Chapter 337 Temptation
Yuanshi frowned, looking quite troubled. "I only have fourteen disciples and one grand-disciple, among whom Yun Zhongzi has already been appointed as a Pure Blessed God..."
Fortunately, it was under Chang Hao's command, so Yuan Shi wouldn't have hesitated to give it all away. Otherwise, Yuan Shi wouldn't have been so easy to talk to, and would have forced Tong Tian to bring out his outer disciples to make up the numbers.
Yuanshi hesitated, and deciding who should be on the list and who shouldn't was the most difficult thing. After all, Yuanshi hadn't forgotten that Guangchengzi and the others were still burdened with the calamity of being killed by immortals. If he signed the list, it would only make things worse for Guangchengzi and the others.
The disciples whose names he wrote down were destined to be killed by the gods, their years of cultivation amounting to nothing.
If one is lucky enough to make the list physically, their path to immortality won't be completely ruined. But if one is unlucky and only their true spirit makes the list, their cultivation level will be fixed for life. Their divine path will depend solely on faith and incense offerings, and their strength will be closely related to these...
"Are you reluctant to part with him?" Hongjun was just waiting for Yuanshi to refuse to sign the agreement and then point at him. Look, he wouldn't even send his disciple to his side. How much genuine affection could he possibly have?
Yuanshi's expression hardened. "How could that be? Just as my senior brother said, maintaining the operation of the Heavenly Dao and the Heavenly Court is the inescapable responsibility of us cultivators."
Yuanshi used two fingers as a pen, his mind sweeping over his disciples one by one. Finally, he made a decision: these disciples had not made any progress over the years and were still only Great Luo Golden Immortals, yet they were burdened with the calamity of immortality. Perhaps, the path of immortality was not suitable for them.
Just as Yuanshi was about to write the names of those rebellious disciples into the Investiture of the Gods, Chang Hao was shocked. His hands moved faster than his brain, and he grabbed a corner of the Investiture of the Gods and pulled it back.
Hongjun exuded a chilling aura. Chang Hao even said that he wouldn't favor Yuanshi, and if he wasn't biased, then he shouldn't have dragged back the Investiture of the Gods.
Yuanshi was initially delighted, but then he remembered something, and his face turned even darker than Hongjun's. This showed how much he looked down on his disciples. Those disciples still needed to be taught a lesson; their reputations were probably ruined.
"What are you doing? Put the Investiture of the Gods back! I know you are reluctant to let cultivators abandon the path of immortality for the path of gods, but you should also distinguish between what is important and what is urgent," Hongjun said in a low voice. They had already agreed on this, how could Chang Hao go back on his word?
Chang Hao was in a dilemma, not because of this, but because he suddenly remembered that Yuanshi's disciple was very 'unique' and he didn't want to keep an idle person around.
These people are easy to get on the list but hard to get off. He will have to endure their endless years, which will be a real torture.
Tongtian glanced at the embarrassed Chang Hao, then turned to look at his second brother who exuded a gloomy aura, and smoothed things over by saying, "My second brother has fewer disciples than he does, so I'll pay for his share."
His second brother was very concerned about his reputation. He couldn't let the Chan Sect really "lose face." It was one thing for their own people to laugh at them, but he couldn't let the two Western Saints and Nuwa laugh at them.
Tongtian was very generous. His disciples were of varying quality, so he could select several hundred from the outer sect to fill the ranks. It was no big deal to make them pass the physical examinations. Anyway, they would be working under Chang Hao, so Tongtian wasn't worried at all.
If it were anyone else who became the Heavenly Emperor, Tongtian would naturally not be so generous. His second brother's disciple is a disciple, and his disciple is also precious. Who would have the heart to send his disciple to be enslaved?
Chang Hao suppressed his disgust. Apart from a few exceptions, the outer disciples of Tongtian were not much better than the Twelve Golden Immortals. "When masters sign the Investiture of the Gods on behalf of their disciples, it is tantamount to personally deciding their future. It is inevitably unfair. Why not let the disciples rely on their own abilities?"
