Li Yi had barely left Jade Capital Mountain when he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Yuanshi Tongtian, in a panic, quickly supported Li Yi and exclaimed, “Big Brother! Are you injured?”
Li Yi shook his head and said to Yuanshi Tongtian, “It’s nothing. Hongjun is indeed formidable!”
Tongtian grumbled, “That old geezer dared to hurt you, Big Brother! I’ll go back and tear down his Zixiao Palace right now!”
With that, Tongtian turned to head back towards Jade Capital Mountain.
Yuanshi quickly stopped Tongtian and roared, “Third Brother, stop being foolish! If even Big Brother is no match for Hongjun, what about you?”
Li Yi’s voice was weak, “Third Brother, don’t act rashly. You are no match for him.”
Tongtian huffed in anger, “Big Brother is injured like this, and I truly cannot swallow this insult!”
Li Yi said sternly, “Swallow it you must. It was my skill that was lacking. I will cultivate diligently and find an opportunity to retaliate later. There’s no need for this.”
Hearing Li Yi’s words, Tongtian finally relented.
Li Yi saw that Tongtian had given up and breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Tongtian alone was no match for Hongjun. In fact, Li Yi had underestimated Hongjun, but this exchange had given him a general idea of Hongjun’s strength.
Yuanshi, seeing that Tongtian had stopped, asked with concern, “Big Brother, your injury?”
Li Yi shook his head and replied, “It’s nothing serious. I just need to rest and recover. It’s not a big deal, just that the impact was too strong and I was shaken.”
After speaking, Li Yi took out the Pangu Banner and handed it to Yuanshi. He said, “Second Brother, this Pangu Banner was formed from the edge of Father God’s Sky-Opening Axe. Its offensive power is beyond that of ordinary spiritual treasures and will bring you great fortune. Keep it well and refine it as soon as possible after we return.”
As soon as Yuanshi received the Pangu Banner, he felt an immense affinity with it, as if something within him was drawn to it. Yuanshi knew that the Pangu Banner was indeed very suitable for him. He said to Li Yi, “Big Brother, rest assured, I will refine it as soon as possible.”
Seeing that Yuanshi had accepted the Pangu Banner, Li Yi said to Yuanshi and Tongtian, “Alright, find me a quiet place to recuperate for a while.”
Tongtian listened and used his Heavenly Eye divine ability to survey their surroundings. He said, “Big Brother, there is a mountain to the south. There is no one on it. Shall we go there?”
Li Yi nodded, “Yes, let’s go!”
Tongtian led the way, with Yuanshi accompanying Li Yi behind him.
As they walked, Tongtian, who was in front, suddenly said, “Big Brother, Second Brother, we have arrived!”
With that, he flew towards a mountain peak. Yuanshi and Li Yi followed closely behind Tongtian as he descended from the clouds and flew towards the peak.
After the three landed, Li Yi said to Yuanshi and Tongtian, “Second Brother, Third Brother, guard me while I recuperate. Once I am recovered, we will return to Kunlun.”
Yuanshi and Tongtian nodded and replied, “Big Brother, rest assured. We will ensure no one disturbs you.”
Seeing that Yuanshi and Tongtian had agreed, Li Yi said no more. He immediately sat down cross-legged, took a few drops of the Three Light Divine Water, and began circulating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to refine it.
Yuanshi and Tongtian, seeing Li Yi commence his cultivation, retreated to the side, scanning their surroundings to prevent anyone from disturbing Li Yi.
While Li Yi was healing, not far from the three of them, at the foot of another mountain peak, a Treasure-Seeking Rat was undergoing transformation.
Although Li Yi was severely injured, with the miraculous healing properties of the Three Light Divine Water, his injuries were almost completely healed after just one cycle of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique.
After recovering, Li Yi sensed that his spiritual energy was greatly depleted, which was the reason for his weakness. He decided to stay there to recover some spiritual energy before returning to Kunlun.
As Li Yi was replenishing his spiritual energy, he suddenly felt the spiritual energy in the world begin to stir. Li Yi was greatly puzzled. The agitation of spiritual energy was a sign of an impending Heavenly Tribulation. Yet, there were only the three of them here, and no one was undergoing a tribulation. Where could this Heavenly Tribulation be coming from? However, Li Yi was not overly concerned.
With a sigh, Li Yi knew that even if he absorbed the agitated spiritual energy, it would take time to calm down. He took a Six Revolutions Yuan Restoration Pill, and instantly, his spiritual energy was replenished.
