Master Tongtian paid no attention to Hong Ze's expression. With a flash, he returned to Biyou Palace.
Hong Ze was left standing there, staring helplessly. After all, there was nothing he could do about his master.
Master Tongtian's return to Golden Turtle Island had already alerted the many Jie Sect disciples on the island.
After all, wherever a Saint went, there were towering rosy clouds and thousands of auspicious clouds. The commotion was anything but small.
Thus, the Jie Sect disciples were waiting outside Biyou Palace, hoping to see Master Tongtian shortly.
Yet after waiting and waiting, all they received was a decree from Master Tongtian stating that Hong Ze would continue to manage the Jie Sect on his behalf.
Duobao Daoren had intended to use this opportunity to report Hong Ze to Master Tongtian.
He wanted to say that Hong Ze had been far too ruthless toward his fellow disciples, directly crippling Pi Lu Xian's entire cultivation.
He hoped Master Tongtian would punish Hong Ze severely over this matter, giving him the chance to become the Jie Sect's Eldest Senior Brother.
But now, Master Tongtian had returned to Golden Turtle Island for over half a month, yet had remained in Hong Ze's place the entire time.
Then he had entered secluded cultivation for a thousand years, giving them no chance to meet him, much less report Hong Ze behind his back.
More importantly, even if Duobao Daoren were allowed to see Master Tongtian now, he might not dare report Hong Ze anymore.
Now that Biyou Palace had been sealed with a Saint Restriction, Duobao Daoren and the others naturally had no reason to remain.
One after another, they returned to their Cave Dwellings with their heads hanging low, deeply unwilling and secretly resentful of their master for favoring Hong Ze.
Unfortunately, they only dared to complain inwardly. Not a trace of it showed on their faces.
After Duobao Daoren returned to his cave dwelling, he ordered Pi Lu Xian and Chang Er Ding Guang Xian to summon the Jie Sect disciples under his instruction to his cave dwelling.
Seeing that the junior brothers before him had all improved in cultivation, Duobao Daoren could not help but smile.
"Have any of you encountered anything you do not understand in your cultivation recently?"
As soon as Duobao Daoren finished speaking, a disciple stepped forward. "Eldest Senior Brother, although the Shangqing Dream Realm has improved our cultivation,
I have found that it is completely incompatible with the Shangqing Immortal Art. Could it be that something went wrong in my cultivation, causing this problem?"
As soon as this Jie Sect disciple finished speaking, the other Jie Sect disciples all said they had encountered the same issue.
Duobao Daoren could not help looking toward Pi Lu Xian beside him. After all, Pi Lu Xian had given him the Great Dream Sutra.
Pi Lu Xian was well aware of his own place. He immediately stood and spoke.
"Eldest Senior Brother had long anticipated that you would encounter this problem, which is why he summoned you here today.
"The Shangqing Dream Realm is a secret art that Eldest Senior Brother comprehended only after ten thousand years of enlightenment.
"It cultivates the state of mind and the soul, unlike the Shangqing Immortal Art.
"To put it plainly, the two follow entirely different paths, so they naturally seem incompatible.
"Therefore, you need not worry. Simply focus on cultivating the Shangqing Dream Realm. Of course, you must not neglect the Shangqing Immortal Art either."
Hearing Pi Lu Xian's explanation, the Jie Sect disciples nodded one after another. After all, they also knew how crucial one's state of mind was to a cultivator.
Duobao Daoren was highly satisfied with Pi Lu Xian's explanation and secretly nodded.
At that moment, Chang Er Ding Guang Xian stepped forward and spoke directly to everyone.
"The Shangqing Dream Realm was not passed down by Master. By rights, Senior Brother Duo Bao should not have taught it to you.
"After all, if Master learns of this, Senior Brother Duo Bao will inevitably be reprimanded for overstepping his authority.
"The task of managing the Jie Sect and preaching in Master's stead belongs to Eldest Senior Brother, not Senior Brother Duo Bao.
"Therefore, you must remember this well: you must never mention to anyone else that Senior Brother Duo Bao taught you the Shangqing Dream Realm."
Chang Er Ding Guang Xian was truly a qualified subordinate. In just a few words, he not only achieved his goal but also elevated Duobao Daoren.
Now, all the Jie Sect disciples believed that Duobao Daoren had risked being punished by Master just to teach them the Shangqing Dream Realm.
They could not help feeling even more grateful toward Duobao Daoren, and his image in their hearts was magnified once more.
Seeing how capable his right-hand men were, Duobao Daoren was overjoyed.
He immediately said, "I taught you the Shangqing Dream Realm not to compete with Eldest Senior Brother, but for the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly.
"Therefore, you must cultivate diligently and strive to bring glory to our Jie Sect and to Master at the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly.
"If Master is pleased then, he may even bestow Innate Spiritual Treasures upon you.
"I once heard Master say that there may be more than five Direct Disciples. Outstanding individuals will be selected from among you to enter Master's direct lineage.
"Whether you can seize this opportunity depends on how hard you work. This is all I can do for you."
Hearing that they had a chance to become Master Tongtian's Direct Disciples, the Jie Sect disciples could not help feeling excited.
Each of them secretly resolved that they absolutely could not miss this opportunity, nor could they disappoint Senior Brother Duo Bao, who had considered them so carefully.
They immediately stood together and promised Duobao Daoren that they would cultivate diligently and would not bring shame upon him.
Only then did they return to their respective Cave Dwellings to cultivate in earnest.
After dismissing everyone, Chang Er Ding Guang Xian spoke to Duobao Daoren.
"Senior Brother Duo Bao, Master is becoming increasingly partial toward Hong Ze. We cannot afford not to make preparations early."
"What preparations? Could you possibly change Master's mind and make him distance himself from Hong Ze?"
Duobao Daoren looked at Chang Er Ding Guang Xian before him and spoke irritably.
Yet Chang Er Ding Guang Xian smiled and whispered something into Duobao Daoren's ear.
After hearing it, Duobao Daoren could not help but smile as well.
"This is indeed a plan that kills two birds with one stone. Not only can it make him lose face, but it will also make Master lose face because of him.
"In that case, Master's impression of him will surely change. If he still wants to sit in the position of the Jie Sect's Eldest Senior Brother, he will likely no longer be qualified."
Chang Er Ding Guang Xian nodded. "But before that, we must find a way to probe Hong Ze's true capabilities.
"Otherwise, if Hong Ze produces some unexpected treasure again when the time comes, we will truly be put on the defensive."
Duobao Daoren nodded again. "Then who do you think can go and probe him?"
"Senior Brother Duo Bao naturally cannot, but Pi Lu Xian and I may be able to.
"Pi Lu Xian and I offended him over the previous matter. We can use the opportunity of apologizing to him to thoroughly probe his true capabilities."
Pi Lu Xian, who stood to one side, nodded repeatedly as well. "In order to bring him down, even if I, Pi Lu Xian, must kneel before him and kowtow to admit my mistake, I will have no complaints."
Duobao Daoren nodded after hearing this. "Then I will have to trouble you two junior brothers."
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