The Two Sages of the West Miscalculate and Set Their Sights on Duobao

Just as Tongtian summoned all the Jie Sect Disciples back to the Interception Sect,

In a corner of the void countless miles from the Interception Sect,

An astonishing phenomenon suddenly appeared.

For a moment,

Golden lotuses peeked out, and rosy light filled the air.

Buddhist light shone everywhere, Buddhist resonance surged, and Sanskrit chants rang out.

The power of a Saint's laws surged and slowly emerged.

Beneath the veil of this power,

Two figures suddenly appeared.

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

Both were extraordinarily gaunt and wore gray-brown cloth robes that looked somewhat disheveled.

An astonishing, misty Qi wreathed their bodies, and their presence was immense.

These two were none other than the Two Sages of the West, Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti!

At that moment,

Both sat cross-legged on golden lotus platforms.

Behind them were wheels of Buddhist merit ablaze with golden light, dazzling and brimming with Buddhist intent.

At that moment,

Both pressed their palms together and looked down.

The Saints' eyes instantly crossed hundreds of millions of miles of void,

Reaching Jin'ao Island.

Just moments ago,

An astonishing fluctuation of power had erupted from Jin'ao Island.

Jieyin detected traces of blood Qi drifting through the void, mingled with that faintly concealed Buddhist intent.

His gaze sharpened, and his face immediately darkened.

He turned his head slightly and glanced at Zhunti beside him. After a moment's silence, he said indifferently,

"Junior brother, things have taken a turn we didn't expect."

"Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal was actually exposed!"

"Now Tongtian has slain him; his body is dead and his Dao has vanished..."

"The Buddhist beads we left behind were destroyed by Tongtian as well."

Hearing Jieyin's words, Zhunti's face also grew troubled.

A vicious glint flickered in his eyes.

Clearly, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's fate had angered him!

"According to the normal course of events, Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal would have followed the Buddhist beads' guidance to seek me out and join the Western Teachings."

"I would then have plotted in secret to help turn him, making Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal a pawn of the Western Teachings."

"From the moment we planted the seeds by giving him the Buddhist beads to just now, when Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal studied them and comprehended Buddhist intent, everything went normally."

"How was he exposed just as we were about to succeed?"

"It was as if someone had told Tongtian..."

"But we were careful at every step, and the Buddhist power we used was exceedingly faint. We only set this plan in motion while Tongtian was in seclusion."

"How could anyone else have learned of it?"

Zhunti frowned and looked at Jieyin, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.

"Senior brother, did you notice any fluctuations just now?"

Jieyin shook his head. "No."

"The Buddhist beads in Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's hands were perfectly normal too. My divine sense was hidden within them and was never detected."

"By all rights, ordinary people could never have discovered it."

Hearing the slight anger in Jieyin's voice, Zhunti sighed and said,

"Perhaps Tongtian's strength has advanced another step, and he noticed the fluctuations in Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal's Qi."

"But what's done is done. There's no use dwelling on it."

"We can simply find another pawn."

"The Interception Sect has many disciples. It's not as though we can't choose someone else."

"Don't forget our goal..."

Hearing Zhunti's counsel,

The darkness on Jieyin's face eased a little.

"Still, apart from Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal, there really aren't many among the Seven Attendant Immortals of the Interception Sect who are fit to take the stage, although I've already planted Buddhist seeds in them in secret."

"But their talent is ordinary. They're only good for making up the numbers and serving for the time being."

"After all, their strength and origins don't qualify them."

"Besides, Buddhist principles were planted deep in their primordial spirits many years ago, yet they still haven't noticed their presence. That shows just how foolish they are, doesn't it?"

"As for the other disciples of the Interception Sect, Zhao Gongming's Buddhist roots are clear, but his Dao heart is steadfast. He cannot be used as a pawn and would be extremely difficult to turn."

"The other Jie Sect Disciples, such as the Three Xiaos and the Three Holy Mothers, are all women, while the Ten Heavenly Lords are not very strong."

"It really isn't easy to find a disciple who can hold his own on the grand stage..."

Hearing Jieyin say this,

A name immediately flashed through Zhunti's mind.

He said to Jieyin,

"Senior brother, what about Duobao?"

Jieyin hesitated, then his eyes lit up. "He's the only choice."

"The Western Teachings accept only gifted beings. As the Interception Sect's chief disciple, Duobao has clear Buddhist roots and a profound origin."

"What's more, his true form has the ability to seek treasure. If we can turn him over to the Western Teachings, not only will we gain the fighting strength of a Quasi-Saint,"

"We can also obtain a great many Dharma treasures to improve the fortune of the Western Teachings!"

As Jieyin laid out his analysis,

Zhunti's eyes immediately lit up.

"Senior brother, you're absolutely right!"

"Duobao happens to be traveling outside the Interception Sect right now. No matter how powerful Saint Tongtian's laws are, it will be difficult for him to notice any unusual movement from Duobao."

"We can send incarnations there, create an opportunity, and use Buddhist power to guide Duobao and plant a Buddhist root in his heart!"

"And induce him to join the Western Teachings..."

Hearing Zhunti's words, Jieyin's eyes flickered. He pressed his palms together and nodded slightly.

In an instant,

The Buddhist light lingering in the void slowly drifted away.

The astonishing phenomenon also gradually subsided.

Jieyin and Zhunti vanished from where they sat.

After the two left,

The traces of their presence vanished as well.

It was as if they had never been there!