Chapter 41

Since he had already agreed to join forces with the Western Sect, he could not go back on his word lightly.

But Xuandu's forcefulness and his undisguised Daoist stance made him begin to waver as well.

Haotian began to realize that he needed to carefully consider every step he took next.

The agreement between him and Xuandu had indeed fallen into a rather awkward situation.

However, the current situation had only just begun. Even though he held the advantage, he still needed to carefully consider his subsequent choices.

By comparison, offending the Daoist Lineage and the Supreme Saint was an exceedingly risky matter.

Haotian had to consider things carefully, so he wanted to know how Xuandu intended to take a step back.

Xuandu stated that what happened today was the fault of Yuding and Yang Jian, and that as the Daoist Lineage's senior disciple, he could punish them on behalf of the Heavenly Emperor: Yuding would be confined for a thousand years, while Yang Jian would have to enter reincarnation.

Xuandu's proposal seemed severe but was actually lenient. For Grand Unity Golden Immortals, time and reincarnation for renewed cultivation were no great issue.

Although Yuding and Yang Jian had been punished, they would likely return to normal before long.

This method both resolved the violation of the Heavenly Laws and successfully saved Yaoji. It could be said that everyone got what they needed.

However, if Haotian still insisted on choosing Zhunti's side, he would have to face the fury of the Daoist Lineage and the pressure of Taishang.

After considering it again and again, Haotian chose to accept Xuandu's terms.

The weight of Xuandu's words was proven here.

Xuandu stepping forward today had been the best possible solution.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xuandu, for coming to our aid."

Yang Jian said gratefully.

The great sage Xuandu accepted Yang Jian's gratitude and said he would never forget it for all eternity.

Then Yang Jian burst into laughter and swung his axe, taking his own life.

Seeing this, True Lord Yuding gathered Yang Jian's true spirit into his sleeve. His expression remained steady as he asked, "Is the Heavenly Emperor satisfied with this?"

Haotian did not respond to Yuding. As merely a Saint's disciple at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level, Yuding was not qualified to speak with him.

Only Xuandu made him wary.

Xuandu understood perfectly well that Haotian had chosen the Daoist Lineage and was conveying his stance to him.

Xuandu nodded and agreed to relay it to his master.

With the matter resolved, Haotian felt the atmosphere had become awkward. He waved his hand and ordered the heavenly soldiers and generals to return to the Heavenly Court.

The Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect watched this scene with mixed feelings.

They had witnessed the entire affair. They saw the once-arrogant Heavenly Emperor lacking even the courage to fight before Xuandu, and the battle they had expected ended just like that.

In the end, they could only remain silent, sensing the overwhelming gap in strength possessed by the Daoist Lineage's senior disciple, who subdued his opponents without fighting.

Yet Xuandu did not care about their thoughts. At this moment, he only considered how to settle this matter completely and bring it to a conclusion.

With a flicker in his gaze, Xuandu seemed to see through the void and stared at someone hidden deep within it.

"Saint Zhunti, the Heavenly Emperor has departed. What do you intend to do now?"

Xuandu spoke coldly.

Others might have believed that once Haotian led the gods of the Heavenly Court away, this conflict had completely ended.

But in Xuandu's eyes, this was merely the beginning.

Though the tribulation targeting the Saints' disciples had ended, the conflict between the Daoist Lineage and the Western Sect had only begun to emerge.

The moment Xuandu finished speaking, Saint Zhunti appeared in the void not far away.

The Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect immediately recognized Saint Zhunti, and every one of them was deeply shocked.

Zhunti walked through the air, the aura radiating from his body like a violent storm and placing immense pressure upon the Chan Sect immortals.

Zhunti slowly approached Xuandu, staring deeply into his eyes.

"As expected of Grand Supreme Elder Lord's disciple."

He slowly said, "When did you discover that I was hiding in the void?"

Xuandu smiled, his tone calm. "There was no need to discover you, nor was there any need to guess.

This tribulation was personally orchestrated by a Saint. For such a grand event, a Saint would naturally come in person."

Though his tone was polite, it carried a hint of mockery.

He was extremely dissatisfied with Zhunti's scheme against the Daoist Lineage today.

Zhunti was deeply displeased by Xuandu's veiled ridicule.

