Hearing Haotian's words, Jieyin felt a slight stir in his heart.
Damn it!
What was with Haotian lately?
Since when had he gotten so sharp-tongued?
How had Jieyin never noticed before?
Oh!
He'd never had much contact with the guy before.
Well, that explained it.
All he had to do was keep his distance from him in the future.
Jieyin shot Haotian a deeply displeased look.
Then he replied coolly, "I naturally have business to attend to here.
But you, Haotian, why have you come?"
Haotian glanced at Jieyin.
"I was naturally invited.
Unlike certain people, who showed up uninvited.
The host doesn't want him here, but he insists on staying."
When Haotian finished speaking, Jieyin's brow twitched.
He was talking about him!
By the Dao Ancestor's boundless grace!
If the Dao Ancestor weren't protecting him, Jieyin would have ground that bastard's bones to dust today.
Don't get angry!
Don't get angry!
That guy was just a clown!
When the time was right, Jieyin would make him pay.
For now, it was best to get Haotian out of his sight as quickly as possible.
That bastard was seriously damaging his Dao Heart!
After steadying himself, Jieyin replied in the same unruffled tone, "This has nothing to do with you, Haotian!
You've come all this way, yet you still won't stop pestering me.
Could it be that this invitation you claim to have received is just something you made up?"
Just as Jieyin finished speaking, the doors of Pingxin Hall swung open.
Empress Pingxin's voice rang out from within.
"Daoist Haotian, please come in!"
Haotian glanced at Jieyin.
"I'll be going in now. Saint Jieyin, you can wait here as long as you like!"
With that, Haotian strode into the hall.
Seeing this, Jieyin grabbed Ksitigarbha and flashed into the hall right after him.
The doors were open, and Pingxin hadn't said he couldn't enter.
So it wasn't as if he'd done anything wrong by coming in.
Exactly!
That was how it was.
Did they think Jieyin would just leave like this?
Absolutely not!
As soon as Haotian stepped into the hall, he saw Jieyin appear inside as well, and his heart sank.
He knew the Two Sages of the West were shameless, but he hadn't expected them to be shameless to this extent.
It looked like another clash was unavoidable.
Empress Pingxin sat in the seat of honor. When she saw that Jieyin had entered without an invitation, her expression immediately darkened.
She shot a cold look at Jieyin and Ksitigarbha, then said icily, "Saint Jieyin, what do you think you're doing?
I didn't invite you in, yet you barged in anyway. Are you determined to make an enemy of me?"
Hearing Empress Pingxin's words, Jieyin didn't take offense.
It didn't matter how harshly Pingxin spoke. Jieyin had made it into the hall and seen her.
At the very least, he had taken the difficult first step.
Everything was hard at the beginning.
Now that he'd met Pingxin, the rest would be easier.
Jieyin replied, "I know you're in a hurry, Daoist Pingxin.
But don't be in such a hurry just yet!
I've come only to ask you to give Ksitigarbha a chance.
And to give the countless Lost Souls of the Underworld a chance to escape their suffering.
This would cost you nothing.
For the sake of all living beings, please make an exception for Ksitigarbha."
When Jieyin finished speaking, Empress Pingxin merely swept him with a cold glance.
Then she replied, "Give Ksitigarbha a chance?
Is Ksitigarbha really only trying to save Lost Souls from their suffering?
His actions hardly seem as simple as you claim.
When I refused, he tried to force my hand with a Dao Oath.
If that's acceptable, then I could go to Mount Sumeru and establish a dojo there.
What do you think of that, Saint Jieyin?"
At those words, Jieyin's heart filled with anger.
You want to go to Mount Sumeru and establish a dojo?
Dream on!
Mount Sumeru was already cramped for space.
If another Quasi-Saint at the peak of the realm moved in, how much spiritual energy would be left for the disciples of the Western Teachings?
And how would we divide the resources?
She might only be saying it, but what if Haotian took her seriously?
That was no good at all.
So Jieyin hurriedly said, "Why must you be so aggressive, Daoist Pingxin?
These matters can't be lumped together with Ksitigarbha's actions.
What Ksitigarbha is doing is for the benefit of all living beings in the Primordial World.
Daoist Pingxin..."
Empress Pingxin raised a hand to cut him off. "Enough!
I see what you're saying.
Your Western Teachings can establish dojos on other people's territory.
But no one else is allowed to establish a dojo on Mount Sumeru.
Truly the conduct of a Sage!
How overbearing!
No matter how beautifully you dress it up, you can't change the fact that Ksitigarbha is occupying my dojo.
Besides, the Underworld has now been incorporated into the Heavenly Court.
If the Western Teachings want to interfere in the Underworld, shouldn't you ask Daoist Haotian what he thinks?"
Jieyin scrutinized Haotian, then looked back at Pingxin.
What a joke!
Why deal with Haotian, when Pingxin was much easier to handle?
Only an idiot would do that.
By now, Haotian had also figured out the specifics of the matter.
From the look of things, Pingxin wanted to refuse the Western Teachings.
Jieyin's intentions were just as clear: he wanted to use the opportunity to interfere in the Underworld.
Both sides had made their positions plain. One was determined to interfere in the Underworld, while the other was unwilling to allow it under any circumstances.
And soon, he would probably be asked to make the call.
So in the end, he would have to face off against Jieyin.
Should he refuse Jieyin?
Now that Jieyin had set his sights on it, there was no stopping him from getting involved.
Compared to a Sage's power, Haotian was ultimately lacking.
One normal attack from Jieyin, and Haotian would have to unleash his ultimate move in response.
How was he supposed to guard against that?
Ten Thousandfold Amplification was a powerful cheat, but it wasn't omnipotent.
Take the current situation, for example.
If Jieyin failed to get what he wanted this time, he would definitely look for another opportunity to keep interfering in the Underworld.
If things escalated to Zixiao Palace, the outcome would no longer be in Haotian's hands.
By then, with Jieyin claiming he wanted to save the Lost Souls, the Dao Ancestor would probably grant his request.
If Haotian waited until then, there would be no room left to negotiate terms.
It would be better to take advantage of Jieyin's urgency and trick him into agreeing to terms now.
Being on the back foot or taking the initiative led to entirely different outcomes.
Besides, this would give Haotian a chance to scheme against the Western Teachings.
But first, he needed to convince Pingxin.
Otherwise, the two sides might misunderstand each other, and the Western Teachings would be the only ones to benefit.
But how could he approach the matter without provoking Pingxin?
Should he bring up the strength of a Sage?
That made no sense!
It was precisely because everyone knew how powerful Sages were that they had a basis for forming an alliance.
Now that the matter had come down to it, if Haotian backed down, anyone would be unhappy.
That left only one option: explain the practical realities.
While Haotian searched for a way to persuade Pingxin to follow his plan for now, Jieyin spoke again.
"It is true that the Underworld has been incorporated into the Heavenly Court.
But I believe Daoist Pingxin can certainly allow one cultivator to join the Underworld.
Surely this little matter isn't beyond your authority to decide?"
At those words, Empress Pingxin immediately glanced at Haotian.
Her meaning was clear: he needed to find a way to trick Jieyin into leaving.
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