Chapter 41

"Fellow Daoists, are you threatening my junior brother and me?" Jieyin said coldly. "My junior brother and I have cultivated the Dao to this day. We are not soft persimmons for others to squeeze as they please."

Zhunti promptly beat his chest and stomped his feet. "My junior brother and I have poured our hearts and souls into restoring the West. My disciple merely showed a little kindness, yet he suffered such humiliation! Why not ask the Dao Ancestor to judge this matter? Are Western cultivators simply meant to be bullied by fellow Daoists?"

"What a silver tongue!" Yuqing sneered.

"Advancing the tribulation is the duty of Sages. Even if we stand before the Dao Ancestor, reason would still be on our side. Stop making a scene here!"

The Yuqing Immortal Light around him surged, and he clearly prepared to strike. Taiching also produced the Taiji Diagram, his stance exceedingly forceful.

The three-against-two situation had already been clear.

Then a soft laugh rang out—

Shangqing gracefully retreated to one side. "This time, I shall help neither side. My two elder brothers, please proceed as you wish."

At those words, everyone's gaze snapped toward him!

Tongtian had actually chosen to stand aside?

"The Three Pure Ones have already ** to this extent?"

As Lu Tian pondered inwardly, Tongtian's voice sounded.

"Heavenly Dao leaves behind a thread of life. This tribulation of the human race should be resolved by Lu Tian and the West. It is not convenient for me to interfere."

So that was it!

Lu Tian understood at once.

Though the Three Pure Ones had their discord, it had not reached the point of **—Tongtian's willingness to accompany Dao De Tianzun and Yuanshi to Two Realms Mountain was proof enough. He had refrained from acting this time only because Lu Tian's actions aligned with his Dao. If he forcibly intervened, he would instead sever the human race's chance of survival, violating the fundamental creed of the Jie Teachings: seizing a chance from Heaven!

Sages valued their dignity above all else.

Even when they clashed, it was merely because their positions differed and their interests conflicted.

The longstanding feud between the Three Pure Ones and Jieyin and Zhunti stemmed from the divide between the Eastern and Western camps:

The Three Pure Ones protected the Eastern Mystical Sect, while Jieyin and Zhunti guarded the Western Pure Land.

This was the difference in their camps.

The fortunes of living beings in East and West differed—

Jieyin and Zhunti sought the prosperity of the West, while the Three Pure Ones likewise planned for the East.

This was the difference in their positions.

Because their positions differed, their interests naturally clashed!

Jieyin and Zhunti saw the human race's extraordinary potential and wished to forcibly keep them to strengthen the West;

Because the Human Teachings' destiny was tied to the human race, Dao De Tianzun knew relocating them westward would damage his foundation. Thus, he abandoned his detached manner and revealed his sharp edge;

Tongtian, however, placed his Dao heart above all else, with the gains and losses of the human race's destiny remaining secondary;

Yuanshi Tianzun stood opposed to Western Teachings and also needed to support his elder brother, so naturally he gave his full assistance.

** evil paths and orthodox Mystical Sects

Were merely different methods.

If Jieyin and Zhunti possessed the foundation of the Three Pure Ones, why would they need to resort to such scheming?

Who would willingly crawl about sipping muddy water if they could hold a jade cup and drink fine nectar?

The four Sages faced off in the sky,

And the already devastated lands of the West suffered another calamity—

Beyond Spirit Mountain, Earth Veins erupted and fierce winds tore apart the heavens!

Seeing that Dao De Tianzun refused to yield an inch, Jieyin and Zhunti knew battle was unavoidable. They immediately put away their harmonious act as Sage's Might erupted around them!

A clash of Sages was about to erupt at any moment!

Even though their combined strength was slightly inferior to Dao De Tianzun and Yuanshi Tianzun, Jieyin and Zhunti remained confident that they could restrain the two.

So long as Tongtian did not intervene, Lu Tian could seize the chance to settle the entire human race properly and completely secure the situation.

Dao De Tianzun had long seen through their calculations.

Jieyin and Zhunti had already become thoroughly adept at such shameless tactics of causing trouble and acting before reporting it.

Seeing how resolute they were, Dao De Tianzun knew it would be difficult to take away the human race today—unless he asked the Dao Ancestor to decide the matter.

However...

The Dao Ancestor would most likely not interfere. The Karma tied to the West was too extensive, and the Dao Ancestor still needed to support the Western powers!

At that thought, a cold gleam appeared in Dao De Tianzun's eyes.

The lives of a million mortals were no more than ants to him.

