Zhao Yi held the yellow paper in his hand, made a firm decision, and recited once again:

"Get up here and enjoy the sacrifice, don't you damn well refuse my offer!"

Although he yelled like this, in his heart he was constantly explaining to himself.

By doing this, he wasn't intentionally disrespecting the Great Emperor, but rather he wanted to tip off the emperor, to be a loyal advisor!

Anyway, he was already knee-deep in trouble with the Great Emperor, and if he wanted to survive with his family, simply admitting guilt wasn't enough; he had to take a different path.

The effect was obvious.

The extinguished flame on the yellow paper reignited, and the three-colored radiance on the Tomb Master's body trembled violently.

However, when the yellow paper burned to a third, it extinguished again, and the radiance on the Tomb Master's body stabilized once more.

Zhao Yi's mouth twitched.

Taking a deep breath, the expression on Zhao Yi's face twisted, he lifted the piece of tattered yellow paper before him, his tone turning exceedingly gentle, like greeting an old friend:

"Hey, those lazy dogs I sent you last time, were they tasty?"

"Buzz!"

A burst of flame shot up, and the yellow paper completely burned up in an instant.

The red, white, and black light on the Tomb Master's body was completely suppressed, and the colorful light that helped shield from above was also swept away, with the symbolizing supreme purple entirely enveloping it.

The Great Emperor accepted the sacrifice.

Zhao Yi silently sighed in his heart and turned his head to see that Li Zhiyuan had raised his head at this moment.

The three originally terrifying auras inside the Tomb Master now became utterly humble.

This meant that the Great Emperor's rule in Fengdu remained steadfast.

However, the scenario Zhao Yi expected, where the Great Emperor would catch them in the act and directly punish them, did not occur.

The majestic purple from above came fiercely and left just as swiftly.

The three lights that had been firmly suppressed earlier, after paying a certain price, restored once more.

Yet this time, the three lights did not utter harsh words again but became taciturn.

All they wanted to do now was quickly leave this troubling situation.

The black patterns shrank back, their earlier enlargement did not invoke the Great Emperor, and now the three would still have to depart this way.

Did they get chastised? Were they warned? Were they reprimanded?

Zhao Yi did not know whether the Great Emperor had communicated with them, most likely not... because the Great Emperor merely sent his presence, not truly descended.

Although the ruler's mere glance contains wrath or favor, this was not what Zhao Yi wanted to see.

He wanted to see souls scattered, rivers of blood!

"Damn it, how can this be..."

Zhao Yi looked at Li Zhiyuan again, noticing no surprise or grudging anger on his face... though Zhiyuan tended to show no expression, shouldn't there be some fluctuation?

Like this, can you endure it?

Then Zhao Yi exhaled again, and as his emotions settled, he understood.

Those three, or rather those six, no matter what they secretly did behind the Great Emperor's back, were matters of the Underworld itself.

Even if discovered and reported, whether the Great Emperor chooses to intervene now or later, it is his choice, and performing a public punishment before them was neither meaningful nor necessary.

They could only focus on gratification and justice, while the Great Emperor had much to consider.

Moreover, did the Great Emperor truly not know what those six were up to?

Zhao Yi clutched his hair vigorously, it was understandable if Li Zhiyuan simplified matters due to his simple upbringing, but for Zhao Yi, who was constantly exposed to family political struggles, to follow along in such assumptions.

The Tomb Master's body returned to normal, and the Gu worm was forced to fly out of his body.

However, it wasn't slaughtered, seemingly allowed to return by default.

The Gu worm floated out, the white barrier even opened a small gate for it, allowing it to fly out, landing beside Yin Meng.

In some way, this signifies the conclusion of matters.

Also, it proves the Great Emperor's attention indeed arrived, and that this business would end here, everyone settling down without further incidents.

It was a familiar rhythm, like when family elders pacified conflicts among younger generations.

Next, anyone causing trouble would be considered reckless, deserving punishment.

"Sigh..."

Zhao Yi sat down dejectedly, looking around, everyone else had passed out, all gravely injured.

He should be glad, because he survived, wasn't the initial goal to stand out and take the hit for everyone while they all fought tooth and nail to help him survive?

It was a success, and those three were left quite embarrassed.

Telling today's story without embellishment, his name, Jiujiang Zhao Yi, would resound in Jianghu.

Stepping up to light the incense, facing those three existences, enduring three trials without dying, what a character!

Zhao Yi took a cigarette from his pocket, bit it, and lit it. Smoking solemnly, the smoke rings were somewhat scattered.

If there was no hope, merely seeking survival would be fine, but hope came and brought disappointment again.

People, it's like that, insatiable.

Zhao Yi flicked the ash, adjusting his mood.

Just as the three colors almost surged forth, about to rise away, the Tomb Master moved again.

Zhao Yi watched in disbelief at everything, feeling that the red glow earlier had indeed severed the connection between the Tomb Master's body and Li Zhiyuan.

The puppet's strings had been cut, yet it could move on its own?

As Zhao Yi was also versed in the Puppetry Technique, he was utterly astounded at this scene, it simply defied logic.

The Tomb Master's eyes opened and gazed at Zhao Yi.

His eyes had become much more vivid than at the start.

Zhao Yi felt that the Tomb Master seemed familiar with him, like a one-sided childhood companion.

Filled with doubt, Zhao Yi took another drag of his cigarette, but as soon as he inhaled, his eyes widened, forgetting to exhale the smoke as he swallowed it instead.

He jumped up, standing upright, crushing the cigarette in his hand, stammering with broken sounds.

"This, this, this..."

This time, Zhao Yi was utterly shocked by Li Zhiyuan's methods.

He saw the Tomb Master place his hands together, lotus patterns appearing underfoot, and golden patterns rippling from behind, projecting an image of dharma solemnity.

His lips moved slightly, chanting a Buddhist scripture.

The scripture being recited was——

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra".