Introducing Wuzhen

In the depths of Mount Sumeru, seven beings debated the Dao, and in the blink of an eye, centuries passed.

One day, Xuande suddenly recalled something and said to the others, "Daoist friends, please wait a moment. This humble priest will return shortly."

He rose from beneath the Bodhi Tree and followed a mountain path to Spirit Spring Valley.

The valley still held its clear, gurgling spring and fragrant spiritual herbs.

Wuzhen sat cross-legged on that Green Stone, eyes closed in quiet cultivation.

His aura was far steadier than when he first arrived, and faint Spiritual Light swirled around him.

Under the nourishment of Merit Golden Light, most of his hidden injuries had healed.

Deep within the sealed Six Ears, that faint ripple of divine ability was slowly showing signs of revival.

Xuande stood at the valley's entrance for a moment, watching his disciple, his heart filled with satisfaction.

He truly had worked hard.

Over these years, though Xuande had taught him no techniques, he had never slackened—sitting in stillness day after day, meditating night after night.

That resolve to seek the Dao was unshakable.

"Wuzhen."

Wuzhen opened his eyes. Seeing his Master, he quickly rose and bowed: "Master."

Xuande nodded, signaling him to follow.

Wuzhen trailed behind his Master, leaving Spirit Spring Valley and walking along the mountain path toward the Bodhi Tree. His heart was both anxious and expectant.

His Master had spent these years debating the Dao with those great beings. Why had he summoned him today?

Beneath the Bodhi Tree, the six were chatting idly.

When they saw Xuande approaching with a monkey, all eyes turned to him.

The monkey had golden fur and six ears. He followed behind Xuande, somewhat nervous, but he straightened his back, refusing to show cowardice.

Hongyun's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Six-eared Macaque!"

Wuzhen trembled slightly and lowered his head.

He knew his reputation was poor.

Eavesdropping on the Dao Ancestor's lecture, being publicly rebuked by the Dao Ancestor himself—the entire Primordial Wilderness knew of this.

When great beings saw him, they either showed disgust, contempt, or avoided him entirely.

He didn't know why his Master had brought him to meet these great beings.

Xuande walked before the group and said to Wuzhen, "Wuzhen, these are this priest's Daoist friends and close companions.

This is Daoist friend Zhenyuanzi, whose dojo is at Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain. He holds the Earth Scroll and is this priest's closest friend."

Wuzhen quickly bowed to Zhenyuanzi: "This junior, Wuzhen, pays respects to True Man Zhenyuanzi."

Zhenyuanzi smiled faintly and nodded.

He showed no change in expression at Wuzhen's origins, simply accepting the bow with warmth.

Xuande continued, "This is Daoist friend Hongyun, who cultivates alongside Zhenyuanzi. He is bold and forthright, the most warm-hearted of us all."

Hongyun laughed heartily, stepped forward, and patted Wuzhen's shoulder:

"Good monkey! Follow your Master in cultivation, and you'll surely achieve great things!"

Wuzhen staggered under the pat but felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

This True Man Hongyun did not despise him—instead, he encouraged him.

"Thank you, True Man Hongyun." He bowed solemnly.

Xuande then pointed to Nuwa and Fuxi:

"These two are Daoist friend Nuwa and Daoist friend Fuxi, whose dojo is at Buzhou Mountain.

Daoist friend Nuwa sits on the sixth Cushion of Purple Cloud Palace. Her Dao is profound, and she excels in the path of creation."

Wuzhen quickly bowed to Nuwa and Fuxi: "This junior pays respects to True Man Nuwa and True Man Fuxi."

Nuwa looked at this monkey, her gaze clear and gentle. She said softly, "This priest has heard of your story. Your resolve to seek the Dao is firm; you have failed time and again yet never given up. That is no easy feat.

Now that you have entered Xuande's tutelage, cultivate well.

If you ever have doubts about the path of creation, you may come to Buzhou Mountain to seek this priest."

Wuzhen's whole body trembled, and his eyes instantly grew wet.

