"If you don't act soon, I'm afraid my Grand Tutor will be lost."
In a multicolored space, Di Xin and Kong Xuan sat facing each other. Everything Wen Zhong experienced was clearly reflected in the wine inside their cups.
"Being the master of Star-Gathering Pavilion really isn't easy. Even among the Grand Unity Golden Immortals, the disciples of the Western Sage are no weaklings."
Kong Xuan raised his cup and drained it in one gulp. His figure vanished from the space, leaving Di Xin sitting there alone, lightly tapping the table and producing a crisp, tinkling sound.
This was one of his incarnations formed from fortune. After agreeing with Kong Xuan yesterday to put on a grand show, he had been stored in the multicolored space by Kong Xuan.
As for the purpose, it was naturally to see what confidence Yuan Futong of the Northern Sea had for rebelling. Unexpectedly, they had truly found several "big fish"!
Five of the Eighteen Arhats: Dragon-Subduing, Subduing Tiger, Hand-Reaching, Crossing the River, and Alms-Bowl!
Not to mention the smiling, chubby yellow fellow before them. With that appearance and demeanor, who else could he be besides the future Buddha of the future Buddhist teachings, Maitreya Buddha, who was said to "always wear a smiling face, laughing at all laughable things under Heaven; possess a great belly, and tolerate all intolerable people under Heaven"?
If Kong Xuan killed all of them, then the waters of the Investiture of the Gods would truly become completely muddied. The Three Teachings and the Nine Schools, along with the Six Sages of the East and West, would all enter the fray. Just thinking about it made Di Xin feel completely refreshed!
Just as Di Xin sank into his reverie, the scene in his cup changed again. A Five-Colored Divine Light appeared from the void and, with a gentle sweep, shattered Maitreya's palm!
"My Grand Tutor of Yin Shang is hardly someone your sect can hold accountable!"
The Five-Colored Divine Light dispersed, revealing Kong Xuan standing before Wen Zhong. He stood upon the void with his hands behind his back, ethereal and immortal, his bearing utterly extraordinary.
"Whew, whew! Who are you?"
Wen Zhong hurriedly drew two deep breaths and withdrew his golden whip. After scrutinizing Kong Xuan several times, he finally confirmed: I don't know this man!
"Grand Tutor, my name is Kong Xuan. I was formerly the General of Sanshan Pass at Golden Rooster Ridge. I am now the master of Star-Gathering Pavilion, newly appointed by the Great King, and I oversee all matters concerning extraordinary people within Yin Shang!"
Kong Xuan introduced his origins, giving himself ample justification for interfering in this matter.
The Western Sage's notorious reputation was widespread. Before severing his Three Corpses, it was better for him to remain cautious.
"The rebellion in the Northern Sea has continued for a long time without end, so the Great King sent me to investigate. I might as well take some of the Grand Tutor's merit while I'm at it."
Your Great King sent me to help you. Take the hint and go play somewhere else.
"This Daoist's cultivation is profound, and his Supernatural Power is formidable. Pavilion Master Kong, you must be careful."
Got it. I'm leaving now.
After several battles and repeatedly activating his Heavenly Eye, Wen Zhong was already utterly exhausted, with his magical power depleted. His attack just now had merely been a bluff to see whether he could scare them away.
Now that Kong Xuan had made an extraordinary entrance and even given him a way out, if he did not take it now, when would he?
"I have broken their restraining formation. Grand Tutor, please gather the army. We shall fight again another day."
Seeing that Wen Zhong understood, Kong Xuan swept out his wide sleeve. A divine light flew out, and the wind and sand across the battlefield instantly dispersed. The sky cleared, sunlight poured down, and the chaotic scene was restored.
Wen Zhong nodded and urged the Ink Jade Qilin forward, using his remaining magical power to activate his golden body.
"Sound the gongs and withdraw the troops!"
Maitreya watched helplessly as the restraining formation was broken without intervening. His face still wore a smile, but a hint of apprehension had appeared in his eyes.
Yin Shang actually had a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. They had hidden themselves deeply indeed!
"Even disciples of a Saint fear bearing the consequences of karma?"
