He sighed and shook his head.
If these disciples did not break through their ingrained shackles, how would they know the vastness of the Primordial Era?
Did they really think the Interception Sect was the entirety of the Primordial Era?
Were they also like his former self, believing themselves to be the protagonists of the Primordial Era?
Had he not encountered Senior Lin Dong, he likely would not have escaped calamity during the great tribulation!
Having realized this, Tongtian's Dao Heart trembled, and he unexpectedly soared to the peak of the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm Hunyuan!
This was truly an unexpected delight!
No!
Tongtian sank into deep thought.
This was absolutely no accident.
If he had not met Senior Lin Dong, understood Karma, abolished his own Saint position, and disbanded the Interception Sect,
how could he have comprehended the Dao so easily and advanced so rapidly in cultivation?
Moreover, merely listening to Senior Lin Dong's discourse had elevated him from the Sixth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm straight to the Ninth Heaven!
This was practically a miracle!
In the eyes of Primordial Era Saints and Hunyuan experts, "miracles" did not exist. Everything was predetermined by fate.
Yet Tongtian, a former Saint and current Hunyuan expert, sincerely believed this was a miracle!
It was a miracle bestowed upon him by Senior Lin Dong!
Otherwise, how could he transcend the Five Elements and calmly observe the storms of the Primordial Era?
I'm holding on to Senior Lin Dong's thigh no matter what!
I must forge a deep friendship with him!
Tongtian made up his mind and resolutely headed for Penglai Immortal Island.
When Lin Dong saw Fellow Daoist Lingbao arrive, he was quite pleased.
Having lived alone on Penglai Immortal Island for countless eons, having such a young friend for company was truly a delight!
With a casual wave of his hand, a steaming cup of Enlightenment Tea appeared before Tongtian.
Tongtian smiled so broadly that he could barely close his mouth!
Enlightenment Tea was precisely the supreme treasure he had long dreamed of obtaining.
Perhaps this tea could help him advance another step!
Lin Dong asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, do you know the root cause behind every great tribulation?"
Huh?!
The Karma behind the great tribulations?
Tongtian hurriedly set down his teacup.
Improving his cultivation was not the most urgent matter.
Absorbing knowledge from Senior Lin Dong was what truly mattered.
He frowned and admitted frankly, "This disciple has never examined it in depth!"
Lin Dong could not help but laugh.
Shaking his head, he sighed, "The disciples of the Shangqing lineage need to use their brains more!"
"Do not truly become reckless brutes."
Lin Dong instructed, "In the Primordial Era, one must fully display one's strengths while doing one's utmost to conceal one's edge."
"A tree that rises above the forest will be destroyed by the wind; a mound that stands above the shore will be washed away by the current; one whose conduct surpasses others will be criticized by the masses."
"Look at Saint Yuanshi of Kunlun. Everyone in the Primordial Era calls him the wisest."
"Yet his prowess in single combat is often overlooked."
"As a direct descendant of the Mystic Gate, you surely know Yuanshi's true combat strength!"
Tongtian was startled!
Senior Lin Dong's words awakened him from a dream.
Among those who could attain Hunyuan or become Saints, which one was not a person of immense perseverance, wisdom, and Merit?
In their hearts, every one of them believed that above and below heaven, they alone were supreme.
Tongtian had always thought so as well.
But when objectively examining the Saints,
everyone knew of Yuanshi's reputation as the wisest.
Yet few ever mentioned the single-combat strength hidden beneath that reputation.
In terms of cultivation, Yuanshi was a Sixth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm Saint, only slightly inferior to Nuwa.
His realm was not far from Taishang's or Tongtian's.
Now that Tongtian had received Lin Dong's guidance, he had reached the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, standing above all the Saints.
Even so, he absolutely did not dare underestimate Yuanshi's combat strength.
When Yuanshi brought forth his two Dao-Protecting Divine Weapons, every Saint in the Primordial Era suffered headaches!
The Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, formed from Pangu's vast righteous energy, was innately undefeatable.
The Pangu Banner, one of the Three Heaven-Opening Artifacts, possessed unparalleled offensive power and was the foremost in the Primordial Era.
Yuanshi's ability in single combat was truly the greatest in the Primordial Era!
A chill ran through Tongtian's heart.
Though they were both among the Three Pure Ones, even he had subconsciously overlooked Yuanshi's combat strength. One could only imagine the other Saints!
