Guidance for the Yellow Dragon

"Eldest Senior Brother, please wait!"

Just as Meng Chen stepped out of the Jade Void Palace, a voice from behind startled him.

If this were anywhere else, hearing the words "please wait" would be nothing to worry about, but here in the Jade Void Palace—the palace's greatest treasure wasn't the Pangu Banner or the Mystic Arts of Eight Nine, but rather the phrase "Daoist friend, please wait."

This curse struck indiscriminately, whether you were a disciple of the Chan Sect or the Intercepting Teaching, whether you soared through the skies or swam in the waters—none could resist its power.

Still, Meng Chen knew the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was far off.

He turned around and saw Yellow Dragon True Man approaching him with a fawning expression.

"Eldest Senior Brother, Yellow Dragon pays respects to the Eldest Senior Brother!"

Gazing at Meng Chen's tall and imposing figure, Yellow Dragon True Man's heart was uneasy. He had mustered his courage to come before Meng Chen. In truth, he wasn't sure if Meng Chen would even acknowledge him as a fellow clansman.

The Wu Clan had the Twelve Ancestral Witches, and the Dragon Clan also had four great ancestors: Primordial Dragon, Torch Dragon, Winged Dragon, and Azure Dragon. Among them, Primordial Dragon and Torch Dragon were born from the essence blood of Chaos Demon Gods, Winged Dragon from the earth's spiritual veins, and Azure Dragon from the primordial world's heavenly essence.

Of the four great ancestors, only Primordial Dragon and Torch Dragon walked the path of proving the Dao through Calamity Fate. Thus, Primordial Dragon's lineage first sparked the Three Clan War, then attempted to replace the Heavenly Dao with their own path, burdening themselves with boundless karmic sin.

In contrast, Azure Dragon's lineage had always guarded the Eastern Celestial Pole, steeped in merit and Calamity Fate, blessed by the Heavenly Dao, free from disaster and tribulation.

Yellow Dragon True Man now felt like a poor wretch meeting a wealthy clansman, a hint of inferiority creeping into his heart.

In truth, Meng Chen held no particular feelings toward the many figures of the Primordial World. He wouldn't dispense sympathy like a sycophant groveling before them, nor would he view them through tinted glasses.

Whether others were strong or weak, prosperous or declining, it had nothing to do with him.

Only those who treated him well would receive his kindness in return. If someone treated him poorly, then sorry—no matter how famous they were, they became his enemy.

In Meng Chen's eyes, Yellow Dragon True Man had only one identity: his junior brother. Beyond that, there was nothing else.

Meng Chen gave a faint smile and returned the greeting: "Junior Brother Yellow Dragon is too polite. Since you've entered the teacher's tutelage, you and I are now fellow disciples. As fellow sect members, our other identities are not worth mentioning."

Yellow Dragon True Man was momentarily stunned, then a complex surge of emotions welled up in his heart.

He wasn't foolish; he could sense the aloof attitude his other fellow disciples held toward him. Though they didn't show it too obviously, Yellow Dragon True Man could read the look in their eyes: "We're not close, don't come near me."

Who could blame him for his awkward position? Born of the Dragon Clan, burdened with karmic sin, and Yuanshi Tianzun didn't value him either.

His other fellow disciples—if not each possessing an Innate Spiritual Treasure—at least received two or more Acquired Spiritual Treasures. Only he got a single Acquired Spiritual Treasure.

Moreover, long ago, a rumor spread through the Primordial World that Yuanshi Tianzun disliked beings born with fur, horns, or from dampness and eggs.

Fawning on the high and trampling the low—such worldly ways existed in any world, any faction.

Guang Chengzi and the others were unwilling to get close to Yellow Dragon True Man, fearing they'd be implicated and incur Yuanshi Tianzun's displeasure. Such a situation was entirely possible.

Yellow Dragon True Man had only tried his luck, hoping that Meng Chen, as a fellow clansman, would accept him. He never expected Meng Chen to be so "friendly" toward him.

Yes, in Yellow Dragon True Man's eyes, Meng Chen's simple response was already a rare kindness.

A warm current surged in his heart: "What the Eldest Senior Brother says is true. This junior brother will remember your teachings."

Guang Chengzi and the others emerged from the hall, originally intending to exchange pleasantries with Meng Chen. Seeing this scene, they found it strange. They couldn't understand how Meng Chen dared to get so close to Yellow Dragon True Man—wasn't he afraid of being abandoned by Yuanshi Tianzun?

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

After bowing to Meng Chen, they entered Kunlun Mountain to seek their Daoist temples, not lingering for a moment.

They dared to isolate Yellow Dragon True Man because they believed Yuanshi Tianzun disliked him, but they dared not show disrespect to Meng Chen.

Meng Chen noticed Guang Chengzi and the others' reactions and sighed inwardly.

The Chan Sect had few disciples to begin with, and Guang Chengzi and his ilk were forming factions. If the Chan Sect didn't resort to schemes, how could it ever rival the Intercepting Teaching?

Still, now wasn't the time to deal with internal affairs of the Chan Sect. Human relationships were the most complex thing; handling them was more headache-inducing than charging into battle.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I..."

Yellow Dragon True Man felt somewhat ashamed. He thought he had dragged Meng Chen down.

Meng Chen's expression turned stern, his voice growing serious: "Junior Brother, a cultivator must prioritize cultivation. If you were a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal or even a Quasi-Sage, would anyone ignore your existence? You are now a disciple of a sage—you have an infinite future."

These words, like the morning drum and evening bell, awakened Yellow Dragon True Man's dormant spirit. He was suddenly enlightened.

Yellow Dragon True Man cared too much about others' opinions of him. Yet, in the Primordial World, nothing mattered less than others' views. As long as one's cultivation was strong enough, as long as one possessed power, the opinions of the entire world were worthless.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother, for your guidance. This junior brother will diligently cultivate and not disappoint the teacher's or the Eldest Senior Brother's expectations."

"Mm! That's right!"

Meng Chen nodded with satisfaction.

It had to be said, Meng Chen slipped into his role quickly—no sooner had he entered the sect than he assumed the position of Eldest Senior Brother.

But Meng Chen's performance greatly pleased Yuanshi Tianzun.

Yuanshi Tianzun admitted that he was indeed biased. Yet, he saw no problem with it. He felt that treasures were his own possessions; he could pass them on to whomever he wished—that was his freedom.

It was like a mooncake: some liked sweet, some liked savory, some liked what the mistress made. As long as no one snatched another's mooncake, what was wrong with personal preference?

However, Yuanshi Tianzun did regard Yellow Dragon True Man as a disciple. If he hadn't, he could have simply barred him from entry.

With his sage-level means, if he didn't want Yellow Dragon True Man to join, the man would never pass the trials in a lifetime.

That Meng Chen could treat Yellow Dragon True Man with equanimity, offering him fairness without regard for Yuanshi Tianzun's apparent "disregard"—such breadth of mind was precisely what a qualified sect leader should possess.

"Daoist Meng Zhang's son is indeed a promising talent. The world is often foolish, either misled by appearances or afraid to reveal their true hearts. Meng Chen made this decision without hesitation—his future prospects are limitless."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly, his mind already turning to plans for Meng Chen's training.

To be the leader of the Chan Sect required not only cultivation but also the ability to handle all kinds of changing situations. Meng Chen was not him; he lacked absolute power to face every tribulation.

"What should I do?"

Yuanshi Tianzun began to ponder as well.