Jieyin, however, refused to back down. "Haotian!
Don't push your luck!
My Western Teachings are a dignified Great Sect with a Sage at its head. If you punish my disciples, what face will my Western Teachings have left to call ourselves a Sage's Great Sect?
That is absolutely impossible!"
Haotian replied solemnly, "A Sage's Great Sect?
Does being a Sage's Great Sect mean you can do whatever you want?
Though it's true that, in the Primordial World today, Sages are the most powerful, that doesn't mean their dignity matters more than that of all the living beings in the Primordial World.
That is my first condition. There's no room for discussion.
Saint Jieyin, you're reacting so strongly. Could it be that you're already plotting to have Ksitigarbha stir up trouble in the Underworld in the future?
To avoid trouble down the line, I think it would be better if Ksitigarbha didn't enter the Underworld.
If you have nothing else to discuss, Sage, then we'll leave it here for now.
I still have to deliver a host of Lost Souls from suffering. I don't have time to sit around chatting with you."
With that, Haotian made as if to get up and leave.
Seeing this, Jieyin hurriedly called out, "Wait!"
Haotian turned to look at Jieyin. "Oh?
Is there something else, Sage?
If it's something that would put me in a difficult position, you might as well not say it.
After all, the things that give me trouble aren't as simple as you Sages seem to think.
You Sages are either staring at what's in your own bowls or eyeing what's in someone else's.
But I have to find a way forward for every living being in the Primordial World."
At Haotian's words, Jieyin was so furious he trembled.
So this was how a dignified Sage looked in Haotian's eyes.
But...
Who wasn't watching their own Fortune while eyeing everyone else's?
The Primordial World was vast, but it was small, too.
In such limited space, how could anyone afford not to keep a close eye on their Fortune?
Haotian, you have difficulties?
You're sitting on the Heavenly Emperor Throne, with the Dao Ancestor backing you up.
Whether you have difficulties depends on your mood, doesn't it?
I don't know whether you have any difficulties.
Right now, I'm the one who feels like I'm in a difficult position.
Forget it!
Why dwell on this?
How could this ant, Haotian, understand the difficulties faced by Sages like us?
Better to focus on getting Ksitigarbha into the Underworld.
With that in mind,
Jieyin said, "Very well!
My Western Teachings accept your first condition."
Only then did Haotian sit back down. He spoke slowly, "Since you've accepted the condition, Sage, make sure to warn your disciples.
Otherwise, when the time comes, they might come up with excuses and try every which way to shirk their responsibility.
Now, let's move on to the second condition.
Your Western Teachings wanting Ksitigarbha to enter the Underworld has reminded me.
I should be sending people to manage the Primordial World's lands as well.
I hope Saint Jieyin won't interfere with the Heavenly Court's regular affairs when that time comes."
As Haotian finished speaking, Jieyin's heart sank.
This was bad!
Haotian was trying to meddle in the Western Region.
If his forces gained a foothold there, wouldn't every move made by the disciples of the Western Teachings be under Haotian's watchful eye?
I've only just set my sights on the Underworld, and you've immediately turned your attention to the Western Region, using it to counter my Western Teachings?
But!
How could anyone let another man sleep beside their bed?
There was no way he could agree to this.
Jieyin immediately said, "The Western Teachings will manage the Western Region. There's no need for you to worry about it, Haotian."
At that, Haotian raised an eyebrow.
"The Western Teachings manage the Western Region, and I needn't worry about it?
From your words, Saint Jieyin, it sounds as if the Western Region has already seceded from the Primordial World.
When did that happen?
How come I, the Heavenly Emperor, never heard about it?
Does the old Dao Ancestor know?"
Jieyin replied calmly, "The Western Region hasn't seceded from the Primordial World.
I'm merely stating a fact.
With my Western Teachings here, the Heavenly Court has no need to manage the Western Region."
But Haotian answered solemnly, "So the Western Region hasn't seceded from the Primordial World after all.
Then Saint Jieyin must have misunderstood something.
I, Haotian!
Am the Heavenly Emperor of this Primordial World!
Since the Western Region hasn't seceded from the Primordial World, what I just said was to inform you.
Not to discuss it with you!
You'd do well to understand the difference, Sage.
Otherwise, people might get the wrong idea and think your Western Teachings harbor treasonous intentions and want to replace the Heavenly Court."
Haotian said this without worrying that Jieyin might turn against him.
Turn against him?
So what if he did?
Could the Western Teachings replace the Heavenly Court?
They clearly didn't have the strength for that yet.
Since the Western Teachings lacked the power to do so, it didn't matter whether Jieyin turned against him.
And the old man was there to hold the line.
Jieyin wouldn't dare make a move anytime soon.
After hearing Haotian's words, Jieyin's expression darkened at once.
"If that's the case, why bother informing me?
Just send your cultivators.
But the Western Region is a barren and dangerous place, and there are bound to be some great demons lurking about.
I hope the cultivators your Heavenly Court sends can establish a foothold in the Western Region."
Haotian understood the threat in Jieyin's words perfectly well.
But was he the sort of person to be threatened?
Haotian immediately replied, "I hope those cultivators won't come to harm.
Otherwise, whoever takes action, and whoever gives the orders behind the scenes—
I'll brand them as part of the Devil Dao, along with the force the instigator belongs to.
Then I'll call on cultivators across the Primordial World to attack them.
Even if I can't uncover who's pulling the strings, the Dao Ancestor is still here.
I'm sure that won't be a problem."
At Haotian's words, Jieyin no longer felt like replying.
I was only threatening you a little, and you immediately brought up the Dao Ancestor as your backing.
Can't we have a pleasant conversation?
Forget it!
Since threats won't work, I'll agree for now.
As for whether I'll keep my word later, that depends on whether a suitable opportunity arises.
If one does, these nails will have to be pulled out.
Jieyin then said, "Hmph!
I understand your warning.
Do you have any other conditions?
If not, I'll discuss things with Daoist Pingxin."
Did he have any more conditions?
Of course he did!
The first two conditions had both been about securing benefits for the Heavenly Court.
Now it was time to look out for himself and claim something for his own benefit.
Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste to pass up the opportunity Jieyin had handed him?
But what should he demand from this fellow?
Spirit Treasures?
Not suitable!
He wouldn't care for anything too low-grade.
And Jieyin wouldn't hand over anything too high-grade.
Besides, when all was said and done, this opportunity had fallen into his lap for free.
After all, the Western Teachings placing a cultivator in the Underworld didn't directly cost Haotian anything.
Empress Pingxin, without a doubt, was the one who suffered the greatest loss.
After thinking it over for a moment, Haotian came to a decision.
He said, "I hope you truly understand what I mean, Sage.
The next condition is simple.
Three Twelve-grade Golden Lotus Seeds of Merit and three Bodhi Seeds.
Ten Innate Spiritual Materials.
That's not an unreasonable request, is it?
If you're going to haggle over even these things, I'll have to question your sincerity."
After Haotian finished speaking, Jieyin couldn't be bothered to waste any more words with him.
He flicked his sleeve and tossed out the things Haotian had requested.
Then, without even bothering to acknowledge Haotian, he turned his attention to Empress Pingxin.
He seemed to feel that even looking Haotian's way was too much respect to show someone who had made him swallow one insult after another.
Before you continue