Duobao's words, through the Spirit Mirror Crystal Balls, resonated across the Seventy-Two Provinces.
When people heard his speech and saw his sincerely "earnest" expression, added to the fact that the Spirit Treasure Sect indeed had no large-scale interference in the secular world recorded in history, some naive viewers actually believed.
However, it wasn't long before the audience saw and heard some interference in the Round Light Illusion Mirror:
"Big Brother, you don't love this path, don't drag us into it. I, Scorpion Daoist, relish in dueling and fighting most, and besides, I owe Nephew Tao a small karmic debt; if he calls me to aid in formation, I must go."
"That's right, Big Brother, though you love to stay motionless, don't stop us from supporting Nephew Tao. Today, we'll see who dares to take his life; and one day, we'll flatten their mountain gate together."
"I, a poor Daoist, just visited Nephew Tao's Ascending Immortal Island a few days ago and harvested a lot of Immortal Peaches, which I enjoyed. Should Nephew Tao encounter difficulties, I am naturally obliged to help."
"No matter whether Tao Qian cares or not, with you Big Brother to support him, my home's Shan Jiu must not run into trouble; otherwise, I, Xue Ming, will exclusively target your Demon Buddha Temple monks from now on."
...
Before people could be shocked by the responses of these strong individuals from the Spirit Treasure Sect, someone more formal immediately responded.
Suddenly standing next to Duobao was a young and handsome Daoist who pronounced distinctly and in a loud voice:
"I am Xuu Xun, the True Inheritor and eldest disciple of the Spirit Treasure Sect."
"Tao Qian owes me his life. If there are offenses this time, I hope the three seniors will not injure him too severely, much less take his life; otherwise, this gratitude would turn into enmity, all falling upon the three seniors. Right now, I am unable to contend with the Arhats, but in a hundred years, I am afraid none of the seniors might be a match for me."
"By then, there might be a tribulation."
These three sentences from Xuu Xun instantly caused an uproar throughout the world.
Oh boy!
A mere junior cultivator, in front of the many powers of the Seventy-Two Provinces, threatening the three Arhats of the Ultimate Happiness Realm from the Demon Buddha Temple?
For a moment, everyone thought this junior was incredibly arrogant, and his tone too grand.
But quickly, information relevant to Xuu Xun appeared within many Spirit Mirror Crystal Balls: [Xuu Xun, the current True Inheritor and eldest disciple of the Spirit Treasure Sect, a naturally gifted genius destined to enter the Ultimate Happiness Realm soon, recognized by the Sect Master of the Spirit Treasure Sect as having the potential of a Tribulation Immortal. His master is the highly prestigious attendant immortal of the Spirit Treasure Sect, Ma Yi Immortal, who has used the Sleeve Universe Divine Technique to transport the entire population of the Imperial City and experts from the Six Sects, possesses the Sea and Field Transformation Technique, with an extensive lifespan and boundless mana.]
As some details about Xuu Xun leaked out, many had to admit that he indeed had the capacity to threaten the three Arhats.
However, he still appeared somewhat arrogant when the three Arhats, sneering, were about to rebuke.
Suddenly, a dense fog emerged in the mirror, and an Immortal Island appeared dimly. At the forefront of the island stood an ancient black tree with an ancient female fairy with a snake's body lying on it, staring through the cool air.
Yet, she didn't look at the three Arhats but focused on Tao Qian, who was busy with a body seizing task, her voice cold and puzzled:
"If there's life-threatening danger, why not call me to help?"
"I can't beat these three bald men, but if I wanted to take you away, they couldn't stop me."
"Or are you afraid I'll ask you to sleep with me? It's only for a twelve-hour span; if it's too long, I can reduce... it by half."
The moment Aunt Bai Yin spoke, Tao Qian, who was already on the arm of the Mechanical Demon Buddha, staggered.
Worse still, after Bai Yin had finished speaking, he felt a chill down his spine.
Clearly, Sister Yunrong was watching him closely.
Fortunately, just at this moment, an even louder and more shocking voice came from the mirror, causing the three Arahts' scalps to tingle too.
The speaker was from the grand Spirit Treasure Female Immortals' faction at the forefront of Biyou Palace.
