Calamity of Tomorrow
Chapter 671 671: 669 taking someone with

Xiang Tiandi nodded his head in agreement after hearing Li Zhengdao's account. "I understand," he said. "Zi Yang and I will resolve this matter and capture Zhou Bai. He may indeed possess what we have been seeking for so long."

Zi Yang True Monarch stood up, the flames of hatred in his eyes seemingly impatient. "Then let's go," he said. "Let's find Zhou Bai quickly. We can't let him get ahead of us."

Seeing the two men ready to take action immediately, Li Zhengdao suddenly added, "'Primordial Dao Collection 06' has been exposed in the wilderness for a long time, directly exposed to the polluted spiritual mechanism. In such a case, the source of the distortion will become increasingly dangerous over time and eventually even enter the void, disappearing completely from the Material World."

"Even Immortals face a certain danger in such situations," he said. "I think it's better to bring a group of mortal cultivators to assist you."

Xiang Tiandi nodded, finding the suggestion quite reasonable. The source of distortion was like poison to any life in the universe except for utterly degenerated living beings. Even for deity cultivators like them, getting tainted too much was not beneficial.

Furthermore, ever since Heavenly Dao had been twisted, their cultivation had not fully recovered, and Immortal Artifacts were still in an unusable state.

It was like a ninth realm cultivator without armor or weapons; what distinguishes humans is their ability to use tools.

Whether Immortals used Immortal Artifacts had a significant impact on their combat strength. It was precisely because Immortal Artifacts were damaged and unusable that they needed to adapt to the times and develop distorted weapons.

Xiang Tiandi thought to himself, 'The best way to deal with the source of distortion is to understand its rules in advance. Adapting to the rules is a much more effective approach.'

And exploring the rules of the source of distortion, the most effective means would naturally be through repeated experimentation, something immortals could not afford to attempt themselves, thus making mortals the best choice for the task.

Upon hearing this, the Zi Yang True Monarch's eyes flashed with a venomous light, and he slowly said, "You're right. It would indeed be wise to bring some mortals with us to help."

He looked at Li Zhengdao, "I hear that my son, Zheng Wentian, along with his teachers and classmates, have all been hosted by the Heavenly Department, right? Why don't I take them with me this time?"

He remembered that Zhou Bai had good relations with these teachers and students when he was at Dao School and was close friends with his son Zheng Wentian.

Li Zhengdao said, "Yun Chonghe has the Heavenly Sword Elder who has self-sealed with him; it's best not to disturb them. The God Emperor has other plans for Heavenly Sword."

"As for Zheng Wentian, there's no harm in you, as father and son, catching up and sharing your feelings. I believe the Three Pure Dao Sect would understand as well; there is no reason to hold him back."

...

An hour later, Ying Hui, Zheng Wentian, Yun Chonghe, and other students all emerged from the courtyard arranged by the Heavenly Department.

They had been under 'house arrest' by the Heavenly Department this whole time, and though they were provided with plenty of food and drink, they were not permitted to leave the courtyard without permission.

Now before them stood the Zi Yang True Monarch with a somber expression, accompanied by several Heavenly Department cultivators.

Seeing the Zi Yang True Monarch, the cultivators from the four major sects all had expressions of tension and fear.

This time, Zhou Bai's betrayal and departure had dealt a significant blow to the morale of the four major sects, especially Eastern Brilliance City, making them feel humiliated in the presence of Central City, and filled with guilt and shame.

And Zi Yang True Monarch, who had been induced into distortion by Zhou Bai right before Ying Hui and the others, was seen as an enormous loss for the Heavenly Court. Thus, the cultivators from the four major sects felt responsible and weak when facing Zi Yang True Monarch, filled with guilt and other emotions.

Zhu Lingwei, a student sent by Jijian Pavilion to participate in the discussions of Daluo Heaven, was also present. She sighed inwardly, 'No matter how much the Heavenly Court had oppressed the four major sects in the past, at least when facing the Heavenly Demon, both were on the same front, united against the Heavenly Demon, making them allies.'

'No matter the disagreements with Zi Yang True Monarch, he is after all a righteous deity of the Thunder Division, who has personally slain countless Heavenly Demons and saved countless humans.'

'But this time, Zhou Bai... Not only did he collude with the Heavenly Demon, damaging the relationship between mankind and the Heavenly Court, but he also caused us to lose the powerful combat strength of Zi Yang True Monarch.'

'Not to mention the battle Zhou Bai triggered in Central City this time. Due to the Heavenly Demon's attack, countless mortal cultivators died or were injured, resulting in heavy losses.'

Thinking of this, Zhu Lingwei clenched her teeth, a fierce hatred flashing in her eyes: 'How could you side with the Heavenly Demon? How could you join them... How deep is the blood feud between humans and the Heavenly Demon? Is the temptation of becoming an immortal Heavenly Demon so great?'

On the other side, Ying Hui looked at Zi Yang True Monarch before him and bowed with a gloomy face, "I'm sorry, True Monarch. We've failed in our teachings..."

Zi Yang True Monarch snorted coldly, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone. The brutality brought on by the distortion was being suppressed within him, "You're more than failing in your teachings. You're incompetent, foolish, blind."

"Just because of this Zhou Bai you've selected, you've caused such a huge loss to Central City, dragging down the entire Three Pure Dao Sect, the whole Eastern Brilliance City. And most importantly, you made me—a righteous deity of the Heavenly Court—into what I am now!"

As Zi Yang True Monarch's thoughts grew angrier, the madness in his heart seemed to rise once more. The Heavenly Department cultivators next to him immediately reminded him with sweat on their brows, "True Monarch! Please, calm your anger!"

With his eyes closed, Zi Yang True Monarch's violent Primordial Spirit swept over those present, and as they trembled under his power, he coldly commanded, "Kneel."

Seeing the stunned and hesitant crowd, a Heavenly Department cultivator looked reproachfully and said, "The True Monarch is magnanimous and has not pursued your responsibility. Why aren't you kneeling to express your gratitude?"

Ying Hui's form shook under the impact of Zi Yang's power, and he knelt down slowly.

"It's my fault, True Monarch Zi Yang," he said with difficulty. "The issue with Zhou Bai this time is fully my fault. I was the one who stubbornly encouraged everyone in the school to support Zhou Bai, who was blind and indulged him all along. The other teachers and students are not to blame."

"Ying Hui, is it? I remember you, Zhou Bai's teacher from Eastern Brilliance City." Zi Yang True Monarch sneered, "If I were you, I would have already committed suicide to apologize."

After that, he no longer glanced at Ying Hui, who was kneeling on the ground, and turned to look at Zheng Wentian hiding aside, "What are you hiding for? Sending you to Eastern Brilliance Dao School was a mistake. Come back with me."

Zheng Wentian tensed up. The previous Zi Yang True Monarch had already frightened him, and now the distorted path he had taken was all the more terrifying for him.

But thinking of his younger siblings, Zheng Wentian took a deep breath and walked out slowly, "I understand... Father."