Chapter 47

Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao were precisely such candidates.

Thus, at this crucial moment, Li Er was naturally more composed than anyone else.

The Great Shang Dynasty was still developing. Emperor Yi, the thirtieth ruler of Yin Shang, had only just ascended the throne, while Jiang Ziya might still have been with his sworn brother of a different surname.

Yet Li Er was secretly considering whether he should involve himself in this Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

Just then, he suddenly felt an inner pull.

He immediately realized it was a sign triggered by the Investiture of the Gods List.

He then saw a spotted leopard appear below Mount Daluo in the Xuandu Purple Mansion, having accidentally entered his Dao field.

Li Er immediately recognized it as Shen Gongbao's incarnation.

Previously, he had only been considering the matter of the Visage of the Flying Bear. Now Shen Gongbao had appeared in person.

Such fate was truly rare.

Li Er knew this gathering had not been caused by the fate of master and disciple, but by the Investiture of the Gods List drawing in one who possessed the Visage of the Flying Bear.

The Visage of the Flying Bear represented the qualities of a worthy recluse, as well as the power of war and slaughter.

As the key to the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, the Investiture of the Gods List would naturally seek out those with this unusual visage to assume its duties.

Thus, Shen Gongbao, as one who possessed the Visage of the Flying Bear, had been drawn here by the Investiture of the Gods List.

This was similar to the situation of the Chan Sect in the original course of events.

Although the Chan Sect had not directly controlled the Investiture of the Gods List as Li Er did, once they successfully accepted Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya, they immediately gained its recognition, because its duties were destined to be carried out by them.

Now that Li Er controlled the Investiture of the Gods List, it had naturally drawn Shen Gongbao's response. Though Shen Gongbao's current cultivation was merely that of a small Heavenly Immortal demon, his appearance was precisely an opportunity granted by the guidance of the Investiture of the Gods List to enter a sacred land.

Li Er, who comprehended profound Dao principles, possessed an unsurpassable mountain-protecting formation. Even Quasi-Saint giants would find it difficult to break through.

Yet a mere Heavenly Immortal like Shen Gongbao was able to enter it.

Clearly, this was an omen of the Visage of the Flying Bear within the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

At the foot of Mount Daluo in the Xuandu Purple Mansion, Shen Gongbao bowed his head and knelt, revering this place as a holy land of the Dao Sect and the Dao field of the Supreme Saint.

He was deeply uneasy, fearing that he might incur a saint's wrath.

Fortunately, a calm voice came from the void. "Rise. Since you were able to enter my mountain-protecting formation, we share some fate. I shall grant you the chance to meet me."

As the voice fell, Shen Gongbao discovered that he had already been brought to the mountaintop.

There stood a palace, the ancestral court of a Dao lineage. Its surroundings resembled an immortal realm, with immortal cranes soaring through the air and waterfalls adorning the landscape.

Shen Gongbao was shaken by the sight before him and knew it was the work of a saint.

Looking ahead, he saw that even the immortal cranes possessed cultivation higher than his own, further convincing him that this was a saint's Dao field.

He took a deep breath and saluted Li Er. "Shen Gongbao greets the Saint."

Li Er looked at the Heavenly Immortal demon before him, who called himself Shen Gongbao. Though he was a spotted leopard, he carried the Visage of the Flying Bear, which Li Er found rather strange.

With a light tap, Li Er caused Shen Gongbao to assume human form.

Shen Gongbao knew he had received a tremendous opportunity and gratefully thanked Li Er.

After transforming, Shen Gongbao's Dao Body was harmonious and, paired with his immortal bearing and sage-like bones, made him look like an enlightened immortal.

This was completely different from the sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked, sinister appearance Li Er had imagined.

The following rewritten content is for reference only:

Despite being a demon in origin, Shen Gongbao carried not a trace of demonic aura after transforming. Instead, he gave off the air of an immortal sage, like a heavenly being descended into the mortal world, making him utterly unfathomable.

Even Li Er was somewhat surprised by the scene before him.

He understood why Shen Gongbao, with only the words, "Dao friend, please stay,"

could make the members of the Interception Sect rush to assist him.

It turned out that, aside from his eloquence, Shen Gongbao's own bearing and appearance were also key to his success.

