Within Three Immortal Island.
Spurred on by the wine, Zhao Gongming spoke with great excitement.
It was also his first time encountering Great Desolation mighty figures such as Ancestor Dragon and the Queen Mother of the West. How could he not be shocked?
"You didn't see it—the moment that pagoda appeared, it blocked out the entire sky. What were those two flood dragons worth?"
"When Brother Nan Ji's Golden Wheel of Merit appeared, the entire East Sea turned golden!"
"Let me tell you, Brother Nan Ji is Jade Pure Yuanshi's eldest disciple—the first disciple of the Three Pure Ones!"
"How fortunate we are to have met Brother Nan Ji! Come, Brother, let me toast you."
The more Zhao Gongming spoke, the more excited he became, even exaggerating a little. Yet Yunxiao, Bixiao, and the newly awakened Qiongxiao all listened with sparkling eyes.
Hearing Zhao Gongming's words, Nan Ji said somewhat embarrassedly, "It was all thanks to my elders' love. A small matter, a small matter... Do you fellow Daoists wish to..."
Nan Ji was just about to get to the main point when Qiongxiao interrupted again. "Brother Nan Ji, from now on, from now on, you're my big brother. If I'm ever wronged, you—you can't ignore me."
Perhaps they had already grown familiar with one another, or perhaps it was the wine, but Qiongxiao gradually became bolder as she held Nan Ji's arm.
"Alright, alright."
When she heard Nan Ji mention his elders, longing filled Yunxiao's eyes as well.
Since they had taken form, they had never received anyone's guidance or protection. The four siblings had relied entirely on one another to survive.
As the eldest sister, Yunxiao naturally remembered those hardships all too clearly. Thinking of those days, she choked up again. "Brother Nan Ji is truly fortunate. To have elders protecting him in this Great Desolation is an immense blessing."
Like Zhao Gongming, she envied Nan Ji, but she did not resent him.
Seeing her eldest sister cry, Qiongxiao hurriedly embraced Yunxiao. "Big Sister, don't cry. Qiongxiao... Qiongxiao won't make Big Sister angry anymore."
Seeing this, and thinking of the siblings' past—as well as how they had nearly been taken by the Primordial Yin-Yang Flood Dragons for dual cultivation—Bixiao could not help shedding tears as well.
For a moment, aside from Zhao Gongming, the Three Xiaos were all crying before Nan Ji.
"No, no, why are you all crying? Don't cry."
Seeing the Three Xiaos in tears, Nan Ji was at a complete loss.
He came from the future, and behind him stood the protection of the Three Pure Ones.
Even when leaving Kunlun Mountain, he had to report it first, and he often carried the Three Pure Ones' treasured artifacts with him. Naturally, he could not truly empathize with the three sisters' experiences, nor understand the bitterness and hardship behind them.
Although Yunxiao cried from grievance, she did not sob as hard as Qiongxiao and Bixiao. Wiping away her tears, she said, "I merely remembered the past for a moment. I've made a fool of myself before you, Brother.
Zhao Gongming also smiled. "Alright, it's all in the past. Brother Nan Ji saved our lives. From this day forth, whether it is I, Zhao Gongming, or my three sisters, if you have any need of us, we will not hesitate even if it costs us our lives!"
Seeing this, Nan Ji stroked his chin and said, "Actually, there is something."
Zhao Gongming's eyes lit up at once, and he hurriedly said, "What is it, Brother? Please tell us quickly."
"We will certainly do everything in our power," Yunxiao promised, though she was curious as well.
"Brother, just... just leave it to us."
"Don't worry!"
Upon hearing Nan Ji's words, Zhao Gongming and the Three Xiaos all brightened, rushing to agree.
"Mm... I'll take you... to become disciples under my junior uncle."
It was not that Nan Ji had deliberately phrased it that way. It was just that when he thought of Tongtian at this time, how could he possibly resemble the future leader of the Interception Sect, the sect of ten thousand immortals?
Nan Ji's relationship with Tongtian was less like that of uncle and nephew, and more like... troublesome friends from the future.
It was a little embarrassing to bring up.
Thinking this, Nan Ji grew even more guilty. "Well, it might not work out... My junior uncle might not be to your liking either..."
