Zhunti's Groveling

Three thousand years in Zixiao Palace had deeply engraved the Saint's power into their hearts.

Now that Hongjun, the strongest being in the Hong Huang World, intended to take disciples, this was naturally a tremendous Opportunity.

However, several quick-witted Grand Unity Golden Immortals suddenly looked toward the six cushions beneath Hongjun.

If the number of cushions and the number of disciples to be accepted had differed, it would have been easy enough to explain.

But both the number of cushions and the number of disciples were six. This made the Grand Unity Golden Immortals who had failed to claim a cushion realize something, and their expressions turned ugly.

Did the Saint intend to accept these six as disciples?

It seemed that the Opportunity to become the Saint's disciple had nothing to do with them. The Grand Unity Golden Immortals were filled with sorrow, regret, and remorse.

Among them, Kunpeng was in the worst mood.

The others merely regretted not rushing in earlier to seize a cushion, but he had once claimed one. It had only been taken from him by the two Daoists from the West.

Kunpeng's mind was completely consumed by fury and hatred.

If he had known that the cushions were connected to the Saint accepting disciples, then even if those two from the West beat him to death, he would not have moved an inch from that cushion.

Even if he died, he would die on the cushion!

Now, as he looked at Jieyin seated on the cushion, Kunpeng was so furious that he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

Of course, if those who had failed to secure a cushion were already so emotional, then the six who had claimed them were naturally overwhelmed with excitement.

Even towering figures of the Hong Huang World like the Three Pure Ones had shining eyes as they faced the Opportunity of becoming the Saint's disciples.

As for Jieyin, he was so excited that his brows danced with delight. He was just short of cheering and jumping about atop his cushion.

Nuwa, meanwhile, looked at Fuxi with a smile.

Her brother Fuxi had brought her this Opportunity to become the Saint's disciple. She now admired Fuxi's foresight beyond measure.

What excited everyone most was not the Saint accepting disciples itself, but Hongjun's final words.

Ascend to the Saint Realm!

Becoming a Saint was an Opportunity enough to drive the entire Hong Huang World mad.

Yet at this moment, in all of Zixiao Palace, aside from Hongjun, only one person remained utterly calm: Fuxi.

As a longtime reader of Hong Huang novels in his past life, Fuxi knew that although becoming Hongjun's disciple would grant him countless treasures and allow him to become a Saint, the sainthood Hongjun promised was that of a Heavenly Dao Saint, not a Great Dao Sage.

Though this Opportunity was tempting, it also came with drawbacks and flaws. Thus, Fuxi remained fairly composed.

Should I become his disciple or not?

This was a choice that would affect Fuxi's fate.

[Ding, it has been detected that the Saint is about to accept the Host as a disciple. Please make your own judgment and choice from the following options.]

[Option One: Gladly acknowledge him as master and become the Saint's disciple. Option Reward: Saint Fruit Position (Heavenly Dao level).]

[Option Two: Calmly refuse to acknowledge him as master. Option Reward: Increased probability of becoming a Great Dao Sage, and the location of one of the ownerless Ten Innate Spiritual Roots.]

The system's two options had finally appeared, and Fuxi immediately made his decision.

"I choose Option Two."

Fuxi spoke in a firm tone.

That was right. By becoming Hongjun's disciple, he could basically become a Saint with certainty in the future.

But a Heavenly Dao Saint was not enough to satisfy Fuxi.

Since he had an Opportunity to become a Great Dao Sage, Fuxi would choose to become one without hesitation.

Moreover, the system's reward this time actually contained two items, which greatly delighted Fuxi.

As for the contents of the second reward, they also tempted Fuxi greatly.

An Innate Spiritual Root was an unparalleled treasure!

Every Innate Spiritual Root possessed endless wondrous uses, whether for refining artifacts or concocting pills.

Furthermore, based on the history of the Hong Huang World, Fuxi had already roughly guessed which Innate Spiritual Root it was.

[Ding, the system has confirmed the selection. Beginning distribution of the option reward.]

As the system prompt rang out, Fuxi vaguely saw a Great Dao leading toward endless light.

At the same time, he sensed a special aura coming from a certain direction.

That direction was Buzhou Mountain.

Fuxi smiled faintly and said inwardly, Judging by the location, it really is the Chaos Gourd Vine!

With his knowledge of the Hong Huang stories, Fuxi could naturally determine the true form of this Innate Spiritual Root with ease.

Fuxi truly loved the Chaos Gourd Vine.

The mature Chaos Gourd Vine bore seven Gourds in total. Every one of them became a treasure after refinement, while the Gourd Vine itself possessed endless wondrous uses!

Not to mention that the Gourd Vine, along with the Three Lights Divine Water and Xirang that accompanied it, were precisely Nuwa's three-piece set for Human Creation!

