Tongtian looked at Taishang helplessly, seeking help. Taishang did not speak, and even seemed to want to laugh, his expression clearly telling Tongtian to deal with his own mess!
Tongtian's gaze then fell on his second elder brother, Yuanshi. Yuanshi did not disappoint and stepped forward at this moment.
Tongtian felt a surge of joy, thinking that at this critical juncture, he could still count on his second brother!
Yuanshi, looking down from his high position at Duobao kneeling on the ground, his disdainful gaze unabashed, shook his head repeatedly and spoke without mercy.
"Daoist Duobao? Heh, nothing more than a treasure-hoarding rat, suddenly acquiring many treasures, and now using such a Daoist name to cover up his origins?"
"Such a vulgar creature, worthy of being under the tutelage of my Three Pure Ones?"
Yuanshi's words made Daoist Duobao's face change. He was indeed a treasure-hoarding rat transformed into human form, wandering the primordial world.
Having obtained so many treasures from Xu Fang's distribution, he had immediately changed his Daoist name to Duobao. This move was both to comply with heaven's will and to keep his humble origins in mind.
Who would have thought that Yuanshi would be so direct, revealing his origins in one sentence and expressing such disdain?
This left Daoist Duobao, who was kneeling and kowtowing, at a loss for what to do.
The observing great powers, having just heard Xu Fang's veiled criticisms directed at them through Daoist Duobao, already harbored dissatisfaction towards him. Seeing Yuanshi reveal his true nature, they immediately became animated.
"Heh! I never imagined that this fellow, with his stern appearance, was actually a big rat!"
"Heh! And he calls himself Daoist Duobao, turns out he's just a treasure-hoarding rat that loves to accumulate wealth!"
"Someone like him, worthy of being among the Three Pure Ones, a disciple of the Xuan Sect? What a pipe dream!"
The great powers, at this moment, all spoke out, kicking Daoist Duobao while he was down, feeling immensely vindicated.
Letting you show off, letting you be arrogant, now you're suffering, you deserve it!
Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin also joined the ranks of those kicking the fallen dog.
"Alas! So that's how it is. No wonder we didn't get as many treasures as they did!"
"Exactly! After all, he's a treasure-hoarding rat, perhaps he has a natural affinity for absorbing treasures?"
Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin were clearly still resentful that Daoist Duobao had obtained more treasures than them, and now they mocked him relentlessly.
Xu Fang found the sarcastic Zhunti and Jieyin amusing.
Are you really okay with mocking your future Buddha, the Great Lord Buddha?
No wonder Duobao would later prefer to recruit Randeng as the Past Buddha rather than deal with you two. This is all your own doing!
However, even while inwardly mocking Zhunti and Jieyin, Xu Fang couldn't bear to see the flustered Daoist Duobao and prepared to speak up for him.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, you..."
"Elder Brother Yuanshi, what you've said is quite problematic."
Xu Fang had barely finished speaking when Tongtian interjected.
"The true form of this Daoist Duobao is not something he can decide. Perhaps naming himself Duobao was just to remind himself not to forget his roots. If he truly wanted to hide his identity, why would he take the name Duobao?"
Tongtian, unable to bear seeing Daoist Duobao wronged, began to question his own elder brother.
"Elder Brother, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but while one's origin and background are certainly important, one must also consider their Dao heart and character. They cannot be judged solely on that."
Even if he didn't intend to take Daoist Duobao as a disciple, Tongtian would not stand by idly while he was insulted because of him.
However, these words immediately ignited Yuanshi's anger. He was trying to speak for Tongtian, and this brat was arguing with him?
Most importantly, this junior brother was questioning his own long-held beliefs. This was no small matter; it was a major issue, and he could not back down now.
"Tongtian, what you say is incorrect. One's origin and background are the key to a being's cultivation, of utmost importance. How can it not be valued?"
Yuanshi argued logically, defending his viewpoint, while Tongtian, unwilling to concede, retorted.
"Are we to refuse a being's aspiration to the Dao and sever their immortal destiny simply because of their origin and background? If so, how can the Great Dao be spread to all sentient beings?"
"If one's origin and background are inadequate, their path of cultivation will not go far. It would merely be a waste of each other's time. Does Third Brother not understand this principle?"
Soon, as Yuanshi and Tongtian exchanged words, the matter escalated from whether to accept Daoist Duobao as a disciple to a debate between Yuanshi and Tongtian's philosophies of recruitment.
Watching Yuanshi and Tongtian refuse to yield to each other, all the great powers present were astonished and dared not speak, never imagining that such a significant disagreement existed among the harmonious Three Pure Ones.
"Are they always like this?"
Xu Fang nudged Taishang and asked.
He had long known about the differences between the Chan and Jie sects, stemming from the differing philosophies of their sect leaders, Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Sect Master, regarding recruitment.
In simple terms, it was a debate between elite education and universal education. Yuanshi and Tongtian argued endlessly, and it eventually spiraled out of control, leading to the Investiture of the Gods war.
However, he hadn't expected these conflicts to exist even before they had attained sainthood.
Xu Fang found it difficult to say who was right or wrong, only that both had gone to extremes.
Yuanshi advocated for the theory of origin and background, becoming fanatically prejudiced, causing him to look down on beings with ordinary origins and making him a renowned expert in racial discrimination in the primordial world.
While Tongtian upheld the ideal of educating all beings, which was a good value of equality, he also went to extremes in his desire to prove himself correct and defeat his opponent, Yuanshi, leading to the Jie sect becoming a mixed bag of undesirable elements.
Taishang did not answer Xu Fang's question. Gazing at his two constantly bickering younger brothers, and then at the great powers whispering amongst themselves, he let out a deep sigh.
"Enough. Do you truly wish to embarrass yourselves like this?"
Taishang reprimanded them. It was one thing for his two younger brothers to argue at home, but to do so outside the Zixiao Palace, in front of a multitude of great powers, was truly shameless!
Yuanshi and Tongtian heard this. Looking at Taishang's angry yet restrained expression, and then at the murmuring great powers around them, they immediately came to their senses.
This was not a private argument within their Kunlun Mountain courtyard; this time, in front of all the great powers, they had truly disgraced themselves.
For the sake of the Three Pure Ones' reputation, they were forced to cease their quarrel.
However, they still harbored resentment and glared at each other. Yuanshi even uttered a warning.
"Tongtian, if you continue like this, it will not end well for you."
"Second Brother, I will show you whether it will end well for me or not!"
Tongtian, refusing to admit defeat, responded defiantly. Then, pointing at Daoist Duobao, who was kneeling on the ground, looking bewildered, he declared.
"Very well! Today, I, Tongtian, will take this Daoist Duobao as my disciple. I shall see who is correct, you or I!"
Daoist Duobao was dumbfounded. What was going on? He had already given up on the idea of becoming a disciple, and in the end, it had actually happened?
Although Daoist Duobao didn't quite understand, he seized the opportunity and quickly kowtowed to Tongtian.
"Disciple Duobao, pays respects to Master Tongtian!"
Regardless of how Yuanshi and Tongtian argued, being able to become a disciple of this Senior Tongtian was his great fortune!