After Tai Yi withdrew, Tai Shang cast a malicious glance at Qi Chen, who suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
No way! No way! What business could I possibly have?
As if to confirm Qi Chen’s guess, Tai Shang’s voice rang out the next moment:
"Qi Chen!"
Hearing this, Qi Chen’s face immediately fell, and he could only silently pray that Tai Shang’s punishment would not be too severe!
With a dejected face, Qi Chen stepped forward. As he looked up, he said with a fawning grin,
"Senior Uncle, you summoned this disciple for a reason!"
Tai Shang looked at the grinning Qi Chen. He had initially wondered if he had gone too far, but now it seemed he needed to increase the punishment for this brat a bit more! Before Tai Shang could speak, Tong Tian reprimanded him,
"You scoundrel, grinning like that! What kind of deportment is this!"
Tai Shang glanced at Tong Tian, thinking, this fool actually knows it's improper!
Chided by Tong Tian, Qi Chen immediately put on a bitter face and spoke solemnly,
"Greetings to the Five Hall Masters!"
Tai Shang ignored Qi Chen’s pretense and said,
"Chen'er, do you know your offense?"
Qi Chen, with a drawn face, replied,
"This disciple knows his offense!"
Tai Shang was actually surprised by this answer. He hadn't expected the brat to respond like this! Did he also know about his own unruly nature? Tai Shang spoke again,
"Then tell me, what is your offense?"
Hearing this, Qi Chen immediately began to flatter,
"If Senior Uncle says this disciple is guilty, then this disciple is guilty!"
Tai Shang’s mouth twitched. He had really thought too much! However, saying this now made him sound like an unreasonable tyrant!
Abandoning any further hope, Tai Shang said,
"Qi Chen, as the eldest disciple, the matter of the Twelve Golden Immortals has even implicated Tai Yi. You are the foremost disciple under our three masters. If your junior disciples do not cultivate diligently, you cannot escape responsibility!"
Qi Chen looked at Tai Shang in disbelief. This was it? They were disciples of the Second Senior Uncle! Tai Yi was the eldest disciple! I…!
Qi Chen carefully recalled if he had offended his Senior Uncle in any way. After much thought, he couldn't find anything. He might anger his own master, but he wouldn't dare to offend these two Senior Uncles even if he had a hundred guts! Qi Chen never imagined he would become such an unlucky victim!
Qi Chen looked at Tai Shang, knowing he couldn't escape. However, the thought of accompanying Tai Yi in the Scripture Repository wasn't so bad!
Tai Shang looked at Qi Chen and said,
"Today, your cultivation will be sealed. From now on, you will be responsible for cleaning Kunlun Mountain! I will unseal your cultivation after a thousand years!"
After Tai Shang finished speaking, without waiting for Qi Chen to react, he sealed Qi Chen's cultivation within his own body!
Upon reacting, Qi Chen found his cultivation sealed. Then he heard Tai Shang tell him to clean the entire Kunlun Mountain!
Kunlun was so vast; wouldn't he be exhausted to death in a single day!
Qi Chen looked pitifully at Tai Shang, who seemed to pretend not to see him!
Qi Chen then turned his gaze to Yuan Shi. Yuan Shi spoke slowly,
"Chen'er, do as your Senior Uncle says."
Qi Chen's heart sank. He looked at his master with full hope!
Seeing Qi Chen look over, Tong Tian sighed inwardly, "Chen'er, it’s not that I don't want to help you, but I can't!"
Tong Tian's eyes wandered aimlessly, avoiding Qi Chen’s gaze. Qi Chen's face turned ashen, knowing he was finished, completely finished!
Why was Tai Yi's punishment so light, while his was so heavy? Was Tai Yi his biological child, and he a foundling?
Qi Chen, with a pale face, said,
"I respectfully obey the decree of Tai Qing!"
After speaking, Qi Chen looked back at Tai Shang step by step, hoping he would retract his decree. However, Tai Shang seemed to ignore his gaze!
