Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

However, Tongtian did not take this matter to heart.

After all, this conflict had nothing to do with him.

But he still held a grudge over Dijun and Taiyi's earlier joint assault.

Sooner or later, he would find an opportunity to settle that score.

Just as he was pondering this, his heart suddenly stirred.

He made a quick calculation and discovered that a disciple fated to be connected with him had been born.

Instinctively, he followed the direction indicated by the heavenly guidance.

Before long, he arrived at a lush, spirit-rich island.

"I beg you, Immortal Elder, take me as your disciple!"

Tongtian was taken aback.

Before him knelt a round, chubby little fellow, whose appearance was rather comical.

He let out a light chuckle and said:

"Hmm, though you're only at the early Heavenly Immortal stage, your aptitude is still decent.

Do you have a name?"

"Reporting to the Immortal Elder, this disciple was transformed from a Duobao Rat, hence my name is Duobao."

Sensing the unfathomable depth of the other's power, the little fatty dared not hide anything and answered honestly.

But before he could finish speaking, Tongtian's expression had already shifted slightly.

Duobao?

That same Duobao who, in the original course of fate, was the senior disciple of the Jie Sect?

Later turned into a Buddha by Laozi's "conversion of barbarians to Buddhism," becoming the ancestor of all Buddhas in Western Buddhism—Duobao Rulai?

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

"Ow, it hurts so much! Immortal Elder, spare me!"

Duobao let out a few pained cries, his already plump figure now looking even more bloated.

Though Tongtian hadn't used any magical power, his physical body was already comparable to a Primordial Ancestral God.

After this barrage of slaps, Duobao had thoroughly learned his lesson.

Once he finished, Tongtian let out a cold snort:

"Duobao, do you know your mistake?"

"This disciple doesn't know how I've offended the Immortal Elder. Please enlighten me."

He rubbed his cheeks, his face full of grievance.

His expression was exactly like that of a bullied little wife.

"You will betray the sect."

"This disciple has never had such a thought!"

Duobao looked utterly bewildered.

"Not having it now doesn't mean you won't later."

"Huh?" Duobao didn't catch on for a moment.

He might betray the sect in the future?

But what does that have to do with me now?

If you want to hit someone, you should hit the future me!

At that thought, Duobao nearly burst into tears.

What a bizarre train of thought—truly unmatched!

"Alright. From now on, you are an Outer Disciple of my Jie Sect."

Tongtian waved his hand in satisfaction, his tone light as he made the promise.

He was fully confident that, once in the Jie Sect, Duobao would never dream of going to that desolate Western land.

And even if he did betray the sect in the future, Tongtian had no shortage of ways to deal with it!

[Congratulations to the host for successfully recruiting an Outer Disciple. Reward: one Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.]

A Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure?

Tongtian was momentarily stunned.

Recruiting a mere Heavenly Immortal disciple could yield such a generous reward.

If he recruited a few Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals or even Quasi-Saints, he'd probably ascend to the heavens in one step.

At that thought, a fire kindled in his heart.

Jie Sect?

Duobao was stunned for a moment, then trembled with excitement.

Who in the Great Desolation Continent hadn't heard of the great name of Tongtian, the Sect Master of the Jie Sect?

That was the ruthless figure who had fought alone against four Saints and sent several top-tier Great Powers fleeing in panic!

"Thank you, Sect Master. This disciple kowtows in gratitude!"

Thinking this, joy spread across Duobao's face as he hurriedly knelt to pay his respects.

So intense was his excitement that even with his injuries still visible, he felt no pain.

"Come, follow me to meet the Grand Elder of the Jie Sect."

Tongtian nodded, casually swept him into his sleeve, and flew toward Buzhou Mountain.

It had been years since he'd seen Fuxi and Nuwa—time to check on their progress.

After an unknown stretch of time, a figure appeared ahead.

The newcomer was none other than Zhenyuanzi, who would later be known as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, it's good to see you well. Since you're passing by my Wuzhuang Temple, why not come in and rest, taste a fruit, and discuss the Dao with me?"

Zhenyuanzi spoke with a smile, extending a warm invitation.

Having just emerged from Closed Door Meditation to clear his mind, he hadn't expected to run into Tongtian passing by.

He had always enjoyed making friends among Fellow Daoists and naturally didn't want to miss this chance.

Tongtian was slightly surprised at his words.

Had this guy forgotten what happened before?

He'd taken all of that spiritual treasure from him.

Not only was he not angry, but he was warmly inviting me to eat Ginseng Fruit?

Shaking his head with a wry smile, he decided not to dwell on what he couldn't understand.

Thinking of Duobao's shallow cultivation, he nodded in agreement.

"Fellow Daoist, please come in. Qingfeng, Mingyue, prepare some fruits." Zhenyuanzi ordered as soon as he entered.

After sitting down, Tongtian casually released Duobao.

"This is Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, and this is Duobao, an Outer Disciple I've just taken into the Jie Sect."

"Disciple Duobao pays respects to Uncle-Master." Duobao bowed respectfully.

"Fellow Daoist is truly blessed. I can see Duobao's extraordinary talent—he's bound for great things in the future."

Zhenyuanzi stroked his beard with a smile, offering praise without reservation.

"Fellow Daoist flatters me." Tongtian replied with a faint smile.

After some polite exchanges, Qingfeng and Mingyue respectfully brought out a fruit platter.

Looking at the Ginseng Fruit, shaped like an infant, Tongtian recalled its origins.

This fruit was also known as the Grass Returning Pill.

It bloomed once every three thousand years, bore fruit once every three thousand years, and took another three thousand years to ripen.

A single sniff could extend one's lifespan by three hundred and sixty years; eating one would grant forty-seven thousand years of life.