He had just lost his Saint position, and now even Li Er's disciple dared show him such disrespect.

In response, Zhunti replied coldly that he could not understand what Xuandu meant.

Yet Xuandu remained unmoved. He had come under his master Taishang's orders to demand an explanation from Zhunti for what had happened today.

His words were filled with determination and forcefulness, causing the entire scene to erupt in uproar. Terror appeared in the eyes of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect.

Zhunti showed no courtesy toward Quasi-Saint Xuandu's challenge. He questioned whether Xuandu truly meant what he said and implied that even as a Quasi-Saint, Xuandu had no right to demand an explanation from him.

He even mocked Xuandu, saying that because of humanity's prosperity and the honor of serving as teacher to the Three Sovereigns, Xuandu had lost his reverence for Saints.

Xuandu replied that reverence should only be given to Saints worthy of reverence. There was no need to revere those who only plotted behind others' backs and relied on disgraceful methods.

These words were undoubtedly Xuandu's most forceful response to Zhunti.

Zhunti's expression turned completely icy after hearing them, and he was deeply enraged by Xuandu's insolence.

He believed that Taishang's disciple lacked discipline, and declared that he would teach Xuandu on behalf of his master how to respect one's master and uphold the Dao.

He gave Xuandu a deep look, fury raging within his heart.

Xuandu's words had utterly humiliated him, leaving him no way to step down.

For someone like Zhunti, dignity could be lost, but it had to be maintained before those who were worth maintaining it before.

If he had been facing Li Er, he would have turned and left without hesitation.

However, when facing Xuandu's challenge, he chose to confront it head-on.

Xuandu's aura was imposing. Facing Zhunti, he launched his challenge without hesitation.

He was determined to emulate his master Li Er and attempt to slay a Saint.

With a wave of his hand, the Mystic Heaven Daoist formed from the Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp and the Great Emperor Fengdu formed from the Spirit Coffin Palace Lantern instantly appeared.

Immediately afterward, two supreme spiritual lamps of heaven and earth hung in the sky like the sun and moon. The three lamps in Xuandu's possession emerged at once, their might shaking the heavens.

This displayed the astonishing strength of the Eight Sceneries Palace lineage.

Zhunti could not help sighing at how generously Li Er had bestowed spiritual treasures upon his disciple.

Xuandu's supreme treasures and spiritual treasures filled him with envy.

At this moment, Jieyin also made his move. Countless Jieyin treasure banners appeared around him, filling the void.

At the same time, Yuanshi's voice rang out from the void at precisely the right moment, as if foretelling that a great decisive battle was about to begin.

In the void above Peach Mountain, the aura of attack and slaughter spread like dragons.

Yuanshi and Xuandu each confronted one of the Two Sages of the West, drawing the attention of countless great powers of the primordial world.

A clash at the Saint level possessed might too tremendous to ignore.

This "battle of Saints"

drew the attention of many Quasi-Saint giants.

Many were stirred, thinking, Have the Chan Sect and Western Sect finally gone to war?

In a struggle over Daoist Lineage, it was difficult to remain calm. Even Saints had times when they fought.

Therefore, the conflict between the Chan Sect and the Western Sect was not unexpected.

Haotian had just departed. Looking back now, he felt fortunate that he had chosen the Daoist Lineage rather than the Western Sect.

He thought to himself, Had I chosen the Western Sect, the Chan Sect Saints likely would not have spared me either.

Yuanshi held no goodwill whatsoever toward the Two Sages of the West. The moment he attacked, he brought forth the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner, demonstrating the great importance he placed on this battle.

Seeing this, the sorrowful look on Jieyin's face deepened. He said, "Senior Brother Yuanshi, today's matter is merely a minor issue. Is there truly any need for such conflict?"

Golden light poured down. As mysterious relics descended, the void trembled and heaven and earth roared.

Xuandu and Zhunti clashed on the battlefield. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and the Three Lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man collided madly.

At that moment, both of them felt an irresistible, terrifying force. Their figures crossed before they were sent flying backward.

Zhunti cried out in alarm. The Precious Lotus Lamp should not have been in Xuandu's hands.

Xuandu smiled and asked in return, offering no explanation.

In truth, since Li Er had cultivated Xuandu, how could he have passed down only two of the Three Lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man?

