But the laws of karma governing the Great Dao of the Primordial World were not for the Sages to dictate. Especially when beings of their level were involved, the laws of the Heavenly Dao would operate on their own.
If Jieyin and Zhunti truly washed their hands of the matter and let the demonic energy continue spreading across the Western Ox-He Continent, a portion of every karmic debt it incurred would fall upon the Heavenly Court and Yellow Dragon's group of three.
If that debt remained unpaid, the Western Sect could invoke it against them at any time.
And as the demonic energy continued to resurge, that karmic debt would only grow,
like a snowball rolling down a mountain, swelling ever larger until it finally destroyed the very foundations of their Great Dao.
Yellow Dragon fell silent.
Duobao fell silent.
Xuandu fell silent as well.
Haotian's face paled slightly, while Jade Pool's Plain Cloud Realm Banner fluttered softly in the wind.
They all understood the intent behind Jieyin's words.
He was retreating to advance.
If Yellow Dragon and the others simply left, not only would they owe a karmic debt to the Western Ox-He Continent, but people throughout the Primordial World would condemn them afterward... The Heavenly Court had reopened the Heavenly Gate and triggered an eruption of demonic energy, then walked away, leaving two Sages alone to face a devastated land.
If that blame spread, what dignity would the Heavenly Court have left? What dignity would the Three Pure Ones have left?
Yellow Dragon raised his head and glanced at the Bodhi Tree beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.
The Bodhi Tree's branches and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, the Dao patterns inscribed on every leaf radiating a faint spiritual glow.
Its crown shaded nearly half the poolside,