He hurriedly straightened his robes and solemnly bowed to Lin Dong. "This disciple thanks you for your guidance, Senior!"
Lin Dong nodded, quite satisfied with Fellow Daoist Lingbao's attitude.
A loud drum needed no heavy blow; a single hint was enough for him to understand.
He was truly a promising talent.
Lin Dong asked with a smile, "Why not consider this, young friend? What were the signs preceding each great tribulation of the Primordial Era?"
Hmm?
Tongtian froze slightly.
Then he suddenly understood. The senior was training his ability to perceive subtle details!
If he were still a Saint, relying on the Authority of the Heavenly Dao, he would have no need for such an ability.
Saints only needed to connect to the origin of the Heavenly Dao to perceive everything.
In theory, if no other Saints interfered, all Saints would know every matter in the Primordial Era.
But that was only in theory.
Take Senior Lin Dong before him, for instance. Tongtian had never seen him, nor had he even heard of him.
Not only Tongtian, but all the Saints and even Dao Ancestor Hongjun were unaware of his existence.
Moreover, if other Saints were involved, investigating the truth became even more difficult.
Most fatal of all, when the Immeasurable Calamity arose, Saints became like ordinary cultivators. Trapped within the tribulation, they could not glimpse the greater trend of the Heavenly Dao.
With their customary methods rendered useless, the Saints could only rely on analysis like ordinary people!
This was the greater trend of the Heavenly Dao!
Having grasped this principle, Tongtian focused and analyzed the previous great tribulations.
After a long while, he said doubtfully, "Senior, the signs of the previous great tribulations were obvious."
"The Desolate Beasts Heaven-Opening Calamity began because the Desolate Beasts ran rampant and provoked public outrage, causing cultivators of the Primordial Era to rise in resistance under the leadership of the Three Dragon-Han Clans."
"Though the Dragon-Han Calamity and the Dao-Devil War occurred one after another, their causes and effects were reversed."
"The cause was Luohu's establishment of the Seven Killings Great Vow and his use of schemes to incite the Three Dragon-Han Clans into internal conflict."
"At the same time, cultivators dissatisfied with Luohu formed a righteous alliance and marched against his devil army."
"The Witch-Demon Calamity was even clearer. The Demon Clan's greed exceeded its capabilities, bringing it into conflict with the Witch Clan, rulers of the earth."
Tongtian asked sincerely, "Senior, is this disciple correct?"
"Correct!" Lin Dong nodded approvingly. What pleased him most about Fellow Daoist Lingbao was his studious attitude.
It did not matter if one did not understand, so long as one did not pretend to understand.
He asked again, "Then what about the next great tribulation?"
Huh?!
Tongtian was dumbfounded!
There was another great tribulation to come?
He suddenly shuddered. The senior was about to reveal the details of the great tribulation!
But he truly could not understand.
Previously, Senior Lin Dong had said that the Witch-Demon Calamity had been designed by Hongjun.
And in order to repay the Karma of the Primordial Era, Hongjun had already established the greater trend of the Heavenly Dao.
The greater trend could not be altered!
What was the greater trend of the Heavenly Dao now?
The Rise of the West!
The future of the Primordial Era would unfold around the Rise of the West.
This was the greater trend!
But could even this be predicted?
Tongtian could not believe it.
After pondering fruitlessly, he said honestly, "Senior, judging from the current state of the Primordial Era, although there is killing intent and baleful aura, it has not reached the level of an Immeasurable Calamity!"
Lin Dong burst into laughter, his eyes filled with affection.
Tongtian was overcome with shame, knowing that this was a mocking gaze.
The one being mocked was Tongtian himself!
Lin Dong shook his head. "I just said it: Shangqing disciples need to use their brains more!"
"If the Witch-Demon Calamity could be designed, what would be so strange about arranging another tribulation?"
Huh?!
Tongtian's face turned red!
Indeed!
Since Hongjun could design the Witch-Demon Calamity,
why could he not design another one?
Putting himself in Hongjun's position, the answer was obvious!
Tongtian thought further.
The greater trend of the Heavenly Dao established by Hongjun meant that the Rise of the West was inevitable.
Even if there were another great tribulation, it would surely serve that goal.
But how could he determine the cause of the tribulation?
