Fuxi did everything he could to distance himself from Xuanyuan. Once his sister had taken her seat on the cushion, he even sealed off his six senses and closed his eyes to rest.
Xuanyuan was amused and annoyed by his behavior.
I'm not some plague. Is there any need to avoid me?
Besides, the first time was awkward, but the second time would be familiar!
Just because we aren't close now doesn't mean we won't be later.
Nuwa was the Lord of Humanity in his plans. In the future, she would have to put in a great deal of effort to oppose the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun.
Though Fuxi belonged to the Yao Clan, he was also a Human Dao Saint in Xuanyuan's plans.
Why be so distant?
Xuanyuan smiled and shook his head. He glanced at the Innate Spiritual Treasure Fuxi had given him and saw that it was a book.
The Book of Life and Death!
Heh!
The Human Book, one of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.
A Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
It seemed useless for now, but once the Six Paths of Reincarnation were established, the Human Book—the Book of Life and Death—would become a treasure of the Underworld.
That was a good deal!
After putting away the Book of Life and Death, Xuanyuan looked toward the crowd. "Fuxi and Nuwa, fellow Daoists, traded a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure for a Saint Cushion. I'll keep one for myself, and there are four left. If you want one, hurry up!"
He emphasized the words "Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure," setting the tone for everyone.
The starting price for a Saint Cushion was a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
As he spoke, Xuanyuan kept his eyes on Taiqing Laozi.
The Three Pure Ones were Pangu Orthodox. Surely they wanted to sit on Saint Cushions?
Under Xuanyuan's gaze, Taiqing Laozi felt uneasy and couldn't help frowning. After a moment, he sighed. "We Three Pure Ones will offer three Innate Spiritual Treasures in exchange for three cushions!"
"Agreed!"
Xuanyuan nodded without hesitation.
Of the six cushions, three had originally belonged to the Three Pure Ones. He had no objection to taking three Innate Spiritual Treasures in exchange for them.
Besides, Xuanyuan sensed faintly that a pair of eyes seemed to be watching him from the depths of Zixiao Palace.
He guessed that Hongjun's patience was nearly at its limit.
Best to stop while he was ahead!
He didn't want all his efforts to come to nothing in the end!
After taking the three Innate Spiritual Treasures, he gestured for Tianwu, Goumang, and Shebishi to give up their three cushions.
The Three Pure Ones transformed into three streaks of light and each landed on a cushion.
Xuanyuan glanced at the three treasures he had received: the Qiankun Diagram, the Taiji Talisman Seal, and the Golden Phoenix Hairpin.
All three were Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures!
Not bad. The Three Pure Ones knew what they were doing; they hadn't tried to fob him off with three ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasures.
In the blink of an eye, four of the six cushions had been given away. Including the one the Witch Clan had kept for themselves, only the last cushion remained.
Xuanyuan looked toward the gates of Zixiao Palace. Judging by the time, the two baldies, Jieyin and Zhunti, should be arriving soon.
On the surface, he was auctioning off the cushions to the highest bidders.
In reality, he was still distributing them according to their original owners.
After all, Saint Cushions were opportunities for becoming Saints, tied to those destined to become Saints under the Heavenly Dao.
No matter how recklessly Xuanyuan acted, he wouldn't dare meddle with that.
He was merely trying to secure a few more benefits for himself!
If he hadn't needed to complete the system's mission, which required him to occupy a Saint Cushion, he wouldn't even have kept one.
This was also the main reason Hongjun hadn't appeared, despite Xuanyuan making a scene in Zixiao Palace.
Xuanyuan knew exactly how far he could push Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao.
He knew where the line was!
With three Saint Cushions suddenly gone, Dijun, Kunpeng, Zhen Yuanzi, Minghe, and the others didn't dare hesitate. They all offered Innate Spiritual Treasures for the last cushion.
Most offered low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. Zhen Yuanzi even brought out ten Ginseng Fruits, hoping to trade them for the last cushion on behalf of his friend, Ancestor Hong Yun.
Xuanyuan glanced at Zhen Yuanzi and Ancestor Hong Yun, then gave a barely noticeable shake of his head.
In his plans, the two of them would become Saints of the Earthly Dao in the future. It would be best if they stayed out of the Heavenly Dao's affairs, so Ancestor Hong Yun wouldn't meet the same fate and die, body and soul, in the end.
As the crowd argued until their faces turned red, Xuanyuan kept his gaze fixed on the gates of Zixiao Palace.
He didn't smile until two raggedly dressed monks appeared.
The real deal had arrived!
Jieyin and Zhunti entered Zixiao Palace and were startled by the densely packed crowd of tens of thousands.
