"Those who do not follow the Immortal Dao are all considered part of the God Dao? So the difference between the God Dao and the Immortal Dao lies in the cultivation of Dao itself? In that case... the Dao of the Yang God would also count as a type within the God Dao?"

Fang Chen pondered for a moment, and then let out a sigh. "Elder Kong, you're still not telling the truth."

Kong Lin's expression went rigid for a moment, and then he squeezed out a smile. "What do you mean? I've already laid out my plan in full, without hiding anything."

"Let me ask you this. There are so many eighth-transformation Ancient Immortals in the world. Why did you choose to cooperate with Venerable Jinglan?" questioned Fang Chen. "You could have easily found another eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal within the Spirit God Sect. If your patriarch has truly been asleep for four thousand years, then there should be plenty of 'loyal individuals' like you.

"Besdies, if all it took to become a half-step ninth-transformation immortal was devouring an Immortal Register, then it would be far too simplistic. Not to mention you are only at the eighth transformation. Could you really forcefully refine a ninth-transformation immortal's register? I find that hard to believe."

Fang Chen shook his head. "Don't dodge the question. Tell me, what sect does Venerable Jinglan belong to in the Nine Mortal Realms? What is the real reason you chose to work with her?"

Venerable Jinglan suddenly sneered. "You're being overly suspicious. As the current Monarch Yan, you shouldn't be like this. What does it matter which sect I belong to in the Mortal Realm? Daoist Kong sought me out simply because we share a deep personal relationship. He trusts only me."

Kong Lin nodded repeatedly. "That's exactly it."

"The demonic aura clinging to you, I have sensed it the moment I set foot in this city." Fang Chen looked at Venerable Jinglan. "You are a cultivator of the God Dao. You are of the demon race."

A look of shock gripped Venerable Jinglan face, her eyes widening with disbelief.

Kong Lin was also shocked. After all, Venerable Jinglan had maintained her transformed form for many years. Even her soul showed no signs of her demonic origins. How had Fang Chen seen through it?

Seeing Venerable Jinglan's reaction, Fang Chen turned to Abbess Qing He and smiled. "Little Abbess, the feeling you had earlier was correct. She is indeed of the demon race."

Venerable Jinglan exclaimed in shock, "You were playing me just now!?"

Fang Chen ignored her and looked calmly at Kong Lin. "Old man, you have one last chance to tell the truth."

Just moments ago, he had been addressed as "Elder Kong," and now he was called "old man."

Sensing the shift in Fang Chen's attitude, Kong Lin's heart sank slightly.

He glanced at Venerable Jinglan, then gritted his teeth and admitted quietly, "Daoist Jinglan is indeed a cultivator of the God Dao. I sought her cooperation for the God Dao Sect's spiritual treasure, the God Decree Ranking."

Fang Chen said calmly, "Go on."

He had already more or less pieced together Kong Lin's intentions. Only some finer details remained unclear. What could be determined was that the spiritual treasure, the God Decree Ranking, was closely tied to Kong Lin's attempt to advance to half-step ninth transformation.

As for the relationship between the Motian Division and the God Dao Sect, it was still uncertain whether they were cooperating, or if the Motian Division had merely planted agents within the God Dao Sect. The previous ninth-ranked core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace who had died at the hands of Venerable Dizang had very likely been targeted by the Motian Division and killed for refusing to submit.

"That spiritual treasure has the ability to devour Immortal Registers. Once it devours them, it can confer positions within the God Dao," revealed Kong Lin with a sigh. "I indeed can't refine a ninth-transformation Immortal Register on my own, so I can only rely on the power of the God Decree Ranking to step out of the Immortal Dao and enter the realm of the God Dao."

Venerable Jinglan said calmly, "Daoist Kong, he won't spare your life no matter what you say."

Kong Lin replied apologetically, "Daoist Jinglan, please don't blame me. I'm only trying to survive. After walking this Dao for so long, I'm just one step away from the end. I truly don't wish to stop here."

"Even if you cooperate with him today, once my lord comes for you in the future, you will face certain death even if you were at the ninth transformation."

Kong Lin was slightly startled, his expression growing even uglier. Truly, a wolf before him and a tiger behind. There was no way out. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Thinking that, he suddenly clenched his teeth and spoke again. "Daoist, there is one more thing you probably don't know."

Fang Chen asked calmly, "What is it?"

"For many years now, the God Dao Sect has been hunting Ancient Immortals everywhere. First in the Shenwang Realm, then in the Fangcun Realm, and finally, they've been hunting in the Taicang Realm without restraint. Even in the Six Lower Realm, there are traces of God Dao Sect cultivators. They move with extreme caution, leaving no clue for others to catch. Their goal is the Immortal Registers on those Ancient Immortals. Devour them with the God Decree Ranking and use them to confer positions within the God Dao."

Venerable Jinglan flinched slightly, immediately assuming a stern tone, "Kong Lin, what are you saying!?"

Kong Lin sighed softly. "Venerable Jinglan... although these acts are carried out in secrecy, you forget that our Spirit God Sect has disciples all over the world. Nothing escapes our notice."

Fang Chen paused slightly, the thought immediately striking him. Hunting Ancient Immortals?

Huang Qingque had been investigating the disappearance of an Ancient Immortal under the Killing Spiritual Division in the Ancient Desolate Region.

This matter seemed to have caught the attention of many within the Killing Spiritual Division.

Could it be... that it wasn't just a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal who disappeared? Had the missing Ancient Immortal already been hunted by the God Dao Sect, their Immortal Register stolen?

"If you trust his words lightly, it only shows your mind isn't sharp." Venerable Jinglan suddenly laughed softly. "The God Dao Sect doesn't have the ability to hunt Ancient Immortals everywhere without being noticed. If they did, we would have long unified the Nine Realms."

"Venerable Jinglan, many believed this matter to be the work of our Spirit God Sect, so we internally investigated and obtained some clues." Kong Lin forced a smile. "Indeed, this was the doing of your God Dao Sect. As for how you have such power, you should ask your God Decree Ranking. Not long ago, it even devoured an elder of the Enlightenment God Palace."

Venerable Jinglan said nothing further. She hadn't expected the Spirit God Sect to know so much.

"Not long ago, it devoured an elder of the Enlightenment God Palace?" Fang Chen said, glancing at Venerable Jinglan. "Elder Donghua, perhaps?"

Venerable Jinglan frowned upon hearing that he knew of the matter. "You're from the Enlightenment God Palace?"

Fang Chen did not answer, only recalling that Elder Donghua had given him a wine vessel when they first met. Not something particularly valuable, but still, it was a gesture of goodwill.

Fang Chen asked calmly, "Kong Lin, will you serve as a True Underworld Deity?"

Kong Lin immediately cupped his hands and bowed, his demeanor extremely deferential. "I am willing to be a hound under Monarch Yan!"

Venerable Jinglan's eyes turned contemptuous at the scene. "An opportunist like him? You can't make use of him."

"At least he will get to live. You won't," said Fang Chen lightly, then began to write the decree.

Venerable Jinglan fell silent.

When Fang Chen had previously bestowed a decree upon the Ghost Infant, it had cost over two million Yin Lifespan. But that was for a Spirit Yin Beast, which was different from an Underworld Yin Soldier Imperial Decree.

Now, consuming over 600,000 Yin Lifespan, Fang Chen wrote an Underworld Yin Soldier Imperial Decree and directly imposed it into Kong Lin.

In an instant, a series of ancient patterns radiated brilliant golden light, crawling and swirling across Kong Lin's skin.