Tongtian once again fell into confusion.
Seeing Fellow Daoist Lingbao's performance, Lin Dong shook his head again. "You are clearly exceptionally intelligent, yet you do not know how to use it. No wonder the Interception Sect was crushed during the Investiture of the Gods."
He reminded him, "The one who designs the great tribulation ultimately seeks the Rise of the West."
"You only need to grasp the key point!"
Tongtian suddenly attained enlightenment!
"The Western Teachings!" He named the key in a single sentence!
He understood completely!
To repay the Karma of the Primordial Era, Hongjun was determined to bring about the Rise of the West.
No matter what kind of great tribulation he designed, its purpose would remain unchanged.
The greater trend of the Heavenly Dao—the Rise of the West—would never waver!
As long as Tongtian investigated the recent actions of the Western Teachings, he could perceive the greater trend.
Having understood this, Tongtian felt no joy. Instead, a chill rose within him.
Just as Senior Lin Dong had said,
ever since the Saints appeared, the great tribulations of the Primordial Era had been entirely different from the previous Immeasurable Calamities.
The Desolate Beasts Heaven-Opening Calamity, the Dragon-Han Calamity, the Dao-Devil War, and the Witch-Demon Calamity
all began because the protagonists of heaven and earth acted perversely, provoking cultivators to resist.
Only when Karma became entangled and killing intent filled the air did the great tribulations arise.
At that time, any cultivator with even modest cultivation could sense the signs of a great tribulation.
The Three Pure Ones had been the same in those days, so they secluded themselves in Kunlun and avoided several tribulations.
Nuwa was the same.
But Tongtian dared to conclude
that in the coming great tribulation, no cultivator in the Primordial Era apart from Saint disciples would be able to avoid it—if the killing intent of heaven and earth was insufficient, how would cultivators know a great tribulation was approaching?
Tongtian could not help looking toward the sky, but Penglai Immortal Island was a self-contained space, isolated from within and without.
Naturally, he could not see the scene beyond the island.
The one he thought of was Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
Heaven and earth were the chessboard, creation the moves, and all living beings the pieces.
Hongjun sat quietly in Zixiao Palace, controlling the rise and fall of eras.
Among the cultivators of the Primordial Era, including the Saints, who could escape his control?
Tongtian did not realize that when he discerned Hongjun's arrangement, he had already taken the first step toward transcendence.
One day, he would finally understand!
How precious Senior Lin Dong's teachings were!
Lin Dong smiled and nodded. "You've finally made progress, little friend. Congratulations!"
Tongtian felt ashamed and bowed again. "This disciple thanks Senior for your guidance."
If not a direct disciple, who would receive such guidance?
This was supreme wisdom none of the Saints had ever realized.
Knowledge was priceless!
Lin Dong was not giving someone a fish, but teaching them how to fish!
A single word's difference revealed a vast gap.
With a casual grab, Lin Dong caught a wisp of wind tail from the Immeasurable Great Array. "Let's see what the Two Sages of the West are up to!"
Hiss!
The art of tracking traces through the wind!
Tongtian knew this technique as well, but he could not use a wisp of breeze to discern the movements of the Two Sages of the West.
His wind-tracing technique could only show him the scenes through which the breeze had passed.
Yet Senior Lin Dong could use it to reconstruct the movements of Saints countless spacetime realms away.
Without leaving Penglai Immortal Island, he knew everything happening in the Primordial Era.
Rather than observing scenes, it was more accurate to say he was observing Karma.
However, this technique had a flaw.
Since one did not face great powers directly, it was difficult to judge the extent of their strength.
It was like hearing that someone was an expert, yet not knowing the realm of their Supernatural Powers.
Even so, this technique remained extremely useful!
After a brief investigation, Lin Dong wore a strange expression. "Saint Zhunti plotted to have Princess Yunhua, Haotian's younger sister, secretly descend to the mortal world, fall in love with the mortal Yang Tianyou, and bear three demigods."
Tongtian broke out in a cold sweat!
This was Zhunti's shameless style!
Princess Yunhua was the true younger sister from Haotian's final lifetime of tribulation through his divine thought-forms.
Haotian had adored her deeply and brought her to Heaven with him when he ascended.
That was only human nature, nothing objectionable about it.
But Tongtian had never expected Zhunti, one of the lofty Two Sages of the West, to shamelessly plot against a young girl!
