CHAPTER 1854: 1,177 PREHISTORIC WORLD DIVINE TERRITORY

Although the Taoist Ancestor did not speak, the Saint of Taiqing still understood his meaning, and took out the Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag with a bitter expression, handing it to Jiang Chen nearby:

"Since Your Majesty needs it, I have no reason to withhold it. Let this Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag be a congratulatory gift for Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne."

The bitterness on his face signified that the Saint of Taiqing was reluctant to hand the Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag over to Jiang Chen to aid him in attaining the Tao. But his reluctance could not alter the outcome.

The understanding glance from the Taoist Ancestor towards him made the Saint of Taiqing realize clearly that he was to hand over the Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag as per Jiang Chen’s request.

Of course, the Saint of Taiqing could choose not to hand it over, but at that point, the Taoist Ancestor might forcibly take the Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag from him to give it to Jiang Chen.

If things escalated to that point, it would be an embarrassment to all involved. Thus, the Saint of Taiqing had no choice. It was either to embarrass himself or to embarrass Honjan Daizu.

As a disciple, how could the Saint of Taiqing allow his master to be embarrassed? Thus, he could only humble himself.

"Thanks to the Taoist Ancestor, and thanks to the Saint of Taiqing."

Jiang Chen, with a face full of smiles, first took the Slaying God Spear and Heart Demon Black Lotus from the hand of the Taoist Ancestor, and then received the Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag from the bitter Saint of Taiqing.

Everything else was manageable, but the surprise element of the twelve-grade Heart Demon Black Lotus was truly unexpected. Jiang Chen thought he would have to visit the Demon World to obtain this treasure.

To his surprise, this treasure had fallen into the hands of the Taoist Ancestor countless years ago, saving him a great deal of trouble.

"Taiqing is my disciple, I can decide for him. But the two from the West have already defected from the Mystic Sect; I cannot decide for them."

"So, if Your Majesty desires the Lotus of Merit and the Flag of Azure Lotus Treasury from the East, you must negotiate with these two yourself."

At this moment, the Taoist Ancestor continued.

Now, he was Honjan Daizu, not the Heavenly Dao Hongjun.

Therefore, he could command the Saint of Taiqing to hand over the Southern Leave-Earth Flame Light Flag but could not force the two Western Saints to hand over the Lotus of Merit and the Flag of Azure Lotus Treasury.

"What is teacher saying?"

"Although we are no longer within the Mystic Sect, the teachings of Zixiao Palace are always remembered by us, and the Taoist Ancestor is still our teacher."

Hearing Honjan Daizu’s way of distancing himself, the two Western Saints quickly sought favor. Having defected from the Mystic Sect, they were already infamous, scorned by the people as ungrateful traitors.

But this matter could still be explained. Yet, if they did not acknowledge their teacher, it would cement their reputation as ungrateful traitors.

The two Western Saints might have thick skin but were not entirely shameless, certainly unwilling to bear such infamy.

The Taoist Ancestor glanced at the duo, saying nothing. From the beginning, he disliked them.

Originating from the West and linked to the Demonic Way, how could Honjan Daizu favor the two Western Saints?

When Zixiao Palace was teaching the Tao, the two had not yet arrived, and the Taoist Ancestor had closed the palace doors, intending to shut them out.

However, fate played its tricks, and Haotian Yao Pool, in a moment of softness, allowed them in, thus creating today’s Western Saints.

Thus, after Haotian became Tiandi and was scorned by the Mystic Sect disciples, it was his own doing.

The defection of the two Western Saints, establishing another Buddhist door, caused the Mystic Sect’s fate to ebb, all due to Haotian Yao Pool’s momentary softness back then.

Therefore, at the critical moment of Haotian’s reincarnation, he was forcefully summoned back by the Saint of Taiqing to be an emperor puppet for millions of years.

This was retribution.

The same was true for Red Cloud’s death; it was also retribution.

Intending to sever the connection with the two Western Saints, Honjan Daizu naturally wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity when it arose. The Taoist Ancestor’s silence indicated his unwillingness to entangle further with them.

Yet, the thick-skinned Western Saints, seeing the Taoist Ancestor’s silence, simply assumed his tacit approval. Then, one of them took out the Lotus of Merit while the other took out the Flag of Azure Lotus Treasury, handing them together to Jiang Chen:

"Since it is the teacher’s command, how can we dare to disobey? Your Majesty, these are the Lotus of Merit and the Flag of Azure Lotus Treasury."

"However, during the Investiture of the Gods, the Lotus of Merit suffered a plot from the Mosquito Daoist, greatly reducing its Original Source, falling from the twelfth grade to the ninth grade. Your Majesty must surely know this."

The two Western Saints calculated cunningly; even without Honjan Daizu, if Jiang Chen asked them for these two treasures, they could not refuse.

Given that the outcome was to yield them, it was better to do so under the guise of the Taoist Ancestor’s command, thus solidifying their teacher-disciple relationship with the Taoist Ancestor.

"Shameless!"

Upon witnessing this scene, the faces of Sanqing and Nuwa twitched, stunned by these two’s shamelessness.

Even Honjan Daizu’s eyelid twitched involuntarily; he hadn’t expected the two to play in such a manner. Wanting to say something to distance himself but seeing the treasures in their hands, he couldn’t utter a word.

If he denied the relationship, wouldn’t that give the two Western Saints a reason not to hand over the treasures?

Hesitant for a moment, the Taoist Ancestor sighed inwardly and closed his eyes, as if he hadn’t heard anything.

The two Western Saints, seeing this, showed no change on their faces, but joy floated in their hearts.

Anyone else might not dare this, for forcibly acknowledging the teacher-disciple relationship in such a way would only incite the involved party’s disgust, and there would be no hope of gaining any benefits from them afterward.

But the two Western Saints did not care, because even if they didn’t do this, they could still not expect any benefits from the Taoist Ancestor.