Just as Yuanshi Tianzun was buckling under the immense pressure and was about to reach his limit, a Taiji Diagram radiating five-colored light suddenly flew over from afar.
Boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
A succession of muffled sonic booms rang out through the chaos.
"Senior Brother Taishang?!"
Jieyin and Zhunti's alarm bells rang. They instinctively drew back, keeping Yuanshi Tianzun from breaking free even as they spread their divine senses through the chaos in search of Taishang Laojun.
"Ah..."
A faint sigh came from all directions.
Taishang Laojun still did not appear, but his voice, tinged with anger, reached everyone present with uncanny precision.
"Junior Brothers Jieyin and Zhunti, what are you doing? Aren't you afraid Master will punish you?"
"Senior Brother, you should be asking Senior Brother Yuanshi that!"
A flicker of alarm crossed Jieyin's eyes, but his tone was unyielding. "We had just finished cultivating in the chaos. The moment we returned to the Primordial World, we saw Senior Brother Yuanshi shamelessly using his strength to bully his juniors and attack the younger members of Buddhism!"
"May I ask you, Senior Brother, what was the meaning of Senior Brother Yuanshi's actions?"
"I... That's nonsense!"
Yuanshi Tianzun felt a little guilty, but when he thought of what had led Buddhism to come knocking on his door, he focused on the parts that suited him and challenged them. "Jieyin, you keep saying that I attacked the younger members of Buddhism, but have you considered whether they were the ones who offended me first?"
Before Jieyin could retort, Yuanshi Tianzun sneered and slapped him with a grave accusation.
"What?"
"Have you never heard that a Saint must not be insulted?!"
"If they dared to make a grand show of attacking me and Senior Brother—and even insulted Master's dignity—then what was wrong with me teaching them a lesson?"
"You?!"
Jieyin was left speechless. He looked as if he wanted to say something but had no idea where to begin.
There was no helping it!
Everything Yuanshi Tianzun had said was true.
A Saint must not be insulted!
Wasn't the whole Investiture of the Gods calamity set off because an emperor of the mortal world had leered at a statue of Nuwa?
And now the Tathagata had launched a brazen attack on the Heavenly Court!
It might have been different if Yuanshi Tianzun hadn't been at the Heavenly Court, but that old fellow had been there at the time...
"Senior Brother, surely that's not right?"
Seeing Jieyin at a loss for words, Zhunti couldn't take it anymore. He gave a cold snort and said, "Wasn't it your Chanjiao and Renjiao who first showed no regard for Master?"
"Master himself decreed that Buddhism would spread east, and all of you agreed!"
"What?"
"It's only just begun, and you've already killed the reincarnated Buddha-child of Buddhism. Guanyin even died because of it."
"Wasn't that a show of contempt for Master and an affront to us Saints?!"
"Heh... Yes!"
Facing Zhunti's accusations, Yuanshi Tianzun let out two cold laughs and readily admitted it.
But before Jieyin and Zhunti could rejoice, Yuanshi Tianzun sneered in disdain. "We agreed to let Buddhism spread its teachings in the East, but you failed to make the most of the opportunity. How is that our fault?"
"So what if the Buddha-child died and Guanyin died?"
"What does that have to do with the Heavenly Court?"
"Instead of going after the real culprit, you brazenly attacked the Heavenly Court. Do you think my Chanjiao has no one left?"
"Or do you think that because Master doesn't concern himself with worldly affairs, you can kill his attendants at will?"
"???"
As Yuanshi Tianzun's words fell, Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions changed abruptly. Jieyin stammered out a question.
"Se-Senior Brother, what do you mean? Could it... Could it not have been you?"
"Of course it wasn't!"
Yuanshi Tianzun snorted impatiently. "Jieyin, if we weren't fellow disciples, what you've said about me and Senior Brother would be enough for us to fight you to the death!"
"..."
Jieyin was completely dumbfounded. He exchanged a look with Zhunti, and both their eyes were full of helpless panic.
Damn it!
What was going on?
If the Heavenly Court really hadn't done it, then what did their actions amount to?
A provocation?
Picking a fight for no reason?
Especially when he remembered that he had just slapped Haotian and tens of thousands of Heavenly Soldiers to death...
"No, that's impossible!"
The sorrow on Jieyin's already troubled face deepened, and his voice was full of disbelief. "Who else in this world would dare offend Buddhism like this, besides the Heavenly Court and all of you?"
"Why wouldn't there be?"
Before Yuanshi Tianzun could answer, Taishang Laojun spoke from nearby in a quiet, distant voice. "Fellow Daoists Jieyin and Zhunti, could you have forgotten Junior Brother Tongtian? He hates you both quite a bit!"
"..."
Jieyin squeezed his eyes shut in anguish. He had considered that possibility, but now he would rather it were not true.
They were doomed!
What were they supposed to do now?
The Heavenly Court was already destroyed, and they had beaten Yuanshi Tianzun. Were they supposed to tell them now that they had made a mistake?
As if!
That old schemer Yuanshi would never let it go.
But just as Jieyin was at a loss, Yuanshi Tianzun took the initiative and offered him a way out.
"Fellow Daoist Jieyin, your Buddhism suffered considerable losses this time. For that reason, I won't hold you accountable!"
"But you'd better get one thing straight: find out who's damaging my reputation!"
"Understood?"
"This... Yes!"
Jieyin immediately understood what Yuanshi Tianzun meant. He gave a solemn assurance. "Senior Brother Yuanshi, don't worry. Whoever did this, I'll make sure they pay the price they deserve!"
"Good!"
Yuanshi Tianzun smiled with satisfaction. He exchanged a glance with Taishang Laojun, put away his magic treasure, and vanished into the chaos, leaving Jieyin and Zhunti staring at each other.
"Senior Brother, what do we do now?"
Zhunti irritably put away his magic treasure and gritted his teeth. "The Three Pure Ones were originally one. Even if that old fellow Tongtian really did this, I refuse to believe they knew nothing about it!"
"What does it matter whether they knew or not?"
A murderous glint flashed in Jieyin's eyes. "Whether they wanted to use us to teach Tongtian a lesson or truly knew nothing, it doesn't matter anymore."
"What matters is that Tongtian must pay the price!"
"That's right!"
Zhunti caught on as well. Buddhism had suffered such terrible losses this time; they had to find someone to take responsibility.
And Sect Leader Tongtian, shunned by the Three Pure Ones, was an obvious choice!
"Let's go!"
Having made up their minds, Jieyin and Zhunti didn't even bother returning to the Primordial World. They headed straight for Biyou Palace, murder in their hearts.
Unfortunately,
when they arrived at Biyou Palace, all that greeted them was an empty hall. Not a single bird or beast remained inside.
"Did he run away?"
"This..."
Staring at the empty Biyou Palace before them, Jieyin and Zhunti were both stunned. When had Sect Leader Tongtian become so cowardly?
Something was wrong!
Very, very wrong!
Before you continue