When the time came, giving them to Nuwa would also earn him some merit from the Human Race.

Just as Fuxi happily accepted the system's reward, Hongjun looked at him.

Hongjun stared directly into Fuxi's eyes and asked, "Fuxi, though you are of the demon race, your comprehension is exceptional. Are you willing to become my Chief Disciple?"

When Hongjun spoke of taking Fuxi as his disciple, the Grand Unity Golden Immortals present all grew envious of him.

After all, once Fuxi agreed, he would become the Saint's chief disciple, with a status even higher than that of an ordinary Saint's disciple.

However, Hongjun's choice clearly surprised the Three Pure Ones.

They had always believed themselves to be the three strongest figures in the Hong Huang World. Hongjun should have selected his chief disciple from among them.

Of course, the Saint's choice must have held profound meaning, so they did not dare say more.

At that moment, everyone's gaze focused on Fuxi. They would all witness his choice.

The Saint's chief disciple, the Saint's protection, the Opportunity to become a Saint—the Grand Unity Golden Immortals in the hall were so envious that their eyes nearly turned red.

At last, Fuxi spoke.

"To receive the Saint's favor, Fuxi is deeply delighted. However, Fuxi has no intention of taking a master."

Zhunti's Shameless Surrender

Refuse to take a master?

Fuxi's words were like an icy north wind sweeping through Zixiao Palace, freezing every Grand Unity Golden Immortal present into ice sculptures.

Many Grand Unity Golden Immortals slapped their foreheads, wondering whether they had heard wrong or were hallucinating.

What was wrong with this Hong Huang World? Why would Fuxi choose to abandon an Opportunity personally bestowed by the Saint?

"No, I must have heard wrong, right? What Fuxi actually said was that he was willing."

"No, you heard correctly. Fuxi just rejected the Saint!"

"Fuxi doesn't look like a fool, so why would he refuse?"

"Where did he get the nerve to reject an Opportunity bestowed by the Saint?"

Fuxi's words threw the Grand Unity Golden Immortals present into an uproar. Question marks seemed to appear over every one of their heads.

Nuwa quietly transmitted her voice to Fuxi with Divine Sense. "Brother, didn't you say Saints are the strong ones? Why did you refuse this Opportunity to become a Saint? Should I refuse with you?"

Fuxi calmly replied to Nuwa, "Sister, don't worry. I have my own Opportunity to become a Saint. You needn't imitate me. Boldly pursue your own Opportunity."

"All right."

Though Nuwa did not understand what other Opportunity Fuxi had to become a Saint, she had trusted him beyond measure since childhood, so she followed his words.

When Nuwa said she wanted to reject Hongjun, Fuxi had nearly been scared to death.

For he sensed malice and rejection from heaven and earth itself, as though some danger was brewing in the void.

Fuxi hurriedly dissuaded Nuwa. For her, becoming Hongjun's disciple was entirely a good thing.

However, Fuxi turned a deaf ear to the discussions of those around him.

How could sparrows understand the ambitions of a swan?

Among the Saints of the Hong Huang World, who was strongest? A Great Dao Sage ruled them all.

Compared to an increased probability of becoming a Great Dao Sage and the location of the Innate Gourd Vine, the status of a Saint's disciple, while precious, was nothing special.

Hongjun, however, seemed surprised by Fuxi's answer as well. He asked again, "Fuxi, are you willing to become my Chief Disciple?"

"Fuxi is deeply grateful for the Saint's generous favor. However, Fuxi has a violent temperament and is difficult to discipline. The position of chief disciple should be held by one of greater virtue."

Fuxi's answer was exceptionally decisive.

Then Fuxi suddenly raised a hand and pointed at Taishang Laojun. "In my view, this fellow Daoist is a fine prospect. The Saint may choose him as chief disciple."

Taishang Laojun sat upon his cushion, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Although Fuxi had recommended him to Hongjun, why did his tone sound as if an elder were recommending a junior?

What was Fuxi really after? Was he friend or foe?

What the Grand Unity Golden Immortals of Zixiao Palace had not expected was that Fuxi would reject the Saint not once, but twice, and even recommend someone else to Hongjun.

But what they had not expected even more was that Hongjun actually nodded.

Hongjun looked toward Laozi and asked, "Taishang Laojun, Pangu's Primordial Spirit transformed into the Three Pure Ones, and you are considered the foremost among them. Are you willing to become my first disciple?"

Taishang Laojun replied, "I... Taishang am willing to acknowledge the Saint as my master."

"Very good."

Hongjun nodded calmly.

Although Fuxi had rejected him, Hongjun was not angry in the slightest.

On the contrary, Hongjun felt that everything was an arrangement of fate.

For in his previous deductions, Fuxi had never possessed a master-disciple bond with him.

The reason he had invited Fuxi to become his disciple was, to some extent, to test the Heavenly Secrets.