Li Yi stood up and said to Yuanshi and Tongtian, “Second Brother, Third Brother, let’s go back to Kunlun!”
Yuanshi and Tongtian, delighted that Li Yi had recovered so quickly, said, “Good, let’s go back to Kunlun!”
Just as the three were preparing to leave, tribulation clouds suddenly gathered above the nearby mountain peak, brewing tribulation lightning.
Tongtian asked in confusion, “We already surveyed this area when we arrived, and there was no one here. How could a Heavenly Tribulation descend?”
Yuanshi added, “Third Brother, did you misread? This Heavenly Tribulation should be a transformation tribulation. Why did you say there was no one? I thought you only scanned the mountain we are on.”
Tongtian asserted confidently, “There is no mistake. Big Brother wanted a quiet place to heal, and I scanned all the surrounding peaks. There was truly no one.”
Hearing Tongtian’s words, Li Yi became intrigued and said, “With your cultivation, Third Brother, is there anyone in the world who can evade your scrutiny?”
“This is indeed rare. Let us three go and see who this divine being is!”
Tongtian and Yuanshi, piqued by Li Yi’s words, also became interested.
While the three were discussing, the Heavenly Tribulation suddenly struck downwards, unleashing four bolts before the tribulation clouds dissipated.
Li Yi said, “Let’s go and take a look. To have four bolts of Heavenly Tribulation is not ordinary.”
With that, the three walked towards the site of the Heavenly Tribulation. Beneath the tribulation clouds, the ground had been struck by the Heavenly Tribulation, creating a large pit. In the pit lay a man, his clothes tattered, his aura weak.
Seeing that the cultivation of the three was unfathomable, the man quickly and respectfully said, “I do not know what brings the three venerable seniors here. Is there anything I, your junior, can do to assist?”
Li Yi smiled and said, “There is no need for you to be nervous. We discovered there was no one here when we surveyed the area, yet we did not expect a Heavenly Tribulation to descend. Therefore, we came to investigate.”
Seeing that the three bore no ill intentions, the man finally relaxed. After undergoing a tribulation, the transcender is very weak. If someone had malicious intent, it would be life-threatening for the transcender, which was why the man had been so tense.
At this point, Yuanshi spoke, “So it is a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Beast, a Treasure-Seeking Rat. No wonder it could evade your scrutiny, Third Brother.”
Seeing that Yuanshi had recognized his true form at a glance, the man was greatly shocked, knowing he had encountered an extraordinary being. He then knelt on the ground and said, “Duobao wishes to formally apprentice himself to the three venerable seniors. I implore the three seniors to accept me as your disciple!”
Li Yi murmured, “Duobao?”
With a smile, he looked at Tongtian and said, “Third Brother, what do you think?”
Tongtian, seeing Li Yi’s smiling gaze, felt that his Big Brother had a deeper meaning. He also genuinely wished to take this Treasure-Seeking Rat as his disciple. After a moment of contemplation, Tongtian said, “Big Brother, Second Brother, since we are passing through here, and this Treasure-Seeking Rat is also transforming here, it is a fated encounter. Why not accept him? What do you two think, Big Brother and Second Brother?”
Li Yi spoke, “Since Third Brother has this intention, let him formally apprentice himself to you. That way, he will have a companion like Chen’er.”
Seeing that Li Yi had spoken, Yuanshi said no more.
Having received Li Yi’s affirmation, Tongtian turned to Duobao and said, “Since you have a desire to seek the Dao, I shall accept you as my disciple.”
Upon hearing this, Duobao immediately performed the full prostration ritual to Tongtian. He respectfully said, “Disciple Duobao pays respects to Master.”
Tongtian nodded and said, “We three are the Sanqing Daoists of Kunlun. This is my Big Brother, and your Senior Martial Uncle, the Taishang Daoist.” He then gestured towards Li Yi. Duobao respectfully bowed to Li Yi, “Greetings, Senior Martial Uncle!”
Li Yi nodded and said, “Rise.”
As Duobao stood up, Tongtian continued, “This is your Second Martial Uncle, the Yuanshi Daoist!” Yuanshi stepped forward, and Duobao immediately bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Second Martial Uncle!”
Yuanshi said indifferently, “Rise!”
After Duobao finished paying his respects, Tongtian said to him, “You also have an Eldest Senior Martial Brother, but he did not come out with us. Remember this, you must love and care for your fellow disciples!”
Duobao replied immediately, “This disciple understands!”
Seeing that Tongtian had finished explaining, Li Yi said, “Alright, let’s go back!”
With that, he led the others towards Kunlun Mountain.