Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

However, Tongtian did not take this matter to heart.

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

Yet he still harbored resentment over Dijun and Taiyi joining forces to besiege him earlier.

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

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

Calculating with his fingers, he discovered that a disciple fated to be connected to him had been born.

He subconsciously followed the direction indicated by heavenly fate.

Before long, he arrived at an island brimming with spiritual energy.

"Immortal elder, please accept me as your disciple!"

Tongtian froze.

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

He chuckled and said,

"Though you are only at the initial Heavenly Immortal stage, your aptitude is fairly good.

Do you have a name?"

"Reporting to Immortal Elder, I am transformed from a Duobao Rat, so my name is Duobao."

Sensing the unfathomable strength of the person before him, the little fatty did not dare conceal anything and answered honestly.

However, before his words had even faded, Tongtian's expression changed slightly.

Duobao?

The eldest disciple of the Interception Sect in the original course of fate?

The one Laozi later "turned into a Hu and made into a Buddha," becoming Duobao Rulai, progenitor of all Buddhas in Western Buddhism?

Smack! Smack! Smack!

"Ow! That hurts! Immortal Elder, spare my life!"

Duobao cried out miserably several times. His already rather plump body now looked even more swollen.

Though Tongtian had not used any mana, his physical body was already comparable to that of an ancestral witch.

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

Once he was done, Tongtian snorted coldly.

"Duobao, do you know your mistake?"

"This disciple does not know how I have offended Immortal Elder. Please enlighten me."

He rubbed his cheeks, his face full of grievance.

He looked exactly like a bullied young wife.

"You will betray the sect."

"This disciple has absolutely no such intention!"

Duobao was utterly bewildered.

"Not having that intention now does not mean you will not have it in the future."

"Huh?" Duobao did not react at first.

He might betray the sect in the future?

But what did that have to do with him now?

If Tongtian wanted to beat someone up, he should beat up his future self!

At that thought, Duobao nearly burst into tears.

What kind of bizarre logic was this?

"Fine. From now on, you are an Outer Disciple of my Interception Sect."

Tongtian waved his hand in satisfaction, casually making that promise.

He was completely confident that once Duobao entered the Interception Sect, he would never think of going to that desolate West in the future.

Even if Duobao truly betrayed the sect someday, Tongtian had no shortage of methods 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 disciple at the Heavenly Immortal realm could earn such a generous reward.

If he recruited several Grand Unity Golden Immortals or even Quasi-Saint-level cultivators, would he not soar to the heavens in a single step?

At that thought, his heart immediately grew fervent.

The Interception Sect?

Duobao was stunned at first, then began trembling with excitement.

Who on the Great Desolation Continent had not heard of Tongtian, Sect Master of the Interception Sect?

He was the ruthless figure who had fought four Saints alone and beaten several top experts into fleeing in panic!

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

Thinking of this, Duobao beamed with joy and hurriedly knelt to pay his respects.

He was so excited that he did not even care about the pain from the injuries on his face.

"Come. Follow me to meet the Grand Elder of the Interception Sect."

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

He had not seen Fuxi and Nuwa for years. It was time to see how much they had improved.

After an unknown amount of time, a figure suddenly appeared ahead.

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

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, it has been a long time. Since you are passing by my Wuzhuang Temple, why not come in and rest awhile? Have some fruit, and let us discuss the Dao."

Zhenyuanzi spoke with a smile, warmly extending an invitation.

Having emerged from Closed Door Meditation to clear his mind, he had not expected to run into Tongtian passing by.

He had always enjoyed making friends with fellow Daoists, so naturally he did not wish to miss this opportunity.

Tongtian was slightly surprised by his words.

Had this fellow forgotten what happened before?

Tongtian had taken all of Zhenyuanzi's spiritual treasures.

Not only was he not angry, he was even enthusiastically inviting Tongtian to eat Ginseng Fruit?

Tongtian shook his head with a bitter smile. Since he could not understand it, he simply did not dwell on it.

Thinking that Duobao's cultivation was still shallow, he nodded in agreement.

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

After Tongtian took his seat, he casually released Duobao from his sleeve.

"This is Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi. This is Duobao, the Outer Disciple I have just accepted into the Interception Sect."

"This disciple Duobao greets Martial Uncle." Duobao respectfully bowed.

"Fellow Daoist, you are truly fortunate. I can see that Duobao possesses extraordinary aptitude. He will surely have a great destiny in the future."

Zhenyuanzi stroked his beard and smiled, praising him without reservation.

"You flatter him, Fellow Daoist." Tongtian responded with a faint smile.

After some pleasantries, Qingfeng and Mingyue respectfully brought over a tray of fruit.

Looking at the Ginseng Fruit shaped like infants, Tongtian recalled their origins.

These fruits were also known as Grass Returning Pills.

They bloomed once every three thousand years, bore fruit after another three thousand years, and required yet another three thousand years to ripen.

Smelling one could extend one's lifespan by three hundred and sixty years, while eating one granted a lifespan of forty-seven thousand years.

Though they could not compare to the Yellow Central Plum he had just obtained, they were superior in number and had a shorter maturation cycle.

