Chapter 935: Shen Gongbao Talks the Supreme Xuan Law Master Into Defection

Though slightly startled, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa rested his hand upon his waist, entirely unperturbed. After all, he bore upon his person several dharma treasures, each one far more potent than even the Golden Seal of the Holy Spirit.

To ensure the matter was absolute and foolproof, allowing them to firmly grasp Fang Qi’s weakness, the several Immortal Monarchs had spared no expense, bestowing these superb artifacts upon the elders without the slightest hesitation.

With these treasures in hand, those beneath heaven and earth who could truly best him were surely few and far more between.

Thus, regardless of the newcomer’s cultivation level, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa turned around with absolute confidence, thinking to himself, "Hmph! If he dares reveal even the slightest ill intent, he shall serve as the perfect sacrificial offering for my newly acquired treasures!"

As he turned, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa looked and beheld a Daoist riding upon a tiger.

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa spoke with vigilance, "Who might you be, fellow Daoist? From whence do you come?"

The Daoist smiled and replied, "I am Shen Gongbao, from the lineage of Kunlun."

"Kunlun?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa pondered, searching his mind for a long while without any inkling of what manner of place Kunlun might be, though he soon dismissed it upon considering the countless recluses hidden within this Sea of Ten Thousand Immortals: "Likely a name these rustic wilderness immortals conjured up themselves, which explains why this seat remains ignorant of it."

"So it is fellow Daoist Shen?" Of late, the eight great immortal clans had all been recruiting extraordinary talents from the four seas, so Supreme Venerable Xuanfa habitually assumed a pleasant countenance, asking, "I wonder, what brings you here today, fellow Daoist?"

Shen Gongbao said, "I have come specifically for you, fellow Daoist."

"For me?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa grew even more bewildered. "You and I are entirely unacquainted..."

Yet on second thought, though he did not know the other party, it did not mean the other party remained ignorant of him; who under heaven did not know the illustrious Supreme Venerable Xuanfa of the Gui Immortal Clan?

He quickly amended his words, saying, "What guidance do you have to offer, fellow Daoist?"

As for the alternative possibility—that this man had come to obstruct him—he paid it no mind; after all, given the immensely powerful supreme treasures in his possession, even a hundred wandering spirits or loose immortels of this caliber would not suffice to catch his eye.

He then heard Shen Gongbao chuckle and say, "I have heard that you, along with various immortal clans, descended to the mortal realm to slay demons, yet met with repeated misfortunes. This time, you returned to the Holy Emperor's Palace to procure spiritual treasures before once again seeking trouble with that demon of the human realm. Is this indeed the case?"

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa considered that while his deeds were clandestine, his return to the Holy Emperor's Palace could not be feigned; the other party likely only knew he had returned to fetch treasures before descending again, but remained ignorant of his true objective.

He therefore nodded and said, "It is so."

Shen Gongbao spoke again, "With the fall of the spiritual generals preceding you, and the tragic deaths of several of your close companions following after, why do you still fail to wake to the danger? Why do you still descend to the mortal realm so recklessly this time?"

"Have you ascertained the true origins of those immortals and their treasures, fellow Daoist?"

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa shook his head, "Is it not some Sect Master Tongtian? Likely just a recluse from the Sea of Ten Thousand Immortals who grandiosely styled himself as Tongtian."

After all, no other immortals or sect masters could possibly exist beyond their world.

Shen Gongbao smiled and said, "In matters of such magnitude throughout antiquity, is there any reason not to move only after a plan is set!?"

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "Indeed, there has never been such a precedent."

"Then why act so rashly this time?" Shen Gongbao inquired further.

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa replied, "The several Immortal Monarchs have their own calculations regarding this matter. You need say no more, fellow Daoist."

In his heart, he thought: You remain ignorant of this seat's true objective, so why waste your breath?

He only heard Shen Gongbao say, "I have heard that before the spiritual generals perished, each was filled with confidence; before the supreme venerables met their ends, they too believed victory was within their grasp. Yet now, you act blindly once more, entirely oblivious to the perils ahead. Are you not simply retracing the fatal steps of those previous fellow Daoists?"

Hearing this, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's expression shifted slightly.

