Chapter 130 Sima Chengzhen Emerges from Seclusion!

"What is going on here? How should we record this?"

In the distance, the Imperial Agents watched in a daze; the situation here had exceeded their expectations time and time again.

Is this something we're allowed to watch for free?

"How should you record it? Record it exactly as it happened."

The person recording said this and began writing on the paper.

"In the fifth year of Kaiyuan, Jiang Chen, a Disciple of the Maoshan Sect, was praying for rain in Xu Prefecture when Zhang Gaoxian, a Daoist from Mount Longhu, attempted to engage him in a Dharma battle, interrupting the prayer."

"Zhang Gaoxian relied on the Five Thunders Dharma of Mount Longhu, yet it vanished into nothingness before Jiang Chen."

"Jiang Chen broke it with his overwhelming Heart-Nature. Zhang Gaoxian, unable to compete, attempted to destroy his cultivation in an instant, but was blocked by the Mount Longhu Daoist Zhang Huaiyi."

"During their clash, Zhang Huaiyi was outmatched and activated the Ancestral Celestial Master's protective Talisman. In an instant, the sky turned yellow and the earth turned black, and everyone's Heart-Nature was completely obscured."

"After an unknown period, the strange phenomena dissipated. Jiang Chen and the phantom of the Ancestral Celestial Master, Zhang Daoling, bowed to each other. The reason is unknown."

After recording this, the Imperial Agent handed it to someone behind him with a serious expression.

"This matter is of great importance and must be submitted to Your Majesty as soon as possible."

The Imperial Agent took the record without a word and turned to sprint in the direction of Chang'an.

...

"Unworthy Disciple Zhang Huaiyi pays respects to the Ancestral Master!"

"Unworthy Disciple Zhang Gaoxian pays respects to the Ancestral Master!"

Jiang Chen and Zhang Daoling, who were still tugging at each other nearby, turned their heads in unison upon hearing this.

"You lot only care about your own petty schemes, disregarding the common people of the world. If it gets out that you are my junior Disciples, you will only bring shame upon me before the world! Do not use my name for the things you do!"

Zhang Gaoxian panicked. He quickly used his knees to shuffle forward two steps, sniffling and crying, and said respectfully:

"Ancestral Master, this Disciple knows his wrong, this Disciple knows his wrong, but the orders of a senior are absolute, and this Disciple dared not disobey!"

"Oh? Is that so?" The phantom of Zhang Daoling narrowed his eyes slightly. An invisible Aura made it difficult for Zhang Gaoxian to lie.

He could only cast a pleading look at Zhang Huaiyi, but to his surprise, he saw Zhang Huaiyi looking at him with an expression of grief and indignation.

"Gaoxian, how could you!"

Zhang Gaoxian suddenly had a bad feeling. Why did this tone sound so familiar?

"Now that the Ancestral Master is here in person, you actually dare to speak falsely and intend to harm your senior!"

Bang!

Zhang Huaiyi suddenly prostrated himself completely, his head hitting the ground with a loud thud. Even Jianzhen could imagine how painful that must have been.

"Reporting to the Ancestral Master, this is entirely the fault of this Disciple. It is because of my lax discipline that Zhang Gaoxian's Heart-Nature has become so wretched, leading him to commit such grave errors and dare to lie to the Ancestral Master!"

"Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Jiang set things right. At the time, this Disciple was anxious to save people and did not consider the consequences, almost committing a grave error. I ask the Ancestral Master to punish me!"

Zhang Gaoxian was stunned. Junior Martial Uncle, that is not what you told me just now!

Can there be any trust left between people?

I was so good to you, I was even prepared to go against my conscience and act like Cao Cao to take care of your wife for you!

And this is how you treat me?

"Junior Martial Uncle, Zhang Huaiyi, you were the one who told me to pin the blame on you just now! How can you say I slandered you now! Do you have any conscience at all!"

Zhang Gaoxian's expression was full of grief and indignation, but Zhang Huaiyi showed no signs of panic at being exposed; instead, he maintained an expression of righteousness.

He shook his head in extreme sorrow, a crystal tear flowing from the corner of his eye.

