Chapter 48

Therefore, he chose to follow Li Er without hesitation, this master who deeply understood how profit drove people's hearts.

Li Er knew Shen Gongbao was clever and cunning, and that he could see the situation clearly and weigh the pros and cons.

Thus, he gave Shen Gongbao no promises, yet Shen Gongbao could sense the potential benefits from his words and actions.

Without hesitation, he nodded directly and agreed to join the Buddhist Sect.

Li Er was pleased when he saw Shen Gongbao agree.

He understood that wealth and honor were sought amid danger. Although Shen Gongbao was of the Demon Race and had a weak foundation, surviving this Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods would not be easy.

Now that he could gain Li Er's protection and receive a Daoist Sect identity afterward, how could he possibly let such a good opportunity pass?

Li Er knew that although Shen Gongbao possessed the Visage of the Flying Bear, his identity as a member of the Demon Race meant he was destined to be unable to wield the Investiture of the Gods List.

To deepen Shen Gongbao's sense of belonging to the Buddhist Sect and make it more convincing, he decided to bestow another stroke of fortune upon him.

He knew that only greater benefits could make Shen Gongbao wholeheartedly serve the Buddhist Sect.

Li Er infused it with Human Race Destiny and the power of the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

After this transformation, Shen Gongbao's Visage of the Flying Bear completely changed, becoming an auspicious sign containing Human Race Destiny, while his Demon Race origins were concealed by Li Er.

Ordinary people, combined with the destiny of the Heavenly Scroll of Investiture of the Gods, would regard Shen Gongbao as the true chosen one of the Investiture of the Gods.

Li Er smiled in satisfaction.

The obscured heavenly secrets within the tribulation had their drawbacks, but they also had their advantages.

The All Saints could not predict the course of the tribulation, nor the true status and identities of the protagonists of the Investiture of the Gods. Yet Li Er, as a transmigrator, possessed the advantage of foreknowledge and could control the entire tribulation.

Since Shen Gongbao had the chance to arrive at the Eight Sceneries Palace, Jiang Ziya, the true chosen one of the Investiture of the Gods, would likewise be drawn there.

Li Er controlled the Investiture of the Gods List and could attract both protagonists of the Investiture of the Gods.

Barring any surprises, Jiang Ziya would also come under Li Er's command.

During the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, the contest between Jiang Ziya and Shen Gongbao was in truth part of Li Er's arrangements. Whether good or bad, everything remained in his grasp.

As for Jieyin and Zhunti, ever since the Daoist lineages of the All Saints began arranging matters among the human race, the Buddhist Sect had faced less opposition. Zhunti in particular used the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree to collect countless Spiritual Roots and spirit plants, as if he had become a thief who stole from heaven.

Anything Zhunti set his sights on was impossible to escape his collection.

Jieyin and Zhunti converted many living beings.

After some time, Zhunti seemed to be enjoying himself, actively moving about the eastern lands.

His gains were exceedingly abundant. All kinds of heavenly treasures and Spiritual Roots of heaven and earth went into his possession.

Some living beings with better foundations were also taken away with them.

Such gains were like pies falling from the sky, an immense fortune even for Western Buddhism.

Daoist Subhuti sighed inwardly. "The eastern lands truly are blessed with outstanding people and abundant spiritual energy!"

He also planned to properly arrange the treasures they had gathered, using them to promote the great flourishing of the Buddhist Sect.

Although Zhunti had made gains, he did not have his saintly true body plundering everywhere. Instead, he sent out a Dao Body formed through Slaying the Three Corpses.

Just as Subhuti was preparing to continue onward, a Daoist suddenly appeared. His voice seemed to contain some kind of power, causing Subhuti to stop involuntarily.

Though Subhuti had no intention of stopping, his body paused on its own for a moment, as if some invisible force had acted upon him.

Subhuti became vigilant and turned to look. When he saw the newcomer, he was startled.

With a single glance, he discerned the other party's origins.

The Daoist before him actually possessed the Visage of the Flying Bear. Subhuti was surprised, yet also somewhat delighted.

Encountering such a sign of the great tribulation often meant good fortune.

Shen Gongbao wore a smile, giving off the air of a profound cultivator. It made Subhuti feel a sense of familiarity.