He was ashamed to share the same Hunyuan realm with him!
Lin Dong was not finished. "Do you know what happens next, Daoist?"
Tongtian was stunned. Was it not enough for Zhunti to make Haotian lose face?
There was more plotting to come?
Lin Dong did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Zhunti wants Haotian to execute Yunhua in order to uphold the heavenly laws!"
What?!
Tongtian was completely convinced.
He had never seen anyone so shameless!
His horizons had truly been broadened!
"However, the Three Saints of the Mystic Gate blocked this matter!"
Tongtian nodded.
If he were still a Saint of the Mystic Gate, he would certainly have intervened as well.
Zhunti's real aim lay elsewhere!
When Haotian had first taken the throne, Zhunti had already been dissatisfied.
But Hongjun and the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate had suppressed him, and the matter had become settled fact.
Tongtian had never expected Zhunti to bear a grudge and plot against a young girl just to humiliate Haotian!
Haotian would find it difficult to avenge this grievance.
Lin Dong continued, "Haotian has only just learned that his sister's descent into the mortal world was the scheme of a Western Saint."
Tongtian gently shook his head.
Even if Haotian knew, what could he do?
In the Primordial Era, Saints reigned supreme.
Beneath Saints, all were ants.
Haotian was merely a Quasi-Saint, not Hunyuan, much less a Saint!
Revenge was nearly impossible!
Lin Dong looked at Tongtian with great interest and saw that he did not think much of it.
With a teasing smile, he revealed a piece of news. "Haotian has just summoned the Chan Jiao Twelve Golden Immortals and demanded that they submit, but they refused!"
Tongtian found it unbelievable!
He knew that although Haotian had once been the Dao Ancestor's gatekeeping attendant,
his vision was exceptional. He had undergone many lifetimes of tribulation, acted steadily, and considered matters thoroughly.
How could he be so unwise?
Tongtian could not make sense of it no matter how he thought.
Lin Dong shook his head. "Daoist, you still need more experience!"
"The Immeasurable Calamity has already begun."
"Hurry back to Biyou Palace. You will all be busy soon!"
Tongtian was utterly dumbfounded!
Why was an Immeasurable Calamity suddenly approaching?
He had sensed nothing at all!
But Lin Dong had clearly sent him away, and Tongtian did not dare disobey.
Still completely baffled, he took his leave.
After returning to Biyou Palace, he still could not understand.
Just then,
Hongjun's voice rang out. "All Saints, Tongtian, come quickly to Zixiao Palace to discuss matters!"
Tongtian sat upon the Heaven and Earth Cushion in Zixiao Palace, still utterly confused.
Why were they discussing matters again?
They had only discussed his affairs not long ago!
He had abolished his own Saint position, dissolved the Interception Sect, and been questioned by all the Saints.
Yet after he had struck Zhunti down with one sword, the matter had passed.
After all, becoming a Saint or not was a personal choice.
Tongtian had been unwilling, and even the Heavenly Dao Saints could not force him.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Saints, he closed his eyes and pondered Lin Dong's words.
What exactly was going on?
Zhunti had plotted against Haotian's sister, yet Haotian wanted the Chan Jiao Twelve Golden Immortals to submit.
No matter how he looked at it, it was strange!
The two matters had nothing to do with each other.
If Haotian sought revenge, he should be targeting Zhunti.
Why was he causing trouble for Chan Jiao instead?
How strange!
Tongtian sighed inwardly. Thinking truly required more practice!
Senior Lin Dong had inferred the coming calamity from only two unrelated events.
Yet Tongtian had received the same information and remained completely bewildered.
When a great calamity arose, there had to be signs.
For example, murderous intent spreading everywhere, Karma becoming entangled, monstrous evils emerging...
But although the Primordial Era was not peaceful at present, it showed no signs of a great calamity!
Since the Witch-Demon Calamity, the Saints had attained the Dao,
upheld the Heavenly Dao and taught the world. The Primordial Era's Karma was still under control.
How could there be an Immeasurable Calamity?
Tongtian's thoughts were in turmoil.
Hongjun opened his eyes and said calmly, "A few days ago, Haotian came to Zixiao Palace weeping, saying that the Heavenly Court was of great importance, yet the Hall of Lingxiao lacked both civil and military officials."
"He asked me for help."
