Guo Jufeng and Yin Changjian pleaded earnestly and patiently, trying to persuade Lin Tang for a long ti. Xiao Xuanye also feigned persuasion for a while. Even Shen Youling, who had just groggily awoken, set aside her previous embarrassnt from being rebuked by Lin Tang and sincerely advised him not to act impulsively. The National Guardian dal was extrely precious and incredibly rare. It would be a true sha to miss out on it.
However, Lin Tang remained unmoved.
They want to bind to them completely? Take advantage of like that? No way!
Yan Qinghe also tried to talk to him over a video call, but when she saw him shake his head, she beca infuriated. In the end, another call ca through to Yin Changjian's phone. He was deeply moved upon answering, instinctively bowing despite the caller being unable to see him.
"Yes, yes, I understand. I will tell him right away..."
After hanging up, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
That was a call from the Ultimate Sovereign himself! What an honor!
He imdiately sought out Lin Tang again.
Lin Tang was getting truly annoyed. "I've already said, I'm not giving face to anyone..."
Yin Changjian smiled. "There is soone who asked to relay a ssage to you. It begins, 'The Supre One stated, Heaven and Earth...'"
He had only recited a few words when Lin Tang froze completely. This was the opening verse of his cultivation thod, the Supre True Dragon Technique!
Besides and my master, who else could possibly know? So, is my master sending a ssage? Is he the Ultimate Sovereign? What a joke, that's impossible!
He shook his head vigorously, and then a realization dawned on him.
It must be that a reclusive master like mine had so dealings with the Ultimate Sovereign for so unknown reason. Perhaps he even owed the Ultimate Sovereign a favor. So, the Ultimate Sovereign is invoking my master's na to make concede. Or maybe... my master himself wants to accept this National Guardian dal. There might be a deeper aning to it. As for how he knew I was impersonating Long Tianji... with my master's unfathomable powers of divination, wouldn't that be easy for him?
Alright then. Since my master is involved, I suppose I can reluctantly agree.
Seeing Lin Tang finally nod, Yin Changjian and the others let out a collective sigh of relief. The Wen Dingchen father-son duo, whose hearts had been in their throats, were also greatly relieved.
"We're going to live!"
"That's great... but to think that lunatic, Long Tianji, will now have a status higher than my father's... it's still infuriating."
The pair quietly tried to sneak away, but Lin Tang made a grasping motion in the air, yanking them back. Their necks fell into his tiger-like grip, and they writhed in searing pain.
"Wait!" Yin Changjian quickly interjected. "You can't do that! We live in an age of law, and those of us in high-ranking positions must lead by example. Even if they are guilty of cris, they must go through a formal trial, handled with reason, evidence, and procedure. Heavenly King Long, I implore you to release them. I will have my n take them into custody imdiately!"
Lin Tang shook his head. "I've only received the National Guardian dal. I'm still just an ordinary citizen, so how could I be considered soone in a high-ranking position?"
"How could you not? With the National Guardian dal, you are effectively the State Preceptor of Central Earth! If you don't believe , just ask General Guo and General Xiao!"
Guo Jufeng chid in, "He's correct. Heavenly King Long, you are now our most honored State Preceptor. All people of Central Earth, except for the Ultimate Sovereign and the elders, must pay their respects to you. Any place in Central Earth will be open to you. Whatever you desire, as long as it's achievable, the entire nation will strive to provide it!"
"Is that so? What if I wanted half of everyone's assets? Would that work?" Lin Tang's eyes lit up, a greedy glint appearing in them.
"Ah, well..." Guo Jufeng choked, at a complete loss for words. He could only stamr, "Please, just let them go. Why dirty your hands by killing them?"
"Hmm..." Lin Tang feigned hesitation before withdrawing his hand.
Finally able to breathe again, Wen Dingchen and his son gasped desperately for air. "Yes, yes, that's right," they panted. "A man of your esteed status shouldn't stoop to dealing with us personally. Please, just let us go like we're nothing but farts!"
"I'm willing to confess! I've done many terrible things! I'm guilty! I'll go to prison for life if you want, just please don't kill !"
They wept, groveling on the ground, all traces of their forr dignity gone. They looked like nothing more than pathetic clowns.
Lin Tang sneered with disdain. "Fine. Get out of my sight."
"Thank you, Heavenly King Long! Oh, no, thank you, State Preceptor! Thank you, Your Excellency, the State Preceptor!" the two babbled, ecstatic as they kowtowed again. They then scrambled to their feet and ran as if their lives depended on it, wishing their mothers had given them more legs.
I will never forget the humiliation of this day! Just you wait! JUST YOU WAIT! they roared internally. If their resentnt had a color, it would be the deepest, most absolute black.
The next mont, their hearts seized, and they dropped dead. Their bodies were completely unhard on the surface, yet they were undeniably, utterly dead.
