Aspiring to the Immortal Path

Tuoba Hong was shocked and fearful from Tang Jie's explanation.

His expression alone told Shen Qingdan that Tang Jie had gotten the right story, and she was enlightened as to why Tuoba Hong had acted this way.

The thought that she had almost become a sacrifice in this plot filled her with rage. "Tang Jie, help me kill him!"

Even at her most difficult moments, Shen Qingdan had never gone to find Tang Jie at the Basking Moon Sect or request anything of him. That she would ask this now was a clear manifestation of her anger.

While the Fire Lotus Gate and Three Blossoms Church were contemptible, at least they were openly enemies, and the grudges between them were for unavoidable reasons, so-called geopolitical factors. But the Green Bamboo Gate's plot, Tuoba Hong's conspiracy, was entirely the actions of a petty man, the conduct of a backstabber. There was no way she could accept it.

But as she spoke, Tuoba Hong shouted, "Immortal Sovereign, there is no evidence! How can you kill someone based on pure speculation?"

Tang Jie was rather taken aback by these words.

Tuoba Hong continued, "All the world is celebrating the Immortal Sovereign's return. And while my Green Bamboo Gate is of humble status, it has always been respectful to the Basking Moon Sect. We came here to celebrate, bringing both kind words and rich tribute to show our utmost respect. We would never dare to show discourtesy to the Immortal Sovereign. For what crime does Immortal Sovereign plan to kill me? Or will you say that such things as evidence are not necessary?"

Tang Jie narrowed his eyes.

Just as Tuoba Hong said, everything was just his speculation, and it was unreasonable to kill someone over speculation.

With Tang Jie's current status, if he really wanted to kill him, nobody could do anything to him. But this would also make him a tyrant in the minds of the people, particularly because Tuoba Hong had come to congratulate Tang Jie on his imminent ascension to Immortal Platform.

Killing someone who had come to congratulate him would destroy his reputation.

For someone of Tang Jie's cultivation level, few in the world could oppose him, a single word from him could decide the flow of the world, and the wealth of the world was his to take. His authority had reached the absolute apex.

It was precisely because he had nothing to pursue that he had to care more about his reputation, because the minds of the people were not something one could get just because one wanted them.

Tuoba Hong was focusing precisely on this reputation.

Tang Jie coldly said, "Audacious, daring to threaten me."

Tuoba Hong was pressed against the ground and frantically said, "This lowly one would never dare to threaten the Immortal Sovereign! I am just worried that Immortal Sovereign would misunderstand."

After Tang Jie had exposed his scheme, he knew that he was in danger and sought survival over all. Even if he knew that Tang Jie was going to get angry, he still had to say his piece in the hopes that Tang Jie would let him go to save his reputation.

Alas, his plan ultimately failed.

Tang Jie chuckled. "You had a nice idea, but alas, you have the wrong person. As a cultivator, I seek only the Great Dao, to live as long as the heavens. I stride across the skies, freely roaming the myriad domains. I focus on resolve and determination, only caring to not do anything that leaves guilt on my heart. And what I rely on is my cultivation, my Immortal Arts and Divine Connections. As for reputation, it is all fabricated. Like a nobleman's sedan chair or a beauty's cosmetics, it's an external thing that can be had or discarded. As for posthumous reputation, we cultivators live so long that we might outlive those who could remember our name, so why should we care? For those people who have yet to be enlightened, such vanities might be worth fighting for, but for me, it is naught but a passing cloud… Thus, if I wanted to kill you, I really don't need to care about what other people think, and to be honest, I shouldn't care. Cultivating all this way just to be bound up by the evaluations of others? Isn't that ridiculous?"

Tuoba Hong was stunned.

He hadn't expected Tang Jie to be so carefree. His last hope crushed, he dropped limply to the floor.

But at this moment, Shen Qingdan suddenly grabbed Tang Jie. "Forget it."

"What?" Tang Jie was taken aback.

Shen Qingdan gazed at him with twinkling eyes. "I also think he's right. In the end, this is all speculation, so we can't just accuse him of a crime and have him executed. Such conduct would chill the hearts of the people, and I don't want your reputation to suffer."

Before Tang Jie could say anything, Shen Qingdan said, "You don't care, but I care!"

'You don't care, but I care!'

Tang Jie was dumbfounded by these words.

As he gazed into Shen Qingdan's eyes, he seemed to return to the Beast Garden, back to that battle on the waters.

At that moment, he knew that Shen Qingdan had never forgotten about him.

What had stopped her from marrying Tuoba Hong had never been the warning from her enemies, but that longing in her heart.

But even so, Tang Jie couldn't do anything for her.

After a long while, Tang Jie finally said, "I'm sorry."

Shen Qingdan's body trembled, and her face turned ghastly white.

She understood the meaning of these words.

Shaking her head, Shen Qingdan said, "Immortal Sovereign goes too far. Qingdan cannot accept such words."

These words distanced the two from each other.

Tang Jie knew that he had been the one to push Shen Qingdan away, quashing that newborn flame of affection and leaving behind only rationality.

Thus, he nodded and said, "If that's the case, I will let Tuoba Hong go. However, Palace Lord Shen, you are still a friend who once fought alongside me, so I cannot let you be bullied like this."

Tang Jie produced a bottle of medicine, a plaque made from violet bamboo, and a Mustard Seed Bag.

