Zhunti saw the Daoist bid Nuwa farewell and walk this way. Sensing trouble, he looked around, but there was nowhere to hide. He could only force a smile, clasp his hands, and say, "Which Daoist friend might you be?"
Aoki hurriedly returned the courtesy. "I am Daoist Aoki. By chance, I came to Mount Buzhou and came up to visit Daoist friend Nuwa. The two of you must have come for the same reason, right?"
Zhunti and Jieyin immediately looked awkward and nodded. "That is indeed the case!"
"I hope the two of you get what you came for. I shall take my leave first." Aoki gave them a strange look, shook his head, and left.
Zhunti and Jieyin glanced at each other. Why had that Daoist looked at them like that? But when they saw Nuwa looking over, they had no time to think about it. They hurried forward and bowed. "Greetings, Daoist friend Nuwa."
Nuwa quickly returned the salute. "There is no need for such ceremony, Daoist friends. Come in and speak."
Inside Nuwa's belly, Shen Hongfei saw this scene and could not help muttering inwardly, Why have they come too? Could they also want to take this young master as their disciple?
That old man Hongjun had yet to distribute the treasures, so these two surely could not bring out anything good. Shen Hongfei curled his lips and immediately lost interest.
Zhunti and Jieyin entered the cave abode and were instantly dazzled by the radiance. They could barely open their eyes. After rubbing them, they finally saw the spiritual treasures filling the cave abode, each emitting splendid treasure light, and their eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
These... these are all Innate Spiritual Treasures!
Zhunti stared at Jieyin in disbelief, wondering if he had mistaken what he was seeing. But when he saw the same dumbfounded expression on his elder brother's face, he knew he had not been mistaken. His heart filled with complicated emotions.
When had Nuwa become so wealthy?
"These were all gifts from the Daoist friends who came to visit."
Seeing their expressions, Nuwa explained. She walked straight to the stone table and waved her hand. "Please, have a seat."
Zhunti pulled Jieyin over and sat down on a stone stool, only then realizing that it was also an Innate Spiritual Treasure. He looked up and saw that the stone table was one as well!
The corner of Zhunti's mouth twitched. Thinking of how he and his senior brother had spent a hundred years gathering a set of Five Elements Pearls, he found it difficult to keep a straight face.
"Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, pick a few immortal fruits and bring them up."
Seeing that the table was empty, Nuwa called out toward the outside.
This is bad. If the Three Xiao Sisters come in and see us, they'll definitely report this to Tongtian. What meaning is there in our sneaking here?
Thinking this, Zhunti hurriedly rose to stop her, but unfortunately, it was already too late!
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The Three Xiao Sisters had already been waiting outside. After answering, they walked in, each carrying a tray covered with red cloth. They placed the trays on the stone table and then retreated behind Nuwa.
It's over. It seems we'll have to fight the Three Pure Ones!
Zhunti and Jieyin awkwardly looked at the Three Xiao Sisters, their hearts filled with bitterness.
Seeing their expressions, Shen Hongfei could not help laughing.
Are these people really so afraid of Yuanshi finding out? Every one of them acts like a thief. This is too amusing!
Behind Nuwa, the Three Xiao Sisters also blushed, holding back their laughter.
"Daoist friends, there is no need to worry. The Three Xiao Sisters will not inform Daoist friend Tongtian."
Nuwa looked up at the three sisters behind her, who were suppressing their laughter with flushed, lovely faces, and smiled knowingly.
"Come, taste the spiritual peaches from my Fengqi Mountain. Though they grew on an ordinary spiritual root—the Peach Tree of Immortality—they are still rare and precious fruits."
Nuwa lifted the cloth covering the trays, revealing several peaches the size of adult fists. A faint fruity fragrance wafted out, making Zhunti and Jieyin twitch their noses. They temporarily set aside their worries about the Three Pure Ones and focused entirely on the peaches before them.
Zhunti and Jieyin each picked up a peach and took a bite. The flesh was fresh and delicious, with abundant, sweet juice. Their eyes lit up. What a wonderful spiritual fruit!