"As it happened, the Chan Jiao Twelve Golden Immortals had committed the Immortal Slaying Calamity and needed to enter the mortal world to undergo the tribulation, thereby triggering the Immeasurable Calamity!"
"The disciples of Saints are all within this calamity."
"This calamity is the Immortal Slaying Calamity. Those whose cultivation and innate foundations are insufficient, and who struggle to cultivate the Immortal Dao, will be listed for Investiture of the Gods and instead take the divine path."
With a wave of his hand, a black-and-yellow great book descended, transforming into a list and a divine whip.
"This is the calamity of Investiture of the Gods."
"This is the Investiture of the Gods List and the God-Beating Whip, transformed from the Heavenly Book!"
"You Saints shall decide who goes upon the list. It is entirely up to you."
"Once one's name is signed upon the list, they will be bound by the Heavenly Dao."
"Saints, discuss it among yourselves!"
Hiss!
Taishang, Yuanshi, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti all cried out in shock!
The calamity of Investiture of the Gods? The Immeasurable Calamity?!
There had to be some mistake!
Just because the Heavenly Court lacked people, an Immeasurable Calamity was being unleashed?
Absurd!
But these were the words of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
Who dared call them absurd?
The Saints fell silent.
Tongtian was so shocked that his eyes widened!
An Immeasurable Calamity truly was coming!
Senior Lin Dong had predicted it!
Seeing the subtle and knowing the obvious, foreseeing the future...
Tongtian was completely won over. He bestowed every word of praise he could think of upon Lin Dong.
He still needed to cultivate!
Senior Lin Dong had deduced the Investiture of the Gods Calamity from mere traces of Karma.
Yet Tongtian had known the same information and gained nothing from it.
Tongtian closed his eyes.
A storm of thought rose within his mind!
He had to sort out the Karma, or would he not fail Senior Lin Dong's high expectations?
Zhunti had plotted against Haotian, Haotian had demanded submission from the Twelve Golden Immortals, and the Investiture of the Gods Calamity had begun—how were they connected?
Tongtian furrowed his brow and thought deeply.
Countless thought-forms rose and faded.
Gradually, he sorted out the Karma!
He sucked in a cold breath.
No one was simple!
Only he seemed somewhat naive.
Zhunti had plotted against Haotian's sister, making her bear three demigods with a mortal.
By ordinary reasoning, Haotian could do nothing to a Saint.
But Haotian was unwilling to accept it!
He had backing!
As the Dao Ancestor's trusted confidant, Haotian sat firmly as ruler of the Three Realms.
He brazenly summoned the Chan Jiao Twelve Golden Immortals.
He had not chosen them at random.
If he summoned Xuandu of the Human Sect, it might be viewed as a provocation.
The Human Sect had only one disciple. If Xuandu agreed, it might cause controversy.
Summon the immortals of Biyou Palace? That would not do.
The Interception Sect had only just been streamlined to two hundred elites.
Summoning them might offend people, and Haotian feared that they would agree.
What he wanted was for them to refuse!
The Chan Jiao Twelve Golden Immortals were the face of Chan Jiao and would certainly never submit.
That was precisely Haotian's goal!
After the Twelve Golden Immortals refused, Haotian took off his emperor's robes and changed into Daoist robes.
Then he went to Zixiao Palace and wept his grievances.
Was it undignified for the Heavenly Emperor to cry?
Saint Zhunti had cried plenty of times!
Haotian said nothing of being bullied by Zhunti, only that the Heavenly Court lacked people.
After experiencing the ways of the mortal world, Haotian had become thoroughly adept at worldly affairs.
Tongtian had accurately grasped Haotian's thoughts. "I can do nothing to you, but can I do nothing to your disciples?"
"You treasure the Western Teachings' disciples, yet I insist on making them serve me!"
That was Haotian's limit!
But he had not expected—
His tearful complaint to be used by Hongjun!
Hongjun had casually unleashed the Immeasurable Calamity!
The Primordial Era lacked sufficient murderous intent and Karma?
No matter!
A pretext was enough!
The Chan Jiao's Twelve Golden Immortals had indeed incurred a killing calamity—few Daluo cultivators were free of calamities.
Thus, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity came into being. Perfect!
Even as Tongtian admired Lin Dong,
A sentence echoed in his mind: "After the saints emerged, every Immeasurable Calamity was designed!"
