Chapter 147: The Western Cult of Demons

"Three Junior Brothers, let us discuss matters amicably and avoid damaging our harmonious relations."

Li Tian descended with a smile, then gave a light, casual wave of his hand.

In an instant, the lingering aura of blood across the battlefield vanished entirely. The remaining corpses, severed limbs, and various fragments dissipated into nothingness, returning to the heavens and earth.

Given that most of them were Quasi-Sages endowed with formidable vitality, the extent to which their physical bodies had been destroyed was unimaginable—in fact, a large majority had been directly reduced to ashes.

"Eldest Brother."

Sanqing all looked toward Li Tian and offered a greeting.

Li Tian nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Tongtian, speaking in a measured tone: "Junior Brother Tongtian, you need not take this matter too much to heart. As the saying goes, misfortune and fortune are intertwined. Those who perished in this battle have lost their physical forms and cultivation, but their divine souls remain intact. They have entered the Celestial Book, and once they are conferred their divine positions, they shall be resurrected and attain immortality henceforth."

Tongtian raised his head. After a brief divination, he realized that Li Tian's words were true, and could not help but let out a sigh.

"Very well then."

Although entering the Celestial Book meant falling under the control of others in the future, the prospect of achieving immortality was, all things considered, not entirely unacceptable.

"I only hope Eldest Brother will treat them kindly in the days to come." With these words, Tongtian turned around, summoned a cloud, and rode away into the distance.

Seeing this, the remaining disciples of the截教 (Jiejiao) exchanged glances and ultimately could only follow under the leadership of Our Lady of Turtle Spirit.

"Why have you all not dispersed yet?"

At this, Yuanshi also addressed the disciples of his own sect.

"We obey, Master."

The numerous second-generation disciples of the阐教 (Chanjiao) immediately acknowledged the command and departed on their respective clouds, while the third-generation disciples returned to the military camp of King Wu.

Thus, the fierce and momentous conflict between the Chanjiao and Jiejiao came to an end.

After bidding farewell to Li Tian, Yuanshi and Laozi also returned to their respective dojos. Having just experienced such events, they naturally had little inclination to attend the Peach Banquet.

***

Up in the heavenly court, Zhunti watched the scene unfolding below, a trace of slight disappointment welling up in his heart. They actually didn't end up fighting?

However, the elite forces of Jiejiao had been almost entirely wiped out in this battle, and the losses suffered by Chanjiao were likewise not insignificant. For the Western Teachings, this presented a considerable opportunity... Narrowing his eyes slightly, Zhunti began to secretly scheme.

At the same time, in a secluded corner of the primordial world, a figure in a black robe likewise shook his head.

A battle between saints, and yet they didn't fight?

What a pity.

With a flash, the black-robed figure dissolved into a cluster of black mist and vanished from the spot.

***

At the domain of the Western Teachings.

Burning Lamp sat cross-legged in a secret chamber, weighing the gains and losses.

"Should I actually go through with this?"

More than a year had passed, and he had essentially drawn most members of the Western Teachings into his own plan.

Yet now, on the verge of execution, he found himself hesitating once again...

"Burning Lamp."

Suddenly, a dark shadow materialized within the secret chamber.

"The Peach Banquet is about to conclude. Why have you not yet begun? Could it be that you are waiting for your sect master to return?"

Burning Lamp raised his head. The arrival of the black-robed figure did not provoke any sense of surprise; he was clearly already accustomed to this person's unfathomable comings and goings.

"I wish to begin quickly as well... However, I want to know, what is your true objective?"

"Rest assured, I mean you no harm." The black-robed figure smiled.

With a sudden flash, he appeared instantly before Burning Lamp. Extending a hand accompanied by an invisible surge of energy, Burning Lamp instantly discovered that his body was completely beyond his control.

"You... what are you trying to do?"

Looking into the eyes of the black-robed figure and sensing the intense killing intent contained within them, Burning Lamp's expression shifted drastically.

"Nothing much."

The black-robed figure chuckled lightly, then released Burning Lamp and stepped back a pace. Seeing Burning Lamp stagger to his feet, he spoke slowly.

"I merely wanted to make you understand that killing you is nothing more than a passing thought for me."

Burning Lamp's complexion turned somewhat pale. "I only wanted to confirm whether what you said was true..."

"Do you truly believe I have any reason to deceive you? If I wanted to force your obedience, there are countless methods at my disposal!"

"Would you care to test them?"

Feeling the frigid killing intent radiating from the black-robed figure's gaze, Burning Lamp could not help but take a step back, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Ponder this carefully. I harbor no malice toward you. Look at the power within your grasp... and look into your own heart..."

Seeing Burning Lamp reduced to such a pathetic state, the black-robed figure smiled with utter disdain and lost any further desire to converse with him.

He turned around, his form transforming into a cloud of black mist, and vanished from the spot.

Burning Lamp stood frozen in place. To be honest, he was beginning to regret his actions.

How wonderful it would have been to remain a dutiful Vice-Master of the Western Teachings; why did he ever choose to wade into these muddy waters?

Yet immediately afterward, he extended his hand and stared at a cluster of purplish-gold flames pulsing slowly within his palm. He stood in a daze for a moment before a smile finally crept onto his face.

"No matter. Let us only hope he does not deceive me..."

"Sect Master?"

"Splendid, simply splendid... From now on, I too am a Sect Master!"

***

Meanwhile, in the heavenly court, the Peach Banquet continued in all its lively splendor.

Li Tian had already returned and was chatting casually with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Zhunti sat to one side, drinking alone while secretly plotting how to seize the opportunity to expand the Western Teachings.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Zhunti's expression shifted. With a slight inward focus, he perceived a frantic surge in his own karmic retribution, filling him with shock and bewilderment.

"How can this be?"

"What is the matter, Junior Brother Zhunti?"

Sensing Zhunti's abnormality, Li Tian instinctively glanced toward him. Upon perceiving the heavy karma clinging to him, a look of profound astonishment appeared on Li Tian's face as well.

With a brief mental divination, he grasped the cause of the event and could not help but feel marvelously amused.

Burning Lamp?

What gave this fellow the audacity to dare shake the very foundation of a Saint?

"What happened?"

Nuwa also looked over with a puzzled expression.

"Take a look."

Li Tian glanced at Nuwa, then flicked his hand, summoning a screen of light into the void. Reflected within it was precisely the current scene unfolding within the Western Shijiao.

"Burning Lamp!"

Zhunti also stared at the light screen conjured by Li Tian. Upon clearly recognizing Burning Lamp standing at the head of the assembly, clad in a set of black robes, his expression turned intensely gloomy.

For he had discovered that he was suddenly unable to mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao!

"Eldest Brother, I fear I can no longer remain to attend the Peach Banquet. Please forgive me." Zhunti cupped his hands toward Li Tian with a rather dark expression and spoke.

Right now, he only wanted to crush that petty scoundrel Burning Lamp to dust and restore the orthodoxy of the Shijiao...

He could only hope that once the Shijiao orthodoxy was restored, the Heavenly Dao would retract the karmic backlash from his body... Otherwise, he scarcely dared to imagine what his future would hold.

After all, he was currently a Saint and his situation was already this awkward; if he were to lose that status in the future—he truly could not bear to imagine it...

"Junior Brother, please go ahead." Li Tian smiled naturally and watched as Zhunti took his leave.

Regarding this turn of events, he found it immensely entertaining.

Burning Lamp?
The Western Demonic Sect?
How truly interesting...