It wasn't just Golden Spirit Mother, the Jade Emperor, and the others who thought this way. Even Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun, upon receiving the news, had reacted the same way.
However, when they stormed over to Biyou Palace, Journey to the West Tongtian looked utterly bewildered.
"Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, I don't understand what you're saying."
"What do you mean, I joined forces with the Two Saints of the West?"
"Are they even worthy?"
"Why don't you try bringing them right in front of me? If you don't hold me back, I could split them in half with one blow. Believe me?"
"Heh... Keep acting. Go on!"
Yuanshi Tianzun fixed Tongtian with a sinister stare. "Junior Brother, then perhaps you can explain why you left Biyou Palace a while ago?"
"Exactly!"
Taishang Laojun was also somewhat angry. He looked at Tongtian with deep regret. "Junior Brother, we Three Pure Ones are one family. What sense does it make to join forces with outsiders against your own brothers?"
"???"
Looking at Taishang Laojun's earnest expression, Sect Leader Tongtian laughed in anger. "Senior Brother, now you remember we're family? When you joined forces with Jieyin and Zhunti to scheme against me, why didn't you think of that?"
"Alas..."
Taishang Laojun seemed to have expected him to say that. He sighed and shook his head. "Junior Brother, the Interception Sect's destruction was Heaven's will. Even if we hadn't intervened, nothing could have changed."
"Is that so?"
Sect Leader Tongtian had calmed down too. He smiled without comment. "Senior Brother, since you say Heaven's will cannot be defied, why are you in such a hurry? Don't tell me you don't trust Heaven's will?"
"Uh..."
Taishang Laojun's expression stiffened. He clearly hadn't expected Tongtian to become so quick-witted, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.
"Senior Brother, why waste your breath on him?!"
Yuanshi Tianzun was also losing his composure. He simply brought out the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi. "Junior Brother, since you've been unrighteous first, don't blame us for being unjust."
"Oh? Heh!"
Hearing this, Sect Leader Tongtian couldn't help laughing. As he summoned the Four Immortal Slaying Swords to defend himself, he taunted with a cold smile:
"Second Senior Brother, it seems you've made quite a bit of progress over the years. In that case, let's go have a round in the Chaos!"
"You two, be careful! Be careful!"
Taishang Laojun had already brought out the Taiji Diagram. Seeing Tongtian eager for a fight, he hurriedly stopped Yuanshi Tianzun, who was about to accept the challenge.
"Second Junior Brother, calm down. This could be a trap!"
Meeting Yuanshi Tianzun's puzzled gaze, Taishang Laojun first sent him a reassuring message. Only then did he turn to Sect Leader Tongtian beside them.
"Junior Brother, give me a straight answer. Just how far are you planning to take this?"
"What do you mean, how far?"
A flicker crossed Sect Leader Tongtian's eyes. Thinking they'd discovered the Tongtian outside, he was about to make an excuse to stall when Taishang Laojun spoke, half threatening and half persuading:
"Junior Brother, the Heavenly Court is our master's very face. If you really overturn it, how will you answer to him?"
"Haven't you had enough of your confinement?"
"Just stop."
"If you stop, your Second Senior Brother and I will plead with our master and ask him to end your confinement early."
"What do you think?"
"Hmm?"
Listening to Taishang Laojun's seemingly sincere words of advice, Sect Leader Tongtian blinked, a trace of confusion rising in his heart.
Overturn the Heavenly Court?
What did he mean?
Was this Daoist Brother's plan?
But wasn't their plan to kill that so-called pilgrim, then return to the greater world and create a Saint?
How had they ended up going after the Heavenly Court first?
Of course!
Though Sect Leader Tongtian was confused, he didn't let it show. Instead, he put on a bewildered expression and looked at Taishang Laojun.
"Senior Brother, what are you talking about? I can't understand a word."
"You?!!"
Taishang Laojun's patience had finally run out. He stared coldly at Sect Leader Tongtian, who was feigning ignorance. "Tongtian, I gave you a chance. Since you won't take it, then we'll settle this with our own hands!"
As he spoke, he didn't give Sect Leader Tongtian a chance to respond. Taishang Laojun dragged the utterly confused Yuanshi Tianzun away.
"Hey? Hey?"
Yuanshi Tianzun, who had been about to fight, was dumbfounded. What was going on? Hadn't you said you'd settle this with our own hands? Why were you running?
"What do you know!"
Once outside, Taishang Laojun glared at Yuanshi Tianzun irritably. "Didn't you see how confident that bastard looked? Jieyin and Zhunti, those two turncoats, could be waiting outside!"
"W-what's there to fear?"
Yuanshi Tianzun hunched his shoulders. He was clearly nervous, but still stubbornly insisted, "After all these years of hard cultivation, we may not be any weaker than Tongtian. Besides, his injuries from last time might not even have healed..."
"Then why don't you go find out?"
Taishang Laojun stopped and pointed behind them. "You lure him over first. I'll back you up. If Jieyin and Zhunti dare show up, I won't let them interfere. How about that?"
"..."
Yuanshi Tianzun fell silent.
Give me a break.
Face Tongtian one-on-one?
If that guy didn't poke tens of thousands of holes in him, he wouldn't be living up to the grievances he'd suffered back when they ganged up on him.
Seeing this,
Taishang Laojun snorted. Ignoring Yuanshi Tianzun's gloomy face, he flashed into Lingxiao Hall in the Heavenly Court.
Just as the two greatest forces in the primordial world, Buddhism and the Heavenly Court, seemed on the verge of open conflict,
Elsewhere,
After dealing with Guanyin and Tang Sanzang, Xuanming was receiving the rewards issued by the system under Sect Leader Tongtian's protection.
"Ding~!" "Congratulations, Host. You have stopped the journey to the West ahead of schedule and activated the series of missions: [The Destruction of Buddhism]" "Current mission difficulty rating: ☆☆☆☆☆" "Upgrading mission rewards..." "Successfully complete the [The Destruction of Buddhism] series of missions to receive: Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal Fruit Position x1, Primordial Violet Qi x2, Chaos Supreme Treasure x1, Innate Supreme Treasure x5..." "Side mission: Journey to the West (Completed)" "Distributing rewards..." "Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: Primordial Violet Qi x1, Innate Supreme Treasure Enhancement Stone x2!" "..."
After a series of chimes, a dazzling rainbow light descended from the heavens and landed right in front of Xuanming.
"What's that?!"
Sect Leader Tongtian had been wondering how Xuanming would receive his rewards. At the sight of this, he immediately grew uneasy.
What was going on?
Why were Xuanming's rewards coming from this world?
That was impossible!
Setting aside the fact that Xuanming had come here to wreak havoc, wasn't Buddhism's rise ordained by the Heavenly Dao?
Why would the Heavenly Dao reward Xuanming for sabotaging Buddhism's rise?
Could it be...
Thinking of the conclusion they'd reached earlier, Tongtian understood—but found it even harder to accept.
Were they really wrong?
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