The preaching was to last for three thousand years, and it was currently two hundred years away from the three-thousand-year mark.
He hoped the disciples he had just taken in were all clever ones who would return quickly after distributing the treasures; he still had matters to explain to them.
“Disciple, go play on your own.”
Hongjun glanced at his obedient disciple, then turned his gaze toward Haotian and Yaochi. “Children, take your little senior sister out for a stroll.”
“Yes, Master.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Heng's eyes lit up. She bowed to her honored master, then happily strolled away, trailing behind Haotian and Yaochi.
She felt the scenery in her master's rear palace had a unique charm of its own.
There were mountains, water, trees, and flowers here, along with magnificent jade pavilions, glazed tiles of blue and gold, cascading waterfalls, and flowing springs... Elegant, truly elegant.
Hao-tian and Yaochi chatted as they walked, becoming a bit more lively once they left the main hall.
Pointing with her small hand, Yaochi introduced the area to Yuan Heng, “Little Senior Sister, the scenery over there is the best. It's where Master often stays. Let us take you to look around over there~”
“Sure, sure.”
Yuan Heng followed the two little ones all the way to a place where a stream gurgled and clouds swirled.
A small pavilion was set up here, and the branches of an ancient tree were filled with pink flowers. The fallen petals danced in the wind, making it the perfect spot for taking in the view.
Yuan Heng sat at a stone table and chatted with Haotian and Yaochi. “So Honored Master likes to stay here when he isn't cultivating.”
“He really has great taste.”
Yuan Heng raised her hand to pour herself a cup of tea, making herself right at home.
“Haotian, Yaochi, you two sit too. Your little senior sister is usually very easygoing~”
Seeing this, the two young attendants no longer felt constrained. It was obvious that their master liked this little senior sister very much, so they naturally had to show her more courtesy.
Now that their little senior sister had spoken, who would want to stand when they could sit?
The two little ones moved their short legs and sat down in a flash.
The two of them rested their chins in their hands, staring at Yuan Heng in deep thought. Their little senior sister was probably even younger than they were.
However, their little senior sister was very generous, and very... very warm and friendly.
So many mighty figures passed through Purple Heaven Palace, yet only their little senior sister spoke to them and gave them spiritual fruits to eat.
As expected of Master—he truly had discerning eyes.
Yuan Heng raised her hand, and a bird from the ancient tree landed on the back of her finger, its chirps crisp, bright, and full of joy.
She reached out to stroke the bird's blue plumage, her eyes filled with gentleness. “What a unique-looking little thing.”
A blue bird.
The bird couldn't understand her. It chirped twice more before flying away.
Yuan Heng rested her chin in her hands, feeling somewhat bored. As she looked at the two little ones before her, she suddenly had a wonderful idea.
Her eyes curved into crescents, a hint of slyness like that of a little fox flashing in her eyes. “Haotian, Yaochi~ Do you want to play cards with your little senior sister~”
Hehehe, she could finally enjoy a few easy wins now, right~
Under the bewildered gazes of the two little ones, Yuan Heng took out the spiritual cards she carried with her. “Come, come~ Your senior sister will teach you. This game is called Fight the Demon King...”
The two little ones looked at the cards Yuan Heng had just dealt them with slight confusion, but they gradually understood after her explanation.
Soon, they got into the groove of things...
“Pair of twos! Little Senior Sister, I only have one card left. If you pass, Yaochi and I will win.”
Yuan Heng looked at the pair of queens and the minor joker in her hand and fell into deep thought.
No—
She lost again.
Yuan Heng pulled aside the paper slips on her face to clear her vision, then looked at the mere two or three slips on Haotian's and Yaochi's faces.
She fell into deep thought once more. Wait, why did she lose no matter who she played cards with? Was her card luck in the Primordial World really that atrocious?
(Actually, it hadn't been much better in her previous life.)
Sob, sob, sob... Alright, Haotian and Yaochi, you two can pack up and leave her card-playing circle too!