He invited Subhuti, saying, "Young friend, you have an affinity with our West. Would you be willing to follow me to the Western Pure Land and pursue the Great Dao together?"

If Li Er had been present and heard the conversation between Shen Gongbao and Subhuti, he might have worn a thoroughly astonished expression.

In this Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, no matter who it was, the moment they opened their mouths, their words were often deadly. Whoever encountered whom might suffer misfortune.

Yet Zhunti and Shen Gongbao seemed unconcerned by such things and directly invited Subhuti to join the Buddhist Sect.

While Shen Gongbao and Daoist Subhuti were conversing, the Yuqing Daoist suddenly appeared, interrupting them.

He invited Shen Gongbao, hoping Shen Gongbao would join the Chan Sect.

Meanwhile, Daoist Subhuti tried to persuade Shen Gongbao to join the Buddhist Sect.

Faced with the struggle between two great saints, Shen Gongbao's inner deliberations were especially crucial.

Every decision he made concerned the direction of the future.

Now that Shen Gongbao had gained Li Er's favor, his confidence had greatly increased.

Even when facing two saints, he no longer wavered so easily in his resolve.

What he needed was a force capable of contending with the Buddhist Sect, but he leaned more toward Buddhism and hoped that one day he could guide this force in Buddhism's direction.

The Yuqing Daoist's appearance was unexpected, but it also showed that Shen Gongbao's importance needed no explanation.

Faced with the contest between the two great forces, Shen Gongbao's choice would undoubtedly trigger a great battle.

And his choice concerned not only his own fate, but would also affect the direction of the entire world.

How the following events would unfold was truly something to anticipate.

The Yuqing Daoist glanced at Subhuti, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. "You say this young friend's affinity with me has not yet run its course?"

Then he said calmly, "Having affinity does not mean becoming one's master."

Zhunti, leader of the Chan Sect, sincerely invited him. "If you are willing to join the Chan Sect, I will certainly accept you as an inner disciple and rank you among the Thirteen Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect."

At the same time, Daoist Subhuti also extended an invitation. "I too wish to accept you as my disciple, and I promise to grant you the position of a Buddha Patriarch."

Faced with the invitations of both men, Shen Gongbao chose to join Western Buddhism after careful consideration. "Thank you, Western Saint. I have decided to devote myself to the Buddhist Sect."

This made Venerable Yuanshi quite angry, and he secretly resented Daoist Zhunti and Shen Gongbao's decision.

The Yuqing Daoist offered a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Congratulations, Daoist friend, on obtaining such an excellent disciple."

Daoist Subhuti, however, did not care, for he had successfully recruited the protagonist destined to answer the tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods and brought him into the Buddhist Sect of Spiritual Mountain.

Li Er saw all of this, and he found the contest amusing.

He knew Shen Gongbao's joining might bring unknown changes to Buddhism.

Seeing this, the Yuqing Daoist chose to leave.

Daoist Zhunti smiled at Shen Gongbao. "Good disciple, you have truly pleased your master today."

Subhuti watched the Yuqing Daoist's departing back, then turned toward Shen Gongbao before him. Shen Gongbao's smile made Subhuti feel a sense of warmth.

Yet Subhuti felt an inexplicable unease in his heart, as if something bad was about to happen.

The feeling was intense yet impossible to grasp. Though he tried hard to search for its source, he found nothing.

As an incarnation of a saint's Dao Body, Subhuti's cultivation and insight were both extraordinary.

Such a strange feeling was uncommon for him, yet it was now appearing repeatedly, leaving him somewhat confused.

Just as Shen Gongbao called out to Subhuti, a crow flew overhead and dropped something.

Subhuti smelled a strange odor. When he reached up and touched his forehead, it was actually bird droppings.

A Quasi-Saint-level existence had actually been struck by crow droppings without noticing.

This was mainly because Shen Gongbao's words had caused him to lower his guard.

Once Subhuti realized this, his face darkened.

Shen Gongbao actually possessed such an ability. It seemed his status as a protagonist in the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods truly had something extraordinary about it.

However, this only applied to figures at the Quasi-Saint level, who were unaffected by the great tribulation.

If it were someone below the Quasi-Saint realm, such as a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, then under Shen Gongbao's words, "Please stay,"

they might be listed without noticing it at all.