"Heavenly King Long, how could you..." Yin Changjian and the others stared, their jaws dropping once more. They looked at Lin Tang in disbelief.
He's the State Preceptor! How can he go back on his word like that?
Lin Tang, however, simply held up his hands. "Look, you all saw it. I didn't lift a finger. It really wasn't . They died of sudden cardiac arrest. It has nothing to do with !" He then pointed at them accusingly. "Hey, hey, why are you all looking at like that? You don't believe ? Everything requires evidence. Which one of you actually saw kill anyone?"
Everyone was speechless.
Soone as ridiculously powerful as you, Long Tianji, has a million ways to kill without lifting a finger! Do you take us for idiots?!
Alas, things had already co to this. Saying anything more was pointless. They exchanged helpless glances and could only play dumb.
"Ahem, indeed, we all saw it. Heavenly King Long did nothing. They simply ran out of luck and weren't fated for a long life."
"Yes, yes, that's right!"
"Soone, take the bodies for an autopsy!"
"Hey, what's the point? It was clearly a sudden heart attack. Case closed, case closed."
"Right..."
Who would—or rather, who *dared*—to hold Long Tianji accountable for them?
Shen Youling witnessed the surreal scene unfold and ca to a profound realization.
When an individual's power becos overwhelmingly great, any revered status is as flimsy as paper. It's laughable that I used to be so disgusted with Lin Tang for always wanting to solve problems with force... but then again, I wasn't entirely wrong. After all, Lin Tang isn't nearly as powerful as Long Tianji, so the two can't be compared!
She made a firm decision.
I must cultivate in secret until I beco the strongest—at least on par with Long Tianji—before I ever reveal my true power. Unless it's a matter of life and death, I will not be high-profile. I can't attract covetous eyes. The Yin Yang Reincarnation Technique is a supre scripture that can lead to immortality! Even Long Tianji would be incredibly envious. Possessing a treasure invites disaster! I have to keep it a secret from everyone!
Claiming to feel unwell, Shen Youling asked for leave to go ho, planning to sort through the massive amount of information in her mind while she was alone. Guo Jufeng called in a team to handle the aftermath, which included calming the tens of thousands of won and arranging their transport ho.
Yin Changjian stayed with Lin Tang a while longer, but seeing he was not welco, he tactfully excused himself. Before leaving, he inford him that the auspicious day for the formal presentation of the National Guardian dal was set for one week from now in the capital, imploring Heavenly King Long not to be late.
Lin Tang, acting nonchalant, returned to the Ten Directions Absolute Prison.
That Master of Pleasure is a real cheapskate. After being burned to a crisp, he didn't leave a single thing behind. I couldn't even loot his corpse. What a waste of a trip! When I harvest the other Evil Gods, they at least leave behind Spirit Crystals or Magic Artifacts and spiritual materials. Now *that's* generosity!
In a dark, silent, and desolate space far from this planet, the true body of the Master of Pleasure slowly opened its eyes. Just as it was about to roar with fury, it sensed the "threads" connecting it to its tens of thousands of followers snap all at once. As the saying goes, a swarm of ants can bite an elephant to death. Even for a being like It, to have this happen simultaneously was agonizing enough to make It shriek at the heavens.
How is this possible? A re mortal, even a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, shouldn't be capable of this! Unless this Long Tianji possesses so world-class treasure... What could it be?
It was both curious and greedy. After a mont's hesitation, It decided to condescend to contact so of the new gods It had always looked down upon. They were closer to the planet and might have more recent information. First, It spent so ti using a secret technique to contact the nearest endless abyss.
Above the abyss, the phantoms of four divine swords flickered in and out of existence, alternating in sequence. The Master of Pleasure carefully avoided the glint of the blades as It projected Its formless consciousness inside.
SCREECH—
A bizarre sound, like a cross between a wailing ghost and a newborn baby, set off a massive sonic boom. A grotesque entity, resembling a colossal mushroom with a twisted face, waved the nurous tentacles atop its head. On one small area of its body, another face was clearly visible—one that looked eerily similar to Mu Fan. This was the deity worshiped by the Mu family, the one that granted them their so-called Undying Body. It had once locked gazes with Lin Tang across a vast distance and harbored a deep grudge.
"Mushroom Head, you're still trapped? Didn't you brag before that you had a way to deplete the residual immortal power of those four useless swords? Why has there been no progress?"
"ROAR! DON'T CALL MUSHROOM HEAD, YOU SHALESS, STINKY TADPOLE!"
"...And don't you call a stinky tadpole! Ti is short, so let's get to the point. How many followers do you have left in the mortal realm? Can you share so intelligence from there? I can offer you sothing in trade."
"Followers? Damn you, you really know how to touch a sore spot..."
As their psychic waves rapidly collided in a brief exchange, a na erged.
"Long Tianji? It's him again? AHHHHH, I'M GOING TO DEVOUR HIM! EAT! EAT! EAT! EAT! EAT—"
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