Tongtian Hierarch said, "My power comes from the Heavenly Dao. Should the Heavenly Dao be harmed or feel threatened and need to react, I'm afraid I would be unable to refuse."
Yang Jian, the Six-Eared Macaque, and others all stood up with grave expressions.
Looking at them, it seemed they would intervene should Tongtian Hierarch truly make a move.
Seeing this, Tongtian Hierarch shook his head.
Yang Jian and the Six-Eared Macaque had both received his favor. Yet upon hearing he might pose a threat to Sha Chen, they did not hesitate to stand against him.
Although he felt a twinge of sorrow in his heart, in truth, he admired Yang Jian and the Six-Eared Macaque even more.
Not changing one's stance merely due to small favors from others—there are few who can clearly distinguish gratitude from grievances.
It was clear that Yang Jian and the Six-Eared Macaque belonged to that rare breed, individuals who wouldn't be easily swayed or seduced into betrayal. They were the kind of talents Tongtian Hierarch had always wanted yet never could obtain.
After the Divine Enthronement War, the disciples of Tongtian Hierarch either died or were injured, scattering like monkeys when a tree falls.
And as he sought to rebuild the Sect of Interpretation, very few of his former disciples actually returned to his side, a number that could be counted on one hand.
This left Tongtian Hierarch feeling somewhat heartbroken and disappointed.
But that was the reality, and no one was to blame.
Most of his former disciples had joined him for the prestige of his Saint status; many already possessed skills when they sought his tutelage, and thus their emotional bond as master and student was quite shallow.
With his plethora of disciples, it was natural that he couldn't attend to all. Aside from a very few personal disciples, there wasn't much depth to most of the master-student relationships.
His personal disciples had each reached extremely profound levels of cultivation. Indeed, they had approached him for the purpose of becoming stronger. Once they perceived him to be of little help to their advancement, they shifted their allegiance elsewhere.
Whether it was Tathagata Buddha or Zhao Gongming, both were his proud former disciples, but neither returned to his side.
Even the Green Lion and Bai Xiang were unwilling to return to him. They only submitted after Sha Chen had thoroughly defeated them, and Tongtian Hierarch only managed to bring them to heel because he happened to be present at the time.
Otherwise, they would not have returned.
This was not at all like Sha Chen's followers. Whether it was the newly joined Yang Jian or those who had long been devoted, like the Six-Eared Macaque and the Spider Spirit, all were unwaveringly loyal.
Even if Sha Chen told them to leave, they absolutely would not. Perhaps only if the day came when Sha Chen was slain would they disperse.
Otherwise, even if Sha Chen met with failure, as long as he was still present, they would not abandon him, standing by his side through thick and thin.
After the Divine Enthronement War, Tongtian Hierarch had failed, but he himself was unharmed, having left with the Daoist Ancestor without a scratch.
Even so, his disciples still chose to leave him.
Now, when he issued a call, the respondents were few and far between. This was another source of his disappointment and sorrow.
Tongtian Hierarch said, "You all need not be anxious. What I said was a possibility. If the Heavenly Dao truly decides to erase Sha Chen, I'm afraid I truly have no way to stop it, but I assure you it is not now."
Sha Chen nodded. "The Saint's words are true. A stance is never easy to change. If it were easily swayed, that person would not be reliable."
Tongtian Hierarch said, "Rest assured, my stance will not change easily. Of course, I won't strike against you lightly. Should it come to the point where I must confront you, I will inform you, not sneak up on you."
Then he stood up. "My visit here was mainly to witness your current accomplishments. Now it seems no ordinary Saint would be your match, and you surely would not condescend to becoming my disciple."
"What a pity. When you were merely at the Golden Immortal realm, you refused me. Now that your power is not inferior to a Saint's, it is even more unlikely you will agree to become my disciple."
Sha Chen remained silent, but his expression and eyes clearly told Tongtian Hierarch that indeed, he would not agree.
Tongtian Hierarch gave a self-deprecating laugh. "How can I have the face to take you as a disciple when I cannot even manage my original disciples properly?"
Sha Chen shook his head. "The Saint jests. My refusal to acknowledge the Saint as my teacher is not at all due to that reason."
"It is solely because I do not wish to be involved in the conflicts of the Three Realms. I have always told the Saint this, from the very beginning. It's just that the Saint, high above, might have thought I was merely placating you."
After careful thought, Tongtian Hierarch realized that the reasons Sha Chen had always refused him indeed centered around this point.
Initially, he had thought Sha Chen was holding out for a better offer; after all, he had first invited Sha Chen as an external disciple, then as an internal disciple, and finally as a personal disciple.
If Sha Chen did not want him as a teacher, it might have been because he felt the disciple title wasn't prestigious enough, possibly waiting for the right moment. But when Sha Chen still refused even after he offered the position of personal disciple, Tongtian Hierarch began to have doubts.
He suspected that Sha Chen might not esteem him, that Sha Chen wished to have Lord Yuan Shi or the sage Laozi as his master. When later both these individuals also visited Flowing Sand River and were rejected by Sha Chen, Tongtian Hierarch couldn't fathom Sha Chen's reasons for refusal.
This was why he hadn't ventured to Flowing Sand River again for hundreds of years. Had it not been for Tathagata's involvement this time, he probably would not have come in person.
Now, as they unwittingly spoke of the past and Sha Chen once again stated his reason, Tongtian Hierarch was truly certain: Sha Chen was not disrespecting him, nor did he not wish to be his disciple. It was genuinely an aversion to becoming entangled in the karmic conflicts of the Three Realms.
Sha Chen said, "The Saint re-establishing a sect will inevitably conflict with other Saints. As a disciple, I would certainly be at the forefront of those clashes. I fear death and lack the courage, so naturally, I don't want to get involved in such strife."
"Otherwise, becoming a disciple under the Saint's name would mean protection and support from the Saint, sparing me from bullying and reducing much trouble. Why would I not embrace such convenience?"
Suddenly, Tongtian Hierarch burst into hearty laughter. "With your strength penetrating the heavens and earth, even Saints cannot easily bully you now. So, I ask you once more, are you willing to leave Flowing Sand River and carve out a name for yourself?"
Sha Chen remained silent.
Tongtian Hierarch laughed again, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. "This time, I am not inviting you to be my disciple, but to join forces with me."
"With your strength and my identity, position, and power, under the vast heavens, there would be no equal to us. And you possess the power of space. Once we overthrow the Three Realms and recreate a new world of earth, water, fire, and wind, you and I would be the creators."
He spread his arms and fervently proclaimed, "Then, you and I would rule over all of human existence. Even placing the Heavenly Dao beneath our feet is not impossible!"
At this moment, Tongtian Hierarch seemed manic, laughing heartily as if he had already envisaged a glorious vision.
Host has been invited by the Tongtian Holy Man to emerge from the water and jointly create a new world. You have the following choices:
