The Ancestor Was Only Late, That's All

"Moo~~" x2

Two muffled cries rang out as the Azure Ox and Kui Ox pulled the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage toward the chaos in Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Lying inside the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage, Shi Yu crossed his legs and leisurely watched the scenery outside change at high speed.

Last time, he had been ridden. This time, he could finally rest.

"Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, go!"

They were about to break through the Thirty-Six Heavens, so Taiqing summoned the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda and used it to cover the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage, preventing the chaos astral winds from disturbing them.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at the square outside Zixiao Palace. This time, however, quite a few people were already there.

Zhunti, with his pained expression, and Jieyin, with his sallow, emaciated face, had arrived at the entrance of Zixiao Palace early and were quietly waiting for the doors to open.

"Duang~"

A clear bell rang out as Tai Yi and Di Jun arrived with the Chaos Bell above their heads.

"Senior Brother Yuanshi, this is the Dragon Clan's treasure, the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage, isn't it? I've searched for it for so long. I never thought it would be with you!"

Tai Yi flashed in front of the Sanqing and looked the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage up and down.

"Senior Brother Yuanshi, name your price!"

"As long as it's within my brother's and my capabilities, we can agree to anything, so long as you transfer this carriage to me."

"How about it?"

After the previous sermon ended, Di Jun and Tai Yi had already begun establishing their own forces.

The brothers Di Jun and Tai Yi followed the path of being supreme and unrivaled. To attain the Dao, they had to become existences that dominated the Primordial World. Thus, they gathered the world's spirits and monsters and founded the Monster Clan.

To unify the Primordial World, however, they had to conquer the Dragon Clan, the colossal overlords of the previous tribulation.

The path of being supreme and unrivaled involved controlling the Immortals and Gods, ruling over all living beings, and standing above the Primordial World!

The Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage was indispensable to them. They could use it to suppress the Dragon Clan and force them to join the Monster Clan.

Ancestor Dragon of the Dragon-Han Tribulation and Beast King Shenni of the Fierce Beast Tribulation had both followed this great path, yet both had ultimately failed.

"You want this Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage to intimidate the Dragon Clan?"

"Hahahahaha, interesting!"

"But this is a gift my martial nephew gave me. There's absolutely no chance I'll give it to you!"

With that, Yuanshi flicked his sleeve and left, leaving Tai Yi only with his departing back...

Tai Yi stared at Yuanshi's departing figure, his expression sinking. This Yuanshi was actually refusing to give him even the slightest bit of face...

At this moment, Di Jun patted him on the shoulder and said quietly, "Tai Yi, don't be hasty. We still need to consider this carefully!"

"I'll do as you say, Brother. At worst, I'll personally make a trip to the East Sea and use force to suppress those ungrateful members of the Dragon Clan!"

"Hahahaha, where's Little Yu Zi?"

"We haven't seen each other in ages. You never come to the Witch Clan to play with us!"

Before their people appeared, their voices arrived first. Twelve Dharma Bodies tore through the chaos and descended from the sky, landing in the square outside Zixiao Palace.

"Master, my friends are here. I'm going to greet them!"

"If I don't come back for a while, you can go inside without me!"

Seeing the Twelve Ancestral Witches arrive, Shi Yu said goodbye to the Sanqing first, then walked toward the Ancestral Witches.

"Greetings, Ancestral Witches. It's been a long time. Your cultivation has improved!"

Sharp killing intent coiled around each Ancestral Witch. Their blood and qi soared to the heavens, living up to the Witch Clan's belief that a strong body naturally strengthened the law.

The strongest, Ancestral Witch Di Jiang, had already reached the Quasi-Saint realm. In the current Primordial World, he was already an unparalleled expert.

Even the weakest, Ancestral Witch Xuanming, had reached the late Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage. The rest were only one step away from becoming Quasi-Saints. The Ancestral Witches truly were transformed from Pangu's Essence Blood—what ferocity...

