Before I Had No Choice, Now I Want to Be a Good Student

Before the Thatched Hut at Kunlun Mountain, the atmosphere was rather heavy.

Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian stood side-by-side, radiating an immortal aura. They were preparing to depart for the Purple Heaven Palace, located beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, to listen to the Dao Ancestor's third and final sermon. This sermon concerned the secrets of Sainthood and was a paramount event in the Great Wilderness.

However, a figure was clinging to Laozi's leg in an extremely undignified manner, tears streaming down his face:

"Master! Esteemed Master! Dear Teacher! Take me with you! Please! I promise I won't go inside! I'll just be on the plaza outside the Purple Heaven Palace, find a corner to squat in, and I absolutely won't cause trouble! I'll even breathe quietly! I'll be quieter than Big White!"

Big White, who was being playfully teased by Tongtian with a spiritual fruit nearby, let out a dissatisfied "Woof" in protest.

Laozi, with a blank expression, tried to pull his leg free, but it wouldn't budge.

Chen Song was now at least a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and his tenacity in clinging was considerable.

"Stop fooling around, Senior Disciple Nephew!" Yuanshi said helplessly, unable to assist. "Senior Disciple Nephew, it's not that the three of us don't want to take you, but the Dao Ancestor himself explicitly stated, 'No need to come in next time.'"

Sect Master Tongtian seemed amused and advised, "Senior Disciple Nephew, it's not that Martial Uncle doesn't want to help you. The Dao Ancestor's words are golden; we must obey. You should just stay home, play with Big White, and watch the two cows. We'll tell you what the Way of the Saint tastes like when we get back, won't that be enough?"

"No way! Third Martial Uncle!" Chen Song wailed, his acting outrageously exaggerated, "You don't understand! I'm itching inside! It's like... like a million Big Whites are scratching me! The Dao Ancestor's sermon is a grand event in the Great Wilderness. Even if I'm outside the palace, feeling even a trace of the Great Dao's residual charm would be a tremendous fortune for me! Perhaps as I listen, I'll have a sudden enlightenment outside and directly become a Quasi-Saint?"

Laozi finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an irrefutable authority. "Heh, I suspect you just want to cause a commotion outside the palace gates again with those Ancestral Witches from the Witch Race."

"No!" Chen Song retorted, puffing out his chest. "Even the area outside the Purple Heaven Palace has a dense Dao Charm. It's an excellent place for cultivation! Master! I really will cultivate diligently outside this time!"

Yuanshi: "Nonsense! Since when have you become so diligent? I think you're just too idle and want to go out and stir up trouble again!"

"You're framing me, Second Martial Uncle!" Chen Song cried out indignantly. "Since you and Master taught me, I've reflected daily, deeply understanding that the path of cultivation is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall back! I didn't have a choice before, but this time I want to be a good student! Master—please fulfill this disciple's yearning for the Dao!"

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Laozi's leg and rubbed his head against Laozi's daoist robe.

Laozi: "..."

He looked down at his most wayward eldest disciple, the corner of his eye twitching almost imperceptibly. How could he not know Chen Song's little schemes? The residual charm of the Great Dao, the consolidation of his realm—all excuses. This brat was clearly bored and wanted to go join the fun. As for the real reason... Laozi's gaze was profound, as if piercing through the void.

Seeing Laozi's silence, Tongtian thought there might be a chance and chimed in, "Eldest Brother, why not... take him along? The Dao Ancestor only said he doesn't need to enter the Purple Heaven Palace, not that he can't stay on the plaza. With us watching, he won't be able to cause any major trouble. Besides, what if he really gains some insight outside, as he says?"

Yuanshi immediately glared at Tongtian. "Third Brother! How can you indulge his recklessness!"

Seeing this, Chen Song quickly upped the ante, transmitting his voice to Laozi: "Master! Think about it, last time I was outside the Purple Heaven Palace... it wasn't without some gain, was it? At least... at least we established a 'deep' friendship between our Three Pure Ones lineage and the Witch Race, right? Maybe there will be unexpected surprises this time too? Please let me go, I promise, I absolutely won't provoke trouble, and if trouble finds me, I'll try my best to avoid it!"

Laozi listened to Chen Song's transmitted message and looked at his posture, which clearly conveyed "If you don't take me, I'll cling to your leg forever." Finally, he let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

"Fine."

