Blatant Partiality

Beyond the Great Wilderness, within Immeasurable Heaven.

A colossal palace stood towering there, surrounded by the laws of the Sages, its might shaking the eternal chaos.

Above it was only the name of the palace, yet the living beings remaining in the chaos regarded it as an enormous taboo!

Palace of Empress Nuwa!

It was none other than the supreme dojo of Nuwa, one of the Six Sages of the Heavens!

When Primordial Lord of Heaven deduced the heavenly secrets and learned that humanity was about to rise, with the Human Emperor soon to appear, Nuwa, the Sage Mother of humanity, naturally learned of it as well.

"The Human Emperor is about to appear, and the position of Sage Teacher is vacant. It seems my Palace of Empress Nuwa is about to become lively again."

Within the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

Nuwa wore no makeup and not a single ornament, yet she still surpassed all the beauties of the mortal world.

Her features were exquisite, her face peerlessly beautiful, and her autumn eyes deep. Most especially, beneath all this perfection, those two "peaks" were enough to look down upon all of history!

Now, she gazed outside the Palace of Empress Nuwa and murmured to herself.

As the Sage Mother of humanity, she naturally knew what the position of Sage Teacher represented.

Merit enough to reach the heavens!

Humanity's fortune!

It was an ultimate opportunity.

Although such an opportunity was beneath the notice of a Sage,

for living beings beneath the Sages, it was something that could only be encountered by chance, never sought.

Though she was the Sage Mother of humanity and one of the Six Sages of the Heavens,

there was no lineage under her command.

Under such circumstances, the other Sages would inevitably compete for the position of Sage Teacher.

Just as she had expected, the instant her voice faded, she saw two blazing divine lights outside the Palace of Empress Nuwa. They tore through the void and pushed through the chaos as they advanced.

In the chaos, ancient living beings sensed something. All were disturbed by the commotion and slightly opened their eyes, wanting to see what had caused it.

However, they soon sensed an immense aura of taboo from the two divine lights and dared not look directly at them.

The might of a Sage!!!

Sages could not be offended or looked upon directly...

Those were two Sages!

One had a yellowish complexion and a thin, withered figure, while his face was filled with a sorrowful expression.

The other looked completely different. His belly was round, his complexion ruddy, yet his entire body radiated an aura of sharp metal.

These two were none other than the Two Sages of the West—Jieyin and Zhunti!

After deducing the heavenly secrets and learning that the Human Emperor was about to be born, they had rushed impatiently to the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

As soon as they entered the Palace of Empress Nuwa,

Zhunti and Jieyin addressed Nuwa: "This junior brother and senior brother pay our respects to Fellow Daoist Nuwa."

Nuwa sat high at the head of the hall. Her peerlessly beautiful face remained unmoved as she asked, pretending not to know, "What brings you two fellow Daoists here today?"

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, immediately understanding the other's meaning.

Then Zhunti stepped forward and got straight to the point: "Since that is the case, this junior brother and senior brother will speak plainly."

"We two deduced the heavenly secrets and learned that humanity is about to flourish and the Human Emperor is about to emerge. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors—eight positions of Sage Teacher in total—are now vacant. We two have come for this matter."

Daoist Jieyin wore a sorrowful expression and pressed his palms together. "Fellow Daoist Nuwa, our Buddhist Gate in the West has not had an easy journey!"

"Originating after the Calamity of Longhan, we were destined to rise. Unexpectedly, Demon Ancestor Rahu destroyed the pure lands and bodhisattva holy grounds of our Buddhist Gate... leaving our countless Buddhist followers to suffer miserably!"

"Although we two became Sages, we could only achieve Sagehood by making grand vows to the Heavenly Dao."

"Now, we two only wish to seek a share of opportunity for the West. So, could you give our West four positions of Sage Teacher?"

What a performance!

Nuwa watched their expressions and sneered inwardly.

They had asked for four positions the moment they opened their mouths. What an audacious demand!

Before she could speak,

a grand voice came from outside the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, you must not agree."

"The West asks for four positions of Sage Teacher right off the bat, taking half of them. What an audacious demand! Do you think there is no one left in the Mystic Gate?"

Then, boundless immortal light rose, brilliant and blazing. From the depths of that dazzling radiance, an aged figure strode through the void.

