Chapter 195: The Timid Zhunti

"Could it be... that the Teacher really took action?" Tathagata thought to himself, this guess giving him a headache.

In the Battle of the Investiture of the Gods, the Jie Sect fell apart, the Ten Thousand Immortal Array was broken, countless disciples died or were injured, and most of the remaining ones were either on the Investiture List or, like him, joined the Western Sect and changed their allegiance.

Tongtian Jiaozhu was even ordered by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun to be confined in the Zixiao Palace outside the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Logically speaking, he shouldn't be interfering in the affairs of the Three Realms anymore.

But now, the mutation of Jin Chanzi made him have to think of this former teacher.

Only a Saint had such means to silently reverse the heavenly secrets, change a person's destiny trajectory, and even make it impossible for him, a Semi-Sage, to investigate.

If Tongtian Jiaozhu took action, then things would be troublesome.

Although this Journey to the West Tribulation was an opportunity for the Buddhist community to flourish, it also involved the interests of the Xuan Sect.

The Heavenly Court and the people of the Xuan Sect would also get a share of the benefits.

But the Jie Sect wouldn't get any benefits at all.

If Tongtian Jiaozhu was unwilling to accept this and secretly made trouble, it wasn't impossible.

"Sigh..."

Tathagata sighed in his heart.

This matter was already beyond the scope of what he could handle.

The game of Saints was no small matter, not to mention that the one who took action was very likely his former teacher.

He didn't dare to act on his own initiative in this matter.

"I already know about this matter." Tathagata said slowly, "The preaching ends here today. You all return to your respective dojos, cultivate well, do not discuss this recklessly, and do not go down the mountain privately to find trouble with that Fa Neng."

"Ah?"

"Buddha, this..."

The Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats were all stunned.

They had thought that the Buddha would be furious and issue a decree for them to suppress that "demon monk."

But they didn't expect the Buddha to tell them not to interfere?

Was this still the majestic and supreme Tathagata Buddha they knew who ruled the Buddhist community?

"Do you have any objections?"

Tathagata's gaze swept over everyone, and the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Vajras present all shook their heads.

"This disciple obeys!"

Everyone dared not say more and hurriedly bowed to accept the order.

"All of you, withdraw."

Tathagata waved his hand.

Soon, only a few top Buddhist figures like Ran Deng Ancient Buddha and Maitreya Buddha remained in the Great Lei Yinsi.

"World Honored One, this matter..." Ran Deng Ancient Buddha frowned, "If we really leave it alone, I'm afraid there will be endless trouble."

"I have my own plans." Tathagata stood up and walked down from the lotus platform, "This matter is no small matter; there may be a Saint interfering behind the scenes. I need to go to Mount Sumeru personally to ask the two Sect Masters for instructions."

Hearing the word "Saint," Ran Deng Ancient Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, and others all looked solemn.

They instantly understood the severity of the matter.

If there really was a Saint laying out plans behind the scenes, then this Journey to the West Tribulation would probably add countless variables.

"Since that is the case, then I will trouble the World Honored One." Ran Deng Ancient Buddha pressed his palms together and bowed slightly.

Tathagata nodded and said nothing more.

His figure flickered and disappeared from the Great Lei Yinsi.

Mount Sumeru was the dojo of the two Saints, Jie Yin and Zhunti.

This place was filled with vast Buddha light, thousands of auspicious rays, and ten thousand auspicious clouds; it was a top-tier blessed land in the Three Realms.

A golden light tore through the sky and landed in front of the gate of Mount Sumeru, revealing Tathagata's figure.

The Buddhist disciples guarding the mountain saw that it was Tathagata himself and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

"This disciple pays respects to the Buddha!"

"No need for formalities." Tathagata waved his hand, "Is Sect Master Zhunti in the mountain?"

The Zhunti he spoke of was the Daoist Zhunti, one of the two Western Saints.

"Replying to the Buddha, Qian Ti Shengren is meditating under the Patriarch Puti tree."

"Take me there."

"Yes!"

Led by the disciple, Tathagata passed through layers of halls and arrived at Mount Sumeru.

He saw a sallow-faced, thin, and sorrowful Daoist sitting cross-legged under a huge Patriarch Puti tree.

"This disciple pays respects to the Saint."

Tathagata stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Although he was now the master of the Buddhist community on the surface, he was still that junior disciple in front of Zhunti.

Daoist Zhunti slowly opened his eyes, looked at Tathagata, and said: "It's Tathagata. You don't stay in Lingshan; what are you doing here?"

"This disciple has an important matter and would like to ask for the Saint's guidance." Tathagata straightened up and said with a serious expression.

"Oh?" Zhunti raised his eyebrows, "What is the matter?"

Tathagata reported the matter of Jin Chanzi's reincarnation, Fa Neng, and his own deductions to Zhunti one by one.

"... This disciple suspects that a Saint has taken action in the dark to interfere with the Journey to the West Tribulation, and the one who took action is very likely this disciple's former teacher, Saint Tongtian."

After speaking, he stood quietly to the side, waiting for Zhunti's reaction.

When he heard the word "Tongtian," the face of Daoist Zhunti, which was already sorrowful, suddenly became even uglier.

"Tongtian?" Zhunti was shocked in his heart.

Among all the Saints in the Three Realms, the one he least wanted to deal with and was most afraid of dealing with was Tongtian Jiaozhu.

That guy was a lunatic who would start fighting if they didn't agree.

Back in the day, he had dealt with Tongtian many times for the sake of fated people and fated objects.

As a result, he never gained any advantage and was always left in a sorry state.

Although he had vented his anger during the internal strife of the Xuan Sect in the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, if he really had to face a Tongtian who had lost everything...

Zhunti felt a chill just thinking about it.

"Why is this evil star out making trouble again?" Zhunti muttered in his heart.

But he was a Saint after all; he couldn't show too much cowardice in front of Tathagata.

He cleared his throat and said to Tathagata: "I already know about this matter. You wait a moment; let me deduce it myself to see who is making trouble behind the scenes."

As he spoke, he closed his eyes, and the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree in his hand emitted a faint seven-colored light, beginning to deduce the heavenly secrets.

Seeing this, Tathagata felt slightly relieved.

However, what he didn't know was that the Qian Ti Shengren before him was suffering in his heart right now.

"Tongtian, oh Tongtian, I hope it's really not you... otherwise this matter will be difficult to handle..." ===== CHAPTER 196 =====