A Great Event Approaches!

As soon as he finished speaking, he launched into a torrent of complaints, recounting how his enlightenment had borne no fruit and how his state of mind had hit a wall. He did not stop until his mouth was dry and his tongue parched.

Tongtian remained expressionless on the surface, but inwardly, he was already bursting with delight.

In truth, this fellow only had one issue after going around in circles—Laozi and the other three had become Saints one after another, enjoying limitless glory, while his Primordial Violet Qi seemed dead, showing no sign of movement. That was why he had become as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

But none of that mattered.

What was truly interesting was that Fuxi's pitiful display was only half genuine concern over his cultivation. The other half... was purely an act for Tongtian to see.

It was because rumors were now spreading throughout the entire Primordial Wilderness:

Nuwa had become a Saint entirely because Tongtian had secretly supported her.

And after Laozi left the Three Immortal Islands back then, he had suddenly traveled the world. Within a thousand years, he had successfully attained the Dao, and his path had been exactly the same as Nuwa's in the past!

There had been hundreds of billions of listeners at the time. No matter how secret something was, word was bound to leak out.

Besides, Laozi's sudden travels without any prior sign looked very much like he had obtained some sort of opportunity.

At first, he had wanted to step forward and clarify matters. After all, the truth was the exact opposite—Tongtian had not helped him at all, and had even explicitly forbidden him from using the Human Race to attain the Dao.

One had to know that cutting off someone's path forward was comparable to the enmity of annihilating their entire sect!

Calling them mortal enemies would not have been an exaggeration!

But the problem was, he could hardly tell others that he had gone before the Dao Ancestor to complain and seek justice, could he?

So he could only swallow his anger and silently allow the rumors to spread.

That silence instead became the strongest proof.

Naturally, the outside world concluded: if there was nothing to hide, why not deny it? Even the person involved had admitted it. How could it be false?

Tongtian secretly shook his head. He truly had no words for these cultivators' ability to imagine and fabricate stories.

The hall remained silent for a long while. Seeing no response, Fuxi finally could not sit still.

Good heavens! I acted pitiful, dropped hints, and put my life into this performance, yet you were pretending not to understand?

Did your conscience really not hurt?

After silently grumbling a few times, he gave a light cough, rubbed his hands together, and moved closer with a flattering grin.

"Um... brother-in-law, look at the relationship between us. Shouldn't you show me a little something?"

"For example, arrange some opportunity for me to attain the Dao or something."

After saying that, he even blinked, his face full of shameless calculation.

Fortunately, no one else was around to witness such an utterly undignified scene.

Otherwise, the entire hall would probably have dropped their jaws—everyone would surely exclaim in unison: so Fuxi was actually this kind of person!

Watching this dignified innate deity act cute and shameless, Tongtian found it unusually amusing.

His own brother-in-law actually had such a comically exasperating side to him.

The corners of Tongtian's lips rose slightly. With a teasing look, he slowly spread his hands.

"That 'brother-in-law' of yours does sound rather pleasant. You flatter quite smoothly too, and that whole performance earlier was fairly convincing."

"But then again, I truly do not know what opportunity you have to attain the Dao."

The moment those words landed, the eager expression in Fuxi's eyes collapsed. The smile on his face ebbed away like a receding tide, replaced by undisguised disappointment.

That look nearly made Tongtian blurt out, "Good heavens."

He silently rolled his eyes. This man really did not bother hiding anything.

Just as Fuxi lowered his head in dejection and prepared to turn around and leave, Tongtian leisurely added another sentence.

"However..."

"However what?" Fuxi abruptly halted. He looked as if he had been struck by lightning, then in the next instant flashed before Tongtian, his face once more piled with that shameless smile.

The speed at which he changed expressions was simply astonishing.

What was even more outrageous was that he seemed to have completely forgotten his string of emotional ups and downs just now. His face was full of the confidence of someone declaring, "I have never lowered my head in my life."

"It's nothing. It's just that hearing you call me 'brother-in-law' feels quite nice. If you do not find it tiring, feel free to say it a few more times." Tongtian grinned teasingly, his eyes filled with mischief.

Actually...

