Chapter 1493: Randeng's Afterfear, Power Is Poisonous, Drunken Immortal God (3/5, please subscribe)

"Since all you fellow Daoists of the Chan Sect have enjoyed yourselves to the full, then we of the Jie Sect won't keep you any longer."

Yunxiao cupped her hands in salute — it was clearly a polite order to leave.

The Chan Sect members had suffered a defeat and had no face to stay; they tossed out a "till we meet again," then drove their clouds away in disgrace amid the mocking laughter of the Jie Sect disciples.

"Truly vented a bellyful of spite." Yunxiao returned to Biyou Palace, her mood greatly pleased.

Zhao Gongming naturally knew his sister had acted on his behalf; he shook his head with a rueful laugh.

"Don't take this matter to heart and disturb your own cultivation."

"Big brother worries too much." Yunxiao shook her head. "By the way, Senior Brother Duobao sent word — the Heavenly Court doesn't have the Investiture of the Gods at all. It seems the Investiture is either with the Ancestor or with the Martial Uncle."

Zhao Gongming frowned. "If that's the case, then it's going to be difficult."

In the hands of those two, there was simply no chance of snatching it away.

Once they truly made a move, it would be the moment of the great decisive battle.

Yunxiao nodded. "However, since the Investiture of the Gods isn't in the Heavenly Court, Senior Brother Duobao and the others won't be bound by it — on the contrary, that's a good thing. As for the Investiture, we can just seize it when the chance arises."

Zhao Gongming nodded. "Indeed. Junior sister, you should return to Sanxian Island. With your elder brother holding down Jin Ao Island, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Good."

Yunxiao nodded, mounted an auspicious cloud, and departed straightaway.

Sixteen…

The Twelve Golden Immortals and Randeng left Jin Ao Island covered in dust and dirt; even after returning to Kunlun, everyone still wore an unfriendly expression toward Randeng.

The carefully laid plans had all turned to bubbles.

Guangchengzi had lost face in defeat, and Randeng had lost an entire top-grade Innate Merit Spiritual Treasure on top of it.

By extension, the entire Chan Sect had been made to lose face as well.

"Daoist brother Guangchengzi, I have a guess," Randeng suddenly said. "Yunxiao's Dao attainment is so astonishing — she's practically not at the Quasi-Saint stage. Could it be that she has already attained the Dao?"

Hearing this, Guangchengzi's expression changed; he looked at Randeng with a face that plainly said, "Are you taking me for a fool?"

Attain Sainthood?

In the Great Desolation World, who didn't know how difficult it was to become a Saint?

The path of the Three Corpses proving Sainthood was practically a dead end.

Because since Hongjun, no one had walked any one path through to completion.

What virtue or ability did Yunxiao have to become a Saint?

Moreover, to do so without a sound?

In Guangchengzi's eyes, Randeng's words were nothing but shirking responsibility — and smacked of giving himself a way out.

After all, losing to a Quasi-Saint of the same realm was somewhat shameful.

Losing to a Saint, on the other hand, would be understandable.

"Vice Sect Leader truly has a marvelous imagination. This poor Daoist is not lightly injured and must return to his mountain to recuperate in quiet, so I won't chat further with the Vice Sect Leader." Guangchengzi cupped his hands, mounted his cloud, and left without looking back.

Chi Jingzi and the others, seeing this, hurriedly said, "Senior brother, wait — we'll go together."

In the blink of an eye, the Twelve Golden Immortals had all departed.

Even Cihang, Wenshu, Puxian, and Juliusun — who usually got along well with Randeng — did not stay.

The reason was simple: Randeng had gone too far in bullying people.

Losing was losing.

But then he had the nerve to claim Yunxiao was a Saint.

If they actually believed it, wouldn't the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect have become fools?

Wasn't this an insult to the Twelve Golden Immortals' intelligence?

Although the word "intelligence" didn't exist in this era yet.

Still, the meaning was that meaning.

The four True Persons usually kept close to Randeng not because they truly had such a good relationship with him, but because Randeng had wide connections and many channels that could help them advance further.

Now seeing Randeng was unreliable, how would they dare stay?

