Zhunti Wants to Recruit, the Idea King Nuwa

Mount Sumeru.

A thousand years, like sand slipping through fingers, had quietly passed.

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti—six supreme powers of the Primordial Wilderness—now stared at one another, each face etched with the same two words: no clue.

Combining the strength of all six, they had bitterly meditated for a millennium, and not a single damn thing had they figured out.

That Hongmeng Purple Qi remained just that—Hongmeng Purple Qi, suspended deep within their Primordial Spirits, without the slightest stir.

"This... what the hell is going on?"

Zhunti was the first to crack, his face twisted so sour it could drip water.

"A thousand years! A full thousand years! The six of us joined forces, and we haven't even touched a single hair of this Hongmeng Purple Qi!"

His words voiced what everyone was thinking.

Taiqing slowly opened his eyes. Those orbs, usually as calm as an ancient well, now bore a rare flicker of confusion.

He shook his head and said, "A thousand years of bitter effort—a moon's reflection in the water, a flower's image in the mirror."

Yuanshi's expression soured, and he let out a cold snort.

He had always been proud, claiming himself as the Pangu Orthodox Sect, favored by heaven's mandate.

Yet now, trapped for a thousand years by this mere wisp of Hongmeng Purple Qi, a nameless fury had long been festering in his heart.

"If that's the case, there's no need for us to sit here in vain any longer."

Taiqing spoke, his voice flat, impossible to read as joy or anger.

"This poor Daoist intends to return to Kunlun and seek another way."

Nuwa also let out a soft sigh. "I, too, am preparing to head back to Phoenix Nest Mountain."

Clearly, continuing like this was utterly pointless.

The thought of leaving had taken root in everyone's hearts.

"Fellow Daoists, hold on!"

Just then, Daoist Zhunti suddenly spoke, his voice urgent, stopping them all.

His eyes darted, and a look of "I have a brilliant idea" spread across his face.

"Three elder brothers, Senior Sister Nuwa, the six of us have pondered the Hongmeng Purple Qi for a hundred years with no result."

"Could it be... because we don't have enough people?"

At these words, everyone was taken aback.

Nuwa's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Zhunti. "Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by that?"

Jieyin, too, looked at his junior brother with some confusion.

Zhunti chuckled slyly.

"Back then, at Zixiao Palace, the Teacher bestowed a total of seven strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi."

"Besides the six of us, isn't there one more in Kunpeng's hands?"

"Since we six can't manage it, why not invite Kunpeng as well?"

"Perhaps this Hongmeng Purple Qi requires all seven to gather before its true mystery is revealed!"

As soon as he said this, the scene fell silent.

Nuwa and Jieyin both showed contemplative looks in their eyes.

This proposal... sounded like... maybe... just maybe... it had a bit of logic to it?

Taiqing frowned slightly but said nothing.

"Preposterous!"

Yuanshi, however, erupted in fury, slamming the table and rising to his feet.

"Zhunti! Stop your nonsense!"

"Who holds that seventh strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi? Kunpeng!"

"What is Kunpeng, anyway? Worthy of joining us in comprehending the foundation of sainthood?"

Yuanshi grew more agitated as he spoke, spittle nearly flying into Zhunti's face.

"We are all the Teacher's direct disciples! This Hongmeng Purple Qi was personally bestowed by the Teacher!"

"And Kunpeng? He only got it because that fool Hongyun, in his foolish kindness, gave away an Opportunity that wasn't even his!"

"Something obtained through another's charity—does he deserve to even touch the path of sainthood?"

"Moreover, the six of us—each one has deep roots and unparalleled insight!"

"If even we can't figure it out, what good would adding one Kunpeng do?"

"Utterly ridiculous!"

Zhunti, cut down by this tirade, turned pale and flushed by turns. He opened his mouth but could not get a word out.

He was just grasping at straws, thinking it worth a try.

Who would have expected Yuanshi to react so fiercely.

Taiqing then spoke slowly.

"What Second Brother says is not without reason."

"The mysteries of the Hongmeng Purple Qi do not seem to be something that can be unraveled by sheer numbers."

"If one lacks the proper method, even with more people, it would likely be futile."

With Taiqing's words, Zhunti's proposal was essentially sentenced to death.

If even Taiqing said so, then there was basically no hope.

Zhunti's face completely fell.

"Th-this... what are we to do?"

