After Laozi and Yuanshi finished paying respects to Hongjun, they immediately sensed a trace of clarity in their spiritual platforms.
The two were instantly shocked.
One had to know that for cultivators, if they could keep their minds free of distracting thoughts at all times, their cultivation would improve at an astonishing rate.
Thinking of Hongjun's expression, Laozi and Yuanshi both shuddered involuntarily, then hurried off to begin cultivating.
Meanwhile, inside the Purple Sky Palace.
Tongtian felt an immense force pull him over.
When he opened his eyes again, he unconsciously shouted, "What villain dares launch a sneak attack?!"
Silence...
Utter silence all around...
As Tongtian's vision gradually cleared, a massive cloud platform entered his sight, followed by a Daoist robe...
"Tch, he looks quite like that little old man Nan Ji worships."
Tongtian spoke without thinking and continued looking upward.
But when he tried to make out the man's face, he found that he could not see his features at all.
He was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.
In the entire Great Desolation, only his master, Dao Ancestor Hongjun, was like this.
Still sitting on the ground, Tongtian looked around, only to remain sitting there in the end.
Haotian and Yaochi stood beside that old man, while the surroundings were clearly those of the Purple Sky Palace.
"Mas... Master."
Tongtian spoke in a trembling voice.
"Oh? I can't accept that, I can't accept that. I'm just an old man."
Hongjun looked at Tongtian, and the moment he opened his mouth, it was that familiar flavor.
Hearing that familiar sarcastic tone, Tongtian hurriedly explained, "No, no... Master, this disciple was merely confused for a moment. I didn't realize it was you."
"Fine, it was also this old Daoist's fault. In the future, when giving things to juniors, I should first inform you, Tongtian."
Hongjun spoke with a solemn expression, then looked at Haotian and Yaochi. "Look at this. This is this old Daoist's finest disciple. Wonderful."
Having received Yuanshi's "guidance," Tongtian believed his heart had already become quite resilient. Yet faced with Hongjun's words, he opened his mouth but was powerless to refute him.
Seeing that Tongtian did not answer, Hongjun continued, "Nan Ji, as a grand-disciple, is filial. Wonderful. You are even more filial than him—you even knew to test the poison for your master."
"You were afraid you wouldn't get any, so you nearly poisoned your master to death."
Next, Tongtian experienced a scene that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
But unlike Yuanshi, he feared Hongjun. At the same time, Hongjun's sarcastic tone constantly sent his heart soaring and plummeting.
If Yuanshi's "guidance" was like ten thousand bees buzzing beside one's ears, then Hongjun's "guidance" was like a thousand venomous snakes coiling around Tongtian's body.
Meanwhile, after seeing Laozi and Yuanshi both begin cultivating.
Nan Ji had originally intended to visit those seven disciples in Biyu Palace, but when he reached its entrance, he stopped.
"Big Brother, could that Tongtian be a swindler? He made us wait for so long."
"And those other two clearly look down on us."
"I say we should just leave. Why suffer this pointless indignity here?"
Nan Ji, who had intended to enter, immediately lost all desire to bother with them upon hearing this.
In truth, Nan Ji also knew the origins of these creatures.
It was simply that Nan Ji felt that in the Great Desolation, one should personally experience things with one's own heart, so he had come to see them.
These seven were most likely the future Seven Attendant Immortals of Sect Master Tongtian.
This bunch would produce nothing but "great talents."
For example, Chang'er Dingguangxian, who escaped from the Myriad Immortals Formation; Lingyaxian, transformed from a white elephant; Qiushouxian, transformed from a lion; and Jinguangxian, transformed from a Jinmaohou. At the end of the Investiture of the Gods, they would be subdued by Puxian, Wenshu, and Cihang and turned into mounts...
But Nan Ji was not one to eavesdrop. He simply pushed open the door openly and said, "Xuanqing Peak does not force people to do things against their will. If you wish to leave, then leave."
Seeing Nan Ji suddenly enter, the few of them were startled as well.