Shen Gongbao spoke with solemn gravity, "I perceive that you do not seem to be a rash man by nature. Who, then, instigated you to this? Their intent... is utterly insidious."

"This...!?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's countenance shifted again as he said, "In truth, it is not that this seat is reckless, but rather that even the several Immortal Monarchs have not entirely fathomed the depths of this matter."

Shen Gongbao laughed, "Precisely. If even the Immortal Monarchs cannot discern the underlying details, yet they desire you to wade into these muddy waters? Is this not sending you blindly to your death?"

Upon hearing this, cold sweat broke out across Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's brow as a chilling realization dawned upon him.

The waters here were so deep that even the Immortal Monarchs could not fathom them, while he was merely an elder, a venerable...

Furthermore, this time they were employing underhanded methods rather than a head-on confrontation, so how could there be any danger?

Just then, he suddenly noticed Shen Gongbao's fingers moving in a rapid calculation, as if divine secrets were being reckoned.

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa was startled once more, instantly remembering that the several Immortal Monarchs were also adept at divination.

If they could not calculate the outcome, did it not imply that the opponent's attainment in this path surpassed that of the Immortal Monarchs, having already shrouded the heavenly mechanisms?

And if they could calculate it... yet completely withheld it from him, concealing the truth...

That would be even more profound and unsettling.

As he lost himself in these thoughts, Shen Gongbao observed the cold sweat pouring from Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's forehead and asked in surprise, "Could it be that you possess a solution, fellow Daoist? Pray instruct me!"

Shen Gongbao merely shook his head and said, "I do not know your purpose on this journey, and since it concerns several Immortal Monarchs, this humble Daoist dares not pry further..."

"No matter!" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa now felt as though an immense, unknown black void lay ahead, one that even the Immortal Monarchs could not fathom. If he rushed forward blindly, he might well follow Supreme Venerable Miaofa to the grave.

One must remember that those who died tragically before had not even sent their souls back; if a soul remained, one could still reincarnate, but if soul and spirit were utterly obliterated...

Even he could not help but shudder at the thought.

Shen Gongbao's words made him feel as though he had grasped a life-saving straw.

"I shall only speak briefly of the outline, omitting the crucial secrets. You possess a meticulous mind, fellow Daoist; could you help me deliberate upon it?"

With that, he briefly outlined the plan.

Upon hearing it, Shen Gongbao's expression turned exceedingly grave.

Seeing him in such a state, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa grew increasingly anxious, "Fellow Daoist, how does it stand?"

Shen Gongbao said, "A great catastrophe already looms over your head, fellow Daoist, yet how is it you remain unaware?"

"What do you mean by this?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa thought that even if the endeavor failed, relying on his treasures, escaping with his life should pose no problem. How could a great catastrophe be looming?

Shen Gongbao said, "Setting aside whether this matter can succeed, have you ever considered what follows... after success?"

"After success?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa asked in wonder, "Then I shall naturally receive titles and rewards from the Immortal Monarchs. What could be amiss?"

Shen Gongbao countered, "That is precisely when the true catastrophe strikes! You threaten that man with the lives of his kith and kin; will he not hate you to the very bone?"

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa laughed, "Naturally, but... at worst, he will turn into a fierce ghost, and this old man shall shatter his soul with a single palm strike!"

"Have you still not seen through it, fellow Daoist?" Shen Gongbao remarked, "I fear that when the time comes, the one turning into a fierce ghost will be you!"

"Me!?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa froze. "What logic is this?"

"If this plot succeeds, that mortal youth will only harbor malice toward you few. When his hatred becomes unquenchable and he resolves to break the jade rather than remain whole, he may offer up the supreme treasure on the sole condition that your lives be exchanged for it. What will you do then?"

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's heart suddenly skipped a beat, leaving him utterly stupefied: "This...!?"

He had considered a thousand variables, yet it had never crossed his mind that such a move could be played! If it truly came to that...

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa sighed deeply, "This old man is in dire peril!"

"And should you fail, given that the lower realm conceals such monumental and terrifying dangers, your end will likely be no better than that of your predecessors, will it?"

"..." Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's face instantly drained of color as he said in horror, "You mean to say... this old man faces death either way!?"