"Hmm~!!"
Just as Sect Leader Tongtian and Xuanming were chatting idly, the already terrifying pressure grew even stronger after a soft hum.
"Thump~!"
"Thump~!"
As the pressure intensified, the Interception Sect disciples, who had been unharmed as allies, could no longer endure it and fell to their knees.
"That girl..."
Seeing this, Sect Leader Tongtian chuckled and shook his head. He raised a hand and conjured a barrier before them, finally letting them breathe a sigh of relief.
"Master, are you all right?"
Daoist Duobao and the others had spotted Sect Leader Tongtian long ago, but hadn't had a reason to approach and greet him. Now they hurried over to his side, all talking at once as they asked what was going on.
Apart from Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao, who had been there at the time, they had no idea that Xuanming had given Yunxiao Primordial Violet Qi.
So,
When they saw Yunxiao make the great vow to restore the Interception Sect, only for the fortune of heaven and earth to pour into her and Golden Light of Merit to surge toward her as if it cost nothing, they couldn't help feeling envious and jealous.
Still, it never occurred to them that Yunxiao might become a sage.
Hong Jun had done a very thorough job spreading the word.
Whether in the main interface or this Journey to the West interface, anyone who had cultivated to the Great Luo or Quasi-Saint level knew about Primordial Violet Qi.
So,
Daoist Duobao and the others were merely puzzled. Why would restoring the Interception Sect bring Yunxiao so much Golden Light of Merit?
"Heh..."
Listening to their open and barely concealed envy, Sect Leader Tongtian's lips curled up. "Duobao, Golden Spirit, don't you think this scene looks familiar?"
"Hm??"
Daoist Duobao paused at his words, then turned to study Yunxiao in midair. His pupils suddenly contracted.
Didn't his memories contain a similar scene?
What was it?
It was like the moment Master had made a great vow, founded the Interception Sect, and immediately become a sage...
Wait!
Could that really be happening?!
Suppressing the absurd thought rising from the depths of his heart, Daoist Duobao murmured hoarsely, "M-Master, this... this can't be real, can it?"
"Why couldn't it be?" Sect Leader Tongtian asked with a smile.
"..."
Daoist Duobao's heart sank, and he could no longer keep his expression composed. He asked awkwardly, "Master, didn't Dao Ancestor say that one needs the foundation of sagehood to become a sage? Where would Junior Sister get that foundation?"
"Your Deputy Sect Leader gave it to her!"
Sect Leader Tongtian nodded toward Xuanming beside him. "Xuanming found The One Who Escaped and gave it to Yunxiao a few days ago. So, with this opportunity to restore the Interception Sect, she should be able to break through the constraints of the Quasi-Saint realm!"
"N-No way?"
"What??"
"The One Who Escaped??"
It wasn't just Daoist Duobao who was dumbfounded. Even Golden Spirit Mother and the others, who had barely been paying attention before, were stunned.
This had to be fake, right?
The legendary One Who Escaped?
Not even Ancestor Hong Yun or the Demon Master Kunpeng could find it. How had a mere Grand Unity Golden Immortal found it?
And then this kid had given it to Yunxiao?
Seriously?
Was there something wrong with his head?
That was the foundation of sagehood! A mighty treasure that could break through the limits of the Quasi-Saint realm and elevate one from a mere pawn to the one holding heaven and earth's banner!
And you just gave it away like that?
After staring at Xuanming for a long while, Daoist Duobao let out a complicated sigh. He didn't know whether it was praise or mockery.
"Deputy Sect Leader, you really are... generous!"
"Of course!"
Xuanming smiled, unbothered. To people who didn't know about the system, he wasn't merely generous.
He was an idiot!
But then again,
For someone like him, who would soon possess another strand of Primordial Violet Qi and might even directly obtain the Dao Fruit of a Hunyuan Sage, a mere strand of Primordial Violet Qi...
All right!
It was still extremely precious!
But no matter how precious something was, if he kept it instead of putting it to use, it was no different from a scrap of paper.
Especially since he was only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal right now!
How long would it take to cultivate from the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm to the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm?
Even the most brilliant genius would probably need several thousand, or even ten thousand years, right?
By then, the Primordial Violet Qi would be gathering dust!
But Daoist Duobao didn't know any of this. Neither did Golden Spirit Mother and the others, nor even Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao.
So,
As they looked at Xuanming, who had handed over the foundation of sagehood without a second thought, the people present began to regard him with a whole new look.
"Good disciple, don't worry!"
Bi Xiao sensed that something was off. She flashed to Xuanming's side, swept her gaze around the others, and declared firmly,
"Once Senior Sister breaks through, I'll have you become her disciple too. Then let's see who dares bully you!"
"Huh??"
Xuanming stared at her, momentarily confused. "Master, I'm supposed to become Eldest Martial Uncle's disciple? What about you?"
"Me? I'm still your master, of course!"
Bi Xiao pursed her lips with a perfectly serious expression. "Who says you can only have one master? From now on, she can teach you how to use the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors, and I'll teach you how to cultivate. What do you think?"
"Well..."
Xuanming's lips twitched. He looked at his master with an amused, helpless expression. "Master, if I remember correctly, Second Martial Uncle is the one who usually teaches me to cultivate, isn't he?"
"Huh? Is that so?"
Bi Xiao's pretty face flushed slightly, and her eyes darted upward in embarrassment. "Well, if you want, you can have Second Martial Uncle as your master too. Then you'll have three masters!"
"...Enough nonsense!"
When Bi Xiao finished speaking, Xuanming was dumbfounded—and even Sect Leader Tongtian couldn't hold back.
"Little Bi Xiao, with your mediocre skills, stop making a mess of Xuanming!"
"Master~!!!"
Called out in front of everyone by Sect Leader Tongtian, Bi Xiao's pretty face quickly turned red. She stamped her foot in protest.
"Weren't you the one who told your disciple to take Xuanming in? You didn't mind my mediocre skills back then, but now you do?"
"Ahem, well..."
Sect Leader Tongtian looked a little embarrassed too. Back then, he hadn't thought much of Xuanming. He had only noticed him because his past was shrouded in mystery.
And since they'd been near San Xiao Island at the time, he'd simply left Xuanming in San Xiao's care.
But now?
Thinking of all the good things Xuanming had, and how he'd casually given Nuwa an Innate Supreme Treasure despite being such a spendthrift, Sect Leader Tongtian felt he needed to personally keep an eye on him.
After all,
Even he didn't have many Innate Supreme Treasures. How could Xuanming casually give one away as a gift?
With that in mind,
Under the astonished gazes of Bi Xiao, Qiong Xiao, and everyone present, Sect Leader Tongtian announced without batting an eye,
"That was then. This is now!"
"Now that Xuanming is the Deputy Sect Leader of my Interception Sect, his Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation is simply too unimpressive!"
"So, I've decided to have him stay by my side. I'll personally teach him!"
"Who has a problem with that?"
Before you continue