Tongtian Agrees to His Idea

Yes. Do they really think the other Saints aren't tempted by this vast fortune of providence?

Does Yuanshi not covet this providence? Whoever believes otherwise is a fool—he just refuses to bow his head.

Is Laozi unmoved? Nonsense. He's merely preserving the last shred of face as Dao Ancestor Hongjun's First Disciple.

As for Zhunti and Jieyin, they've likely already made their move.

Nuwa has the Human Race's providence, and Haotian is already siphoning hers. Does Houtu have designs on it? Certainly she does—it's just that the Underworld is hard to scheme within.

Among the Saints, only Nuwa and Houtu show little interest. The others all have their eyes on Haotian's Heavenly Court. Of course, Tongtian is also among the less interested.

Faced with his First Disciple's flattery, Tongtian simply turned a deaf ear. To be honest, his interest in the Heavenly Court's providence was truly minimal.

In the future, his Jie Sect would gather ten thousand immortals—would their providence be small?

Bowing his head to a Daoist Child like Haotian? He couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Hmph! You think too highly of yourself. Haotian isn't a fool. If he can monopolize the Heavenly Court's merit and providence, why would he share it with you?" Tongtian snorted disdainfully.

If there was a feast to be had alone, who would share it? He himself certainly wouldn't give away a single scrap.

Hearing this, Xian Junyu looked at his master Tongtian like he was an idiot. He was almost speechless.

His master was sharp about everything else—why was he so dense about this? Was playing a little mind game really that hard...

Right then, Xian Junyu began explaining to his master Tongtian.

"Master, that's not how you think about it. Right now, Haotian is like a man sitting on a mountain of gold, but he doesn't have the strength to guard it alone!"

"With you and the other Saints looming above him, even if he doesn't want to share, he has no choice. The Grandmaster only gave Haotian the position of Lord of the Heavenly Court—he didn't care about the rest..."

As he spoke, a sly grin crept onto Xian Junyu's lips.

With the Three Realms' providence so vast and the Saints eyeing it hungrily, how could a mere Quasi-Saint like Haotian possibly hold onto it?

Tongtian listened, his brow furrowing deeper. Hearing his First Disciple put it that way, the Heavenly Court's merit and providence almost seemed like free loot.

But was it really that easy?

He doubted it.

"I can pressure Haotian, but do you really think he'll give up that easily?"

Tongtian was skeptical of this point.

Hearing this, Xian Junyu smiled faintly, that sly grin returning.

"Heh. If it were just you alone, Master, Haotian naturally wouldn't give up so easily. But if you join forces with First Senior Uncle and the other Saints, Haotian will have no choice but to share!"

Back in the Primordial era, Venerable Yuanshi had done exactly that—united the Saints, not only dividing Haotian's providence but also stripping away his authority.

It just hadn't involved the Jie Sect.

If Haotian didn't know his place, Xian Junyu wouldn't mind persuading his master Tongtian to unite the Saints and forcefully take his authority and providence.

"Oh, and what makes you think First Senior Uncle and the others will join forces? Maybe they don't care about this providence at all?" Tongtian said with interest.

He genuinely wanted to know why his First Disciple was so casual about proposing an alliance.

Hearing his master's question, Xian Junyu paused for a moment before replying:

"I can't be sure about First Senior Uncle, but given Second Martial Uncle's temperament, he definitely has strong designs on the Heavenly Court's merit and providence..."

"As for First Senior Uncle, I'd bet seven parts that he has the same idea. As for Zhunti and Jieyin, there's no need to even mention them!"

Back in the Primordial era, Second Martial Uncle Venerable Yuanshi had done exactly that—but he couldn't say that aloud.

Hearing that Xian Junyu was relying on guesses and intuition, Tongtian was a little speechless, but on second thought, it wasn't impossible.

Merit and providence brought countless benefits—no one would ever have too much. Given his second brother Yuanshi's nature, scheming for it was plausible.

His elder brother Laozi... probably wouldn't have such thoughts. Then again, maybe he would.

As for those two shameless ones, Zhunti and Jieyin—ever since Luohu had nearly destroyed the Western Lands, those two had been desperately starved for merit and providence. It was no surprise they had designs.

But his relationship with Yuanshi was growing worse by the day. To ally would mean bowing his head, and he didn't want to do that.

As for Zhunti and Jieyin, he didn't want to be associated with them either.

This was getting awkward...

"Talk of alliances is just empty words. Scheming for the Heavenly Court's merit and providence isn't that simple. You'd not only lose face for me by groveling!"

"In the end, you might even come away with nothing. Are you sure you want to do this?" Tongtian asked again.

Honestly, an alliance was difficult for him. But once his First Disciple decided something, it was hard to pull him back, and Tongtian didn't want to outright reject him.

After all, the last time he'd vetoed setting Sect Rules to restrain the disciples, that brat was still holding a grudge.

"Yes, Master. This disciple has already made up his mind. As for coming away with nothing—that's impossible. At worst, the gains will just be a little less favorable."

"With you, Master, backing me, how dare Haotian try to cheat me? He'd be asking for it!"

Xian Junyu was very confident about this.

As long as Haotian wasn't brain-dead, he wouldn't refuse someone who came to him in person, especially one who was respectful, polite, and willing to flatter him.

If Haotian did refuse, then he deserved to be trampled underfoot by the Saints.

"Since you've decided, then go ahead and give it a try. I'll meet with Haotian's people later and accept this invitation!"

"When the time comes, take a few disciples and make the trip for me. Don't bother asking me how to handle things—you decide for yourself!"

It might bruise his pride a little, but the reckless kid was doing it all for the Jie Sect. It wouldn't be right to discourage him further. Letting him try was fine.

A little face? He, Tongtian, could afford to lose that much.

"Yes, Master!"

"But since I'm going to an appointment, I can't exactly show up empty-handed. Don't you think..."

As he spoke, Xian Junyu rubbed his fingers together, immediately starting to ask for things. His movements were almost too practiced.

Seeing this, Tongtian instantly felt a bit displeased.

He was a Saint. Sending someone to the Heavenly Court was already giving Haotian face. And now he had to bring gifts? The reckless kid was making Haotian out to be far too important.

"Just go as you are. Haotian was nothing but a Daoist Child in the past. What right does he have to make me send gifts?"

Tongtian said, his face full of displeasure.

He had gifts, and he wasn't short of them. But giving them to Haotian, the man who had stolen the position of Heavenly Emperor from his disciple—that, he simply didn't want to do.

"Master, look at it this way: you said yourself he was once a Daoist Child, and he was even the Grandmaster's Daoist Child. Like Junior Brother Water and Fire by your side—if I don't show them face, isn't that the same as not showing you face?"

"Besides, he's now the Lord of the Heavenly Court, ruling over the Three Realms. Whether out of respect for the Heavenly Emperor or for the Grandmaster, I can't very well go empty-handed..."

Xian Junyu explained slowly.

He had already decided to lower his head and show goodwill. A few gifts more or less didn't matter.

If he wasn't going to do it, he wouldn't do it at all. But if he was going to do it, he would do it to the best of his ability. That was his way of doing things.