"Not at all, not at all~"

"Your cultivation has improved too. You've already reached the middle Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage!"

Houtu smiled faintly at Shi Yu and teased him, "Little Yu Zi, have you not been cultivating properly?"

"Cultivation is too boring~"

"I don't really like cultivating. I prefer alchemy, artifact refining, and formation arrays. Those are much more interesting than cultivation!"

"Oh? Shi Yu, you can refine pills too~"

A clear, melodious female voice rang beside Shi Yu's ear as Nuwa and Fuxi arrived together.

"Greetings, Martial Aunt Nuwa and Martial Uncle Fuxi!"

"Why so formal? We're all family!"

"Oh, the Ancestral Witches are here too. Greetings, everyone!"

"Greetings, Fellow Daoists Nuwa and Fuxi!"

The Ancestral Witches' expressions darkened slightly when they saw Fuxi and Nuwa.

During the previous epoch, Tai Yi and Di Jun had often visited Mount Buzhou to call on Nuwa and Fuxi, hoping to recruit them into the Monster Clan...

As the sworn enemies of the Witch Clan, Di Jun and Tai Yi had no hope of receiving a warm welcome from the Ancestral Witches when it came to anyone connected with them!

Just then—

Old Ancestor Hongjun's voice came from inside Zixiao Palace: "All disciples, enter and listen to the sermon."

Everyone straightened their robes and walked into the palace. A small, exquisitely carved child then walked out of Zixiao Palace and stood outside the entrance.

"Haotian, Yaochi."

"We are here to welcome all our senior brothers!"

The Sanqing glanced at Shi Yu, who was chatting with the Ancestral Witches, and wanted to call him over. At that moment, Ancestral Witch Houtu happened to walk over.

"You three are Little Yu Zi's master and senior uncles, right? I'm Houtu. He and my brothers and sisters don't plan to go in and listen to the sermon. There's no need to wait for him."

Taiqing nodded upon hearing this. It seemed Shi Yu once again intended to contribute to the construction of Kunlun Mountain...

"Ow, ow, ow, ow..."

"Martial Aunt Nuwa, please be gentler! Ow, ow, ow, ow!"

Shi Yu's anguished cries suddenly rang beside them. Nuwa was walking gracefully toward the entrance of Zixiao Palace, pinching his ear between her slender fingers.

"Shi Yu, so you're not cultivating properly, are you?"

"You were at the early Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage in the previous epoch, and now you've only reached the middle stage in this epoch! Your aptitude isn't bad either. I can tell at a glance that you've been slacking off!"

Seeing Shi Yu being dragged by the ear, Tongtian and Yuanshi were about to intervene, but Taiqing stopped them with a single look.

"This boy isn't afraid of the three of us. It's rare to find someone who can deal with him today. It'll do him good to teach him a lesson!"

Seeing the Sanqing remain silent and allow Nuwa to drag Shi Yu by the ear, Houtu could no longer stand it.

"Senior Sister Nuwa, since he doesn't want to go inside, why force him? A forcibly twisted melon isn't sweet!"

"Junior Sister Houtu, this fellow has no ambition and refuses to make progress. What a waste of such an excellent foundation!"

Nuwa glanced at Shi Yu, who was baring his teeth in pain. If she had not been familiar with him, she would not have bothered with him at all. Thinking of this, she unconsciously increased the strength in her hand.

"Martial Uncle Fuxi, save me~"

In excruciating pain, Shi Yu looked at Fuxi pleadingly.

Fuxi wanted to help him, but his sister would not listen to him. He could only give Shi Yu an apologetic, helpless look...

Seeing that Shi Yu had nearly received the lesson he deserved, Taiqing finally spoke.

"Junior Sister Nuwa, spare my disciple~"

"Cultivation cannot be forced!"

"That's right, that's right. Spare my grand martial nephew!"

"He's already foaming at the mouth!"

Tongtian pointed at Shi Yu, who was nearly finished, while Yuanshi was already preparing to snatch him back.

