Zhunti Deceives Red Cloud

Once the seven purple jade cushions at the front had been claimed, the great divine beings all felt there might be some fateful opportunity within them. Failing to seize one was somewhat regrettable!

But it was only regret, nothing more. After all, they did not know that those seven purple jade cushions were the key to attaining the Dao and becoming Saints. None of the great divine beings could bring themselves to cast aside their dignity merely to contend for that tiny bit of regret!

In those days, dignity was what the great divine beings valued most. Though it could not compare to a Saint's position, casting aside one's dignity over a little regret was absolutely out of the question. After all, no one had imagined that Hongjun, newly become a Saint, would hold so many foundations for sainthood in his hands!

Of course, many in the Primordial Wilderness cared about pomp and dignity, but there were also those who had no shame at all. Zhunti of the Western Realm was a typical example!

Jieyin and Zhunti had traveled painstakingly from the barren Western Realm to the Purple Cloud Palace, full of anticipation to hear the Dao. Yet the moment they stepped before the Purple Cloud Palace, they saw countless great Eastern cultivators already waiting outside its gates. No one could understand how they felt!

At present, among the three thousand great divine beings, only the two of them came from the Western Realm. Now that they were here to hear the Saint speak of the Dao, they naturally wished to sit in the front rows. First, it would bolster the Western Realm's prestige and prepare for drawing Eastern talent into the Western Realm. Second, they truly wished to sit closer and better hear the Saintly Dao!

Had one ever seen a teacher lecture, only for someone seated in the rear to earn that teacher's favor?

It was like a saying that flowed through later generations' officialdom: no matter how well you worked, if your superior could not see it, it was useless. If you wanted to rise quickly through the ranks, you had to work right beneath your superior's nose. After all, there were plenty of people who could work and knew how to work. One more of you made no difference, one fewer made no difference. If your superior could not see you, why would they promote you?

Just like now, there were countless Eastern great cultivators and wise beings. If you could not sit in the front row, why would the Saint care about you?

At this moment, Jieyin and Zhunti shared precisely this mindset. Staring at the seven purple jade cushions beneath the platform ahead, they could not help swallowing. A trace of greed flashed deep in their eyes. The two exchanged a glance, then swept their gazes from right to left!

The Three Pure Ones sat as steady as old gods; they could not be touched. Nuwa was a woman and could not be contested. Mu Jizi and Styx Ancestor were clearly not easy opponents either, so they could not be robbed. Only when they saw Red Cloud, whose face radiated great kindness, did their eyes light up. After a brief consideration, they formed a plan!

"Alas~~~~" With a sigh like that of the most miserable man in the world, Zhunti revealed a bitter expression and cried aloud, "Senior Brother, we traveled countless miles from the barren lands of the Western Realm to hear the Saint expound the Dao in the Purple Cloud Palace, yet we must hide in the back. How can we bear this?"

Hearing this, the suffering expression on Jieyin's face became even more bitter. He sighed softly. "Junior Brother, do not be like this. We two are fortunate enough to hear the Saint's Grand Dao. What difference does it make whether we sit in the front or the back?"

"It is not that this foolish younger brother is being unreasonable—it is that my heart aches for you, Senior Brother!" Zhunti beat his chest and stamped his feet, speaking loudly and dramatically. Afterward, he continued sighing. The two of them actually made the gathered great divine beings feel sorrow welling up in their hearts!

At this moment, the two played off each other flawlessly. Coupled with their bedraggled appearances, which they had not yet washed away with magic power, their performance was absolutely marvelous, drawing everyone in!

Just then, a great divine being asked, "Fellow Daoist, why does your heart ache for your senior brother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhunti's eyes shifted slightly. Seeing that it was none other than Red Cloud, whose face bore an air of great kindness, delight rose in his heart. Yet he merely sighed and answered, "Fellow Daoist, you do not know this. My senior brother Jieyin is a man of great compassion. He wishes to enlighten the living beings of our barren Western Realm, so that all its beings may attain bliss and no longer suffer its barrenness. If my senior brother cannot sit in the front, the Dao words and truths he hears will not be clear enough. Then how will he enlighten the living beings of our barren Western Realm?"

Zhunti's question left Red Cloud speechless. Seeing that Jieyin truly possessed the bearing of great compassion, his face pale and his expression full of suffering, Red Cloud believed Zhunti's words. Yet Red Cloud was, after all, a being of great wisdom. Naturally, he would not yield his seat merely because Jieyin possessed a compassionate heart!

Though moved in his heart, he did not act. Though sympathy showed on his face, he remained seated upon the purple jade cushion!

