Chapter 802: I, the Twelve Golden Immortals?

Whether it was the Great Freedom Bodhisattva or the Slain Hunyuan Golden Immortal, both understood what Bliss True Buddha meant.

Among the younger disciples, an anomaly like Shen Yi had appeared, ascending to the second grade and becoming a Jade Void Universal True Person, rendering this Dharma debate completely meaningless.

If the Sanxian Sect were now declared the victor and Shen Yi directly took the seat of Immortal Emperor, the Puti Sect would certainly be unconvinced. To continue, the only option would be to have the second-grade Great Freedom Bodhisattvas enter the fray themselves.

But if this were done, the meaning of the great tribulation would completely change.

The Immortal Emperor's seat, which the younger generation had to fight desperately for, might not necessarily be a good thing for these undying, imperishable elders.

"..."

Dongji Emperor furrowed his brow slightly.

He had stepped forward to protect Shen Yi because the other party had the best hope of seizing the Immortal Emperor's seat. But if things were done according to Bliss True Buddha's meaning, with all second-grade entering the tribulation, then this junior who had just ascended to Slain Hunyuan Golden Immortal would have no advantage whatsoever.

"Isn't this rather inappropriate?" Dongji Emperor deliberated for a moment, then still shook his head. The Sanxian Sect currently held a considerable advantage; there was absolutely no need to hold another debate.

"Is it appropriate to have a Golden Immortal come and suppress both sects?" Bliss True Buddha became unyielding this time, refusing to yield even half a step: "Admittedly, what you say is correct—he is indeed a junior. But since he has already leapt beyond the two realms, he can no longer participate in the debate."

The Puti Sect's attitude was already very clear.

Either everyone enters the fray, or the juniors continue their contest with Shen Yi excluded. Everything before would no longer count, serving as punishment for concealing his cultivation.

Logically speaking, even the latter would be a good choice for the Sanxian Sect.

Don't be fooled by Shen Yi only fighting seven matches. The seven who died at his hands were all existences who had reached the ninety-nine transformations, the strongest among the Puti Sect's younger generation. It could be called grievous casualties.

But the problem lay in looking at the Sanxian Sect's side. The three great prodigies who had originally held great hope of winning first place now had only Li Shan remaining on the field. Yao had perished at Tashan, and Qixian had vanished without a trace.

If Shen Yi were excluded... Facing the gazes cast by the many elders, Li Shan couldn't help but show a bitter expression. Even before, his chances of victory hadn't been great, let alone now that this group of monks all wore expressions of towering resentment.

They couldn't defeat Zhu Shixiong Taixu, but they still had the ability to slay him in their fury.

Li Shan wasn't afraid of death, but this involved the Immortal Emperor's seat and which side would primarily control the incense and faith between the two sects in the future. Under such immense pressure, he truly didn't dare nod.

"Sigh."

Xuan Weizi withdrew his gaze, not blaming his disciple. Not every cultivator could be like Jade Universe True Person; such were ultimately only a minority. To use this standard to harshly demand juniors, one might as well first ask these old fogeys themselves which of them in their youth could possess half of Shen Yi's current brilliance.

Moreover, to exclude Shen Yi, one would also have to ask whether these fellow disciples were willing.

The other party had preferred to hide his cultivation, risking offending a True Buddha and being suppressed, all to stand up for Elder Chi Yun Cave. This scene had clearly moved quite a few Golden Immortals.

Chiyunzi's posture of wanting to have a go at the True Buddha was admittedly somewhat comical and absurd, but it also represented the Sanxian Sect's current attitude.

"I implore the Emperor and True Buddha to understand. We need a few days to inquire about the Sect Master's meaning."

Thinking of this, Xuan Weizi stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands toward the four majestic peaks.

After completing the salute, he turned and, taking numerous Golden Immortals and disciples with him, escorted Shen Yi and departed directly from East Nan Xumi.

"..."

Dongji Emperor, who was still hesitating, heard these words and his expression couldn't help but darken.

Even though he had personally come to preside over the great tribulation, when it came to truly needing to make decisions, he still couldn't compare to those three "Sect Masters."

Heh, the Three Pure Ones and Five Sovereigns.

All existences who had ascended to the first grade. That already-transcended Jade Pure One could be excused, but on what basis did the remaining two rank ahead of the Emperor?

Always been this way? Just used to the address?

If it couldn't be changed, then what was the point of this great tribulation!

Deep within East Nan Xumi, on that shore where Buddha-light was most dense.

On a floating island seemingly carved from an entire piece of Bai Yu, two Buddhas sat cross-legged facing each other. With casual flicks of their fingers, light points shifted in the heavens—they were actually using stars and moons as pieces, calmly playing a game.

"You're not watching over your Da Nanzhou, so why come to my Dongzhou?"

The Present Buddha calmly placed a piece, his gaze falling on the other's face, clearly not focused on the game.

Across from him, the Future Buddha frowned in distress, pondering each move for a long time, enough to show the vast gap between them: "My disciples won't listen, insist on seeking trouble before those gods and demons. Now they've drawn out the Ancestral God. I've come to your side to hide and find some peace."

