Master, you haven't eaten dragon meat yet, have you? Old Sun will roast some dragon meat for you!

"Wukong, during the time you were away, your Master has taken in another handyman disciple."

Zhou Xuan said slowly, his voice gentle yet authoritative:

"From now on, you have a junior disciple."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong, who had been tilting his head and listening, suddenly widened his eyes and exclaimed:

"Huh??? Old Sun has a junior disciple?"

The next moment, the entire monkey leaped up, somersaulted, and landed on the branches of the ancient willow tree. He danced with joy, his tail wagging so hard that it made the leaves on the tree rustle.

"Yay! Old Sun has a junior disciple!"

Watching the monkey cheering on the tree, Zhou Xuan couldn't help but show a kind smile:

"Alright, alright, you monkey. Out there, you're a demon king, commanding the four seas, and destined to ascend the throne and become an emperor. Why are you still acting like a little undeveloped monkey cub in front of your Master, so unstable!"

Hearing this, Sun Wukong immediately did a backflip from the branch, landing on the ground. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled:

"Heh heh, in front of Master, Old Sun will always be that little monkey who popped out of a rock!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes lit up, and he eagerly patted his chest:

"Master, where is my junior disciple? Where is he? Quickly, quickly, Old Sun wants to see what my junior disciple looks like!"

Zhou Xuan chuckled lightly, his gaze distant:

"No rush, no rush. Your junior disciple will be here soon."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze shifted towards the orchard in the distance.

There, a figure sat cross-legged, with flickers of lightning hidden between his brows.

Suddenly, a roar like a dragon's cry exploded, and the ground trembled slightly.

Zhao Gongming slowly opened his eyes, and an invisible wave of energy surged through the sky.

At the same time, the true spirit sealed on the Investiture of the Gods List was freed with a roar, transforming into invisible divine radiance and entering his brow, exuding a vast and mighty Primordial pressure throughout his body.

With that, the divine light receded, and his soul returned to its place.

Zhao Gongming had returned to the early stage of Primordial Golden Immortal, the realm of Quasi-Saint.

A faint system prompt sounded in Zhou Xuan's mind:

[Ding, your handyman disciple Zhao Gongming's cultivation has returned to Primordial Golden Immortal.]

[Ten Billion Times Share, host's strength has surged again, entering the fifth level of Hunyuan Taiji Celestial Venerable!]

Zhou Xuan calmly picked up the celadon teacup on the jade table, took a sip of tea, and gently put it down before saying in a low voice:

"Wukong, your junior disciple has broken through."

As soon as he finished speaking, a streak of light shot from the orchard and landed on the bluestone steps in front of the hall.

Zhao Gongming's face was flushed, his eyes and brows filled with irrepressible joy. He knelt before Zhou Xuan with a thud and respectfully kowtowed:

"Master, Gongming has succeeded!"

"Not only have I returned to Quasi-Saint, but my spiritual energy is several times more condensed, and my soul is much stronger than before!"

"Master's great kindness is something Gongming can never repay in this life!"

His voice was filled with uncontrollable ecstasy!

He was weeping with joy!

Ever since his true spirit was placed on the Investiture of the Gods List, he had been drinking himself into a stupor day after day, living like a walking corpse.

Now, freed from the constraints of the Investiture of the Gods List, he had a vast world before him, where he could roam freely and unrestrained.

Zhou Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of approval in his eyes:

"Mm, get up."

He slightly turned his head and looked at Sun Wukong:

"Wukong, come, meet your junior disciple."

Sun Wukong hopped forward, hands on his hips, about to speak, when he saw Zhao Gongming already cupping his hands and bowing, respectfully calling out:

"Gongming greets Senior Disciple Brother. After our meeting at Flower-Fruit Mountain, Senior Disciple Brother's cultivation has advanced greatly. Gongming is in awe!"

Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment, then grinned, his monkey fur trembling:

"Heh? Zhao Gongming, what did you just call me? Say it again!"