From the moment Tongtian had considered drawing Fuxi into his plans, he had already made arrangements in his heart.

The position of Heavenly Emperor among the Human Race's Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was precisely the opportunity he had secretly planned for Fuxi.

There would be no need to undergo tribulation and reincarnate. Fuxi only needed to send a wisp of his Primordial Spirit into the cycle of reincarnation, after which Tongtian would personally take him as a disciple.

That way, he would gain both the merit of the Heavenly Emperor and the karmic reward of being an Imperial Teacher.

If his cultivation then reached the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, under the nourishment of that double portion of merit, along with the wisp of Primordial Violet Qi hidden deep within his brow that should have remained concealed, he might not be unable to take that final step and attain a Saintly Position.

After all, the Heavenly Dao could only accommodate nine Saints. Excluding "the One that Escaped" and Old Ancestor Hongjun, there were in truth only seven positions left.

If Fuxi were included now, the number would be exactly complete.

But naturally, Tongtian would not reveal such calculations in full at present.

He could wait until the time was ripe before proceeding gradually.

"You may be the Sect Master, but surely I can refuse at least once?" Fuxi's tone carried helplessness, and his entire face was full of grievance.

He looked as though he were announcing: this is my final shred of dignity!

"Ah—here I was considering arranging a great fortune for my brother-in-law."

"Since you do not care for it, I might as well let Zhenyuanzi or West Queen Mother have it."

"I imagine they would appreciate it more."

Tongtian sighed softly. His words sounded casual, but every one of them was like a hook, burrowing straight into Fuxi's ears.

The moment Fuxi heard this, his eyes lit up. Without another word, he shamelessly moved closer, adopting the posture of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!"

"Hm? Didn't you just say you were unwilling to call me that?" Tongtian feigned surprise.

"I never said that! I never did! Don't make things up!" Fuxi immediately denied it flatly, his face not reddening and his heart not skipping a beat. His shamelessness was astounding.

That display of instantly changing his tune left even Tongtian stunned for a moment.

Then Tongtian smiled and pressed on. "So here is the question—what exactly is that opportunity?"

"Huh? Did I mention one? You must have misheard. What opportunity? How could something like that possibly fall to me?" Tongtian played dumb and spouted nonsense with a completely serious face.

The moment he said that, Fuxi froze on the spot. The anticipation all over his face instantly solidified, and he even forgot to let the twitch at the corner of his mouth fall away.

He stood there dazed for a long while. Only when he caught sight of Tongtian's barely concealed upturned lips did he suddenly realize—he had been toyed with again.

Ten thousand curses surged through his heart, yet he forcibly swallowed them all, leaving only a silent cry.

I'm exhausted. I really want to find somewhere and howl my heart out!!!

At that moment, Nuwa quietly appeared.

"Enough. Stop teasing him." She spoke softly.

In truth, she had sensed Fuxi's arrival the moment he came. She had originally wanted to secretly listen in on what the two were discussing, but then...

Fuxi's behavior—

Was truly humiliating beyond measure!

When he saw his younger sister suddenly appear, Fuxi immediately covered his face with one hand. He wailed endlessly in his heart, panicking beyond belief.

It's over, it's over. My image as a detached and aloof master of many years has been completely ruined this time!

What do I do?!

Help! Waiting online! This is really urgent!

"Why are you here? We have only been apart for such a short time, and you already missed me?" Tongtian teased with a smile.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" With Fuxi present, Nuwa's earlobes turned faintly red. She spat lightly, her embarrassment mixed with coy irritation.

Fuxi curled his lips and silently turned his head away, pretending not to hear.

Women really were troublesome.

Their constant chatter was irritating enough, and they even delayed my enlightenment!

"Fuxi, the opportunity for you to attain the Dao has not yet arrived."

"When you enter the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, that opportunity will naturally reveal itself."

Tongtian's expression grew solemn, and his tone turned serious as he left behind those ambiguous words.

Before Fuxi could joyfully question him further, Tongtian immediately issued another order.

"The Interception Sect has stood for many years since its founding."

"Pass down the order—one thousand years from now, the Interception Sect will hold a grand ceremony and invite guests from all under heaven."