Tongtian suddenly felt a chill.
After the saints emerged, every great calamity had been deliberately arranged.
During the Witch-Demon Calamity, he had not yet attained the Dao.
His cultivation had been low, and his perspective had been different.
Now, he was at the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, a Hunyuan.
Other than Lin Dong and Hongjun, none of the saints matched his cultivation.
This gave him a direct understanding of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
This calamity was entirely man-made!
It should never have arisen.
There was not enough murderous intent or Karma.
Yet Hongjun had still been able to stir it up!
It was beyond imagination, confirming Lin Dong's words!
Tongtian was utterly convinced by Lin Dong.
Yet he was filled with worry toward Hongjun.
Was Hongjun truly doing this only to settle Karma?
Tongtian instinctively felt that this matter was not simple.
He had to consult Senior Lin Dong!
This question concerned his path of cultivation!
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
He hurriedly cast the thought aside,
Then closed his eyes to rest.
Hongjun had summoned the other saints. It had nothing to do with him!
For the first time, he felt how carefree life was without official duties.
Zixiao Palace was deathly silent.
The sudden great calamity had caught all the saints off guard!
No one wanted their disciples to be listed!
Hongjun said those listed had insufficient innate foundations and inadequate virtue, making it difficult for them to achieve the Immortal Dao, so they would instead follow the divine path.
But saintly disciples had all been carefully selected. Who would be willing to be listed?
The definition of being unable to achieve the Immortal Dao was vague.
If the target was sainthood or Hunyuan, almost no disciple could achieve it!
If the target was Quasi-Saint, no disciple met the standard either—none of the great saintly sects had a Quasi-Saint!
In the eyes of the saints, even if their disciples were not Quasi-Saints,
They could still live freely as ordinary immortals.
Once listed, they would forever be slaves of the Investiture of the Gods List!
Who would agree?
The saints remained silent.
An awkward atmosphere spread through the hall.
The saints allowed the awkwardness to continue. No one spoke first.
A mere few days—
Saints often secluded themselves for tens of thousands of years at a time.
A few days were merely enough for resting one's mind.
The saints closed their eyes, looking like wooden statues.
Hongjun swept his gaze indifferently over the saints, unhurried.
The Heavenly Dao's greater trend was predetermined. Whether the saints signed early or late made no difference!
But when his gaze fell upon Tongtian, Hongjun paused slightly before pretending nothing had happened and moving on!
Tongtian had actually reached the peak of the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm!
He was only one step away from advancing to the Tenth Heaven!
Such speed was terrifying!
"What fortuitous encounter did Tongtian receive?"
"He abolished his own saintly position and disbanded the Interception Sect, yet his cultivation not only failed to decline but instead advanced?"
"Impossible!"
There were no fortuitous encounters in the Primordial Era, only Karma and the will of Heaven!
Hongjun could not make sense of it no matter how he pondered.
But for now, establishing the great calamity was the priority!
Everything else could wait.
No one knew how long passed before crying suddenly rose within Zixiao Palace!
The saints opened their eyes and looked toward the sound, rendered speechless.
Zhunti prostrated himself on the ground and wailed, "Dao Ancestor, the Western Demon Kingdom is overrun with demons and devoid of human habitation."
"Only Mount Sumeru has a few living beings."
"The West is barren, with few disciples. I beg the Dao Ancestor for mercy and ask to exempt us from the Investiture of the Gods Calamity!"
His voice was as mournful as a cuckoo weeping blood!
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Nuwa all sighed. "We knew it would be him!"
When he had no need for dignity, Zhunti truly cast dignity aside!
The Three Saints of the Mystic Gate could never do such a thing.
The three saints revealed looks of disdain. Zhunti had utterly disgraced the saints.
Did he truly think Hongjun would agree to such a petty trick?
How naive!
"This is bad!" Seeing Zhunti act like this, Tongtian was alarmed!
He had seen Zhunti shamelessly pester others many times,
And Hongjun often made exceptions for him, agreeing more often than not.
He had never understood why before.
But after Lin Dong's guidance, Tongtian realized: Hongjun wanted to settle the Primordial Era's Karma!
It was not because he favored the Two Sages of the West,
But because their desire to elevate the West aligned with Hongjun's goal!
