"Hahaha, we've waited tens of thousands of years, and the day has finally come! This time, Master summoned us to Mount Kunlun to announce the candidates for the Twelve Golden Immortals!"
Immortal Elder Nanji said excitedly.
"Yes, once we obtain the positions of the Twelve Golden Immortals, we'll also gain the legendary Nine Revolutions Arcane Arts. This is a double blessing, a double blessing indeed! Hahaha..."
Yunzhongzi could not help stroking his long beard as he burst into laughter.
The two exchanged a glance, then immediately transformed into two streaks of light and hurried toward Mount Kunlun.
By the time they arrived at Mount Kunlun, the Immortals of Chan Sect had gathered one after another.
The two spotted True Person Huanglong, whose face was full of misery.
Clearly, True Person Huanglong also knew that Primordial Heavenly Venerate was about to appoint the Twelve Golden Immortals, and he feared there would be no place for him. That was why he looked so dejected!
Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi exchanged glances and grinned.
Leaving aside anything else, True Person Huanglong had never been favored by Primordial Heavenly Venerate. Since there was likely no place for him among the Twelve Golden Immortals, one of the two of them would surely obtain such a position.
This was practically a sure thing!
After the Immortals of Chan Sect exchanged pleasantries, they filed into Jade Void Palace.
A moment later, Primordial Heavenly Venerate appeared, reclining high upon a cloud bed as he looked down upon the Immortals of Chan Sect.
"Greetings, Master!"
The Immortals of Chan Sect hurriedly bowed.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate raised the Immortals of Chan Sect with a gesture and said calmly, "I summoned you here because I have calculated that twelve Golden Immortals shall arise within Chan Sect, completing our sect's fortune. This is a joyous matter!"
The Immortals of Chan Sect were all thrilled, each gazing eagerly at Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate looked at them and said calmly, "Now, I shall appoint the Twelve Golden Immortals!"
Everyone immediately pricked up their ears.
"Guangchengzi possesses extraordinary spiritual wisdom and profound origins. He shall be the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals!"
Primordial Heavenly Venerate said calmly.
"Thank you, Master!"
Guangchengzi was overjoyed, feeling an intangible wave of fortune descend upon him.
Guangchengzi's cultivation actually rose considerably in an instant.
Meanwhile, Immortal Elder Nanji's old face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.
He was the First Senior Brother of Chan Sect, yet Guangchengzi had snatched away the position of foremost among the Twelve Golden Immortals. How could he not be furious?
Playing Dirty? Chan Sect's Special Skill
Forget it, forget it. Even if this humble Taoist is not the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals, I should still be able to secure a position!
The fact that Guangchengzi was the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals had already been decided. No matter how enraged Immortal Elder Nanji was, there was nothing he could do but console himself in this way.
"Chijingzi possesses deep fortune and shall be among the Twelve Golden Immortals!"
Primordial Heavenly Venerate said again.
Chijingzi felt fortune settle upon him, and his cultivation shot upward rapidly. Overjoyed, he hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands to Primordial Heavenly Venerate. "Thank you, Master!"
"What? The second position isn't mine either?"
Immortal Elder Nanji was secretly shocked and somewhat indignant.
Even if the second position isn't mine, the third one should be, right?
Immortal Elder Nanji thought so.
"Though Yellow Dragon is of an unusual kind, he has cultivated under me for many years and improved considerably. He shall be among the Twelve Golden Immortals!"
But in the next moment, Primordial Heavenly Venerate's words shattered Immortal Elder Nanji's hopes once again.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's intentions this time were truly difficult to fathom!
Did Primordial Heavenly Venerate not usually dislike True Person Huanglong, who had attained the Tao as a nonhuman? How had he actually appointed True Person Huanglong as the third Golden Immortal?
The will of a Saint was truly unfathomable!
Over there, True Person Huanglong was so stunned by this sudden happiness that he felt dizzy. He hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands to Primordial Heavenly Venerate in wild delight. "Thank you, Master! From this day forth, this disciple will brave fire and water for Chan Sect without hesitation!"
At this moment, True Person Huanglong was moved beyond measure!
He had thought there would be no place for him among the Twelve Golden Immortals, since Primordial Heavenly Venerate did not favor him. Who would have thought that Primordial Heavenly Venerate would actually grant him a position?
And he was even ranked third!
This was truly an unexpected delight!
"Master still remembers this humble Taoist. Master still remembers this humble Taoist. Wuwuwu..."
