Upon hearing that Master Tongtian had entrusted Hong Ze with organizing the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, Duobao Daoren could not help secretly rejoicing.
Only this way could Duobao Daoren carry out his plan more perfectly and utterly destroy Hong Ze's prestige within the Jie Sect.
Thus, Duobao Daoren immediately rose to his feet and spoke directly to Hong Ze.
"Eldest Senior Brother, since Master has entrusted you with the important task of the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, then please make the arrangements.
However, there is something Duo Bao must remind Eldest Senior Brother of. The Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly is no child's play. Our Jie Sect absolutely cannot make fools of ourselves."
Seeing Duobao Daoren openly targeting Hong Ze, Holy Mother Gui Ling immediately prepared to stand and speak for Hong Ze.
However, Mother Wu Dang, seated beside her, held her down and gave her a meaningful look.
Only then did Holy Mother Gui Ling reluctantly remain seated, though a trace of fury had already appeared in her gaze toward Duobao Daoren.
At that moment, Hong Ze smiled and said, "Red flowers, green leaves, and white lotus roots—the three sects were originally one family.
Thus, the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly is not about deciding who wins and who loses. It is merely an opportunity for our fellow disciples to improve themselves.
When you all accompany me to the Hua Xu Tribe this time, you must not miss this excellent opportunity. After all, such a tremendous fortune comes only once in a thousand years."
Upon hearing Hong Ze's words, Chang Er Ding Guang Xian immediately stepped forward and spoke to him.
"Eldest Senior Brother, although the disciples of the three sects share the same origin, we are ultimately divided into the Human Sect, Elucidation Sect, and Jie Sect.
The Human Sect and Elucidation Sect have never regarded our Jie Sect as fellow disciples. If we are suppressed at the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly this time, then when Jie Sect disciples travel the primordial world in the future, we will have to bow our heads before others.
Therefore, Chang Er believes that our Jie Sect must take first place at this Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, so that the Elucidation Sect and Human Sect may understand the extraordinariness of our Jie Sect."
Hong Ze smiled and nodded. "Junior Brother Chang Er is right. What should be contested must still be contested, lest others look down on our Jie Sect.
However, this Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly is not Hong Ze's affair alone. Our entire Jie Sect must stand united."
As soon as Hong Ze said this, the Jie Sect disciples all nodded. Even if Hong Ze could emerge victorious, it would only count as one round.
To truly win the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, they needed an absolute, crushing advantage.
At this moment, Pi Lu Xian also stepped forward and spoke to Hong Ze.
"Eldest Senior Brother, although our Jie Sect has tens of thousands of disciples, we cannot all go to the Hua Xu Tribe.
After all, the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly is not a contest of which sect has the most people, but which sect has disciples with the deepest cultivation.
Therefore, I, Pi Lu Xian, believe that Eldest Senior Brother should select one hundred people to represent our Jie Sect in the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly."
After all, their goal was to leave Hong Ze with no one to use at the critical moment. How could they possibly allow all the Jie Sect disciples to go along?
Moreover, at previous Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assemblies, Master Tongtian had never brought along all the Jie Sect disciples. Even Hong Ze himself had never participated before.
Logically speaking, Hong Ze should have been unable to refuse this proposal, since it was an old rule of every previous Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly.
Yet, to Pi Lu Xian's surprise, Hong Ze directly shook his head at him.
"Junior Brother Pi Lu, your words are mistaken. Everyone present is Master's disciple. Though we are divided into inner and outer disciples, we are all members of the Jie Sect.
Since we are all Jie Sect disciples, naturally none of us can refrain from contributing to the Jie Sect. What is more, this is the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, an excellent chance for all junior brothers to gain experience.
Therefore, I have decided to bring every Jie Sect disciple to the Hua Xu Tribe. As for whether they will have an opportunity to compete, I trust none of our fellow disciples will mind."
The moment Hong Ze said this, he instantly won the approval of most Jie Sect disciples. Who would not want to take part in such a grand event?
However, Duobao Daoren did not want such a thing to happen, so he immediately spoke to Hong Ze.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Duo Bao believes this is unwise. Otherwise, Eldest Grand-Uncle and Second Grand-Uncle may inevitably grow displeased.
Furthermore, Golden Turtle Island cannot be left unguarded. Some disciples must remain behind to defend Golden Turtle Island."
Duobao Daoren did not notice how many resentful gazes turned toward him when he spoke those words.
Yet even if Duobao Daoren had noticed them, he would never have taken their resentment to heart.
In his eyes, these Jie Sect disciples were dispensable. Indeed, having them was worse than not having them at all.
Little did he know that this was precisely the result Hong Ze wanted. Duobao Daoren was walking step by step into the pit Hong Ze had dug for him.
Thus, Hong Ze nodded directly. "Junior Brother Duobao is right. Golden Turtle Island truly cannot be left without guards.
Furthermore, those guarding Golden Turtle Island must be capable of defending it.
Otherwise, if Master and the disciples are away from Golden Turtle Island and some petty scoundrel comes to cause trouble, that would be no good.
Therefore, I believe it would be most suitable for Junior Brother Duobao to lead the Seven Attendant Immortals in guarding Golden Turtle Island."
The instant Hong Ze said this, Duobao Daoren nearly toppled over. No matter what, he had not expected Hong Ze to make him stay behind.
Even if Duobao Daoren went, he had not intended to make a move. Even if he did, he had planned to hold back.
But that was entirely different from being left on Golden Turtle Island, because then he would have no way to control the overall situation.
Thus, he immediately objected, "Eldest Senior Brother, do you think you alone can turn the tide?
If Duo Bao and the Seven Attendant Immortals remain on Golden Turtle Island, whom does Eldest Senior Brother intend to have participate in the Three Sects Dao Debate?"
Hong Ze smiled disdainfully. "Our Jie Sect has tens of thousands of disciples. Could it be that none can participate in the Three Sects Dao Debate?
Or does Junior Brother Duobao believe that without you, Duobao Daoren, the Jie Sect can no longer gain a foothold in the primordial world?"
Another enormous pit—and one Duobao Daoren could not avoid jumping into.
If Duobao Daoren did not jump, then he could only remain behind on Golden Turtle Island to watch the house.
Thus, Duobao Daoren could only say to Hong Ze, "Eldest Senior Brother, your words are mistaken. Though I, Duo Bao, do not claim that I can turn the tide, I do believe that I am qualified to represent the Jie Sect in the Three Sects Dao Debate."
Hong Ze nodded. "Since Junior Brother Duobao believes himself qualified to represent the Jie Sect in the Three Sects Dao Debate, does Junior Brother Duobao have confidence in winning?
And all of you as well—if you believe you are confident of victory at the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly, then I, your Eldest Senior Brother, naturally will not make you stay behind on Golden Turtle Island to watch the house.
On the other hand, if any of you cannot guarantee victory, or even suffers defeat during the Three Sects Dao Debate, then do not blame this senior brother for disregarding our fellowship."
By now, Duobao Daoren finally understood. After all this, the clown had been himself.
Duobao Daoren now had only two choices: either remain at Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island to watch the house, or distinguish himself at the Profound Gate Three Sects Dao Discussion Assembly.
Yet neither of those choices was what Duobao Daoren wanted.
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