How frustrating!
“How are you two so good at this as well?”
Haotian and Yaochi scratched their heads. The two of them explained that the rules were actually very simple: they just had to calculate the remaining cards based on what had already been played, and then they could basically deduce what was in their little senior sister's hand, making it very easy to win.
Yuan Heng, listening to their explanation: “...”
Why couldn't she deduce anything at all?
Could it be that everyone in the Primordial World was a card genius, and only she was... was...
That was just too painful. Fortunately, they weren't playing for stakes, otherwise she would have gambled away the entirety of Fangzhang Island.
Sob, sob, sob.
Just as Yuan Heng was about to say something else, the Dao Ancestor's voice echoed from afar, “Disciple, stop playing. It is time to return.”
“Yes, Honored Master.”
Yuan Heng responded obediently, peeling the paper slips off her face to reveal her exquisite, beautiful face. “Let's go, Master is looking for us.”
“Yes, Little Senior Sister. Yaochi and I will escort you back.”
Haotian and Yaochi tidied up their appearance, and the three of them walked toward the main hall together.
By the time Yuan Heng arrived, the future Six Sages were already present, sitting below Hongjun. When they saw her enter, six pairs of eyes immediately fell upon her.
“...”
Aaaaah, how did she end up being the one making the grand entrance last!
Yuan Heng quickened her pace and hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Honored Master. Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister.”
Hongjun nodded slightly toward her. “Excellent. Disciple, come and take a seat.”
“Yes.”
Yuan Heng maintained an obedient demeanor and sat down on the empty prayer mat placed directly below Hongjun.
After exchanging glances with the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, who were more familiar to her, her gaze finally landed on Jieyin and Zhunti, whom she didn't know as well.
Ah... these two senior brothers were still as generous as ever, showing no signs of fading compared to back then.
Only, why was the look in their eyes so intense when they looked at her?
Yuan Heng gave them a subtle smile and then looked at her master. What was Honored Master going to instruct~
Hongjun looked down at the seven people sitting before him and nodded. Only then did he begin to explain why he had kept them behind. “Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian.”
“Your disciples are here.”
Hongjun looked at them. “The three of you shall inherit the orthodox lineage of my Xuan School. I hope you will work with one heart and mind to together make the Xuan School flourish.”
“Your disciples obey your command.”
“Excellent.”
Hongjun nodded slightly and brought up another matter. “However, the Chaos Sea is boundless, harboring extraterrestrial demons and chaotic fierce beasts... They are birthless and deathless, bloodthirsty, and devourers of the Dao. They subsist on consuming the living beings of heaven and earth, disrupting the order of the Great Dao.”
“Laozi, you are the eldest senior brother of my Xuan School, and your cultivation is the most profound. You also possess the supreme Treasure of Creation, the Taiji Diagram... After I merge with the Dao, I hope you will shoulder this heavy responsibility.”
“I command you to proceed to the boundary between the Chaos Sea and the Primordial World, and use the power of the Taiji Diagram to set up an Innate Great Array barrier to suppress Chaos and protect the Primordial World. Are you willing?”
“Your disciple is willing.”
Hongjun nodded with satisfaction. His eldest disciple was indeed dependable.
“Splendid.”
The Dao Ancestor looked at Nuwa, his words carrying a hint of warning. “Nuwa, do not get too deeply involved in the affairs of the Wu tribe and the Demon Race.”
Nuwa was somewhat confused. Did this mean her position as Empress Wa of the Demon Race was... not quite favorable?
In that case, she should forget about using the luck of the Demon Race to assist her cultivation.
“Your disciple understands. Thank you for the warning, Teacher.”
Hongjun nodded slightly. Mmh, good, she was a clever one.
Finally, Hongjun looked toward Jieyin and Zhunti. Under their highly expectant gazes, he let out a quiet sigh. “The two of you... just take good care of the West.”
Alas, it was all a debt.
Jieyin and Zhunti: “...”
“Yes, Teacher.”
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