Within Serene Peak.
A lush, towering willow stood at the center of the dojo. Jade-green willow branches swayed in the wind, while its massive body rose as high as the Jianmu that held up the heavens, drawing in endless Innate Spiritual Energy as it breathed in the Essence of Sun and Moon.
Beside the tea table beneath the willow.
A handsome young man in white sat in a chair.
Before him, two monkey-like beings were conversing.
Farther back.
Daoists of varying heights, builds, and appearances sat around, occasionally chiming in. A willow tree and a peach tree were also speaking with great enthusiasm.
The proud Great Peng Bird stood on one leg atop the willow, wearing an arrogant expression.
Yet with that goofy personality of his, he occasionally butted into the conversation as well.
They were all discussing the matter of transferring the Inspection Department.
Ever since Ancestral Witch Houtu had sent them to the Interception Sect at Kunlun Mountains years ago.
Yuan Hong and the others had introduced themselves and found Yun Zhongzi and the rest at the Inspection Department, reuniting with their fellow disciples.
Later.
Although cultivators from Plum Mountain such as Dai Li and Jin Dasheng had joined the Interception Sect, they lived at Serene Peak. Their fortunes were tied to their Senior Disciple Brother's, and aside from cultivation, they usually joined the Inspection Department to carry out official duties.
They served as Inspection Envoys.
Only then did they understand the wonders of Fortune Blessing.
Now that Qingyuan said he intended to hand full control of the Inspection Department over to Duobao.
They were puzzled and curiously discussed the secrets behind it, as well as what exactly the Immortal Market was.
Aside from Serene Peak's direct lineage.
There were also two Interception Sect Outer Disciples who had completely pledged themselves to Serene Peak.
They were none other than Shi Ji and Ma Yuan.
Shi Ji had been an Awakened Stone beyond Heaven and Earth. After gaining an opportunity, she had entered the Interception Sect.
Though her attire was somewhat bizarre and sinister, she was not flamboyant by nature. Other than cultivating in seclusion, she rarely interacted with the outside world. She was something of a homebody.
Ma Yuan, on the other hand, was genuinely sinister.
He was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with teeth like sharp spikes. Strings of magical treasures made from skulls hung around his neck, hands, and feet. He was eccentric and temperamental, prone to rage, and often fought Interception Sect Disciples to the death!
It was only after Qingyuan helped him sort out his mindset.
That they learned the fellow was simply too insecure.
Whenever he saw others discussing his appearance, he would become enraged and clash with them.
After Shi Ji and Ma Yuan received Qingyuan's repeated guidance, cultivation instruction, and several spells and Divine Abilities, they sincerely submitted to him. They had also moved to Serene Peak, placing Qingyuan's interests above all else.
Though the two were merely True Immortals.
When they fought, they were more ruthless than Golden Immortals.
Whenever they encountered someone slandering Qingyuan or refusing to cooperate with the Inspection Department, they truly beat them half to death!!
Suddenly.
The Great Peng Bird spotted someone arriving outside the peak and cried out happily, "Master is here!"
"Master/Senior Disciple Brother is here?"
Everyone hurriedly rose and saluted the Figure in Black.
"Everyone, it has been a long time!"
Qingyuan smiled as he flew over. Everyone hurried forward to welcome him. Seeing its wealthy patron return, the Willow Immortal wildly shook its branches and shouted, "Great Master has returned! This little one greets Great Master and wishes Great Master an early ascent to Sainthood!!!"
"Here are your Pills. Shut up."
Qingyuan casually tossed over a bottle of Pills. The Willow Immortal nodded and bowed as it grinned in thanks. "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!!"
"I have been away for many years. Today, I wish to expound the Dao here for all of you. What do you think?"
Qingyuan smiled and conjured one meditation cushion after another before sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Honestly.
He had been an inadequate master.
He had taken in disciples, taught them a few things casually, and had never truly given them serious instruction in the Dao.
Hearing that Qingyuan was going to lecture on the Dao, everyone looked delighted and sat down on the meditation cushions.
Only the Great Peng Bird leaned carelessly against the Willow Immortal's trunk, picking his nose. "Master, I admit that you're powerful, but my Innate Yin-Yang Two Energies are formidable, so there is no need for me to listen to your Dao. You should know that when Yin-Yang is thrown into chaos, with me... I-I'll do it, I'll do it..."
Seeing Qingyuan's increasingly cold gaze.
The Great Peng Bird immediately cowered.
"Proud of your Innate Yin-Yang Two Energies? Then tell me, what is this?"
Two black-and-white Qi Threads suddenly floated above Qingyuan's fingertips. They cycled endlessly, like two fish chasing each other's tails, vividly alive.
The instant this thing appeared.
Heaven and earth seemed to lose their color. Flying sand and rolling stones filled the darkness, while the Two Principles seemed faintly poised to give rise to the Three Powers, the Three Powers to suppress the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols to transform into the Five Elements, thereby evolving into an entire world!!
Everyone looked toward it.
They immediately felt dizzy and disoriented.
It was as if, if they stared too long, their minds would be sealed within the Yin-Yang Two Fish.
The careless Great Peng Bird sprang to his feet upon seeing it and exclaimed in disbelief, "Th-this is Innate Yin-Yang Two Energies? How could you possibly possess such a thing, Master?"
"You are the Son of Primordial Phoenix, but what is there for you to be proud of? Do you think you are impressive?"