The births and deaths of the human race in the Primordial World cycled like the changing seasons.

The only thing he cared about was destiny!

If the matter were not so important, such a thought, one that damaged a Sage's dignity, would never have arisen.

Since they could not reach an agreement, Dao De Tianzun spoke with a voice as cold as iron. "Then let us discuss the Dao beyond the heavens."

When his Divine Sense swept over Tongtian and Lu Tian's flying boat, his gaze darkened further.

Tongtian silently stepped half a pace back and gave his eldest brother a faint smile.

Discord between brothers was secondary.

Remaining true to one's Dao was the true heart of a Sage.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged smiles.

When it came to despicable methods, the Two Sages of the West were the foremost experts. How could they fail to recognize Dao De Tianzun's intentions?

Precisely because of this, they had to keep the human race firmly in the West.

"Senior brother, why be angry?" Zhunti suddenly clapped and laughed. "This matter has already been reported to the Dao Ancestor. We need only await his decree."

"Why not visit the Western Pure Land and discuss the great Dao of the Mystical Sect together? Observing the arrangements of Eight Sceneries Palace last time benefited me greatly..."

Dao De Tianzun's fingers trembled faintly inside his sleeve.

Reporting first to the Dao Ancestor, then inviting the Three Pure Ones into the West to discuss the Dao—what a vicious scheme aimed at the heart!

On the flying boat, Lu Tian lowered his head to hide his smile.

His master's move was truly exquisite.

"The Western lands likely cannot bear the destiny of the three of us. We shall not be going!"

Dao De Tianzun snorted coldly, nearly unable to maintain his Sage-like bearing and almost bursting into curses.

That Zhunti was truly hateful!

When had he reported this to the Dao Ancestor? Dao De Tianzun had not even noticed!

"Western Teachings should devote themselves to cultivation. Do not become obsessed with heterodox paths."

Still unable to quell his anger, Dao De Tianzun spoke again.

His implication could not have been clearer—

If they had any skill, they should cultivate properly instead of spending their days studying tricks like tattling!

Zhunti answered with a beaming smile, as though he did not understand at all. "Senior brother's lesson is correct. But the West is barren and cannot compare with the East. We can only follow a few minor side paths. Please forgive the laughter we have caused you."

That mouth of his could truly anger someone to death.

Just as Yuanshi Tianzun was about to rebuke him, a beam of golden light suddenly descended from the Thirty-Third Heaven!

All five Sages were startled. They hurriedly stepped back and bowed. "Greetings, Master!"

Lu Tian did not dare be careless either. He quickly followed his own masters in saluting. "Greetings, Dao Ancestor!"

The golden light withdrew and transformed into a decree—

"You are all Sages of the Heavenly Dao. With the slightest movement of your hands, heaven and earth collapse. If you fight at every turn, where does that leave the countless living beings of the Primordial World?"

"Return to your respective abodes. For three thousand years, none of you may take even half a step outside!"

Dao De Tianzun's expression darkened further.

Three thousand years of confinement was nothing, merely standing still for a brief moment.

But the Dao Ancestor's attitude was already clear—everyone was to return home. Would that not mean the human race would be taken away by the West?

His expression shifted repeatedly, but in the end, he said nothing more.

At that moment, Dao De Tianzun suddenly thought—

If the Dao Ancestor's punishment had disadvantaged Jieyin and Zhunti, they would likely have already wailed about the West's hardships and begged for leniency...

He simply could not bring himself to do such a thing.

The five Sages could only answer in unison, "We respectfully obey the Dao Ancestor's decree!"

At once—

Dao De Tianzun and Yuanshi Tianzun looked grim.

Jieyin, Zhunti, and Tongtian Jiaozhu, however, appeared delighted.

Jieyin and Zhunti rejoiced because they had gained greatly.

Tongtian Jiaozhu was satisfied because his own great Dao had been upheld.

Dao De Tianzun glared at Lu Tian, then immediately returned east with Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu.

They arrived at Kunlun Mountain in an instant.

Dao De Tianzun's face grew even colder as he shouted sternly, "Third brother! We asked you to assist us this time, so why did you instead bolster the others' arrogance? Where does that leave your elder brothers?"

Yuanshi Tianzun also rebuked him. "Third brother! Even if we brothers have disputes, you should not side with outsiders!"

Tongtian's previously passable expression immediately darkened.

"When did I ever side with them?"

"That is the Dao I uphold. How could I destroy my Saint position and abandon my Dao to recultivate over such trivial matters?"

