean Stabilizing Pearl, as a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, had undoubted power.

Additionally, the Three Xiao watched eagerly from the side, ready to join the fray at any moment.

"Whoosh!"

A light sound cut through the sky; Zhao Gongming's Golden Whip snaked like a dragon, raising a trail of golden light, swiftly striking down towards Randeng Daoist.

Randeng Daoist could only defend himself with the Qiankun Ruler and the Spirit Lantern in his hands.

The former could twist space, while the latter could form a glaze barrier to protect his surroundings.

But he was clearly at a disadvantage.

The Spirit Lantern shone brilliantly, like a bright star, with glaze-colored flames forming a huge protective barrier around him, constantly trembling but struggling to withstand Zhao Gongming's fierce attacks.

Under the barrage of the twenty-four Ocean Stabilizing Pearls, the newly formed light barrier quickly began to falter.

Zhao Gongming's Golden Whip shadowed his movements, each swing producing a deafening sonic boom. His attacks were precise, each whip strike tearing through space as if to shred Randeng Daoist into pieces.

Randeng Daoist gradually felt a sense of doom, a mixture of powerlessness, anxiety, and urgency rising within him.

Witnessing Zhao Gongming's offensive waves crashing down unceasingly, and now without the Central Jia Ji Yellow Flag, all he could do was desperately defend.

The crux of the issue lay in the terrifying power of the Ocean Stabilizing Pearls.

Feeling helpless inside, he dared not confront the pearls head-on, merely constantly warping space with the Qiankun Ruler to protect himself.

However, he was well aware that without outside intervention, the battle was destined to have only one outcome.

Zhao Gongming's strength was unmatched, each strike thunderous, with Randeng Daoist being pushed back step by step.

Eventually, even the Qiankun Ruler couldn't hold on, and the twisted space shattered apart.

Randeng Daoist staggered and was struck by Zhao Gongming's whip, his body flying backward like a kite with its string cut, nearly crashing into a barren cliff.

His complexion ashen, wounds all over his body, he looked utterly disheveled.

Zhao Gongming hovered in the air, his gaze cold and merciless, the Golden Whip still radiating chill in his hand. He looked down pitilessly at Randeng Daoist, exuding an irresistible domineering aura.

At this moment, he felt a great satisfaction.

The frustration from being ambushed with the Glazed Heart Fire during the last reconciliation of the Three Sects had finally been alleviated.

Blood trickled from the corner of Randeng Daoist's mouth, but his eyes gleamed with unwavering determination. Despite his grave injuries, he still refused to concede easily, nor would he submit to Zhao Gongming.

Seizing this pause, he turned his head towards Yu Yuan, who was examining the Central Jia Ji Yellow Flag, and shouted loudly, "Yu Yuan! How bold of you, even daring to seize the treasure bestowed by a Saint! Are you not afraid of the Saint's thunderous wrath?"

"Hehe..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuan chuckled and responded, "What seizing? Don't falsely accuse others, will you? I merely borrowed it for a quick look. Here, I've seen enough of this flag, it is yours once more, come and retrieve it quickly!"

"Hmph!"

The Randeng Daoist snorted coldly, taking it as though he was being mocked.

Little did he know that Yu Yuan truly had no intention of claiming the Central Apricot and Yellow Flag as his own.

Of course, that wasn't to say he didn't want to!

The moment the Central Apricot and Yellow Flag came into his hands, he felt an immensely vast aura rush towards him, as if a pair of serene eyes were watching him.

This scene truly frightened him and brought about an epiphany in his heart.

The true master of the Central Apricot and Yellow Flag was none other than the Primordial Heavenly Venerate of the Yuxu Palace, and unless that Saint gave his consent, no one else could use this treasure!

In the hands of the Randeng Daoist, this flag was almost an invincible top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasure, but in Yu Yuan's hands, it was just an ordinary object.

Nevertheless, though it was of no use to him, naturally he wouldn't dream of returning the treasure to the Randeng Daoist.

...

"This Yu Yuan, indeed adept in strategy."

Inside the Biyou Palace of Penglai Holy Realm, the Taiching Saint sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, stroking his beard in admiration, "That Randeng was once a guest of the Zixiao Palace, practiced for so long yet still fell into his trap.

However, I have not discerned the method he used to counteract the Glazed Heart Fire, could it be a new Divine Skill recently created by my third brother?"

"It must be some treasure on him that protected his Primordial Spirit."

Hearing the Taiching Saint's praise, the Tongtian Sect Hierarch had no smile on his face; instead, his expression was somewhat serious and puzzled. He gave a perfunctory answer and then looked at the Taiching Saint, "Did elder brother just say he came to my Biyou Palace at the second brother's request?

Would elder brother please speak plainly as to why this is?"

The Taiching Saint replied indifferently, "Your disciple defied my will, employing machinations, deceiving the heavens to cross the sea and switching the false for the true; how could I simply ignore it?

The incident was personally witnessed by Xuan Du himself, only he refrained from exposing it immediately out of consideration for your face.

It was only after my inquiry that I learned the full story."

The Tongtian Sect Hierarch spoke discontentedly, "Even if it was really Yu Yuan who cheated the Chan Sect with a fake Investiture of the Gods, it was because those Chan Sect disciples started the trouble in the first place!

My disciple was merely treating them with their own medicine!

If elder brother truly wishes to administer justice, then those Chan Sect disciples should be punished first!"

Hearing this, the Taiching Saint slightly frowned, his expression showing a bit of displeasure.

However, the Tongtian Sect Hierarch didn't seem to notice this point, or perhaps he did but didn't take it to heart, and he continued after a brief pause:

"This matter, after all, is just a dispute between Chan Sect and my sect. If anyone should come to reason with us, it should be the second brother who does so. Why should elder brother need to get involved?

Could it be that elder brother truly intends to be biased?"

"Third brother, why would you think this?"

The Taiching Saint said with a frowned brow, "We, the Three Pure Ones, are of one breath and one root, inseparable since the Creation of Heaven and Earth, without distinction of each other... It's just a pity that since attaining Sainthood, you and Primordial have drifted apart over the conflict of the Great Dao principles.

As your elder brother, my only wish is for you two to reconcile, never have I been biased."

Hearing this, the Tongtian Sect Hierarch's expression softened slightly, and his eyes revealed a touch of reminiscence and sentiment.

If reconciliation was possible, he would certainly wish for it.

But that proud second brother would probably not think the same, would he?

He will certainly do everything to prove he is the one who is right, and as for brotherly love, that would likely fall by the wayside.

Thinking thus, the Taiching Saint continued with a serious tone, "I originally did not want to get involved in this matter of Divine Enthronement, but as you and your brother hold different views, I had no choice but to intervene, dividing the Heavenly Book in two, setting a rule that every ten years the treasures would be exchanged, hoping that this method would let you both jointly handle the Investiture.

All these arrangements were for your good, in hopes that you two could take this opportunity to work sincerely together, turning conflicts into harmony.

Unexpectedly, your disciple Yu Yuan used crafty schemes, substituting the fake for the real, making my good intentions go down the drain, causing Chan Sect and your sect to fight openly in West Niu Hezhou, turning it into a spectacle for others."

Hearing this, the expression of the Tongtian Sect Hierarch loosened slightly again, and he hesitantly asked, "According to elder brother, how should this matter be handled?"

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