On Mount Sumeru, seven people discussed the Dao. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of years passed.
One day, Xuande suddenly remembered something and said to everyone,
"Fellow Daoists, please wait here a moment. I'll be right back."
He rose and left the shade beneath the Bodhi Tree. Following a mountain path, he arrived at Spirit Spring Valley.
The valley was as it had always been, with clear springs burbling and fragrant spirit herbs.
Wuzhen was meditating on the same blue stone, his eyes closed.
His breathing was much steadier than when he had first arrived, and a faint Spiritual Light seemed to flow around him.
Nourished by the Merit Golden Light, most of his hidden injuries had healed.
Deep within Six Ears, sealed away, that faint trace of supernatural power was also showing signs of revival.
Xuande stood at the valley entrance for a moment, looking at his disciple with a heart full of satisfaction.
He really was hardworking.
All these years, though Xuande had taught him no cultivation techniques, he had never slacked off. He meditated every day and studied the Dao every night.
His resolve to seek the Dao was unwavering.
"Wuzhen."
Wuzhen opened his eyes. Seeing his master, he hurried to his feet and bowed. "Master."
Xuande nodded, then gestured for him to follow.
Wuzhen followed his master out of Spirit Spring Valley and along the mountain path toward the Bodhi Tree. His heart was uneasy, but also full of anticipation.
His master had spent all these years discussing the Dao with those powerful figures. Why had he suddenly called for him today?
Beneath the Bodhi Tree, six people were chatting.
When they saw Xuande approaching with a monkey, they all turned to look.
The monkey was covered in golden fur and had six ears. He followed behind Xuande, looking somewhat ill at ease, but tried to keep his back straight so he wouldn't seem too timid.
Hong Yun's eyes lit up, and the words escaped him. "Six-eared Macaque!"
Wuzhen shuddered slightly and lowered his head.
He knew his reputation was bad.
He had eavesdropped on the Dao Ancestor's lecture and been personally rebuked by him. Everyone in the Primordial Wilderness knew about it.
Whenever those powerful figures saw him, they either loathed him, looked down on him, or avoided him.
He didn't know why his master had brought him to meet these powerful figures.
Xuande walked up to the others and said to Wuzhen,
"Wuzhen, these are my fellow Daoists and friends.
"This is Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi. His Daoist temple is Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, and he wields the Earth Scroll. He is one of my closest friends."
Wuzhen hurriedly bowed to Zhenyuanzi. "This junior is Wuzhen. Greetings, True Man Zhenyuanzi."
Zhenyuanzi smiled faintly and nodded.
He showed no sign of disdain over Wuzhen's origins, and accepted the bow with warmth.
Xuande continued introducing them. "This is Fellow Daoist Hong Yun. He cultivates alongside Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi. He's easygoing and always eager to help."
Hong Yun laughed heartily and stepped forward to pat Wuzhen on the shoulder.
"Good monkey! Follow your master and cultivate well. You'll surely become a great figure one day!"
Wuzhen stumbled from the slap, but a warmth welled up inside him.
This True Man Hong Yun didn't look down on him. Instead, he encouraged him.
"Thank you, True Man Hong Yun." He bowed solemnly.
Xuande pointed to Nuwa and Fuxi.
"These two are Fellow Daoist Nuwa and Fellow Daoist Fuxi. Their Daoist temple is on Buzhou Mountain.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa sat on the sixth meditation cushion in Zixiao Palace. Her Dao was profound, and she excelled most in the Creation Dao."
Wuzhen hurriedly bowed to Nuwa and Fuxi. "This junior pays his respects to True Man Nuwa and True Man Fuxi."
Nuwa looked at the monkey with clear, gentle eyes. She spoke softly.
"I've heard what happened to you. Your resolve to seek the Dao is firm, and you've kept getting back up after every defeat. That's not easy.
"Now that you've joined Fellow Daoist Xuande's sect, cultivate well.
"If you ever have questions about creation, you may come find me on Buzhou Mountain."
Wuzhen trembled, and his eyes instantly grew wet.