Kong Xuan smiled at Maitreya, as though everything was within his grasp.
The disciples of the Western Teachings, like himself, bore immense karmic debts. Normally, they had no problems as long as those debts were isolated through special methods. But if they also killed the hundreds of thousands of lives below, once the sins came upon them, no one would come out ahead.
"If you weren't afraid of karma, you wouldn't have let them retreat first."
Maitreya retorted, but his smile did not diminish in the slightest. He sounded as though he were bantering with an old friend for amusement, without the slightest hint of hostility.
"Take one move from me, and I'll let you leave."
Seeing Wen Zhong depart with the army, Kong Xuan could not be bothered to waste more time arguing with Maitreya. He could not kill him, so he would drive him away first.
Before Maitreya could speak, a Five-Colored Divine Light rose behind Kong Xuan and gently swept toward Maitreya.
"Watch my Supernatural Power! Five-Colored Divine Light!"
"Not good!"
As the divine light surged toward him, Maitreya suddenly let out a strange cry. He produced a pair of Golden Cymbals with a backhand motion and brought both hands together!
With a loud clang, the Five-Colored Divine Light swept both the Golden Cymbals and Maitreya away, transforming them into a rainbow that shot deep into the Northern Sea!
Resist? What was he thinking?
"What a waste of time."
Kong Xuan glanced at the five Arhats nearby—two badly wounded and three unharmed—then turned and vanished into the air.
"Senior Brother Subduing Tiger, what do we do?"
Hand-Reaching Arhat cautiously poked his head out to look in the direction Maitreya had vanished, then quickly turned to Subduing Tiger.
"Ahem, save Dragon-Subduing first."
Subduing Tiger took out another elixir, suddenly feeling hollow inside. His eyes had already gone numb.
Three thousand years of painstaking work had vanished in a single day! But to save Dragon-Subduing and let him bear the wrath of Maitreya Buddha, ahem...
One word: "Worth it!"
The moment the elixir entered his mouth, Dragon-Subduing opened his eyes and struggled to stand. This fellow Subduing Tiger's elixir tastes pretty good, and its effects are strong too!
"Ahem!"
After pretending to cough up two mouthfuls of congealed blood, Dragon-Subduing swayed unsteadily atop the auspicious cloud. In the end, Hand-Reaching and Crossing the River supported him from either side, allowing him to finally "stand steadily."
"Thank you for the elixir, Junior Brother. Senior Brother Maitreya is fighting the enemy. We should return to camp first."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Subduing Tiger looked suspiciously at Dragon-Subduing. Were the effects of his elixir really this good?
But when he lowered his head, he instantly understood everything!
That damn Dragon-Subduing was actually pretending to be dead!
At his feet, Alms-Bowl Arhat, who was less injured than Dragon-Subduing, was lying there quietly, completely motionless.
Meanwhile, Wen Zhong led the army back to camp. As soon as he entered the central command tent, he suddenly froze in place.
Seeing the astonishment in Wen Zhong's eyes, Di Xin stood up openly.
"Grand Tutor, it's only been a few years since we last met. You don't recognize me anymore?"
"Your subject Wen Zhong pays his respects to the Great King!"
His Heavenly Eye opened and closed between his brows. After confirming that Di Xin was genuine, Wen Zhong hurried forward two steps and clasped his hands to bow, but Di Xin quickly helped him up.
"Teacher, you are the commander here in the tent. There is no need for formalities."
"Great King, why have you come to the battlefield?"
Wen Zhong rose with Di Xin's assistance and sat beside the table.
"Thank you, Pavilion Master Kong, for saving my life!"
"It is my duty to relieve my sovereign's worries after receiving his bounty. It was nothing."
Kong Xuan raised his cup and drank leisurely by himself.
"Grand Tutor, this is merely an incarnation of mine."
Di Xin smoothly took over the conversation and recounted everything that had happened since the incident at Nuwa Palace.
"And Kong Xuan came here for two reasons. First, to see which faction was behind Yuan Futong. Second, to use the merit from pacifying the Seventy-two Lords of the Northern Sea to suppress every opposing voice in the court!"
Before you continue