But in an instant, they returned to normal.
The hot-tempered Jinmaohou spoke first. "Who are you? What right do you have to lecture us?"
Yellow-Tusked White Elephant followed up, "That's right. What does our staying or leaving have to do with you?"
Long-Eared Rabbit, the future Chang'er Dingguangxian, shrank off to one side and scrutinized Nan Ji, seeing that he remained silent.
Long-Eared Rabbit's eyes rolled, and then he hopped out. "It was our master who wanted to take us in. You are clearly someone else's disciple, so what gives you the right?"
Then, these future Seven Attendant Immortals began chiming in one after another.
Their words were filled with unreasonable arrogance.
At that moment, Nan Ji understood. He began to deeply empathize with Yuanshi's feelings.
If their dispositions had been good, Nan Ji would not have minded teaching them slowly.
But since they were traitorous ingrates by nature, Nan Ji naturally would not let them have an easy time.
Smack!
With a sweep of Nan Ji's sleeve, the gates of Biyu Palace slammed shut.
The Seven Attendant Immortals immediately shuddered.
Then, without another word, Nan Ji pulled out his Soul Slaying Staff and began laying into them.
Of course, Nan Ji knew in his heart that these crooked melons and cracked dates were still the first batch of disciples his martial uncle had taken a liking to.
During the beating, he did not use the Soul Slaying Staff's divine abilities.
But it had been formed from Pangu's Marrow and filth, with a drop of Pangu's essence blood hidden within. How could they possibly withstand it?
Thus, those creatures were beaten by Nan Ji until they leaped and scrambled about.
But what good was jumping?
Nan Ji, already at the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, could naturally appear beside them in an instant.
The higher they jumped, the harder he hit.
A moment later, Nan Ji contentedly put away the Soul Slaying Staff, clapped his hands, and walked out of Biyu Palace.
"If you feel wronged, then once my martial uncle Tongtian comes out, you may naturally go complain to him."
As Nan Ji spoke, he waved a hand and sealed the doors of Biyu Palace shut.
Naturally, he was not afraid of Tongtian making things difficult for him. After all, he had merely inflicted superficial injuries on the Seven Attendant Immortals.
However, Nan Ji also knew that this only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.
To resolve this matter, he could only start at the source.
For example, he could find Tongtian's disciples in advance—such as the Four Direct Disciples, Zhao Gongming, the Three Goddesses Xiao...
Nan Ji refused to believe that after having sampled the good ones, his martial uncle Tongtian would still fancy these crooked melons and cracked dates.
Thinking of this, Nan Ji cupped his hands toward Jade Void Palace and Eight Sceneries Palace. "Master, Martial Uncle, I will go to the East Sea and see whether I can find disciples of good character for Martial Uncle."
After speaking, Nan Ji saw the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda fly out from Eight Sceneries Palace.
Seeing his eldest martial uncle's approval, Nan Ji accepted the pagoda, transformed into his true form of an immortal crane, and flew toward the East Sea.
As Nan Ji departed, Laozi and Yuanshi both revealed satisfied smiles while cultivating.
Meanwhile, Tongtian was having a miserable time.
He had come to a conclusion: when facing Master Hongjun's "guidance," he absolutely must not speak too much.
If he said nothing, Hongjun would simply continue speaking to himself.
But if he spoke, Hongjun would have even more to say in response.
And some questions could not go unanswered.
At that moment, Tongtian missed his second brother Yuanshi terribly.
He even began to regret it. If he had agreed to go to Jade Void Palace back then, would none of this have happened?
"Do you understand what this old Daoist has said?"
Just as Tongtian was "forced to reflect," Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice came from above.
"This disciple understands."
Tongtian's answer was as concise as possible.
"Mm. As this old Daoist's youngest direct disciple, your feelings toward this old Daoist truly are one of a kind."
"You are terrified this old Daoist might find some peace and quiet. How wonderful!"
With that, Hongjun swept his sleeve, and Tongtian was sent out of the Purple Sky Palace.
Before you continue