Chapter 329

Silence!

The oppressive silence spread throughout the Three Teachings.

At this moment, the disciples finally clearly realized the enormous gap between themselves and Chen Ku.

If it were in the past, when Chen Ku was a Golden Immortal of the Great Luo, or even a Golden Immortal of the Hunyuan, perhaps they could still have a bit of competitive spirit and try to keep up with his progress.

But now, a Golden Immortal of the Hunyuan and Great Luo?!

Just adding two small characters, yet the meaning seemed like an unbridgeable and unfillable heavenly chasm.

Compare?!

Compare with what?!

Yuanshi's words left the disciples with only a feeling of shame and inadequacy.

Even those who once boasted of their outstanding talent, great fortune, and great luck—the Twelve Golden Immortals—felt unable to lift their heads.

Ridiculous!

Compared to Chen Ku, they were nothing but lazy good-for-nothings waiting to die.

This was the immense pressure brought by a Golden Immortal of the Hunyuan and Great Luo.

And as the Deputy Sect Master of the Jie Sect, Ran Deng felt his heart surge with stormy waves, thoughts churning, unable to calm.

"Could it be... that Buddhism truly surpasses the Three Teachings?!"

For a moment, Ran Deng couldn't help but have this thought arise in his mind.

Back then, during a Dao discussion, seeing the difference between himself and Zhenren Du'e, Ran Deng had already been deeply envious.

And now, Chen Ku had also attained the Dao.

From then on, Buddhism entered the era of true "One Sect, Four Sages."

Even if the Three Pure Ones were combined, they could not compare.

This damn......

Although not explicitly stated, Ran Deng also couldn't help but feel some regret.

If he had known Buddhism would be so prosperous today, back then he would not have chosen to join the Jie Sect no matter what.

Even if given the position of Deputy Sect Master, it would not do!

One must know, this is under the premise that everyone still does not know the outcome of the previous great battle.

If they were to find out, that the Three Pure Ones were completely suppressed and even had to hand over five top-grade innate spiritual treasures just to escape?!

Then the entire Kunlun Mountain would likely be shaken by earthquakes and landslides, unable to find peace.

Fortunately, this gloomy and oppressive atmosphere did not last long.

And considering their own dignity and authority, Laozi and Yuanshi would absolutely not speak of this matter.

Not long after, the disciples of the Jie Sect came to their senses one after another.

"Two Senior Uncles, I don't know... why hasn't our Master returned yet?!"

As one of the personally transmitted disciples of the Jie Sect, Jin Ling Shengmu spoke softly in inquiry.

This is also the shared question of the Jie Sect disciples.

Yes!

Only see Laozi and Yuanshi, the two Senior Uncles, returning.

But where is our own Master?!

Upon hearing her words, Laozi and Yuanshi exchanged glances, their faces showing hesitation, as if finding it hard to speak.

Then, Laozi spoke, responding:

"Your Master Tongtian was previously exiled into Chaos by Chen Ku using spatial divine powers."

"We too cannot search for him, and can only rely on him alone to find the way back."

As Laozi's words fell.

The Jie Sect disciples were instantly shocked, terrified out of their wits.

"What? Exiled into Chaos?!"

"What does this mean?!"

"The Two Senior Uncles also cannot find him? Is our Master Tongtian......"

"Two Senior Uncles, could it be that our Master Tongtian cannot return?!"

They did not know what exactly the so-called spatial exile entailed.

But that even Laozi and Yuanshi could not find him?!

Therefore, the first thought in the disciples' hearts was, could our Master have been slain by Chen Ku?!

Merely out of great fear and worry, no one dared to voice this thought directly.

Nevertheless, a great sense of panic still spread among the Jie Sect disciples.

Seeing this, Laozi showed a look of helplessness.

He sighed, and had no choice but to continue explaining:

"You need not worry!"

"We, the sages of the Heavenly Dao, are undying and indestructible."

"The Third Brother, Tongtian, is merely temporarily trapped by the Spatial Dao, and will certainly not face any threat to his life."

Laozi spoke with firm and unyielding words.

Upon hearing this, Duobao, Jin Ling, and others finally eased their expressions slightly, their hearts somewhat calming.

So.... this is indeed a great fortune amidst misfortune!

Or rather, as long as our Master is not dead, that is the greatest good news.

After all, if Tongtian truly perished, the entire Jie Sect would inevitably fragment and decline completely.

However, despite knowing their own master's safety was assured.

Yet all disciples remained solemn and awestruck, their hearts filled with alarm.

Chen Ku could even imprison his own sage master?!

Unimaginable—what level of earth-shattering, heaven-startling, god-and-ghost-defying power does he now possess!

Seeing everyone's expression, Yuanshi's head filled with black lines, and he couldn't help but feel his anger rising.

