Zheng Wu had leaped over the dragon gate like a carp.
The followers of the Three Lives Sect who accompanied him had long since uncovered the secrets of the island.
And now, they too had become true believers.
Just as Zheng Wu’s aura erupted, not far from him—
Zhao Qi, beaten to a swollen and bruised mess, lay in a pigpen.
Now responsible for the island’s only two pigs, his heart seethed with resentment and a desperate desire to escape. Yet, he had grown wiser, knowing full well that with his current cultivation, fleeing this cursed place was impossible.
So he bided his time, quietly tending to the pigs, waiting for the next opportunity to run.
His expression shifted from shock to unrestrained joy.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
"It’s the Patriarch! That’s the Patriarch’s aura, hahaha!"
"I knew it! The Three Lives Sect would never abandon me! I am, after all, the Patriarch’s most beloved disciple, the most outstanding talent of the Three Lives Sect!"
"The Patriarch must be here to save me!"
Zhao Qi spat out a mouthful of pig hair and laughed maniacally at the sky.
"Zhao Qi, oh Zhao Qi, you truly are a man of great deeds! Enduring humiliation and biding your time for so many days—finally, your chance to rise has come!"
"When the Patriarch learns of the suffering I’ve endured, he’ll surely be furious and avenge me!"
"Especially that damned skeleton and that stinking dung-carrier! You may be strong, but can you stand against our Patriarch? I’ll have the Patriarch capture you alive and hand you over to me so I can torture you slowly!"
The more Zhao Qi thought about it, the more excited he became.
Covered in pig filth, barefoot, and with half his buttocks exposed, he sprinted toward the source of Zheng Wu’s aura.
Freedom was within reach.
Revenge was within reach.
Zhao Qi’s heart bloomed with joy.
As he drew closer, perhaps due to his familiarity with the Three Lives Sect members, he soon sensed not just Zheng Wu’s aura but also those of others.
"Hahahaha, what an impressive lineup!"
"Not only has the Patriarch come, but also the elders, protectors, and deacons of the Three Lives Sect!"
"With such a force… tsk tsk… they could sweep through anything!"
"Are they all here for me?"
"I, Zhao Qi, must truly be indispensable!"
His excitement mounting, Zhao Qi dashed forward, taking two steps at a time.
But when he finally arrived—
His jaw dropped in utter disbelief.
"Heave-ho, heave-ho!"
"Heave-ho, heave-ho!"
Zheng Wu, having just begun to grasp the Dao of Dung, had recovered and was now working harder than ever. Leading the Three Lives Sect’s elite forces, he was stripped to the waist, clutching dung in one hand and mud in the other, digging pits and hauling manure in perfect sync with their chants.
Shattered Zhao Qi’s soaring excitement into dust. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Even the Patriarch had become a dung-hauler.
Just how terrifying were the people on this island?!
Only at this moment did Zhao Qi finally understand—an arm could never twist a leg.
Zheng Wu’s digging crew gained several new helpers.
Namely, the Three Lives Sect’s sect master and a group of elders.
Led by the sect master, the elders jointly issued an unprecedented decree across the Three Lives Sect:
The Three Lives Sect—was to disband immediately!
The news sent shockwaves through the other major sects and the two great Daoist sects of the Nine Realms.
A prestigious Daoist sect.
Just… dissolved without warning?
Many factions began investigating in secret, but despite numerous leads, every trail went cold halfway, as if an invisible hand had wiped away all traces.
Even Wen Chengyu, who was currently at the Fengyun Sect, couldn’t maintain his usual calm. Upon hearing the news, he nearly coughed up blood in fury.
His alliance with the Three Lives Sect had been built on their deep resources and influence.
They were supposed to provide him with resources, act on his behalf, and protect him during his awakening.
In return, once he awakened, he would become their honored guest elder, lending his strength to the sect.
A mutually beneficial arrangement.
Now, at the most critical juncture of his awakening—when exposure was a real risk and the required resources were immense—the Three Lives Sect had suddenly disbanded.
What the hell kind of joke was this?!
To make matters worse, to solidify their partnership, both sides had sworn a Heavenly Dao Oath.
Wen Chengyu had vowed: Under any circumstances, he would only cooperate with the Three Lives Sect. Upon successful awakening, he would become their guest elder—unless the Three Lives Sect failed to meet his demands despite having the means.
The Three Lives Sect had vowed: Under any circumstances, they would provide all necessary resources and conveniences for Wen Chengyu’s awakening—with the sole exception being if the sect disbanded, as they would then lack the capacity to fulfill their obligations.
Because of this oath, Wen Chengyu was now not only cut off from resources but also barred from seeking help from other sects.
The only loophole was if the Three Lives Sect failed to meet his demands—but disbanding didn’t count as refusal.
At the time, he had noticed the flaw in the oath, but it hadn’t seemed important. All he needed was their support for his awakening.
But who the hell could’ve predicted they’d actually disband?!
Now, the usually unflappable Wen Chengyu stood atop a mountain of corpses in the Fengyun Sect, his face dark with rage. In his fury, he had slaughtered half the sect.
Trembling, he pulled out a bloodstained jade slip.
"Zheng Wu, what the hell is the meaning of this?!"
"Whatever your reasons, if you don’t clean up this mess immediately, I, Wen Chengyu, swear eternal enmity with the Three Lives Sect! Once I regain my power, don’t expect a shred of cooperation from me!"
The jade slip flickered—his message had been sent.
Moments later, it flickered again.
Fuming, Wen Chengyu snatched it up.
A lazy voice drifted into his ears, sending his organs twisting in fury.
"Idiot, who do you think you are?"
"What ‘cooperation’? This Dung Master couldn’t care less about your worthless help..."
Wen Chengyu’s face twisted in rage. He tried to reply, but the jade slip had already dimmed—its connection severed on the other end.
He crushed the slip to dust and roared at the heavens, reducing nearby structures to rubble.