They even felt a different thought stirring within: Randeng's words in the future needed more careful consideration, or they might easily be led into a trap.

This couldn't be blamed on the four True Persons for having such thoughts — in the Chan Sect, if one's mind wasn't sharp enough, it was very easy to be pulled aside to take the brunt of a disaster.

"Sigh!"

Seeing everyone vanish in an instant, Randeng sighed, his face full of misery.

This scheme had truly cost him his Lady and broken his soldiers as well.

Not only was the Dao-proving treasure gone, but even the good relationships he had built up in the Chan Sect over the years had been utterly destroyed.

It could be said that countless years of painstaking effort in the Chan Sect had today all flowed east into the sea.

Randeng's heartache was simply indescribable.

"Right — it was all because of that Daoist's words that I goaded the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect to go to Jin Ao Island." A flash of insight lit up in Randeng's mind, and he grew wary. "Wait — who was that Daoist? Why did I believe his words so deeply?"

At this thought, Randeng did not dare think further.

Whoever could make a Quasi-Saint like him fall into a trap — besides a Saint, who else could it be?

He had clearly fallen into a Saint's scheme!

"Dangerous!" Cold sweat broke out on Randeng's forehead. "Until the great tribulation passes, I should not leave my mountain!"

Randeng was scared half to death; at this moment he no longer even entertained the thought of proving his Dao. He returned to his cave dwelling, sealed the Shanmen, and activated forty-nine layers of mountain-protecting formations before he could set his mind at rest.

Heavenly Court.

"Big Senior Brother, drink!"

"You should call me Great Emperor — what 'Big Senior Brother' are you still talking about?"

In the Qinghua Emperor Palace, Duobao Daoist sat enthroned, and below him the disciples of the Jiao Sect all wore beaming smiles, raising their cups in mutual toasts.

At this moment, the Qinghua Emperor Palace was like a fairyland of the Yaochi Pool, with celestial maidens dancing and the music of strings and winds graceful and beautiful.

Immortal officials arrived in an endless stream, bringing up delicacies and rare delicacies, and celestial wine.

"I had always thought that being a divine spirit was some kind of bitter duty, but I never expected that being a divine spirit is really not bad at all."

"That's right. Fine wine and rare delicacies every day — how could that be less luxurious than an earthly emperor?"

"Wonderful, wonderful. This Heavenly Court is truly a fine place. Even after the great tribulation passes, I wouldn't want to return to my cave abode for austere cultivation."

Duobao Daoist drank on one side, listening to the words of his junior fellow disciples, and strange thoughts also arose in his heart.

At this moment, he clearly ought to admonish his junior fellow disciples not to fall into degeneracy, and should urge them to forge ahead bravely, pursuing the Great Dao.

But the days in the Heavenly Court had eroded by power not only the ordinary disciples — even Duobao Daoist himself had developed strange thoughts about power in his heart.

Those who have never tasted power always believe themselves to be pure of heart and few of desire.

Duobao Daoist had once believed the same.

He did not understand why humans, immortals, and gods clung to power, and could only attribute it to a lack of firmness of mind.

It was only after he became a Heavenly Emperor of one realm that he came to know the benefits of power.

"This power is simply the most exquisite poison in the world — once anyone has tasted it, it is hard to give up." Duobao sighed inwardly. "Master, please do not blame your disciple for this. Cultivation and power are not actually opposed. I have become a great emperor of one realm, yet I am still a disciple of the Jiao Sect, and I can still cultivate."

Gouchen Emperor Palace.

Jin Ling Holy Mother, Wudang Holy Mother, and Guiling Holy Mother were also holding a banquet.

Just like at Duobao Daoist's side, this place too was a scene of decadent luxury.

It was only because they were all female immortals that celestial wine was not so welcome among them, and the smell of alcohol was not so strong.

Apart from that, there was no difference whatsoever.

The gathered immortals beamed with joy, their laughter unceasing.

Clearly, compared to austere cultivation in the mortal world, this place won more hearts.

Even the three Holy Mothers including Jin Ling found their Dao hearts beginning to waver.