Five hundred years?
Tongtian's heart tightened upon hearing this. He then whispered to Nan Ji, "Well, little Nan Ji, if your master says so, there's nothing your uncle can do."
Yuanshi's brows relaxed slightly upon hearing that.
It seemed Tongtian still cared for his little grandnephew.
But then Tongtian added, "Don't worry, though. Your uncle definitely won't nag like your master does."
On the way back to Kunlun, Tongtian was brimming with energy.
After all, he was about to "educate" his grandnephew. The thought alone made Tongtian a little excited.
When the group arrived before Jade Void Palace, they stopped.
Tongtian said eagerly, "Why are we at Jade Void Palace? Why not go to my Biyu Palace instead?"
Yuanshi ignored Tongtian with a dark expression.
Nan Ji looked at Yuanshi's unpleasant face, then at Tongtian, who had yet to realize disaster was imminent.
He then said to Yuanshi, "Master, I still have some matters to ask First Uncle about. This disciple will take his leave."
After saying that, Nan Ji raised his brows at Laozi. Laozi immediately understood and headed toward Eight Sceneries Palace with Nan Ji.
Though Laozi looked like an old man, he was extremely pleased with Nan Ji at this moment. The two of them left at a remarkably brisk pace.
"Hey! Don't leave!"
Seeing his "disciple" depart, Tongtian felt a sense of foreboding rise within him.
With a wave of Yuanshi's hand, the gates of Jade Void Palace opened. Then Yuanshi let out a loud shout.
"Tongtian!"
That shout scared two of Tongtian's three souls away and sent six of his seven spirits fleeing.
After jolting in fright, Tongtian shouted at Nan Ji and Laozi, "Big Brother, little Nan Ji, I have something to do too. Let's go together."
But at that moment, Laozi and Nan Ji seemed to have gone deaf and heard nothing at all.
The two of them tacitly quickened their pace.
Seeing Tongtian trying to flee, Yuanshi smacked him straight into Jade Void Palace with one palm.
Then, after Yuanshi flashed into the palace, the gates of Jade Void Palace slammed shut.
"Second Brother!"
Tongtian half-collapsed onto the ground, trying to awaken Yuanshi's brotherly affection.
Yuanshi ignored him and took out the Enlightenment Tea Nan Ji had given him, slowly shaking the leaves into a jade cup.
As the tea leaves fell into the cup one by one, the rustling sound made Tongtian's heart tremble again and again.
"Second Brother, I'm begging you. If it won't work, just beat me up!"
The quieter Yuanshi became, the more frightened Tongtian was.
"Second Brother..."
Yet Yuanshi still ignored him. Instead, he raised a hand and drew over a stream of scorching spiritual spring water, pouring it into the tea cup.
When the tea leaves gradually unfurled in the water, Yuanshi lifted the cup and took a light sip before saying, "Do you know what you did wrong?"
Tongtian feared Yuanshi most now. He even felt Yuanshi was about to become his inner demon.
So he nodded and said, "I do!"
"Where were you wrong?"
"Everywhere..."
In truth, Tongtian had no idea why Yuanshi was angry. Yuanshi slammed the jade cup down after hearing that.
Smack!
"You are Nan Ji's uncle, yet you act so rashly. You nearly ruined Nan Ji's great undertaking..."
"And look at Nan Ji, then look at yourself..."
"Also, you seem to enjoy educating others very much..."
"Before..."
At that moment, Tongtian slumped directly onto the ground, as if tens of thousands of bees were buzzing beside his ears.
In his eyes, Yuanshi's mouth opened and closed, but he could no longer hear what Yuanshi was saying.
Meanwhile, Laozi returned to his Eight Sceneries Palace in high spirits.
The moment the two stepped through the palace gates, Laozi waved his hand and even locked the gates behind them.
"First Uncle, this..."
Although Nan Ji could imagine his uncle's fate, he did not understand why even his first uncle was so terrified.
Laozi sighed and slowly explained, "It's fortunate I have you. Previously, whenever your master and uncle discussed the Dao, they always dragged me along."
As he spoke, Laozi's eyes revealed a trace of resentment. "Your master would even ask for my opinion from time to time... Sigh, better not mention it."
How could Nan Ji dare agree with Laozi's complaints about Yuanshi? He merely traced circles on the ground with his toe and said, "Well... Master doesn't say much to his disciples anyway."
But Nan Ji inwardly lamented, It's not just Master. Even First Uncle talks quite a lot.
Laozi thought that, since he was not with Yuanshi and Tongtian this time, he could finally settle himself. "What did you need from your first uncle?"
Nan Ji became serious upon hearing that and took out the Four Symbols Banana Tree Dijiang had given him earlier.