The Three Saints of the Mystic Gate believed Hongjun would refuse, but Tongtian thought the opposite!
This served Hongjun's interests.
If Hongjun spoke, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity would inevitably become an internal war within the Mystic Gate.
Even all the disciples of the Three Saints of the Mystic Gate would not be enough to fill the positions!
Tongtian said lazily, "Fellow Daoist Zhunti, you are telling outright lies!"
With a single sentence, he forcefully choked back Hongjun's words.
All the saints looked over.
Zhunti's expression changed drastically. The last time in Zixiao Palace, Tongtian had stripped away his facade.
Karma had already been formed.
He had not expected Tongtian to ruin his plans again!
Zhunti said coldly, "Tongtian, do not slander me!"
"Unlike you," Tongtian said calmly, "I have always spoken the truth!"
He looked at Zhunti with a faint smile. "The disciples expelled by the Interception Sect were all taken in by your Western Teachings, weren't they?"
"There were over nine thousand disciples."
"Even if you accepted only half, that would still be four or five thousand."
"You have already become the Primordial Era's foremost saintly sect!"
"If you do not participate, are you expecting the thirty or forty disciples of the Human Sect and Chan Jiao alone to bear the burden?"
That made sense! The Three Saints of the Mystic Gate all nodded!
Tongtian had hit the nail on the head.
The Investiture of the Gods List had three hundred and sixty-five principal gods and over ten thousand subordinate gods.
The Human Sect had only Xuandu.
The Chan Jiao's Jade Void Golden Register contained only a little over twenty people.
Even if both sects were entirely listed, they would not fill even one-seventh of the roster!
Nuwa accepted no disciples, and the Wa Imperial Palace had only a few attendants.
Even counting the saint of Buzhou Mountain, it would still not be enough.
Tongtian's words awakened the Three Saints of the Mystic Gate.
Taishang said coldly, "Do the Western Teachings wish to stand apart from the Heavenly Court?"
Yuanshi's expression darkened. "If the Western Teachings consider themselves a sect outside the Primordial Era, I can confine you to Mount Sumeru and spare you from this great calamity!"
Hiss!
Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions changed!
They believed Yuanshi was fully capable of doing it!
The Two Sages of the West inwardly groaned.
Why had they become the target of everyone in an instant?
There had to be a problem!
Hongjun did not look at the two sages. He stared at Tongtian for a long while.
The observer saw more clearly,
And he knew the reason—Tongtian's words!
Had Tongtian not interrupted, Hongjun truly would have granted Zhunti's request.
The reason was readily available: the West was barren, and all the Mystic Gate saints knew it.
There would have been no harm in agreeing.
The Three Saints of the Mystic Gate looked down on the Two Sages of the West.
Who would have expected Tongtian, after abolishing his own saintly position, to forcefully interrupt him and disrupt everything?
Tongtian's words had thrown his arrangements into disorder.
Zhunti's plea had come from his own position.
The Mystic Gate disdained such a remote and impoverished region.
But Tongtian had stood upon the greater trend of the Heavenly Dao,
And the Two Sages of the West would never dare claim independence from the Heavenly Court!
The Heavenly Court was a vital division of the Heavenly Dao.
Otherwise, the Heavenly Dao's punishment would await them!
Hongjun frowned.
Tongtian had exposed the key point in a single sentence.
Who would have thought Tongtian, who only knew how to wield a sword, would be so eloquent!
Moreover, the timing of his abolishing his saintly position and disbanding the Interception Sect was far too coincidental!
It seemed like a coincidence!
But Hongjun did not believe in coincidence, only Karma!
Tongtian's cultivation was about to advance to the Tenth Heaven, which was even more absurd!
Could Tongtian be concealing some earth-shattering secret?
That secret had to be uncovered!
Just as the thought arose in Hongjun's mind, Tongtian gazed at him with sincere eyes.
"Dao Ancestor, is what this disciple said reasonable?"
Tongtian's question left Hongjun speechless for a moment.
He quickly replied, his tone resolute. "Exactly! The Western Teachings must not stay out of this!"
"What do you mean by that?" Upon hearing this, the two Saints of the Western Teachings turned pale with shock!
A single word from the Dao Ancestor completely shattered their wishful thinking!
The two Saints were utterly unwilling within their hearts!
However, the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao had already spoken. How could they possibly have any room to refute him?
Before you continue