The Great Powers in Zixiao Palace were discussing the path to quasi-sainthood.
Just then, a sudden thud rang out.
Everyone turned toward a corner of Zixiao Palace and saw Daoist Randeng kneeling on the floor.
"Saint, I heard you don't have a son, and I don't have parents either. If you don't mind, I'd like to take care of you in your old age!"
Thump, thump—
Randeng knocked his head against the floor twice in Hongjun's direction.
As soon as the words left his mouth, 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 gaped at him, stunned.
He wanted to take a Saint as his father?
Care for him in his old age and see him off at the end?
What... what the hell was this move?!
Since ancient times, the Prehistoric World had valued lineage, karmic connections, and friendship between fellow cultivators.
When had anyone ever made such a blunt, groveling, shameless bid to "claim someone as their father"?!
Had Daoist Randeng's Dao Heart collapsed? Had he gone insane?!
On the high dais,
even Hongjun, with all the composure befitting a Saint, could not help the faintest twitch of his cheek.
He had lived through countless epochs, witnessed the calamities of the Fierce Beasts, the Dragon and Phoenix, and the conflict between Dao and demon. What hadn't he seen?
But this... this was a first.
Looking at Randeng below, wearing an expression of utter resignation,
Hongjun suddenly felt that
Luo Hou, who had made a great fuss about refining the Prehistoric World, Tai Yi, who flirted with women everywhere, and even Qin Yuan, who made up wild histories...
all seemed so normal, so lovable.
At least they still had some shame.
But Randeng... had thrown all shame away!
In Zixiao Palace, you could have heard a pin drop.
"Pfft—"
After a brief silence, someone let out a stifled snicker.
Then, as if a powder keg had been lit, the entire Zixiao Palace erupted.
"Shameless beyond words!" Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face turned livid as he was the first to berate Randeng.
He had always cared about one's origins and reputation, and about the hierarchy of birth. Randeng's actions were practically dancing in the middle of his minefield.
"Randeng! You heard the Dao in Zixiao Palace. You're a Great Luo and a born divine being. How can you debase yourself like this, currying favor and groveling?"
"A Saint is the embodiment of the Great Dao, here to enlighten all beings. How can you presume to attach yourself to him and claim him as family?!"
Tongtian Cult Master frowned as well. Though he was not as vehement as Yuanshi, his eyes were full of disdain.
"Fellow Daoist Randeng, the Great Dao is arduous, and must be pursued with sincerity. What you're doing is hardly the righteous path."
Nuwa furrowed her brow slightly, while Fuxi shook his head with a sigh.
Ancestor Hong Yun opened his mouth, thinking Randeng might have some reason for acting this way. But when he saw everyone around him in an uproar, he held his tongue.
He could only murmur to Zhenyuanzi, "This... Fellow Daoist Randeng has gone a little too far..."
Zhenyuanzi gave a bitter smile. "A little too far? It's simply... sigh."
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, each seeing a complicated look in the other's eyes.
The West was impoverished. If the Heavenly Dao hadn't repaired its ley lines, they might have had to put aside their dignity and go "begging for alms" or "soliciting donations."
But kneeling down and claiming a Saint as his father, as Randeng had... that went beyond even their limits and understanding.
Still, someone this talented deserved to join the West!
They would have to try to win Randeng over if the opportunity arose.
Tai Yi's eyes lit up as if he'd discovered a new world. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So you can do that? Not bad... If I called a Female Immortal 'Mom'... Heh heh heh..."
Qin Yuan had already pulled out a small notebook and was writing furiously. "A father-claiming trend emerges in Zixiao Palace! Daoist Randeng pioneers a new school of thought in the Prehistoric World..."
Hugging a lotus leaf, Xuan Qing scoffed, his eyes full of contempt. "Useless."
The other Great Powers were also buzzing with discussion. They stared at Randeng in shock, disdain, and mockery, as if he were some rare marvel of the Prehistoric World.
Under the condemnation of thousands and the weight of public opinion,
Randeng slowly straightened up and brushed off his knees, though there wasn't a speck of dust on them.
The look of utter resignation vanished from his face, replaced by a peculiar calm, even a hint of... self-righteousness?
He first cupped his hands toward Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who had berated him, and spoke evenly.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, you're mistaken."
"I, Randeng, am a lone cultivator. I was fortunate enough to come across an opportunity and gain entry to Zixiao Palace to hear the Great Dao."
"But the Great Dao is boundless, and Saints are supreme. Though we're fortunate enough to hear the teachings, we're like blind men touching an elephant, seeing only a glimpse through a tube. We can hardly grasp the whole."
"A Saint who teaches the Dao and imparts wisdom has shown us the grace of rebirth and the virtue of enlightenment. That kindness is like giving us new life!"
His voice rose steadily as his gaze swept across the hall and finally settled on Hongjun, who sat expressionless on the high dais. Randeng bowed deeply.
"Once a teacher, always a father."
"The Saint taught us the Great Dao and showed us the way forward. How could such kindness compare to that of an ordinary master and disciple?"
