Maintaining the Three Pure Ones' Friendship

"All junior brothers, I take my leave. I hope this kind of incident won't happen again!"

"Yes, go well, Senior Brother!"

With that, Xian Junyu led Duobao and the others away.

Once Senior Brother Xian Junyu had left, Nanji and the others finally spoke up again.

"A bunch of wet-born, egg-hatched creatures, fur-wearing, horn-bearing beasts. I don't know why Uncle Tongtian took in these things, and Brother Junyu still protects them so much..."

Chi Jingzi was still cursing under his breath.

Huang Long stood silently in the corner; he was of the Dragon Clan, and the Dragon Clan fell under the category of wet-born, egg-hatched, fur-wearing, horn-bearing beasts.

Chi Jingzi had insulted him too.

But, unvalued by his Master Yuanshi, he said nothing, merely staying quietly to the side.

At this point, Nanji finally couldn't bear it anymore and spoke up.

"Junior Brother, that's enough. You openly insulted the disciples of the Jie Sect and even resorted to violence. Do you know how great a disaster you've caused?"

"If I hadn't brought Master's authority with me today, do you think Xian Junyu would have let you off? Have you no shame!"

Scolded by the Senior Disciple Brother, Chi Jingzi didn't retort. On one side was the Chan Sect's Senior Disciple Brother, on the other the Jie Sect's Senior Disciple Brother—he couldn't afford to offend either.

But being scolded, he still refused to accept it.

Seeing Chi Jingzi's still defiant face, Nanji sighed inwardly. Master had truly spoiled these people too much.

"Hmph! You probably don't know this, but Master once promised Xian Junyu the position of Vice Sect Master of the Chan Sect, and he refused it!"

"Do you understand what that means? It means that even if you were killed today, Master wouldn't say a word. You, Chi Jingzi, shouldn't be so arrogant!"

With that, Nanji flicked his sleeve and left directly.

These junior brothers were so conceited in their talents that trouble was only a matter of time. He had warned them enough; if something happened later, they couldn't blame him for not cautioning them.

"V... Vice Sect Master!"

Chi Jingzi was now drenched in cold sweat. This was the first time he had heard of this.

Recalling his arrogant attitude just now, he felt a wave of terror. If Xian Junyu had actually struck, he would have died for nothing.

The other Golden Immortals, upon hearing this, also furrowed their brows, silently reminding themselves to be careful in their dealings with Xian Junyu.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Duobao still couldn't understand along the way why the Senior Disciple Brother, with his heaven-reaching cultivation, had backed down.

He had been silenced by the Senior Disciple Brother's earlier rebuke, so now he shot a meaningful glance at Senior Disciple Sister Jin Ling. She had considerable influence with the Senior Disciple Brother.

She was the best one to speak up.

Xian Junyu caught this glance and was instantly speechless.

It seemed Duobao knew he only had a soft spot for female immortals...

Unfortunately, Duobao was overthinking it. He only treated Jin Ling and the other female immortals well to give them some standing; as for other intentions, he truly had none.

"Stop making eyes over there. Duobao, if you have something to ask, just ask directly. Don't stir up your Senior Disciple Sister!"

This remark left not only Duobao embarrassed but Jin Ling as well.

Being caught red-handed, how could they not be embarrassed?

Since he was found out, Duobao decided to drop the pretense and asked directly:

"Senior Brother, Shu Junior Brother was rude, but it was clearly the Chan Sect disciples who provoked first. Yet you punished our own disciples. I don't understand!"

"Yes, Senior Brother! With your cultivation, why fear them?" Jin Ling chimed in.

Wu Dang and Gui Ling nodded in agreement.

The other side was clearly at fault, yet they were the ones punished—no one could accept that easily.

Looking at his junior brothers and sisters, then seeing they were almost at the Master's Daoist Sanctuary, Xian Junyu let out a helpless sigh.

"Alas... Do you think I don't know you've been wronged?"

"My actions today were not to appease the Chan Sect, but to preserve the bond between Master and Second Martial Uncle. Second Martial Uncle has never liked demons!"

"I have always strictly disciplined our disciples precisely to avoid provoking Second Martial Uncle. It's not that I fear the Chan Sect disciples; I am merely doing my utmost to maintain the bond of the Three Pure Ones. Do you understand?"

If it weren't for that, those so-called Twelve Golden Immortals of Mount Kunlun—no, even adding Old Man Nanji—

With his Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal cultivation, killing them would be like slaughtering dogs; he could annihilate them within three breaths.

But for the bond of the Three Pure Ones, he could not act. He absolutely could not strike first!

Duobao and the others, being sharp-witted, understood instantly.

So it wasn't that he didn't want to defend them; it was that the Senior Disciple Brother's perspective was on a different level. They focused on the disciples within the sect, while he looked at the three Saints.

"In this Eastern land, the combined power of Master and the Three Pure Ones is immense—so immense that it's no exaggeration to say even the gods step aside!"

"When the Three Pure Ones unite, no other Saint dares to scheme against us. Junior brothers, junior sisters, can't you see this?"

There was one more thing Xian Junyu didn't say: he didn't want to push Yuanshi toward those two shameless figures in the West, nor toward Laozi.

Though he knew the general tide could not be turned, he still wanted to do his utmost to preserve this bond of fellowship.

If in the end it truly could not be preserved, he and his Master would join forces against the enemy—even if they ultimately failed, he would have no regrets!

"Senior Disciple Brother, Duobao admits his mistake!"

"Senior Disciple Brother, Jin Ling, Wu Dang, and Gui Ling have also seen the light!"

Realizing that this meeting had been a misjudgment, they too quickly confessed their errors.

Seeing this, Xian Junyu nodded in satisfaction. If others did not understand, did not grasp the meaning behind his actions, even if they misunderstood him, he did not care.

But Duobao and the other Personal Disciples—he did not want them to remain as clueless as everyone else.

Arriving at Master Tongtian's Daoist Sanctuary, they also saw several Inner Sect Disciples tending to the wounds of the two injured disciples from before.

Soon, those two disciples also woke up, though their faces were still pale. The damage Senior Disciple Brother Xian Junyu had dealt them was truly not light.

Their cultivation realms even showed signs of decline.

"Senior Disciple Brother, this Junior Brother does not accept it!!"

The two who had woken up, seeing the Senior Disciple Brother right before them, wore aggrieved expressions as they voiced their defiance.

They might as well have had the words "Senior Disciple Brother, you are unfair" written on their faces.

"Enough, I know you have suffered grievances. Say no more—first, eat this."

Xian Junyu shook his head slightly and directly took out two Golden Elixirs he had refined.

The two ignorant disciples looked puzzled, not knowing what their Senior Disciple Brother was giving them to eat.

But Duobao and the other Personal Disciples beside them, Jin Ling and the rest, had their eyes practically glowing at the sight of the Golden Elixirs.

This was an Eight-Revolutions Golden Elixir—and a top-grade Eight-Revolutions Golden Elixir at that!

"You two worthless things! The Senior Disciple Brother bestows upon you an Eight-Revolutions Soul-Nourishing Golden Elixir, and you still don't accept it quickly!"

Duobao scolded them irritably.

A top-grade Eight-Revolutions Soul-Nourishing Golden Elixir right before their eyes, and they still hesitated—truly two blind fools.

"Oh, oh! Many thanks to Senior Disciple Brother for bestowing the elixir!!"

Hearing that it was a supreme Eight-Revolutions Golden Elixir, the two reacted at once, repeatedly cupping their fists in gratitude.