The Two Sages of the West Fly into a Rage

In the void, countless miles from Jin'ao Island,

two figures of unfathomable mystery appeared.

One had a compassionate face, the other a sorrowful one.

The presence of Sages surrounded the two, and endless, profound mysteries of the Dao flowed ceaselessly from them.

Behind them, Buddha light shone everywhere, golden lotuses showed their tips, and golden wheels turned.

Buddhist chants seemed to resound through the space around them. Strange phenomena appeared one after another, accompanied by countless Dao rhythms.

At that moment, the two sat quietly, cross-legged on golden lotus platforms.

They seemed to be waiting for an opportunity.

After a long while,

Zhunti slowly opened his tightly shut eyes, and a profoundly mysterious look flashed through them.

He pressed his palms together and said to Jieyin,

"Senior brother, Duobao has reached the edge of Interception Sect territory.

"Duobao has not noticed the Buddhist principles carried by that bead.

"As long as he keeps it with him, the Buddhist principles within it will continue to influence his Dao heart.

"When the time comes, we will not need to act. Duobao will come of his own accord."

Hearing Zhunti's confident tone,

Jieyin, seated beside him, showed a flash of delight in his eyes.

"Duobao's Buddhist roots are clear and unobstructed, and his strength is formidable. He will surely achieve sudden enlightenment in the Western Wondrous Dharma.

"Once Duobao joins the Western Teachings, the Buddha seeds we planted in the other Six Attendant Immortals will also erupt.

"Though they are not as valuable as Duobao,

"they can still greatly increase the fortune of the Western Teachings.

"We will truly kill two birds with one stone!"

Having said this,

the two prepared to leave

and continue searching for fellow Daoists with a karmic affinity for the Western Teachings.

But

just then,

Zhunti, who was seated to the side, suddenly had a flash in his eyes.

A terrifying power of a Sage burst from him,

spreading in all directions, laden with the dense power of the Heavenly Dao.

As the power spread,

Zhunti's face darkened completely.

Tangible flames of fury shot from his eyes as he exclaimed in alarm,

"Senior brother!

"Something terrible has happened!"

Hearing Zhunti's words, Jieyin gave him a puzzled look.

"What is it?

"Junior brother?"

Zhunti's face was as dark as could be, and his voice was filled with shock and uncertainty.

"Senior brother!

"For some reason, I can no longer sense the Buddha seeds I planted in Ling Ya Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, Jinguang Xian, and the other two Attendant Immortals of the Interception Sect. I cannot continue to check on their condition!!"

Zhunti paused, then made a startling declaration.

"In other words, apart from Golden Hoop Immortal,

"the other five have all been discovered by Tongtian.

"And Tongtian has severed the connection!

"Perhaps Tongtian already knows we were manipulating things from the shadows!"

Hearing Zhunti's words,

Jieyin's expression changed slightly, and he asked in astonishment,

"How did Tongtian discover them again?

"Hadn't the Buddha seeds in those five yet to be triggered?"

Zhunti shook his head. He was just as puzzled about this.

"Perhaps the matter of Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal made Tongtian suspicious!

"So he gathered his disciples and searched their primordial spirits, discovering the clues within them.

"Senior brother, this has thrown our plans into disarray.

"And what we did is sure to enrage Tongtian. That will not end well."

Hearing the concern in Zhunti's voice,

Jieyin took a deep breath, a dark look flashing in his eyes as well.

They had spent years plotting this.

Just finding opportunities to plant Buddha seeds in the primordial spirits of the Interception Sect disciples

had taken a great deal of effort

and painstaking work.

Yet now Tongtian had discovered them so easily,

sending years of planning down the drain!

This was the future of their Western Teachings!

How could Jieyin not be angry?

After pondering for a moment,

Jieyin turned to Zhunti with a cold face and said,

"Junior brother, even if Tongtian has discovered us, it does not matter.

"Our reputation is already poor. We have no need to fear Tongtian wagging his tongue behind our backs.

"If he is displeased and comes looking for trouble, we can immediately seek help from Taishang and Yuanshi. The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is approaching, and they have use for us as well.

"With the Four Saints together, we have no reason to fear Tongtian!

"As for this matter, it is not beyond saving.

"Ling Ya Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, Jinguang Xian, and the other two Attendant Immortals

"were quite ordinary to begin with. Though their foundations are not bad, their affinity with Buddhism is extremely low.

"Even if they joined the Western Teachings, they would not be fit for a grand occasion and could not hold up the place at all.

"At most, they would be mounts or pets kept for display.

"Whether or not we have them makes no decisive difference to our plans.

"Our focus remains on Duobao.

"As long as Duobao is not discovered, our goal will be achieved.

"When he gathers the fortune of the Interception Sect upon himself and joins the Western Teachings at the right time,

"we will not have failed.

"So everything now depends on Duobao..."

Hearing Jieyin's reassurance,

Zhunti froze for a moment, then his tightly knitted brows slowly relaxed.

"Senior brother, you are absolutely right.

"Six of the Seven Attendant Immortals have Buddha seeds in their primordial spirits.

"So they are easily discovered.

"But there is no Buddha seed whatsoever in Duobao's primordial spirit.

"The presence contained in that bead is extremely well concealed.

"Unless it is broken, all anyone can see is the power of laws on its surface.

"Even with Tongtian's great strength, it simply will not be detected.

"Besides, Duobao already has many Dharma treasures. Tongtian surely will not pay attention to that bead!

"As long as Duobao escapes this calamity, the plan has not gone astray."

As he spoke,

Zhunti's anxious heart quietly settled.

By that reasoning,

Tongtian most likely would not discover the bead.

Hearing Zhunti's words, Jieyin said unhurriedly,

"Junior brother, set your mind at ease for now.

"Even if Tongtian discovers it, it will not matter. We need only keep watch on Duobao at all times.

"The moment Tongtian discovers it, we will go straight to Jin'ao Island and seize Duobao, whatever the cost!"

Seeing Jieyin's resolve,

Zhunti was slightly taken aback and nodded instinctively.

But just as Zhunti was about to probe for Duobao's location,

his expression changed instinctively.

"Hmm?

"Something is wrong!!

"Duobao has only just entered the edge of Interception Sect territory. How has his presence suddenly vanished?"

Hearing this, Jieyin's gaze sharpened, and he said gravely,

"His presence vanished? That's impossible!

"Even if the Interception Sect's sect-protecting formation is powerful, it could not have cut off Duobao's presence so quickly.

"Could Tongtian have intervened?"

When Jieyin finished speaking, Zhunti shook his head, a puzzled look flashing through his eyes.

"Senior brother, this time, I fear it was not Tongtian who intervened."

Jieyin was taken aback. "Hmm?"

Zhunti said with a strange expression, "The last place I sensed Duobao was a mountain range where spiritual Qi was extremely scarce.

"After that, his presence disappeared.

"I expect the spiritual Qi there is too thin for the bead to absorb any, and with the Interception Sect's defenses blocking it as well, I cannot sense it."

Hearing this, Jieyin also wore a strange expression.

"A mountain range barren of spiritual Qi?

"What did Duobao go there for?"