This Humble One is the Jie Sect's Senior Disciple Brother, who took in the Long-armed Ape Yuan Hong, obtained Diamond Indestructibility, and subdued the dragon and tiger.

"Ah!! Stop hitting us!"

"Mercy, mercy, six lords! This lowly one truly didn't know he was just here to pick plum blossoms..."

Within the crumbling, shattered Plum Mountain.

Came the wailing cries of Gao Ming and Gao Jue.

It turned out that Yuan Hong, Jin Dasheng, and the other four had snapped back to their senses, their shame turning to rage. Without a word, they raised their fists and laid into the two spirits, beating them until leaves and branches scattered everywhere, not stopping for a moment.

Watching this scene.

Qingyuan felt an indescribable sigh well up inside him.

Ah...

The beings of the Primordial Wilderness were born from heaven and earth, unbound by any values or rules. On top of that, most of them buried their heads in bitter cultivation—simple-minded, brawny, and hot-tempered. It was all too easy for misunderstandings to spark disasters, for trivial matters to escalate into irreconcilable blood feuds.

Once a great tribulation arrived.

Tribulation Qi clouded all, and the death rate soared!

Take his own sect, the Intercepting Sect, for example.

Wasn't it all because Shen Gongbao said a single line—'Daoist friend, please stay'—and slowly pulled in disciples from the outer ranks, eventually leading even saints to descend and shatter the Primordial Wilderness?

Who could have imagined that what brought down a colossus wasn't the upper structure.

But the lower levels?

And this was precisely why Qingyuan had gone to such lengths to establish the Inspection Department.

He wanted to instill a set of rules and values within the Intercepting Sect, so that every being who entered would be bound by this mindset, making them law-abiding and orderly, sparing them from dying in the coming tribulation.

Among the Intercepting Sect's disciples.

There were plenty more reckless and hot-headed talents than the Plum Mountain Seven Freaks!!

Who had ever seen someone take a dump on the spot while a saint was preaching?

Who had ever seen someone mate near a saint's dojo?

These sights made Qingyuan's scalp crawl, but as long as they weren't traitors rising against their master, Sect Master Tongtian simply didn't care. He taught the Great Dao but didn't bind his disciples, leaving these already wild spirits, demons, and beasts—who had attained the Dao as Registered Disciples—even more arrogant and unruly.

Just as Qingyuan was lost in thought.

The Six Demon Immortals finished disciplining Gao Ming and Gao Jue.

Full of shame, they bowed to Qingyuan and apologized.

"We were too rash. Thank you, senior, for sparing our lives! Thank you!"

"No harm done. Just a small misunderstanding."

Qingyuan smiled and waved his hand, lifting the six demons to their feet, and also apologized: "It was my fault too. I saw this lovely plum mountain and couldn't resist picking some blossoms to brew wine. I didn't know it had an owner, so coming uninvited was my mistake."

"Senior, your magnanimity is truly that of Fude Qingzhen Daojun!"

"Just now, I saw that you were outstanding in appearance and awe-inspiring—how could you possibly be a bad person? It's all because Gao Ming and Gao Jue talked nonsense, making us clash with you!"

"Exactly! Two idiots! What's wrong with senior picking a few plums? Even if he emptied the entire Plum Mountain, I, Jin Dasheng, wouldn't have a single complaint..."

Seeing Qingyuan so bold and unrestrained.

The Six Demon Immortals were filled with admiration and quickly invited him into their dojo, setting up a feast in his honor.

After several rounds of wine.

Yuan Hong finally asked curiously: "We've been drinking plum wine for so long, but we don't know senior's esteemed name?"

As he spoke.

The other five demons also turned their curious gazes, staring intently at Qingyuan.

"My name is Qingyuan. I am the Inner Sect Senior Disciple of the Intercepting Sect, founded by the Supreme Pure One, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, Sect Master Tongtian. Greetings to all fellow Daoists!"

Qingyuan smiled and clasped his fists toward the six demons.

But the six demons were so startled that their faces changed drastically. They shot to their feet, fear and reverence spreading across their faces, and immediately knelt down.

"You are a disciple of a saint?"

"We failed to recognize a great figure! Please forgive us, senior!!"

"No wonder senior possesses such divine abilities! So you are an Inner Sect Disciple of the Intercepting Sect! We failed to welcome you from afar—please forgive us!"

It was no wonder the six were terrified.

The status of a saint in the Primordial Wilderness was far too exalted!!

The Inner Sect Senior Disciple of the Intercepting Sect was the first disciple accepted by the Supreme Pure Saint—the one destined to inherit the saint's mantle in the future. He would become a dominant figure who could shake the Primordial Wilderness, with limitless prospects!

And they.

Had offended the First Disciple of the Intercepting Sect without even knowing right from wrong.

How could their hearts not tremble?

"Oh, no need for that! Get up, quickly!"

Qingyuan was quite helpless. He went over one by one to help them up, finally getting the Six Demon Immortals back on their feet. He said, "Isn't this just a case of 'we fought and got to know each other'? Besides, making friends is all about whether you see eye to eye. If you look good to me and I look good to you, then we can call each other Daoist friends. Why so many formalities?"

He spoke many soothing words.

Only then did the Six Demons calm down a little, no longer so terrified.

Qingyuan suddenly looked at Yuan Hong, his voice turning serious. "Yuan Hong, I consider us fated. I wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing to enter my tutelage as a second-generation disciple of the Jie Sect?"