"This Astral Essence Pill was personally refined by Miaoran and can assist in condensing the Divine Soul. This bamboo plaque represents my identity. In the future, if you need it, you can order the people of the Basking Moon Sect to do three things for you. In addition, it is a necessary item for participating in the Violet Palace Sublimation Ceremony. As for this Mustard Seed Bag, it has some resources that should be of help to you. These three items are a reflection of my sincerity."

Each of these three items had a profound meaning.

While the Astral Essence Pill did assist in condensing the Divine Soul, what was more important was that it was refined by Xu Miaoran. Through it, Tang Jie expressed his helplessness toward Shen Qingdan. While he had come to Shen Qingdan, in the end, they were just friends, not romantic partners. As for the bamboo plaque, it was just an ordinary item, but it had heavy symbolic value that actually made it the most valuable. First of all, it allowed Shen Qingdan to call upon the Basking Moon Sect. While she could only use it for this three times, what was more significant was not the number but the fact that these opportunities existed. An attack held in reserve was the most threatening of all. In the past, nobody understood Tang Jie's relationship with the Wandering Palace, but this plaque now cleared up any possible misunderstandings.

As for the Violet Palace Sublimation Ceremony, it was a major Violet Palace breakthrough session that the Basking Moon Sect was about to hold, something that Tang Jie had specifically set up for the sake of the Basking Moon Sect and his old friends. There, the Peaceful Divine Abode Classic would be used to assist others in ascending to Violet Palace.

The Peaceful Divine Abode Classic was an incredible art that helped to refine the Divine Soul and strengthen the Violet Palace, and Tang Jie himself had relied on it to make his own breakthrough. When used on others, it could also improve their chances, and while it didn't guarantee their success, it was better than nothing. Moreover, while the Peaceful Abode part raised one's chances a little, the Divine Restoration part ensured that failure didn't mean death, which was the true power of this art.

In the past, Tang Jie had only a basic grasp of this art and insufficient cultivation, so his ability to protect others with this art did little.

But now that he was on the verge of ascending to Immortal Platform, this art became much more powerful. Naturally, he now needed to do his utmost for the Basking Moon Sect and for his friends. Alas, he could only heave a sigh of sorrow over the fact that Bei Canghan and the others hadn't been able to wait.

Not just anybody could attend the Violet Palace Sublimation Ceremony. Other than the members of the Basking Moon Sect, there were only a few spots left for outsiders. This violet bamboo plaque was a pass. The only difference was that while others would have to turn in their passes upon participation, Shen Qingdan could keep hers.

Tang Jie didn't say much about the Mustard Seed Bag, but rather than resources, inside was tens of thousands of spirit jades and various valuable items, even quite a few divine treasures. The average sect would consider a single divine treasure the anchor of the sect, and Tang Jie was the only one in the Rosecloud Domain who could gift so many at once. Of course, Shen Qingdan had no idea of what was inside and blankly accepted it.

With these gifts, Shen Qingdan's strength was bound to soar, allowing her to avenge herself on the Fire Lotus Gate and Three Blossoms Church in the future. And while he was helping her grow stronger and get her revenge, he was also doing it in a rather fair way that would prevent any gossip.

After doing this, Tang Jie turned to Tuoba Hong. "What you say is correct. There is no evidence to my speculations, and since you have come to congratulate me, it is improper to kill you. You may go now."

He waved his sleeve, dismissing Tuoba Hong.

Tuoba Hong sighed in relief and hastily made his exit.

Upon returning to his own lodgings, he didn't dare to linger, immediately summoning his disciples and preparing to leave.

After flying for half a day, they arrived at a mountain.

Tuoba Hong looked back, and when he saw nothing out of the ordinary, he once more sighed in relief.

Although his argument had managed to hold off Tang Jie, there was a fatal loophole: if Tang Jie chose to not openly kill him but instead secretly kill him, there would be no problem at all.

Tuoba Hong was naturally very panicked over this.

Once he confirmed that Tang Jie hadn't come chasing after him, he said, "That damn Tang Jie, bullying others with his power like that! Once I become an Immortal, I'll definitely have my revenge."

But becoming an Immortal was far too difficult, making these just empty words, and he helplessly sighed.

But at this moment, someone giggled, "They say that for a gentleman, even waiting ten years to take revenge is not too late, but for this cultivator, even ten thousand years might not be too late. Alas, my husband is very busy and can't wait that long for you."

Tuoba Hong turned to the voice in alarm and saw a woman approaching from the distance. Somehow, with each step, this woman was covering immense ground, rapidly closing the vast distance between them.

"Xu Miaoran!" Tuoba Hong cried out. "What are you here to do?"

He had reached Violet Palace earlier than Xu Miaoran, so he feared her much less than Tang Jie. He was unaware that Xu Miaoran was already at Soul Projection, much higher than he was.

Xu Miaoran broadly smiled. "To kill you, of course. Men always have so many taboos restricting their actions, and they even have to worry about things like reputation. But we women don't have to worry about so much and can just do what we want. Since you've made my husband unhappy, I naturally have to get rid of you and lessen the burden on my husband."

Tuoba Hong paled. "Xu Miaoran, you!"

"Shhh… softer." Xu Miaoran placed a finger over her lips and smiled.