Qi Chen tried to struggle a bit more, then knelt before Tong Tian and said tearfully,
"Master, this disciple will no longer be able to serve you from now on. You must take care of yourself!"
Tong Tian was bewildered. Was this brat trying to play on their master-disciple relationship? Serve him? Wasn't he always lounging around in his Senior Uncle's medicinal garden? How dare he say such a thing! And he was crying so heartbrokenly that it was almost believable!
Tong Tian looked at the disappointing Qi Chen, and his anger flared. It was just cleaning Kunlun! What was with all this drama, dying and living? It was utterly embarrassing!
Tong Tian said,
"Chen'er, for the sake of our master-disciple relationship, I will send you on your way!"
After speaking, Tong Tian kicked Qi Chen, and Qi Chen immediately flew towards the mountain gate of Kunlun. Tong Tian did not forget to instruct,
"Chen'er, remember to start cleaning from the mountain gate!"
Tai Shang shook his head speechlessly. This master and disciple pair were truly... indescribable!
After Qi Chen was sent away by Tong Tian, Tai Shang looked at the assembled disciples and said,
"Duo Bao, until I unseal your Senior Brother Qi Chen's cultivation, you will serve as the foremost disciple of the Daoist sect!"
Hearing this, Duo Bao immediately responded,
"I respectfully obey the decree of Tai Shang!"
Tai Shang nodded and then continued,
"Kong Xuan, Yu Yi, Wu Dang, Jin Ling, Jin Guang, Gui Ling, Huo Ling, Zhen Wu, Xuan Du, Nan Ji, San Xiao, Zhao Gong Ming, Yi Qi, Chang Er, Wu Yun!"
As Tai Shang’s voice fell, the named disciples responded loudly,
"Your disciple is here!"
Tai Shang continued,
"From today onwards, you will all join the Law Enforcement Hall! Are you willing?"
Upon hearing this, everyone replied,
"Your disciple is willing!"
Tai Shang nodded and said,
"The Human Race is now flourishing, and all races will inevitably make a move against them. The Twelve Golden Immortals alone cannot fully protect the Human Race. You may select disciples from among the other disciples to form groups and descend the mountain to protect the Human Race. When the Three Sovereigns are in place, that is when you may return to the mountain!"
Everyone nodded and said,
"We respectfully obey the decree of Tai Qing!"
Tai Shang nodded and said,
"Today, I will impart to you all a divine ability, specifically for communication, named: Three Pure Ones Origin Returning Technique! If you face mortal danger, you may use this method to send a plea for help back to Kunlun!"
"Secondly, the Human Race can only achieve great prosperity through hardship. You are only allowed to intervene when other races attack. You must not assist them with other difficulties, and violations will not be lightly pardoned!"
"Pay close attention to the Demon Race. Although your masters and the Saintess Nu Wa intervened to deter the Demon Race last time, there are still some demons whose hearts are unrepentant, attempting to use the Human Race to improve their cultivation. If you encounter such demons, you may execute them on the spot!"
"The Record of Deeds will document your actions. Upon your return, I will reward you based on your performance!"
"Jin Ling, you will be in charge of everything for this expedition down the mountain! All disciples will obey your commands."
After Tai Shang finished speaking, jade slips flew towards everyone! The excess ones all flew towards Holy Mother Jin Ling!
After receiving the jade slips, everyone said in unison,
"Please rest assured, Master. Your disciples will definitely complete the mission!"
Tai Shang nodded and dismissed everyone. Tai Shang, Zhen Yuan Zi, and Tai Hao spoke,
"Tai Yi, we will trouble the two of you."
The two bowed to Tai Shang and replied,
"Daoist friend, you are too kind!"
Tai Shang nodded, and then Tai Shang's voice echoed throughout the Primordial World,
"From today onwards, Kunlun Mountain is unsealed!"