In a corner of the plaza, Li Yun and Xuandu sat under the guidance of the Direct Disciples from the Chan and Jie Sects.
Immediately afterward, Duobao, Guang Chengzi, and the others stepped forward to greet them. "Guang Chengzi, Yu Ding, Tai Yi, Cihang, Puxian, and Huang Long of the Chan Teachings greet Senior Brother Xuandu and Junior Brother Li Yun!"
"Duobao, Gui Ling, Jin Ling, and Wudang of the Interception Sect greet Senior Brother Xuandu and Junior Brother Li Yun!"
"Greetings, junior brothers and sisters!"
Xuandu nodded in response. Though inwardly flustered, he remained composed on the surface.
Although these junior brothers and sisters far surpassed him in cultivation, Xuandu did not care. After all, he would not be fighting them later. More importantly, Li Yun had already dealt him more than one blow to his confidence, and he was well aware of the gap between himself and Duobao's group.
After all, his Human Race foundation was weak, and he had cultivated for far too short a time. Compared to Duobao and the others, who possessed True Immortal Realm or even Grand Unity True Immortal Realm cultivation from the moment they took form, there was still an enormous gap.
"Li Yun greets all senior brothers and sisters!"
Li Yun was even calmer. He cupped his fists toward Duobao, Guang Chengzi, and the others, though his gaze could not help but scrutinize them.
The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Teachings had reputations greater than their actual strength.
Though becoming a saint's disciple and a Direct Disciple did give them reason to be proud, many Interception Sect disciples would crush them during the future Investiture of the Gods War. Even the Twelve Golden Immortals joining forces would not be enough. That alone showed they were flowers raised in a greenhouse.
Especially Guang Chengzi, the senior Direct Disciple among them.
In the original work, Yuanshi Tianzun had been immensely satisfied with and approving of this disciple. His favoritism toward him was beyond doubt.
But what had happened in the end?
Guang Chengzi's performance had been utterly ordinary. By the later stages, he truly had nothing worth showing off.
In contrast, Yu Ding taught Yang Jian, while Tai Yi taught Nezha. Both became more renowned, especially Tai Yi, who later became Taiyi Tianzun, one of the future Heavenly Court's Tianzuns.
Besides that, Cihang, Puxian, Juliusun, and the others were the first victims within the Chan Teachings. They never received much attention or Yuanshi Tianzun's approval. After the Investiture of the Gods War, they had no choice but to follow Randeng in betraying the Chan Teachings and joining the Western Teachings, becoming Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.
Although their strength improved afterward, the label of Betrayer could never be washed away. This meant that even within the Western Teachings, they were not greatly valued. Only after Duobao joined the Western Teachings under the name Sakyamuni and the Western Teachings transformed into Mahayana Buddhism did they gradually rise to prominence.
Of course, compared to Cihang and the others,
The remaining Direct Disciples, such as Huang Long, Qingxu, and Lingbao, were even more miserable. They could not even gain the slightest fame. After the Investiture of the Gods War, they essentially had no more roles and became mere supporting characters. Though they remained Direct Disciples of the Chan Teachings, they were basically abandoned pawns.
Therefore, in Li Yun's eyes, the Twelve Golden Immortals had reputations greater than their strength.
It was not that they themselves were incompetent. Rather, after becoming saintly Direct Disciples and being named the Twelve Golden Immortals, they lost their sense of awe and their drive to improve. If they had not possessed extraordinary talent and exceptional comprehension, Yuanshi Tianzun would never have accepted them. Unfortunately, their later development became a problem.
In contrast, the four Direct Disciples of the Interception Sect were far more impressive.
Duobao!
This man was undoubtedly the Interception Sect's finest successor.
If not for the Investiture of the Gods War, he would inevitably have become the new leader of the Interception Sect.