This had already been proven by the results of the many disciples of the Interception Sect on the Investiture of the Gods List.

Just as Subhuti believed he had successfully taken in the protagonist of the Investiture of the Gods, joy and worry coexisted within him.

Within the Eight Sceneries Palace, Li Er watched this scene and sighed inwardly.

Because the heavenly secrets were in chaos, no one could accurately predict the future fates of their disciples. Only Li Er, relying on the advantage of foreknowledge, strategized flawlessly throughout this Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

He withdrew his gaze from Shen Gongbao and prepared to seek Jiang Ziya.

Using Human Race Destiny, Li Er easily investigated all of Jiang Ziya's past. Though Jiang Ziya was the destined one of the Investiture of the Gods, before he cultivated to the Quasi-Saint realm, he was still affected by Human Race Destiny.

Li Er smiled faintly and found the much-anticipated protagonist of the Investiture of the Gods with a single thought.

Afterward, Li Er summoned the Horned Green Ox and quietly headed to Song Family Village in search of Jiang Ziya.

Though Song Family Village lacked the magnificent scenery of a saint's sacred ground, it was filled with the warmth of mortal life and possessed a unique charm.

The green ox walked through the wilderness, with a young man riding backward upon its back. He concealed his depths, and no heavenly secret showed itself.

He looked like an ordinary young cowherd in the countryside, making it impossible for anyone to perceive his true cultivation.

Within Song Family Village, Song Yiren, Jiang Ziya's sworn elder brother, was quite worried about Jiang Ziya's pursuit of cultivation. He reproached him for being too old and having no hope of succeeding in cultivation.

Yet Jiang Ziya was unwilling to endure the nagging and chose to go fishing to avoid the argument.

After leaving Song Family Village, Jiang Ziya felt an inexplicable pull, as though some force were guiding him.

He tried using his divination arts to calculate it, but gained no result.

At that moment, he unexpectedly noticed a green ox strolling leisurely along, with a young man sitting at ease on its back.

Jiang Ziya's heart stirred, as if he had thought of something. He quickly walked toward the green ox.

Facing the green ox and the young man on its back, Jiang Ziya immediately knelt in worship and respectfully addressed him as "Saint."

The young man on the ox spoke, his voice making Jiang Ziya unable to remain kneeling.

"How did you know I am a saint?"

he asked.

Jiang Ziya replied confidently, "A saint rides a green ox. Green symbolizes vitality and the spirituality of the East.

Your existence is like a shadow within the mist, impossible to see clearly. That only strengthens my suspicions."

Riding backward upon a green ox, the saint appeared and vanished.

Jiang Ziya understood the principle of the Dao following nature. What arose in his mind was the figure of the venerable Daoist Sect Leader.

He understood that this saint should be the Supreme Saint.

However, he did not state it outright, fearing he might offend the saint's taboos.

At this moment, Jiang Ziya's emotions surged. Meeting a saint was the extraordinary encounter of his dreams.

The thought of becoming a saint's disciple made attaining the Dao and becoming immortal no longer seem like a distant dream.

Without hesitation, he expressed his wish and hoped the saint would accept him as a disciple.

When Supreme Saint Li Er heard Jiang Ziya's thoughts, his face clearly emerged above the green ox, carrying a smile as gentle as the spring breeze.

He asked Jiang Ziya whether he wished to become immortal.

Jiang Ziya answered without hesitation, "I do."

He admitted that if he could become immortal, he would transcend the Three Realms and escape the suffering of reincarnation. He only wished to drink tea and discuss the Dao with a few close friends. That was the carefree path he longed for.

Li Er swept his gaze over Jiang Ziya and continued speaking with him.

Li Er smiled. "Your ideals are somewhat aligned with the indifference to worldly contention of my Taishang Lineage."

However, his expression changed as he regretfully said, "You are fated to be unable to attain true fruition. You can only enjoy wealth and glory in the mortal world."

When Jiang Ziya heard that he was compatible with the Taishang Lineage, hope arose in his heart, only for Li Er's following words to strike him down and leave him despondent.

He knelt before Li Er and begged him to pity his heart's pursuit of the Dao.

Li Er smiled faintly and helped Jiang Ziya up. "Your fate is naturally so. Even a saint cannot change it."