Chapter 1046: Drawing Water in a Bamboo Basket

Meng Zhang, who had long been aware of Shou Zheng's wisp of soul, naturally noticed its actions.

Meng Zhang had even less reason to stop him. Although he faintly felt that Shou Zheng's wisp of soul seemed a bit impatient, moving prematurely.

To be honest, while Shou Zheng's wisp of soul seemed to be asking for Meng Zhang's participation in this operation, there were underlying elements of coercion and enticement that made it hard for Meng Zhang to refuse.

People are inherently selfish and fickle.

Perhaps in Taiyi Sect's prime, Shou Zheng was a selfless figure, willing to sacrifice for the sect's sake.

This had earned him the full trust of his senior peers within the sect, who had entrusted him with important responsibilities, including overseeing the sect's plans left behind in Netherworld.

However, after spending so many years as a Ghost Deity and roaming alone in Netherworld, no one knew what he had experienced and how his mentality might have changed.

While he seemed to be requesting Meng Zhang's involvement in this action, it was more like he was coercing him, without considering Meng Zhang's difficulties or Taiyi Sect's situation.

If something went awry for Meng Zhang in Netherworld, it would be an irreparable loss for Taiyi Sect.

If Meng Zhang clashed with the official forces of the Dali Dynasty in Netherworld, it would bring disaster to Taiyi Sect.

But Shou Zheng, for the sake of his own path and the opportunity to potentially break through the limitations of the postnatal Ghost Deity stage, insisted on having Meng Zhang take risks and venture deep into Netherworld.

In the past, Meng Zhang held Shou Zheng in high esteem and trust as a senior figure within the sect. Though not without reservations, he held a high level of trust in him. Apart from a few highly classified matters, there was nothing hidden from him.

However, after this incident, Meng Zhang became more cautious and less trusting of Shou Zheng.

Meng Zhang and Mo Qing True Monarch had been battling for a while, and both still had many cards to play.

Inside Meng Zhang's natal magic tool, the Yin Yang Spirit Gourd, were two Yin Yang Dao Soldiers with early Primordial Spirit strength.

If he released them, it might just be a trump card that could turn the tide of the battle.

Due to his growing wariness of Shou Zheng, Meng Zhang held back somewhat and didn't give his all.

Mo Qing True Monarch seemed similarly reluctant to go all out and defeat Meng Zhang quickly.

During their battle, Meng Zhang faced his most dangerous moment when he was almost caught by a gigantic Demon God.

Meng Zhang retrieved a talisman to suppress demonic creatures, activating it.

The talisman summoned descending thunder that easily destroyed the Demon God formed by magic techniques, helping Meng Zhang escape the situation.

After this incident, Mo Qing True Monarch seemed to realize that he couldn't easily defeat Meng Zhang and refrained from using more trump cards.

Mo Qing True Monarch, for reasons unknown to Meng Zhang, began communicating with him during the battle, revealing the background of the innate Ghost Deity and various related matters.

Meng Zhang knew that cultivators from the demonic path excelled at manipulating others, but Mo Qing True Monarch had no reason to deceive him on this matter. Moreover, based on Meng Zhang's judgment, what he said seemed highly credible.

Learning about the background of the innate Ghost Deity, especially Yin Capital's desire for it, made Meng Zhang immediately realize that he had made a serious mistake by getting involved in this matter.

Whether it was Shou Zheng or Ouyang Jian who seized the physical form of the innate Ghost Deity, they would become Yin Capital's most significant enemies and be hunted down by the entire Dali Dynasty.

As a key participant, Meng Zhang would undoubtedly also incur the wrath of the Dali Dynasty.

Meng Zhang was in deep trouble, and so was Taiyi Sect.

Thinking of the severe consequences that would arise from the exposure of this matter, Meng Zhang held a strong resentment toward Shou Zheng.

Of course, Meng Zhang wouldn't reveal any of his inner thoughts in front of Mo Qing True Monarch.

Meng Zhang and Shou Zheng had been exposed for some time, and perhaps Mo Qing True Monarch had already guessed their intentions – not seeking revenge, but coming for the physical form of the innate Ghost Deity.Meng Zhang appeared calm on the surface, as if the matter had little to do with him.

He even taunted, ridiculing Ouyang Jian and Mo Qing True Monarch for betraying their master, despite being loyal subjects of the Dali Dynasty – calling them less than pigs and dogs.

Mo Qing True Monarch wasn't provoked by Meng Zhang's words and continued conversing with him during the battle.

Meng Zhang wasn't foolish enough to admit his involvement in helping Shou Zheng seize the physical form of the Ghost Deity. Instead, he sternly condemned Ouyang Jian and Mo Qing True Monarch.

To any observer who didn't know the true situation, Meng Zhang appeared devoted, defending the interests of the Dali Dynasty to the fullest.

Mo Qing True Monarch maintained a calm tone while talking with Meng Zhang, saying things that would create disaffection toward the Dali Dynasty.

Meng Zhang naturally didn't take the bait, but rather sharply criticized Ouyang Jian and Mo Qing True Monarch as traitors.

Just as Meng Zhang was getting into his tirade, his keen Spiritual Awareness suddenly warned him of imminent danger.

Meng Zhang immediately fell silent, broke free from Mo Qing True Monarch's entanglement, shot upward, and attempted to escape into the sky.

Mo Qing True Monarch's reaction was slower than Meng Zhang's. When he saw Meng Zhang flying high into the sky to escape, he paused for a moment and then realized something was amiss.

Mo Qing True Monarch chose to flee in the opposite direction from Meng Zhang, employing earth-shifting techniques to tunnel underground and escape a considerable distance.

Just as Meng Zhang and Mo Qing True Monarch were attempting to flee, the small hill that was the head of the innate Ghost Deity suddenly exploded.

Following that, his entire divine form began to explode, bit by bit.

The enormous explosion's force swept across the entire valley and rapidly spread in all directions.

Debris and rocks flew chaotically, the air became dense with dust, and the shockwaves created gusts of wind.

Even though Meng Zhang had ascended high into the sky, he was still affected by the residual shockwaves of the explosion.

Countless rocks and debris shot at him wildly, but his protective spells deflected them away.

Amidst the thick dust cloud, a golden egg-shaped stone, about the size of a Gold Core, shot forth from an unknown direction and landed right in front of Meng Zhang.

Meng Zhang's immensely robust protective True Essence, which could almost withstand the shattering of mountains and rivers, seemed as fragile as paper as it was effortlessly pierced by this golden stone egg.

As another stone egg headed towards him, Meng Zhang reacted swiftly, extending his large hand and grasping it firmly.

His palm throbbed intensely, almost turning into a mass of bloody flesh. Meng Zhang even employed the power of the Yin Yang Grand Dao to subdue the golden stone egg and calm it down.

Although he couldn't immediately discern the origins of the golden stone egg, Meng Zhang knew it wasn't an ordinary object.

To have a treasure fall from the sky, willingly presenting itself, was something Meng Zhang had never expected to encounter.

Meng Zhang discreetly stored the golden stone egg and surveyed his surroundings, as if no one had noticed.

Meng Zhang managed to escape the valley in time, avoiding the force of the explosion. However, the same couldn't be said for the others.