"Won't listen?"

Hearing this, the Present Buddha smiled faintly.

These words were rather interesting.

Arranging this great tribulation had been his own idea. The other party, as the Future, having discontent was normal, and he could understand it.

After all, when they first became Buddhas, they had agreed that each would govern one era, and when the era belonging to oneself arrived, they would take turns ascending to transcendence.

Once this tribulation was complete, the present era might continue for a very, very long time.

But he still hadn't expected the Future to express dissatisfaction in veiled terms right before his face.

In the present era, disciples acted according to his commands, wholeheartedly using tribulation power to drive the great tribulation forward—how could that be called not listening?

"Perhaps you've been dormant too long; you should come out and do more."

Facing the exquisitely brilliant killing move the Future Buddha had deliberated over for a long time, the Present Buddha casually placed one piece and blocked it, while subtly pointing out that Da Nanzhou still showed no change, and that the other party had been slacking off and being sly.

"Sigh, I'm just this lazy disposition."

The Future Buddha was quite thick-skinned, wearing an expression of completely not catching the hidden meaning, merely responding with a cheerful perfunctory remark.

"Then change it."

The Present Buddha looked over seriously.

The Future Buddha's movements stalled slightly, but he didn't raise his head to meet his gaze.

These words carried considerable weight, faintly carrying the meaning of reprimanding a junior.

According to the original agreement, the Three Era Buddhas were equal existences. But now it seemed that because of this great tribulation, the present era could no longer be changed, and the other party had already developed an air of looking down from above.

"Then I'll change." The strangeness on the Future Buddha's face vanished in an instant, and he quickly returned to his smiling, squinting appearance.

"..." Seeing him lower his head, the Present Buddha withdrew his gaze.

He didn't need the other party's heartfelt submission, only surface-level submission.

This old Monk suddenly came over and pulled him into a game, using the stars and moons to block the view. He must have some unsightly scheme in mind, worried about being seen.

But the Present Buddha did not care.

The tribulation was ordained by Heaven; the other party could change nothing.

The Human Sovereign would ultimately be replaced by the Immortal Emperor, just as the Orthodox Gods would surely be replaced by the two Sects. No Human Sovereign would remain in the world; disciples of the two Sects would take turns presiding over the Immortal Court, and the Orthodox Gods would no longer hold sway. This was a scene he had seen after he and the Yuqing Sect Master transcended.

No matter how dissatisfied the others were, this outcome was a fact even he, the Present Buddha and the Yuqing Sect Master, could not shake.

He was not clinging to power; he merely followed Heaven's will, and in this life it happened to be his turn to take charge.

"No need to keep casting. You are a mortal of flesh and eyes—even if you rack your brains and ponder for ten thousand kalpas, it will still amount to the same thing." The Present Buddha waved his sleeve and restored the stars and moon to their places.

"Tch! Let me try again."

The Future Buddha withdrew his palm in mild annoyance, but he was not truly vexed. He soon turned his gaze beyond Bai Yu's floating mountain.

He saw the Medicine Buddha and the Joy Buddha returning atop lotus platforms. These two first-rank titans now wore a rare, thinly veiled anger on their faces.

"We pay our respects to the two Buddha-Fathers."

The True Buddha sat upon his lotus platform and performed a grand salute, then proceeded to recount the matter of the Dharma debate in detail.

Upon hearing the name Taixu Zhenjun, the Future Buddha gave a slight start, but quickly adjusted his expression, putting on a look of bewilderment: "It actually came to such a state?"

As early as in Nanping Prefecture, he had set his sights on this Taixu Zhenjun.

He had simply failed to see it himself—that this young man's scheming ran so deep. Ascending to second rank yet revealing nothing, all for the sake of a great killing spree at the Dharma debate.

Upon learning that so many disciples had been killed or wounded, the Present Buddha did not stir; instead, he looked once more at the Future Buddha. A moment later, an almost imperceptible trace of mockery flashed through his eyes.

Born of the Shenxu Mountain lineage of Da Nanzhou, he later took refuge under Lingxu Zi of the Seventy-Two Grottoes. The key point lies in that Da Nanzhou.

This old Monk had made a special trip to East Province to cloud his ears and eyes, all to stage such a farce. How laughable.

"This man's mind is unfathomable. He seems to have little interest in the position of Immortal Emperor—a mortal's heart through and through, his eyes full of nothing but private feuds and grievances. He will never amount to anything great."

The Joy True Buddha harbored fire in his heart, and his appraisal was somewhat cutting.

"Of course he does not wish to be Immortal Emperor; he does not even wish to let this great tribulation proceed." The Present Buddha wore a smile, fixing his gaze on the Future Buddha, then glanced sidelong at the two True Buddhas: "Pay it no heed. Just proceed as planned."

The fact that the Future had begun resorting to such clownish tricks only put one's mind more at ease.

"……"

The Future Buddha's expression faltered slightly. He could see that the thieving monk opposite had misunderstood something, thinking that Taixu Zhenjun was a poor move arranged by himself.

