Holy Shit, There's an Extra Cushion

"Big Brother, Third Brother, thank you. If I'd been alone, I might really have stepped in to help Daoist Jieyin deal with Kunpeng."

Primordial Beginning cared greatly about saving face.

If he had truly acted just now, even saying, "Those covered in scales and armor, born of dampness and hatched from eggs, are unworthy to keep company with us," then he might well have upheld his pride in the future and carried that belief through.

That would have been far too embarrassing.

"Of course I had to help Second Brother. Didn't Qingqing say that this might cause a rift in our relationship? Helping Second Brother is helping myself as well."

Tongtian's lips curved upward.

He had not expected something like this to affect the bond between him and his brothers. Since it could be prevented, naturally they should do their best to prevent it.

"Heh. Second Brother, it is abnormal for you to suddenly develop such feelings out of nowhere. There must be something suspicious behind it. We need to investigate carefully and find out who could influence you."

Supreme Pure Laozi's voice was grave.

What kind of beings were the Three Pure Ones? Yet they had been influenced without any warning and made decisions that went against their true intentions.

Taken seriously, this was utterly absurd and required a thorough investigation.

Primordial Beginning and Tongtian naturally agreed wholeheartedly with their elder brother's judgment.

Looking at it now, the only one capable of directly influencing the Three Pure Ones seemed to be Hongjun, who stood high above all and had now attained the Dao and become a Saint.

But Hongjun had not even appeared here.

Their suspicions were therefore baseless.

They could only suppress the doubts in their hearts for now.

Now that Primordial Beginning would no longer act, they merely needed to watch Daoist Jieyin perform.

The one who had guided him into taking action at this moment was either Daoist Hongjun, whom Zhou Qingqing had said owed the West karmic ties, or someone connected to Daoist Jieyin.

There should be no other possibility.

Seeing Daoist Jieyin make his move—

Daoist Zhunti stopped pretending as well.

With a sweep of his sleeve, the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree, gleaming with seven-colored radiance, appeared and brushed toward Kunpeng.

Anger appeared on Kunpeng's face as his body transformed into a gigantic Kun form.

Kunpeng was a great existence among the Innate Divine Demons, possessing two forms. He wanted to rely on his physical body to withstand the combined assault of the Western duo.

However—

No matter how powerful his cultivation was, he ultimately could not contend against Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti working together. In the end, he was defeated.

Good, good, now that Kunpeng has been driven down, he can't blame Second Master and Red Cloud Ancestor for it, can he?

Zhou Qingqing knew that in the original course of events, Kunpeng had blamed Jade Pure Yuanshi and Red Cloud Ancestor for his loss of the Sage Meditation Cushion.

He had even later sought out Red Cloud Ancestor himself over this matter, causing him to perish completely.

Zhou Qingqing had always felt that Kunpeng's habit of taking his anger out on others was rather unacceptable.

Now, her master had not involved himself in Kunpeng's affairs at all, while Red Cloud had seen through Daoist Zhunti's scheme with the help of her Third Master.

This way, even if Daoist Kunpeng bore a grudge, he could only place it upon those who had started it all.

Jade Pure Yuanshi's heart stirred slightly.

He was not afraid of being resented by powerful figures, but having baseless resentment directed at him still left him rather speechless.

Now that there was one less grudge from Kunpeng, that was not bad.

Of course, all of this was thanks to his disciple.

Jade Pure Yuanshi decided that after the sermon ended, he would properly reward his disciple.

Supreme Pure Laozi and Upper Pure Tongtian had the same thought at this moment.

The Three Pure Ones were all extremely glad that they had not left Zhou Qingqing behind in Eastern Kunlun for this sermon. Otherwise, how could they have obtained so much information?

Just as they were congratulating themselves on their wise decision—

Kunpeng, who had already been blasted down by the Western duo, flared with rage. He immediately transformed into his complete Kunpeng form and prepared to strike back at the two of them.

However—

At that moment—

An invisible pressure suddenly appeared above the nine-tiered Cloud Platform. The vast pressure of a Saint instantly filled the entire Purple Cloud Palace.

The moment Kunpeng saw Hongjun appear, he was terrified by the aura emanating from him. He immediately returned to human form and retreated to the back.

Kunpeng had no desire to make a racket before Daoist Hongjun.

Hey, Kunpeng, why did you retreat? By retreating, you've completely given up your chance at sainthood.

Zhou Qingqing grumbled inwardly.

If you'd just been a little tougher, you might have had a chance.

But now there's only one cushion left. How is it supposed to be allocated? Could Hongjun be planning to add another cushion for the Western duo? That would be ridiculous.

Add a meditation cushion specifically for the Western duo?

The Three Pure Ones all found the notion laughable.

There were only six meditation cushions beneath the nine-tiered Cloud Platform.

Could Hongjun, a dignified Saint, really do something like adding another meditation cushion for the two Westerners?

That would also...

Before that thought could even fade—

Hongjun above swept his gaze around the Purple Cloud Palace.

"You may all sit. From this moment onward, the seats are fixed and may not be changed!"

After speaking—

Hongjun turned his gaze toward Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti, who were still standing. His brows furrowed slightly. "You two need not remain standing either. Since you have reached the front, it may be considered fate. I shall give you one more meditation cushion."

Hongjun pointed with one hand, and another meditation cushion immediately appeared to the side.

Ecstasy appeared on Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti's faces, and they promptly sat down upon it.

Whoa, Dao Ancestor Hongjun actually did it. That's seriously awesome...

Zhou Qingqing marveled inwardly.

As for the Three Pure Ones, who could hear Zhou Qingqing's thoughts, they had gone numb.

Hongjun, the Saint they regarded as supreme, had actually done almost exactly what Zhou Qingqing had predicted. It truly took them by surprise.

Of course—

Hongjun was now seated quietly upon the nine-tiered Cloud Platform, so they naturally revealed none of their thoughts.

"The time has come. Close the gates."

Seeing that Hongjun had arrived, Haotian and Yaochi immediately acknowledged the order and prepared to close the gates.

However—

At that moment, an urgent voice came from outside the gates.

"Wait! Don't close them yet!"

Eh? There's actually a female cultivator who failed to reach Purple Cloud Palace within the allotted time?

Zhou Qingqing turned her gaze toward the gates of Purple Cloud Palace. A beautiful figure immediately appeared within her perception. With only a glance, she could sense an exceptionally heavy aura.

Isn't that Ancestral Witch Houtu? So she had already come to the first sermon at Purple Cloud Palace?