Seeing Master Tongtian shake his head at them, Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun could not help but frown.
At that moment, Master Tongtian spoke to Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun with a helpless expression.
"I fear that even if I wished to yield the position of the Celestial Sovereign's teacher to Second Senior Brother, it is already too late.
More than ten years ago, Hong Ze returned to the human race to visit family and brought Jin Ling, Wu Dang, and Gui Ling along with him.
They now reside in the Hua Xu Tribe and have become close friends with Hua Xu, the human mother into whom Fuxi was reincarnated.
So even if Second Senior Brother sends disciples down the mountain now, Fuxi's human mother may not agree to let him become a disciple of one of Second Senior Brother's followers."
Yuanshi Tianzun's face immediately darkened upon hearing this. He snorted coldly and said,
"So what Third Junior Brother means is that there is no need for me to waste my effort? Because the position of the Celestial Sovereign's teacher already belongs to your Jie Sect?"
Master Tongtian had not expected Yuanshi Tianzun's expression to turn so ugly so suddenly.
Although Master Tongtian respected Yuanshi Tianzun as his elder brother, that did not mean he had no temper of his own. After all, he too was a Saint.
The smile on Master Tongtian's face vanished at once, replaced by utter expressionlessness.
He said to Yuanshi Tianzun, "If Second Senior Brother insists on seeing it that way, then there is nothing I can do."
This only made Yuanshi Tianzun even angrier. He immediately turned to Laozi beside him and said,
"Eldest Senior Brother, if I remember correctly, the three of us made an agreement back then.
Now that Third Junior Brother has openly violated that agreement, how do you think this matter should be handled?"
Yuanshi Tianzun knew perfectly well that Laozi would stand on the same side as him, which was why he asked Laozi.
As expected, Laozi did not disappoint Yuanshi Tianzun. He directly said to Master Tongtian,
"Third Junior Brother, it is not that I am favoring your Second Senior Brother. It is simply that what you did was indeed improper.
Since the three of us made an agreement beforehand, everything must be handled according to it.
By sending your followers to the Hua Xu Tribe ahead of time, you have broken faith.
Therefore, I believe that Third Junior Brother should recall his disciples, after which Second Junior Brother may send someone to teach the Celestial Sovereign."
Seeing his two senior brothers speaking with one voice, Master Tongtian grew even more furious.
He directly said to Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun, "Since you two senior brothers insist on this, then let this matter develop as it will.
Eldest Senior Brother may send Grand Master Xuandu to the Hua Xu Tribe, and Second Senior Brother may also send disciples from his sect.
Then we shall settle it by strength. Whoever overwhelms the others shall become the teacher of the Celestial Sovereign, Fuxi."
The moment Master Tongtian said this, Yuanshi Tianzun agreed without even pausing to think.
He added, "The Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, held once every thousand years, is only a hundred years away.
Why not use the birth of the Celestial Sovereign Fuxi as an opportunity to hold the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly ahead of schedule?
That way, the disciples of our three sects can exchange teachings with one another, while we also select the Celestial Sovereign's teacher."
Laozi beside them naturally nodded in agreement. "I also think this is a good idea.
It will be a fine opportunity to let the human race witness the abilities of our three sects' disciples."
Master Tongtian naturally had no hesitation. After all, he had seven Great Luo Golden Immortals under his command, as well as a mysterious and unfathomable eldest Direct Disciple.
Master Tongtian immediately nodded. "Since you two senior brothers think it feasible, I naturally have no objection."
Afterward, the three exchanged a few more polite remarks and agreed to meet at the Hua Xu Tribe in half a month. Master Tongtian then took his leave from Kunlun Mountain Jade Void Palace.
After seeing Master Tongtian off, Yuanshi Tianzun could not help revealing a faint, disdainful smile.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Third Junior Brother's disciples are all those born from fur, horns, moisture, and eggs.
This is the perfect chance to help Third Junior Brother sort through his disciples, lest such a mixed crowd damage the Jie Sect Luck."
Laozi nodded without hesitation. "Third Junior Brother accepts disciples without regard for their character. That truly will invite great trouble.
Since you and I are his senior brothers, we cannot fail to consider his welfare. As for how this Dao Discussion Assembly should be conducted, I will leave it entirely to Second Junior Brother."
With that, Laozi bid Yuanshi Tianzun farewell as well. Mounting his Plate Horned Ox, he returned directly to Eight Scenery Palace on Shouyang Mountain.
After returning to Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island, Master Tongtian became more and more enraged the more he thought about it.
After all, Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun had been far too obvious in acting in concert.
Thus, Master Tongtian had no intention of holding back this time. He intended to prove everything with his own strength.
He immediately ordered Water Fire Boy to strike the Fish Drum at Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island.
This Fish Drum was the token Master Tongtian used to gather the immortals of the Jie Sect. Once it sounded, every Jie Sect disciple would set aside whatever they were doing and rush at once to Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island.
Ordinarily, Master Tongtian only ordered the Fish Drum struck when he was about to expound supreme wondrous teachings.
Therefore, when the Fish Drum sounded now, the Jie Sect disciples all assumed that Master Tongtian was going to expound supreme wondrous teachings once again.
One after another, they hurried eagerly toward Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island, afraid that arriving late would leave them without a good seat.
Of course, some felt that something was amiss. After all, barely a thousand years had passed since Master Tongtian's last lecture.
Moreover, the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly was only a hundred years away. This was absolutely not the time for a lecture.
Even so, once the Fish Drum sounded, not a single Jie Sect disciple dared to refrain from returning to Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island.
Even Hong Ze and the others, who were currently in the Hua Xu Tribe, rose and made their way toward Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island.
Within Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island, Master Tongtian sat high upon a Cloud Bed, gazing at the tens of thousands of disciples before him.
At last, his gaze fell upon his five Direct Disciples, especially Hong Ze, who sat at the foremost position.
For tens of thousands of years, Master Tongtian had repeatedly expounded supreme wondrous teachings, yet very few had ever seen Hong Ze.
Now that their mysterious Eldest Senior Brother had appeared in Biyou Palace, those Jie Sect disciples who had never seen Hong Ze could not help whispering among themselves.
At last, with a light cough from Master Tongtian, Biyou Palace fell utterly silent.
"I have gathered you here today because of the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly.
This Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly differs from those of the past. Not only has it been brought forward by a full hundred years,
it also concerns which sect's disciple will be able to become the Celestial Sovereign's teacher.
Therefore, I hope you will take it seriously and bring glory to the Jie Sect at this Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly.
Your Eldest Senior Brother will explain the matters that follow. You must obey his command.
Whoever dares disobey your Eldest Senior Brother's orders, or obey outwardly while defying him in secret, do not blame me for refusing to let the matter rest."
Having said this, Master Tongtian vanished from atop the Cloud Bed, not giving Hong Ze any chance to refuse.
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