He had never imagined that True Man Nuwa would speak such words to him.

"Many thanks, True Man! This junior... this junior will remember this in his heart!" He kowtowed deeply.

Fuxi also smiled and nodded:

"Good. The path of seeking the Dao lies in perseverance. That you have persisted until today is already rare.

If you encounter any problems with deductions in the future, you may also come to find This Humble One."

Wuzhen kowtowed again, already unable to speak.

As for Jieyin and Zhunti, Wuzhen recognized them.

Back then, when he knelt outside the gates of Mount Sumeru, it was these two Martial Uncles and his Master who came out to see him.

In the years he had spent recuperating in the mountain, he occasionally caught glimpses of their figures from afar.

He hurriedly bowed to Jieyin and Zhunti again: "Disciple pays respects to Martial Uncle Jieyin and Martial Uncle Zhunti."

Jieyin nodded slightly, his expression sorrowful yet gentle:

"No need for such formality. Have you been getting along well in the mountain these days?"

Wuzhen said: "Reporting to Martial Uncle, this disciple has been recuperating in Spirit Spring Valley, and everything is fine."

Zhunti smiled:

"Stick close to your Master and don't slack off! Your Master is a capable one—follow him, and you won't lose out!"

Wuzhen nodded vigorously, and finally, tears could not help but stream down his face.

He had lived for countless ages, traveled to many places, and sought guidance from many great powers, yet no one had ever treated him like this.

These True Men, each a top-tier great power of the Primordial Wilderness, none of them despised him or looked down on him.

Instead, they all encouraged him, guided him, and accepted him.

He knelt on the ground, kowtowing deeply to the seven, his voice choked with sobs:

"The great kindness of you True Men, this junior has no way to repay.

Only by cultivating diligently, not failing my Master's teachings, and not failing the high hopes of you True Men!"

Xuande raised his hand in a gentle gesture, and a soft force lifted him up.

"Rise," he said warmly. "Your injuries are not yet healed, so you should not exert yourself too much.

Return and continue to rest. Once the Dao Ancestor's third sermon is complete, your Master will teach you the methods of cultivation.

By then, your injuries will be healed, your divine powers restored, and you can begin your training."

Wuzhen nodded firmly: "Disciple will strictly follow Master's teachings!"

He bowed once more to the group before turning to leave, his steps much lighter than when he had arrived.

Hongyun watched his retreating figure and sighed with emotion:

"This monkey is not bad—grateful and steadfast in his pursuit of the Dao. Daoist friend Xuande, you've taken on a fine disciple."

Xuande smiled faintly: "It is also fate. He came to Mount Sumeru to kneel and beg; if This Humble One had turned him away at the door, how could my heart bear it?"

Nuwa said softly: "Daoist friend is compassionate. This Six-eared Macaque's origins are extraordinary; it was only a single wrong thought thousands of years ago that nearly severed his path of Dao.

Now, meeting Daoist friend is both his fortune and your good karma."

Fuxi nodded: "The Great Dao has fifty paths, and heaven derives forty-nine. That one which escaped lies precisely on Mount Sumeru."

The group chatted for a while longer before continuing their discussion of the Dao.

Time flowed like water, slipping away quietly amidst their debates and insights.

Five hundred years—for a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, it was but a snap of the fingers.

One day, Xuande rose and looked at the others:

"Daoist friends, there are still five hundred years until the Dao Ancestor's third sermon. We should set out."

Everyone rose in turn.

The seven mounted their Escape Lights and departed Mount Sumeru, flying toward the direction of Chaos.

This time, no one was anxious.

Having made the round trip three times, Chaos was now familiar ground to them.

Two hundred years later, that familiar point of light appeared ahead.

Purple Cloud Palace.

That ancient, unadorned palace floated silently within Chaos, a faint purple light flowing around it.

Unlike before, two figures were already waiting outside the palace gates.

Haotian. Yaochi.

Seeing the seven arrive, the two hurried forward to greet them.

"Haotian, Yaochi, pay respects to you True Men." The two bowed.