Chapter 154 It Was Worth It

Stepping out of the Biyou Palace, Jiang Yuan saw that the Daoist Duobao was still waiting outside.

This immediately brought a spark of joy to Jiang Yuan's heart. Perfect, it saved him the trouble of searching for him.

Besides, Master Tongtian had already stated that he could win over anyone from the截教 (Chiejiao) as he pleased.

"Daoist Priest, Master Tongtian has already promised Us to aid the Great Shang. Wonder if the Daoist Priest can now accompany Us to the Great Shang?" Jiang Yuan asked Daoist Duobao as he came out.

Who would have thought that the honest Daoist Duobao would still shake his head, "Pardon the Human Sovereign, but this poor Daoist still cannot descend the mountain."

"Why is that?" Jiang Yuan suspected that this Daoist Duobao was playing games with him.

Master Tongtian had no objections whatsoever, why won't you just come with me?

"Does the Human Sovereign truly wish to hear the reason?" Daoist Duobao asked with some hesitation as he looked at Jiang Yuan.

"Naturally, We wish to hear it," Jiang Yuan replied without a moment's hesitation.

Without knowing the reason, how could he poach talent?

True to his honest nature, Daoist Duobao was utterly incapable of telling a lie. He looked straight at Jiang Yuan and said, "Just now, Master transmitted his voice to me, telling me not to descend the mountain with the Human Sovereign."

"..." Jiang Yuan was rendered momentarily speechless. Was Master Tongtian messing with him?

Just a moment ago when he was leaving, the man had loudly proclaimed that as long as Jiang Yuan had the capability to persuade them, anyone could descend the mountain with him without issue.

Yet in the blink of an eye, he ordered his own disciple not to go? Master Tongtian was playing chess on the fifth dimension.

"Did Master Tongtian not always allow his disciples to choose for themselves? Why would he tell the Daoist Priest not to come with Us this time?" Jiang Yuan asked, unconvinced.

Daoist Duobao shook his head blankly and replied, "I am not entirely clear on that either, but Master surely has his reasons."

Jiang Yuan was dumbfounded. Was this the legendary master-obsessed boy? Whatever the master says goes?

Daoist Priest, you are thousands of years old, and at the Quasi-Sage realm, you ought to have a mind of your own. You shouldn't just listen to your master about everything.

"If Master Tongtian won't let you go, you really aren't going?" Jiang Yuan asked, feeling somewhat reluctant to give up.

Daoist Duobao nodded calmly and said, "Because he is my Master."

Just as Jiang Yuan was cursing inwardly and lamenting the loss of such a powerful Quasi-Sage figure, Master Tongtian's voice abruptly echoed in his mind.

"The Human Sovereign need not harbor resentment toward this Sect Master. I have other arrangements for Duobao."

Pondering for a moment, Jiang Yuan asked doubtfully in his mind, "Is it because of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation?"

"The Human Sovereign is as clever as ever."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan stopped fretting over it.

Since Daoist Duobao had already mastered the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, it meant Master Tongtian intended to have Duobao deploy and command the formation during the final battle.

Yet, this was precisely what worried Jiang Yuan.

According to the Investiture of the Gods, Master Tongtian also handed the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation over to Daoist Duobao to command, until Grand Supreme Laojun eventually entered the fray.

Daoist Duobao was swept away by the Taiji Diagram and subsequently personally enlightened and sent into Buddhism.

What would the outcome be this time?

Jiang Yuan did not want the Chiejiao faction to suffer defeat once more, so he warned Daoist Duobao once again, "Perhaps the Daoist Priest did not take to heart what We mentioned earlier."

"However, We still feel it necessary to remind the Daoist Priest once more: in the future, when you command the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, be sure to exercise utmost caution regarding your senior fellow apprentice, Grand Supreme Laojun."

Looking at the solemn expression of the Human Sovereign, Daoist Duobao felt bewildered, yet he silently committed the words to memory.

"Regardless of whether Senior Fellow Apprentice will act in such a manner in the future, this poor Daoist must thank the Human Sovereign for today's warning," Daoist Duobao said with a trace of gratitude.

Jiang Yuan waved his hand dismissively, "There is no need for thanks. The Daoist Priest only needs to keep this matter in mind when the time comes."