His voice carried a sob.

"We have exhausted our efforts, pondered for a thousand years, yet cannot even touch the door."

"How are we supposed to use this Hongmeng Purple Qi!"

"Could it be... that we truly have no fate with the Saint position?"

By the end, Zhunti's voice even carried a hint of despair.

His West was barren; after finally hoping for this foundation to become a Saint, if it were to become a mere ornament, he would die unwilling!

The hall fell into another dead silence.

A heavy boulder pressed on everyone's heart.

The Saint position!

Who didn't yearn for it?

But this thing—it was too damn tormenting!

Just as everyone was frowning in distress.

Nuwa, who had been frowning in deep thought, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Kunpeng... Hongyun... Hongmeng Purple Qi... Wu Ming!

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Fellow Daoists!"

Nuwa's voice, crisp and pleasant like a heavenly sound, instantly broke the gloom and oppression in the hall.

Everyone looked at her.

"I recall one person... perhaps he might know some secrets about the Hongmeng Purple Qi."

"Oh?" Taiqing looked at her. "Who does Junior Sister mean?"

Nuwa organized her words.

"Wu Ming of the Witch Clan."

As soon as this name was spoken, the hall fell silent again.

The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes.

Wu Ming of the Witch Clan.

That mysterious and unfathomable Wu, whom even they could not see through.

"Why does Junior Sister Nuwa say this?" Taiqing looked at her, his tone still calm, but a trace of inquiry in his eyes.

Nuwa gathered her thoughts and began to explain.

"Fellow Daoists, do you still remember the matter of Fellow Daoist Hongyun?"

"Back then, the reason Hongyun Fellow Daoist gave the Hongmeng Purple Qi to Kunpeng seemed to be on the advice of Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."

"Moreover, what concerns me most is that Fellow Daoist Wu Ming mentioned this matter before the Teacher bestowed the Hongmeng Purple Qi at Zixiao Palace!"

"He... he seemed to have foreseen the ownership of the Hongmeng Purple Qi, and even predicted Hongyun's calamity!"

"Therefore, I believe that Fellow Daoist Wu Ming might know some secrets about the Hongmeng Purple Qi."

At these words, the expressions of everyone in the hall varied.

A gleam of light flashed in Taiqing's eyes as he sank into thought.

Yuanshi, on the other hand, furrowed his brows tightly. His impression of the Witch Clan had always been complicated. Although the Ancestral Witches had now cultivated Primordial Spirits and there were no major conflicts between the two sides for the time being, asking him to seek help from a member of the Witch Clan... that was somewhat hard on his pride.

Tongtian stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Zhunti's eyes darted rapidly, and he was the first to speak.

"Senior Sister Nuwa, will that Wu Ming... tell us?"

"After all, if we are delayed in becoming Saints, that would be a great boon for their Witch Clan!"

"Why would he help us, his potential competitors?"

"If he doesn't kick us while we're down or stab us in the back, that's already him being noble and virtuous!"

These words were realistic, and they stung.

Nuwa said, "I cannot guarantee this matter either."

"But it is our only lead at present."

"Trying is better than sitting here in despair, waiting for death."

"Even if... even if it requires paying some price, this little sister is willing to give it a try!"

She looked at the Three Pure Ones, then at Jieyin and Zhunti: "What do you all think?"

Daoist Jieyin sighed. "If there truly is a method, although The West is barren, paying some price is only proper."

He was making his stance clear—as long as he could become a Saint, anything was negotiable.

Tongtian was always straightforward.

"Asking won't hurt!"

"That Wu Ming is indeed very mysterious; maybe he really does know something."

"Better than us fumbling around here in the dark!"

Yuanshi snorted coldly, saying nothing, but he didn't explicitly oppose either.

He was also calculating in his heart—this Wu Ming was truly unfathomable.

If he really knew the secrets of the Hongmeng Purple Qi, going to ask wouldn't be out of the question.

But there was the matter of face...

Taiqing finally nodded slowly. "Good. This Wu Ming is indeed extraordinary."

"Since Junior Sister Nuwa has proposed it, let us make a trip to Buzhou Mountain and ask."

"If he can truly guide us, we will naturally repay him accordingly."

His words served as a graceful way to save face.

Everyone's opinions aligned.

With no further delay, six figures shot out of Mount Sumeru, heading straight toward Buzhou Mountain.