Above Kunlun Mountain, Taishang held the Treasure Distribution Rock and sighed as he looked down at the mountain.
"We're finally back. Third Brother, quickly open the great formation, I'll put this thing down!"
Taishang had been holding the Treasure Distribution Rock ever since it was uprooted by the combined efforts of the Three Pure Ones in Zixiao Palace. It had been quite a burden for him on the journey.
Upon hearing this, Tongtian quickly formed hand seals and opened Kunlun's protective mountain formation.
Seeing this, Taishang immediately said to Yuanshi:
"Second Brother, let's gently place it down together to avoid damaging the mountain body below!"
Yuanshi nodded and, together with Taishang, gently placed the Treasure Distribution Rock in an open space on Taiqing Peak!
The people on Kunlun Mountain, seeing the protective mountain formation automatically open, knew that the Three Pure Ones had returned and breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu Xi looked at the Treasure Distribution Rock landing on Taiqing Peak, his mouth twitched, and he asked:
"Everyone, what do you think? Will the Three Pure Ones have moved the Treasure Distribution Rock back?"
Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun exchanged glances, recalling the empty scene in Zixiao Palace, and said:
"Perhaps that's exactly what happened!"
Nuwa spoke:
"Why don't we go and see!"
With that, she left Shangqing Peak and headed towards Taiqing Peak.
Qi Chen and the others, seeing Kunlun's protective mountain formation open automatically without anyone controlling it, and a black mountain rock slowly descending towards Taiqing Peak, exclaimed excitedly:
"It's Master and Uncle-Masters! Master and they're back!"
After speaking, Qi Chen also headed towards Taiqing Peak!
Jin Jiao, Yin Jiao, and Duo Bao heard this and followed behind Qi Chen, heading towards Taiqing Palace together!
Nuwa and the others looked at the Treasure Distribution Rock before them, their mouths twitched. They thought that these Three Pure Ones truly spared nothing, not only plundering Zixiao Palace clean but also not letting the Treasure Distribution Rock go!
After the Treasure Distribution Rock landed, the Three Pure Ones followed closely behind, descending onto Taiqing Peak. Seeing that Nuwa and the others were actually on Kunlun, they were surprised and said:
"Why do you fellow Daoists have time to visit us!"
Nuwa smiled upon hearing this and said:
"If we hadn't come, we probably wouldn't have known that you actually moved the Treasure Distribution Rock away!"
Taishang chuckled upon hearing this and said:
"Please forgive our crudeness, fellow Daoists. Our Kunlun Mountain is poor and has no choice but to pick up scraps!"
Nuwa and the others' faces darkened, and they thought:
"How can you even say that? If you Three Pure Ones can still be considered poor, then no one in this world is wealthy. You already possess several innate supreme treasures, and you call this being poor?"
None of them wanted to talk to Taishang anymore; it was too discouraging!
Qi Chen and the other three also arrived at Taiqing Peak. Seeing the Three Pure Ones, Qi Chen ran up to them and said:
"Master, Uncle-Masters, you're finally back!"
Tongtian dotedly stroked Qi Chen's head. Seeing that their cultivation had broken through to a higher realm, he thought to himself that he hadn't been away for long!
Taishang also noticed their cultivation advancements and asked:
"What's going on with your cultivation?"
Qi Chen replied:
"Reporting to Uncle-Master, Senior Zhen Yuanzi gave us a spiritual fruit called Ginseng Fruit, and the four seniors also helped us refine it!"
Taishang's heart was relieved. The Ginseng Fruit, as one of the Ten Great Spiritual Roots of Heaven and Earth, naturally contained immense spiritual energy. It was entirely understandable that Qi Chen and the others, with their low cultivation, would experience such an effect.
Upon hearing this, the Three Pure Ones turned to look at Nuwa and the other three and said:
"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your kindness to our juniors!"
The four returned the courtesy and said:
"Three fellow Daoists are too polite. It is our duty!"
Taishang nodded and, looking at Qi Chen and the others, took out the meditation cushions he had obtained in Zixiao Palace and said:
"Take these meditation cushions to your cultivation places. They will be of great benefit to your cultivation!"