"Do my two elder brothers not know the backlash of defying one's teachings?"

"If I truly wished to help them, why would I remain neutral? I would have long since taken up arms against you both!"

"Heavenly Dao always leaves a thread of hope. This time, it was even decreed by the Dao Ancestor. If my elder brothers insist on holding me accountable, then go to the Purple Cloud Palace yourselves and ask the Dao Ancestor for judgment!"

Tongtian flicked his sleeve, and a great formation suddenly blazed outside Biyou Palace. He actually confined himself within the hall.

"Do not forget the Dao Ancestor's punishment of three thousand years' confinement!"

At those words, Dao De Tianzun and Yuanshi Tianzun turned livid. Each flicked his sleeve and returned to his mountain, closing himself away to reflect on his faults as well.

Within the Western Pure Land, Jieyin rubbed the jade bottle between his fingers. A bloody glimmer flickered within it.

"The Demon Race Heavenly Court is planning something enormous..."

"The essence, blood, and vitality of the human race are actually worth such elaborate efforts?"

Lu Tian stood with his head lowered. "This disciple is ** and can only sense that this may be connected to the Witch Clan."

Naturally, he concealed the secret of the Witch Slaying Sword—some Karma would become a calamity if revealed too early.

Zhunti clapped and laughed. "Good! A single trip to the Heavenly Court was enough for you to glimpse the hidden truth."

"This ability to see the whole from the smallest detail was something your master gained only after enduring countless tribulations."

Jieyin, however, unfolded the invitation in the air, and hidden Demon Race patterns appeared amid its glazed light.

"There is a second layer to Di Jun's scheme behind this invitation."

"He is using you to spread throughout the Primordial World the news that the Demon Race Imperial Son will soon be born."

"If my guess is correct, Di Jun and Taiyi will act in secret on the day the Imperial Son is born, when the attention of all living beings is focused on the Heavenly Court."

"They will likely use this essence blood and these souls that day."

"This... could it be meant to refine some kind of treasure?"

Jieyin laid out his reasoning while continuing to speculate.

"To slaughter the human race on such a massive scale and collect vast quantities of essence blood and souls..."

"Though the human race is weak, excessive slaughter will inevitably bring down monstrous Karmic Debt. Heavenly punishment cannot be avoided."

"The birth of the Imperial Son will be a grand event for the Heavenly Court. Its destiny will surely boil over then."

"If they invite experts from all directions to the feast, that destiny will become even more blazing, like oil poured onto a fire."

"They intend to use the destiny of the Imperial Son and the Heavenly Court to ** their Karmic Debt and deceive everyone."

Lu Tian deeply agreed.

Di Jun truly deserved to be the ruler of the Heavenly Court. His calculations were profound, his arrangements meticulous, each link fitting perfectly with the next.

His master's deduction was not wrong in the slightest!

Only he knew that the Demon Race was refining the Witch Slaying Sword!

Yet he had not considered matters so deeply before.

In the end, it still came down to one thing—

Lu Tian still had much to learn.

With the foreknowledge of a transmigrator and a fortunate coincidence, he had caught a glimpse of the Demon Race's slaughter of the human race.

Yet Jieyin could peel back the layers and deduce the Heavenly Court's entire plan.

"Your destiny... truly defies the heavens!"

"You casually bestowed kindness upon the human race, yet stumbled upon the secret of the Demon Race slaughtering humans."

As Lu Tian reflected inwardly, Jieyin and Zhunti were also marveling.

Their ** possessed destiny that truly surpassed all of the Primordial World!

Since his foundation had been completed, his destiny had become ever more immense, almost comparable to the bearing of the Eastern Sages before they attained the Dao!

"It was indeed luck..."

Lu Tian smiled modestly.

In an instant, the master and two disciples exchanged smiles.

Now that Lu Tian had discovered the Heavenly Court's secret scheme, they could naturally profit from it!

"Since Di Jun dared scheme against you, we shall return the favor."

As the laughter faded, Jieyin's gaze turned cold.

"Di Jun wishes to use the birth of his Imperial Son and its destiny to conceal the phenomena from refining the treasure. That Imperial Son must then bear the backlash of the treasure's Karmic Debt."

"He is making a desperate gamble!"

"He is gambling that the treasure's power will be heaven-shaking, allowing it to crush the Witch Clan in one stroke, causing the Heavenly Court's destiny to surge and then nourish his son in return."

"We might as well begin with his Imperial Son, find a way to trigger the Karmic Debt, and turn the tables on him."