He hadn't expected True Man Nuwa to say such things to him.
"Thank you, True Man! This junior... this junior will remember your words!" He bowed deeply.
Fuxi also nodded with a smile.
"Good. The most important thing on the path of the Dao is perseverance. To have held on until today is already remarkable.
"If you ever have questions about divination, you may come find me as well."
Wuzhen bowed again, unable to speak.
As for Jieyin and Zhunti, Wuzhen already knew them.
Back when he had knelt outside the gates of Mount Sumeru, these two Martial Uncles had come out with his master to meet him.
During the years he had spent recuperating on the mountain, he had occasionally seen them from afar.
He hurriedly bowed to Jieyin and Zhunti. "This disciple pays his respects to Martial Uncle Jieyin and Martial Uncle Zhunti."
Jieyin nodded slightly, his sorrowful expression softened by warmth.
"There's no need for such formalities. Have you been comfortable on the mountain these past few days?"
Wuzhen replied, "To answer Martial Uncle, this disciple has been recuperating in Spirit Spring Valley. Everything is well."
Zhunti smiled.
"Follow your master and work hard. Don't slack off! Your master is quite capable. You won't come to any harm following him!"
Wuzhen nodded vigorously, and at last, he couldn't hold back his tears.
He had lived for countless years, traveled to many places, and sought help from many powerful figures, yet no one had ever treated him this way.
These True Men were all top powers in the Primordial Wilderness, yet not one of them looked down on him or despised him.
Instead, they encouraged him, offered him guidance, and accepted him.
He knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to the seven, his voice choked with emotion.
"I have no way to repay the kindness of you True Men.
"I can only cultivate well and live up to my master's teachings and your high expectations!"
Xuande raised a hand in a gentle gesture, and a soft force lifted him to his feet.
"Rise," he said gently. "Your injuries haven't healed yet, so you shouldn't exert yourself too much.
"Go back and continue recuperating. After the Dao Ancestor finishes his Third Sermon, I'll teach you how to cultivate.
"By then, your injuries will be healed and your supernatural powers restored. It'll be the perfect time to begin your cultivation."
Wuzhen nodded vigorously. "This disciple will heed your teachings, Master!"
He bowed to everyone once more, then turned to leave, his steps much lighter than before.
Watching him go, Hong Yun remarked with feeling,
"That monkey's a good one. He knows how to repay kindness, and his resolve to seek the Dao is firm. Fellow Daoist Xuande, you've taken on a fine disciple."
Xuande smiled faintly. "It was fate. He came to Mount Sumeru and knelt to beg me. How could I have turned him away?"
Nuwa said softly, "You are compassionate, Fellow Daoist. The Six-eared Macaque has an extraordinary origin. It was only because of one thoughtless act thousands of years ago that his path nearly came to an end.
"Now that he has met you, it is his good fortune—and a virtuous bond for you as well."
Fuxi nodded. "The Great Dao is fifty, while Heaven's calculations account for forty-nine. The one that escaped was waiting for him here on Mount Sumeru."
The group chatted a little longer, then continued discussing the Dao.
Time flowed like water, passing quietly as they discussed and studied the Dao.
For Grand Unity Golden Immortals, five hundred years was no more than the blink of an eye.
One day, Xuande rose and looked at the others.
"Fellow Daoists, the Dao Ancestor's Third Sermon is five hundred years away. We should set out."
Everyone rose to their feet.
The seven summoned their Escape Lights, left Mount Sumeru, and flew toward Chaos.
This time, none of them felt uneasy.
After making the journey three times, they had grown thoroughly familiar with Chaos.
Two hundred years later, a familiar speck of light appeared in the distance.
Zixiao Palace.
The ancient palace floated quietly in Chaos, a faint purple glow flowing around it.
Unlike before, two figures were already waiting outside the palace gates.
Haotian. Yaochi.
When they saw the seven arrive, they hurried forward to greet them.
"Haotian and Yaochi pay their respects to the True Men." They bowed.