Zhunti Weeps for a Seat; Kunpeng and Old Ancestor Minghe Lose Their Opportunities

The Three Pure Ones possessed lofty cultivation, and working together, they seized three seats.

With Fuxi's help, Nuwa likewise claimed a seat.

Relying on his overwhelming speed, Kunpeng seized a seat, then warily watched the fellow Daoists around him, terrified of being driven from it.

As for the last seat, it fell to Old Ancestor Minghe. He narrowed his eyes, a vicious gleam flickering within them, Yuan Tu and A Bi—the two weapons of slaughter—in his hands, projecting an air of utter unapproachability.

By all rights, judging by cultivation, influence, and even spiritual treasures, Tai Yi and Di Jun, who possessed the Innate Supreme Treasure Chaos Bell, should have secured seats.

Yet Tai Yi's temperament was far too domineering. Having previously blocked the paths of many fellow Daoists, he was ultimately besieged and lost his seat.

What Brother Hongyun did not know was that, in a space deep within Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun's eyes revealed a trace of satisfaction after seeing Brother Hongyun seize the first meditation cushion.

"My disciple has fine aptitude. His cultivation is already nearing the late Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal stage, his foundations have been tempered solidly, and his attainments in body refinement are not weak either. It was not in vain that this old Daoist played a game against the Heavenly Dao and reserved a Saint position for him."

"Those two juniors from the west, on the other hand, are rather slow. Sigh, if not for the Heavenly Dao's decree, and the Karma owed to the west from my conflict with Rahu, why would this old Daoist need to concern himself with them?"

Hongjun stroked his long beard, seeming to mutter to himself, yet also seeming to converse with the Heavenly Dao.

Seeing that all seven meditation cushions had owners, the remaining Great Powers stared at those seated upon them, their gazes flickering.

Brother Hongyun was speaking with the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Upon learning that they instinctively rejected the meditation cushions symbolizing the opportunity to become Heavenly Dao Saints, he could not help but sigh.

"Then so be it. The Wu Clan's Dao is ultimately incompatible with the Dao of Saints. Their rejection is only natural."

Brother Hongyun guessed that the Heavenly Dao had secretly tampered with matters; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?

As for why there were seven seats, Brother Hongyun was equally baffled. It seemed that with his arrival, the Primordial Wilderness had undergone no small changes.

Just as everyone else was finding places to sit down—

The gates of Purple Cloud Palace burst open as Two Figures, travel-worn and somewhat disheveled, suddenly rushed in.

One was rather lean, while the other was bald and wore a bitter expression. Who else could they be but Zhunti and Jieyin?

Their auras were unsteady and their Mana was in disarray. They must have endured no few hardships.

Indeed, compared to the cultivators of the east, their journey from the west had been much farther.

After entering the chaos, they had neither spiritual treasures to protect themselves nor body-refinement attainments as formidable as the Ancestral Witches'. They had relied solely on Mana to shield their bodies all the way here, making the journey truly arduous.

The moment they entered Purple Cloud Palace, their gazes were drawn to the seven meditation cushions at the very front.

A flash of greed passed through the depths of Zhunti's eyes, but after recognizing Brother Hongyun seated on one of the cushions, a towering hatred erupted from the bottom of his heart.

"Junior Brother!"

Noticing that something was wrong with Zhunti, Jieyin tugged at his robe from behind.

Zhunti forcibly suppressed the hatred in his heart. After sweeping his gaze around, he immediately formed a plan, then let out a grief-stricken wail.

"Senior Brother, we have suffered! We have suffered beyond measure! After hearing Senior Hongjun's words, the two of us traveled countless miles from the west, sparing no effort, all in pursuit of the Great Dao."

"Along the way, we passed through a thousand trials and ten thousand perils, nearly perishing in the chaos itself. We finally found Purple Cloud Palace with great difficulty, only to discover that there is not even a seat for us! The west is already barren—why must the Heavenly Dao always treat us with such cruelty?"

"Wuwuwu... Had we known this, it would have been better for us to perish in the chaos!"

Seeing that no one paid them any heed, Zhunti conceived another plan.

"So be it! So be it! Today, I shall smash my head against a stone pillar in Purple Cloud Palace and die! Better that than Listen to the Dao without a seat!"

After speaking, Zhunti made as though to crash into a stone pillar within Purple Cloud Palace.

There was no need to speak of the tacit understanding between Jieyin and Zhunti.

The moment Zhunti began crying, Jieyin understood his scheme.

Jieyin's expression became even more sorrowful. He hurriedly wrapped both arms around Zhunti. "Junior Brother, do not do this. To reach Purple Cloud Palace is already a tremendous opportunity for us. Why suffer so? Why suffer so?"

Purple Cloud Palace had originally been silent, with only Zhunti's sobs remaining, tinged with sorrow.

It was enough to break the hearts of those who heard it and bring tears to the eyes of those who saw it.

The seated Great Powers wore varying expressions as they watched the brothers perform.

Laozi remained indifferent, as though all things in heaven and earth had nothing to do with him.

Yuanshi, Tongtian, Tai Yi, and Di Jun showed disdain in their eyes, though their expressions changed little.