Qingyuan said calmly, "Your Senior Disciple Brother, Yun Zhongzi, was the first red cloud born when heaven and earth opened. He was Ancestor Hong Yun, one of the Innate Demon Gods of the Primordial Wilderness and one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace. Even though he perished in a calamity and was reborn, both his origins and his seniority are far more formidable than yours! At the same realm, he could beat you senseless!"
"Reincarnation of an Innate Demon God?"
The Great Peng Bird's eyes widened.
He stared at Yun Zhongzi, who was always gentle in his white robes, and blurted out, "You are the legendary Ancestor Hong Yun?"
Ancestor Hong Yun was renowned throughout the Primordial Wilderness.
He formed alliances everywhere and helped others. The red sand released from his Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd wore away flesh and Primordial Spirits, slaughtering who knew how many Grand Unity Golden Immortals. Even among Quasi-Saints, he was highly renowned.
He had been one of the foremost mighty figures of the Primordial Wilderness.
Yet who would have thought that this handsome senior brother, who usually seemed so amiable.
Was the reincarnation of an Innate Demon God?
"That is all in the past. Why bring it up?"
Yun Zhongzi shook his head.
Qingyuan sneered. "And do you know who your Second Senior Brother, Wuzhiqi, is?"
"That monkey who spends all day diving through water has a background too?" The Great Peng Bird looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Hahahaha! Great Peng Bird, I think Kong Xuan raised you too comfortably at Immortality Volcano. You have become a flower in a greenhouse, unable to endure even the slightest storm or hardship, having seen nothing of the world!"
Qingyuan laughed coldly, his gaze sharp. "The Primordial Wilderness is vast, with countless kinds of beings and innumerable strange species."
"Five Immortals exist within the universe: Heaven, Earth, Divine, Human, and Ghost. There are also Five Insects: naked, scaled, furred, feathered, and shelled. Beyond them are the Four Chaos Monkeys, which belong to none of the five categories."
"The first is the Clever Stone Monkey, capable of transformations, aware of the times of heaven, knowledgeable of the advantages of earth, and able to move stars and shift constellations."
"The second is the Six-Eared Macaque, skilled at hearing sounds, able to discern principles, knowing what came before and after, with all things clear to him. This Six-Eared Macaque is also quite famous."
Seeing everyone listening intently.
Qingyuan explained, "When the Dao Ancestor once preached the Dao to all living beings, he declared that all who were fated could enter Chaos Zixiao Palace to listen to the Great Dao. Countless Grand Unity Golden Immortals of the Primordial Wilderness entered Zixiao Palace to attend, becoming the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace. Only Grand Unity Golden Immortals had the strength to pass through Chaos, and only then would they avoid misunderstanding the Dao when listening to a Saint's teachings. This was also the Dao Ancestor's intention."
"But there was a being in the Primordial Wilderness who used a great Divine Ability to eavesdrop on the Dao Ancestor's teachings!"
"That being was the Six-Eared Macaque. Six-Ear used his Divine Ability to secretly listen to the Dao Ancestor's teachings. Listening would have been one thing, but he even flaunted his Divine Ability everywhere, enraging the Dao Ancestor, who declared within Zixiao Palace: Dharma Not Passed to Six Ears!"
"Afterward, the Six-Eared Macaque's Divine Ability was rejected by countless mighty figures throughout the Primordial Wilderness. His whereabouts remain unknown to this day."
Boom!
Everyone's scalps tingled as disbelief filled them.
Who was the Dao Ancestor?
The Dao Ancestor was the first Saint of the Primordial Wilderness, teacher of the Six Saints. Whether in status or strength, he could be called the foremost figure of the Primordial Wilderness.
Even the Dao Ancestor's preaching had been eavesdropped upon.
That showed just how formidable the Four Chaos Monkeys were.
Seeing that the Great Peng Bird had been stunned, Qingyuan continued, "The third is the Long-armed Ape, capable of grasping the sun and moon, shrinking a thousand mountains, discerning fortune and misfortune, and wielding Universe Manipulation. Your Third Senior Brother, Yuan Hong, is a Long-armed Ape. Do not be fooled by the fact that he is only a Late True Immortal now. When his Mystic Art reaches completion in the future, he will possess Bronze Head Iron Bones Indestructible. With such Dao resolve, entering the Grand Unity realm will be effortless. Across the Four Seas and Five Lakes, few will be his match. Even you will not be his opponent!"
"Y-you have such origins too?"
The Great Peng Bird glanced at the monkey in Daoist robes, his face full of disbelief.
Yuan Hong was a diligent cultivator.
He did not show off and had a steady temperament.
He merely nodded at the Great Peng Bird.
"The fourth is the Red-butt Monkey, knowledgeable of Yin-Yang, versed in human affairs, skilled at coming and going, and able to evade death and prolong life."
Qingyuan looked at Wuzhiqi and said, "Your Second Senior Brother, Wuzhiqi, is a Red-butt Monkey. Furthermore, he was born from the resonance of the Innate Water Great Dao, so he is naturally close to rivers and seas. As long as he is in water, his strength is infinite and his magical power inexhaustible. Not only does he possess Strength of Dragon and Elephant, but he also has Fiery Golden Eyes, able to Discern Yin-Yang and Auspiciousness. In the future, he will shine brilliantly and possess the bearing of an ancestor among demons!"
Boom!
After hearing this.
The Great Peng Bird was utterly numb.
He had always been proud of being the Son of Primordial Phoenix.
But now it seemed that not a single disciple under his master was inferior to him. Some were even stronger...
Before you continue