The instant the Four Symbols Banana Tree appeared, Laozi's eyes lit up.
"This..."
He could sense that while it did not compare to the Seven-Colored Gourd Vine, it was undoubtedly a top-tier treasure.
That was because its four leaves each contained one of the laws of earth, fire, wind, and water.
Laozi could even sense that it held a faint yet profound connection to his own Dao.
"Please help me refine it into spiritual treasures, First Uncle!"
As Nan Ji spoke, he carried it before Laozi.
Originally, Nan Ji had wanted to ask Yuanshi to refine it, but on one hand, Yuanshi was currently occupied. On the other, Nan Ji wanted to give it to Laozi.
At present, the Dao Ancestor had yet to give his second lecture on the path of the Quasi-Saint, and the living beings of the Great Desolation did not yet know how precious innate treasures were.
Using spiritual treasures to sever the three corpses naturally worked best when the treasures shared the same origin.
The Two Principles gave rise to the Four Symbols. Laozi himself cultivated the Dao of yin and yang, so this was surely the best choice for severing his corpses.
Laozi was already the strongest among the Six Saints. If he could unite his three corpses into one, it would certainly further strengthen the Three Pure Ones.
As for why Nan Ji would not use them himself?
No matter how powerful they were, could they compare to primordial purple qi?
Did he have the courage to prove the Dao through force?
Or did he possess boundless merit?
Therefore, Nan Ji felt they were merely a few treasures.
After all, once Hongjun distributed treasures in the future, would the Three Pure Ones really let him suffer a loss?
However, Nan Ji did not say any of this, nor could he explain it clearly.
Laozi merely assumed Nan Ji was asking him to refine treasures, so he did not refuse. He only said, "Very well. Light the fire."
"Alright!"
Five hundred years quickly passed.
"It's done!"
Laozi spoke joyfully.
Nan Ji followed Laozi's gaze and indeed saw four Banana Fans floating in the air.
"Four Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures."
"The yang fans consist of earth and fire, while the yin fans consist of wind and water."
"Take a look!"
Laozi gazed at the four Banana Fans before him with great satisfaction.
Although he could sense that they matched his Dao extremely well, seeing how impoverished Nan Ji was, he could not bring himself to ask for them.
Excitedly, Nan Ji picked up a wind fan, which immediately transformed into a huge fan in his hand.
Th-this is the one Princess Iron Fan used in Journey to the West, isn't it? Nan Ji grinned as he played with it.
However, such a treasure was impressive in Journey to the West, but it seemed somewhat lacking in the Investiture of the Gods era.
So Nan Ji pushed the four fans back in front of Laozi. "First Uncle, these four treasure fans are for you."
"Hm?"
Laozi was startled by Nan Ji's sudden action.
"First Uncle, these items are related to the Dao of yin and yang you cultivate. Nan Ji is usually with First Uncle and Uncle, so I have little use for treasures."
"Therefore, please accept them, First Uncle."
Nan Ji's words were utterly sincere.
Laozi looked at Nan Ji with his somewhat clouded eyes. He wanted to say something, yet found that nothing seemed suitable.
Supreme Pure Laozi was a man wholly devoted to the Dao, so he would not trade courtesies with Nan Ji.
Still, thinking of how this was not the first time Nan Ji had shared treasures with him, while Nan Ji himself possessed only a Soul Slaying Staff...
What a good child!
After sighing inwardly, Laozi accepted the four treasure fans and nodded. "Then First Uncle will accept them. I'll find you something better in the future."
Knowing Laozi's awkwardness, Nan Ji chuckled mischievously. "I think First Uncle's Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda is pretty good!"
Seeing Nan Ji like this, even Laozi, whose heart was usually as still as water, could not help laughing and scolding, "You little rascal!"
"The second lecture will begin in a hundred years. Those fated to attend may come to Purple Cloud Palace to hear it."
At that moment, a vast and ancient voice suddenly rang out, echoing through every corner of the Great Desolation.
Laozi and Nanji paused upon hearing it. Then Laozi said, "Come with us to Purple Cloud Palace."
Meanwhile, the voice of Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor, also reached Jade Void Palace.
At that moment, Tongtian felt as if he had heard heavenly music. Light immediately returned to his hollow eyes.
Yuanshi heard it and thought that the time was about right. He said, "Do you understand what your elder brother has explained?"
Th-this is ending.
Tongtian felt as though he was about to cry. He hurriedly nodded. "I understand, I understand."
"Good. Then we shall end it here."
As Yuanshi and Tongtian emerged from Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi was full of energy, while Tongtian looked weathered beyond his years.
With every step, Tongtian felt his legs go weak, and stars still flashed before his eyes.
He could only sigh inwardly, I'm finally out. That's wonderful!
Before you continue