Beichen hadn't expected Dijun and Taiyi to be so impressed by what he'd done on the Moon Star that they would perform the three bows and nine kowtows, formally taking him as their master!
"Master, if you hadn't saved our lives, those two goddesses on the Moon Star would have crippled us and forced us to serve as slaves! Such a great kindness is beyond repayment!"
Dijun spoke with heartfelt gratitude.
Taiyi was equally moved. "On the Moon Star, Master put an end to the bloodshed, using both kindness and authority. Though you subdued the Moon Star Goddesses, you never struck them down. With your abilities, killing them would have been effortless. That shows your benevolence and virtue!"
"Master, you're immensely powerful and virtuous, and you saved our lives. In every respect, we ought to honor you as our master. Please, don't refuse us!"
Dijun hurriedly added, "That's right, Master. My younger brother is absolutely right. I feel the same way!"
In truth, Dijun and Taiyi had two more things they hadn't said aloud: Master is favored by the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, with the foundation of a Chaos Godfiend. He's entered the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm and drawn down the twelve-nine Purple Firmament World-Ending Thunder Tribulation. With talent like that, if we want to build an empire and dominate the Primordial World, why wait any longer to become his disciples?
As divine beings born from the star formed from the left eye of the Primordial World's founding ancestor, Dijun and Taiyi were descendants of their father and lord. They were immensely proud and would never take a master lightly.
They'd only decided to become Beichen's disciples after witnessing his origins and divine might.
These two might be reckless at times, but they weren't fools!
"Do you realize you're forcing your way into becoming my disciples?"
Beichen seemed reluctant on the surface.
But inside, he was already overjoyed.
Dijun and Taiyi were renowned Demon Emperors in the Primordial World. In the future, they would lead the countless members of the Demon Race, stir up great events, and contend for supremacy over the Primordial World. Their names would go down in history.
What an honor it would be to become their master!
The prestige was secondary. Taking these two as disciples would mean that even Nuwa, the great goddess who would later join the Demon Court, would have to address him as the Emperor's Master. What a powerful web of karma that would bring him!
Beichen hadn't intended to take Dijun and Taiyi as disciples, but he couldn't afford to let such an opportunity pass!
"Could it be that Master doesn't want to take us as disciples? Do you think our origins are too weak?"
Dijun and Taiyi put on worried expressions.
Just then, Beichen gazed up at the void. The boundless karma of the Heavenly Dao descended, settling upon all three of them. In an instant, they had become master and disciples!
"Dijun, Taiyi, stop pretending. You forced your way into becoming my disciples—did you really need my consent? You've already sworn an oath to the Heavenly Dao, pledging to honor me as your master. How could I refuse?"
Beichen sounded reproachful.
"Ah? So Master couldn't refuse after all?" Dijun said with a mischievous grin. "My brother and I thought you could."
"In that case, from now on, you're our master!" Taiyi flashed a rare, mischievous smile of his own.
"Hmph, you two! I don't know what to do with you!"
Beichen pointed at them. In one way or another, he had accepted.
Dijun and Taiyi were delighted, calling him "Master" again and again.
In truth, favored by the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, Beichen could act beyond the Heavenly Dao. Why couldn't he have refused them?
In the Primordial World, he could refuse to form a karmic bond with anyone. He simply hadn't wanted to refuse and was happy to be their master.
"Dijun, Taiyi, come here and listen to your master!" Beichen called the Two Crows over. They sat down beside him, and he leaned close to whisper, "Now that you've made me your master, I'll teach you how to win a Dao Companion!"
"Oh?" Dijun's divine eyes lit up. "What do you mean, Master?"
Beichen looked at Taiyi. "Do you two know why I didn't kill the two Moon Star Goddesses?"
"They're peerlessly beautiful and perfect matches for you. They'll be your wives in the future. If I'd killed them, how would you ever find Dao Companions?"
"So Master had already planned everything?" Dijun rubbed his hands, looking delighted.
"Just as you'd expect of Master!" Taiyi praised him solemnly.
Dijun went on, "Master, but we offended the Moon Star Goddesses last time. Do we still have a chance?"
"Hmph, and you have the nerve to ask! Your recklessness caused this mess. Otherwise, things wouldn't have gotten so awkward!"
As Beichen scolded Dijun, he couldn't help thinking of Queen Mother of the West.
One version of the Primordial World's history recorded that Queen Mother of the West was Dijun's wife, and that the two of them ruled the Heavenly Court together. She had disheveled hair, tiger's teeth, and a leopard's tail, and was fond of roaring.
With her hair hanging loose, tiger-like teeth bared, and a leopard's tail trailing behind her, she was half-human and half-beast, and liked to bellow.
If that description was true, then compared with the Moon Star Goddesses, she was leagues behind in appearance.
As it happened, Nuwa had tried to match Dijun with Xihe, but the Moon Star Goddess had rejected him. That was what led him to marry Queen Mother of the West later on.
Looking at things now, if events had followed that path, the reason was still Dijun's recklessness. He simply didn't know how to court a girl!
As their master, Beichen would change Dijun's fate and help him marry the beautiful goddess Xihe.
"Master, what's your secret? Tell us," Dijun asked.
"Of course I have one!" Beichen thought for a moment, then said, "There are three rules to courting a girl: first, stick close; second, keep after her; third, have no shame!"
"What does that mean?"
Dijun furrowed his brow. He seemed to understand half of it, but not quite.
"First, do everything you can to stay close to her, no matter how she treats you. Second, keep spending time with her every day. Third, don't be discouraged by how she treats you. Find ways to tease her and make her happy!"
"Of course, you have to know where to draw the line! Keep a respectful distance, and never force anything."
As befitted Dijun's natural flair, Beichen's advice made everything click. "Master, I know what to do now. Thank you for passing on this secret art!"
"Good. From now on, you two should visit the Moon Star often. Help develop its treasures and lend a hand with the work, so you can win their favor."
"Master, should I use that method too?" Taiyi asked uncertainly.
"You?" Beichen considered for a moment. "Heh, you don't need to. Just visit the Moon Star often and spend time with Changxi. You don't need to be shameless like your older brother."
"When I visited the Moon Star last time, I noticed Changxi seemed to like you. Just keep your composure and stay cool; let her become fascinated with you. But do talk to her now and then. If she asks you questions, don't reveal all your secrets. Keep a little mystery. That way, you'll gradually win Changxi's heart!"
"Go on!" Beichen waved them away. "Remember, until you've married the two Moon Star Goddesses, no matter what happens, don't give up. Otherwise, you might turn away once and never have another chance."
"Yes, Master! We understand!"
The two brothers happily set off for the Moon Star.
Beichen let out a long breath, then began inspecting the magic treasure he'd received as a system reward.
"So this is the Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler?"
Before him lay a ruler shaped like a sword, its entire surface a dark bronze color and covered in crimson-gold Primordial Dao patterns like overlapping dragon scales.
Supreme Chaos Dao power gathered within it, setting it above countless magic treasures. No wonder it was one of the Supreme Grade Innate Spirit Treasures.
"I've heard this treasure is counted alongside the Pangu Banner and God-Slaying Spear as one of the Primordial World's four great offensive weapons. Seeing it now, I can tell the stories weren't wrong."
"Comprehend!"
To use the Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler, Beichen first had to comprehend its restrictions. He didn't waste a moment and got started.
Buzz!
But just then, a column of black energy shot up from the vast sea beside the Moon Star, catching Beichen's eye.
"Hm?" A sense of foreboding struck him. He quickly began a divination!
Before you continue