Primordial Era: If I remain in Longevity Mountain, I will steadily attain sainthood.

Chapter 23 Innate Gourd Vine

"An apology?" Hongyun looked at the two with a strange expression and said, "Fellow Daoists, how do you intend to apologize?"

Upon hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti were somewhat taken aback, as they had not expected Hongyun to be so blunt.

Generally speaking, if they are so sincere in saying they want to apologize, and they weren't offended too badly before, shouldn't they immediately let bygones be bygones and become good friends?

At least that's how it appears on the surface, right?

Where exactly did things go wrong? Clearly, Jieyin and Zhunti only came with words of apology, without any intention of actually doing anything in return.

The two brothers, Jieyin and Zhunti, exchanged a glance, their hearts in perfect harmony, both understanding each other's meaning.

Hongyun is a very honest person, but he's just too honest.

However, after being put in such a difficult position by Hongyun's words, the two of them couldn't back down, or rather, they really didn't want to offend Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi.

These two became disciples of the sage, and Hongjun practically made it clear that they would definitely become sages in the future.

Offending two future saints is simply not worth it.

Therefore, the two exchanged glances and made a decision that caused them great heartache.

Zhun then extracted a primordial spiritual root and handed it over, saying, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, Fellow Daoist Zhenyuan, is this enough to atone for our sins?"

Even though Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi were both very knowledgeable, they were still stunned by Zhunti's action.

This is because the innate spiritual root that Zhunti took out was the bitter bamboo, one of the ten great spiritual roots.

A top-grade innate spiritual root.

Zhunti actually used it to apologize to them?

Isn't it said that the West is very poor?

Zhunti and Jieyin are extremely stingy, not giving a single penny.

Why are you being so generous now?

Hongyun felt that he had underestimated the two. Although Jieyin and Zhunti were poor, their magnanimity was truly extraordinary.

This can also be seen as a great wisdom.

If Zhunti had simply produced an ordinary innate spiritual treasure and tried to cheat them, they would have been helpless.

The matter was thus dropped.

But this is different from before. The original two had already been destined by Hongjun to become saints in the future.

So the two of them can act shamelessly without worrying about any problems.

But the ones designated as future sages are not them, but Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi.

The situation has now reversed.

In order to settle the karmic debt between the two parties, Jieyin and Zhunti made a decisive decision, preferring to give up a top-grade innate spiritual root rather than continue to offend Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi.

What wisdom this is!

"My two fellow Daoists will surely achieve great things in the future."

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi both became solemn. They exchanged a glance, and Hongyun reached out to take the bitter bamboo, saying, "In this way, the karma between us will come to an end."

Upon hearing this, both Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and repeatedly said, "Great!" However, after resolving the karmic entanglement, the two showed no intention of parting ways and instead continued to chat with Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun.

He kept calling her "Fifth Senior Brother" and "Sixth Senior Brother," his shamelessness leaving Hongyun speechless.

Zhen Yuanzi was also very pleased and talked to the two about interesting things in cultivation. As they talked, and because Jieyin and Zhunti were deliberately flattering him, it was as if they were old friends.

In his excitement, Zhen Yuanzi even invited the two to Wanshou Mountain to taste his ginseng fruit.

When Jieyin and Zhunti learned that Zhen Yuanzi also possessed such a spiritual root, they were both greatly moved, but they dared not respond immediately and instead went to look at Hongyun.

It turned out that the two of them had already figured it out. Although Zhen Yuanzi was the elder, not to mention that it was Hongyun who sat on the futon first, it was usually obvious from the start.

Zhen Yuanzi has always put Hongyun first, so whether or not he can go to Wanshou Mountain depends on Hongyun's decision.

Otherwise, if they just agree, wouldn't they offend Hongyun for no reason?

All the previous hard work has been wasted.

Hongyun saw the two looking at her and knew what they were thinking. Originally, Hongyun had some prejudice against these two.

Firstly, this could be considered his "arch-enemy," as Hongyun was naturally unhappy that the man had taken his seat.

Secondly, having read so many fantasy novels in her previous life, Hongyun had a preconceived notion that these two were shameless.

Well, now that I've seen it for myself, and he really is a shameless person, it doesn't mean that shameless people can't befriended.

In Hongyun's view, dealing with these two Westerners was much easier than dealing with the Three Pure Ones.

The Three Pure Ones, even among brothers, still scheme against each other. But look at the two in the West—the difference is like night and day.

Of course, this is only for internal use, not for external use. However, as long as he and Zhen Yuanzi can keep their strength in check, they are not afraid of these two causing trouble.

Hongyun was quite confident about this. After all, things were different now than before.

If he and Zhen Yuanzi truly become saints in the future, then even if Jieyin and Zhunti also become saints, they will still have to continue to curry favor with them.

Moreover, Hongyun possesses a perfect version of the Three Corpses Severing Method, coupled with the World Proving Dao, Hongyun truly doesn't believe he can't attain Dao.

Thinking of this, Hongyun smiled and said to the two, "Since my brother has sincerely invited you, you two fellow Daoists cannot refuse."

Upon hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and readily agreed.

So the four of them formed a bond and continued their journey through the chaos.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun were not stingy either. Hongyun put away her own ninth-grade lotus platform, then jumped onto Zhen Yuanzi's twelfth-grade Pure World White Lotus, and invited Jieyin and Zhunti to come up as well.

With the Pure White Lotus protecting them from the chaotic energy, the four of them only needed to activate their escape light to fly.

Jieyin and Zhunti were both very envious of this. The reason why they listened to the Dao at Zixiao Palace so late was because, firstly, the journey was long, and secondly, they did not have such a defensive spiritual treasure.

Therefore, time was wasted in the chaos.

However, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun were not exactly lucky charms; they could be envious, but they had no intention of giving them any treasures.

In addition to the twelve-grade and nine-grade Pure White Lotus, the two also used the lotus seeds from two lotus flowers to create another lotus pond in Longevity Hill.

More than ten white lotuses have grown in the lotus pond, but they have only reached the third grade and can only be considered low-grade innate spiritual treasures, so they are not suitable to give away.

However, as the four of them were returning to Longevity Mountain, they passed by Buzhou Mountain. Suddenly, the system notification sounded in Hongyun's mind again.

"Ding, it has been detected that the innate gourd vine is about to mature into seven gourds. Please make the following selections, host."

Option 1: Go and claim your opportunity; you will receive a reward of one Innate Spiritual Treasure Upgrade Card. (This can only upgrade a Superior Innate Spiritual Treasure to a Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasure, and requires consuming several Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same attribute.)

"Option 2: Give up the opportunity and return directly to Wanshou Mountain to receive a top-grade innate spiritual treasure as a reward."

(End of this chapter)