"Gaoxian, although you are the sect leader's Disciple of a generation removed, and we address each other as uncle and nephew, I have always been the one to teach you cultivation and how to conduct yourself. In my heart, I have long regarded you as my own Disciple. But, but..."

"But I never expected that you would be able to slander your Junior Martial Uncle just to shift the blame!"

Zhang Gaoxian was speechless. In a sense, Zhang Huaiyi was right.

He had indeed slandered his Junior Martial Uncle, but the crucial point was that it was that old scoundrel Zhang Huaiyi who told him to pin all the blame on him!

Zhang Daoling observed all their expressions. He understood the entire sequence of cause and effect, but seeing these two racking their brains to shift responsibility, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow.

The Way of the Celestial Masters had fallen to this state.

If only Jiang Chen were his Disciple. Ahem, that is treasonous, that is treasonous. Zhang Daoling quickly reined in his thoughts.

"Jiang... Fellow Daoist, how to deal with them, I will leave the decision to you."

Zhang Huaiyi panicked. If Jiang Chen were to deal with him, wouldn't he be dead for sure?

"Ancestral Master, this Disciple has committed the crime of lax discipline. I beg the Ancestral Master to punish me!"

But Zhang Daoling ignored him.

Jiang Chen raised his hand, and the Maoshan Dharma Sword in his hand suddenly hummed.

"Your hearts are crooked. For the sake of personal gain, you disregarded morality. Fortunately, no great disaster has been caused, but while the death penalty may be spared, you cannot escape punishment."

"Today, I shall revoke your Daoist status, strip you of your Dharma Seal, and peel away your cultivation. The path of cultivation requires the Dual Cultivation of life and nature. You should start over from the beginning."

After saying this, Jiang Chen did not hesitate. The power of the Yunji Talisman within his body coursed through the Dharma sword, making the originally crimson sword shine even more brilliantly.

Sensing the danger, Zhang Huaiyi was terrified, but with the Ancestral Master Zhang Daoling watching from the side, he would not dare to make any move to resist, even if it killed him.

As the crimson sword light swung, it flashed across Zhang Huaiyi's body without harming his Physical Body in the slightest; only a blurry Yunji Talisman was plucked from his body by the sword light.

This Yunji Talisman tried to return to Zhang Huaiyi's body, but in the next instant, it was torn to shreds by the sword light.

Feeling his vitality and cultivation fading away, Zhang Huaiyi seemed to age decades in an instant. Wrinkles appeared on his face, his hair turned gray, and his back hunched over.

In a hoarse, trembling voice, he said, "Thank you, Ancestral Master, and thank you, Fellow Daoist Jiang, for sparing my life."

Zhang Gaoxian's expression was one of terror; he had already foreseen his own fate.

But he did not have the patient Heart-Nature of Zhang Huaiyi; he stood up and ran for his life.

But before he had run two steps, he was caught by a streak of crimson sword light, and a Talisman was plucked from his body and torn apart.

"Pfft!"

His cultivation leaked away like a deflating ball. With his new and old injuries combined, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

His face was twisted, his heart filled with indescribable grief and indignation. Looking at Zhang Daoling now, the filter of him being an Ancestral Master seemed to have faded away.

"You are clearly the Ancestral Master of my Mount Longhu, yet you help an outsider bully your own Disciple! It was in vain that I sincerely worshipped you in the past!"

Zhang Daoling was not the least bit angry.

"You worshipping me is your own business. When have I ever said that I needed your worship?"

Zhang Daoling was about to say more, but at that moment, he suddenly turned his head to look at the horizon.

Jiang Chen looked over as well, but saw nothing except for a few clouds.

Suddenly, a seven-colored light, like a golden bridge, spread rapidly from the horizon.

As the seven-colored bridge approached, a figure gradually became clear, walking towards this place from the other end of the bridge as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Although the figure was blurry, even from a distance, one could see the shadow of the "Dao" within it.

Zhang Daoling's originally lazy expression changed instantly, becoming dignified and solemn. At this moment, he finally looked like a true Ancestral Master of the Dao Sect.

"What business brings a junior student here?"