Yuan Hong was a Long-armed Ape, an innate spirit born from the Primordial Wilderness in its earliest days.

He had cultivated alone in the wild.

Yet he had managed to cultivate the Seventy-Two Transformations, Soul Projection, Five Elements Evasion Technique, Decapitation Immortality, and an Indestructible Vajra Body. He could fight to a standstill with Yang Jian, the elite third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect trained by Yuding, who would later become the War God of the Three Realms.

In the end, Yang Jian had to seek help from Empress Nuwa.

He borrowed the Mountain and River Diagram to set an ambush before he could capture Yuan Hong.

After that, Jiang Ziya had to borrow the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife to refine his own fortune and virtue before he could behead Yuan Hong.

A lone cultivator had forced the Chan Sect to struggle to cope.

This showed his extraordinary talent.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hong knelt without hesitation and kowtowed, his head thumping against the ground. He said respectfully, "Disciple Yuan Hong pays respects to Master!"

"Mm. From now on, you are my third disciple. Before you, there are two senior brothers."

Qingyuan's voice turned stern. "Remember, joining the Jie Sect is not a death-free plaque. Becoming a saint's grand-disciple is not your license to be arrogant and domineering. As my disciple, I do not expect you to benefit the Primordial Wilderness, but you must remember: do not harm others, do not commit evil, do not do wrong. If you do, I will personally kill you, destroy your physical body, and suppress your soul beneath the Nine Nethers!"

"Disciple will remember Master's instructions! Disciple also seeks only carefree wandering and has never deliberately harmed anyone!"

Yuan Hong quickly replied.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully accepting Yuan Hong as a disciple. Reward host: Indestructible Vajra Body*1, Primordial Ruler*1, Divine Ability: Subduing Tigers and Dragons!!]

[Primordial Ruler: Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Indestructible, size according to will. Contains a single Primordial Qi within. If it strikes a living being, even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal will have their brains splattered and their primordial spirit trapped. Even a Quasi-Saint will be dizzy and on the verge of collapse!]

[Subduing Tigers and Dragons: Divine ability power. Infinite strength, heaven-shaking and earth-moving, supreme physical giant strength!]

Seeing such generous rewards for taking a disciple.

Qingyuan was overjoyed inside.

At the same time, he curiously pulled up Yuan Hong's information to look at.

[Character: Yuan Hong]

[Realm: Late True Immortal]

[Origin: High-grade Innate Spirit · Long-armed Ape]

[Talents: Bronze Skin Iron Bones, Universe Manipulation, Capturing Heaven and Collecting Mountains, Infinite Strength]

[Spells: Plum Mountain Staff Technique, White Rainbow Evasion Technique, Full Moon Archery Technique, Mountain Splitting Staff Technique]

[Divine Abilities: Manifestation of Heaven and Earth]

[Note: A white ape who attained the Dao. Indestructible Vajra Body, vast supernatural powers. Defeated the Zhou army, fought the Chan Sect, suppressed the True Lord. A hero among demons!]

[The Dao cultivation, talents, and divine abilities of disciple Yuan Hong have been superimposed onto the host!!!]

Sensing another small surge in his power.

Qingyuan, while accepting the benefits, quickly helped Yuan Hong up. He said, "Good disciple, today I bestow upon you the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, to help you forge your foundation and early achieve a saintly physical body, impervious to blades, guns, water, and fire!"

"Many thanks, Master, for the technique!"

"Mm. This staff technique is called the Water-Fire Staff Technique. I hope you will soon attain the Dao of the Staff!"

"Many thanks, Master!!"

"This treasure is called the Water-Fire One Qi Mixed Iron Staff. It is a Mid-grade Houtian Spiritual Treasure. My master, Sect Master Tongtian, forged it using the essence of two water and fire veins, along with Taiyi Essence Gold, Primordial Mystic Crystal, Bright Void Crystal, Sun-Moon Dual Light, and other heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and immortal gold divine materials. Today I bestow it upon you. I hope you will not disgrace this staff in the future!"

Afterwards.

Qingyuan also bestowed a staff-type treasure entwined with water and fire patterns.

Yuan Hong watched with fanatical eyes, respectfully taking the Mixed Iron Staff with both hands and holding it to his chest as if it were a priceless treasure!

This scene made the five demon immortals beside him, Jin Dasheng and Zhu Zizhen, look on with envy.

Being able to join the Jie Sect as an inner sect direct disciple, and also receive the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, the Water-Fire Staff Technique, and the Water-Fire One Qi Mixed Iron Staff—so many good things—it was enough to make them green with envy!!

These insignificant little demon immortals of the Primordial Wilderness.

Were just rogue cultivators.

Without inheritance or connections, they could only hide in small places to cultivate.

Seeing their second brother Yuan Hong obtain such fortune, they, as his brothers, were also happy for him.

[Ding! Host has bestowed Water-Fire Staff Technique and Water-Fire One Qi Mixed Iron Staff upon disciple Yuan Hong. Critical feedback triggered. Reward host: Yin-Yang Bagua Staff Dao Rhyme, Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique Essence, White Rainbow Piercing the Sun, Universe Wish Jade Weapon. Host, please continue your efforts!!]

But this time.

Before Qingyuan could look over the details of the critical feedback reward.

A furious roar sounded from outside Plum Mountain.

"Presumptuous! Who dares to come to my Plum Mountain and harm my brothers!!"