Gungun wanted to drag Ran Deng down from his position as Deputy Cult Leader of the Expounding Teaching and push Nine Li into his place. That being the case, how could he let Nine Li actually lose?
So the best outcome was for the Three Xiao Sisters and Nine Li to fight to a draw, while Ran Deng, the Twelve Golden Immortals, and the others... well, you understood. Only then would Tongtian be satisfied and Yuanshi still be able to accept it. As for Gungun himself, of course he would be very satisfied.
At that thought, Gungun frowned, pretending to be troubled. After a long silence, he told them, "Never mind. Just don't lose. Among the disciples of the Expounding Teaching, Ran Deng may be the Deputy Cult Leader, but he's an old good-for-nothing whom the younger generation has already overtaken. Nine Li is the strongest. As long as you don't lose to Nine Li, you'll have won the Shangqing Saint all the honor he could ask for. Do you understand?" (Gungun deliberately left out the matter of Immortal Elder Antarctic.)
The Three Xiao Sisters took in Gungun's words and nodded. "Yes, we understand, Your Majesty."
"Good. Oh, one more thing. If Nine Li cannot defeat you, that will mark the Expounding Teaching's defeat. When that happens, I'll send Yinglong to bring you back to the Heavenly Court and draw this affair to a close. Keep that in mind."
The Three Xiao Sisters nodded again.
Gungun had nothing more to remind them of. Having finished speaking, he waved them away, signaling for them to make their preparations. They could descend to the mortal realm shortly.
The Three Xiao Sisters bowed and withdrew.
Half a month later, by the reckoning of time on earth.
Deng Jiugong and Deng Chanyu were