Xian Junyu was the First Disciple of Mount Kunlun and held considerable standing before all three Saints. They were merely Daoist Children, not even disciples.
Naturally, they treated this First Disciple with exceptional courtesy.
Of course, that courtesy was only reserved for him. They treated everyone else differently.
Xian Junyu said nothing more and simply strode inside.
"Stop! The Saint is only meeting Senior Brother. He never said he wanted to see you. Wait outside!"
Just as Duobao was about to follow Xian Junyu inside, the two Daoist Children mercilessly blocked his way.
Compared with the smiles with which they had welcomed the former, the Daoist Children's attitude toward Duobao was worlds apart.
"Uh... gentlemen, I'm here to become a disciple. I hope you can make an exception!" As he spoke, Duobao took out two Spiritual Treasures.
The Daoist Children did not even spare those two Spiritual Treasures a glance.
Trying this at the Saint's gate—what did they take them for? Besides, two mere ordinary Spiritual Treasures were no different from sending beggars away.
Saint Yuqing was extremely skilled at refining artifacts. Did they really think he would value such ordinary Spiritual Treasures? What a joke!
Seeing this, Xian Junyu also smiled faintly.
Duobao really knew how to handle things. He had produced two Spiritual Treasures without hesitation. Unfortunately, he had come to the wrong place. Had he gone elsewhere, to the Western Lands, for example, this trick would definitely have worked.
But his Second Martial Uncle, Venerable Yuanshi, was himself a Saint who refined artifacts. Here, ordinary Spiritual Treasures were no better than junk.
Seeing that the two Daoist Children remained unmoved, Duobao was about to take out more Spiritual Treasures. Xian Junyu hurriedly spoke:
"Fellow Daoist Duobao, this is the Saint's Dojo. You should put those things away!"
"Wait here for a moment. I'll go meet the Saint first."
As Daoist Children of a Saint who refined artifacts, these two had incredibly high standards. Xian Junyu understood them too well. Even if Duobao took out a whole pile of Spiritual Treasures, he would only be humiliating himself.
"Uh... all right, then!"
Seeing that Xian Junyu had spoken, Duobao could only give up.
At the same time, he was deeply shocked by the Saint's Daoist Children. They were not even tempted by Spiritual Treasures. As expected, not one of the Saint's Disciples was simple.
After asking Duobao to wait there, Xian Junyu entered the Saint's residence.
After entering an especially spacious room, he saw his Second Martial Uncle seated high on a meditation cushion. His entire body floated in midair, wrapped in Saintly Aura.
"Yu'er, you've come. Sit."
As he spoke, a meditation cushion flew out from the side and landed before Xian Junyu.
"Thank you for granting me a seat, Second Martial Uncle!"
After saluting and offering his thanks, he also sat down cross-legged.
Yuanshi descended from midair as well. Opening his eyes, he gazed warmly at the person before him and slowly spoke.
"Yu'er, how long has it been since you last came here?"
As he asked, he secretly examined Xian Junyu's cultivation. When he saw that he had only reached the Mid-Earth Immortal Realm, Yuanshi's brows furrowed tightly.
How long had it been, yet he was still only an Earth Immortal? What exactly was his Third Brother Tongtian doing?
"Answering Second Martial Uncle, it seems to have been over seven hundred years..."
During his first one or two hundred years after entering Kunlun, he had often visited First Senior Uncle and Second Martial Uncle, building a good relationship with them so he would not be killed during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
He hoped that, with this relationship, the two Martial Uncles might show him mercy.
But after he had established a sufficient relationship with them, he had practically stayed in his own cave dwelling and never ventured out.
"Over seven hundred years, and you're still only an Earth Immortal? I truly don't know how your Master Tongtian taught his disciples!"
"After all these years, you're still in the Earth Immortal Realm—and only the mid-stage at that. He's far too incompetent as a master!"