Chang Hao has no need for ancestors under his command. Those who are remembered by Yuanshi and Tongtian are definitely not the humble and modest type.
Hongjun pondered this. Indeed, what was the point of forcing Yuanshi to sign the Investiture of the Gods? How could the spiritual energy of heaven and earth be restored without the deaths of a group of cultivators? How could Yuanshi be expected to exhaust himself to ensure his disciples didn't make it onto the list? It would only reveal Yuanshi's ugly face.
“That makes sense, let’s do it that way.” Tongtian was the first to respond, letting them rely on their own abilities to avoid future complaints about their teachers’ favoritism, and making it difficult for them to decide who to sign.
Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged a secret glance. This was great news for them. With the Chan and Jie sects fighting amongst themselves, they might be able to take the opportunity to extradite them to the West.
Perhaps, persuading them in the name of seeking asylum would be more successful...
Afterwards, Hongjun dismissed everyone, leaving only Yuanshi behind. He also forbade Changhao from eavesdropping. Even when Changhao retreated and then returned, secretly trying to eavesdrop, Hongjun blocked his way to listen.
He had previously promised Chang Hao against his will that he would no longer oppose Chang Hao's relationship with Yuanshi after Chang Hao became a saint. No matter how many times Hongjun calculated, the divination results always showed great fortune, and Chang Hao's sainthood was just around the corner. This great calamity was the opportunity.
Thus, Hongjun had to seize this last chance to break them up, using the promise he had already made to Changhao to lure Yuanshi into falling into the trap. Changhao was too perceptive, and Hongjun was afraid that Changhao would ruin his plans, so he guarded against Changhao very carefully.
Yuanshi knew that his master's visit was ill-intentioned, and he was concentrating on dealing with it carefully to avoid being tricked.
"This great calamity is actually prepared for the Chan Sect." Hongjun spoke frankly, otherwise, Yuanshi would have thought that the three sects were sharing the burden.
"Your disciples have committed calamities in the mortal world, and are facing imminent death. The great sect is on the verge of extinction. As for the Jie Sect, the disciples' karma is overwhelming, and the entire outer sect is in a state of chaos."
The Chan Sect is the orthodox sect of Taoism, and the Jie Sect is also quite influential. If you can help the Chan Sect overcome this calamity and further help the Jie Sect purify its reputation, I will no longer oppose your relationship with Chang Hao. "Hongjun has already secretly dug a pit for Yuanshi, just waiting for Yuanshi to jump in."
What could be worse than being an enemy of Chang Hao? By the time Chang Hao returns from his tribulation, Yuan Shi will be finished.
Yuanshi almost thought he was dreaming, feeling as if he were floating on clouds. "Master, is what you say true?"
Even if there were real problems, Yuanshi would have to jump in with his eyes open for the sake of Hongjun's definite words.
“The words of a sage are law, and he never regrets his words. How could he go back on his word?” Even if Hongjun was soft-hearted at the time and regretted it so much that he almost vomited blood afterward, he would only swallow his anger and would never break his promise to Chang Hao.
"Thank you, Master. I will certainly fulfill your wish, eliminate the Chan and Jie sects, and restore order to the world." Of course, Yuanshi wanted to say something else entirely.
However, considering his master's feelings, Yuanshi wisely chose to leave it at that, so as not to upset his master's sensitive heart.
"Alright, stop talking. Swear now that if you can't keep your promise to your master, you will never appear in front of Chang Hao again in this lifetime."
Hongjun didn't want to hear that. Tongtian, you'd better live up to expectations. After all, you're known as the one who brings ten thousand immortals to court. It shouldn't be too difficult for you to crush the twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, whose fighting strength is meager.
Even if we take a step back and assume that Tongtian is willing to let Yuanshi do whatever he wants for the sake of his second brother, Hongjun still has Changhao as a sure-fire killer move, which would ensure that Yuanshi has no way to complain.
Yuanshi hesitated, and made this oath...
“If you don’t swear an oath, there will be no future for either of you.” Hongjun sneered. He had no other choice for Yuanshi.
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