The Daoist Poor Fellow Couldn't Learn It Either

With that question, Old Ancestor Hongjun seemed to realize something on his own as well. His gaze drifted toward the area outside Zixiao Palace.

By then, the restrictions around Zixiao Palace had been lifted. Hearing Hongjun's words, Old Ancestor Kunpeng couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.

If I stay outside Zixiao Palace, I can become a Saint's nominal disciple. It's also an implicit promise of a Saint Position!

Old Ancestor Kunpeng felt somewhat uneasy as he waited for something to happen inside Zixiao Palace, hoping Old Ancestor Hongjun would call him in.

At that moment, Yuqing Primordial Heavenly Venerate looked faintly ashamed. "Master, Old Ancestor Kunpeng is of poor character. He refused to welcome Junior Brothers Jieyin and Zhunti, who had come from afar. When Junior Brother Hong Yun advised him to give up his seat, he wouldn't listen, so I spoke up and drove him out!"

"Old Ancestor Kunpeng has severed his teacher-disciple bond with you of his own accord. Surely you can't take in a disciple of such poor character, Master?"

By the time he finished speaking, the shame on Primordial Lord of Heaven's face had vanished completely. Instead, he looked as though he had a sound argument and was simply making his case.

"Alas, so be it. Since he was driven out, then out he goes. His character is indeed too poor to join my sect!"

Outside the palace, Old Ancestor Kunpeng seethed with murderous intent. He clenched his fists as if the fury in them could shatter heaven and earth. "It's all because of that Old Ancestor Hong Yun. If he hadn't tried to play the good guy, how would I, Kunpeng, have been blamed for no reason?"

"I, Old Ancestor Kunpeng, swear before the Heavenly Dao that I will never rest until Old Ancestor Hong Yun is dead. One day, I'll tear him limb from limb, destroy his body, and annihilate his soul. Only then will my hatred be satisfied!"

Crack!

As soon as he made the oath, a thunderclap resounded across the area around Zixiao Palace. It was the Heavenly Dao's response to Old Ancestor Kunpeng.

The deep-seated enmity had now been planted. Kunpeng and Hong Yun had become mortal enemies.

"Hm?" Hongjun furrowed his brow slightly and looked outside. A moment later, having merged with the Heavenly Dao, he learned that Kunpeng had made an oath.

But he showed no reaction, pretending he knew nothing.

Although he had taken Hong Yun as a disciple, Hong Yun was only a nominal disciple, and Hongjun didn't take him to heart.

Kunpeng had sworn a mighty oath and intended to kill Hong Yun one day. Hongjun had no intention of intervening. He had decided to let matters take their course.

Inside Zixiao Palace, Old Ancestor Hong Yun remained completely unaware. He was still basking in the joy of having been accepted as Dao Ancestor's disciple.

Seeing this, Beichen sighed inwardly. This old good-natured fool of the primordial world really is an idiot.

That thunderclap had prompted Beichen to activate the Universe Great Dao Mystic Turtle Shell and divine the secrets of Heaven. He had also learned that Old Ancestor Kunpeng had sworn an oath, and was wondering how to resolve the grudge between Kunpeng and Hong Yun.

The best thing is to delay this. If I can put it off until I, Beichen, attain Sainthood, it'll be easy to resolve!

Beichen quietly considered the matter. Resolving the feud between the two didn't seem all that difficult.

After all, based on what he knew of the primordial world, Old Ancestor Kunpeng had only attacked Hong Yun after the third lecture, when Hongjun gave Hong Yun a Saint Position at Treasure Distribution Cliff and distributed the treasures, stirring Kunpeng into a terrible rage. Kunpeng had first destroyed Hong Yun's body, then annihilated his soul.

The third lecture was still a long way off.

I'll set this matter aside for now, Beichen thought.

Suddenly, Hongjun seemed to think of something. His gaze swept over Sanqing and Nuwa.

Then four purple-gold pills appeared in his palm.

Powerful spiritual energy rolled off the pills, as if they concealed boundless Dao power and laws. They were clearly extraordinary.

