The variable should have been the Dao Venerable. His strength was the weight that would tip the scales.
Whichever side he helped, the other would surely lose. There was no question of that. But which side would bring him the greatest benefit?
If he helped the Buddha Ancestor, killing the Heavenly Emperor would be impossible. The man could simply flee. And then what? Surely he wasn't going to help the Buddha Ancestor suppress the rebellion, then bury the hatchet and restore their three-way balance? Wouldn't that be idiotic?
Replace the Heavenly Emperor himself, seize White Tiger, subdue the Buddha Kingdom, and reap the rewards? But the Heavenly Emperor's subordinates were already on their way. Once he returned with his forces, would those rewards be so easy to reap?
And if he helped the Heavenly Emperor...
Considering that he had already gravely offended the Buddha Ancestor by competing with him for Vermilion Bird, helping the Heavenly Emperor kill the Buddha Ancestor and dividing the spoils of the Buddha Kingdom would be the best choice.
The Dao Venerable believed that after they killed the Buddha Ancestor, the Heavenly Emperor would certainly negotiate an equal division of the spoils with him rather than continue fighting to the death. That was no problem. But however good the Buddha Kingdom's other benefits might be, none were irreplaceable. The only irreplaceable thing...
Was White Tiger!
The Dao Venerable raised his head slightly and looked at Chu Tiange, who was dodging away with White Tiger in his arms.
Of course he would take White Tiger before joining the battle. There was no question about it.
Chu Tiange: "..."
Alarm surged in his heart. He felt as though a ferocious tiger had fixed its gaze on him back when he was a mortal, sending chills down his spine.