The female fairy in the five-colored immortal skirt grinned at the Three Arhats and then said straightforwardly,
"Sister Yunhua had instructed us before she left the house that if Little Tao'er encountered any trouble, we should not wait for him to seek help; we sisters must proactively lend our assistance."
"If our power is insufficient, Sister Yunhua also left numerous tokens with us, allowing us to seek help from Guanyin Temple, Heavenly Consort Palace, Daughter Palace, Infant Sect, and other territories."
"However, if it really comes to that, I think it will be enough for us sisters to come down from the mountain together. There is no need to trouble relatives and friends outside the sect."
"Although Nephew Tao has not been with Spirit Treasure Mountain Gate for long, he is of good nature and a child who endears himself to others. If there have been any offenses, I hope the three of you Arhats will not take it to heart, let alone take his life, as we sisters might have a difficult situation with your temple."
Silence!
Whether it was the territory of Qiantang Province City or the other seventy-one provinces' viewing areas, all fell into silence.
At the beginning, when Duobao Daoist appeared and spoke some courteous words, many took him seriously.
Now, only a fool would still believe it.
All the viewers in front of the spirit mirrors and crystal balls were furiously criticizing internally, even powerful warlords like Si Xixin, Zhang Jinluan, and Hong Fu, who enjoyed high status and massive support, couldn't help but feel jealous of Tao Qian.
"What sort of arrangement is this? Could it be that this child has already been designated as the next Sect Master? Why else would he be so favored?"
"This is abnormal. It shouldn't be like this. Even if he's designated as the next Sect Master, there should be competitors and detractors within the sect. How can he be so pampered by the entire Spirit Treasure Sect?"
"There were rumors earlier that Master Tao Qian left the sect to walk in the Human World because he couldn't compete with Master Xuu Xun. Now it seems that those rumors are completely baseless."
"Such a terrifying threat, these three Arhats must be credited for their strong cultivation base and the Spirit Treasure Sect's backing. This allows them to remain composed at this moment. If it were us, we might have already kneeled and begged for mercy."
"The Three Arhats may not be able to hold on either. If I remember correctly, this is the first time the Spirit Treasure Sect's Ten Thousand Immortals have actively appeared to issue a threat just for a True Disciple?"
"Tsk, tsk, a major upheaval in the layout of the seventy-two provinces is about to occur."
"Oh, how so?"
"Need you ask? Master Tao Qian is clearly striving to compete for the position of Human Emperor. If he were alone, he wouldn't pose a threat. But if the Ten Thousand Immortals of the Spirit Treasure Sect assist him in the world, I can't think of who could stop him, whether it's Yu Yanshi from the south or those three from the north. No one could be a match for Master Tao Qian, unless Taishang Dao also intervenes."
"Heh, stop thinking about it. Even if Taishang Dao were to intervene, they would only side with Master Tao Qian. Given the New Moon uprising, Taishang Dao has good relations with Master Tao, and I've also heard that the people of Fangcun Mountain hold him in high regard."
"So, if Master Tao merely calls for support, the position of Human Emperor is almost undoubted?"
"Exactly!"
...
Master Tao Qian couldn't hear the myriad discussions from the other seventy-one provinces.
However, similar thoughts in the area were all perceived by him.
The voices from in front of the Biyou Palace, Tao Qian heard them all distinctively.
He was both touched and alarmed.
Earlier, he and Yuann Mingzhen had met in a dream and decided on that "Coercing the Alchemist" great plan. After which, his sensitivity to Human Dao Destiny and impending fates deepened.
It was for this reason that he truly understood why the Spirit Treasure Sect never interfered in the "contest for the Human Emperor."
He might now drag the Sect into trouble because of himself. How could this be tolerated?
Yet he found himself unable to refuse.
His original plan indeed involved using the Sect's fame as a shield.
Simply borrowing the reputation of the Spirit Treasure Sect, he had created the illusion that he could call upon the help of Ten Thousand Immortals at any moment to put pressure on the Alchemist.
Now, it seemed not only could he borrow the tiger's skin, but even faking it into reality was merely a thought away.
Fortunately, there were still boundaries.
"Enough, it's at the limit."
"Just this level of show is sufficient. We absolutely cannot let the Ten Thousand Immortals descend from the mountain, not Xuu Xun, not Aunt Bai Yin, not a single person."
Once his mind was set, Tao Qian moved quicker.
At this moment!