"My four personal disciples, since you have listened so attentively, I shall reward each of you with a Quasi-Saint Pill!" Hongjun waved his hand, and a Quasi-Saint Pill landed in each of their hands. "This Quasi-Saint Pill can help you temporarily enter the Quasi-Saint Realm, whether its early or middle stage, depending on your cultivation and current realm."

"The pills will keep you at the Quasi-Saint level for about a month. Taking one will not only let you experience the mysteries of the Quasi-Saint Realm, but also help you withstand powerful foes. I call them Saint-Refining Golden Pills, or Life-Saving Golden Pills."

"Thank you, Master!"

Sanqing and Nuwa had all reached the pinnacle of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. They were only a hair's breadth away from understanding the mysteries of the Quasi-Saint Realm.

In other words, Hongjun was rewarding them by letting them cross into the Quasi-Saint Realm. Once they took the pills, they could study the mysteries within while they temporarily became Quasi-Saints, and in turn, step into the Quasi-Saint Realm for good!

"Heh, it's great to be a Saint's personal disciple. You get Quasi-Sainthood for free!"

Zhen Yuanzi seemed a little envious.

Beichen glanced at Zhen Yuanzi in secret and noticed a trace of mockery in his expression.

At the same time, Beichen himself scoffed inwardly. This kind of free handout would surely leave them with very limited achievements and strength when they attained the Great Saint position in the future.

Although Sanqing would become famous throughout the primordial world, they would all attain Sainthood through the weakest method: merit. They would be the lowest-ranking Saints on the path to Sainthood, and this was probably related to Hongjun handing it all to them for free.

This will only encourage them to expect things without working for them and leave their Dao hearts too weak!

Beichen muttered mockingly.

"Master, Master, could you give the two of us a Quasi-Saint Pill as well?"

Hongjun was just about to say something else when Jieyin and Zhunti interrupted him.

Sanqing and the others saw the pair once again displaying the shameless behavior they had shown earlier, and all looked at them with disdain.

Even Nuwa, who was broad-minded, looked down on them a little.

The two had some nerve. They had wept and complained to Hongjun about the suffering in the West and their lack of resources for cultivation.

Then they had tried every trick to provoke Hongjun, playing up their status as inner disciples.

They'd acted shamelessly to the extreme.

They even added, "Master, we've listened attentively for all three thousand years too—at least a hundred times more attentively than our four senior brothers and sisters!"

In the end, after the pair had pestered him relentlessly, Hongjun reluctantly took out two Quasi-Saint Pills, despite having had no intention of giving them any. "Jieyin, Zhunti, my disciples, I pity the hardships you've endured. I'll give each of you a Quasi-Saint Pill."

"But understand this: Quasi-Saint Pills aren't some common commodity. It took me a great deal of effort to refine them!"

"Make good use of them. Don't waste them!"

Jieyin and Zhunti took the pills, delighted, and looked like a pair of smug little men who'd gotten their way.

Their posture, appearance, expressions, and attitude left Old Ancestor Hongjun feeling awkward.

"That Western Duo really has no shame!" Zhen Yuanzi said with an exasperated smile.

"Anyway, I couldn't do something like that." Hong Yun wore his usual kindly expression, looking rather sheepish. "I couldn't learn to wail out loud like Senior Brother Zhunti!"

"Hahaha, to be honest, I couldn't learn it either!"

Beichen couldn't help bursting into laughter.

Everyone else, whether they were asking for pills or watching them do it, seemed quite serious about it. Beichen alone saw the whole thing as a joke and found it hilarious.

He couldn't help grumbling to himself, How could there be such shameless pieces of trash as the Western Duo in all the primordial world? The world is vast, and full of wonders!

Hong Yun didn't say anything more. He knew he was merely a nominal disciple of Hongjun, with little influence, and didn't dare ask for Quasi-Saint Pills the way Jieyin and Zhunti had. He could only switch to silent mode.

At that moment, Hongjun continued, "My disciples, the Witch-Demon Great Tribulation began when I first started lecturing. The calamity is unimaginably cruel. You must keep to the palace and focus on your cultivation. Do not get caught up in its murderous schemes!"

"Otherwise, your Dao may vanish and your lives be lost, leaving you beyond redemption!"