None of the "three thousand guests" in the Zixiao Palace dared to cause trouble. Even after the first lecture ended, not one of them dared to make a fuss. Instead, they followed Old Ancestor Hongjun's gaze and looked toward the six meditation cushions in the front row.
"I shall now explain another Heavenly Secret to you all!" Hongjun's voice was deep, his Daoist aura surging like thunder. "The six seats in the front row of the Zixiao Palace were specially set aside by me for my disciples. Those seated upon them shall all become my disciples!"
"Taishang, Yuqing, Shangqing, and Nuwa were already my personal disciples. Now, the Western Daoists Jieyin and Zhunti have listened to my teachings from these cushions for three thousand years. I hereby take them in as new inner disciples!"
When Jieyin and Zhunti heard the Dao Ancestor name them and accept them as inner disciples, they were overjoyed.
Naturally, they would never dare defy a Saint's wishes. They hurriedly said in unison, "Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for esteeming us. We look forward to your guidance, Master."
This had been arranged in advance, so Hongjun said no more and simply gave a quiet "Mm."
Then his gaze slowly shifted toward Beichen and Ancestor Hong Yun, a knowing glint flashing in his divine eyes.
That's right. If I take this Mysterious Turtle as my disciple, so what if he's favored by the Heaven and Earth Great Dao? He'll still have to prostrate himself before me.
At first, Hongjun had only thought of contending with Beichen. But now, faced with the matter of the cushions, he suddenly saw the answer.
"Mysterious Turtle Beichen and Ancestor Hong Yun both once sat upon a cushion, so they share some connection with them. They shall become nominal disciples under me!"
Hong Yun's face lit up. "Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for favoring me. I look forward to your guidance, Master!"
"Hong Yun, congratulations! Congratulations on becoming a disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Surely one of the Saint Positions here will be yours in the future!"
His close friend Zhen Yuanzi hurried over to congratulate him. Hong Yun smiled, feeling very pleased.
But in truth, Zhen Yuanzi felt a faint pang of regret.
Now that Hong Yun had become Hongjun's disciple and formed this karmic bond, he would never again have the chance to prove the Great Dao on his own. From then on, he could only remain beneath Saint Hongjun, with no hope of ever surpassing him!
Nevertheless, he was sincerely happy for his friend.
After all, among the "three thousand guests" and hundreds of thousands of cultivators in the Zixiao Palace, who didn't want to become a Saint's disciple?
Unless something unexpected happened, a Saint's disciple would become a new-generation Saint in the future. Attaining a Saint Position would be as easy as eating or drinking.
The Primordial World was full of mighty beings and powerful experts, but those who met the Dao Ancestor's standards for discipleship were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. They were exceedingly few, and among the highest of the high.
But Zhen Yuanzi had lofty ambitions. He actually looked down on the status of a nominal disciple under Old Ancestor Hongjun and didn't think much of it.
"Dao Ancestor, Beichen does not wish to become your disciple. Please take back your decree!"
As Zhen Yuanzi was thinking about Hong Yun becoming a Saint's disciple, a resonant Daoist voice interrupted him.
"What? What is this Mysterious Turtle saying?"
The sound nearly sent the entire Zixiao Palace into an uproar. All the "three thousand guests" heard the refusal and could only think that Beichen had gone mad!
"Mystic Turtle Daoist, what did you say?"
Quasi-Saint Zhen Yuanzi stared at Beichen in disbelief, deeply shaken.
Hong Yun stood nearby, his face full of worry and urgency. "Mystic Turtle Daoist, the Dao Ancestor kindly offered to take you as his disciple. Surely a Saint Position will be yours in the future. Why would you refuse? Don't throw away your own future!"
"Mystic Turtle Daoist, listen to this old man Hong Yun and accept the Dao Ancestor as your master!"
As the Primordial World's old good-natured soul, Hong Yun thought becoming the Dao Ancestor's disciple would be immensely beneficial to Beichen.
"Daoist Hong Yun, thank you for your kind advice. Beichen has made up his mind. I will not accept Dao Ancestor Hongjun as my master!"
"Mysterious Turtle, do you know what you're saying?"
