Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged awkward glances, intent on slipping away unnoticed.
"Hmph! Leaving already? Did I say you could?" Prime Celestial Sovereign sneered, blocking their path.
The Western Saints' expressions hardened. "Yuanshi, dare you defy the Dao Ancestor's decree?" They threw down a lofty accusation, hoping to stall him.
"Attack when you please, leave as you wish—are you dreaming?" Yuanshi was livid; they'd come without cause, and now wanted to leave without explanation. He wasn't about to let that slide.
Laozi and Tongtian, wordless but firm, positioned themselves to complete the three-pronged blockade around the Western Saints.
"Three Eastern Saints, is that how it is?" Jieyin scowled, realizing they wouldn't get out unscathed this time. With a wave of his hand, he sent three golden lights toward Laozi and the others.
"These are strands of karmic merit," he announced begrudgingly, turning to Zhunti. "Let's go."
Without further ado, Jieyin led their retreat, vanishing into the void.
Taking on three saints at once? That would be suicidal, especially since the Eastern Saints' deadly Zhuxian Sword Formation could kill even saints. Though saints were immortal, the disgrace of defeat would be too much to bear.
As the Western Saints disappeared into the chaos, Tongtian spoke up.
"Elder brother, was this you're doing?"
Yuanshi, taken aback, looked at Laozi in surprise. Could it really have been his scheme?
"How did you figure it out?" Laozi raised a brow, slightly surprised. "Didn't the Dao Ancestor say no saint was involved?"
"But he didn't say a saint couldn't assist behind the scenes," Tongtian grinned. "Besides, the look Teacher gave you at the end spoke volumes."
Laozi smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying.
"So there really is a variable in the plan?" Yuanshi was delighted. With this "variable" in Laozi's hands, the Buddhist expansion and the Journey to the West would have to go through them first.
Better yet, with Laozi holding the reins, Yuanshi felt assured; Laozi always prioritized the Dao. If it were Tongtian with this leverage…well, who knows?
"The 'variable' is a fixed variable," Laozi remarked. "As long as we remain united, Buddhist domination. Laughable." With a scoff, he turned and left.
Tongtian and Yuanshi exchanged a glance, each snorting in turn as they departed in opposite directions. Their rivalry, it seemed, wouldn't dissipate so easily.
Meanwhile, the true mastermind of this grand show—Monkey King—was giddy with delight.
Since the standoff of the four saints, his system had chimed twice, filling his coffers.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for altering the journey's karmic fate, earning +5,000,000 karma points!"
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for altering the journey's karmic fate, earning +5,000,000 karma points!"
"System, tell me—how did I get so many karmas points this time?" Monkey King was grinning like a fool. With ten million points, he could finally accomplish something big!
"Replying to Host: due to the Host's schemes, a saintly confrontation ensued, with four saints appearing on the battlefield. This achievement is worth five million karma points."
"Four saints, huh? That must have been Jieyin, Zhunti, Yuanshi, and Laozi. Oh, what a sight it would've been!" Monkey King mused dreamily at the idea of watching saints face off.
"Alright, then—what about the second five million?"
"Replying to Host: the appearance of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the return of the Tongtian to the mortal realm will greatly impact the journey's trajectory. Thus, another five million karma points."
"Tongtian is back?" Monkey King's eyes sparkled.
From tales he'd read, he admired Tongtian the most. Not only did Tongtian welcome all disciples, but he was also fiercely protective; during the Gods' Rebellion, he defended his disciples by setting the Zhuxian Sword Formation, standing alone against four saints!
That was a true master, he thought—not like his own past masters who seemed more inclined to ensnare disciples than to protect them.
"Wait a minute—that doesn't add up." A suspicion crossed Wukong's mind. "System, didn't you say karma points only count when I personally witness events? How did I witness the saintly showdown or Tongtian's return?"
"Did I?" The system replied coolly. "I don't recall saying such a thing."
Monkey King rolled his eyes. The system's secrecy suggested that some karma points were likely being pocketed. For what purpose, he couldn't say, but there wasn't much he could do.
"System, why did I get more karma points from their confrontation than from Tripitaka's demise? Isn't he the main character of this journey? Doesn't he have…more weight?"
"If Host could persuade Tripitaka to abandon the pilgrimage altogether, the karma points would skyrocket."
"But Tripitaka's death hasn't changed the course of the journey. Moreover, Tripitaka is still a mortal—thus worth comparatively little in the grand karmic scheme. A reminder: as of now, Host is the main character."
The title of "main character" made Wukong smile slightly, but trying to convince Tripitaka to quit? He'd pass on that.
Any attempt would surely be detected by the Buddhists, and then there'd be nothing left of him but dust. And with a saintly decree declaring the journey's inevitability, his best move was to work subtly, nudging Tripitaka's inclinations over time.
Or, he thought with a grin, if Tripitaka arrived at Thunder Monastery as a meat-eating, wine-drinking, womanizing monk, that would surely turn some heads.
For now, though, Tripitaka had just begun indulging in meat; there was still a long way to go before his transformation was complete. Perhaps it was time to introduce him to some tobacco…
Would opium be available in this world?
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。