Tongtian Offends Someone

In the empty Zixiao Palace, Hongjun Daozu once again appeared on the cushion.

At the same time, a golden scroll had appeared in his hand. It was the key to the next great calamity, the Book of Heaven, the Investiture of the Gods.

Hongjun Daozu looked at the Investiture of the Gods in his hand and spoke to himself.

"Everything is destined by the Heavenly Dao. It is right that the Jie Sect should be completely destroyed in this great calamity. Even if this poor Dao has the intention to protect them, it cannot be changed."

Master Tongtian did not know that his performance today had pushed the Jie Sect onto the path of destruction.

If Master Tongtian had known, perhaps he would not have acted as he did today and would have learned from Yuanshi Tianzun's approach.

At the very least, that would have preserved the Jie Sect's legacy, preventing its complete destruction in the next great calamity.

It was a pity that Master Tongtian was too straightforward. His actions were entirely based on his nature, without the slightest bit of pretense or pandering.

In contrast, Yuanshi Tianzun had already seen through the implications and had unknowingly accumulated good karma.

Now, not only was Nüwa Niangniang grateful to Yuanshi Tianzun, but even the new Heavenly Emperor Haotian and Heavenly Empress Yaochi were deeply indebted to Yuanshi Tianzun.

Even Laozi had seen through everything at the critical moment and made a relatively wise choice.

However, Master Tongtian did not feel that he had done anything wrong.

After all, in his heart, nothing was more important than the prosperity of the Jie Sect.

As for deliberately fawning over Hongjun Daozu, Master Tongtian was even more disdainful of doing so.

Therefore, at this moment, Master Tongtian did not feel any crisis at all. He was heading towards Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island with a smile on his face.

Just as Master Tongtian was rushing back to Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island, Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao had also arrived outside Hong Ze's small courtyard.

Before they even entered the courtyard, they heard a melodious zither sound.

This caused Yun Xiao's hand, which she had just extended to open the door, to stop in mid-air.

"Listening to this zither sound makes my heart feel refreshed and happy, as if Master is preaching the supreme wondrous Dharma."

Qiong Xiao nodded and said, "Eldest Sister, perhaps this is your opportunity. Why don't you quickly go in and see Eldest Senior Brother?"

Yun Xiao nodded, then withdrew her hand and spoke respectfully.

"Eldest Senior Brother, Junior Sister Yun Xiao (Qiong Xiao) has something to see Eldest Senior Brother about. Please grant my sisters and me an audience."

Hong Ze, who was playing the zither, suddenly heard that Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao had arrived. He immediately pressed down on the strings with his hand.

The melodious zither sound came to an abrupt halt, which inevitably made the hens and donkeys who were listening to Hong Ze play the zither very unhappy.

"Just a little bit more, just a little bit more and I would have broken through. Who is it that came to ruin my good fortune?"

"I say, Brother Donkey, stop complaining. This is the master's peach blossom luck coming again. Do you still want to ruin the master's good fortune?"

A hen said to the donkey in the nearby enclosure.

This caused the donkey to look at Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao outside the small courtyard, and at the same time, a look of disdain appeared on its face.

"These two girls are alright looking, but compared to Golden Spirit Mother, they're far inferior.

Our master's taste definitely isn't that bad. How could he possibly fancy these two girls?"

"Why do I say you're a donkey? Haven't you heard the master say, 'to each their own'?"

"The master also seemed to say that a single big tree can never compare to a forest."

The hens and the donkey were secretly gossiping non-stop. However, to Hong Ze, it just sounded like chicken clucking and donkey braying.

He couldn't help but directly scold them, "Didn't you hear we have guests? Can't you be quiet?

If you keep making such a racket every day, I'll turn you into donkey meat flatbread and beggar's chicken."

As soon as Hong Ze said this, both the hens and the donkey instantly became incredibly quiet.

This made Hong Ze quite satisfied, and he walked towards the courtyard gate with a smile on his face.

Seeing that Hong Ze had actually come out in person, Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao were greatly surprised.

They had also visited Duobao Daoren before. At that time, Duobao Daoren had only said "come in" and hadn't come out to greet them in person like Hong Ze.

This couldn't help but make Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao's favorable impression of Hong Ze instantly surpass that of Duobao Daoren.

Yun Xiao even spoke directly, "To trouble Eldest Senior Brother to come out in person, this junior sister is truly humbled."

Hong Ze smiled and waved his hand, opening the courtyard gate at the same time.

"We are all family, why be so formal? I just wonder why the two junior sisters have leisure today and thought of visiting this senior brother?"

Qiong Xiao's eyes darted around, and she immediately said, "My eldest sister and I came to Golden Turtle Island to visit a friend, and suddenly heard Eldest Senior Brother's melodious zither music.

For a moment, we were captivated and followed the music over. If we have disturbed Eldest Senior Brother in any way, please do not take offense."

Hearing that Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao were attracted by his zither music, a helpless smile also appeared on Hong Ze's face.

"It's just something to pass the time when I'm idle. Since the two junior sisters like to listen, then please come in with this senior brother."

After speaking, Hong Ze also made a gesture of invitation to Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao, inviting them into his small courtyard.

However, Hong Ze did not lead them into the Thatched Cottage, but instead went directly towards the back of the house.

It turned out that behind Hong Ze's Thatched Cottage, there was a small pond, not too big and not too small. Several lotus plants were growing in the pond, and several koi were swimming in the water.

There was also a pavilion by the pond, which was where Hong Ze played the zither when he was idle.

Perhaps it was because Hong Ze's cultivation could not improve no matter how he cultivated. This also made him lazy to cultivate, and instead he valued enjoying life more.

Just as Hong Ze led Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao into the pavilion, a ripple of waves couldn't help but rise in the pond.

Immediately after, several koi poked their heads out, their eyes falling directly on Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao.

"This is the first time the master has brought his junior sisters here. Today, we must properly vet them for the master."

"That's right, so those hens don't show off in front of us, always thinking they are the only ones qualified to help the master choose our future mistress."

Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao had no idea that in the eyes of those koi, they had already become candidates for the mistress of the house.

Instead, they were examining the small pond, which also filled them with immense shock.

Yun Xiao even secretly transmitted a message to Qiong Xiao, saying, "Second Sister, don't you think the water in this pond is quite extraordinary?"

"It's not just the water in the pond, Eldest Sister, look closely at that lotus flower."

When Yun Xiao's gaze fell upon the lotus flower, her face instantly filled with a look of shock.

"What is this?"

Yun Xiao was so excited that she blurted it out directly. Naturally, Hong Ze, who was beside her, heard it clearly.

Hong Ze thought Yun Xiao was asking what kind of lotus flower was planted in the lake, so he said nonchalantly.

"Just a white lotus, why is Junior Sister Yun Xiao making such a fuss?"