Fang Yang accepted the decree, his heart surging with excitement.
Sect Master Tongtian had acted so quickly. His haste sent a clear signal: he truly intended to transfer the authority in Daoist Duobao's hands to Fang Yang.
As himself, Sect Master Tongtian doted greatly on Daoist Duobao. But as the leader of the Interception Sect, he could set that affection aside.
Public matters were public, and private matters were private. Sect Master Tongtian knew how to keep them separate.
"The Three Sects are joining forces to spread the Dao? Teacher actually gave such an order?"
Taking the decree, True Lord Qian Yao sprang to his feet, his face full of shock.
The other eight True Lords also looked stunned, clearly not expecting Sect Master Tongtian to make such a decision.
Everyone knew the Chan and Jie Sects had long been at odds. Their disciples kept up a show of harmony while harboring resentment in their hearts. Now they were to join forces to spread the Dao—this was unheard of.
Looking at their astonished expressions, Fang Yang smiled. "Master and my two Senior Uncles are brothers. What do their disciples' squabbles have to do with them?"
He had never believed that the attitudes of Saint Disciples could affect how the Saints treated others.
Beneath the Saints, all were ants.
That was an ironclad rule in the Primordial Wilderness. The disciples' rivalries and sectarian prejudices were no more than children squabbling in the eyes of the Three Pure Ones. They could never shake the foundation that the Three Sects shared the same origin.
Guangchengzi, however, had never understood this. He believed that Primordial Heavenly Venerate's dislike of the Interception Sect was his own doing. Little did he know that, in a Saint's eyes, his little schemes were like children playing house.
True Lord Li Yao sighed softly and picked up the thread, his tone tinged with understanding.
"Teacher and his two elder brothers are one. The Three Sects have always been one family. The Chan and Jie Sects' past opposition was nothing but us disciples taking matters into our own hands."
True Lord Qian Yao's expression shifted several times before he gave a bitter smile. "So that's how it is... We thought the Second Uncle-Master's attitude was behind the Chan Sect looking down on our Interception Sect origins. Now I see we were judging the whole by one part."
"Exactly." Fang Yang gently rubbed his fingertips together as Dao Charm flowed around him.
"To the Saints, all things are ants. The Saints of Orthodox Pangu see all things as Pangu. They don't despise living beings because of their outward appearances. The so-called Furred and Horned, Born from Wetness and Eggs in my Second Uncle-Master's eyes are demons and monsters who bear the name of immortals but lack the substance."
"It isn't the ones with fur and horns on the outside who are truly Furred and Horned. It's those who are so on the inside."
"Daoist Duobao was obsessed with authority, while Guangchengzi was obsessed with origins. They seemed different, but in truth, both were Furred and Horned, Born from Wetness and Eggs."
At Fang Yang's definition of Furred and Horned, Born from Wetness and Eggs, silence fell over Observing Heaven Hall. Everyone was deeply shaken. His words had awakened them as if from a dream.
Indeed—why should the Interception Sect be called Furred and Horned, Born from Wetness and Eggs, while the Chan Sect could consider itself superior and claim to be a sect of True Immortals of Fortune and Virtue?
If the Interception Sect's disciples were Furred and Horned, Born from Wetness and Eggs, then so were the Chan Sect's.
The Three Sects were one family, after all. If one sect was Furred and Horned, then all three were.
"Enough. Let's set the other matters aside for now. The most urgent thing is to carry out Master's decree. Everyone, come with me to Shouyang Mountain to meet up with the Human and Chan Sects."
With that, Fang Yang swept his sleeve, and the doors of Observing Heaven Hall swung open with a thunderous crash.
The fifteen of them set off in a grand procession for Shouyang Mountain.
Now that he had his own following, Fang Yang, a Core Disciple, finally had a little more presence.
At that moment, atop Shouyang Mountain, Saint Taiqing sat in the Eight Sceneries Palace, with Primordial Heavenly Venerate seated quietly beside him.
Watching Fang Yang and his party race across the sea of clouds, the two Saints exchanged smiles, their eyes filled with approval.
