In the west, Mount Sumeru.
Mount Sumeru, the foremost sacred mountain of the western lands.
This mountain was Jieyin and Zhunti's Daoist Sanctuary.
However, unlike Fuxi's tranquil Daoist Sanctuary at Phoenix Perch Mountain, Mount Sumeru was exceptionally lively because it was home to countless living beings.
The living beings on Mount Sumeru were essentially all disciples of Jieyin and Zhunti, responsible for worshiping and attending to the two of them.
Although Jieyin and Zhunti constantly claimed that the west was barren, the palaces and pavilions atop Mount Sumeru were decorated with lavish grandeur, with golden carvings and glazed ornaments everywhere.
Inside the halls, all manner of treasures brimming with immortal aura served as decorations. Spiritual fruits sat upon the tables, while rare spiritual sandalwood burned within the halls.
If Hong Yun were to visit the west and see this decor, Jieyin and Zhunti would probably anger him to death.
He had previously sympathized with Jieyin and Zhunti so much, yet these two wore beggar's clothes while living in grand mansions. They were far wealthier than he was.
At this moment, Jieyin and Zhunti had just returned to Mount Sumeru.
After receiving the collective worship of their disciples, Jieyin and Zhunti entered their palace.
"Alas, I truly do not know why our teacher chose Eastern Prince Gong as the Head of Male Immortals. The two of us clearly possess pure yang bodies, and the west is so pitiful. We should have been made the Head of Male Immortals!"
Jieyin drank a cup of Nectar and Jade Dew and spoke somewhat gloomily.
Zhunti fiddled with a string of jade beads that were Acquired Spiritual Treasures and shook his head. "Isn't that right? What qualifications does Eastern Prince Gong have to serve as the Head of Male Immortals? He is merely a late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal who spends all day fawning over Queen Mother of the West."
Jieyin said, "Still, the good news is that the position of Head of Male Immortals was not given to Fuxi. Otherwise, we would have been in trouble."
"Mm, it seems the Saints have grown tired of Fuxi as well. That is a good thing."
Zhunti replied.
Jieyin said excitedly, "This time, when we fought Fuxi, he did not seem all that strong. Neither of us was seriously injured."
"Exactly! Once we cultivate for another thousand years, we will definitely be able to beat Fuxi flat a thousand years from now!"
The thought of having a chance to avenge himself upon Fuxi also filled Zhunti with excitement.
As the two spoke, their smooth bald heads gleamed beneath the palace's luminous pearls, almost dazzling to the eye.
"Still, I never expected us to receive an unexpected delight on our way back to the west."
As Jieyin spoke, he released a sturdy, muscular man from his sleeve.
The man's face looked somewhat haggard, and his brows were tightly furrowed.
If Fuxi had been present, he would naturally have recognized the muscular man as his disciple, Zhao Gongming.
Zhao Gongming had suffered at Jieyin and Zhunti's hands when he was captured earlier, so he did not dare act arrogantly. Instead, he asked the two respectfully:
"May I ask, esteemed seniors, where is this place?"
Jieyin and Zhunti smiled calmly. "This is Mount Sumeru, the foremost sacred mountain of the west."
"May I ask why you two seniors brought me here? Could you please release this junior?"
Zhao Gongming remained fairly composed. He tried to negotiate with Jieyin and Zhunti in search of a way to survive.
A mysterious smile appeared on Zhunti's lips. "Releasing you is impossible. However, you are quite fortunate. The two of us Grand Unity Golden Immortals have decided to accept you as a disciple. From now on, stay on Mount Sumeru and behave yourself."
Jieyin and Zhunti had assumed Zhao Gongming would be overjoyed and deeply grateful upon hearing that Grand Unity Golden Immortals wished to accept him as a disciple, but his response was beyond their expectations.
"What? Accept me as a disciple? Impossible!"
With a solemn expression and steady tone, Zhao Gongming said, "Please do not joke, esteemed seniors. I, Zhao Gongming, already have a teacher. I was traveling this time precisely to find him."
"Please send me back. I will be extremely grateful to you both."
"Hm?"
Zhunti's expression darkened. "You do not wish to take a master? Do you know that the two of us are peak Grand Unity Golden Immortals, and disciples of Saint Hongjun?"
Zhao Gongming was somewhat surprised by Zhunti's introduction, but he remained unmoved as he replied, "I said I will not take a master. I already have one!"
Zhao Gongming had traveled through the primordial world for three thousand years. Although he was only a Heavenly Immortal, he knew full well how terrifying Jieyin and Zhunti's strength was.
Yet Zhao Gongming was not the sort to curry favor with the powerful. His heart was upright.
Mount Sumeru's Entire Population Takes the Tonsure
To Zhao Gongming, Fuxi was his great benefactor.
When he had been surrounded and hunted by a pack of wolves, Fuxi had stepped in and saved his life. That was the grace of saving his life.
