Randeng: I Want to Care for You in Your Old Age

The Great Powers in Zixiao Palace were discussing the path of the Quasi-Saint.

Just then, a plop was heard.

Everyone looked towards a corner of Zixiao Palace and found Randeng had actually knelt down.

"Saint, I heard you have no son, and I have no parents. If you don't mind, I'd like to take care of you in your old age!"

Slap, slap--

Randeng kowtowed twice in Hongjun's direction.

As his words fell, the entire Zixiao Palace fell into a deathly silence.

All the Great Powers, including the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, Tai Yi, Xuan Qing... all had their mouths agape, dumbfounded.

To take a Saint as father?

To care for him until his end?

This... what kind of move was this?!

Since ancient times in the Great Desolation, there had been emphasis on lineage, on fate, on associating with those of the same path.

When had there ever been such a direct, such a humble, such a... shameless act of "father-seeking"?!

Had this Randeng's Dao heart collapsed, driving him mad?!

On the high platform.

Even with Hongjun's Saintly composure, his expression twitched almost imperceptibly.

He had lived for countless Yuan Hui, experienced the Fierce Beasts, Dragon-Phoenix, and Dao-Demon tribulations, what kind of scenes had he not seen?

But this scene... he truly had never seen.

Looking at Randeng below, who had a look of utter resignation on his face.

Hongjun suddenly felt.

Luohu, who had been clamoring to refine the Great Desolation before, Tai Yi, who was flirting with girls everywhere, and even Qin Yuan, who arbitrarily made up wild history...

All seemed so normal, so adorable.

At least they still had some semblance of dignity.

This Randeng... had completely thrown it all away!

In Zixiao Palace, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Pfft--"

After a brief silence, someone couldn't hold back and let out an irrepressible snicker.

Immediately, as if a powder keg had been ignited, Zixiao Palace erupted in an instant.

"Utterly shameless!" Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face turned ashen, and he was the first to angrily reprimand.

He had always attached importance to one's origins, reputation, and the hierarchy of status. Randeng's actions were like dancing on his landmines.

"Randeng! You are also one who listened to the Dao in Zixiao Palace, with Grand Unity cultivation, an Innate divine being, how can you debase yourself so, and engage in such fawning and ignoble acts!"

"The Saint is the embodiment of the Great Dao, teaching all beings, how can you casually cling to them and claim kinship?!"

Tongtian Cult Master also frowned. Although he didn't react as intensely as Yuanshi, his eyes were filled with disdain:

"Fellow Daoist Randeng, the Great Dao is difficult, one should seek it with sincerity. Your actions are truly not the righteous path."

Nuwa frowned slightly, and Fuxi shook his head and sighed.

Old Ancestor Hongyun opened his mouth, thinking that Randeng might have some hidden difficulties, but seeing the indignant crowd around him, he swallowed his words.

He could only whisper to Zhenyuanzi: "This... this Fellow Daoist Randeng, his actions are a bit too..."

Zhenyuanzi gave a wry smile: "More than too much, it's simply... alas."

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, seeing a trace of complexity in each other's eyes.

The West was poor. If it weren't for the Heavenly Dao repairing the Western land veins, they might have also put aside their pride to "beg for alms" or "ask for donations."

But someone like Randeng, kneeling directly to acknowledge a father... was still beyond their bottom line and comprehension.

However, such talent was destined to join their West!

They would definitely try to win over Fellow Daoist Randeng if they had the chance.

Tai Yi's eyes lit up, as if he had discovered a new continent. He stroked his chin thoughtfully:

"It can be like this? Interesting... If I called a Female Immortal 'Mom'... hehehe..."

Qin Yuan had already silently taken out his little notebook and was writing furiously: "Zixiao Palace Shocker: Father-Seeking Genre Appears! Daoist Randeng Creates a New School in the Great Desolation..."

Xuan Qing, holding a lotus leaf, let out a scoff, his eyes filled with contempt: "Trash."

The other Great Powers also began to discuss amongst themselves, their gazes towards Randeng filled with astonishment, disdain, and mockery, as if looking at some rare treasure of the Great Desolation.

Facing the accusations of thousands and the slander of the masses.

Randeng slowly straightened his body, patting the nonexistent dust off his knees.

His look of resigned indifference vanished from his face, replaced by a peculiar calm, even bordering on... righteous conviction?

He first cupped his hands towards Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who was scolding him, and said plainly:

"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, your words are mistaken."

"I am Randeng, a rogue cultivator. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon an opportunity and enter Zixiao Palace to listen to the Great Dao."

"However, the Great Dao is vast, and Saints are supreme. Though we are fortunate enough to hear the Dao, we are like blind men touching an elephant, or looking at the sky through a narrow tube – we can hardly grasp its entirety."

"Saints impart the Dao and teach us, which is a grace akin to rebirth, a virtue of enlightenment, a kindness like being remade!"

His voice gradually rose, his gaze sweeping across the entire assembly before finally settling on Hongjun, who stood expressionless on the high platform. He bowed deeply:

"For one day a master, forever a father."