"The rules of the competition are simple. Menial Disciples will compete against one another, while Outer Disciples will only spar with those of the same rank."

"They will be eliminated round after round, and in the end, the top three of each category will be selected."

"I will personally grant the rewards, and they will certainly not be meager."

The moment those words were spoken, Fuxi and Nuwa were both stunned.

Again? Was he planning to stir up another storm?

There was no need to think about it— even without rewards, those elders and disciples who practically worshiped Tongtian fanatically would rush to sign up.

Not to mention that this time, Tongtian would personally present the prizes.

He was the supreme idol in their hearts!

One could foresee that the moment the news spread, the entire Interception Sect would probably explode into an uproar.

"What prizes are you preparing? Spiritual artifacts? Or high-grade pills?"

Fuxi nodded slightly and asked.

He knew that even without rewards, everyone would eagerly participate.

But the Interception Sect was, after all, the greatest sect in the Primordial Wilderness, a sacred land where ten thousand immortals gathered.

If they could not offer something respectable as a reward, would they not become a laughingstock?

"You only need to make sure the process is properly arranged. As for the prizes, would I, Tongtian, ever ruin my own reputation?"

Tongtian smiled faintly, his expression unfathomable as he refused to reveal the specifics.

Yet inwardly, he muttered to himself: it was only a spur-of-the-moment idea. How could I have had time to decide what the rewards would be?

If I told you I had not settled on anything yet, would I not lose all face?

Outwardly, he remained calm and composed, as though everything were firmly under his control.

"Fine, I'll handle it right away."

Fuxi answered, then turned and hurried toward the Elders' Hall.

Before long, the Elders' Hall was in complete chaos. Documents flew everywhere, and figures hurried back and forth.

Very quickly, news that the Interception Sect would hold a grand competition one thousand years later swept across the entire island like the wind.

The Three Immortal Islands instantly erupted.

Countless disciples were so excited that their faces flushed red. They raised their arms and shouted, fighting spirit blazing in their eyes.

Some had already begun calculating who their opponents might be. Others silently meditated, swearing to make their names known that day.

Even more people declared boldly:

"The position of champion among the Core Disciples can belong to no one but me!"

When Kong Xuan heard the news, his gaze flickered, his eyes as firm as stone.

Not far away, Six-Eared Macaque sat quietly within his cave dwelling, and a flame quietly rose in his heart as well.

He had cultivated desperately and never once slackened, all so that he could one day repay the sect that had given him a place to belong and repay the Sect Master who had been like both father and teacher to him.

He had suffered every cold glance in the world and lived alone without anyone to rely on.

Yet the Interception Sect had taken him in, and Tongtian had enlightened him.

Now, he wanted to fight for first place—not for fame or profit, but only to let that man know—

I have not failed your expectations.

Even if you have never paid special attention to me.

And he was not the only one. Duobao, San Xiao, Zhao Gongming, Wudang, Guiling, Jinling, and the Six Attendant Immortals, along with many other gifted disciples, all quietly set their own goals in their hearts.

For a time, the atmosphere across the Three Immortal Islands grew restless, battle intent rose high, and even the air seemed filled with the spirit of striving.

Five hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps the temptation of "being able to meet Tongtian at close range" was simply too great. Almost every day, disciples broke through to a new realm.

The unceasing fluctuations from those breakthroughs shook the clouds and startled all directions.

Many great powers of the Primordial Wilderness noticed the phenomenon and turned their attention toward it, but none dared rashly investigate a Saint's dojo. They could only discuss it in private.

"Could Saint Tongtian be secretly expounding the Dao? How else could such a dense wave of enlightenment be triggered?"

"To be honest, I'm so envious my teeth itch. I tried to join them before, but I was turned away at the door."

"In my opinion, something major must be about to happen in the Interception Sect!"

"Speaking of which, when Saint Nuwa descended upon the Three Immortal Islands last time, did you notice how wealthy every one of those disciples seemed to be?"

"Hmph, disciples of a Saint's sect are naturally extraordinary. What is so strange about that?"

"Fellow Daoist, I believe you misunderstand. I mean that every one of them held several spiritual treasures, and pills were handed out as casually as rewards, without the slightest stinginess."