Sect Master Tongtian's voice rang out as he appeared silently beside the two Saints. "My two elder brothers, this disciple of mine has never disappointed me."
Fang Yang and his party soon reached the summit of Shouyang Mountain. From a distance, they saw Grand Master Xuandu, Daoist Cihang, Venerable Manjushri, and True Man Samantabhadra waiting respectfully. When they saw Fang Yang arrive, all four bowed in greeting, without the slightest trace of the arrogance expected of top Chan Sect disciples.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Fang Yang!"
Fang Yang hurriedly returned the greeting and laughed aloud. "No need for formalities, fellow Daoists. We are all disciples of the Mystic Gate—why distinguish between us? Now that everyone is here, let's go pay our respects to Senior Brother Xuandu."
Grand Master Xuandu was a gentleman as warm and refined as jade. Seeing Fang Yang's modest courtesy, he immediately gestured for him to enter, his smile gentle.
"Junior Brother Fang Yang, our three teachers have already set the general guidelines. The five of us will discuss the remaining details with you. There's no need for formalities."
Fang Yang nodded in understanding and went straight to the cloud-patterned stone table that had been prepared. He began discussing matters with the Core Disciples of the Human and Chan Sects.
"Since that's settled, I'll be brief." Fang Yang tapped the air with a fingertip, and a pale golden Dao map unfurled, showing the distribution of the Myriad Races of the Primordial Era and the routes for spreading the Dao.
"The Method of Seeding Epidemics passed down by Master is the core of our mission. We won't force anyone to convert. Instead, we'll win over the Myriad Races through life, resources, and security."
Daoist Cihang spoke first, his tone humble.
"Junior Brother Fang Yang is quite right. Our Chan Sect can take responsibility for expounding the Great Dao Law and Reason, calming the people's minds, rectifying their views, and clarifying moral principles."
Venerable Manjushri nodded in agreement.
"The Human Clan is the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth. We can begin with the Human Clan tribes in the Eastern Wasteland and have the Three Sects spread the Dao in three different regions."
Grand Master Xuandu nodded gently, the Human Sect's effortless bearing on full display. "Our Human Sect excels at farming and the Method of Settling Down. We can teach the Human Clan to build cities, cultivate land, and control floods. With Divine Grain and Spiritual Vegetables, we can first help the Myriad Races survive, then speak of cultivating the Dao."
Seeing everyone contribute ideas in perfect harmony, Fang Yang felt reassured.
The disciples who had gathered here were probably the ones with the broadest vision in their respective Sects.
With this group working together, their efforts to spread the Dao were sure to succeed.
"What you three have said goes right to the heart of the matter."
Fang Yang's voice rang out with force, each sentence hitting the mark.
"The Human Clan is the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth. It has the greatest fortune and the purest nature, making it the Three Sects' first choice for spreading the Dao."
"The Three Sects will each fulfill their own role while supporting one another. Through tangible benefits, we'll encourage the Myriad Races to draw near to the Mystic Gate Great Dao of their own accord."
True Man Samantabhadra formed a hand seal and replied warmly. "Junior Brother has considered everything thoroughly. We wholeheartedly agree. Over time, the Myriad Races will naturally turn their hearts toward the orthodox path."
Inside the Eight Sceneries Palace, the Three Pure Ones sat on their cloud beds, watching the disciples of the Three Sects work together in harmony. Relief showed on every face.
Sect Master Tongtian chuckled as the Qingping Sword trembled faintly. "My two elder brothers, it seems these juniors really can fulfill our long-held wish of uniting the Three Sects as One Family."
Saint Taiqing nodded. "These disciples are devoted to the righteous path, upright and honorable. They are a blessing for the Mystic Gate."
All the chill had faded from Primordial Heavenly Venerate's eyes, leaving only warmth. "In the past, the disciples under my sect were too attached to their grudges. With these disciples here, perhaps the Old Grudges between Chan and Jie will finally vanish."
Fang Yang knew nothing of the Saints' appraisal. His path, however, had only just begun.
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