Back Then I Had No Choice; Now I Want to Be a Good Student

Before the Thatched Hut on Kunlun Mountain, the atmosphere was somewhat grave.

Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian stood side by side, looking every bit like immortal sages. They were preparing to depart for the Purple Firmament Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to attend the Dao Ancestor's third—and final—sermon. This sermon concerned the secrets of sainthood and was the foremost event in the prehistoric world.

Yet one figure was clinging tightly to Laozi's thigh in an utterly undignified posture, crying his eyes out.

"Master! Revered Master! Dear Teacher! Take me with you! Please! I promise I won't go inside! I'll just squat in a corner of the plaza outside the Purple Firmament Palace. I absolutely won't cause trouble! I'll even breathe quietly! I guarantee I'll be quieter than Big White!"

Big White, who was being teased by Tongtian with a Spirit Fruit nearby, barked in protest.

Laozi remained expressionless as he tried to pull his leg free, but failed.

Chen Song was, after all, now a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. The strength behind his shameless clinging was no small matter.

"Stop fooling around, Senior Disciple Nephew!" Yuanshi said helplessly. "It isn't that the three of us won't take you. The Dao Ancestor personally stated that you 'need not enter next time.'"

Sect Master Tongtian was rather amused and tried to persuade him. "Senior Disciple Nephew, it isn't that your Martial Uncle won't help you. The Dao Ancestor's words are law, so we have to obey. Just stay home, play with Big White, keep an eye on the two cows, and when we return, we'll tell you what the Way of the Saints tastes like."

"No, Third Martial Uncle!" Chen Song wailed dramatically, tears and snot streaming down his face. "You don't understand! My heart is itching! It's like... like ten million Big Whites are scratching at it! The Dao Ancestor's sermon is a grand event of the prehistoric world. Even if I stay outside the palace, merely sensing a trace of the lingering resonance of the Great Dao would be an enormous blessing! Maybe I'll listen for a while, attain enlightenment right outside, and become a Quasi-Saint!"

Laozi finally spoke, his voice calm yet unquestionable. "Heh. I think you want to go make another commotion with those Ancestor Witches of the witch clan outside the palace gates."

"No!" Chen Song craned his neck. "Even outside the Purple Firmament Palace, the Dao resonance is dense. What a perfect place to cultivate! Master, I really will cultivate properly outside this time!"

Yuanshi said, "Nonsense! Since when did you become so diligent? I think you're simply too idle and want to go out and stir up trouble again!"

"I'm innocent, Second Martial Uncle!" Chen Song protested. "Ever since Master and you lectured me, I've reflected every day and deeply understood that cultivation is like sailing against the current: if you don't advance, you fall behind! Back then I had no choice, but this time I want to be a good student! Master—please fulfill this disciple's heart that seeks the Dao!"

As he spoke, he tightened his grip around Laozi's thigh and even rubbed his head against Laozi's daoist robe.

Laozi: "..."

He looked down at this shameless eldest disciple, and the corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly. How could he not know Chen Song's little scheme? Lingering resonance of the Great Dao, consolidating his realm—those were all excuses. This brat had clearly been stifled for too long and wanted to go join the fun again. As for the real reason... Laozi's gaze deepened, as though it had pierced through the void.

Seeing Laozi remain silent, Tongtian thought there might be hope and chimed in, "Elder Brother, how about... taking him along? The Dao Ancestor only said he wasn't allowed inside the Purple Firmament Palace. He didn't say he couldn't stay in the plaza. With us watching him, he surely can't cause any major trouble. Besides, what if he really does gain some insight outside, as he said?"

Yuanshi immediately shot Tongtian a glare. "Third Brother! How can you indulge his nonsense?"

Seeing this, Chen Song hurriedly raised the stakes and transmitted his voice to Laozi. "Master! Think about it—last time outside the Purple Firmament Palace... it wasn't like I gained nothing! At the very least, I helped establish a 'deep' friendship between our Three Pure Ones lineage and the witch clan, didn't I? Maybe this time there'll be another unexpected delight? Please let me go. I promise I definitely won't provoke trouble first. Even if trouble comes looking for me, I'll do my best to avoid it!"

Listening to Chen Song's voice transmission and looking at his stance of if you don't take me, I'll grow onto your leg, Laozi finally let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

"Fine."