Nodding without another word, Daoist Duobao closed his eyes to meditate, standing motionless like a stone statue.

Jiang Yuan felt that there was nothing left to cherish in this Biyou Palace; it was a place that brought him sorrow.

Sigh, he had gained nothing and made a wasted trip, aside from adding Master Tongtian as a trump card.

He hadn't even managed to recruit Daoist Duobao.

To think he had shared such deep secrets with him, almost exposing himself in the process.

Instead of stealing the chicken, he had lost the rice used as bait.

How thoroughly aggravating!

"Senior Baize, let us leave and find Grand Tutor Wen and the others," Jiang Yuan said with a wave of his hand.

"If the Human Sovereign wishes to find Nephew Wen Zhong, he should currently be with Junior Sister Our Lady of the Golden Spirit. Does the Daoist Priest need this poor Daoist to lead the way?"

Daoist Duobao, who had previously closed his eyes, suddenly opened them and asked.

Jiang Yuan glanced back at Daoist Duobao, then looked at Baize beside him, and smiled, "With Senior Baize here, we won't trouble the Daoist Priest."

Daoist Duobao did not press the matter further and slowly closed his eyes once again, remaining utterly still.

Seeing Daoist Duobao like this, Jiang Yuan couldn't help muttering inwardly: No wonder you were targeted by the Two Saints of the West.

With you sitting in deep meditation like an old monk, if they don't capture you to be a monk, who else would they take?

Jiang Yuan looked at Baize. Without waiting for Jiang Yuan to speak, Baize merely flicked his sleeve.

Instantly, Jiang Yuan felt the world spin, and in a flash, a group of people materialized before him.

Among them were Wen Zhong and Shiji, alongside Guangchengzi and an unfamiliar matron.

What should one do when encountering someone unfamiliar?

Naturally, rely on the cheating system!

Character: Our Lady of the Golden Spirit
Title/Rank: Disciple of Master Tongtian, Chief of Female Immortals
Realm: Peak Late-Stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal
Possessions: Dragon-Tiger Ruyi, Four-Elephants Pagoda, Seven-Fragrance Carriage, Flying Gold Sword
Cultivation Technique: Lotus Core Spiritual Treasure Divine Record
Mount: Dragon-Bone Vermilion Lion
Loyalty: 00
Favorability: 60
Obtainable Tyrant Value: 6000

Another heavy hitter, entirely worthy of being the woman who became Grand Tutor Wen's master.

This was a fierce warrior who could fight three Dhyani masters single-handedly without losing the upper hand—yet another powerful thigh to hug.

Jiang Yuan increasingly felt that bringing Grand Tutor Wen along on this trip was the wisest decision possible.

"Junior Jiang Yuan pays respects to Senior Our Lady of the Golden Spirit. This junior has long heard the Grand Tutor speak of you with great yearning. To behold you today is to see that the legends fall short."

Without missing a beat, he launched straight into lavish flattery.

Our Lady of the Golden Spirit looked at Jiang Yuan with some surprise, "You were able to recognize this poor Daoist at a glance?"

Jiang Yuan smiled faintly, "Senior jests. Aside from Senior, which woman in this world could possess such imposing aura?"

Jiang Yuan wasn't just talking nonsense; after all, she was the Chief of Female Immortals. Though a woman, she possessed a boundless, dominant majesty.

This was even more overwhelming than the heroic aura emanating from Gao Lanying.

Wen Zhong rolled his eyes in annoyance at Jiang Yuan. This fellow bragged without even blinking.

He didn't recall ever telling Jiang Yuan that his master was Our Lady of the Golden Spirit, so how could he have "frequently spoken of her"?

He truly had no idea where this fellow managed to dig up so much information.

"The Human Sovereign certainly has a way with words," Our Lady of the Golden Spirit said with a faint smile.

"Would the two Seniors be willing to accompany Us to the Great Shang?" Jiang Yuan asked somewhat anxiously.

No matter what, he needed to trick these two heavyweights into coming to the Great Shang first.

In Jiang Yuan's view, being able to invite these two Hunyuan Golden Immortals made this trip thoroughly worthwhile.