Chapter 150: Duobao the Honest Man

Hearing Jiang Yuan reveal such a heavenly secret, Daoist Duobao felt a sense of unreality.

Supreme Laozi was his own senior uncle, and when all was told, they both evolved from the lineage of the Great God Pangu. Although they belonged to different sects, they could still be considered to be of the same origin. As for the Western Teachings, there was no need to speak of them—they were complete outsiders. How could there be any reason for him to be enlightened and converted to the Western Teachings?

While they were unaware of it, Jiang Yuan knew very well that the Western Teachings were the predecessor of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism. Moreover, this Daoist Duobao was destined to be an indispensable figure in the future of Buddhism. Because of this, Lord Laozi journeyed west out of Hangu Pass specifically to enlighten Daoist Duobao, allowing him to transform into Sakyamuni and become the lord of the Western Paradise.

Jiang Yuan harbored a burning hatred for the Two Sages of the West; these two fellows had robbed the Taoist tradition of countless talents. Aside from Daoist Duobao of the截教 (Interception Teaching), quite a few of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the阐教 (Elucidation Teaching) had also defected to Buddhism. Figures like Manjusri Guangfa Tianzun, Cihang Daoist, Puxian Zhenren, and many others—Jiang Yuan could hardly even count them all.

While others were fighting here and there, those two sages were busy poaching talent. He despised poachers the most. Of course, excepting himself.

The more Jiang Yuan thought about it, the angrier he became. Since Daoist Duobao was bound to be poached by others anyway, he might as well poach him first. This was a being who could achieve sagehood in the future.

"Is the Human Sovereign joking with this poor Daoist?" Daoist Duobao said with a solemn expression. "How could my senior uncle possibly let me convert to the Western Teachings, let alone personally enlighten me?"

Jiang Yuan had no intention of arguing this point with Daoist Duobao. Since the latter was subjectively unwilling to believe it, saying anything more would be utterly futile—wearing out his tongue would be of no use. Furthermore, these were merely things from the memories in his mind, completely devoid of any evidence or footing. The main thing was that the trajectory of many events was no longer developing according to its original path; everything was fraught with variables.

For things that had already happened, one could certainly speak with absolute certainty about knowing it would come to this. But for things that had yet to happen, no one could guarantee the outcome.

Jiang Yuan smiled faintly and said, "Since the Daoist priest is unwilling to believe it, just consider that this lonely one never spoke of this matter at all."

"The Human Sovereign naturally does not speak without foundation. Might you offer some basis for this?" Daoist Duobao asked with some hesitation.

He always felt that Jiang Yuan had reasons for saying those things, only he himself did not know what those reasons were. Daoist Duobao still believed Jiang Yuan's words to a certain extent, because what he had said earlier were all facts! This alone was enough to make Daoist Duobao place a measure of trust in Jiang Yuan. At their level of cultivation, no bizarre event was considered strange. Therefore, Daoist Duobao asked for Jiang Yuan's basis.

Jiang Yuan merely smiled and shook his head. "If you ask for a basis, this lonely one truly cannot offer much. The Daoist priest need only treat it as wind passing the ear. If you are willing to heed this matter, naturally that would be best. Those who cultivate the Dao should all the more seek good fortune and avoid disaster."

"This poor Daoist understands," Daoist Duobao said with a complex look in his eyes.

The image of the Human Sovereign in his mind instantly became lofty and imposing. Although his strength was not formidable enough, he was sufficiently mysterious. He found it hard to fathom how the Human Sovereign could possibly know such things.

"I wonder if the Daoist priest has any interest in descending the mountain to assist this lonely one's Great Shang?" Jiang Yuan mercilessly began his poaching efforts.

"Is this the very reason the Human Sovereign made this trip?" Daoist Duobao asked.

Jiang Yuan made no attempt to conceal it, nodding with a smile and saying, "Precisely for this matter. For a powerhouse like the Daoist priest, this lonely one naturally wishes to try and win you over. With the addition of a powerhouse like the Daoist priest, the sacred mountains of Great Shang in the future will gain an extra fraction of protection."

Although Jiang Yuan knew the crucial point of this great tribulation did not lie in the war between Great Shang and Xiqi—that was merely a detonating point, and the ultimate struggle was still between the Elucidation Teaching and the Interception Teaching, as Primordial Beginning Celestial Venerable and the Master of Heaven had long harbored conflicts, and friction between their two doctrines' theories made a clash inevitable—Jiang Yuan simply refused to let Great Shang perish. If Xiqi won this war, what would be destroyed would likely be more than just Great Shang.

As the King of the Shang Dynasty, Jiang Yuan would not meet a good end either, even though he had already prepared for the worst.

"Whether this poor Daoist decides to help Great Shang is ultimately a decision for my master to make," Daoist Duobao said calmly.

As the eldest disciple of the Master of Heaven, everything he did naturally revolved around his master's wishes. Although Primordial Beginning Celestial Venerable never stopped or forced them in what they did, as the eldest disciple, he could not let his master's heart grow cold. Therefore, Daoist Duobao temporarily put aside the question of whether or not to assist Great Shang. If his master was willing to help Great Shang, then naturally he would have no problem with it. If his master was unwilling, then even if he felt favorably disposed toward King Zhou, he would simply have to let the matter drop.

As if suddenly remembering something, Jiang Yuan asked Daoist Duobao, "Has the Master of Heaven placed the formation diagram and the four Immortal-Slaying Swords in the Daoist priest's possession? Does the Master of Heaven intend for the Daoist priest to learn how to control the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation?"

Hearing this, Daoist Duobao immediately looked at Jiang Yuan with vigilance. Even such a closely guarded secret was known to him?

Jiang Yuan remained completely oblivious to the earth-shattering secret he had just asked about, merely looking at Daoist Duobao with curiosity. Because when Supreme Laozi took Daoist Duobao away during that battle, it was Daoist Duobao who had set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation on behalf of his master. Jiang Yuan felt the question he asked was perfectly normal. The Master of Heaven was not a stingy person, and Daoist Duobao was his eldest disciple; telling him how to set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation seemed as normal as could be, right?

However, Daoist Duobao did not feel that way at all. This Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation was the supreme killing array of the Master of Heaven, capable of effortlessly slaughtering immortals; how could it be easily passed on to others? Even when Daoist Duobao was summoned by his master back then to learn the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, his heart had tightened. He had not expected his master to truly teach the sword formation to him. His master had stated no purpose, and naturally, he did not ask too many questions; being able to learn this skill made Daoist Duobao feel profoundly fortunate.

Yet how did the Human Sovereign come to know of this? Could it be that he truly possessed omniscience regarding all things under heaven? A matter involving a sage—even if Ancestor Hongjun were present here, he might not know the details so thoroughly!

Daoist Duobao felt he could no longer continue chatting with the Human Sovereign. Here he was, a dignified half-step sage, yet in front of a Human Sovereign at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, he actually felt a faint sensation of having nowhere to hide. This was simply absurd.

"For this matter, the Human Sovereign should wait until you go inside and ask my master," Daoist Duobao said with a forced smile.

"Since the Daoist priest is unwilling to speak of it, this lonely one will naturally not press further," Jiang Yuan said with a faint smile.

In truth, he already had his answer in mind. Daoist Duobao was an honest man who did not know how to lie. No wonder he would become a Buddha in the future; Jiang Yuan suspected that the saying "monks do not tell lies" was something he himself added into the Buddhist doctrines. For Daoist Duobao to speak in such a manner was practically tantamount to a tacit admission that the Master of Heaven had indeed taught him the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.