True Person Huanglong wept with gratitude, crying until he became a complete mess of tears.
Seeing this, Primordial Heavenly Venerate nodded in satisfaction. Looking at True Person Huanglong, he said, "Yellow Dragon, you must continue striving and cultivate diligently!"
"Yes, Master. This disciple shall certainly heed Master's teachings!"
True Person Huanglong hurriedly bowed to Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate nodded and continued, "Juliusun has cultivated diligently and possesses deep fortune. He shall be among the Twelve Golden Immortals!"
Juliusun was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed to Primordial Heavenly Venerate. "Thank you, Master!"
"Still no place for this humble Taoist..."
Immortal Elder Nanji was shaken to the core.
Yunzhongzi was equally anxious.
"True Person Taiyi possesses deep fortune..."
"Lingbao possesses deep fortune..."
"True Person Yuding has profound origins and exceptional intelligence..."
Primordial Heavenly Venerate announced the candidates for the Twelve Golden Immortals one by one.
Meanwhile, the hearts of Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi gradually sank.
When Primordial Heavenly Venerate announced the final Golden Immortal, Heavenly Venerate Qingxu Daode, Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi's old faces had already turned deathly pale.
The Immortals of Chan Sect secretly grimaced at the sight.
By all rights, Immortal Elder Nanji was the First Senior Brother of Chan Sect, so one of the positions among the Twelve Golden Immortals ought to have been his. Yet in truth, he had received none!
Then there was Yunzhongzi, renowned throughout Chan Sect for his intelligence and known as the Immortal of Fortune and Virtue. Yet even such an immortal had no connection to a position among the Twelve Golden Immortals!
This was truly beyond everyone's expectations.
Instead, True Person Huanglong, who had been least likely to make it among the Twelve Golden Immortals, had actually become one of them and was even ranked third!
This truly proved the saying: the will of a Saint was difficult to fathom!
"Alright, disperse!"
Primordial Heavenly Venerate looked at the Immortals of Chan Sect and said calmly.
"Take care, Master!"
The immortals withdrew.
Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi returned to Zhongnan Mountain in a daze, both deeply disappointed.
"How can there be no place for the two of us? This... this is unreasonable! This... what exactly is going on? Th-this-this..."
Immortal Elder Nanji was so agitated that his tongue tangled, and he could barely speak clearly.
Yunzhongzi was also secretly distressed. He said angrily, "Exactly! Neither of us made it among the Twelve Golden Immortals. This..."
"Two fellow Taoists, this humble Taoist has arrived!"
At that moment, a deep, resonant voice rang out.
Hearing the voice, the two men's expressions changed slightly. Turning around, they saw Li Xiao riding auspicious clouds as he slowly approached.
"Two fellow Taoists, this humble Taoist heard that the positions of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect have been decided, and neither of you received one. A bet is a bet, so hand over the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Manual!"
Li Xiao extended one hand and looked at them with a smile.
Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi were both furious upon hearing this.
"What? Are you two fellow Taoists planning to go back on your word?"
Li Xiao looked at them, his face instantly darkening.
Rumble...
At that moment, rolling thunder sounded from the sky. Dark clouds gathered in surging waves, and the vague shape of an enormous Eye of Heavenly Tribulation formed overhead.
Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi's expressions changed drastically. Clearly, the Heavenly Dao oath was taking effect.
If they truly defaulted on the debt, heavenly tribulation would likely descend in an instant.
"Senior Brother Li Xiao, this is the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Manual. Take it!"
Seeing this, Yunzhongzi's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly made a copy of the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Manual and handed it to Li Xiao.
After obtaining the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Manual, Li Xiao was overjoyed. His face bloomed with a smile as he cupped his hands toward the two men. "Thank you, fellow Taoists!"
The two men's faces darkened to the extreme.
"Two fellow Taoists, if there is nothing else, this humble Taoist shall take his leave!"
Li Xiao's smile was brilliant. He cupped his hands toward them and turned to leave.
"Hmph, Junior Brother Li Xiao, hold it!"
At that moment, Immortal Elder Nanji flashed forward and blocked Li Xiao's path, speaking in a deep voice.
Li Xiao raised an eyebrow and looked at Immortal Elder Nanji and Yunzhongzi. "Two fellow Taoists, a bet is a bet. What do you mean by this?"
Immortal Elder Nanji stared at Li Xiao with a dark expression and said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother Li Xiao, did you know something beforehand? Did you deliberately come here to swindle us out of the Jade Purity Artifact Refining Manual?"
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