Chapter 3176 — Zhang Naipao Comes to His Senses

"Yes, but for the sake of caution, it would be better to send someone at the peak of the late Heaven Rank. After the lesson Wei Zhao taught us, we must be careful and prudent—better safe than sorry!" advised Ancestor Pure Yang.

"You are right. Summon the man, and I will brief him myself." Zhong Yongliang pondered a moment, then nodded.

There were indeed still plenty of skilled hands in the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow sect. With Ancestor Pure Yin dead, the one who had come this time was a junior fellow disciple of Ancestor Pure Yang's generation, named Ancestor Pure Cold. In that generation, anyone whose strength reached the Heaven Rank was granted the title of Ancestor.

"Pure Cold pays his respects to Ancestor Kuang Long, the supreme head of the sect!" As soon as Ancestor Pure Cold laid eyes on Zhong Yongliang, he hastened to bow in reverent greeting.

"Pure Cold, this time I want you to eliminate a man for me. Pure Yang has already told you, has he not?" Zhong Yongliang asked.

"Replying to Ancestor Kuang Long, your disciple already knows! The man to be eliminated is Tang Yuqi, a detective returned from overseas," Ancestor Pure Cold said with a nod.

"Good. The purpose of your mission this time is solely to eliminate this Tang Yuqi. Whatever else happens, you must not involve yourself at will—do you hear me? Above all, keep well clear of Wei Zhao. You have heard about the Pure Yin affair, have you not?" Zhong Yongliang paused, then asked.

"I know. Rest assured, Ancestor Kuang Long, I will steer clear of Wei Zhao. I have heard about him as well. Against a man like that I am no match at all—he can cut down two experts at the peak of the late Heaven Rank in a single breath, so dealing with me alone would be easier still. I will not be fool enough to throw my life away," Ancestor Pure Cold said.

"That is well. I do not wish the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow sect to suffer any further losses!" Zhong Yongliang admonished. "If you see Wei Zhao, keep far away from him and do not provoke him. Otherwise, if you die, you will have died for nothing, and for the time being I will have no way to avenge you!"

"Yes, I understand, Ancestor Kuang Long. I will be careful. The moment I see Wei Zhao, I will keep far, far away!" Ancestor Pure Cold was in truth rather afraid. Even without Zhong Yongliang's warning, he would not dare provoke Wei Zhao at will. That Wei Zhao was no normal man—whoever crossed him died. Pure Cold had not yet lived his fill of life!

"Good. Off you go, then. Investigate thoroughly before you strike." Zhong Yongliang waved a hand, signaling that Ancestor Pure Cold was dismissed.

"Very well." Ancestor Pure Cold cupped his fists in salute and withdrew.

That left only Ancestor Pure Yang and Zhong Yongliang. Zhong Yongliang rose to his feet and said to Ancestor Pure Yang, "Come, let us go see Paozi together. So long as Wei Zhao does not die, who knows whether the boy can pull himself free of his inner demon!"

"Indeed, Naipao is the hope of our sect. He must not go on declining like this!" Ancestor Pure Yang said with some worry.

"Then what are we to do?" Zhong Yongliang knitted his brows.

"There is one last-ditch method!" Ancestor Pure Yang thought a moment, then said, "Master, this method carries a certain danger, but it may well succeed!"

"Oh? What method? Tell me!" Zhong Yongliang's interest was immediately roused. So long as Zhang Naipao could recover, a little danger was worth it!

"The method now is to provoke him further—to strike at him hard. Strike him too hard, and it may rouse the **desire for vengeance** within his body; that way, he may also break free of his inner demon," Ancestor Pure Yang said.

"And the consequences?" Zhong Yongliang asked.

"If it fails, then Zhang Naipao will sink deeper and deeper, perhaps finding it even harder to escape the shadow of this defeat, and remain in his inner demon for the rest of his life," Ancestor Pure Yang said.

"I see… If it goes badly, the worst is that things grow even worse. But our present situation is not much better than 'even worse,' so there is no harm in trying!" Zhong Yongliang pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well, then let us go over and try it now! We need only exaggerate Wei Zhao's prowess and tell Naipao of Pure Yin's death—that should be about enough." Seeing that Zhong Yongliang had agreed, Ancestor Pure Yang hurried to say. In truth, he too wished to try; success or death—he only feared that Zhong Yongliang would not consent. Now that Zhong Yongliang had agreed, there was no problem.

As they spoke, the two made their way together to where Zhang Naipao was resting. They pushed open the door, and what met their eyes was still the same Zhang Naipao—somewhat vacant of gaze, sitting quietly upon the bed. It seemed Zhang Naipao was still trapped within his own inner demon and had not emerged.

"Paozi, I have come to see you!" Zhong Yongliang sighed and said, "I wished to kill Wei Zhao, to avenge you and bring you out of your inner demon. But never did I expect that Wei Zhao is simply too powerful—even Ancestor Pure Yin has fallen at his hands. Wei Zhao can now cut down two experts at the peak of the late Heaven Rank in a single breath, and I truly have no way to deal with him now!"

"Indeed, Naipao, this Wei Zhao is a man of extraordinary talent, and the mental cultivation formulae he practices are utterly marvelous—he can fight above his own rank. At every level, he is the foremost man of that level: so it was at the Mystic Rank, so it was at the Earth Rank, and now at the Heaven Rank it is all the more so! We ordinary cultivators are none of us the foremost of any level. Our only hope is you—the foremost of a level, you too can be called that. All our hopes rest upon you. Only when you have grown strong can Wei Zhao be killed. Otherwise, none of us are his match!" Ancestor Pure Yang said, somewhat helplessly.

"Ah… no…" Zhang Naipao suddenly let out a great roar, sprang to his feet, clutched his head, and cried out, "I will not accept this! I will kill Wei Zhao! I will strive for Brother Liang's sake!"

With that, Zhang Naipao seemed in great agony, turning in circles upon the ground and crying out without cease.

Zhong Yongliang and Ancestor Pure Yang exchanged a glance, and each saw a trace of relief in the other's eyes. Zhang Naipao had come out of it—so long as he regained his confidence, his thirst for cultivation, and his hatred for Wei Zhao, then all would be well!

And indeed, after a while, Zhang Naipao's gaze cleared. It was no longer the murky dimness of before, but had become firm and resolute!

"Brother Liang, Master, I will most certainly strive! I will cultivate with all my might and kill Wei Zhao! To avenge Uncle Pure Yin, and for Brother Liang's sake, I will kill Wei Zhao!" Zhang Naipao said with determination.

"Good, excellent—Paozi, you have finally recovered, and I can breathe easy!" Zhong Yongliang said with delight. "Now, none of us are Wei Zhao's match, and all our hopes rest upon you. Only you can kill Wei Zhao!"