"I see that you too are a person of great kindness, Fellow Daoist. How can you bear to watch my senior brother fail to learn the Saint's methods, and deny the living beings of our Western Realm the chance to enjoy bliss?" Seeing this, Zhunti added fuel to the fire and pressed on, "I beg you, Fellow Daoist, to show great compassion and yield this seat to my senior brother Jieyin!"

After saying this, Zhunti no longer cared for his dignity. He gazed eagerly at Red Cloud, looking exactly like a resentful woman shut away in her chambers!

Red Cloud hesitated for a while. Though he knew there was great mystery in the seat beneath him, he could not endure Zhunti's look. After all, he was the famed good man of the Primordial Wilderness. Other than Kunpeng, his fated rival, to whom he never showed a pleasant face, he greeted everyone else with a smile!

If he had not asked that question just now, then no matter what Zhunti said, he would not have given up his seat. But by a twist of fate, he had asked it. The other party had already answered him and even cast aside his dignity to beg for a seat on his senior brother's behalf. Under such circumstances, if he still refused to yield his seat, would he not seem petty?

This seat may possess some fateful blessing, but it should not be too great. I will yield it to him and sit in the back instead. I can still hear the Saint's exposition clearly. In this way, I can grant a good karmic favor—it is a worthwhile bargain!

Red Cloud calculated thus in his heart, never realizing that the workings of Heaven had already clouded his mind. He believed he had neither gained nor lost, yet he did not know that his loss was enormous!

After thinking for a while, Red Cloud said:

"Since Brother Daoist Jieyin possesses such a great compassionate heart, I shall yield this seat to him. We need only form a good karmic bond!"

Hearing this, Zhunti was helpless. He faintly sensed that such an opportunity was no small matter and feared that such a karmic bond would not be easy to form. But at present, he had no time to consider it and hurriedly agreed!

Thus, Jieyin thanked Red Cloud and took the seventh purple jade cushion!

When Zhunti saw his elder brother seated upon the seventh purple jade cushion while he himself still had none, urgency rose in his heart. He looked at those seated on the purple jade cushions, made a small calculation in his mind, and formed another plan!

At this moment, among the seven seated upon the purple jade cushions, some formed groups of two, some groups of three. Only Styx Ancestor sat utterly alone. Though he was not easy to provoke, Zhunti had no other choice now!

With that thought, Zhunti abruptly changed his tone and declared righteously, "Styx Ancestor, you are merely a foul and gloomy being. What virtue or ability do you possess to dare enjoy this honored seat and receive such fateful opportunity?"

In truth, Styx Ancestor had transformed from an innate womb within the Nine Nether Blood Sea. Strictly speaking, he was also an innate being. Yet the Nine Nether Blood Sea was indeed a foul and gloomy place, so Zhunti's words were not entirely false!

At that moment, Styx Ancestor was so furious that the Three Corpses Gods leaped in rage. His old face flushed red as he raised a trembling hand to point at Zhunti, just about to curse him aloud!

But Primordial Heavenly Venerable spoke first. "Fellow Daoist Zhunti is correct. Styx, you are merely a foul and gloomy being. How can you sit together with us?"

Primordial Heavenly Venerable also placed great importance on one's origins. Zhunti's words struck straight to his heart. Though he disliked Zhunti's character, he disliked even more the idea of some unknown being sitting alongside him!

Mu Jizi smiled faintly after hearing this. Understanding well the principle that when a wall falls, everyone pushes it, he pondered for a moment before following the tide. "Zhunti and Fellow Daoist Primordial are right. Styx, if you do not yield your seat now, then when will you?"

After speaking, Mu Jizi cast a meaningful glance toward Kunpeng...

...One final word from the author: a reader in the book reviews keeps saying this book is brainless. This scholar is truly helpless. I replied twice, yet they keep going on about it. Such people who beat a snake and then climb up the stick are truly hateful. Do they not know that I have to work every day, and after returning home from work, I write? Naturally, I can accept useful suggestions, but if people insist on nitpicking meaningless issues, it becomes exhausting!

From now on, no matter what anyone says in the book reviews, this scholar will no longer reply. I will simply write in silence by myself. Those who like it, please save it and recommend it. Those who do not like it need not read it! After all, besides writing for readers who enjoy Primordial Wilderness novels, this scholar also has a tiny wish deep in his heart!!!

All right, no more nonsense. The second update is here—please continue voting!

Certain versions of Safari on iPhone may freeze. This site has already been optimized for this issue. If it still occurs, please try another browser, such as Google Chrome, or restore the default font—yes, the font is what causes it—and contact us. We will try to improve it!

At the request of many readers, VIP membership with ad-free functionality is now available.

Click to view