But on second thought, he simply went along with it, a hint of displeasure surfacing in his eyes.

As if annoyed that this stratagem had been discovered so quickly, using it to make East Nan Xumi lower its guard.

That opportunity had already begun to shift the situation; of course, he had to buy the other party more time and not let these old things intervene prematurely.

"As for you, return to Da Nanzhou as soon as you can." The Present Buddha closed his eyes and said lightly: "That Ancestral God will not linger in the world for long. The peace you seek, I shall grant you."

Hearing this, the Future Buddha's eyelid twitched faintly.

He had long been puzzled—what exactly were these two cultivators who had stepped into Transcendence busy with? Why, with the world in such an uproar, could the nine Ancestral Gods still sleep soundly? For this reason, he had even taken some measures of his own to make those Orthodox Gods react and go inform the Ancestral Gods in advance.

Little did he expect... the slumber of these nine was probably inseparable from the old monk before him.

The realm of Transcendence could actually influence the five elements of Heaven and Earth, the rise and fall of yin and yang. As the Future Buddha, he was the only one among the three Buddha-Fathers who had never experienced this realm.

"Huu."

The Future Buddha rose slowly; he had already done all he could.

As for the outcome, it would depend on just how much that opportunity could stir up Heaven and Earth.

……

Just as Mount Nan Xumi seethed with resentment.

Within Nanping Prefecture of East Province.

The Jin Xian of the Seventy-Two Grottoes stood in neat order within the great hall, looking down at the many disciples below.

After a long while, Xuan Weizi's expression grew somewhat strange as he stared at the leading Xuanshang Daojun: "Why are you standing down there? Come up here!"

Playing at being a junior—is he addicted to it now?

The other disciples also, as if by unspoken agreement, looked toward Zhu Shixiong Taixu... no, calling him Zhu Shixiong now was already somewhat presumptuous.

The other party had become a Jin Xian; in the world, those qualified to expound the Dharma for him were now only the Three Qings and the Five Sovereigns. Since he inherited the Lingxu lineage, he naturally took his place under the Shangqing Sect Master, opening the Seventy-Third Grotto and transmitting the myriad teachings.

From now on, they would have to address him as Senior.

"……"

Shen Yi pressed his lips together, stepped onto the stone stairs, and made to walk to the very end.

But he saw the many Jin Xian all smiling and shaking their heads.

"You devoted yourself wholly to the Xian Sect. Though your methods were not entirely by the book, you have still rendered great merit. If we are not mistaken, there is a high probability that one of the Twelve Jin Xian will be you."

Xuan Weizi likewise wore a smile: "Do not put us to shame as fellow disciples."

Although the other party had just entered second rank, once one reached this realm, so long as one had not sworn an Immortal Oath, the differences were actually negligible. Often, a single bestowal from a Sect Master could make up for any shortfall in strength.

On the strength of this East Nan Xumi Dharma debate alone, it was enough to carry him across the threshold of the Twelve Jin Xian. Even if ranked last, it still represented a bright future ahead—a steady first-rank titan in the making.

Once the tribulation passed, he would hold the authority to preside over the workings of Heaven and Earth.

"Heh…"

Lingxu Zi was so jealous his eyes turned red. What he had never dared dream of in his life had been seized by his own disciple first.

And even now, the East Pole Sovereign had still not granted him any tangible benefit. How could he not be anxious?

Master Qingguang stood before him, glancing back slightly, a cold smile playing at the corner of his lips.

The Twelve Jin Xian…

Others did not know, but he was perfectly clear in his heart: before Qixian departed, he had come to seek him out, and the two had chatted at length. Yet this attendant of the East Pole Sovereign's manor had now vanished without a trace. Coupled with Shen Yi revealing a second-rank realm, many things spoke for themselves.

Master Qingguang now kept silent, simply unwilling to invite the wrath of the crowd.

Once he returned to Beizhou and met with the Sanqing Sect Master—

A cultivator who had secretly slaughtered fellow Sect disciples—was even he qualified to ascend to the seat of the Twelve Jin Xian?

"Enough. Since everyone is gathered and there are no outsiders here, I'll speak plainly." Xuan Weizi looked back at his many martial brothers: "Even if it's achieved with outside help, a first-rank built up is still a first-rank. I know you all love your carefree ways, but we can't just hand the position of Immortal Emperor over to the Puti Sect for nothing."

"True Person Yuyu has stirred up the monks' wrath. As elders, we have to show some backbone. When the Dharma Debate resumes, we can't just let him—a mere newcomer to second-rank—go up there and shoulder it alone."

"What do you all think?" Xuan Weizi slowly swept his gaze across the crowd.

Hearing this, the smiles on most of the Jin Xian faces gained a few shades of murderous intent.

Second-rank is undying and imperishable, so there are far fewer reservations.

Being the Immortal Emperor isn't exactly free, but with so many disciples dead, one has to vent the fury in one's heart somehow.

Chiyunzi slightly raised his eyes, his voice chillingly cold: "Then we fight."

Beat them until heaven and earth are overturned, until sun and moon lose their light!

(End of chapter)