He casually picked one up and took a bite.

Unfortunately, for someone at the initial Quasi-Saint realm like him, they no longer had much effect.

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

After eating another's fruit, one naturally had to return the favor.

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

Otherwise, given his current strength, who would truly dare force him to expound the Dao?

Receiving the order, Duobao unceremoniously ate several Ginseng Fruit.

Feeling mana surge through his body, he hurriedly sat cross-legged and began refining it.

Fortunately, the fruit's effects were gentle. Otherwise, he might have become the first cultivator in the Primordial Wilderness to be burst apart by mana.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Tongtian and Zhenyuanzi had discussed the Dao for five hundred years.

Having been influenced by knowledge from later generations, the views Tongtian raised repeatedly gave Zhenyuanzi a fresh perspective.

Zhenyuanzi sincerely admired his insights, and a measure of respect arose in his heart.

When their discussion ended, Tongtian saw that Duobao was still in Closed Door Meditation, breaking through. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch to Zhenyuanzi beside him.

"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, what do you think of my Interception Sect?"

"In my opinion, given enough time, the Interception Sect will surely become the greatest sect in the Primordial Wilderness."

During their discussion, Tongtian had intentionally and unintentionally revealed quite a bit about the Interception Sect. Zhenyuanzi had heard it all and was naturally full of confidence in its future.

"Then, would you be willing to join my Interception Sect and serve as its Grand Elder?"

Tongtian smiled lightly and spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

"This..."

Faced with such sudden goodwill, Zhenyuanzi was momentarily at a loss for words, hesitation appearing on his face.

Though he thought highly of the Interception Sect's prospects, his nature was easygoing and he had always cherished freedom. If he joined a sect, he feared he would no longer be able to live as carefree as before.

"It is no matter. If you have concerns, Fellow Daoist, you may consider them carefully."

"Within one yuanhui, I will honor my word."

Seeing his hesitation, Tongtian did not press him. Instead, he generously gave him time.

Tongtian knew that the matter of Hong Yun would soon erupt. At that time, Zhenyuanzi would understand that walking alone was not a smooth path.

Even if Hong Yun did not implicate Kunpeng, the matter of the Saintly Position would be difficult to resolve.

Zhunti and Jieyin had always acted decisively. If they could not repay the karmic debt, the only ending would be death and the dissipation of the Dao.

Hong Yun's calamity had long since been predetermined.

At that thought, Tongtian's heart stirred, and the corners of his lips rose slightly.

"Oh, and if you happen to encounter Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, you may as well tell him this."

"The gates of my Interception Sect are always open. He is most welcome."

The thought had come suddenly, but it actually stemmed from a bit of mischief in Tongtian's heart.

If he slowly guided Hong Yun, the greatest do-gooder in the Primordial Wilderness, into becoming someone deeply calculating, that would probably be extremely interesting.

"I will certainly convey Fellow Daoist's meaning."

Zhenyuanzi nodded slightly, his tone solemn.

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

It was as though he had calculated the timing precisely.

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

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

Then he looked at Zhenyuanzi and cupped his hands in farewell.

"Thank you for your hospitality. If you encounter any difficult matter in the future, you may come find me at the Three Immortal Islands in the East Sea."

"You are too courteous, Fellow Daoist. I am deeply grateful."

Zhenyuanzi responded with a complicated expression, feeling both gratitude and a touch of helplessness.

He was grateful because this promise was undoubtedly like opening a great umbrella over him, giving him greater confidence in future actions.

Yet he was helpless because if the day ever came when he needed to seek help, he likely could not arrive empty-handed.

And what could he offer besides the Earth Book and Ginseng Fruit?

In the end, he would probably still be unable to avoid the path of "joining the sect in person."

Within Buzhou Mountain.

"Break!"

Nuwa sat cross-legged in a quiet chamber. With a soft cry, mana surged through her body like a rushing river, striking against that faint, intangible barrier.

Even she could not explain why she suddenly felt such an urgent desire to break through.

If she truly had to trace it to its source, it was probably because she did not want to disappoint Tongtian.

She did not want to seem so useless when they met again, with even her cultivation still failing to advance.

Fuxi, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised.

He knew that his younger sister had never enjoyed bitter cultivation. Yet now she had completely changed, cultivating diligently day and night, leaving him thoroughly puzzled.

What he did not know was that it was all because of Tongtian's reminder to "cultivate diligently."

Boom—

A vast aura suddenly burst forth from Nuwa's body, and the entire dojo was instantly shrouded in pressure.

Fortunately, the formation protected the area. Otherwise, if such an aura leaked out, all living beings within a hundred miles would likely suffer.

"Brother, I broke through!"

Before she had even stabilized her realm, Nuwa opened her eyes, her face full of delight.

Her expression was lively and openly joyful. Where was there even a trace of an expert's bearing?

"It is only a minor realm. Is it worth being so happy over?"

Fuxi shook his head with a smile and teased her.

"You do not understand." Nuwa pouted in rebuttal. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian told us to break through to the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. He must have a deeper reason."

"I do not want to become a burden to him."

Her tone was resolute, and her eyes held a trace of seriousness.