He came from far away, and every step he took seemed to land upon a node in space, carrying him millions of miles in an instant.

Looking closely, the man had kind brows and a benevolent appearance. He was tranquil and serene, with a head of white hair and a long beard as white as snow, bearing the appearance of an old man.

This man was none other than Taiqing Moral Heavenly Venerate!

"Senior Brother Taishang, what do you mean by that?"

Zhunti immediately retorted, refusing to yield an inch.

Jieyin wore a sorrowful expression as he looked at Taishang. His brows drew together slightly, deepening the sorrowful aura around him. He pressed his palms together and slowly said, "Senior Brother Taishang has also seen the situation in our West. It is truly too impoverished. Otherwise, we would not have directly asked for four positions of Sage Teacher."

As soon as his voice fell, another voice entered the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

"Oh? Is that so? I don't believe it."

The voice was grand and ancient, with a faint edge of sharpness.

Then a Daoist in purple robes strode into the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

Laws circulated around him, sometimes manifesting boundless killing intent, and sometimes transforming into illusory swords of the Dao.

It was incomparably profound.

He was none other than the Sovereign Lord of the Heavens of the Interception Sect.

The Sage Tongtian!

"Tongtian, what do you mean by that?!"

"The situation in our Western Heaven is plain for all to see. Is it really excessive for us to ask for only four positions of Sage Teacher?"

When Daoist Zhunti saw that Tongtian had arrived as well, he gritted his teeth but still refused to yield.

"There are only eight positions of Sage Teacher in total, yet you ask for half of them. Do you take the three sects of the Mystic Gate for nonexistent?"

Tongtian looked at the Two Sages of the West and raised a brow, naturally unwilling to accept this.

In the current Great Wilderness, the Western Heaven, Human Sect, Interception Sect, and Chan Sect all stood side by side. No matter how one calculated it, the West was not worthy of monopolizing four positions of Sage Teacher!

"Third Brother is right," Taiqing Moral Heavenly Venerate said.

Although the Three Pure Ones had split apart, their feelings for one another remained.

Now, when facing the Two Sages of the West, they immediately united their front.

The Four Sages argued without end.

Nuwa said nothing, merely watching everything unfold in silence.

As the Sage Mother of humanity, she was naturally unwilling for the position of Sage Teacher to take away humanity's fortune. However, it was ordained by Heaven's will, and she could do nothing about it.

This was also the sorrow of being a Heavenly Dao Sage.

A Sage did not defy Heaven; one who defied Heaven could not become a Sage.

Amid the argument, Zhunti and Jieyin also understood that with Taiqing Moral Heavenly Venerate and Tongtian blocking them, it was impossible to seize four positions of Sage Teacher outright.

They immediately exchanged a glance, looked toward Tongtian, and said directly, "Even if our West should not ask for four positions of Sage Teacher, your Interception Sect is filled with people of mixed quality, disciples unworthy of guidance. How could they possibly bear the title of Sage Teacher?"

They directed their spearhead at Tongtian, knowing that he would not yield.

But as long as they could make Tongtian take one fewer position of Sage Teacher, they could gain one more for themselves and seek opportunities for their disciples!

After all, Primordial Lord of Heaven had not yet arrived, and the Chan Sect and Interception Sect had always been at odds. Even if Primordial Lord of Heaven came, he would certainly help them.

By then, the West would surely be able to obtain one or two more positions of Sage Teacher!

"Heh! My Interception Sect has Myriad Immortals Come to Court. Though it cannot be called the number one sect of the Great Wilderness, it still has considerable renown. Your Western Heaven is impoverished, with barren mountains and desolate rivers. How many of you have the strength and qualifications to become Sage Teachers of the Human Emperor?"

Tongtian was naturally unconvinced and immediately retorted.

Just as the Four Sages were arguing without end, another figure appeared within the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

His aura was deep and ancient, immensely vast, faintly seeming to transcend the Heavenly Dao and move alongside the Great Dao!

The instant this aura appeared, the expressions of the Five Sages changed, and they all turned toward its source.

Then they saw a dignified middle-aged man with white hair parted down the middle, a Jade Purity Lotus Crown on his head, and a Jade Thread Golden Silk Rainbow Robe stride into the Palace of Empress Nuwa.

Primordial Lord of Heaven had arrived!