Li Er had once thought that if Shen Gongbao looked like a sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked villain, sinister to the extreme, he might not even have had a chance to speak.

But now, it seemed that his immortal and sage-like appearance had earned him respect.

Looking at such a Shen Gongbao, Li Er sighed inwardly. "This fellow truly has a fine face!"

Then a thought flashed through Li Er's mind: if Shen Gongbao were sent into the Western Sect, could his calamitous nature be used to suppress the rise of Buddhism? With that thought, he examined Shen Gongbao again.

Although Shen Gongbao concealed his true thoughts and intentions, Li Er saw through his motives at a glance. "Having encountered me today, do you wish to enter under my tutelage?"

Faced with Li Er's insight, Shen Gongbao did not show any fear.

He calmly admitted his thoughts. "I do indeed have such a wish."

Shen Gongbao continued, "I believe anyone who encountered such an opportunity would make the same choice."

But Li Er merely smiled. "Though you are a frank little demon, the Taishang Lineage does not accept disciples."

Upon hearing this, Shen Gongbao felt the saint's majesty and an invisible pressure bearing down on him.

Though he still held hope in his heart, he finally realized that he had no fate of master and disciple with this saint.

Some of my naivety and self-importance came from a mistaken understanding of my own worth.

A saintly existence had no need to listen to my explanations.

Just as Shen Gongbao was feeling disappointed, Li Er's words brought a turn of events.

He said, "Since you came to the Xuandu Purple Mansion, you have the fate to meet me. Therefore, I shall offer you a choice."

As soon as Li Er finished speaking, Shen Gongbao was immediately invigorated and asked him to elaborate.

He had thought that his opportunity with a saint would pass him by, yet he had not expected to be given another choice.

Faced with such an opportunity, Shen Gongbao accepted without hesitation.

For him, any choice was worth it.

After all, he was merely a small Heavenly Immortal demon. Encountering Li Er was already an immense stroke of fortune.

Even a single breath from a saint could send him soaring into the heavens.

What did he have to fear in the face of such an opportunity?

Li Er smiled. "You possess the Visage of the Flying Bear and have the qualifications to become a commander of slaughter over one side.

I can guide you into Western Buddhism.

As long as you suppress the momentum of Buddhism's rise for me, once this tribulation is over, I can grant you the status and position of a Dao Sect lineage.

Whether you choose it is up to you."

Li Er's purpose was very clear.

The Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods had already begun, and heavenly secrets were obscured. No one knew the true identities of those who possessed the Visage of the Flying Bear.

Shen Gongbao, who possessed the same Visage of the Flying Bear as Jiang Ziya, was an excellent hidden chess piece.

Once the All Saints discovered that the ** behind the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods was connected to these two, they would surely seek to bring both into their respective camps.

At this moment, Shen Gongbao was like a blank sheet of paper, ready for Li Er to write upon.

The Visage of the Flying Bear upon him was enough to deceive every saint.

Zhunti's personality of never passing up profit also let Li Er see an opportunity.

Someone like Shen Gongbao, with the appearance of a protagonist of a great tribulation, was undoubtedly fated with the West.

When the time came, Li Er would demand that Shen Gongbao return the gains he obtained in the East, and even more, including the foundations of Buddhism.

"Western Buddhism?"

Shen Gongbao froze upon hearing this.

He had not expected Li Er's choice to be not the Taishang Lineage, but to guide him toward the Western Buddhist Sect.

Though he was a small demon, he immediately understood.

Among the many saints, Taishang's prestige was at its zenith, unmatched by any.

How could the Western Buddhist Sect possibly be mentioned in the same breath?

In an instant, a flash of insight struck Shen Gongbao, and he saw through the deeper meaning behind this scheme.

Faced with Li Er's question, he displayed a decision reached after careful consideration.

Shen Gongbao spoke skillfully. Though he did not formally join the Dao Sect, he placed the Dao Sect's interests first.

He understood that both the overall trend of the primordial world and the connection to Saint Nuwa were closely tied to the Dao Sect.

Nuwa, one of the saints, was also a disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and was inseparably connected to the Dao Sect.

With the Dao Sect currently holding the dominant position, Shen Gongbao understood that this choice was no more than a struggle between saints, a Dao-Buddha Conflict.

