Rumble!!!
As if angered by Jieyin's actions, the tribulation clouds churned overhead, and thousands of shining silver serpents came crashing down.
"What?!"
Sensing danger, Jieyin jerked his head up and finally realized something was wrong. Why was he helping Yunxiao block the tribulation?
How could that be allowed?
His goal was to watch the lightning strike Yunxiao dead. Blocking the tribulation was out of the question!
Besides, the Heavenly Dao wouldn't allow it, either, would it?
But when Jieyin tried to pull away, he discovered that the space around him had been sealed off.
"Damn it!!!"
Realizing what was going on, Jieyin flew into a rage. "Tongtian, what are you doing? Release me at once!"
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to get so worked up!"
Sect Leader Tongtian kept smiling, his tone utterly sincere. "The tribulation clouds have already set their sights on you. Running won't help, so you might as well take them head-on!"
"Exactly!"
Journey to the West Tongtian chimed in from the side. "With Fellow Daoist Jieyin's strength, a mere tribulation cloud should pose no danger to you. You could wipe them out with a wave of your hand."
"You—you two?!"
Listening to the two Tongtians play off each other, Jieyin trembled with rage.
The tribulation clouds truly weren't much of a threat to him. Even if he took them head-on, he'd probably just end up covered in soot.
But the problem was, Hong Jun was behind those tribulation clouds!
Could he really afford to take them on so casually?
He was certain of it!
If he took the Dao Ancestor's tribulation clouds—the ones meant to test Yunxiao—then what awaited him would probably be a slap from the Dao Ancestor.
"Fellow Daoist, aren't you going too far?!"
As one of the Two Saints of the West, Jieyin had fallen into trouble, and Zhunti naturally couldn't stand by and do nothing... even if it looked like Jieyin had brought this on himself?
With a helpless sigh, Zhunti stepped forward and cupped his hands toward the two Tongtians. "Fellow Daoists, you should both understand the significance of the tribulation clouds. If Jieyin takes them on, it won't be good for your disciples."
"And what of it?"
Sect Leader Tongtian wasn't intimidated by Zhunti's words. He gave a disdainful laugh. "Zhunti, are you really stupid, or are you pretending to be?"
"The significance of the tribulation clouds? What significance do they have?"
"Their only purpose is to eliminate a few unlucky souls and warn us cultivators to cherish this world, isn't that right?"
"But my disciple could never—and should never—be one of those unlucky souls."
At that, Sect Leader Tongtian looked up at Jieyin, who was being battered by the tribulation clouds until his hair stood on end, then glanced at Yunxiao, who was taking the final step and beginning to draw in all her aura. His voice was calm as he said,
"Dao Ancestor, since the rules have been set, they must be followed. Isn't that so?"
"...Sigh~!"
A long, quiet sigh sounded, and the sky, which had been dark as night, turned clear in an instant.
Then,
A stream of Heavenly Dao merit, even more substantial than before, descended with the sunlight and scattered across every corner of heaven and earth.
Even Xuanming received quite a bit.
"What's this?"
Feeling several warm currents appear inside him, Xuanming looked at Bi Xiao in surprise and asked in a low voice,
"S-Senior Sister, what's going on? Wasn't the merit supposed to go to Eldest Senior Sister?"
"Hmph~!"
Bi Xiao gave a petulant snort and lifted her chin, refusing to acknowledge Xuanming, as if to say, "Keep your distance. Don't ask me anything."
"Heh..."
Seeing that, Xuanming chuckled and moved closer to Bi Xiao, gently bumping her with his shoulder.
"Dear Senior Sister, just tell me, please? If something good comes along in the future, you'll be the first person I think of!"
"Yeah, right. I don't believe you!"
Bi Xiao curled her lip in disdain. After all, when this guy had gotten the Primordial Violet Qi, the first person he'd given it to was Eldest Senior Sister!
But then,
Thinking of that Primordial Violet Qi, she glanced up at her senior sister, who was about to become a Saint, and her tone softened.
"It's heaven and earth celebrating Senior Sister's ascension to Sainthood. You could say it's a celebration for all, so people who usually do good deeds are granted merit."
As she spoke, Bi Xiao remembered that Xuanming had only received a palm-sized portion of merit and destiny just now. She couldn't help teasing him:
"You brat, that's what you get for daring to abandon Master! Even the Heavenly Dao can't stand it!"
"Then it must be blind!"
Xuanming wouldn't admit he'd abandoned Master. Smiling, he explained, "Little Senior Sister, I did it for your sake, you know?"
"Think about it!"
"If I were still your disciple, wouldn't Eldest Senior Sister feel awkward seeing me after she became a Saint?"
"Huh? Why would she feel awkward?"
Bi Xiao clearly didn't understand why her senior sister would feel awkward around Xuanming after becoming a Saint.
Shouldn't she be looking after him?
After all, with a Saint as your master or senior uncle, you could throw your weight around anywhere in the whole Primordial World, couldn't you?
"Wouldn't she feel awkward?"
Xuanming looked at Bi Xiao in feigned surprise. "Little Senior Sister, if a master or senior uncle receives such a precious gift from a disciple, can they still treat that disciple like usual afterward?"
"This..."
Bi Xiao fell silent.
That did seem right?
She didn't know whether Eldest Senior Sister would feel awkward, but if she received a very precious gift from a disciple, she'd definitely find it harder to discipline him afterward.
"Exactly!"
Seeing that Bi Xiao had fallen for his argument, Xuanming continued without batting an eye. "A master would feel awkward receiving things from a disciple, but it's different if I become your junior fellow disciple!"
"Just think about it."
"Isn't it only natural for a junior fellow disciple to show filial respect to his senior sister? Besides, you've always been so good to me!"
"Senior Sister, don't you agree?"
"W-Well, maybe?"
Bi Xiao thought there was something off about that argument, but after imagining Xuanming showing her filial respect, she realized she probably wouldn't feel awkward at all.
After all, she'd practically raised the brat herself.
With that in mind, before Xuanming could continue talking her around, Bi Xiao gracefully held out her jade-white hand.
"Junior Brother, I understand what you mean. So, where's the gift you owe me?"
"Uh???"
Xuanming's expression froze. Looking at Bi Xiao's sly smile, he suddenly felt as if he'd been caught in a trap.
Was it just his imagination?
Fortunately,
Just as Xuanming was at a loss and preparing to rummage through his belongings to see what else he had,
"Weng~!!!"
A resonant hum rang through the Heavenly Dao. Streams of Heavenly Dao merit descended one after another, and the entire sky seemed to turn golden.
Immortal cranes circled overhead, celestial music filled the air, and torrents brimming with the Dao's meaning spread across the Primordial World.
Then Yunxiao's clear, resolute voice sounded as if it came from beyond the Nine Hells, yet also right beside everyone's ears.
"I, Yunxiao, become a Saint today. I will preach the Dao on Golden Turtle Island for three hundred years. All who are fated to hear it may come!"
Before you continue