Chapter 291: The Two Sages Seize the Opportunity to Extort

At the same time.

The news that the Chan Sect, having failed to kill Shi Ji, had actually attempted to kill her two young attendants, soon reached the Heavenly Court.

Along with this was the news that the Chan Sect had killed Ma Yuan, and that the Jie Sect was bound to demand justice from the Chan Sect.

When Shi Ji heard this news, she was extremely furious and requested leave from Haotian to descend to the mortal realm, intending to thank her fellow disciples for saving her two attendants.

Haotian did not think much of it and granted her request.

Nowadays, members of the Jie Sect held positions in the heavens.

Haotian could no longer act as he had in the past, where he would laugh out loud brazenly whenever he heard of a dispute erupting between the two sects.

Instead, he wanted to comfort the members of the Jie Sect, insisting that the beings of the Three Realms must be made aware of the Chan Sect's evil deeds.

Thus, he dispatched the Heavenly Court's intelligence network to spread the word throughout the Three Realms.

……

Mount Kunlun,

Jade Void Palace.

Daoxing Tianzun and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun were currently informing Yuanshi Tianzun of the matter.

"Teacher, we killed Ma Yuan, but Shi Ji's two young attendants were rescued by Duobao, the three Xiao sisters, and others."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun frowned slightly, a trace of doubt appearing in his calm eyes.

He could not fathom why Daoist Duobao would appear at White Bone Cave, and wondered if it had been at Tongtian's instigation.

But fortunately, Ma Yuan was dead, and the Jie Sect would surely want revenge, which happened to fall right into their calculations.

However, Yuanshi did not know that Gu Xiu also wanted to use Ma Yuan's death as a legitimate excuse to strike at the Chan Sect.

Withdrawing his thoughts, he glanced at Daoxing Tianzun and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun below and spoke slowly: "You have done well. The next step depends on Jiang Ziya's side. Once the time is ripe and he meets Ji Chang, Jiang Ziya can persuade Ji Chang to march against the Shang."

"Many thanks for your praise, Teacher. We believe Ziya will certainly not fail the mission and will complete the task entrusted to him." The two bowed slightly and cupped their hands.

Time flew by, and more days passed.

The matter of the Chan Sect attempting to kill Shi Ji and her two young attendants, and subsequently killing Ma Yuan, spread like wildfire throughout the Three Realms. The rumors were all negative, causing significant impact on the Chan Sect.

The immortals of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks discussed it endlessly, cursing the Chan Sect for being despicable and shameless.

Yuanshi Tianzun frowned slightly.

He did not understand when Tongtian had acquired so many methods.

While he was pondering, the sound of the two Western Sages arriving for a visit came from above Mount Kunlun.

Yuanshi Tianzun was suspicious, but he still met with the two.

As soon as Jieyin and Zhunti entered, they looked miserable.

Every time Yuanshi Tianzun saw their dejected expressions, he felt very dissatisfied.

"I wonder why the two Sages have come suddenly?"

Jieyin spoke, his expression filled with grief.

"Brother Yuanshi, was Ma Yuan killed by you?"

"Indeed. Now that his true spirit is on the Investiture of the Gods list, why have you come to ask about this?" Yuanshi Tianzun said slowly.

Upon hearing this, Jieyin looked heartbroken.

"Brother Yuanshi, Ma Yuan was an inside agent planted by our Western Sect within the Jie Sect. The original intention was to undermine the Jie Sect's fortune. We planned for him to return to the West once the Investiture of the Gods ended and his merit was complete, but he was killed by you, Brother Yuanshi."

Zhunti pressed his palms together, also looking sorrowful.

"Ma Yuan undermined the Jie Sect's fortune, which indirectly helped the Chan Sect, yet he died at the hands of the Chan Sect. We hope Brother Yuanshi can provide an explanation."

Originally, killing Ma Yuan was a joyous event, but after listening to the two Western Sages,

Yuanshi Tianzun's mood vanished instantly.

Ma Yuan was actually an inside agent arranged by the Western Sect.

