Presumptuous Outer Sect Disciple

Bai Jin said, "They are all products of Empress Nuwa's contemplation of the Great Dao of Creation and experimentation. Sheep with wolf heads, chickens and ducks with four legs, birds with dog heads, four-legged snakes, wild boars the size of mice, and so on.

There are also apple trees that grow bananas, star-filled skies that grow foxtails, lotus flowers that produce goldfish, trees that bear a bounty of piglets, a combination of flora and fauna, pushing the boundaries of life's profound mysteries."

The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances. They never expected their seemingly gentle junior sister to be so wild behind their backs. The problem was, she had actually forged her own path. Had they been wrong? Enlightenment couldn't be achieved through contemplation alone; action was necessary.

Tongtian hurriedly asked, "And then? How did Empress Nuwa achieve her Dao?"

"Then I asked Empress Nuwa a question."

The Three Pure Ones stared intently at Bai Jin. Could this question be the key?

Tongtian urged, "Speak quickly."

Bai Jin dared not prolong the suspense and quickly said, "On my way to Buzhou Mountain, I saw a strange animal that I didn't recognize. So, I used mud to sculpt its likeness and asked Empress Nuwa about it.

Empress Nuwa told me it was called a fierce beast, a Horned Wolf. At that time, I said, 'This miniaturized form is quite cute. It would be great if it were alive.'

After that, Empress Nuwa suddenly entered a state of enlightenment and then created humans and became a saint. It was that simple."

Simple? Tongtian and Yuanshi were speechless.

Taishang gave a wry smile and said, "Sometimes, opportunities arrive in an instant. A thousand years of arduous contemplation are not as valuable as a single piece of guidance."

Yuanshi looked at Bai Jin with suspicion and interrogated, "Why do I feel like you did that on purpose? Did you already realize that Empress Nuwa's Dao was missing the element of 'From Death to Life'? That's why you sculpted it from mud? Wouldn't it have been more direct to manifest it with immortal power?!"

Bai Jin chuckled sheepishly, "Well, I just thought girls generally liked cute things, so I sculpted a little wolf to give to Empress Nuwa, hoping she'd look favorably upon me. But somehow, Empress Nuwa entered enlightenment. Honestly, I was quite bewildered too!"

"Pfft~" Holy Mother Wudang couldn't help but laugh out loud. Sculpting a little animal to give to Empress Nuwa – what a thought.

Tongtian was speechless and waved his hand impatiently, "Go, go~ Go back and cultivate. In the future, spend less time on these trivial matters and focus on comprehending the Dao, lest you embarrass yourself like you did at Nuwa Palace before."

Bai Jin obediently replied, "Yes! Then this disciple will take his leave."

Bai Jin bowed respectfully, turned, and walked away into the distance.

Taishang shook his head, speechless. "I never expected that Bai Jin would have a hand in Empress Nuwa's attainment of sainthood. No wonder she treats Bai Jin with such favor."

Tongtian snorted coldly, "Showing off petty cleverness. If he had encountered a ruthless individual and forged such karma, he would have been reduced to ashes long ago."

Yuanshi sighed with emotion, "The karma for aiding in the attainment of sainthood is immense. Empress Nuwa owes him a great debt. Now, even without our help, Bai Jin can walk freely in the Great Desolation."

Tongtian's eyebrows shot up, "He dares! Let me see if a mere Bai He can walk freely?"

Taishang ignored Tongtian, his proud little temper flaring up again. He sighed, "Junior Sister has already attained the Dao. Where does our Dao lie?!"

Yuanshi frowned in thought and said, "Duobao, Holy Mother Wudang, you two should also depart for now!"

"Yes!" Duobao and Holy Mother Wudang bowed in unison and then flew towards Shangqing Peak.

Yuanshi said, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, let us discuss the Dao!"

Taishang nodded, "Good!"

Tongtian also nodded, "Alright!"

A sense of urgency filled the hearts of the three. Junior Sister Nuwa had already taken the lead in attaining the Dao. If those two from the West were to surpass them, what would become of the reputation of Pangu's direct disciples, the Three Pure Ones?

Bai Jin returned to Shangqing Peak and leisurely walked up the stone path. Along the way, he encountered several disciples, both familiar and new faces. Most of them kept their distance, calling out "Senior Disciple Brother" before going about their business. Bai Jin didn't mind; in fact, he hoped for it! He wished his Master would revoke his title as the Head Outer Sect Disciple of the Intercepting Sect.

"Greetings, Senior Disciple Brother~" several voices called out in unison. Ahead, Shi Ji and others were bowing in greeting.

Bai Jin walked forward, returned the bow, and smiled, "Greetings, Junior Brothers and Sisters."

The group straightened up, and Bai Jin smiled, "Junior Sister, what are you doing here?"

Shi Ji said aggrievedly, "Senior Brother, we were waiting for you here, begging you to uphold justice for us!"

The other Junior Brothers and Sisters also bowed, saying, "We beg Senior Brother to uphold justice!"

Bai Jin's expression turned serious, "What happened?"

Shi Ji suppressed her anger and said, "We followed Senior Brother's teachings, reciting scriptures at sunrise and resting at sunset, focusing on our cultivation to achieve the Great Dao.

However, some Outer Sect Disciples have allied themselves with Senior Brother Duobao and, relying on his influence, are acting recklessly on the mountain. I spoke a few words to them, but they actually occupied Mirror Lake, where we recite our scriptures. We went to Senior Brother Duobao, who said Mirror Lake is a shared space for Shangqing Peak, accessible to anyone for viewing. These past few days, we could only recite scriptures halfway up the mountain, and then they occupied that spot as well."

The assembled Junior Brothers and Sisters looked at Bai Jin with hopeful eyes.

Bai Jin sighed inwardly, Master, why did you take so many disciples? And why don't you discipline them? Aren't you just creating trouble for me?

Bai Jin said, "Tomorrow morning, we will have our morning practice at Mirror Lake as usual."

Shi Ji and the other disciples said with barely concealed excitement, "Yes!"

Bai Jin led the Junior Brothers and Sisters further up the mountain.

Bai Jin remarked, "There are many new disciples on the mountain recently!"

Shi Ji replied, "Many rogue immortals have come seeking refuge and have been accepted as Outer Sect Disciples by Master. Among the more outstanding ones are Qiu Shou Xian and Ling Ya Xian. They are the ones leading the charge in occupying our Mirror Lake."

Bai Jin nodded, lamenting, "Arrogant individuals again, with no sense of restraint."

The girl beside him huffed indignantly, "Senior Disciple Brother, you must teach them a good lesson. Qiu Shou Xian even pulled my pigtails."

Bai Jin smiled, "Alright, if they come tomorrow, I'll get revenge for you."

After parting ways, Bai Jin returned to his room and immediately took out a small booklet, beginning to record: "Task: Appease Empress Nuwa - Completed. Initial stage of mutual assistance established. Need to strengthen ties and avoid estrangement."

The next morning, the sound of scriptures being recited once again echoed on Shangqing Peak.

In the back mountain, Chang'er Dingguang Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, and others, who were barbecuing and drinking, all turned their heads towards the front mountain.

Ling Ya Xian exclaimed in surprise, "They dare to go recite scriptures again?"

Qiu Shou Xian shook his wine gourd and said, "You don't know this, do you? The Head Outer Sect Disciple, Bai Jin, has returned. They've found their backer."

Ling Ya Xian scoffed, "The Head Outer Sect Disciple is still just an Outer Sect Disciple. How can he compare to Senior Brother Duobao? I heard that Head Outer Sect Disciple was once sent flying by Senior Brother Duobao with a single slap, looking quite pathetic."