The Heavenly Capital Baleful God Formation was indeed one of the Primordial World's most fearsome formations. If not for the successive mishaps suffered by the Ancestral Shamans Zhurong, Gonggong, and Houtu during the later stages of the War Between Witches and Demons, leaving the Wu Clan unable to find suitable replacements to set up the formation, the final outcome might not have been mutual destruction.
"Little sister, that's nonsense. We all saw how formidable a Sage was at Purple Cloud Palace. How could the Wu Clan possibly compare to a Sage?"
Fuxi naturally did not believe Nüwa's words, thinking she was merely trying to make him abandon his intention of joining the Demon Court.
"Actually, Brother Fuxi, you might as well calculate the Wu Clan's future fortune as well," Li Yu said.
"That's right. Elder brother excels at divination. If you calculate that the Wu Clan also has signs of great prosperity, then you must not go to the Demon Court," Nüwa hurriedly said, following Li Yu's lead.
Sigh!
Fuxi sighed and said, "Brother Li, you're really making things difficult for me. I asked you to help me, so why have you turned around and sided with Nüwa?"
Still, despite his words, Fuxi calculated the Wu Clan's fortune.
"The hexagram shows that the Wu Clan... will flourish greatly. Their fortune is hardly weaker than the Demon Clan's. How is that possible?" Fuxi was shocked by the result and found it difficult to believe for a moment.
"Elder brother, just forget it. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. There is only one Primordial World, and no race would willingly submit to another race's rule. We siblings should simply cultivate peacefully here on Phoenix Perch Mountain," Nüwa said earnestly.
"This... I fear it is too late. I have already promised Di Jun and Taiyi!" Fuxi sighed.
"Elder brother, you... you're infuriating me to death! I don't care. No matter what, I won't agree. If you can't settle it yourself, then I'll go speak to Di Jun and Taiyi."
Nüwa stormed off in anger, leaving Fuxi with a helpless expression.
"How can I go back on something I promised? Otherwise, how could Fuxi establish himself in the Primordial World in the future? I simply need to be more careful from now on!"
It seemed Fuxi's attitude was quite resolute. Presumably, he still did not understand the brutality of the War Between Witches and Demons, which far surpassed the previous great calamity.
Li Yu did not wish to say much about the workings of the Heavenly Dao. Seeing that Fuxi had made up his mind, he stopped discussing the matter. After lingering there for several days, he searched Mount Buzhou once more but found no trace of Hongyun, so he returned to his immortal island.
On the way, he visited Immortal Deer and Azure Ox, leaving behind some medicinal pills gifted by Taiqing before departing.
Upon returning to the Eastern Sea and passing Three Immortals Island, Li Yu thought it over and decided to pay them a visit, leaving behind some medicinal pills as well.
After returning to his own immortal island, he first went to see Bitter Bamboo. It seemed to have changed somewhat, though he could not say exactly how. It was an exceedingly mysterious feeling, and Li Yu was immediately delighted. At once, he infused Bitter Bamboo with another wisp of Chaos Qi.
One day, while Li Yu was cultivating, he suddenly heard a voice from beyond the island.
"Senior on the immortal island, this little turtle, Black Armor, has come to seek apprenticeship. I hope Senior will take pity on the hardships of this little turtle's cultivation and accept me into your sect!"
Seek apprenticeship?
Li Yu had no interest in taking disciples. Otherwise, he would not have accepted that Immortal Deer as a mount back then.
With a wave of Li Yu's hand, the sea outside the island suddenly churned with towering waves, sending the turtle calling himself Black Armor tens of thousands of miles away.
Black Armor was dizzy and disoriented. By the time he recovered, he no longer knew where he was.
"Senior did not accept me. What should I do now?"
Black Armor panicked for a moment. As a member of the turtle race, although his lifespan was somewhat longer, his cultivation progressed extremely slowly. Without the guidance of a renowned master, who knew how many years it would take before he achieved success in cultivation?
"No, I cannot give up just like this. Since Senior did not kill me, I should go again. Perhaps Senior is testing my sincerity!"
Several days later, Black Armor once again arrived outside Li Yu's immortal island and loudly called out, asking to become his disciple.
This time, he was sent flying a hundred thousand miles away!
Yet more than a month later, Li Yu heard Black Armor's voice again.
"He really is persistent!"
Although Li Yu did not wish to take disciples,
he regarded such a persistent old turtle more highly. Thus, he came outside the immortal island and stood before Black Armor. When Black Armor saw Li Yu, he immediately stood atop the water and bowed to him with all his effort. "I beg Senior to take pity on this little turtle's sincere heart and accept me into your sect."
Li Yu had also performed a calculation. There truly was no fate of master and disciple between him and Black Armor, so he absolutely could not agree to Black Armor's request.
"There is no fate of master and disciple between us. However, in consideration of the persistence in your heart, I shall make an exception. My immortal island is still lacking guards. If you are willing, come to the island and serve as a guard while managing its affairs. If not, then leave," Li Yu said.
"Black Armor is willing! Thank you, Great Master, for your grace!"
Black Armor hesitated only briefly before agreeing. Even his form of address changed. Though he was not a disciple, he had at least entered the immortal island, and there would always be opportunities to receive guidance.
"I never thought there would come a day when I, too, would have a turtle minister."
Li Yu shook his head, paid Black Armor no further attention, and resumed his meditative cultivation.
One day, Li Yu awoke from cultivation and suddenly felt something in his heart. Calculating with his fingers, he realized that it was time for Hongjun's second sermon.
Since Black Armor arrived on the immortal island, he had managed its daily affairs in perfect order, without any mishaps.
Li Yu knew that once he departed for Purple Cloud Palace, he did not know when he would return. Before leaving, he specially summoned Black Armor and instructed him, "Black Armor, I am going on a long journey today, and my return date is uncertain. These are three medicinal pills that can aid your cultivation. Also, should any trouble arise during this time, there is a Three Immortals Island a thousand miles south of this island, where the three fairy maidens Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao reside. You may seek their assistance. Have you remembered all that?"
"Thank you, Great Master. Black Armor has remembered everything!"
"Cultivate diligently. Do not slack off!"
After Li Yu finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of light and flew beyond the heavens. This time, he was familiar with the journey and knew the route well. Before long, he arrived at Purple Cloud Palace.
However, this sermon differed greatly from the previous one. Fewer people had come. For instance, not a single member of the Wu Clan had come this time. Perhaps they felt that the cultivation method taught by Hongjun did not suit them, so they simply did not attend. Even the Demon Clan had sent only Taiyi this time; Di Jun had not come, nor had Fuxi. Many others whose names Li Yu did not know had also failed to arrive, and presumably, they had perished.
Aside from that, no one fought over the cushions in the first row. Everyone understood that they were meant for the Sage's disciples. Hongyun and Kunpeng had arrived long ago, but this time they sat quietly in the back, leaving the front seats open.
After arriving this time, Jieyin and Zhunti brazenly sat directly on the cushions in the first row.
After Zhunti sat down, he looked around. Upon seeing Li Yu, he resentfully withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and said nothing as he waited for the Sage's arrival.
"Zhunti is holding a grudge against you!"
Hongyun nudged Li Yu's arm and whispered, "What happened last time that made you chase him down and beat him across more than half the Primordial World?"
"It was nothing important, no need to care about it. But speaking of which, where have you been these days? There was no sign of you at Mount Buzhou or Mount Kunlun," Li Yu asked.
"Hehe!"
Hongyun chuckled smugly and whispered, "I'll tell you after this sermon ends. It's a good thing!"
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