Rejected Before Speaking

"I'll go speak with Master. It shouldn't be a big problem. Junior Brother Duobao, go back and prepare, and make sure to coordinate with your Junior Sister Jin Ling!"

He absolutely had to persuade Master on this matter—there could be no retreat, not even half a step.

Xian Junyu's resolve on this issue was ironclad.

"Yes, Senior Disciple Brother. Your junior brother understands. Then I'll take my leave!" Without even having time to drink his tea, Duobao bowed and departed.

"Uh... Senior Disciple Brother, I'll take my leave too..."

Without drinking his tea either, Lü Yue bowed and left directly. He had no choice—staying here was simply too awkward.

Xian Junyu didn't try to keep them either. He still had to refine the Sect Rules and truly had no time for idle chat.

With no one to disturb him, he returned to his Cave Dwelling and quietly worked on perfecting the Sect Rules. Writing them took a full day.

The next day, carrying the refined Sect Rules, he headed straight for his master Tongtian's Daoist Sanctuary.

But as soon as he arrived at the sanctuary today, the Water-Fire Daoist Children at Master's side blocked his way.

"Senior Disciple Brother, Master said he won't see you. Please go back..."

"Yes, Senior Disciple Brother, don't make things difficult for us..."

The Water-Fire Daoist Children wore troubled expressions as they blocked Xian Junyu. If the Saint Master hadn't given them orders, they truly wouldn't want to stop him here.

This Senior Disciple Brother Xian Junyu was far too hard to deal with.

"What do you mean 'won't see me'? Since when does a master refuse to see his disciple? I am the Jie Sect's Senior Disciple Brother, here for the future of the Jie Sect—how could he possibly refuse to see me!"

"If our Jie Sect runs into trouble down the line, none of you can bear that responsibility. Move aside!"

As he spoke, Xian Junyu tried to push forward again, but the Water-Fire Daoist Children grabbed him firmly.

Their faces were full of grievance.

"Senior Disciple Brother, what you say makes sense—we know that. But we're following orders. We're in a difficult position too..."

"That's right, Senior Disciple Brother. Please be merciful and let us two junior brothers off. Turn back—we beg you!"

Watching the Water-Fire Daoist Children plead with him repeatedly, Xian Junyu's brow furrowed tightly.

He guessed that Master had already learned of his purpose and was deliberately avoiding him. But for the future of the Jie Sect and the bond between the Three Pure Ones, he had to do this!

Still, the Water-Fire Daoist Children were only following orders. He couldn't make things too hard for them.

"So you're sure you won't let me in?"

Hearing this, the Water-Fire Daoist Children nodded.

They thought Senior Disciple Brother Xian Junyu was about to give up. But the next second, they were dumbfounded.

"Fine! If you won't let me in, then I'll just stay here and not leave!"

With that, Xian Junyu plopped himself down right at the entrance of the Daoist Sanctuary, striking a pose that said, "If I don't see him, I'm squatting here and not budging."

The Water-Fire Daoist Children exchanged glances, unsure what to do.

The Saint Master had told them to stop Xian Junyu, but He hadn't told them to drive him away.

Just as they were agonizing over what to do, the scenery around them suddenly shifted. In an instant, they were inside the sanctuary's main hall.

Tongtian looked speechlessly at Xian Junyu, who was shamelessly throwing a tantrum.

He had clearly said he wouldn't see him, yet this fellow insisted on loitering at the door. He had never seen anyone so thick-skinned.

"If I can't see Master, I'll stay right here and not leave. You'll have to feed me—I'll eat your food, drink your water, and I'm not going anywhere!"

Xian Junyu was still sitting on the ground, playing the rogue.

The Water-Fire Daoist Children were utterly exasperated. They were already inside, and he was still putting on this act. This Senior Disciple Brother was definitely doing it on purpose.

"Xian Junyu, are you done or not? You're already inside—stop pretending. Get up!"

