Daoist Randeng Seeks a Powerful Patron? Arriving at Shouyang Mountain, Where Golden Horn and Silver Horn Await?

When Daoist Randeng spoke, Guangchengzi was struck dumb with astonishment, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"This?"

He stared at Randeng, unable to believe it.

He never would have guessed.

Randeng had come to Kunlun Mountain hoping to become Yuanshi's disciple.

After all, Randeng was a Quasi-Saint!

"What's going on?"

"What... what is this Daoist Randeng thinking?"

"Is this mighty Quasi-Saint actually here to take the position of Senior Uncle-Master's chief disciple?"

Guangchengzi's heart trembled, and his breathing grew ragged.

He had assumed Randeng had come to pay his respects and discuss some important matter with his master.

Who could have imagined that Randeng had come to ask to become his disciple?

And if Yuanshi agreed, then with Randeng's Quasi-Saint cultivation, he would naturally become Yuanshi's chief disciple.

The more Guangchengzi thought about it, the more uneasy he became. The corners of his mouth even twitched.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, he hurriedly turned to look at Yuanshi.

Deep down, he hoped Yuanshi would reject Randeng.

"Hm?"

At the same time, Yuanshi was also caught off guard when he heard why Randeng had come.

He had thought that, given Randeng's status and cultivation, he had come to discuss the Dao with him.

Who would have thought this old fox Randeng would ask to become his disciple?

"He wants to become my disciple. He must be after a chance to attain the Saintly Way."

"Otherwise, with his Quasi-Saint cultivation, why would he willingly place himself beneath someone else?"

After pondering for a moment, Yuanshi had a good idea of Randeng's intentions.

After all, Randeng, like him, was a Quasi-Saint.

By rights, Randeng would never agree to take a subordinate position.

But when Dao Ancestor Hongjun had given his third lecture at Zixiao Palace, he had already distributed the Saint positions.

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Jieyin and Zhunti of the Western Lands would become the Six Saints of the Heavens.

Randeng had made this choice for a reason.

He was aiming to become a Saint.

Having figured it out, Yuanshi kept his expression composed and replied with a faint smile,

"Daoist Randeng, we both attended the lectures at Zixiao Palace. It would hardly be proper for me to take you as my disciple."

Hearing Yuanshi turn him down, Guangchengzi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his position as chief disciple was safe after all.

If Yuanshi took on a Quasi-Saint disciple, wouldn't the rest of them have no choice but to obey him?

After hearing Yuanshi's reply, Randeng hurriedly said,

"Daoist Yuanshi, you're mistaken."

"As the saying goes, the one who has attained more is the teacher. Daoist Yuanshi, you will surely attain Sainthood one day."

"I, Randeng, am willing to serve you as a disciple!"

"I hope Daoist Yuanshi will grant my request!"

With that, Randeng bowed to Yuanshi once more.

Watching Randeng's words and actions, Guangchengzi's eyelids twitched. He cursed inwardly,

"Damn it! That old geezer's got some nerve!"

"Master already turned him down, and he still refuses to take the hint."

Thinking this, Guangchengzi hurriedly looked at Yuanshi, his unease returning.

He hoped Yuanshi wouldn't take pity on Randeng and accept him as a disciple after all.

If that happened, his status among Yuanshi's disciples would plummet.

Fortunately, Yuanshi showed little reaction to Randeng's words. With a calm smile, he said,

"Daoist Randeng."

"Let's not speak of becoming my disciple again."

Yuanshi paused briefly, then added,

"However, if you have nowhere else to go, you may stay on Kunlun Mountain for a time. You can help me manage affairs and oversee my disciples."

Yuanshi considered Randeng's cultivation quite formidable. If he could keep him on Kunlun, Randeng would be a great help in the future.

Besides, once he became a Saint, he likely wouldn't be able to personally manage his disciples.

If Randeng was willing to stay, he would be a good choice to oversee them in Yuanshi's place.

At Yuanshi's offer, a flicker of disappointment swiftly crossed Randeng's eyes.

He had thought Yuanshi would accept him.

Instead, he had been rejected.

But after thinking it over, Randeng soon came to terms with it.

He figured that staying in the Dao Field of a future Saint was better than wandering around aimlessly.

Besides, Yuanshi would surely become a Saint one day. Why pass up the chance to secure a powerful patron?

At the thought, Randeng's eyes flashed with resolve. He bowed respectfully to Yuanshi and said,

"Then I thank you, Daoist Yuanshi!"

Yuanshi smiled and raised a hand slightly, indicating that Randeng needn't stand on ceremony.

Seeing this, Guangchengzi secretly let out a sigh of relief and murmured,

"Good thing I didn't get another senior brother..."

"I'm still Master's chief disciple."

Time passed, and many days went by in the blink of an eye.

By then, Qin Mu had arrived at Shouyang Mountain.

From a distance, he saw Violet Qi swirling around the mountaintop, Xuanhuang Merit cascading down, and an ancient, unadorned Daoist palace standing among the clouds. Three ancient characters, "Eight Sceneries Palace," were inscribed above its entrance.

"As expected of Senior Uncle-Master's Dao Field. What an extraordinary sight."

Qin Mu sighed.

He could tell at a glance that Taishang had chosen a place with abundant Fortune for his Dao Field.

After taking a look around, Qin Mu didn't dwell on it. He composed himself and headed straight into the mountain.

Entering Shouyang Mountain, he saw auspicious herbs growing on the slopes and spirit fungi sprouting from the earth, their roots drawing vitality from the ground and their tops reaching toward the heavens. Green pines and willows stood among purple chrysanthemums and red plum blossoms.

"This really is a tranquil place, free from worldly striving!"

Qin Mu praised it aloud.

At the same time, he was curious.

"I wonder what kind of Red Packet will drop here?"

"At the very least, it ought to be a Medium Red Packet, right?"

In Qin Mu's eyes, Shouyang Mountain, chosen by Taishang, was a place blessed with nature's finest gifts.

Even if it couldn't compare to Buzhou Mountain, it couldn't be far behind.

He had received a Large Red Packet at the summit of Buzhou Mountain before.

Even if he didn't get a Large Red Packet for this trip to Shouyang Mountain, a Medium Red Packet would still be worthwhile. It would make the journey count.

After giving it some thought, Qin Mu refocused and continued on.

Before long, he reached the mountain gate and was about to step inside.

Just then, a voice suddenly challenged him,

"What manner of creature are you, to dare trespass on Shouyang Mountain?"

As the voice rang out, two figures darted through the mountain gate.

They were both short, each of them looking like a tiny child.

Qin Mu turned toward the voice and saw two boys, each less than three feet tall, blocking his way.

One had a little golden horn on his head, while the other had a little silver horn.

The two boys stood with their hands on their hips, putting on fierce expressions as they glared at Qin Mu.

"Hm?"

Qin Mu was secretly surprised.

"Golden Horn? Silver Horn?"

"Could these two be the future Great King Golden Horn and Great King Silver Horn?"

Qin Mu muttered to himself. He could tell who the two boys were.

After all, in the Journey to the West that would come later,

Great King Golden Horn and Great King Silver Horn had put Sun Wukong through a tribulation.

The two had fought Sun Wukong with their martial skills and magic, first gaining the upper hand with their magic treasures, then losing after Sun Wukong outsmarted them.

In the end, Sun Wukong defeated the two kings and seized their five magic treasures, then returned both them and their treasures to Taishang.