As one of Taishang's chess pieces, he did not need to think too much. Control was not in his hands.

What he needed to consider was the arrival of the great tribulation and which camp to choose after it ended.

As a member of the Demon Race, he understood Taishang's position among the six saints of the primordial world.

He knew this was a rare opportunity. If he did not cling tightly to this thigh, he might miss his chance.

More importantly, Shen Gongbao had longed to join the Dao Sect.

In the current situation of the primordial world, the Dao Sect lineage held the greatest power.

As a member of the Demon Race, Shen Gongbao understood the importance of the Dao Sect lineage, and he knew even more that it was an absolute existence passed down from the era of the Dao Ancestor to the present.

Thus, he chose to cling tightly to that thigh without hesitation.

In response to Li Er's question, Shen Gongbao said this was his wise choice, and even if he failed, he would have no regrets in this life.

It had to be said that Shen Gongbao not only possessed an immortal and sage-like appearance, but also spoke with great skill, displaying extraordinary bearing.

After hearing Shen Gongbao's words, Li Er smiled.

He then frankly stated, "The coming great tribulation concerns a struggle among the saints.

Though you are a small demon, you possess the Visage of the Flying Bear and are one of the important figures in this tribulation.

However, because you lack Human Race Destiny, you will ultimately be unable to control the overall situation and are destined to be defeated by another person who possesses the Visage of the Flying Bear."

He then told Shen Gongbao, "My guidance for you to enter Western Buddhism is both a trial and the single thread of survival I leave for you."

At this moment, Shen Gongbao suddenly understood. His chance to encounter a saint had not been accidental; it was because of his Visage of the Flying Bear.

From the saint's words, he understood that he was apparently not the only one with the Visage of the Flying Bear. The other was clearly a member of the Human Race, the destined protagonist.

A wave of lingering fear rose in Shen Gongbao's heart, but then he remembered that the Supreme Saint Li Er, whom he had chosen, could not possibly ** him, and he felt somewhat reassured.

Still, a trace of unwillingness arose in his heart.

Why was there another person with the Visage of the Flying Bear? Why did he have to serve as that person's supporting role? If that protagonist did not exist, would he not be able to control the overall situation? Just as Shen Gongbao was about to ask, Li Er had already explained, "Since this tribulation is both a struggle among saints and a struggle over investiture, there are destined to be two camps that invest gods on Heaven's behalf.

The Human Race is Heaven's appointed protagonist. That cannot be changed.

As for you... after the Witch-Demon Calamity, the Demon Race has already declined.

With the destiny of your Demon Race, how could you occupy the position of the sole protagonist?"

After hearing the explanation, Shen Gongbao understood that the great trend of Heaven and Earth was no longer the era of the Demon Race.

He nodded slightly, fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Does the Supreme Saint's meaning imply that you will preserve this little demon's life in the future?"

Li Er replied with a smile, "Choose my protection, and I can keep you safe.

With the other saints, there will be no chance of survival."

This was also why Li Er was at ease sending Shen Gongbao into Western Buddhism to stir up the winds and clouds.

Earlier, Laozi had transformed into a Buddha and was plotted against by Zhunti, causing the Dao Sect to lose Daoist Duobao while the Buddhist Sect gained Sakyamuni Tathagata Buddha.

The reason behind all this was that Li Er had employed an emotional strategy.

But Shen Gongbao was not affected by emotional strategies; he chose to follow profit.

Li Er knew clearly that Shen Gongbao was clever and cunning, capable of weighing advantages and disadvantages.

To deepen Shen Gongbao's sense of belonging to the Buddhist Sect and make it more convincing, Li Er decided to offer him more benefits **.

In the past, Laozi, moved by compassion, attempted to transform into a Buddha, only to be seen through and secretly plotted against by Zhunti.

This change caused the Dao Sect to lose an important ** Daoist Duobao, while the Buddhist Sect gained a new Buddha—Sakyamuni Tathagata Buddha.

Behind all of this was, in truth, a contest between emotion and profit.

When Laozi played the emotional card, Shen Gongbao was not affected in the slightest.

He understood clearly that emotions could not drive people's hearts for long; only tangible benefits could truly move them.