Primordial World: Big shots are all my friends
Chapter 73, Ran Deng meets Zhunti

Chapter 73: Chapter 73, Ran Deng meets Zhunti

Tongtian lowered his head from the main seat, watching Bai Jin’s bruised and swollen face below, a smile appearing in his eyes, he said, "Was it Duobao who hit you?"

Bai Jin nodded repeatedly, firmly saying: "It was indeed my senior brother who hit me, he showed no mercy at all! I am truly miserable."

Bai Jin also knew that such tricks couldn’t deceive his master, but still, he had to sell the misery, otherwise how would his master calm down? Even if he let his senior brother beat him half to death, he must never let his master take action. Once his master took action, he might change from the noble White Crane to a Red-crowned Crane, and that change would be irreversible. Elder brother, I can only trouble you for now, I will make it up to you later.

Tongtian waved his hand and said grumpily, "Go back and heal yourself. As the Outer Disciple Leader of the Saints Great Sect, behaving so disgracefully, what a sight you are."

Bai Jin exclaimed with joy, "Thank you, Master!" and immediately ran outside.

"Hold on~"

Bai Jin stopped in his tracks, guiltily turning his head towards his master, I’m already this miserable, master, you’re not going to punish me further, are you?!

Seated in the main seat, Tongtian spoke calmly, "Tell Duobao to reflect well on your actions over the past few days."

A flicker of confusion crossed Bai Jin’s mind, Our actions? We haven’t done anything! He honestly replied, "Yes!"

"Go now!"

After Bai Jin ran out of the great hall, his body flashed with light and he was cleansed, flying downwards.

In the Shangqing Palace, Tongtian sat solemnly in the main seat, his expression sinking, recalling what his eldest disciple had said before, among hundreds of disciples, only Bai Jin truly cared about him, he sighed slightly in his heart, Duobao, you’ve disappointed me with your lack of action.

...

Elsewhere, Ran Deng riding on a cloud arrived above a mountain range, his expression suddenly changed, sensing a powerful fluctuation of energy in one direction, and hurriedly rushed straight towards it.

In a valley lay a strange Divine Beast, with the body of a bull, head of a deer, tail of a horse, and scales of a dragon, struggling with a surge of power but unable to move.

Standing in front of the strange Divine Beast was a handsome young man in a white robe, refined and amiable, emitting a charisma that made people want to get close.

The handsome young man said with a smile, "Four Unlikes Divine Beast, you have a connection with my Western Sect, are you willing to go to the Western Sect with me? I will teach you the Western Great Dao."

The Four Unlikes grunted angrily and barked, "Who are you to be so sacred?"

The handsome young man replied gently, "Western Zhunti."

The Four Unlikes Divine Beast widened its deer eyes and shouted, "Saint Zhunti?! You are a Saint!"

The handsome young man nodded with a smile.

Instantly, the Four Unlikes stopped struggling and even showed an expression of surprise, A Saint! To be noticed by a Saint, what a fortunate fate it was, not just to the West, even to the ends of the world I would follow!

Zhunti spoke gently, "Are you willing to come with me to the West and pursue the Western Great Dao together?"

The Four Unlikes nodded repeatedly, eager and excitedly shouted, "I am willing, I am definitely willing, please take me in, Saint lord."

"Fellow Daoist, please halt." A hoarse voice came from the East.

A auspicious cloud quickly approached, and upon descending, the skinny Ran Deng stood beside the Four Unlikes.

Ran Deng bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings to Saint Zhunti."

Zhunti nodded slightly, pleased, "It turns out to be Fellow Daoist Ran Deng coming here; you need not be overly courteous."

Ran Deng stood straight, turning his head towards the Four Unlikes beside him, thinking to himself, this is going to be tough!

Zhunti asked with a smile, "What brings Fellow Daoist Ran Deng here today?"

Ran Deng bowed respectfully and said, "My master, Primordial Saint, is still in need of a mount. Observing that this beast is fated with my master, I specifically came to seek it out, I ask for Saint Zhunti’s favor in relinquishing it."

Saint Zhunti shook his head slightly, saying, "I have already agreed to take it to the West. It would be improper to go back on my word now."

Ran Deng frowned slightly, this would indeed be difficult to resolve.

