The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin and Zhunti, Kunpeng, Minghe, Fuxi, and the other mighty ones all wore expectant expressions.
The dual temptations of status and a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure were hard to resist.
Duke of the East was especially excited, nearly unable to contain himself. He was practically ready to stand up. The Queen Mother of the West had taken form from the first wisp of Yin Qi, while he had taken form from the first wisp of pure Yang Qi.
Wouldn't that make him the Head of Male Immortals?
It made perfect sense!
Hongjun swept his gaze around the room, passing over the mighty ones before finally settling on Di Jun and Tai Yi.
The mighty ones who noticed immediately felt uneasy.
"Could it be?"
"Is the Head of Male Immortals going to be a Golden Crow too?"
Even Di Jun and Tai Yi looked bewildered.
"Again?"
The next moment, Hongjun shifted his gaze. He had expected the Golden Crows would most likely refuse, so he settled for the next best thing and looked at Hong Yun.
He had sensed that Hong Yun seemed to have a good relationship with Di Jun and Tai Yi, so he wanted to use Hong Yun to pull the two of them into the matter.
With Hong Yun's background, it would be difficult for him to win everyone over as the Head of Male Immortals. When that happened, he would inevitably have to ask the Golden Crows for help.
Wouldn't that do the trick?
As long as they got caught up in the affair and a fight broke out, everything would fall naturally into place.
"Hong Yun, you are the first red cloud formed between heaven and earth, and you carry great fortune. You should be the Head of Male Immortals."
Hongjun spoke calmly, his face solemn and imposing.
As soon as the words fell, the mighty ones erupted, their faces full of indignation.
"Hong Yun is worthy of being the Head of Male Immortals? What has he done to deserve it?"
He was merely the first red cloud formed between heaven and earth. With such humble origins, any one of the mighty ones seated at the front of the Purple Heaven Palace could easily crush him.
It wasn't only the others who were stunned. Even Hong Yun found it unbelievable, as if he were in a dream.
It was no exaggeration to say that even he felt unworthy.
His heart raced, his hands trembled, and he was about to thank the Sage for his grace when he suddenly came to his senses.
Feeling the hostile gazes all around him and recalling what his friend Di Jun had done earlier, Hong Yun suddenly realized this wasn't a good position to take. It could easily cost him his life.
He scratched his head sheepishly and said with a smile, "Sage, this disciple is dull-witted and weak. I'm afraid I'm not up to the task. I humbly ask you to withdraw your decree!"
He spoke sincerely and openly, without the slightest attachment to the position of Head of Male Immortals.
"Beautiful!"
Behind Hong Yun, Di Jun and Tai Yi were so excited they nearly clapped their hands.
Hongjun's expression faltered slightly, as if he hadn't expected Hong Yun to refuse him.
Unbelievable.
The Golden Crows had been a bad influence on him!
"Hong Yun, are you truly unwilling to serve as the Head of Male Immortals?" Hongjun asked in a low voice, displeasure already showing in his gaze.
"Yes. Hong Yun is unworthy of the position. I humbly ask the Sage to withdraw his decree!" Hong Yun answered solemnly, without the slightest hesitation.
A top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was wonderful, but only if you lived long enough to use it.
I, Hong Yun, will never be the Head of Male Immortals!
His resolve only grew stronger. After he refused, he could clearly feel the hostile gazes around him gradually fade.
The mighty ones were naturally pleased. Since Hong Yun had known his place and declined, they all had a chance.
Hongjun waved lightly, signaling for him to sit down. He didn't want to say any more. Then his gaze shifted again, falling on Zhenyuanzi beside Hong Yun.
If taking one step back wasn't enough, he would take another.
Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun were as close as brothers. It would make no difference which of them became the Head of Male Immortals.
Just as Hongjun was about to speak, he saw Zhenyuanzi avoiding his gaze, looking left and right. He might as well have written "I refuse" across his face.
"This..."
Forget it. Let it all be destroyed. He would go merge with the Dao.
Hongjun's gaze gradually turned cold, but with all the mighty ones watching, he couldn't lose his temper.
The mighty ones also sensed the delicate atmosphere and immediately fell silent, daring not to show the slightest reaction.
But some were bold. Seeing this, Duke of the East felt his chance had come. He stood up at once and said respectfully,
"This disciple is willing to ease Master's burden and accept the position of Head of Male Immortals."
He looked solemn and utterly sincere, radiating righteousness. In truth, his heart was full of apprehension.
Duke of the East's sudden move drew cold sneers from the mighty ones.
"He's asking for death!"
The Sage's expression had already turned strange, yet he still dared to step forward. For the sake of a reward, he was willing to throw his life away.
But what the mighty ones hadn't expected was that Hongjun merely glanced at Duke of the East, then slowly nodded.
"Very well. Since you're willing, the position of Head of Male Immortals shall go to Duke of the East."
"I bestow upon you the top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Dragon-Headed Staff. Use it well to govern and lead the male immortals of the Primordial World and uphold order. Do not disappoint me!"
Hongjun swept his sleeve, and a gleaming golden Dragon-Headed Staff flew out and came to rest before Duke of the East.
Duke of the East accepted it with both hands, knelt, and bowed. Excitedly, he said, "Duke of the East will not fail the Sage's expectations!"
"What?"
The mighty ones were dumbfounded. Was it really that simple?
They had thought Duke of the East was about to be doomed, but the Sage had handed him the position of Head of Male Immortals just like that.
Some of the mighty ones were green with regret. If they'd known, they would have stepped forward too.
"I could do that too!"
The mighty ones seethed with jealousy and regret, convinced that Duke of the East had gotten the position of Head of Male Immortals simply because he'd stepped forward first!
The only ones who might have felt relieved were Di Jun, Tai Yi, Zhenyuanzi, and Hong Yun.
Zhenyuanzi especially was indifferent to fame and fortune, preferring peace and quiet to activity. Whatever the reason, he didn't want to become the Head of Male Immortals.
So when Hongjun had looked at him, he'd immediately guessed that the Sage wanted him to take the position.
After all, Hongjun had even taken an interest in his friend Hong Yun. There was no reason he would be any less worthy than Hong Yun.
"Very well. Today's sermon ends here."
"In ten thousand years, I will give my final sermon."
"Then I will teach the complete path to Sainthood. In addition, I will select a number of those destined to meet me and take them as disciples."
As his words fell, Hongjun's figure vanished.
A short while later, the Purple Heaven Palace erupted in an uproar. The mighty ones were all stirred up.
"The Sage is taking disciples!"
Hongjun's final words had to be said to have stirred them all beyond measure.
Although those who came to the Purple Heaven Palace to hear his sermons often called themselves disciples, they didn't even count as the Sage's nominal disciples.
They had no standing or title.
Now the Sage had personally said he would take a number of disciples, but he hadn't specified how many "a number" meant.
Every mighty one felt they had a chance. The moment they became the Sage's disciple, their status would change completely.
Not only would they receive the Sage's guidance, they could also throw their weight around in the Primordial World.
On top of that, they eagerly awaited the complete path to Sainthood and wished the next ten thousand years would pass in the blink of an eye.
Just as before, Hongjun had left endless suspense for the next sermon.
Before it had even begun, he had already hooked the mighty ones beyond hope.
Before you continue