Seeing their expressions, Shen Hongfei could not help laughing. It's only a peach from a small tree, yet it has you acting like this. If this young master took out the peaches from the Mother Tree that I've received through all these years of sign-ins, wouldn't your jaws drop in shock?
With how poor you look, you still want to take this young master as your disciple? Keep dreaming!
Soon, Zhunti and Jieyin finished their peaches and wiped their mouths. They were still unsatisfied, but they had not forgotten the main purpose of their visit.
"Daoist friend Nuwa, the two of us came here because we wish to take the child in your belly as our disciple. Please let the child come out so that we may speak."
Although Nuwa had known their intentions all along, she was still delighted. She then called out, "Hongfei."
"Mother, who has come again?"
Shen Hongfei pretended to have just woken up. His voice sounded adorably dazed, but his tender little face showed clear impatience.
"Oh, it's Uncle Zhunti and Uncle Jieyin. I've missed you terribly these hundred years!"
Hearing this, Zhunti was delighted. It seems this child still feels favorably toward us. Just listen to him calling us uncle at every turn. There's a chance!
"Child, Uncle Zhunti has missed you too. Look, what fun thing has Uncle brought you?"
Zhunti took a pearl radiating five-colored light from his robes and smiled at Nuwa's slightly protruding belly.
What good things could the West possibly have?
Ancestor Hongjun had yet to distribute the treasures, and the only treasures the West could possess were the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, the Six Roots Pure Bamboo, and a few others.
With how stingy you are, would you really give something to this young master?
Shen Hongfei curled his lips, harboring no hope that Zhunti and Jieyin could produce any spiritual treasure.
Completely unaware, Zhunti introduced it himself. "This is the high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Five Elements Pearl. It contains the power of the five elements and can form the Innate Five Elements Grand Formation. Its might is comparable to that of a supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure."
"This is a treasure that your Uncle Jieyin and I spent a hundred years searching for!"
Shen Hongfei stared at the pearl in Zhunti's hand in surprise. He had not expected Zhunti and Jieyin to value him so highly. It seemed they had come prepared this time. Perhaps it's time for my deadbeat uncle to make an appearance!
Shen Hongfei thought of how, a hundred years ago, Fuxi had sought him out to form an alliance. Fuxi only wanted a share of the treasures they obtained from these mighty figures afterward. Thinking of it made Shen Hongfei want to laugh.
"Mother, where did Uncle go?"
"The two uncles are being so kind to me. Shouldn't he, as my uncle, come out and entertain them?"
A trace of awkwardness appeared on Nuwa's lovely face as she secretly glanced at Zhunti and Jieyin.
All right, all right. For an aunt and nephew to work together like this is a good start. I can only wrong these Daoist friends.
"Brother!"
Fuxi, who had been waiting outside, heard his sister call out. His heart leaped with joy. It's my turn to appear. I wonder if I can get a mid-grade spiritual treasure this time!
"Sister, why have you called for me?"
Fuxi walked in and immediately saw the Five Elements Pearl in Zhunti's hand. His eyes lit up. It seems the harvest this time will definitely be substantial!
"Oh my, it turns out to be the two Daoist friends from the West. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you!"
Seeing Fuxi's enthusiasm, Zhunti was delighted. It seems the two of us are quite welcome. Perhaps this will work!
"Daoist friend Fuxi, there is no need to be so courteous. It is we who have imposed on you!"
"The two of you came here because you wish to take my unborn nephew as your disciple, right?"
Fuxi's eyes shifted as he spoke.
"That is indeed the case. What do you think, Daoist friend Fuxi?"
"You two are mighty figures of the West, and your cultivation is among the very highest in the Primordial World. It would of course be excellent for this child to become your disciples."
Fuxi spoke as though it were only natural. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the Five Elements Pearl in Zhunti's hand, his eyes shining. Then his expression changed, and he put on a troubled look. "However, this child is simply too stubborn. He insists on discussing it only after being born. As his uncle, I am also in a difficult position!"
"Understandable, understandable."
Zhunti and Jieyin nodded.
"Oh? Daoist friend Zhunti, are you giving that spiritual treasure to me?"
Before you continue