"Hmph, ultimately just a bunch of disciples born of demonkind!"

"Mixed quality, unstable minds—unfit for great responsibility!"

Yuanshi couldn't help thinking this, venting his nameless fire.

His gaze toward the Jie Sect disciples grew even more disgusted.

Of course, even if his anger was uncontainable, Yuanshi was too lazy to strike these juniors before him, or to indulge in impotent rage.

He strained to suppress the anger in his heart, speaking in an unfriendly tone:

"Cease your idle talk!"

"Hurry down and cultivate properly—"

"As for your Tongtian master, he will naturally return soon."

Yuanshi waved his hand, impatiently driving away the Three Teachings disciples who still wanted to ask more.

Not long after, the disciples dispersed, leaving only Laozi and Yuanshi sitting opposite each other, faces as still as water.

With no one around, Yuanshi could no longer pretend.

"Damn it, damn it!"

"The Demon Court's Di Jun, Taiyi, and others are all useless wastes."

"If they could have swiftly decided the battle, forged that Slaughter Witch Sword, how could things have developed to that extent?!"

He shouted these words in anger.

Demon Court!

Not bad!

Everything before happened because the Demon Race slaughtered humans.

Yuanshi also had to blame everything on Di Jun, Taiyi, and others.

Hearing this, Laozi glanced at Yuanshi with a face full of speechlessness.

"Second brother, why must you be like this?!"

"We both know clearly—this was rewritten because Chen Ku suddenly attained the Dao, and his battle prowess was outstanding."

"That Di Jun Taiyi was merely assessing the situation, unwilling to endure Chen Ku's divine might."

Although Laozi also felt hatred and anger, he remained clear-minded and could view this rationally.

Ridiculous!

Having witnessed Chen Ku's unparalleled divine might through the ages, would Di Jun Taiyi dare to recklessly act again?!

Their every move, weighing pros and cons, is also reasonable and blameless.

After pausing, Laozi continued speaking with a solemn expression:

"On the contrary, Chen Ku... we must never underestimate him in the future!"

"This child not only masters the profound Buddhist arts, but has also comprehended the Heavenly Dao laws, Chaos laws, spatial laws, and many other laws."

"Truly... god-and-ghost-defying!"

The Heavenly Dao laws—Chen Ku's past display of the Heavenly Dao Grindstone is the best proof.

As for the Chaos laws, evident from Chen Ku's attainment of the Mixed Yuan Great Golden Immortal of Dao.

As for spatial laws... even sages can be easily exiled by them, and even now, it still leaves Laozi and Yuanshi with lingering fear.

Laozi enumerated Chen Ku's many methods and trump cards.

Numb!

Completely numb!

Even if facing Jieyin and Zhunti directly, or adding Hongyun's aid, the Three Pure Ones would not be helpless.

But now, Chen Ku, a junior, has risen powerfully, the later surpassing the former.

The pressure he brings is simply greater than that of the Jieyin-Zhunti Three Sages.

Fortunately, Laozi's persuasion has finally calmed Yuanshi somewhat.

He also knows that anger serves no purpose.

Now, reviewing the previous battle, trying to find a way to suppress Chen Ku, is the most important.

But... what method could suppress Chen Ku?!

Utterly unimaginable!

More importantly, Yangmei Daxian's earlier words have once again surfaced in Yuanshi's mind.

"If following Yangmei's senior's words, now that Chaos Pearl, Creation Jade Disc fragments, Time Pagoda, etc., have all fallen into Chen Ku's hands."

"Each of these treasures is enough to hard-contend with a sage's power."

Before, Yangmei might have spoken out of resentment.

Although he fled into Chaos, in the dark he transmitted divine sense, informing the Three Pure Ones of Chen Ku's acquisition of many top treasures.

At that moment, Yuanshi's face grew even uglier.

Laozi also furrowed his brows tightly.

"That Chen Ku... is indeed too troublesome!"

"Their fortune is deep and profound, their spiritual treasures countless—truly, few can compare!"

"We must find a way to resolve this!"

Old Master gritted his teeth silently.

As the words fell, his expression shifted slightly, as if he had thought of something.

"Why is it that even our Heavenly Dao Saints' combat power falls short of Chen Ku's Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal?!"

"The Three Corpses... the problem must still lie with the Three Corpses."

Old Master's words seemed to finally make sense to him.

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi was stunned for a moment, then looked at Old Master with utter confusion.

Three Corpses?!

The Dao of Severing the Three Corpses?!

When they were preparing to become Sages, they cultivated this very method.

But since attaining the Dao and becoming Saints, they had long ceased to pay attention to their own Three Corpses.

Thus, Yuanshi did not immediately understand what Old Master meant.

Seeing Yuanshi's confusion, Old Master frowned in thought, then continued speaking:

"We once severed our Three Corpses, which allowed us to achieve perfected preparation for Sagehood, and thus attain the Dao."