Though it couldn't compare to the Yellow Central Plum he'd just obtained, it had the advantage of quantity and a shorter maturation cycle.

He casually picked one up and took a bite.

Unfortunately, for someone at his early Quasi-Saint level, it no longer had much effect.

He gestured to Duobao beside him and began discussing the Dao with Zhenyuanzi.

Having eaten the man's fruit, he naturally had to repay the favor.

Besides, he intended to invite Zhenyuanzi to join the Jie Sect.

Otherwise, with his current strength, who could truly force him to lecture on the Dao?

Receiving the order, Duobao didn't hold back and ate several Ginseng Fruits.

Feeling the surging spiritual power within him, he quickly sat cross-legged and began to refine it.

Fortunately, the fruit's effects were gentle; otherwise, he might have become the first cultivator in the history of the Great Desolation to be burst apart by spiritual power.

Time flew like a shuttle, and in the blink of an eye, Tongtian and Zhenyuanzi had been discussing the Dao for five hundred years.

Influenced by the knowledge of later generations, Tongtian often raised points that felt fresh and enlightening to Zhenyuanzi.

Zhenyuanzi sincerely admired his insights and developed a deep respect for him.

As the discussion concluded, seeing Duobao still in Closed Door Meditation for a breakthrough, Tongtian's lips curled slightly. He seized the moment to extend an olive branch to Zhenyuanzi beside him.

"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, what do you think of the Jie Sect?"

"This poor Daoist believes that in time, the Jie Sect will surely become the greatest sect in the Great Desolation."

During the discussion of the Dao, Tongtian intentionally or unintentionally revealed quite a bit of information about the Jie Sect. Zhenyuanzi listened, and naturally felt confident in the Jie Sect's prospects.

"In that case, would you be willing to join my Jie Sect and serve as a Grand Elder?"

Tongtian chuckled softly, speaking slowly, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

"This..."

The sudden goodwill left Zhenyuanzi momentarily speechless, a look of hesitation spreading across his face.

Although he was optimistic about the Jie Sect's future, his own temperament was easygoing, and he had always cherished freedom. If he joined a sect, he feared he might no longer be able to roam as he pleased.

"No matter. Fellow Daoist, if you have concerns, feel free to think it over."

"Within one kalpa, my word stands firm."

Seeing his hesitation, Tongtian did not press aggressively but instead generously gave him time.

He knew in his heart that the matter of Hongyun would soon erupt, and then Zhenyuanzi would understand that the path of solitude was not a smooth one.

Even if Hongyun did not implicate Kunpeng, the matter of the Saintly Position would be hard to resolve.

Zhunti and Jieyin had always acted decisively. If the karmic debt could not be repaid, the only outcome would be death and the end of the Dao.

Hongyun's calamity was already fated.

Thinking of this, Tongtian's heart stirred, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"By the way, if you happen to meet Fellow Daoist Hongyun, feel free to mention it to him as well."

"The gates of my Jie Sect are always open, and he is most welcome."

This thought came abruptly, but it actually stemmed from a bit of mischievous amusement in his heart.

If he could gradually guide Hongyun, the Primordial Wilderness's number one good-natured fellow, into a deeply calculating figure, it would likely be an exceedingly interesting affair.

"I shall convey your intent, Fellow Daoist."

Zhenyuanzi nodded slightly, his tone solemn.

With that, the conversation came to an end, and Duobao happened to complete his breakthrough at that very moment.

As if he had timed it perfectly.

"Hmm, mid-stage Mysterious Immortal. Not bad."

Duobao had leaped from the Heavenly Immortal realm to the Mysterious Immortal realm, greatly increasing his strength. Tongtian nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he looked at Zhenyuanzi, cupped his hands, and took his leave.

"Thank you for your hospitality. If you ever face an intractable problem in the future, you can come to the Three Immortal Islands in the East Sea to find me."

"You are too kind, Fellow Daoist. This poor Daoist is deeply grateful."

Zhenyuanzi replied with a complex expression, his heart filled with both gratitude and a hint of helplessness.

Gratitude, because this promise was undoubtedly a great umbrella over him, giving him more confidence in his future actions.

Helplessness, because if the day came when he truly needed to seek help, he likely could not come empty-handed.

And what could he offer, aside from the Earth Book and Ginseng Fruits?

In the end, he feared he would still have no choice but to "join the sect."

Within Buzhou Mountain.

"Break!"

Nuwa sat cross-legged in her quiet chamber, letting out a soft shout. The spiritual power within her surged like a rushing river, striking against that faint, elusive Shackles.

She herself could not say why she suddenly felt such an urgent need to break through.

If she had to trace it back to the root, it was probably because she did not want to disappoint Tongtian.

She did not want to meet him again and appear so incompetent, unable even to advance her own cultivation.

Fuxi, watching from the side, was slightly surprised.

He knew well that his sister had never been fond of arduous training. Now, acting completely out of character, training day and night, he found it utterly baffling.

What he did not know was that all of this was simply because of Tongtian's parting words: "Work hard on your cultivation."

Boom—

A vast aura suddenly burst forth from within Nuwa, and the entire training ground was instantly shrouded in a wave of pressure.

Fortunately, the protective formation held, or else such an eruption of force would have brought disaster to all living creatures within a hundred miles.

"Brother, I broke through!"

Without even stabilizing her new realm, Nuwa opened her eyes, her face brimming with joy.

Her expression was so lively, her delight so plain to see, that she had none of the bearing of a lofty expert.

"Is it really worth being this happy over just a minor realm?"

Fuxi shook his head with a light laugh, teasing her.

"You wouldn't understand." Nuwa pouted in retort. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian told us to break through to the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. There must be a deeper meaning."

"I don't want to become a burden to him."

Her tone was firm, and a hint of seriousness shone in her eyes.