"I honor the Saint as my father out of the depths of my heart, in gratitude for his kindness. How is that debasing myself? Does honoring one's teacher and respecting the Dao seem lowly in your eyes, Fellow Daoist Yuanshi?"
"You!" Yuanshi was left speechless, his face turning even more livid.
Randeng gave him no chance to reply. He turned to Tongtian and the other Great Powers who wore looks of disdain, and continued.
"As for what the rest of you said about currying favor and flattering..."
He gave a self-mocking smile and spread his hands.
"I, Randeng, have a humble origin and no worldly possessions. All I have is a heart devoted to the Dao, and that heart is sincere."
"The Saint has attained the Primordial Realm. He is the foremost beneath the Heavenly Dao, gazing down upon the Prehistoric World and commanding the ages. What do I possess that I could use to attach myself to him? And what standing do I have to flatter him?"
"All I wish is to serve the Saint as a disciple—or even as a son or nephew—bring him tea and water, sweep his halls, listen to his teachings, and show him a little filial respect in return for even a fraction of his great kindness in teaching the Dao."
"My heart and wish are as clear as the sun and moon, and I can answer to the Great Dao! How is this not the righteous path?"
His tone was sincere, with even a hint of grievance, as though he had suffered a tremendous misunderstanding.
With that speech, he had managed to twist his shameless attempt to claim the Saint as his father into "honoring his teacher and respecting the Dao," "repaying kindness," and "a childlike, sincere heart"!
Quite a few cultivators with lower cultivation and simpler minds actually felt... that he seemed to have a point.
At the very least, Randeng's reverence and gratitude toward the Saint sounded genuine.
Of course, most of the Great Powers—especially top figures like the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Minghe—could only twitch their eyelids and curse inwardly: sophistry! Shameless!
But Randeng had made himself so humble, and his words were so "beautiful."
For a moment, they couldn't find anything sharper to say in response.
Were they supposed to argue that honoring one's teacher and respecting the Dao was wrong?
Or that the Saint didn't deserve such reverence?
On the high dais, Hongjun had listened in silence the whole time.
He looked at Randeng below, who seemed humble but whose eyes betrayed cunning and calculation.
Then he looked at the ordinary cultivators who had been left somewhat dazed, and perhaps even swayed, by Randeng's "lofty argument."
He couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Randeng... was a talent.
Thick-skinned, quick-witted, able to bend and stretch—and, most importantly, remarkably eloquent.
Moreover, Hongjun had witnessed the fact that Randeng was a Transmigrator, as well as Zhang Hao's killing of the system just moments ago.
There were many unpredictable factors surrounding this man.
"Randeng."
Hongjun finally spoke. His voice was calm and even, yet it instantly drowned out all the noise in Zixiao Palace.
All eyes immediately turned to the Saint.
Randeng's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed. "This disciple is here."
Hongjun looked at him and spoke slowly. "I understand what you have in mind."
"But I am a Saint. I act on behalf of Heaven and enlighten all beings. It is my duty."
"The bond between master and disciple has already been established. There's no need to demand anything more."
He paused. As Randeng's eyes dimmed with disappointment, Hongjun abruptly changed tack.
"However, your words, 'Once a teacher, always a father,' show touching affection and a heart worthy of recognition."
"As the leader of the Mystic Sect, I teach the Dao throughout the Prehistoric World. It is indeed necessary to establish its order and set things straight."
Hongjun's gaze swept across the three thousand guests below. His Saintly Might emerged faintly, and his voice suddenly grew vast and majestic, resounding through Zixiao Palace and even reaching faintly into the world beyond.
"From this day forward, I shall be the Mystic Gate Dao Ancestor."
"Whoever enters Zixiao Palace to hear the Dao, regardless of origin, cultivation, or past, may be regarded as a disciple of mine."
"My disciples shall honor their teacher and respect the Dao, support one another, and study the wondrous laws of the Mystic Sect together."
"Randeng."
Randeng jolted and hurriedly answered, "This disciple is here!"
Hongjun looked at him. A trace of amusement flashed in his eyes, too faint to notice, and he spoke indifferently.
"You were the first to propose this. Since your heart is sincere, you must remember your words today, abide by the rules of the Mystic Sect, honor your teacher and respect the Dao, and set an example for all the disciples."
"Do you understand?"
Randeng stared blankly for a moment, then was overcome with delight!
He hadn't managed to become the Saint's son, but getting noticed by a Saint seemed pretty good too.
If he worked hard at it, perhaps he could still become Hongjun's adopted son someday!
And the Dao Ancestor himself had approved of what he'd done.
He'd secured himself a powerful backer!
"This disciple understands! I shall follow the Dao Ancestor's decree! I will set an example for the Mystic Sect and help shoulder the Dao Ancestor's burdens!" Randeng bowed again, his voice brimming with heartfelt sincerity.
Zixiao Palace fell silent once more.
But this time, the Great Powers looked at Randeng with even more complicated expressions.
Their disdain remained, but there also seemed to be something else, something hard to put into words.
This kid... had he actually managed to make something of it?
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