It was different from how things had gone in the original course of events.
Yet by a strange twist of fate, things were drifting back toward that same course...
Originally, Sage Zhunti had swept three thousand Mortal World Travelers away to the Western Sect, most of them Interception Sect disciples. Sage Zhunti was now dead and gone, so he no longer had that chance. But Duobao sat atop Mount Ling.
As the Interception Sect's senior disciple, he naturally commanded loyalty.
After Tongtian departed,
the Interception Sect disciples flocked to Duobao!
That was why he had beaten Lu Ya and secured his position on Mount Ling. With so many disciples following him, Duobao's support had instantly surpassed Lu Ya's. How could Lu Ya compete?
Golden Hoop Immortal Ma Sui had also refined these three Golden Hoops from his own essence and sent them to Tathagata. Now, as seed funding for the "Journey to the West project," they were being passed on to Guanyin.
If the Golden Hoops played a major role in the Journey to the West...
Ma Sui would reap enormous benefits too!
It was just like angel investing.
When Guanyin saw the three Golden Hoops and heard Tathagata explain their powers, her eyes lit up. She smiled and said:
"Excellent, excellent..."
"With these three Golden Hoops, we can make the reincarnation of Golden Cicada's three disciples obediently escort him west to fetch the scriptures. We won't have to fear them causing trouble!"
But privately, she thought something else.
Without letting it show, Guanyin mused:
Apart from Monkey Sun, if I keep a close eye on the reincarnation of Golden Cicada's other two disciples, why would I need Golden Hoops to restrain them? Wouldn't that save me two?
She was not even worried Tathagata would blame her.
*What's there to