Time lost all meaning as the Dao was taught; ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
Over those ten thousand years, many cultivators in the Purple Heaven Palace broke through, making great strides in their cultivation.
The teaching of the Dao came to an end.
Hongjun said, "I should have a few disciples under me. Yuanshi, are you willing to become my disciple?"
Yuanshi was instantly overjoyed. "This disciple is willing!"
Becoming a Saint's disciple was an unsurpassed honor.
Although everyone had listened to the Dao in the Purple Heaven Palace, strictly speaking, they had no bond of master and disciple with Hongjun. They had merely received the kindness of his teachings.
After accepting Yuanshi as his disciple, Hongjun fell silent.
Everyone grew desperately anxious.
Quite a few were even itching to act, planning to ask him directly to take them as disciples.
But in the end, Zhunti and Jieyin beat them to it.
"Teacher, may we fellow disciples take you as our master?" Jieyin asked.
Hongjun's gaze fell upon them, and even the air seemed to freeze.
As Zhunti and Jieyin waited in trepidation, Hongjun said, "The two of you share little destined affinity with me."
Hongjun had originally intended to accept them as named disciples.
But then he thought of how Laozi, Tongtian, and the others had all gone to the Spirit Vine Realm. If he only accepted these two as named disciples,
his own following would look far too sparse.
He sighed.
Left with little choice, Hongjun could only say, "Very well, very well. Then the two of you shall also become my disciples!"
Hearing his indecision, Zhunti and Jieyin had nearly fallen into despair.
Now, overjoyed beyond expectation, they hurried forward. "Your disciples, Zhunti and Jieyin, pay their respects to Master!"
Seeing Zhunti