Nuwa and the others looked at the Three Pure Ones strangely. Why hadn't they thought of this?
These meditation cushions were made by Saints and had experienced three lectures by Saints. They could be considered miraculous treasures of heaven and earth!
They then sighed, marveling at how fortunate these disciples were to have been taken in by the Three Pure Ones.
Taishang gave Jin Jiao's meditation cushion to Yin Jiao as well, saying:
"Yin Jiao, take Jin Jiao's meditation cushion. I have something to tell Jin Jiao!"
Yin Jiao nodded and replied:
"Yes! Master!"
Taishang then took out two more meditation cushions and handed them to Jin Jiao, instructing:
"Jin Jiao, take these two meditation cushions to fellow Daoists Fusang and Yuegui!"
Jin Jiao took the two meditation cushions, acknowledged Taishang, and then headed towards Yuqing Peak!
After giving them one meditation cushion each, Taishang turned to Nuwa and the others and said:
"Fellow Daoists, please forgive our lack of hospitality!"
Zhen Yuanzi smiled and said:
"Three fellow Daoists have remarkable courage. Sitting on those meditation cushions can increase comprehension of the Great Dao, stabilize divine powers, and purify the Dao heart. However, we believed them to be Saintly artifacts and dared not take them!"
Yuanshi and Tongtian were speechless. This had all been Taishang's idea. If Taishang hadn't suggested it, they wouldn't have thought of taking the meditation cushions!
Taishang remained silent and invited the four into Taiqing Palace!
Taishang asked Yin Jiao to clear the teacups the four had drunk from and to serve fresh tea, then he spoke:
"May I ask why the four fellow Daoists have come to Kunlun?"
Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi sighed, stood up, and said:
"Fellow Daoist Taishang and Fellow Daoist Yuanshi gave us those meditation cushions, but in doing so, we lost the foundation for becoming Saints. We truly feel indebted!"
Fu Xi also said:
"Yes, if it weren't for Fellow Daoist Tongtian giving me that meditation cushion, how could I have achieved what I have today? I never imagined that meditation cushion was so important!"
Taishang laughed heartily and said:
"Fellow Daoists, you exaggerate. Besides, didn't you already say in Zixiao Palace that you owed us a favor?"
Yuanshi and Tongtian also echoed:
"Indeed!"
Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and Fu Xi said:
"But one favor is not enough!"
Taishang replied:
"Fellow Daoists, please don't feel you owe us brothers anything. We willingly exchanged positions with you three at the time!"
Upon hearing Taishang's words, a struggle flashed in Zhen Yuanzi's eyes, as if he had made a significant decision. He gritted his teeth and looked at the Three Pure Ones, saying:
"If you three fellow Daoists do not mind, I am willing to move my Longevity Mountain to the vicinity of Kunlun Mountain and share its fate!"
When Zhen Yuanzi spoke, everyone was taken aback. His words were tantamount to selling himself to the Three Pure Ones!
Taishang looked at Zhen Yuanzi and said:
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for that!"
Hong Yun also said:
"Zhen Yuanzi, you should think it through!"
Zhen Yuanzi nodded and said:
"I have thought it through. Please, three fellow Daoists, do not reject me!"
The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances and said:
"Where did that come from, Fellow Daoist? If you have decided, we would naturally welcome you with open arms!"
Zhen Yuanzi said:
"I will also move the spiritual veins of Longevity Mountain, so as not to take advantage of you three fellow Daoists!"
Taishang shook his head and smiled, saying:
"Fellow Daoist misunderstands. We absolutely do not have such intentions!"
Hong Yun looked at Zhen Yuanzi. Seeing that Zhen Yuanzi had decided to move to Kunlun, he also gritted his teeth and said:
"Since Zhen Yuanzi is coming, I will come too! If you three are willing to accept Zhen Yuanzi, there's no reason why you wouldn't accept me, right?"
Taishang was rendered speechless, thinking that Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun were indeed great friends!
Taishang said:
"Of course. Since fellow Daoist Hong Yun is also coming, we naturally welcome you!"