Xuandu's identity and position today were crucial to the Grand Pure lineage. Without sufficient foundations, how could Taishang truly let him act freely? The Way of Taishang, the Yin-Yang Furnace, and the Four Symbols Pagoda, combined with the Three Talents Formation formed by the Three Lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man, possessed enough power to push Xuandu close to the limit of Quasi-Sainthood.

By comparison, because Zhunti's realm had fallen, his advantage in Innate Spiritual Treasures was no longer present.

Judging solely by cultivation realm, he was at a complete disadvantage in this battle. His former Saintly might was gone.

With his Dao foundation damaged, Haotian switching sides at the crucial moment, and Xuandu's prepared assault, Zhunti realized that he had miscalculated today.

As the Innate Three Talents Formation of the Three Lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man took shape, Xuandu split into three, transforming into three streams of light that shot toward Zhunti.

At this moment, he was unstoppable. Powerful killing intent enveloped Zhunti, making his expression grave as he worried that if this continued, Xuandu's claim of slaying a Saint would not be empty words.

Above Peach Mountain, the place that had once served as Yaoji's residence had now become the site where a Saintly battle erupted.

As the immense pressure from the battlefields of Yuanshi and Xuandu spread outward, the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect and the other Quasi-Saint giants all became solemn.

They witnessed with their own eyes how Xuandu relied on his own strength to force the two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, into desperate straits.

The saying that a phoenix fallen to the ground was no better than a chicken was displayed to the fullest at this moment.

Though the comparison was rather blunt, it was reality.

It was only natural that Yuanshi, relying on the foundations of the Three Pure Ones and an Innate Supreme Treasure, could suppress Jieyin. But Xuandu's battle against Zhunti shocked everyone even more.

After Xuandu displayed the might of his Innate Spiritual Treasures, Zhunti, like a phoenix fallen to the ground, lost his lofty power.

Many Quasi-Saint giants personally witnessed Xuandu repeatedly force Zhunti to reveal signs of defeat.

At this moment, they realized that after losing the Saint Dao Fruit, a Saint was not greatly different from an ordinary Quasi-Saint giant.

As the battle continued, the heavenly phenomena created by Yuanshi and the Pangu Banner gradually subsided, while Jieyin and Zhunti were successively severely wounded.

In particular, after Zhunti's Bodhi Dharma Form was broken through by Xuandu, it instantly collapsed, shocking the many Quasi-Saint giants.

At this moment, even these battle-hardened giants found it difficult to believe what they saw—Xuandu could actually slay a Saint?! The shock in their hearts could not subside for a long time.

Facing this sight, the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect and the giants of other factions could not help marveling at Xuandu's strength.

They watched this earth-shaking battle of Saints without blinking.

At this moment, everyone's gaze was vacant. None of them had expected the lofty Saints to have such a miserable moment.

Most importantly, although Jieyin had been defeated by Yuanshi, that was still understandable.

After all, among All Saints, the Three Pure Ones possessed extraordinary strength.

Their origins came from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, so even defeat would not have been surprising.

However, Xuandu defeating Zhunti was beyond everyone's expectations.

Every one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect revealed an expression of disbelief. Even though they had witnessed the fact with their own eyes, they still could not believe it.

The feeling was as shocking as if they, with the cultivation of Grand Unity Golden Immortals, had slain a Quasi-Saint against all odds.

For Zhunti, even though his Saint position had fallen and his Saint Dao Fruit had shattered, he was still a Saint.

Although Xuandu had not literally slain him, he had shattered Zhunti's Saint Dao Fruit, stripped him of his Saintly status, and then defeated him beneath the Innate Three Talents Formation. It was no different from slaying a Saint.

Yaoji's words at this moment were, "The disciples of the Supreme Saint truly cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

"Though there are countless Quasi-Saints in the primordial world today, the only one who truly dares claim to be the foremost beneath Saints is likely none other than Dao Venerable Xuandu."

The Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect all understood her meaning and felt the same way.

They undoubtedly accepted this title wholeheartedly.

Naturally, Xuandu did not know how everyone was judging him at this moment, and even if he had known, he would not have cared too much.

Under the gaze of the masses, he took a deep breath. The supreme Innate Three Talents Formation was also an immense drain on him. After all, he had not severed the Three Corpses; he had merely concealed the tremendous expenditure on the surface.