Yuanshi made no effort to hide his words. First, he said that Tongtian did not know how to teach disciples, then he called him an incompetent master. He was practically pointing at his nose and cursing him.
As the Primordial Being formed from the first strand of innate immortal aura, Xian Junyu was someone Yuanshi genuinely valued. If his Third Brother had not claimed him first, he would have taken him as his First Disciple.
He looked down on those with scales and horns and those born from moisture or eggs. But he had no prejudice against a Primordial Being like Xian Junyu. Instead, he liked him greatly.
He also cared deeply about this disciple of his Third Brother Tongtian.
Hearing this, Xian Junyu wore an awkward expression. His Second Martial Uncle was criticizing his Master right in front of him, and he could not say much.
The man was his Master's elder brother, and even more importantly, his senior. As a junior, he had no grounds to refute him.
Thus, he could only say:
"Second Martial Uncle, this has nothing to do with Master. It's my own problem..."
Xian Junyu's words might have been better left unsaid. The moment he said them, Yuanshi became even more furious.
He cut him off and said unhappily:
"Nonsense! What problem could you possibly have? You are the Primordial Being formed from the first strand of innate immortal aura. In terms of innate foundations, you surpass ninety percent of the lifeforms in the Primordial. If your manifestation had not come so late, you would certainly have held a place among the three thousand Mortal Guests of the Purple Cloud Palace!"
"With foundations like yours, yet under Tongtian's tutelage you cannot even break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm. If that isn't misleading disciples, what is? In my view, he is a foolish teacher, unworthy of being called a master!"
The more Yuanshi spoke, the more agitated he became, and the harsher his words grew. He seemed determined to disparage Tongtian until nothing good remained.
Seeing that his Second Martial Uncle was about to start cursing, Xian Junyu hurriedly spoke:
"Second Martial Uncle, this truly has nothing to do with Master. I'm simply not interested in cultivation..."
This really had nothing to do with his Master. He simply did not want to work hard. If he genuinely wished to cultivate, setting aside becoming a Quasi-Saint, reaching the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm would be easy.
But when he thought of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation and how the Interception Sect would be completely ruined, he had not the slightest motivation to cultivate.
Think about it: after cultivating all the way to the end, he would either go to the Western Lands to become a wage laborer or have his soul placed on the Investiture of the Gods and go to the Heavenly Court to become an office worker. Who the hell would have any motivation to cultivate?
"Hmph! A disciple's lack of interest in cultivation still has something to do with Tongtian as a master!"
Whenever he mentioned his Third Brother Tongtian, he became angry. No longer bringing up his Third Brother, he looked at Xian Junyu before him and spoke warmly:
"Yu'er, Tongtian is not a good master. Why not come here instead and enter my sect to become my disciple?"
"You don't need to refuse in haste. First, listen to the benefits I can offer. If you join my Chan Sect, I guarantee you the position of Vice Sect Master. I'll entrust the Pangu Banner to you, placing you below one person and above all others!"
"Furthermore, all the Chan Sect's resources will be at your disposal. I cannot promise you a Saint's position, but under my guidance, reaching the Great Perfection of Quasi-Saint will not be a problem..."
To poach Xian Junyu, Yuanshi had practically brought out ninety-nine percent of everything he could offer.
Hearing this, Xian Junyu was inwardly astonished. What an extravagant offer.
First, he promised the position of Vice Sect Master. Then he offered control of the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner, along with unlimited resources. One could say that no ordinary person would refuse such an offer.
Unfortunately, Xian Junyu was not that kind of person. No matter how many benefits he was offered, he would never betray his Master. That was his bottom line!
Having lived a second life, he would never become such a despicable person, even if he ultimately died and his Dao dissipated.
"This disciple thanks Second Martial Uncle for your kindness!"
"However, this disciple already has a sect. Once a master, forever a father. This disciple will never betray Master in this life. Even if Master ordered me to die, I would do so without the slightest regret..."
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