Boom!!!
Almost the instant Xuanming finished speaking, an aura so terrifying that it made the entire Journey to the West world tremble spread rapidly outward from Shituo Ridge.
"Taishang, Yuanshi, you—you've gone too far!"
With boundless killing intent flashing in his eyes, Tongtian could no longer worry about the consequences of being discovered. He began using his power to divine the truth.
He needed to make sure no one had deceived him.
The chances of that were slim, of course!
But he couldn't afford to let his guard down!
After all, the Three Pure Ones had always been united. They were wary not only of those two bastards in the West, but even of Dao Ancestor himself.
Unfortunately, even with his current strength as a Hunyuan Sage, he still found nothing after a long period of divination.
The heavenly secrets of this world had been thrown into complete chaos.
But from this, Tongtian confirmed one thing: someone was planning something. They wanted to conceal something so no one could see through it!
"Where is Kirin Cliff?"
After casually blasting away the thunderclouds high in the sky, Sect Leader Tongtian fixed a cool, unwavering gaze on Green Lion and White Elephant.
"W-We report to you, Master: Kirin Cliff is a forbidden place near Sage Yuanshi's dojo, Jade Void Palace..."
"Let's go!"
Sect Leader Tongtian's eyes flickered. The Four Immortal Slaying Swords quickly shielded the two men and three beasts as they headed toward the Jade Void Palace he remembered.
The instant Tongtian and the others left,
near Shituo Ridge,
terrifying divine senses swept across the entire ridge, but they still couldn't find anything unusual.
Spirit Mountain,
Great Hero Hall,
Buddha Tathagata, who sat high upon the lotus throne and had once been Daoist Duobao, wore a grim expression.
He had sensed a trace of something familiar in that aura just now.
But that couldn't be right!
Hadn't his Master been confined by Dao Ancestor? They said he wasn't allowed to set foot outside Biyou Palace without Dao Ancestor's permission.
What was going on?
Was it a misperception?
Tathagata forced down the unease in his heart, raised his smooth, bald head, and discreetly glanced at the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas gathered in the hall.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
"My Buddha!"
"There may be trouble around Shituo Ridge. Take a few people and go have a look, so Jin Chanzi and the others aren't held up."
"Yes!"
Guanyin, holding the Jade Pure Bottle, agreed.
She had also sensed that terrifying aura just now, but she didn't think it had anything to do with Buddhism.
Or rather,
she didn't believe there was anyone left in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths who couldn't read the situation and would dare oppose Buddhism, which was destined to flourish.
Meanwhile,
Lingxiao Hall,
as the nominal Lord of the Three Realms and once a child attendant of Dao Ancestor Hong Jun, the Jade Emperor had naturally sensed that aura as well.
At that moment, he was just as puzzled as Tathagata.
However,
ever since Dao Ancestor had become one with the Heavenly Dao, even the Jade Emperor, who had once been his attendant, had not been in contact with him for a long time.
So,
after yet another attempt to reach him failed, the Jade Emperor rose and went straight to Doushuai Palace, where he found Taishang Laojun still making pills.
"Your Majesty, go back!"
Taishang Laojun didn't even look up from the pills he was making. In a calm voice, he said, "The affairs of the Sages aren't something you can meddle in. Just take care of the matters in your own hands!"
"...Yes!"
The Jade Emperor bowed with his hands clasped. Though his heart was full of displeasure, he didn't dare show the slightest disrespect.
Who could blame him? This old immortal was an incarnation of Sage Taishang.
Although the Jade Emperor had been personally appointed Lord of the Three Realms by Dao Ancestor, and the Three Pure Ones had even greeted him first before that,
everything had changed after Dao Ancestor became one with the Heavenly Dao and the Three Pure Ones became Sages.
In front of the Sages, he, the Jade Emperor, was no better than an ant!
"Attaining Sagehood... It really is difficult!"
As he walked back, a complicated look crossed the Jade Emperor's eyes. If there had only been six Sages destined by Heaven, might he too have had a chance to glimpse that legendary realm?
If Tathagata, the Jade Emperor, and even Taishang Laojun were merely puzzled,
then inside Biyou Palace,
Tongtian, who had also sensed the terrifying aura coming from the Hong Huang Continent, felt as if his mind had stalled.
What was going on?
He had actually sensed a trace of himself on the Hong Huang Continent...
No, that wasn't it!
He had sensed a trace of his own origin aura on the Hong Huang Continent?
How was that possible?
Tongtian instinctively summoned the Four Immortal Slaying Swords. Feeling the constant tremors running through the blades, his expression grew grave.
"You mean... you sensed the aura of your kind too? A kind you've never met?"
"Does that make sense?"
"As one of the few Innate Supreme Treasures in all of Hong Huang, haven't you and your kind crossed paths before?"
"How could another of your kind have appeared?"
"What?"
"Your kind is also an Innate Supreme Treasure made up of several swords, just like you? Are you sure you haven't sensed it wrong?"
Outside Jade Void Palace,
Kirin Cliff,
almost as soon as Tongtian and the others arrived, Yuanshi Tianzun opened his eyes inside Jade Void Palace.
But he didn't do anything.
Actually, that wasn't quite right!
At that moment, he was exchanging thoughts with Taishang Laojun, who was who knew where!
Yuanshi Tianzun: "Eldest Brother, Third Brother has escaped? Didn't Dao Ancestor say back then that he couldn't leave Biyou Palace again?"
Taishang Laojun: "Do you intend to meddle in Dao Ancestor's affairs?"
Yuanshi Tianzun: "That's not it, but he's at my Jade Void Palace now. Could you come help me out first?"
Taishang Laojun: "He wouldn't dare attack. If he did, Dao Ancestor wouldn't let him off!"
Yuanshi Tianzun: "Didn't you say the same thing back then?"
Taishang Laojun: "...Let's wait and see. If he really attacks, I'll call Fellow Daoist Zhunti over too."
Yuanshi Tianzun: "Then you two... Hm? Wait!"
Noticing that Sect Leader Tongtian had stopped outside Kirin Cliff, Yuanshi Tianzun furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment. Then he relaxed and said, "It looks like Third Brother came to rescue his disciple. What do you think? Should we let him?"
Taishang Laojun: "You go first?"
Yuanshi Tianzun fell silent for a moment. "Forget it. We're still brothers, after all. If he wants to save her, let him."
Taishang Laojun: "I think so too. Those two fellows in the West have been getting a little carried away. It wouldn't hurt to let Third Brother put some pressure on them!"
Yuanshi Tianzun: "Fine!"
Once Taishang and Yuanshi had reached an understanding, their exchange of thoughts ended, and everything fell quiet.
But Xuanming clearly had no idea what was going on.
His forehead was already sweating.
As he followed Sect Leader Tongtian to the foot of Kirin Cliff and found his 'Master,' Yunxiao, who had been trapped there for who knew how long, he tried earnestly to persuade Sect Leader Tongtian:
"Grandmaster, please take it easy! If we get surrounded, you might be able to escape, but my little body won't hold up!"
Before you continue