Hongjun's face darkened with anger at Beichen's blunt refusal. "I wish to take you as my disciple! Throughout the Primordial World, everyone would scramble for such an honor. Are you really going to cast it aside like trash?"
"Heh, it seems the Dao Ancestor didn't hear me clearly, so Beichen will repeat himself. I, Mysterious Turtle Beichen, will not become a disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun! I established my own sect long ago and took in disciples. My lineage of Mysterious Turtles began with me, the first generation!"
"You refuse to become my disciple because you already took in a disciple? That's a flimsy excuse! Do you have another reason?"
Old Ancestor Hongjun had been rebuffed and was unwilling to accept it. He wanted to save face.
But Beichen slapped him in the face again, and this time, he did it hard.
Beichen said, "Since Dao Ancestor Hongjun insists on asking, then Beichen has no choice but to speak plainly! To tell the truth, Dao Ancestor Hongjun, you are not worthy of being my teacher. The Heaven and Earth Great Dao is barely fit to be my master. Besides, in many ways, I'll be giving you lessons and a little guidance in the future. If anything, I should be your teacher!"
"Mm!"
The Zixiao Palace erupted in an uproar.
"This Mysterious Turtle Beichen is far too arrogant! How could he say such a thing?"
"He actually claims he'll be Dao Ancestor Hongjun's teacher. Has he lost his mind?"
"He's completely mad! Not only did he reject the Dao Ancestor's offer, he even insulted him! He's gone mad, absolutely mad!"
At that moment, the shocking contrast made Beichen's name resound throughout the Primordial World.
Everyone who had come to hear the lecture etched his name into their minds.
There was now not a single mighty being in the Primordial World who didn't know Beichen.
"You—you insolent fool!" Old Ancestor Hongjun cursed under his breath.
Hongjun's fury had reached its peak, but he couldn't unleash murderous intent in the Zixiao Palace over this.
After all, becoming someone's disciple was a matter of mutual consent, and Beichen had every right to refuse.
It was just that he, Hongjun, was the Primordial World's foremost Dao Ancestor. He'd assumed no one would refuse his offer of discipleship, and that his "unilateral" decision to take disciples would naturally be accepted by everyone.
No one had expected Beichen to shatter that "unilateral" assumption in an instant.
"This cultivator has some guts. Awesome!"
All nine of Houtu's arms were cheering. Because of this, all sorts of thoughts that differed from her fixed, conventional way of thinking surfaced in her mind.
This would also bring her boundless benefits when she eventually proved the Great Dao on her own. This Mysterious Turtle Daoist's refusal to become a disciple has reminded me of something!
"Whew!"
Seeing Old Ancestor Hongjun let go of his murderous intent and decide to drop the matter, Zhen Yuanzi breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he leaned close to Beichen's ear and whispered, "Mystic Turtle Daoist, you see things clearly!"
"Isn't that so?" Beichen smiled. "Doesn't Daoist Zhen Yuanzi see things the same way?"
"If you can prove the Great Dao on your own, why live under someone else's roof and bow your head in submission?"
"Haha!" The two exchanged smiles.
Beichen's gaze suddenly darkened. "Oh, right. I can see that Daoist Zhen Yuanzi will remain at the Quasi-Saint realm for a long time, unable to break through. You may not be able to become a Saint in the future. Proving the Great Dao on your own won't be easy, either!"
Zhen Yuanzi's face darkened, and he looked displeased.
"Alas, proving the Great Dao on one's own is exceedingly difficult. It can't be done so easily!" Zhen Yuanzi's Daoist heart didn't waver; he remained composed. "Mystic Turtle Daoist, you can't say for certain that I'll never become a Saint, can you?"
"Haha, that's true!" Beichen replied with confidence. "If you need help, I have a way to help you enter the ranks of the Saints. If you're interested, Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, come find me at the Three Immortal Islands in the future! Now isn't the time to discuss it."
"Good, Mystic Turtle Daoist. Then it's a promise!"
Zhen Yuanzi was delighted to hear Beichen say the opportunity hadn't vanished.
"I recall there was another person who had a connection to a cushion. Where is he?"
Old Ancestor Hongjun suddenly asked again.
Before you continue