Nuwa felt sympathy and had wanted to say something, but Fuxi stopped her.

Minghe was impassive, focused solely on the two vicious swords in his hands, while Kunpeng alone made no attempt to conceal his contempt.

The others who likewise had no seats merely looked on coldly.

"Brother Hongyun, these two brothers truly have no shame at all. I, Zhurong, thought my own hide was already thick enough, but compared to these two, I am ashamed of my inferiority!"

Zhurong muttered softly behind Brother Hongyun. Brother Hongyun had already been on the verge of laughter at Zhunti and Jieyin's little performance.

With Zhurong's interruption, he nearly burst out laughing. Fortunately, Brother Hongyun was a professional. He abruptly turned and shot Zhurong a glare, signaling him not to say another word.

This poor Daoist would like to see, without the original body's fool of a benefactor in this life, who will still give up a seat for the two of you.

A trace of amusement flashed through the depths of Brother Hongyun's eyes as he continued to enjoy Zhunti and Jieyin's performance with great interest.

What Brother Hongyun had not expected was that while he forcibly held back his laughter, someone else could not.

A disdainful, contemptuous sneer rang through the Purple Cloud Palace!

"Heh heh, you shameless lot—surely you don't think someone will give up their seat just because of your faces? How utterly ridiculous!"

"Holy shit, whose general is this, to be so damn brave?"

Drawn by the laughter, Hong Yun looked closely. Wasn't this man Kunpeng, the "Beiming Jerry" who had seized one of the seats?

"As expected of you. You truly are fated to have no connection with a Saint position, Beiming Jerry!"

Hong Yun observed a moment of silence for Kunpeng. That taunt had clearly handed the two Western brothers an opportunity to make trouble!

Sure enough, Zhunti, who had been putting on a show of throwing himself into a pillar, immediately stopped.

He fixed Kunpeng with a vicious glare. "Who are you, to dare mock my Senior Brother and me?"

Kunpeng had already looked down upon Zhunti. Hearing this, he sneered even more provocatively. "This poor Daoist is Kunpeng. What, you can do it, but this poor Daoist cannot speak of it?"

"Bastard! My Senior Brother and I are so steadfast in our pursuit of the Dao, yet we do not even have seats from which to listen to the Saint's teachings. Meanwhile, a man without virtue like you, who mocks us, sits high above."

"In this poor Daoist's view, you are simply unworthy to sit together with the distinguished personages present."

"Whether I am worthy or not is not for you to sa—Bastards! You dare make a move inside the Purple Cloud Palace?"

Kunpeng was about to speak again when he saw Zhunti sweep a streak of seven-colored radiant light from his hand toward him.

Jieyin was no slower. Equally without any martial honor, he struck Kunpeng with a beam of golden light.

Fortunately, Kunpeng had been wary of the two. He channeled his Mana and condensed an azure shield.

Zhunti and Jieyin's attacks landed upon the shield, sending ripples spreading across it. Kunpeng ultimately blocked this sneak attack.

Yet this ignited his fury, and he was just about to retaliate.

When a rebuke suddenly came from behind him: "A fur-clad, horned creature, a wet-born egg-layer—are you worthy to sit here with the likes of us?"

The speaker was none other than Yuanshi. The moment those words left his mouth, Laozi's face lost all calmness, while Tongtian stared at his Second Brother in shock, as though he had suddenly lost his mind.

Not only Kunpeng—even Great Powers such as Di Jun, Tai Yi, Fuxi, and Nuwa turned unfriendly looks toward Yuanshi upon hearing this.

In truth, Yuanshi regretted it the moment he spoke. Mainly because Kunpeng irritated him too much by stealing the limelight.

Everyone else had ignored Zhunti and Jieyin, yet Kunpeng alone had to stick his neck out. Yuanshi hated most those who shouted and clamored before him like this.

"Get down here!"

While everyone was still stunned by Yuanshi's words, Zhunti suddenly exerted his strength and yanked Kunpeng from his seat in one motion, then swept him out of the Purple Cloud Palace with the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree.

Before the crowd could react, Zhunti turned and shouted furiously at Minghe beside the seats, "Reeking of blood, brimming with killing intent—you are clearly no good man. You too are unworthy to keep company with us!"

Minghe, who had thought the matter had nothing to do with him, was instantly enraged. He had no idea where these shameless wretches got the nerve to provoke him.

Did they think his swords were not sharp enough?

He immediately rose, drew his twin swords, and charged at Zhunti to cut him down.

"Senior Brother, act quickly!"

"Oh no!"

Only then did Minghe realize something was wrong. The instant he rose and left his meditation cushion, a figure occupied his seat.

This sudden turn of events left Hong Yun utterly dumbfounded.

Kunpeng, who had flown back into the Purple Cloud Palace, and Minghe, who had risen from his seat, finally realized that their seats had been taken. Just as they were about to seize them back, the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace somehow slammed shut with a thunderous crash.

"BANG!"

The tremendous noise plunged the palace into silence once more.

At some unknown moment, a mysterious, majestic figure had appeared upon the meditation cushion atop the high platform.