Tongtian called out, thoroughly exasperated.

Looking at Xian Junyu sitting on the ground and acting shamelessly, his face darkened completely. They were already inside, yet he was still pulling this stunt—clearly for show.

"Oh? Master? How did I suddenly get in?"

"Disciple Xian Junyu greets Master!"

Pretending he had just noticed he was inside, Xian Junyu stood up with utter shamelessness, putting on an innocent and naive expression.

Tongtian didn't bother with that. He cut straight to the point.

"Stop pretending. I already know why you've come. Let me make this clear to you: it's not happening. Go do whatever you need to do."

Without reprimanding his senior disciple, Tongtian refused him outright.

His Jie Sect taught all beings without discrimination, seizing a thread of life for everyone. The sect was mainly composed of various spirits and monsters, and there would be even more in the future.

Eating raw meat and drinking blood was instinct—a means of survival. Abandoning the foundation of their existence would essentially cut off many people. That didn't align with his doctrine.

Moreover, cultivation was about cultivating Great Freedom. Freedom was far too important to a cultivator.

"Master, I have to say this here: our Jie Sect is an orthodox Daoist Sect, a great teaching under a Saint..."

Xian Junyu still wanted to argue his case.

But Tongtian gave him no chance at all.

"Say no more. My mind is made up on this matter. Leave."

"Master, I—"

"Out!"

Seeing that his master was already quite displeased, Xian Junyu knew this time there was truly no hope left, and he was immensely dejected.

He had thought that his master, a Saint, would understand his thoughts, but he never expected this outcome—his master could not comprehend his reasoning.

"Then this disciple... takes his leave."

Xian Junyu left, his face full of disappointment.

Watching Xian Junyu's dejected back, Tongtian felt helpless as well. The matter was too important; he had to consider the other disciples.

Agreeing to his senior disciple's proposal would cut off the path for many other disciples. This was something he could only refuse, not easily consent to.

"Ah, Yu'er, this master has his own difficulties in this matter. I cannot satisfy you this time. I hope you can understand..."

Leaving the Daoist Sanctuary and returning to his own Cave Dwelling, Xian Junyu stayed home in dejection, constantly pondering why his master had refused.

He did not cultivate, did not go out to bask in the sun, did not even step outside—he simply remained in his Cave Dwelling.

Anyone who didn't know might think he had suffered some great blow.

Meanwhile, news that the Jie Sect's Senior Disciple Brother, Xian Junyu, had been released from punishment early and returned to his Cave Dwelling spread.

Upon hearing the news, Chang'er Dingguang Xian brought Jinguang Xian and headed straight over.

"Senior Brother, is the news accurate? Has Senior Disciple Brother really been let out?" Jinguang Xian was skeptical about this news.

"Who knows if it's true? That's what the disciples in the sect are all saying..."

"I originally wanted to ask that Sweeping Servant at Master's Daoist Sanctuary, but I couldn't find the guy. Every time it's a critical moment, he disappears. How infuriating!"

Chang'er Dingguang Xian looked thoroughly displeased.

He had bribed that Sweeping Servant precisely to get first-hand news from Master's Daoist Sanctuary, yet Senior Disciple Brother had already returned to his Cave Dwelling, and he hadn't received a single piece of information.

Not only had he received no news, but that Sweeping Servant was nowhere to be found. It was absolutely infuriating.

"That servant was unreliable from the start. Relying on him? Might as well forget it..." Jinguang Xian also looked helpless.

That guy ate, drank, and took things from Senior Brother Chang'er, always grabbing petty advantages—clearly not someone dependable. Jinguang Xian had never thought much of that servant.

A Sweeping Servant was just a Sweeping Servant; how could he compare to an Inner Sect Disciple? If he were even slightly reliable, he wouldn't be a servant.

After all, the Jie Sect taught without discrimination; anyone with even a bit of cultivation could become a disciple.

That fellow was still a servant—it showed just how stupid he was!