But it was impossible for him to provide an explanation. He snorted coldly: "Two Sages, you never informed my Chan Sect beforehand that Ma Yuan was an inside agent you planted in the Jie Sect. Now that he is on the Investiture of the Gods list, that is your problem. What explanation should I give?"

Seeing Yuanshi Tianzun shifting the blame entirely,

Jieyin and Zhunti were very dissatisfied.

When they became Saints, they had glimpsed a trace of heavenly secrets.

The Western Sect would flourish in the next Great Calamity, flourishing because of the Jie Sect.

Therefore, they had arranged for Ma Yuan to join the Jie Sect early on, using him to work from within and without to undermine the Jie Sect's fortune. They had intended to reward him upon his return to the West once his merit was complete, but he had been destroyed by the Chan Sect before completing his mission.

"Brother Yuanshi, Ma Yuan did not do anything to harm the Chan Sect at all. It was your arrangement for the Investiture of the Gods that went wrong, which is why you targeted Ma Yuan, wanting to use his death to draw out the disciples of the Jie Sect. Shifting the responsibility entirely like this is probably inappropriate, right?" Jieyin spoke, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

Zhunti chimed in: "Brother Yuanshi, if you do not give a satisfactory answer to this matter, I am afraid it will be difficult for us to offer our help in the future Investiture of the Gods."

Hearing the words of the two Sages, Yuanshi Tianzun frowned. Dealing with the Jie Sect was destined to put him at odds with Tongtian, but the Immortal-Slaughtering Sword Array could not be broken without four Saints.

If he lost the help of the two Western Sages, the Chan Sect would be powerless to resist the Jie Sect, and he himself would not be able to deal with Tongtian.

In order not to anger Jieyin and Zhunti, he had to compromise and asked: "What do you want?"

Jieyin pressed his palms together, his eyes showing pity: "Brother Yuanshi, my West is barren. Ma Yuan had good roots and was a rare talent. Returning to the Western Sect would certainly have increased our fortune. Now that he is on the list, if Brother Yuanshi gives us a top-grade innate spiritual treasure to increase our Western Sect's fortune, this matter can be considered settled."

Zhunti sighed, his expression solemn: "Brother Yuanshi, my brother's proposal is reasonable. As long as this matter is put aside, we will remain good allies, and my brother and I will certainly do our utmost to help the Chan Sect deal with the Jie Sect."

Yuanshi Tianzun did not expect that Jieyin and Zhunti would actually take this opportunity to demand a top-grade innate spiritual treasure from him. His expression turned cold, and he snorted lightly: "You want a top-grade innate spiritual treasure? No."

Jieyin was not in a hurry and asked: "Yuanshi, Brother, could it be that you really do not need our help?"

Zhunti smiled slightly.

"Brother Yuanshi, you must think clearly."

That smile seemed to hide endless deep meaning.

Yuanshi Tianzun was silent for a moment, then spat out a sentence: "One high-grade innate spiritual treasure."

Jieyin and Zhunti were dissatisfied with this and continued to bargain with Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Brother Yuanshi, Ma Yuan made many contributions while lurking in the Jie Sect. We had decided to give him heavy responsibilities when he returned. This one high-grade innate spiritual treasure is somewhat..."

To deal with Tongtian, he definitely needed the help of the two Western Sages. Yuanshi could be said to have had his weak point pinched. He gritted his teeth: "Plus one high-grade innate spiritual root. If you still do not agree, then you may leave."

Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other and smiled.

"Since Brother Yuanshi is so sincere, it would be too disrespectful of us if we did not accept."

"Good!"

After receiving the high-grade innate spiritual treasure and the high-grade innate spiritual root given by Yuanshi Tianzun, Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other and smiled.

Their initial plan had been to demand a low-grade innate spiritual treasure.

Demanding a top-grade innate spiritual treasure was just to bargain with Yuanshi Tianzun.

He did not expect Yuanshi to agree so easily.

Giving out a high-grade innate spiritual treasure and a high-grade innate spiritual root as compensation far exceeded their expectations.

Seeing Jieyin and Zhunti agree so easily,

Yuanshi knew that the compensation he gave was definitely far higher than their expectations, and he felt extremely depressed.