Zhao Gongming dared not delay, his brows filled with a smile, he respectfully called out again:

"Senior Disciple Brother, Senior Disciple Brother, Gongming greets Senior Disciple Brother!"

Sun Wukong felt a surge of satisfaction, threw his head back, and laughed heartily, repeatedly exclaiming:

"Good, good, good! Old Sun finally has someone calling me Senior Disciple Brother! I'll protect you from now on..."

Mid-sentence, Sun Wukong's smile suddenly froze. His monkey eyes glanced at the surging aura on Zhao Gongming's body, he swallowed, scratched the back of his head, and chuckled sheepishly:

"Ahem... However, Junior Disciple Gongming, your cultivation... it's probably even more powerful than Old Sun's, right?"

Zhao Gongming quickly waved his hands, his expression humble as he said:

"Eldest Brother, there's no need for modesty. I once trained under Sect Master Tongtian and was already a Quasi-Saint during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. As for you, Eldest Brother, you've only been cultivating for a few decades and have already reached the Great Unity Golden Immortal completion stage. Your talent is unparalleled, and your future is limitless. It's only a matter of time before you surpass me."

Sun Wukong heard this, a smile still on his face, but he clenched his fists inwardly. Hmph! Old Sun must break through to the Grand Unity realm quickly, or this Eldest Brother title will bring shame to my face!

Zhou Xuan saw this, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. He raised his eyes to look at Sun Wukong and said unhurriedly:

"Wukong, you must have gained quite a few good things during your training journey down the mountain this time, right?"

Sun Wukong's monkey eyes lit up. He quickly rummaged through his storage ring, a proud smile of seeking praise on his face.

"Hehe, Master, Old Sun went to the Dragon Palace and even visited the Underworld. I didn't come back empty-handed with good stuff! Here..."

He threw out a hand, and a dragon corpse flashing with cold light was tossed onto the bluestone ground. The dragon scales shimmered with a cold, deep blue light under the sun.

"Master, this is a fresh dragon corpse that Old Sun got from the old Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. Its meat is tender and delicious, and it's very beneficial for cultivators!"

As he spoke, Sun Wukong's face was full of pride, his gaze eagerly fixed on Zhou Xuan, waiting for praise.

Zhou Xuan smiled and reached out to rub his monkey head, his fingertips brushing over the soft golden fur.

"Not bad, not bad. My monkey now knows how to show filial piety to his Master. I didn't raise you for nothing, you monkey."

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong's eyes narrowed into slits, his monkey tail swishing with a whoosh. He couldn't help but do a backflip.

"Master, you haven't eaten dragon meat before, have you? Old Sun will roast a dragon for you right now, so you can have a taste!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Gongming chuckled helplessly from the side, shaking his head and sighing.

"Eldest Brother, Master annihilated the entire Chaos Demon Dragon clan. How could he not have eaten mere dragon meat?"

Sun Wukong froze on the spot, blinking his eyes, his body instinctively trembling.

"Cha... Chaos Demon Dragon?!"

The Chaos Demon Ape bloodline within him stirred faintly, and an ancient memory surfaced in his mind: The Chaos Demon Dragon clan was the most ferocious and overbearing race at the beginning of Chaos, one that even Chaos Demon Apes were unwilling to provoke easily!

Sun Wukong glared at Zhao Gongming, his lips pouting.

"Junior Brother, are you saying Master... ate a Chaos Demon Dragon?"

Zhao Gongming respectfully nodded. "Master not only ate them, but he slaughtered the entire Chaos Demon Dragon clan. In that valley behind the mountain, there are still the corpses of over a hundred thousand Chaos Demon Dragons. Gongming feels a tremor of fear every time he passes by and dares not look too closely..."

Hearing this, Sun Wukong was stunned for a moment. He looked at the small Eastern Sea dragon next to him... His monkey face turned redder than a monkey's backside!

Damn it!

Old Sun seems to have embarrassed himself in front of Master again!