Even though the Investiture of the Gods War had been a fight to the death, his talent still earned Laozi's approval. To disrupt the momentum of the Western Teachings' rise, Laozi passed on the Human Teachings' inheritance to Duobao, personally transformed into a Hu and entered the mortal world, sent Duobao beyond Jiayu Pass, then had him reincarnate as Sakyamuni and establish Theravada Buddhism.
Duobao had come within a hair's breadth of stealing the Western Teachings' fortune.
But in the end, he still failed to resist the temptation of sainthood. He led Theravada Buddhism into the Western Teachings, established Mahayana Buddhism, and became Tathagata Buddha.
After the Investiture of the Gods War, Duobao enjoyed boundless glory.
Though he bore the title of leader of the Western Teachings, he was indeed the only Second Generation Disciple of Xuanmen capable of contending with the Heavenly Emperor Haotian and even suppressing the Heavenly Court.
There was even less need to mention his strength. Gathering the inheritances of the Interception Sect, Human Teachings, and Western Teachings, he directly surpassed the Quasi-Saint Realm and reached the Half-Saint stage, becoming one of the strongest forces beneath the saints, capable of contending against the older generation's top Great Spiritual Power Users.
Other than Duobao,
None of the Human, Chan, and Jie Sect Disciples reached such a level, not even Xuandu.
This showed just how tremendous Duobao's talent and potential were. What a pity...
Shaking his head, Li Yun glanced at Xuandu as he conversed with the Direct Disciples. Li Yun did not join their discussion. Instead, he looked toward the remaining three Direct Disciples of the Interception Sect.
Jin Ling!
The future Golden Spirit Holy Mother had been an immensely powerful figure within the Interception Sect.
Unfortunately, she lost her Dao Heart over matters involving her disciple, boldly left Jin'ao Island, and ultimately died miserably before being placed on the Investiture of the Gods. For the rest of her life, she could only remain a Grand Unity Golden Immortal controlled by the Investiture of the Gods.
Gui Ling.
The future Turtle Spirit Holy Mother was more obedient, but her luck was poor. After the Myriad Immortals Formation was broken, Jieyin forcibly converted her.
Being converted into the Western Teachings would not have been much of an issue. With her potential and her relationship with Duobao, she would certainly have had a place there. Yet her luck was terrible. Even after the Investiture of the Gods War ended, she was trapped within the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit. With her power sealed, she was slowly drained to death by Wen Daoren, becoming the only fallen Xuanmen Direct Disciple of the Canonization Era.
As for Wudang.
The future Holy Mother Wudang was also the future successor of the Interception Sect.
After Duobao and the others were captured, killed, or placed on the Investiture of the Gods, Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti did not dare kill her completely. They left this youngest disciple behind to inherit the Interception Sect's orthodoxy, granting Sect Master Tongtian a shred of dignity.
But by then, the Interception Sect had long since fallen apart and been destroyed. Only a scattered handful remained. Preserving its orthodoxy was possible, but rising again was practically impossible.
This was why, although Wudang later became a Quasi-Saint powerhouse, the Interception Sect no longer existed. She herself adopted the name Old Mother Li Shan to maintain the last shred of the Interception Sect's dignity.
However, as far as Li Yun knew,
Wudang was truly the most talented among the Interception Sect's four Direct Disciples.
If the Interception Sect had not been destroyed and Sect Master Tongtian had not been confined within Zixiao Palace, leaving her without anyone to teach or guide her, her future achievements would not have been much inferior to Duobao's.
"Junior Brother Li Yun!"
"You keep staring at Junior Sister Wudang. Could it be that you fancy Junior Sister Wudang?"
Suddenly, a teasing voice rang out, jolting Li Yun awake.
Following the voice, he saw Gui Ling seated beside him. She was raising a wine cup and teasingly questioning Li Yun.
The moment those words were spoken, many people nearby raised their brows. Apart from a few people in the distance, everyone else turned to look at Li Yun.
Wudang's pretty face flushed red as she looked shyly at Gui Ling. "Martial Sister Gui Ling, what are you saying? Th-this is impossible~"
Before you continue