"Saints have taught us the Great Dao and illuminated the path forward. How can this grace and virtue be compared to that of ordinary master and disciple?"

"My honoring the Saint as my father comes from the depths of my heart, in gratitude for his grace. How can it be said that I am willingly debasing myself? Does honoring the master and respecting the Dao, in the eyes of fellow Daoist Yuanshi, equate to debasement?"

"You!" Yuanshi was so choked with words that he was momentarily speechless, his face turning even greener.

Randeng didn't give him a chance to retort. He turned to Tongtian and the other Great Powers who wore expressions of disdain, continuing:

"As for what my fellow Daoists said about clinging and flattery..."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly and spread his hands.

"I, Randeng, have shallow origins and possess nothing of value. My only sincere heart devoted to the Dao is perhaps all I have."

"The Saint has already attained Hun Yuan, the foremost being under the Heavenly Dao, overlooking the Great Desolation and controlling all eternity. What do I have that is worthy of clinging to? What right do I have to flatter?"

"My actions are merely a wish to serve the Saint by his side as a disciple, or even as a junior relative, to offer tea, sweep the courtyard, listen to his teachings, and repay a fraction of the immense grace of his imparting the Dao."

"This heart and this wish can be seen by the sun and moon, and can be presented to the Great Dao! How can it be considered not the righteous path?"

His tone was sincere, even carrying a hint of grievance, as if he had suffered a grave misunderstanding.

With his speech, he had managed to twist the act of shamelessly acknowledging a father into "honoring the master and respecting the Dao," "knowing gratitude and repaying kindness," and "a pure and unadulterated heart"!

Many cultivators with lower cultivation bases and simpler minds actually felt... it made some sense?

At the very least, Randeng's reverence and gratitude towards the Saint sounded genuine.

Of course, more Great Powers, especially top existences like the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Ming He, felt their eyelids twitch. They cursed inwardly: Sophistry! Shameless!

But Randeng had lowered his stance so much and spoken so "beautifully."

For a moment, they couldn't find any sharper words to refute him.

Were they supposed to say that honoring the master and respecting the Dao was wrong?

Or that the Saint was not worthy of such reverence?

On the high platform, Hongjun had been listening silently.

He watched Randeng below, who appeared humble but whose eyes held a glint of cunning and calculation.

He then looked at the ordinary cultivators who were stunned, and even subtly swayed, by Randeng's "lofty discourse."

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This Randeng... is a talent.

Thick-skinned, sharp-minded, adaptable, and most importantly, incredibly eloquent.

Furthermore, Hongjun had seen Randeng's identity as a Transmigrator, and the fact that his System had been destroyed by Zhang Hao just now.

This individual held many variables.

"Randeng."

Hongjun finally spoke. His voice was calm and unwavering, instantly silencing all the noise in Zixiao Palace.

All eyes instantly focused on the Saint.

Randeng's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed: "This disciple is here."

Hongjun looked at him and slowly said, "Your intentions, I already know."

"However, as a Saint, I act on behalf of Heaven to teach all beings. This is my duty."

"The master-disciple relationship already exists; there is no need to force anything else."

He paused. Under Randeng's slightly disappointed gaze, his tone suddenly shifted:

"However, what you said about 'one day a master, forever a father' – your feelings are pitiable, and your heart can be seen."

"I, who control the Xuanmen and impart the Dao throughout the Great Desolation, indeed need to establish principles and clarify right from wrong."

Hongjun's gaze swept over the three thousand guests below. A hint of Saintly might emerged, and his voice suddenly became grand and vast, echoing through Zixiao Palace and even faintly reaching the heavens and earth of the Great Desolation:

"From this day forward, I am the Mystic Gate Dao Ancestor."

"All who enter Zixiao Palace to hear the Dao, regardless of origin, cultivation, or past, shall be regarded as my disciples."

"My disciples shall honor the master and respect the Dao, aid and assist each other, and jointly study the profound mysteries of the Xuanmen."

"Randeng."

Randeng jolted and quickly responded, "This disciple is here!"

Hongjun looked at him, a trace of undetectable amusement flashing in his eyes, and said faintly:

"Since you are the one who proposed this matter with sincere heart, you must remember your words today, strictly abide by the rules of Xuanmen, respect your teacher and value the Dao, and be a role model for all disciples."

"Do you understand?"

Randeng was stunned at first, then overjoyed!

Although he didn't recognize me as his son, it seems pretty good to get acquainted with a Saint?

If I work hard in the future, maybe I can become Hongjun's adopted son!

And the Dao Ancestor personally acknowledged what I did.

I've got this leg to hug!

"This disciple understands! I will strictly follow the Dao Ancestor's decree! I will certainly be a role model for Xuanmen and share the Dao Ancestor's worries!" Randeng bowed again, his voice filled with genuine emotion.

Silence fell again in Zixiao Palace.

However, this time, the gazes of the many Great Powers towards Randeng were even more complex.

There was still disdain, but there also seemed to be... a hint of an inexplicable meaning.

This kid, it seems... he actually managed to achieve something?

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