Whether or not Prime Celestial Sovereign was truly the culprit, Jieyin Daoist had no intention of hesitating. Striking first might even force the real mastermind to reveal themselves. Besides, he was already fuming and needed an outlet for his anger.
Worst case, if he had misjudged, a preemptive strike would serve as a warning.
In his Jade Void Palace, Prime Celestial Sovereign was bewildered. He had been merely observing events unfold when Jieyin Daoist suddenly targeted him. His initial confusion quickly gave way to rage as he realized Jieyin was advancing on his territory.
"Jieyin, you brazen thief, how dare you!"
"Hmph!"
Jieyin Daoist grunted coldly, his figure darting swiftly through the boundless chaos. The ferocious gales and deadly spatial rifts—capable of obliterating even Daluo Golden Immortals—were mere nuisances to him.
If he were on the desolate continent, a single thought would have brought him there instantly. But here in the chaos, even he dared not act recklessly.
"Palm of the Tathagatas Realm!"
Without so much as a greeting, Jieyin unleashed his attack as soon as he arrived.
"Insolent!"
Prime Celestial Sovereign was incensed. If not for the Dao Ancestor's decree, he would have crushed the Western Sect long ago. Now Jieyin had dared to bring the fight to his doorstep—sheer audacity!
He swung his divine weapon, the Binding Whip, meeting Jieyin's attack head-on.
The clash of the Saints instantly sent shockwaves across the cosmos, their formidable auras engulfing all of creation.
Countless powerful beings stretched their senses to witness the confrontation. It was, after all, a battle of Saints!
Since the Calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, the Dao Ancestor had decreed that Saints should no longer roam the desolate land. Not only had Jieyin reappeared in the mortal realm, but he had also dared to cross arms with Prime Celestial Sovereign. This was monumental news.
Unfortunately, despite being only a level below, the gap between Quasi-Saints and Saints was immense. Only a select few Quasi-Saint paragons—such as the Earth Immortal Patriarch Zhenyuanzi, the Jade Emperor Haotian, the Tathagata, and the Blood Sea Ancestor Minghe—were able to witness the skirmish in chaos.
Meanwhile, Monkey King, who had just ascended to Daluo Golden Immortal, could sense the faraway battle but was far from qualified to involve himself. He couldn't even observe the fight.
Indeed, without the Saint realm, one remained but an ant in the grand scheme. Monkey King was eager to know which two Saints were engaged in this cosmic duel.
Initially, Jieyin Daoist managed to hold his ground against Prime Celestial Sovereign, but he soon began to lose his footing. His cultivation had always been slightly weaker than Yuanshi's, and now, with his level having dropped, he was at an even greater disadvantage. Had Prime Celestial Sovereign not held back due to the Dao Ancestor's edict, Jieyin would have already been thoroughly defeated.
However, Jieyin was determined to persist. He summoned the Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus to his crown, gripped his Azure Lotus Banner, and adopted a stance that suggested he was ready to fight Prime Celestial Sovereign to the death.
"Jieyin, do you truly think I dare not kill you?"
Prime Celestial Sovereign's temper flared. Never one to tolerate such disrespect, he had already shown restraint, yet Jieyin remained unyielding.
"Come forth, Pangu Banner!"
With a mighty command, Prime Celestial Sovereign summoned the legendary Pangu Banner, and an aura of ancient desolation filled the battlefield.
Jieyin's face grew somber. He doubted his Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus could withstand the Pangu Banner, but retreat was no longer an option.
The moment the Pangu Banner emerged, it sealed off their chaotic battlefield, bringing forth a surge of deadly power aimed directly at Jieyin.
He was locked on; there would be no dodging this strike.
"Annihilating Tathagata's Radiance! Boundless Dharma, Salvific Light!"
Jieyin did not evade. Instead, he launched another attack toward Prime Celestial Sovereign, as though the Pangu Banner's oncoming assault was but a mere breeze.
Prime Celestial Sovereign deployed his Celebratory Clouds of the Heavens, effortlessly blocking Jieyin's attack and observing him with a disdainful smirk.
Did Jieyin truly believe his Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus could hold up against the Pangu Banner? The very notion was laughable.
But just as the Pangu Banner shattered the protection of the Nine-Petaled Golden Lotus and bore down toward Jieyin with lethal force, a radiant Seven-Treasure Buddhist Light materialized in front of him, absorbing the blow of the Pangu Banner.
"Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree! Zhunti, hiding in the shadows—how disgraceful!"
Prime Celestial Sovereign's face darkened. He instantly recognized the Seven-Treasure Light as coming from Zhunti's Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree.
He recalled the Pangu Banner, now more cautious.
Unlike Tongtian, who would fearlessly take on four opponents at once with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, Yuanshi knew better than to face the infamous Western Saints alone. Their reputation for cunning and underhanded tactics was well-known. If they saw an opportunity to strike him down through treachery, they'd seize it without hesitation.
"Hmph! Yuanshi, my Buddhist order demands an explanation!"
Zhunti Daoist manifested beside Jieyin, confronting Prime Celestial Sovereign. The aura of yet another Saint filled the chaotic void.
The observing Quasi-Saints' consciousnesses were forcibly ejected from the scene, helpless to continue watching. It was uncertain if any other Saints would intervene.
Zhunti's intent was unmistakable. If Prime Celestial Sovereign didn't offer an acceptable explanation, the Western Saints were prepared to join forces against him.
"An explanation? If anything, I should demand an explanation from you!"
Prime Celestial Sovereign's temper flared higher than ever. To have these intruders march onto his territory and expect him to explain himself? The audacity!
"Yuanshi, you dare disrupt the Journey to the West and undermine the very foundation of my Buddhist order!" Jieyin scowled.
"Disrupt the Journey to the West? Undermine your order? Don't be absurd!" Prime Celestial Sovereign flatly denied the accusation. "Enough talk! If you want a fight, let's have it!"
Even two against one, Yuanshi was undeterred.
His long-standing grudge against the two Western Saints made it personal. During the Investiture of the Gods, as he and Tongtian had been embroiled in their own bitter conflict, they had exploited the chaos to lure away several of his most beloved disciples, converting them to Buddhism. His rage had only simmered in the years since.
If not for Dao Ancestor Hongjun's decree, Yuanshi would have long since brought his wrath down upon the Western order.
Now, with these two confronting him directly, he felt it was finally time to settle old scores.
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