Encounter at Three Immortal Islands

Zhunti suddenly leaped forward, knelt down, and spoke with tears streaming down his face.

"Please, Sage, look upon the Western spiritual veins destroyed and the land barren, and accept us brothers as disciples!"

After speaking, Jie Yin and Zhunti knelt before the Dao Platform, awaiting Hongjun's response.

Hongjun looked at Jie Yin and Zhunti, knowing that these two would later betray the Daoist Sect, but for now he had no choice but to grant their request, as he still owed Karma to the Western Continent.

"Very well, I will accept you as nominal disciples."

"Thank you, Master!" Jie Yin and Zhunti were overjoyed; they had come with only a tentative hope, never expecting it to actually succeed.

Those around them cast envious glances, thinking they should have tried their luck as well.

Hongjun then produced two spiritual treasures, the Twelve-grade Merit Golden Lotus and the Blessing Vajra, and bestowed them upon the two.

The pair, never expecting to receive spiritual treasures either, were ecstatic and quickly accepted them.

Then Hongjun spoke.

"Now the Primordial Continent is rife with war and chaos, without order. I appoint Dong Wang Gong as the Head of Male Immortals and Queen Mother of the West as the Head of Female Immortals, to govern the Primordial Continent."

After speaking, Hongjun produced two more High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and gave them to the pair, then vanished.

"We obey the Sage's command!"

The crowd was greatly startled, but the Sage's words could not be defied, so they had no choice but to accept the arrangement. Dong Wang Gong beamed with joy and began making friends, unaware that in the distance, two pairs of eyes tinged with killing intent were fixed on him.

"Big Brother, once we return to the Primordial Continent, I will kill him!" Tai Yi said, murderous intent radiating from him.

Di Jun thought for a moment, then said, "Do not act rashly. This man was appointed Head of Male Immortals by the Sage. If we are to kill him, we must wait until after the third sermon and see the Sage's stance."

"Hmph, then let him enjoy himself for now!" Tai Yi sneered contemptuously at Dong Wang Gong, believing that the position of Head of Male Immortals should belong to his elder brother, not some worthless wretch like him.

The crowd gradually departed. Hong Yun, watching the Three Pure Ones gain favor, spoke with some concern.

"Who would have thought they could become disciples of the Sage? If they come seeking revenge, do we fight or not?"

Upon hearing this, Daojun Qing Xuan smiled and said.

"Rest assured, if they come knocking, we'll fight them without hesitation. Senior Hongjun won't interfere."

Qing Xuan left the hall and saw a beautiful woman walking ahead with a worried expression. His eyes lit up, and he quickly approached.

"Could you be Ancestral Witch Empress Houtu?"

Houtu was troubled by the future of the Wu Clan when she heard someone call out to her. She turned around in confusion and, seeing Qing Xuan approaching, asked.

"Why do you call me 'Empress'?" This form of address she had only heard within the Wu Clan, and it was clear this man was not of the Wu Clan.

[Damn, it slipped out.] Qing Xuan thought to himself, then pretended it was a slip of the tongue and said.

"Hahaha, it just rolled off the tongue, so I said it. Please don't take offense, Ancestral Witch Houtu. This Humble One is Qing Xuan of the Three Immortal Islands. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan. What business do you have with me?" Houtu asked curiously, as this man had never had any dealings with the Wu Clan.

"I came to express my gratitude. If not for your Wu Clan helping to hold off Di Jun and Tai Yi earlier, our gains would not have been nearly as great!" Qing Xuan said with a smile.

"There's no need for that. Those two Three-legged Birds are already locked in a death feud with our Wu Clan. Besides, the Wu Clan Do Not Cultivate Primordial Spirit, so spiritual treasures are useless to us." Houtu said indifferently, thinking this man was making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Even so, I still owe you a debt of gratitude. I am about to return to the Three Immortal Islands for Closed-door Cultivation. Would it be possible to visit you another day?"

"Our Wu Clan is at the foot of Buzhou Mountain. Come whenever you like. I have matters to attend to today, so I'll take my leave now." Houtu did not wish to linger further; she still needed to find a way to make the Wu Clan stronger.

Qing Xuan watched Houtu leave. Visiting the Wu Clan was not urgent; the Wu Clan was at its peak and would not listen to his advice.

Qing Xuan greeted Zhen Yuanzi, then flew toward the East Sea Three Immortal Islands.

Over the East Sea, just as Qing Xuan was about to return to the Three Immortal Islands, the sounds of battle suddenly came from afar.

[Hmph, who dares to act recklessly at my doorstep!] Qing Xuan thought, and quickly went to investigate.

He saw a white and a black flood dragon besieging four people. The four were in dire straits, and one of the men shouted.

"Sister Yun Xiao, you and the two younger sisters go ahead and see if you can find someone to subdue these demons!"

"No, if we leave, you alone won't be able to withstand them!" the woman in white shouted.

Qing Xuan's expression turned strange upon hearing this. [Yun Xiao? Could it be Zhao Gongming and San Xiao? Why are they in the East Sea?]

Though puzzled, Qing Xuan decided to help. He appeared above the four, activated the World Within His Palm, and instantly captured the Yin Yang Flood Dragons.

The four were startled and quickly bowed.

"We pay respects to Senior! Thank you for your assistance!"

"Who are you, and what business do you have at my Three Immortal Islands?" Qing Xuan asked.

Zhao Gongming looked at the Immortal Style and solemn demeanor of the senior before him and made a guess.

"Reporting to Senior, we four siblings came to the Three Immortal Islands to seek a master and learn cultivation. This junior ventures to guess—are you Daojun Qing Xuan, the Lord of Three Immortal Islands?"

"Oh~ You've heard of my name?" Qing Xuan was slightly surprised. Though he was quite famous in the Primordial Continent, that reputation circulated only among Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals. Zhao Gongming, the strongest of the four, was merely at Golden Immortal Peak—how could he know of Qing Xuan's name?

"It really is you! Reporting to Daojun, it was Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan who sent us siblings here to seek you as our master!" Zhao Gongming was overjoyed, never expecting to meet Daojun Qing Xuan so smoothly on this trip.

"Oh, so Kong Xuan is involved. Come with me first." Qing Xuan, intrigued that Kong Xuan had sent them, brought the group to Penglai Immortal Palace to hear the full story.

The four siblings entered Penglai Immortal Island and were stunned, thinking to themselves that this was truly a worthy residence for Daojun Qing Xuan.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?" Daojun Qing Xuan settled into his seat in the Main Hall of Penglai Immortal Palace, took out a few Ginseng Fruits, and began eating them, signaling that Zhao Gongming could start his story.

Seeing this, Zhao Gongming laid out the entire sequence of events clearly.

It turned out that while Kong Xuan was traveling through the Primordial Wilderness, he encountered several people on the South Sea. At the time, they were cultivating, and upon seeing Kong Xuan, they wished to take him as their master.

After Kong Xuan assessed their cultivation talent, he said, "You siblings have decent cultivation talent and fair foundations, but I have yet to complete my own apprenticeship, so I cannot take disciples."

The four siblings were crestfallen upon hearing this, but what Kong Xuan said next filled them with ecstasy. Kong Xuan continued, "My master is the Lord of Three Immortal Islands of the East Sea, Daojun Qing Xuan. If you are willing, you may go to him to seek apprenticeship. I can give you a token; when my master sees it, he will understand."