Cushion Dispute

Just as Tai Yi was beating Kun Peng, Qing Xuan and his two companions arrived at the entrance of Purple Cloud Palace.

"What's happening? How dare they fight here—aren't they afraid the Sage will be displeased?" Hong Yun asked the earlier arrivals, quite puzzled.

One of those ahead explained the whole story, and after hearing it, the three found it rather absurd.

"A Sage is preaching the Dao, yet these two are brawling at the doorstep—truly too arrogant," Zhen Yuanzi said, stroking his beard as he spoke to Qing Xuan and the others.

Hong Yun nodded in agreement, but Qing Xuan remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on the Demon Race crowd.

Following his line of sight, the other two saw the assembled demons.

"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan, what are you looking at?"

At that moment, Qing Xuan was sending a voice transmission to Da Bai.

"Da Bai, I didn't expect you to join the Demon Race."

"Boss! You're here too—I'll come find you!"

"Da Bai, wait! Stay hidden among the Demon Race for now. Don't let anyone know about our connection."

"Ah! Why? I miss you so much!"

"Da Bai, now that you're a great demon at the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, you need to learn independence. Besides, I've calculated that the Demon Race will encounter a great opportunity later. Stay there for now. After the lecture, go home and bring all twelve Spirit Beasts. Use the Demon Race's fortune to help them break through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal."

"Got it, Boss!"

"Remember, don't stand out too much. Keep a low profile. I'll need you for tasks later."

"No problem, Boss!"

"Oh, right, Boss. I've made a friend—the one beside me. His name is Bai Ze. Can I pass the cultivation method to him?"

Qing Xuan thought for a moment.

"After the lecture, bring him home to see me. I'll assess him."

"Alright, Boss!"

In an instant, Qing Xuan finished instructing Da Bai, then turned to the other two as if nothing had happened.

"Nothing much. I was just surprised that those two have gathered so many followers. Quite a sight."

"Oh? Fellow Daoist, you know those two?" Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun asked curiously.

"Heh. Di Jun and Tai Yi were originally two Three-legged Golden Crows born on the Sun Star. They bear the destiny of emperors by nature—truly extraordinary." Qing Xuan revealed their fate to divert attention.

"Oh! I didn't realize Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan was also versed in the art of fate," Zhen Yuanzi teased.

"Hahaha, you flatter me, Fellow Daoist. Just a little, just a little!" Qing Xuan replied with an inscrutable air.

"Creak—"

Suddenly, the doors of Purple Cloud Palace slowly swung open, drawing everyone's attention. Even Kun Peng and Tai Yi stopped fighting to look.

A Boy and Girl Attendant emerged from within. The boy scanned the crowd and spoke.

"Everyone, the lecture is about to begin. Please enter."

With that, the two stood on either side of the doors to welcome the crowd.

Hearing this, everyone filed inside. When Qing Xuan reached the entrance, he gave the boy attendant a meaningful glance—after all, this child might well become the future Lord of the Heavenly Court.

Once everyone was inside, the Boy and Girl Attendant prepared to close the doors, but a voice rang out.

"Don't close yet! Don't close yet! We two brothers are still here!"

Jie Yin and Zhunti arrived late, rushing in just as the doors were about to shut.

"That should be everyone, right?" the girl asked uncertainly.

The boy thought for a moment. "Close it. Those who missed it have no fate with the lecture. The Master won't blame us."

Inside the hall, the vast space held a Dao Platform, empty save for a single Cushion. Steps flanked the platform, each bearing more Cushions, but the most eye-catching feature was the six Cushions below the platform.

No one in the hall was slow-witted, so several figures immediately dashed toward the six Cushions.

The first three were taken by the Three Pure Ones—Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian. The closest to the fourth were Nuwa, Fu Xi, and Dong Wang Gong.

Seeing this, Fu Xi shot a spell at Dong Wang Gong. Startled, Dong Wang Gong hurriedly defended, but lost the fourth Cushion in the process. He glared furiously at Fu Xi and Nuwa.

"Hmph!" Dong Wang Gong snorted coldly and walked off to the side.

"Brother, you take it," Nuwa said, rising to offer her Cushion to Fu Xi.

"No need, Younger Sister. Your brother loves lively places—I can't sit still alone. I'll sit over there, where there are more people." Fu Xi pressed Nuwa back down, then cheerfully walked toward the side seats.

"Damn, that's incredible," Qing Xuan thought to himself.

Sure enough, Hong Yun had grabbed a seat again—only this time, he took the fifth, while the sixth was claimed by Kun Peng.

"Hey, over here!" Hong Yun waved happily at Qing Xuan and the others. They walked over.

"Haha, I can't believe I snagged one! Brother Zhen Yuanzi, here, you sit!" Hong Yun said cheerfully, offering the seat to Zhen Yuanzi.

Zhen Yuanzi waved his hand. "No need, I'll just sit to the side."

"Then Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan, you take the seat!"

"No, no, I haven't earned such a reward. You sit instead—after all, you're the one who seized it." Qing Xuan said with a smile.

Zhen Yuanzi then walked off to the side. Hong Yun scratched his head, left with no choice but to sit down himself, muttering under his breath.

"Isn't this a good thing? Why does no one want it?"

Seeing that all six cushions were now occupied, the people in the hall paired up and moved to the sides, whispering among themselves as they waited for Hongjun to appear.

As for Zhunti and Jie Yin, who had entered last, they took in the scene before them, exchanged a glance, and walked toward the sixth cushion.

"Fellow Daoist, we two brothers come from the Western Continent. The distance was so great that we arrived late. We earnestly beg you to yield this cushion to my elder brother, and we will be endlessly grateful." Zhunti spoke sincerely to Kun Peng.

Kun Peng's heart blazed with fury. Everyone was treating him like a soft target. He immediately shot back.

"Get lost! The cushion was taken by skill—if you've got the guts, come and take it!"

At that moment, Hong Yun felt a stir of sympathy. He had never been interested in the cushion anyway; when he'd grabbed it, he'd only thought about whether the two Daoists might need it. Now, hearing how pitiful Zhunti and the others sounded, compassion welled up in him.

Just as he was about to rise, a voice reached his ears. He listened carefully for a moment, then sat back down, no longer paying Zhunti and the other any heed.

"Hmph, a creature born from wetness and eggs—how dare you sit with us!" Yuanshi, seated in the second position, suddenly spoke.

"You!"

Kun Peng was enraged, pointing at Yuanshi. Nuwa, hearing this, also showed displeasure on her face, but her gentle nature kept her from responding.

Seeing that someone agreed with him, Zhunti was overjoyed. He exchanged a look with Jie Yin and continued speaking to Kun Peng.

"Fellow Daoist, since that's the case, we brothers will have to test your skill."

"What!"

Kun Peng was shocked. He hadn't expected these two to be so shameless—not only willing to fight, but to gang up on him two against one. His face cycled through green and purple, and he felt a clot of blood rising in his throat.

After a moment's thought, Kun Peng had no choice. He stood up, yielded the cushion, and walked to the side with a dark expression.

Zhunti was overjoyed. "Big Brother, you sit first!"