When he had failed his Form Transformation and fallen into despair, Fuxi had helped him complete his Form Transformation. That was the grace of Form Transformation.
Furthermore, Fuxi had imparted a Cultivation Method to him and guided his cultivation. That was the grace of instruction.
Fuxi had shown Zhao Gongming such tremendous kindness. Naturally, he would not forget it and would remember it deeply.
Therefore, over the past three thousand years, no matter what powerful Daoist wished to accept him as a disciple, he had firmly refused.
To him, this million-li journey and three-thousand-year trek were all tests Fuxi had set for him.
He would complete this test and become Fuxi's disciple. That was what he pursued.
If given the chance, he would serve Fuxi like an ox or horse and repay his kindness.
Therefore, no matter who Jieyin and Zhunti were or how powerful their strength and backing might be, they could not change Zhao Gongming's desire to take Fuxi as his master.
But neither Jieyin nor Zhunti was a kind person. How could they allow Zhao Gongming to have his way?
Jieyin asked, "Who exactly is your teacher? What is his Daoist title, that he has made you so determined and unwilling to become our disciple?"
When Jieyin asked, Zhao Gongming was left speechless instead, because he did not know Fuxi's name either.
Zhao Gongming hesitated before answering, "Well..."
"Hm?"
A cold gleam appeared in Jieyin's eyes as he walked toward Zhao Gongming and questioned him face-to-face, "You did not simply make up a master, did you?"
"No, I merely..."
Zhao Gongming stammered, not knowing what to say.
Zhunti stared at Zhao Gongming and said in a sinister tone, "You claim to have a master, yet you do not even know your master's name? You truly are an excellent disciple."
Zhao Gongming answered somewhat nervously, "I really do have a master. I merely forgot. My master is very powerful."
"What a joke!"
Jieyin suddenly roared, frightening Zhao Gongming until his face turned pale.
"You, a mere Heavenly Immortal, actually dare try to deceive two Grand Unity Golden Immortals? I think you do not know what is good for you!"
Zhao Gongming's face was pale. How had he ever seen such a scene before?
Zhunti gave a cold laugh. "Whether you have a master or not does not matter."
"Whether you have one or not, in the end, you will willingly acknowledge us as your masters."
"Someone come!"
A disciple even taller and larger than Zhao Gongming entered from outside the hall. He knelt on one knee before Jieyin and Zhunti and asked, "What are your instructions, Masters?"
Jieyin pointed at Zhao Gongming and said, "This is your future junior brother. Take him to enjoy the scenery of our Mount Sumeru first."
The moment Zhao Gongming heard Jieyin's words, he panicked and shouted, "I do not want to become your disciple! Send me back to Buzhou Mountain now!"
As he spoke, Zhao Gongming retreated, hoping to seize the chance to escape.
But the muscular disciple flashed directly to Zhao Gongming's side, grabbed him by the collar with one hand, and carried him out of the hall like a chick.
"Let me go! You two hateful baldies! My master will not let you off!"
Zhao Gongming roared toward the interior of the hall.
Slap!
No one saw what happened, but two palm prints suddenly appeared on Zhao Gongming's face.
The two slaps left Zhao Gongming dazed, while burning pain spread across his face.
The muscular disciple cast him a cold glance and said, "Stop struggling. Behave yourself and take a master soon. Then you can suffer a little less."
"I will not take a master! I already have one!"
Zhao Gongming struggled desperately beneath the muscular disciple's grip, but he could not break free at all.
He threatened weakly, "If you do not release me, my master will definitely come here and beat you up!"
"Let your master come. Even if the Heavenly Emperor himself came to my Mount Sumeru, he would still have to kneel and take a beating!"
Jieyin's voice came from within the hall, resounding across Mount Sumeru.
The disciples on Mount Sumeru all praised him:
"Master is mighty!"
"Patriarch is mighty!"
However, a young Daoist who had only recently arrived asked his Senior Brother, "Senior Brother, why does our Patriarch have no hair?"
The young Daoist's Senior Brother hesitated for a moment before saying, "I remember that Patriarch used to have hair..."
Quite a few disciples were puzzled by the changes to Jieyin and Zhunti's hairstyles.
Suddenly, Zhunti's voice came from within the hall:
"From this day onward, all disciples of Mount Sumeru shall take the tonsure!"
Zhunti's voice resounded across Mount Sumeru.
The faces of every Daoist on Mount Sumeru darkened, and they all looked miserable.
"Hahaha, a bunch of baldies!"
Zhao Gongming took the opportunity to mock them. His hearty laughter sent the blood pressure of every disciple on Mount Sumeru soaring.
"Shut up! You will become bald too!"
The muscular disciple slapped Zhao Gongming directly on the head, and Zhao Gongming fell silent as well.
Before you continue