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Nuwa looked at Shi Yu, whom she was still holding by the ear, and discovered that he had already passed out, foam bubbling from his mouth and his eyes tightly shut...

"Oh dear, I used too much force!"

Nuwa hurriedly placed the unconscious Shi Yu on the ground. She was a dignified Quasi-Saint, yet she had pinched a Grand Unity Golden Immortal like this...

"Three senior brothers, I'm sorry~"

"I didn't mean to. I only..."

Realizing that she had caused a disaster, Nuwa apologized. She had only wanted what was best for Shi Yu. After all, in the entire Primordial World, Shi Yu was practically the only person she considered a friend...

"It's fine. This boy has thick skin and tough flesh. He'll be fine after taking a pill!"

"Azure Ox, watch over Shi Yu!"

Taiqing placed a pill in Shi Yu's mouth, then summoned the Azure Ox and had him look after Shi Yu.

As the host of powerful figures entered Zixiao Palace and the sermon was about to begin, the effects of the pill gradually cleared Shi Yu's mind. His earlobe, however, was still burning with pain.

"Yaochi, we should close the doors!"

Yaochi spoke to Haotian, who was guarding the entrance with her. One was a Primordial Clear Spring, and the other a Primordial Stubborn Stone. After being enlightened by the Dao Ancestor, they had been taken in as attendants.

"Okay, Yaochi!"

"What about those twelve?"

Haotian raised his little hand and pointed toward Shi Yu and the Ancestral Witches, who had already begun playing mahjong in the square outside Zixiao Palace.

Other than Houtu, who still refused to give up on listening to the sermon, there were exactly twelve of them including Shi Yu—enough for three mahjong tables!

"Don't worry about us. We're voluntarily forfeiting! You two martial uncles don't need to concern yourselves with us!"

Shi Yu shouted toward Haotian and Yaochi. In any case, he could not understand what the Dao Ancestor was talking about.

Thus, Yaochi and Haotian prepared to close the doors. Suddenly, a shout came from the distance:

"Don't close the door! I haven't arrived yet!"

The late Ancestor Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi hurried into Zixiao Palace. Today was the day they picked Ginseng Fruits, so they had been delayed for a while.

"This time, there shouldn't be anyone else, right?"

"Close the door!"

The doors were halfway closed when another hoarse voice rang out.

"Don't close the door! I, your ancestor, have arrived!"

A blood-red streak of light shot out from the chaos and sped straight toward the entrance of Zixiao Palace.

A tall, powerfully built old man stepped out of the light. He was dressed in a black robe and had a stern, cold face.

The newcomer looked unfamiliar, and Haotian was certain he had never seen him before. He asked, "Who are you?"

"You weren't among those who came to Zixiao Palace to listen to the Dao Ancestor's sermon last time, were you?"

The old man sighed deeply and slowly said, "I am Ancestor Minghe. Last time, certain matters delayed me and I missed the chance to reach Zixiao Palace. I intended to come early this time, but the Blood Sea and Minghe were simply too far away..."

Shi Yu played mahjong while listening with one ear to what was happening at the entrance.

"Ancestor Minghe..."

"I'll have to deal with him in the future. I might as well help him out!"

After once again confirming with the other eleven Ancestral Witches that they truly did not intend to listen to the sermon, Shi Yu flashed to the area outside the entrance of Zixiao Palace.

"Martial Uncle Haotian, Martial Aunt Yaochi!"

"I think this old man is rather pitiful. Why not let him go inside?"

"Can the twelve of us exchange our seats for one seat for him?"

Minghe, standing nearby, looked at Shi Yu in confusion. He did not understand why Shi Yu was helping him. They did not even know each other.

"Young friend, why are you helping me?"

"What is your purpose?"

"None. I'm simply helping others out of kindness. Senior, don't overthink it!"

After Haotian asked Dao Ancestor Hongjun, he agreed to let Ancestor Minghe inside.

"Young friend, I am Minghe. I will remember this favor, my friend!"