"Thank you, Master!" Joy bloomed across Jieyin and Zhunti's faces.
Hongjun shook his head helplessly, but still raised a hand and sent two streams of Primordial Violet Qi into Jieyin and Zhunti.
The two hurriedly wiped away their tears. They had finally gotten their Primordial Violet Qi.
The three thousand divine demons stared, baffled, at Jieyin and Zhunti, who had been in a sorry state just moments ago but were now grinning and rubbing their hands together.
That actually worked?
Such shameless people could really become a Sage's Registered Disciples!
Jieyin and Zhunti were positively elated. They had long since put what happened earlier behind them.
What did losing a little dignity matter, as long as they could become a Sage's Registered Disciples?
The three thousand divine demons were practically in tears. So playing the victim really did work!
"Very well. Since that is settled, the six of you shall be my disciples from this day forward. Be sure to cultivate diligently," Dao Ancestor Hongjun said slowly.
"We shall heed your teachings, Master!" The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti answered in unison.
"I have one stream of Primordial Violet Qi left. I shall grant it to you." Dao Ancestor Hongjun glanced at Ancestor Hong Yun, who was seated farther back, and swept out his sleeve.
Ancestor Hong Yun watched the Primordial Violet Qi drift toward him, his face alight with delight. He was getting one too!
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor!" Ancestor Hong Yun said, bowing in gratitude.
Ye Jun folded his arms and watched Ancestor Hong Yun's delighted expression, unable to keep from sighing inwardly.
Everyone had their own fate. Ancestor Hong Yun didn't yet know that this seemingly fortuitous Primordial Violet Qi would one day become the cause of his downfall.
Thinking of this, Ye Jun couldn't help glancing at Dao Ancestor Hongjun, seated on the cloud bed.
This had to be connected to Hongjun somehow.
"My accepting disciples is now concluded. Does anyone have any questions? Feel free to ask," Hongjun's voice rang through Zixiao Palace once more.
At his words, a burly man stood up from among the crowd and cupped his hands. "Dao Ancestor, may I ask what future lies ahead for the Witch Clan?"
Ye Jun turned around and saw that it was Di Jiang, one of the Twelve Ancestor Witches.
Hongjun glanced at Di Jiang, then replied, "The Witch Clan does not cultivate the Nascent Soul and had no future to speak of. But there is one among your people who can break this deadlock."
Di Jiang, whose face had been ashen, abruptly lifted his head. His voice trembled as he said, "I beg the Dao Ancestor to enlighten us!"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun pointed toward the Twelve Ancestor Witches and said, "Your path forward lies with her."
Following Hongjun's gesture, Di Jiang saw that he was pointing at Ancestor Witch Houtu.
Houtu looked just as puzzled. The Witch Clan's future lay with her?
"Dao Ancestor, what do you mean?" Houtu asked.
Hongjun shook his head. "The Witch Clan's future lies with you, but I do not know what form it will take. You will have to find it yourself."
After that, Hongjun answered the other divine demons' questions one by one. Everyone gained something from his replies.
After a while, seeing that no one had any more questions, Hongjun said, "I have attained Sagehood today, but I cannot oversee every matter in the Primordial World. So today, I shall appoint two people to govern it!"
His words set the three thousand divine demons abuzz. Governing the Primordial World was an enormous boon.
For one thing, they would be the Sage's representatives as they traveled the Primordial World. Their status would naturally rise with the tide!
Everyone wanted a chance at the position. After all, such an opportunity was rare!
Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi exchanged a glance, excitement shining in both their eyes.
Neither of them had been chosen as a disciple. Surely this position would go to them?
Di Jun stepped forward and bowed. "Dao Ancestor, the two of us are willing to serve!"
Hongjun shook his head, rejecting Di Jun's request, then looked toward a yellow-robed cultivator in the crowd.
Though the cultivator's cultivation was not especially high, he was full of righteousness—just the sort of person Hongjun wanted.
Hongjun said, "Donghua, from this day forward, you shall be Head of Male Immortals. You shall take the name East King Duke and govern the Primordial World on my behalf!"
East King Duke hurriedly knelt and bowed. "Thank you, Dao Ancestor. I will not fail your trust!"
Hongjun raised one hand, and a Dragon Head Staff, brimming with Dao Rhyme, appeared and flew toward Donghua.
East King Duke excitedly accepted the staff, unaware that Di Jun had looked back at him.
Di Jun's gaze was cold and lifeless. It seemed that certain things had been set in motion from this very moment.
Hongjun then turned to Yaochi. Since there was a Head of Male Immortals, there naturally had to be a Head of Female Immortals as well.
Yaochi had taken form from pure yin energy. She was beautiful and graceful, with an air that kept others at a distance.
"Yaochi, from this day forward, you shall be Head of Female Immortals. You shall be known as Queen Mother of the West and assist East King Duke in governing the Primordial World!"
As soon as Hongjun finished speaking, he flicked his wrist, sending a banner toward Yaochi.
"This is the Plain Cloud Realm Banner. With this treasure, I hope you will govern the female immortals of the Primordial World well," Dao Ancestor Hongjun said.
Yaochi's cheeks flushed as she accepted the Plain Cloud Realm Banner. She bowed to the Dao Ancestor and said, "Thank you, Dao Ancestor. I will not fail your trust!"
Only then did Dao Ancestor Hongjun nod with satisfaction. The positions of Head of Male Immortals and Head of Female Immortals had both been filled.
"Does anyone have any more questions?" Hongjun asked.
Ye Jun suddenly stood up and cupped his hands. "Dao Ancestor, do you still remember that Enlightenment Dao Tree?"
The smile on Hongjun's face froze. What was this monkey getting at?
The three thousand divine demons behind him looked from Dao Ancestor Hongjun to the monkey, confused.
Could the Dao Ancestor really have had dealings with this monkey?
Even the Three Pure Ones looked puzzled. Tongtian raised an eyebrow, sensing there was something going on that they didn't know about.
Hongjun didn't answer. Instead, he swept out his sleeve. A flash of violet light appeared behind him, and the doors of Zixiao Palace swung open.
Only then did he speak slowly. "Everyone, today's preaching session ends here. You may leave as you wish. The next preaching session at Zixiao Palace will be in thirty thousand years!"
The three thousand divine demons were still full of questions, but Dao Ancestor Hongjun had already opened the doors. It was clear he did not wish to discuss the matter any further.
They weren't fools. This was hardly the time to provoke Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
Without a word, they chose to leave. The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others bowed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun before departing as well.
Ye Jun glanced at the guilty-looking Dao Ancestor Hongjun and couldn't help sneering. Then he turned and left.
After everyone had gone, Hongjun's face darkened as he made Zixiao Palace disappear.
He cursed Ye Jun over and over in his heart. That monkey had clearly come to ruin his day.
He couldn't help feeling regretful. If only he'd known that the monkey was so gifted back then—
Perhaps he would have taken him as one of his Registered Disciples.
Ye Jun had already left, his hands clasped behind his head and a broad smile on his face.
This trip to Zixiao Palace had not only left that old man Hongjun with egg on his face, but also raised Ye Jun's cultivation to the late stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm!
Before you continue