Zhunti looked at the Four Unlikes, suddenly smiled and said, "But since it is Fellow Daoist coming to ask, outright refusal would also hurt our friendship. Well! Let the Divine Beast make another choice, to see whom it wishes to follow."

Ran Deng’s face immediately brightened with joy, and he bowed deeply with gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Saint Zhunti."

Zhunti looked at the Four Unlikes and said, "Now it’s your turn to choose. Are you willing to follow me to endure hardship in the West, or would you rather serve as a mount for Senior Brother Yuan Shi?"

The Four Unlikes looked at Zhunti, then at Ran Deng, completely dumbfounded. Two Saints vying for him?! His heart instantly soared, feeling as if the whole Heaven and Earth were spinning, flowers showered from the sky, and Earth Erupting Golden Lotus surrounded him, reaching a climax in an instant.

Ran Deng also said, "Make your choice!"

Suddenly regaining his senses, the Four Unlikes’ mind began to race. The West has two Saints, but Yuan Shi is one of The Three Pure Ones, making it three Saints. Three is greater than two, and besides, Saint Zhunti just mentioned that going to the West would involve hardship, which I do not want.

Immediately, the Four Unlikes shouted, "I choose Primordial Saint."

Ran Deng revealed a surprised smile and quickly said, "I ask Saint Zhunti to please let him stay."

Zhunti nodded and said with a carefree smile, "Since I’ve said so, it shall be done. The Divine Beast, Four Unlikes, is yours."

Ran Deng bowed deeply with gratitude and said, "Thank you, Saint Zhunti."

Saint Zhunti raised his hand and said, "Fellow Daoist, there’s no need for such formality. Please rise!"

Ran Deng gracefully stood up.

Zhunti remarked with emotion, "The number of Fellow Daoists who came to listen to the Dao at Zixiao Palace has dwindled. Today, it is rare to meet a Fellow Daoist. May we perhaps talk a bit on the side?"

"How could I delay when a Saint invites?" Ran Deng responded.

Zhunti gestured with a hand and lightly laughed, "Please!"

Ran Deng patted the Divine Beast, Four Unlikes, and said, "Wait here. Do not wander off."

"Yes!" responded the Four Unlikes in a muffled shout, excitement still in its eyes.

Following Zhunti, Ran Deng stepped through the void towards a distant peak.

Zhunti pointed and the soil and stones on the mountain surged upwards, and with a flash, they solidified into a splendid pavilion. Both entered and sat down in the pavilion.

Zhunti looked eastwards and smilingly said, "I heard you became a disciple under Senior Brother Yuan Shi. Were you coerced by him?"

Ran Deng shook his head and said, "No, I have been searching for my own path. After fruitless austere practices, I became his disciple, hoping for his guidance."

Zhunti realized and said, "I see. Among the Three Thousand Great Dao, every path can lead to enlightenment, but only the one most suited to oneself can go the furthest. Is this perhaps the reason you have not yet broken through to the Quasi-Saint Realm?"

Ran Deng nodded seriously and said, "What I pursue is not the Quasi-Saint Realm, but my own path of the Great Dao."

Zhunti clasped his hands together, delighted, and said, "Excellent! That is indeed the pursuit of a seeker of the Dao."

Ran Deng shook his head regretfully and said, "But the path is hard to find!"

"Do you think even Primordial Saint cannot help you find a solid path?"

Ran Deng shook his head and said, "I do not know!"

Zhunti thought for a moment and sincerely said, "If you cannot find your path in Chan Sect, feel free to visit our Western Sect."

Ran Deng shook his head with a wry smile, "The Three Pure Ones teach the Hongjun Dao, within which lies the Three Thousand Great Dao."

Zhunti, with a serious expression, said, "But in the West, we have opened Eight Hundred Side Paths. Although derived from the Three Thousand Great Dao, they are indeed different. You might want to try them."

Ran Deng was momentarily moved and murmured, "Eight Hundred Side Paths~"

Zhunti smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, you might as well listen to my sermon and see if you gain anything."

Ran Deng stood up and respectfully bowed, saying, "I am grateful, Saint Zhunti."

Zhunti smiled and said, "If it helps you find your path, it would be my pleasure."

Ran Deng stood up, feeling warmth in his heart. Saint Zhunti is truly a good person!

Zhunti then preached in the pavilion while Ran Deng listened, sometimes frowning, sometimes deep in thought, sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful.