Outside Two Realms Mountain, two figures walked upon auspicious clouds.
One of them had a sallow face and a gaunt body, his gaze sharp and soul-stirring.
The other wore an expression of suffering, the sorrow between his brows seeming eternal and unending.
These two were none other than Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, who cultivated on Mount Sumeru of the West.
At this moment, Zhun Ti gazed brightly toward the region where Chen Ku had previously taken form. The towering immortal light there had yet to dissipate, presenting a most peaceful scene.
Zhun Ti was overjoyed.
One had to know that during the War of the Dao and the Demon, Demon Ancestor Rahu, in his fury, had detonated the spiritual veins of the West in one stroke.
This had caused the opportunities, fortune, and everything else in the Western World to plummet, leaving it barren and desolate.
To discover the fluctuations of such an "opportunity" appearing today was truly an unexpected delight.
Hearing Zhun Ti's words, Jie Yin also smiled.
"Let us investigate at once. We must not let others get there first."
The commotion caused by Chen Ku's transformation had been truly astonishing, triggering a million-zhang mystic radiance.
Even Jie Yin and Zhun Ti had been drawn here by it.
Thus, Jie Yin was somewhat worried that other powerful figures might have noticed this scene.
Before his words had even faded, the two accelerated further.
Within only a few breaths, the two descended upon Two Realms Mountain.
Yet when they looked closely, both Jie Yin and Zhun Ti froze.
There was no other reason!
What entered their eyes was not the sight of some spiritual treasure or spiritual root being born.
Instead, Chen Ku alone stood there dumbfounded.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were both highly knowledgeable, and they instantly understood what had happened.
"Hmm... a spiritual root has taken form?!"
"That is rather unfortunate."
Zhun Ti could not help sighing in such a manner, regret written across his face.
To him, once a spiritual root took form, its usefulness would be greatly diminished. It was far less satisfying than directly obtaining the spiritual root itself.
The anticipated spiritual treasure had slipped away, inevitably leaving him somewhat disappointed.
Little did he know that upon hearing this, Chen Ku's mouth twitched slightly.
Unfortunate?!
Damn it... was that polite?!
If I had taken form even a moment later, I probably would never have had the chance to be born at all.
That was actually tremendous luck.
Still, Chen Ku's expression remained unpleasant.
This was maddening!
With the Hundred Bitter Sutra and Fetal Transformation upon him, he had already transformed into human form as quickly as possible.
He had thought that would let him escape in advance and prevent Jie Yin and Zhun Ti from noticing his trail.
He had not expected that he still could not escape the fate of facing Jie Yin and Zhun Ti directly.
Right now, he could not flee even if he wanted to.
After all, given Jie Yin and Zhun Ti's terrifying cultivation, they could catch up to him in a single thought and forcibly suppress him.
Thinking this, Chen Ku acted decisively.
He stepped forward, faced Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, and offered a slight salute.
"This junior is Chen Ku. Greetings to Seniors Jie Yin and Zhun Ti!"
Since he could neither avoid nor escape them, he might as well face it calmly.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti nodded slightly at Chen Ku's salute, clearly pleased.
The two were among the few top-tier experts of the West, their reputations resounding far and wide.
Therefore, they were not surprised that Chen Ku directly identified them.
"Hehe, I did not expect you to possess such an opportunity."
"Though your true body was a spiritual root, you received the creation of heaven and earth and took human form. You have fine potential and fine fortune indeed."
Jie Yin spoke.
There was also a trace of interest in his gaze.
When a top-grade Innate Spiritual Root took form, it became an Innate God, and its future potential was bound to be considerable.
Such potential was indeed worthy of Jie Yin's praise and attention.
Yet upon hearing Jie Yin's words, Chen Ku's expression fell, and he felt even more bitter.
The attention of Jie Yin and Zhun Ti was truly more than one could bear.
After all, these two were infamous for doing whatever it took.
Chen Ku could not help worrying that if they abandoned all scruples, they might truly kill him and seize the Six Roots Pure Bamboo by force.
Bitter... truly bitter...
Chen Ku sighed inwardly. This time, it was not to increase his cultivation; it was heartfelt lamentation.
Thus, Chen Ku could only say with a bitter expression.
"Thank you for your praise, Senior!"
Who would have thought that this expression of his would make Jie Yin laugh rather than grow angry?
"Hehe, wonderful, wonderful!"
"This boy has such a grief-stricken appearance. It truly suits my heart."
Jie Yin himself already looked sorrowful, and he instead came to appreciate Chen Ku's appearance even more.
Such a rare opportunity—how could Jie Yin let it pass?
Moreover, limited by the impoverished fortune of the West, it was difficult for powerful experts to emerge. At present, Jie Yin did not even have a single disciple under him.
After a brief pause, Jie Yin continued.
"Chen Ku, you are fated with the West."
"I may accept you as my personal disciple. Are you willing to take me as your master?!"
Jie Yin looked at Chen Ku with a smile.
Hearing this, Chen Ku was stunned and stood there in a daze.
You are fated with the West?!
Just listen to that!
What familiar words!
In his previous life, Chen Ku had known that during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, the two Western Saints had relied on this very sentence to forcibly convert countless Eastern experts.
He had not expected it to fall upon his own head today.
Chen Ku could not help grumbling inwardly.
Furthermore, Jie Yin's desire to accept him as a disciple caught Chen Ku greatly off guard.
Damn it... they really were haunting him like ghosts!
Even though he had already taken form, the two still would not give up and wanted to subdue him into the West?!
For a time, Chen Ku's expression was several degrees more sorrowful than even Jie Yin's.
The Hundred Bitter Sutra within his body began circulating on its own. The increase in cultivation from this day alone surpassed that of the previous several hundred years.
One could imagine just how sorrowful and helpless he felt.
Chen Ku pondered inwardly, hesitation on his face.
Only after a moment did he force out a smile, look toward Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, and speak tentatively.
"Um... Senior Jie Yin, can I refuse?!"
"This junior has only just been born and has no plans to take a master yet..."
Chen Ku forced himself to ask in return.
Knowing he lacked the strength to confront Jie Yin and Zhun Ti head-on, Chen Ku also offered an explanation.
What a joke. Unless he had lost his mind, why would he willingly enter Jie Yin and Zhun Ti's sect?
The reputations of these two had long stunk throughout the primordial world. Taking Jie Yin as his master would not simply invite scorn from others?!
Besides, with the potential of his Innate Bitter Bamboo, even joining the Three Pure Ones Dao Tradition in the future would likely not be difficult.
Would that not be far better than joining the Western Sect, which was poor as a church mouse?!
After speaking, Chen Ku watched Jie Yin's reaction with great unease.
Yet Jie Yin's expression did not change. Calm and unruffled, he merely shook his head slightly after a long while.
Though he said nothing more, Chen Ku clearly sensed a sharp light bursting from Jie Yin's eyes at that moment. The pressure was immense and soul-stirring.
Clearly, it was a silent warning to Chen Ku.
At the side, Zhun Ti also spoke.
"Chen Ku, you truly are a newborn calf unafraid of tigers."
"You must understand that being able to take Senior Brother Jie Yin as your master is an immense honor."
Zhun Ti looked solemn, his gaze cold and stern, radiating an unquestionable air.
Seeing this, Chen Ku cried bitterly in his heart.
It seemed there was no hope of refusing.
He knew that Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were simply offering courtesy before force.
If they could persuade him with kind words to become a disciple, that would naturally be best.
But if he dared persist in refusing, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti would surely not hesitate to directly "convert" him.
Jie Yin appeared to be asking, but in truth, he gave Chen Ku no room to refuse.
"So be it. Taking Jie Yin as my master is not bad either!"
"Though things are not much at first, the West will eventually flourish and become the greatest winner of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation."
"At worst, after becoming his disciple, I will lie low until after the Investiture of the Gods. Then, naturally, no one will be able to compare with me."
Chen Ku thought this to himself, both comforting himself and planning his path ahead.
He had already taken human form and possessed the cultivation of a Taiyi Golden Immortal. He was already long-lived and imperishable.
Thus, he could afford to wait for the day the West flourished!
After pondering for a moment, Chen Ku no longer hesitated.
"In that case, thank you for your appreciation, Senior!"
"This disciple pays respects to Master Jie Yin and martial uncle Zhun Ti!"
He immediately performed the ceremony of becoming a disciple. In his words, he also changed how he addressed Jie Yin, calling him Master, and Zhun Ti, martial uncle.
Only after seeing Chen Ku become his disciple did Jie Yin's deliberately stern expression relax somewhat.
"Haha, good, good, good!"
"Good disciple, there is no need for such formality!"
Jie Yin laughed heartily. As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, releasing a gentle surge of cultivation that directly lifted Chen Ku to his feet.
Looking Chen Ku up and down, Jie Yin was full of satisfaction, his delight plain to see.
The Western experts were few and far between. Though he had not obtained a spiritual root or spiritual treasure today, he had gained a disciple with extraordinary potential and astonishing talent. Jie Yin immediately felt that he had someone to carry on his legacy. How could he not be delighted?!
Though Zhun Ti said nothing, he too nodded with a smile in his eyes.
He had also realized that accepting Chen Ku as a disciple not only gave them an exceptionally gifted disciple.
Would the Six Roots Pure Bamboo not also effectively remain in the West?
It was killing two birds with one stone!
Thus, seeing Chen Ku willingly become a disciple, Zhun Ti was also greatly satisfied.
As Chen Ku watched Jie Yin throw back his head and laugh in contentment, his expression turned strange.
"Ah... bitter..."
He muttered softly.
Though his voice was low, how could it escape the keen spiritual senses of Jie Yin and Zhun Ti?
Hearing this, both of them were instantly covered in black lines.
Were their reputations really that bad?
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti looked at Chen Ku as though angered.
Naturally, neither of them would truly make an issue of it.
Recovering himself, Jie Yin smiled and said.
"Hehe, since you and I now share the karmic bond of master and disciple."
"Then as your master, I should naturally grant you a small gift for entering the sect."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ku's previously dim eyes finally lit up.
A gift for becoming a disciple?
That could at least soothe his wounded heart.
Before you continue