Zixiao Palace was in the Chaos Void. Anyone who wasn't a Daluo Golden Immortal would find it difficult to enter.
They had endured countless hardships to reach Zixiao Palace.
Yet now they were faced with tens of thousands of people.
They couldn't help questioning themselves: Were there really so many powerful figures in the Eastern World?
When they saw that all six cushions at the front were already occupied, they were stunned again.
Was there not even a place to sit?
Zhunti immediately began to weep. "How bitter! The two of us come from the barren lands of the West. We've endured countless hardships and traveled thousands of miles to get here. At long last, we've reached Zixiao Palace, only to find there isn't even a seat for us. How miserable!"
The crowd was unmoved by their lament.
They scoffed inwardly, and some didn't even bother to hide their disdain.
There were plenty of people without seats in Zixiao Palace.
So what if two baldies from some barbarous land had nowhere to sit?
Couldn't they just squat in some corner?
They really were provincial bumpkins, fussy about every little thing!
The crowd couldn't even be bothered to look back. Everyone was focused on who would get the last cushion.
Jieyin and Zhunti were thick-skinned men. When no one paid them any attention, they weren't embarrassed.
With a flicker, they went to the front of the hall, where the six cushions were arranged.
They took a closer look and saw that the ones seated on them were the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and two unfamiliar figures, Zhurong and Gonggong.
The Three Pure Ones were transformed from Pangu's Nascent Soul. They were powerful, and the three of them were one, their auras connected. The two monks were certainly no match for them.
Nuwa was a woman, with the renowned Fuxi standing beside her. He watched them warily, looking ready to attack at the slightest provocation.
They didn't dare provoke those two either.
So they set their sights on Zhurong and Gonggong.
After all,
Zhurong and Gonggong were unfamiliar faces, unlike the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Fuxi, who had already made a great name for themselves in the Primordial World.
Besides, Zhurong and Gonggong were tall and broad, with unfocused eyes. They looked like a pair of simple-minded brutes who would be easy to fool.
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance. Then Zhunti lamented, "How bitter! The Western World is so poor. I haven't been able to afford a change of clothes in countless tens of thousands of years!"
"What? You haven't changed your clothes in tens of thousands of years?"
"That's disgusting. Get away from me!"
Zhurong and Gonggong looked at them with disgust and waved for Jieyin and Zhunti to get lost.
Zhunti froze.
The big guy wasn't following the script!
He'd meant to tell them how hard things were in the West and win their sympathy, so he could seize the chance to take a cushion.
How had it turned into disgust?
No matter how poor the West was, the robe he wore was still a Houtian Spiritual Treasure!
It repelled dust and grime on its own, so it looked as good as new no matter how many years he wore it.
Seeing that Zhunti had lost, Jieyin hurried forward.
"The Western World is truly far away. The two of us received word a thousand years ago and traveled day and night, without daring to stop for even a moment. We've gone through countless hardships and rushed here with injuries all over, only just managing to make it."
Zhurong sighed. "That does sound rough!"
Jieyin was delighted that Zhurong had responded. His expression grew even more tragic. "Could you two fellow Daoists take pity on us and let us rest our feet on a cushion?"
Gonggong shook his head. "That won't do. We brothers are trading the cushions for Innate Spiritual Treasures. We can't just give one away for nothing!"
Zhurong chuckled. "Baldies, how about we give you some advice?"
"What advice?"
Jieyin and Zhunti both turned to Zhurong, sensing an opportunity.
They automatically ignored the fact that Zhurong had called them baldies.
Right now, getting a cushion was what mattered most.
Zhurong pretended to think for a moment before speaking. "You could ask Hongjun to give his next lecture in the Western World. Then you wouldn't have to travel for a thousand years to listen at Zixiao Palace!"
"You're making a fool of us!"
Jieyin and Zhunti flew into a rage.
They considered themselves clever and were used to fooling other people. They never expected to be tricked by two big brutes the moment they entered Zixiao Palace.
How humiliating! This was far too humiliating!
"What do you mean by that?"
Zhurong's expression darkened. "We kindly offered you advice, and this is how you respond?"
Gonggong sneered. "Baldies will be baldies. Are you dreaming? There are only six cushions in Zixiao Palace. You think you can get two just by asking?"
He pointed at the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa. "Do you know how they got the cushions beneath them?"
"We sold them. One Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure per cushion. We even gave them a friendly discount because they're cultivators from the Eastern World."
"If you two baldies from the Western World want a cushion, fine. Trade us a treasure for it!"
Xuanyuan called out at just the right moment, "The last cushion is yours for two Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures!"
Before you continue