"Yet, we lacked the most crucial step."

"That is... to reunite the Three Corpses into one!"

Instantly, the previous gloom vanished, and Old Master seemed to have discovered something extraordinary.

He spoke on, explaining the profundity to Yuanshi.

In the present age, all Heavenly Dao Saints, without exception, had severed their Three Corpses in the past, then bypassed the most difficult step of reuniting them.

Thereafter, relying on Heavenly Dao merit, they attained the Dao and became Saints.

This act was akin to discarding their own greatest strength and entirely relying on the power bestowed by the Heavenly Dao.

The self is deficient!

Old Master summarized it in these four words, and Yuanshi's heart trembled upon hearing them.

"Could it really be like this?!"

He murmured in astonishment.

In the eyes of all beings, Heavenly Dao Saints are already perfected in their Dao fruit, flawless and supreme.

But Old Master's analysis stirred the heart and left no choice but to be convinced.

By now, Yuanshi also seemed to somewhat grasp Old Master's meaning.

"Does Elder Brother mean... if we can reunite the Three Corpses, our strength will necessarily increase again?!"

To this, Old Master nodded without hesitation.

"Not bad!"

"If we can reunite the Three Corpses, the Sage realm will undoubtedly become stronger."

"Only then might we possibly withstand Chen Ku's Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal might in direct confrontation."

Old Master spoke these words.

Instantly, Yuanshi's expression brightened with excitement, his eyes shining.

Hope!

This is their hope for further advancement, to overwhelm Chen Ku, and even to overwhelm the Buddhist Gate.

Of course, saying it is simple.

But upon a little reflection, Yuanshi's expression involuntarily sank slightly.

"Although that is so..."

"But how are we to reunite the Three Corpses?!"

This time, both fell into deep thought.

Regarding this matter, they had never considered it before, and for a moment had no clue or concrete method.

And just as Old Master and Yuanshi were lost in thought.

From afar, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Master, disciple seeks audience!"

Upon hearing this, Old Master and Yuanshi temporarily gathered their thoughts and turned toward the sound.

But the one who came was none other than the Ren Sect's sole inner disciple, Xuandu.

"It is Xuandu, disciple!"

"You too have come for that previous battle?!"

"Hehe, no need to worry—Master and your two uncles are all well."

Perhaps having thought of a way to reunite the Three Corpses, Old Master's mood brightened greatly.

At this moment, facing Xuandu, he also showed a hint of a smile.

He naturally assumed his disciple had come out of concern for the safety of the Three Pure Ones Saints, and thus specially came to check on them?!

But who would have thought, upon hearing Old Master's words, Xuandu remained silent.

He stepped forward slowly, first performing a salute.

Then, his expression seemed somewhat desolate, and he finally spoke:

"Reporting to Master, disciple has come, for there is a matter I wish to verify!"

Upon hearing this, Old Master and Yuanshi raised their eyebrows, greatly surprised.

Such an expression on Xuandu's face is indeed rare.

Laozi remained silent, quietly waiting for Xuandu's next words.

Only then did the latter speak in a muffled voice:

"Before this, the Demon Race slaughtered humans, and Chen Ku loudly proclaimed that the Three Pure Ones obstructed Buddhism, willingly becoming accomplices to the demon court."

"Dare I ask, Master, is this true or false?!"

In an instant.

Laozi Yuanshi suddenly understood.

No wonder Xuandu would show such a complex expression.

It turns out he is concerned for the human race.

It is easy to imagine that Xuandu originated from among humans.

Previously, however, he had no choice but to witness firsthand the slaughter of humans, the scene of blood drifting and floating.

For Xuandu, this is an immense blow that cannot be spoken of.

More importantly, learning that the master he reveres most is actually an accomplice to the demon court?!

How chilling is this?!

Laozi's expression froze, unsure how to respond.

Yet, as a sage, he absolutely cannot utter falsehoods before his own disciples.

Therefore, after pondering for a long while, Laozi could only say with deep meaning:

"Xuandu disciple, your cultivation is still weak, and you do not understand the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao."

"All that I have done is merely to follow the great trend of the Heavenly Dao."

"Given time, you will naturally understand my painstaking efforts."

Laozi did not speak plainly, but changed the subject.

Yet such an attitude is, in no way, not an indication that, facing his disciple's questioning, he also feels somewhat guilty?!

And Xuandu naturally also understood Laozi's implied meaning.

Not denying it is tantamount to admitting it!

In other words, what Chen Ku said earlier was not false—our master, and even our two martial uncles, truly did obstruct Buddhism to save humanity.

The look of desolation and silence in Xuandu's eyes deepened for a moment.

"If so... disciple wishes to withdraw from the Ren Sect from now on!"