Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya!

Soon, Linghe brought the two of them before Qin Hong.

"Martial Uncle Shen, Martial Uncle Jiang, this is the fellow disciple who wanted to see you."

"Hm?"

Hearing Linghe's words, a middle-aged man in a black Taoist robe with a square face and a dignified demeanor stroked his beard and asked in confusion, "Who is he? Which fellow disciple's student is he? He looks unfamiliar, I've never seen him before!"

"Martial Uncle Shen, could this be Shen Gongbao?"

Thinking this, Qin Hong couldn't help but stare at Shen Gongbao for a few more glances. With sharp brows and bright eyes, while not exactly dashing, he was certainly not bad-looking, and his expression was one of uprightness.

"He's so different from the stories!"

Qin Hong was bewildered. The Shen Gongbao before him was full of righteousness, and aside from a slightly hoarse voice, he was the perfect protagonist of the righteous path!

He supposed it made sense; if he looked like a deformed monster, someone obviously untrustworthy, how could he have recruited so many disciples from the Sect of Interception? After all, no one was a fool!

Shifting his gaze from Shen Gongbao, Qin Hong looked at the child beside him, who was staring at him with wide, timid eyes.

Huh?

Is this Jiang Ziya?

He looks so different from the white-bearded image!

Rumor had it that Jiang Ziya cultivated in the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain and only descended at eighty, naturally appearing as an elder.

Seeing the young-looking Jiang Ziya before him, Qin Hong was stunned.

Well, Shen Gongbao was different from what he'd imagined, but Jiang Ziya was even more so.

One was full of righteousness and behaved with perfect decorum, while the other was still a child.

"Mm..."

After a moment of surprise, Qin Hong bowed and said:

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Shen and Martial Uncle Jiang!"

"I am Qin Hong, son of Tongtian. I pay my respects to you both!"

"I was bored on Jin'ao Island, so I came to visit you. I hope you won't blame me!"

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, neither elevating nor demeaning, and perfectly courteous.

"Hm?"

"You're Martial Uncle Tongtian's son, Qin Hong?"

Hearing Qin Hong's self-introduction, Shen Gongbao's composure visibly faltered with another wave of surprise.

The son of the Sect Master Tongtian, that made him a little ancestor of the entire Primordial Era!

He had damaged the Investiture of the Gods Scroll in Zixiao Palace and emerged unscathed. In the days that followed, Heavenly Lord Yuanshi had been so angry that he had taken it out on Shen Gongbao frequently. All of this was thanks to the little fellow before him.

"Mhm, that's me. Are you happy to see me, Martial Uncle? I'm happy too!"

Qin Hong said with a smile, his eyes sparkling.

After speaking, Qin Hong looked at Linghe beside him:

"Little Crane Crane, I'll play with Martial Uncle Shen and Martial Uncle Jiang for a while. I'll find you to play another day!"

"Remember, we're good friends!"

Now that the two main protagonists of the Investiture of the Gods, Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya, had arrived, Linghe was no longer needed. Furthermore, with Linghe present, there were some things Qin Hong couldn't say.

However, Qin Hong's words were interpreted completely in reverse by Linghe.

Little Martial Uncle truly considers me, Linghe, a friend! He wants to play with Martial Uncle Shen and Martial Uncle Jiang, and as their junior, I would surely be awkward. Even if Little Martial Uncle doesn't mind me, propriety must be observed. Little Martial Uncle must be worried that I'll feel uncomfortable.

Thinking this, Linghe smiled happily and said, "Okay, Little Martial Uncle, you all play. I'll go back and look after your master!"

With that, Linghe spread his wings and flew away.

Seeing Linghe's demeanor, Qin Hong was naturally unaware of what was going through his mind.

Seeing Linghe leave, Shen Gongbao took a step forward and said, "Little Junior Brother, for what reason have you sought us out?"

A sense of vigilance was evident in Shen Gongbao's tone.

After all, their identities were significant, and Shen Gongbao was inherently intelligent.

With the Investiture of the Gods Calamity imminent, the relationship between the Sect of Interception and the Sect of Enlightenment was already strained.

And Qin Hong before them was the son of Saint Tongtian, the young sect master of the Sect of Interception. Their statuses were vastly different.

Now that Qin Hong had traveled all the way from Jin'ao Island to this Kunlun Mountain to see them, he must have a purpose. Only a naive child like Linghe, who had always stayed by the Heavenly Venerate's side and lacked experience, would believe he came just to play!

Unlike Shen Gongbao's wariness, Jiang Ziya on the side looked at Qin Hong with a happy expression.

It couldn't be helped. Jiang Ziya was from the Human Race, and at this moment, both mentally and physically, he was just a child.

At Jiang Ziya's age, children are full of curiosity about everything and love to play.

Although he was more sensible as a Saint's disciple and much better than his peers, he was still a child at heart. Seeing Qin Hong, who was also a child, naturally increased his good feelings.

Looking at Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya, Qin Hong suddenly waved his hand, and a powerful force erupted, instantly enveloping Jiang Ziya within a formation.

He couldn't see or hear what was happening outside.

Seeing Qin Hong act so quickly, Shen Gongbao's face showed surprise.

He's not even hiding it anymore, just attacking directly?

"Junior Brother Qin Hong, what are you doing?" Shen Gongbao shouted, having recovered from his shock.

"Nothing!" Qin Hong said calmly.

"Senior Brother Shen, don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards you. On the contrary, I am here to save you!"

"There are some things I need to tell you, but they are not suitable for Senior Brother Jiang to hear."

Huh?

Save them?

Hearing Qin Hong's words, Shen Gongbao's eyes flashed with deep apprehension and disbelief.

"Junior Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Seeing that Shen Gongbao didn't attack immediately but calmed down, his composure was truly extraordinary.

Qin Hong smiled.

"Senior Brother, there's no need to be so vigilant. Let me ask you a question first."

"Why do you think my Second Uncle took you as a disciple?"

"Is it because of your good origins?"

"Is it because you have a thick skin?"

"Do you meet my Second Uncle's requirements?"

"In Jade Void Palace, how many people truly consider you a second-generation disciple of the Sect of Enlightenment?"

"Compared to the Twelve Golden Immortals, you are diligent enough, respect your master enough, and your strength and character are excellent."

"Have you ever thought about why my Second Uncle didn't include you when he enfeoffed the Twelve Golden Immortals?"

Hearing Qin Hong's words, Shen Gongbao's skin couldn't help but twitch, and a wave of sadness and bitterness surged in his heart.

Indeed, as Qin Hong said.

After he joined Jade Void Palace, he woke up earlier than the chickens and slept later than the dogs every day.

He practiced diligently, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

However, despite his hard work, he was never truly acknowledged by the Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning.

As a second-generation disciple, the treatment he received was clearly biased.

He always came last in line for cultivation elixirs, magical treasures, and various resources.

Was his talent truly inferior to Taiyi Zhenren and the others?

He imagined that if the Heavenly Venerate hadn't been biased and had treated them equally, giving him the same treasures and resources, he would have cultivated faster than the Twelve Golden Immortals!

But there are no "what ifs" in this world.

He had always harbored resentment in his heart.

Why was all of this happening?

Was it just because I'm a leopard spirit, a creature with fur and horns, that I'm treated differently?

If so, why did he take me as a disciple in the first place?

To give me hope with his own hands, only to close the door of hope step by step?