Lian Jing'er, controlling about a third of the Mechanical Demon Buddha, used the Buddha's arm to transport them to the top of the Buddha's head.
The two acted almost simultaneously.
Lian Jing'er took out the bronze divine fork, and immediately a socket appeared under his feet, resembling the ancient Bronze God General. As he issued complex commands in a mechanical voice and inserted the long fork into the socket, green-rusted divine light spread, and the already disadvantaged Creation Poison once again surged wildly.
Tao Qian, on the other hand, stomped fiercely and directly summoned the "Outer Heaven Flame Essence," mentally commanding: Refine the Buddha.
As millions of tiny light orbs were summoned from the Outer Realm.
Instantly, the situation reversed.
The originally chaotic Mechanical Demon Buddha began to be completely corrupted by the Creation Poison and totally controlled by Lian Jing'er.
This significant commotion immediately woke the Three Arhats from the threat.
Seeing the Mechanical Demon Buddha could change hands, even the ever-unperturbed Shipi Arhat finally showed a look of panic on his face.
This Demon Buddha!
Not only was it refined by the hard work of them three, but it was also the designated mechanical incarnation of the Nirvana Demon Buddha.
If this task was botched, all three would face dire consequences.
Compared to this outcome, the threat of Ten Thousand Immortals from the distant Penglai Sea suddenly seemed negligible.
Realizing this, Shipi Arhat immediately stepped forward, sternly saying,
"Two junior brothers, hold off Qingjing. This poor monk will personally take care of that little thief."
"No need to waste words. If your Spirit Treasure Sect's Ten Thousand Immortals are not afraid of the poison of fortune and the miasma of the Human World corroding the roots of your sect, then come into the world."
After finishing his words.
Shipi Arhat shook off Qingjing Old Monk and directly charged towards the Merit Pool.
Still on the way, he gazed at Tao Qian standing on top of the Buddha, looking as if he viewed him as an unlucky fellow already doomed.
His voice was ice-cold:
"Thief stealing treasures, this time you chose the wrong treasure."
"This Buddha is the assigned incarnation of our temple's Nirvana Demon Buddha. It walks this world in place of our Buddha, only achieving merit perfection after converting hundreds of millions. How can such a divine treasure be defiled?"
"Even if this poor monk does not kill you, the Nirvana Demon Buddha itself will wish for your death at the moment of your Body Seizing. Say not that your master Duobao is not here; even if he were, he could not protect you."
"If you know what's good for you, withdraw quickly. This poor monk promises not only to spare your life but also to present various benefits as a respectful escort out of the territory."
"How about it?"
As Shipi Arhat approached, an oppressive feeling surged like mountains and oceans.
Together with his few words, they made Tao Qian sense an intense foreboding of death.
Was his time of death approaching?
At this moment, he and Lian Jing'er were at a crucial moment of Refining Treasure and Body Seizing.
Choosing to believe what his master had said earlier, he blocked his ears and completely disregarded the nagging of Shipi.
Indeed!
Just then, Duobao Daoist, who had been silent so far, suddenly, at this moment, chuckling while rubbing the mud on his body, joined in the conversation:
"Shipi, you bald thief, don't speak nonsense."
"Others might fear your persistent nagging, sticking like dog excrement, do you think I, Duobao, am also afraid?"
"If you dare to harm a hair on my disciple today, I, Duobao, will immediately become a monk and join you in baldness."
"Pah!"
Not feeling satisfied with just rebuking, he even spit at Shipi.
Then, without waiting to see Shipi's reaction, he focused on the Mechanical Demon Buddha in the Void and shouted across the distance:
"Sui Chaozi, stop hiding and watching the excitement."
"With your speed, you should have been here an hour ago."
"I'm telling you, Tianzhi Gong has already taken the Mysterious Corpse Divine Arm I, Duobao, provided to make gloves."
"If your slow actions cause my disciple any harm, Tianzhi Gong will have to compensate me generously, and then you'll be in trouble you can't handle."
…
"Sui Chaozi? Tianzhi Gong?"
These two names confused not only Tao Qian but virtually all the spectators.
In the Cultivation World, were there such individuals?
But the reaction of Yuan Gong in Tao Qian's arms was very intense.
Amidst his trembling like a statue, Yuan Gong's excited telepathic voice rang out.