As the two words were spoken, Chen Song's eyes instantly lit up.

Being confined at Kunlun Mountain was incredibly boring! He spent his days wandering around Kunlun Mountain with Big White, searching for treasures, and he even made Big White cultivate.

Laozi continued, "You may come along. But there are three conditions: First, you must not set foot inside the Purple Heaven Palace. Second, you must not make noise or cause a commotion outside the palace. Third, you must not actively provoke trouble. If you violate these terms, you will be immediately sent back to Kunlun and confined to contemplation for ten thousand years."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem! Master, you are truly wise and mighty, with eyes like torches, and you understand your disciple!" Chen Song instantly let go, sprang up, his movements as fluid as if the koala-like figure from moments ago was someone else, his face beaming. "This disciple will definitely obey Master's command and be a quiet 'plaza resident'!"

Seeing that Laozi had agreed, Yuanshi, though still disapproving, could not object further. He merely reminded him, "I hope you will conduct yourself properly!"

Tongtian cheerfully patted Chen Song's shoulder. "Alright, kid, you've got guts! Let's go, let's go, if we dawdle any longer, we'll be late!"

Thus, the Three Pure Ones, with the overjoyed Chen Song, once again transformed into streaks of light, rushing towards the outer heavens.

However, before stepping into the chaos, Laozi turned back and cast a meaningful glance at Chen Song.

Chen Song's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a smile on his face, pretending to be the most well-behaved disciple.

Target: Purple Heaven Palace Plaza! I, Chen Hansan, am back!

Below Buzhou Mountain, the Witch Race.

"Brothers and sisters! Listen up! The Dao Ancestor's third sermon concerns the secrets of Sainthood, and more importantly, it's a tremendous opportunity for our sister Houtu! As Houtu's most steadfast support, we must go and back her up!"

Dijiang, the Ancestral Witch, stood at the forefront, raising his arms and shouting. However, his true intentions were...

Gonggong, with his long, water-blue hair, pounded his chest, sending splashes of water flying. "Big Brother is right! Whoever dares to compete with Sister Houtu for a spot at the Purple Heaven Palace, I'll use water to clear their heads!"

Houtu, the Ancestral Witch, stood in the center, her face filled with compassion and deep helplessness. She held her forehead. "Esteemed elder brothers... the Dao Ancestor's sermon is solemn and sacred, focusing on calming the mind and gaining enlightenment. Your grand mobilization... is truly inappropriate. Moreover, the Dao Ancestor has already stated..."

"Ah! Sister Houtu, you misunderstand!" Tianwu, the Ancestral Witch, with his eight heads and human face, tiger body, roared in the wind, interrupting her. "The Dao Ancestor only said we 'don't need to go in,' he didn't say we can't stand outside the Purple Heaven Palace! Right?"

"Exactly, exactly!" Qiangliang, the Ancestral Witch, with a snake in his mouth and another in his hand, a tiger's head and human body, and four hooves, his voice like thunder. "We'll just be at the edge of the plaza, quietly cheering for you, Sister! We absolutely won't make noise! ...Unless someone bullies you!"

Zhu Jiuyin, the Ancestral Witch, with a human face and a snake's body, crimson in color, controlling time, was relatively calmer, but he also spoke. "Houtu, your opportunity might lie in this sermon. Although your elder brothers cannot enter to hear the Great Dao with you, guarding you from the outside and consolidating our Witch Race's destiny might also lend you a hand."

This sounded much more reliable, but considering the demeanor of the other Ancestral Witches, it felt like a gangster's daughter was going to a negotiation, with a group of menacing "bodyguards" standing behind her.

Houtu looked at these enthusiastic elder brothers, who clearly didn't consider themselves "blacklisted individuals." Knowing that persuasion was futile, she could only sigh. "If that's the case... Esteemed elder brothers, please remember, absolutely do not cause trouble in front of the Purple Heaven Palace, and do not displease the Dao Ancestor again."

"Don't worry, Sister!" Dijiang patted his chest and promised. "We know our limits! This time, we will definitely observe the 'Dao' with civilized conduct! By the way, Gonggong, did you bring 'that' I asked you to prepare?"

Gonggong mysteriously patted a large leather bag behind him and lowered his voice. "Brought it, brought it! I brought the dice made from the scraps of the 'Innate Mahjong' we played with that little pine tree last time! In case we get bored waiting outside..."

Houtu: "..."