Thud!
Thud! Thud!
Hearing Nan Ji's words, the others did not answer. They simply knelt before him.
Nan Ji was startled by their sudden kneeling and hurriedly pulled them to their feet.
"Brother, your great kindness! I, Zhao Gongming..." At that point, Zhao Gongming did not know what else to say.
First came the debt of saving their lives, and now Nan Ji was willing to introduce the siblings into the Three Pure Ones' lineage. Such immense kindness made even this forthright man's eyes redden.
Yunxiao was the same. How could she not envy Nan Ji, who could leave home protected by his elders' treasures?
Of course, she did not know that not just anyone could receive such affection from the Three Pure Ones.
Yet when she thought of the suffering the siblings had endured in the past, she could not speak for a moment and could only follow Zhao Gongming in kowtowing.
Although Bixiao and Qiongxiao did not feel as strongly as their elder brother and sister, they too knew the Three Pure Ones' reputation. They were formed from Pangu's primordial spirit after he transformed into the Great Desolation, mighty figures beyond compare.
The youngest, Qiongxiao, even asked, "Big Brother, Big Sister, does this mean we won't be bullied anymore?"
Moved by the sight of them, Nan Ji could only say, "Then make your preparations and come with me to Kunlun to seek a master."
When they arrived at the foot of Xuanqing Peak, Qiongxiao could not help exclaiming, "Wow, this place is so beautiful!"
"So, so exquisite!" Bixiao was likewise astonished by the palaces nestled among the mountains.
"The spiritual energy is actually this dense. It's ten times that of our Three Immortal Island," Yunxiao said as she sensed the spiritual energy in the mountains.
In truth, the spiritual energy on this mountain had not originally been so outrageously dense.
The key lay in Nan Ji's work.
Even Zhao Gongming, who was usually so bold and forthright, now felt a little uneasy. He quietly said, "Brother Nan Ji, our aptitude is mediocre. If we are not fated to enter under the Three Pure Ones, that is fine as well..."
Mediocre aptitude?
Why not take a look at those rabbits, lions, elephants, turtles... before saying that?
Nan Ji did not know what to say to that and merely smiled. "Come on, let's go up the mountain."
When they reached the center of the three great halls, Nan Ji called out, "Martial Uncle, Master, Junior Uncle, I'm back!"
The moment Nan Ji's voice fell, the seven figures scattered in the corners vanished with a whoosh.
At the same time, the gates of Eight Sceneries Palace, Jade Void Palace, and Biyu Palace all opened.
Laozi looked at Nan Ji with satisfaction. "It's good that you're back!"
Yuanshi stared at Nan Ji, examined him for a moment, then sighed. "Not bad."
Tongtian, however, spoke with some displeasure. "Little Nan Ji, you're quite capable. Tsk, tsk, you make your junior uncle ashamed of himself."
Hm?
Something was off!
Why did his junior uncle sound so much like the Ancestor Master the moment he opened his mouth?
Nan Ji keenly detected Tongtian's sarcastic tone and secretly thought, Could it be... the aftereffects of Junior Uncle being left alone in the Purple Heaven Palace before?
Sensing Tongtian's tone, Laozi naturally knew it was because of Nan Ji beating up the attendant boys. Thus, he unusually said, "Second Brother, Third Brother, Nan Ji, come into my Eight Sceneries Palace."
"Alright."
Nan Ji still did not know someone had complained about him behind his back. He turned to the others and said, "Go wait in that Changsheng Hall for now."
After saying that, Nan Ji seemed to recall something and warned them, "Do not go to the rear hall."
Afterward, when Nan Ji entered Eight Sceneries Palace, he saw that the Three Pure Ones were already seated upon cloud beds.
Laozi remained silent, while Yuanshi opened his mouth but seemed to think of something and said nothing.
Tongtian, however, glared at Nan Ji with an angry expression.
"Hm? Why isn't anyone saying anything? What's wrong?"
Nan Ji was utterly confused and asked strangely.
"You still have the nerve to ask..." At this point, Tongtian seemed to remember something. He cautiously glanced westward, then softened his tone somewhat. "You—your junior uncle has treated you well, hasn't he? Why did you beat up my attendant boys while I was away?"
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