The moment those two words left his mouth, Chen Song's eyes lit up.

Being confined on Kunlun Mountain had been boring as hell! Every day, all he could do was take Big White wandering all over Kunlun Mountain in search of treasure. He had even gone so far as to make Big White cultivate.

Laozi continued, "You may come. But we must agree on three rules: first, you may not set foot inside the Purple Firmament Palace; second, you may not make noise or fool around outside the palace; third, you may not proactively provoke trouble. If you break this agreement, you will immediately be sent back to Kunlun to face the wall for ten thousand years."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem! Master, you are truly wise and mighty, sharp-eyed and compassionate toward your disciple!" Chen Song instantly released him and sprang to his feet, moving so smoothly that it was as though the koala from moments ago had been someone else. His face blossomed into a grin. "This disciple will certainly obey Master's orders and be a quiet 'plaza hermit'!"

Seeing that Laozi had already agreed, Yuanshi still disapproved but could not object further. He merely warned, "You'd best behave yourself!"

Tongtian happily patted Chen Song on the shoulder. "Not bad, kid. You've got some nerve! Let's go, let's go. If we keep dawdling, we'll really be late!"

Thus, the Three Pure Ones took the overjoyed Chen Song and once again transformed into streams of light, shooting toward the heavens beyond heaven.

But before stepping into chaos, Laozi turned back and gave Chen Song a meaningful look.

Chen Song's heart skipped a beat, but he kept the smile of I'm the most obedient on his face.

Target: the Purple Firmament Palace plaza! Chen Hansan is back!

At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, the witch clan.

"Brothers and sisters! Listen up! The Dao Ancestor's third sermon concerns the secrets of sainthood, and even more so, our little sister Houtu's tremendous opportunity! As Houtu's staunchest backing, we must go and support her!"

Ancestor Witch Dijiang stood at the front, raising his arms and shouting, but as for what he was really planning, that...

Gonggong, his long water-blue hair flowing, pounded his chest as water splashed everywhere. "Elder Brother is right! Whoever dares fight little sister Houtu for a spot at the Purple Firmament Palace, I'll use water to knock some sense into his head!"

Ancestor Witch Houtu stood in the middle, her compassionate face filled with deep helplessness as she rubbed her forehead. "Elder Brothers... the Dao Ancestor's sermon is solemn and sacred. What matters is calming one's heart and seeking insight. Making such a grand mobilization... is truly inappropriate. Besides, the Dao Ancestor has already made it clear..."

"Ah! Little sister Houtu, that's where you're mistaken!" Ancestor Witch Tianwu, with eight heads, human faces, and a tiger's body, let out a howl into the wind and interrupted her. "The Dao Ancestor only said we 'need not enter.' He never said we couldn't stand outside the Purple Firmament Palace! Right?"

"That's right, that's right!" Ancestor Witch Qiangliang, with a snake in his mouth and another in his hand, a tiger's head, a human body, four hooves, and a voice like thunder, said, "We'll just stand quietly at the edge of the plaza and cheer you on, little sister! We absolutely won't make a fuss!... Unless someone bullies you!"

Ancestor Witch Zhu Jiuyin, with a human face, a red serpent body, and control over time, was comparatively steadier, but he too spoke. "Houtu, your opportunity may lie in this sermon. Though your Elder Brothers cannot enter and hear the Great Dao with you, standing outside to protect you and gather the fortune of our witch clan may perhaps lend you some aid."

That sounded much more reliable, but combined with the postures of the other Ancestor Witches, it still felt like a mafia princess was going to negotiate while a row of murderous "bodyguards" stood behind her.

Looking at these eager Elder Brothers, who clearly did not consider themselves blacklisted, Houtu knew persuasion was useless and could only sigh. "Since that is the case... Elder Brothers, remember this well: you absolutely must not cause trouble before the Purple Firmament Palace. Do not anger the Dao Ancestor again."

"Don't worry, little sister!" Dijiang patted his chest in assurance. "We know our limits! This time, we'll watch the 'Dao' in a civilized manner! Oh, right, Gonggong, did you bring that thing I told you to prepare?"

Gonggong mysteriously patted the enormous leather sack on his back and lowered his voice. "I brought it, I brought it! I brought the dice made from the leftover pieces of that set of Innate Mahjong we played with Little Pine Tree last time! In case we get bored waiting outside..."

Houtu: "..."