Primordial Era: Starting with the repair of Penglai Immortal Island

After Zhunti finished speaking, the palace fell silent.

The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa both looked at Zhunti with strange expressions.

The Tongtian Sect Leader suddenly sneered, his laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm and disdain.

"Cundi, are you referring to those two, Bhaisajyaguru and Mahasthamaprapta, who, during the great calamity, failed to save a single person amidst the cries and pleas of all living beings?"

The voice of the Tongtian Sect Leader echoed through the palace, each word like a sharp sword strike aimed directly at Zhunti's vitals.

Zhunti's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Brother Tongtian, you are mistaken," Zhunti quickly retorted. "The Weak Water is terrifying, and our Western Regions are barren. I have no spiritual treasures to protect me. In that Weak Water, I can only protect myself!"

Zhunti's meaning was clear: his disciple did not want to save others during the great calamity, but rather he was unable to act because he lacked a spiritual treasure!

"Only self-preservation?" Tongtian sneered repeatedly.

"However, I seem to recall that among the four Western Sect disciples present, one of them piloted a spirit boat and saved countless lives on the Weak Water."

"Could it be that Ksitigarbha is not a disciple of the Western Paradise?"

Zhunti's face turned ugly.

"Tongtian, you...!"

"Moreover," Tongtian interrupted him bluntly, "your two disciples are only at the Taiyi Realm, not even Daluo level. What qualifications do they have to serve as Heavenly Emperor?"

"The Heavenly Emperor reigns supreme in the Heavenly Court, regulating the laws of heaven and earth; only those at the Great Luo realm or above can fulfill this responsibility. Your recommendation of two disciples at the Taiyi realm—are you treating the Heavenly Emperor's position like a child's game?"

The Sage of Taiqing, the Master of Tongtian, and Nuwa all nodded in agreement.

These words were all reasonable and insightful.

Zhunti opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found himself unable to refute.

Jieyin glanced at Zhunti, his face contorted with bitterness, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"Brother Tongtian is right!" Jieyin spoke slowly, his voice low and calm. "Da Shizhi and Yaoshi, however, lack sufficient cultivation to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Heavenly Emperor!"

Zhunti attributed the inability of his two Western Sect disciples to become Heavenly Emperors to their insufficient cultivation, without mentioning at all that he had not intervened to save the living beings of the prehistoric world.

Although Zhunti was unwilling, seeing his senior brother speak up, he could only grit his teeth and sit down, remaining silent.

Hongjun Daozu watched this scene expressionlessly, without saying anything, but simply nodded slightly, signaling to continue.

Seeing that Jieyin and Zhunti remained silent, Nuwa glanced at the Three Pure Ones, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"Teacher, I have someone in mind, but I'm not sure if I should mention them?"

"explain!"

Nuwa took a deep breath and slowly said, "Lu Ya, son of Di Jun."

The name Lu Ya drew the attention of all the saints in the hall to Nuwa.

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Nuwa, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Nuwa, are you referring to the son of Dijun, who unleashed boundless carnage in the primordial world, causing the earth to dry up and countless lives to perish?"

The voice of the Primordial Celestial Venerable was filled with a chilling coldness, and every word carried an undisguised questioning and condemnation.

Nuwa's expression changed slightly. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain something, but Yuanshi Tianzun did not give her a chance to speak.

"Ten suns shone in the same sky, and the entire primordial wilderness was a barren wasteland."

"Millions of lives wailed and struggled in the flames, eventually turning to ashes."

"What qualifications does he have to become the Heavenly Emperor?"

The words of the Primordial Celestial Venerable resounded like thunder throughout the Purple Cloud Palace.

When Zhunti heard the words "ten suns on the same sky," his expression changed slightly, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. But in an instant, he returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

But Tongtian saw that instantaneous change.

A slight smile played on his lips.

Nuwa was speechless after hearing what Yuanshi Tianzun said.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say a few words in defense of Lu Ya, wanting to say that Lu Ya had already repented, wanting to say that Lu Ya's cultivation was now profound, wanting to say that Lu Ya was the son of Di Jun and had the fortune of the demon race...!

But Nuwa ultimately did not utter a word.

Because she knew that what Yuanshi Tianzun said was true.

How can a demon race that has caused endless slaughter in the primordial world become the new Heavenly Emperor?

Even if she were a saint, she wouldn't be afraid to exonerate such a crime.

Nuwa lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance but remained silent. The rejection of Lu Ya's proposal might not have been a bad thing for them; at least Nuwa hadn't succeeded.

Hongjun's gaze fell on Taiqing.

"Taiqing, do you have someone in mind?"

The Sage of Taiqing slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and undisturbed.

"Master, my disciple Xuandu is virtuous and accomplished, and his cultivation is profound. He has already become a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

The Supreme Sage's voice was as calm as still water, as if stating a trivial fact: "He can become the Heavenly Emperor."

After Taiqing finished speaking, Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu both remained silent, seemingly acknowledging that Xuandu could be the Heavenly Emperor.

Jieyin and Zhunti looked at the expressions of the Three Pure Ones with anxious expressions.

"Senior Brother Taiqing, Junior Nephew Xuandu is indeed of excellent character and virtue." Zhunti looked at the Sage Taiqing and spoke, his tone carrying a hint of praise.

"But Junior Nephew Xuandu has been cultivating with Senior Brother Yu for many years. He is the only one in the Human Sect and has never been in charge of any force, let alone dealt with such important matters as the laws of heaven and earth. The position of Heavenly Emperor is related to the fate of the primordial world, and Junior Nephew Xuandu may not be able to handle it."

Yuanshi and Tongtian looked at Zhunti with warm anger.

"Junior Brother Zhunti is right," said the Sage Qing indifferently, then closed his eyes again, seemingly unconcerned about whether Xuanneng could become the Heavenly Emperor.

Hongjun's gaze fell on Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu.

Just as Yuanshi Tianzun was about to speak, Tongtian Jiaozhu spoke up first.

"Master, my disciple Duobao has an extraordinary background and has already reached the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal. During the Lich War, Duobao saved countless lives in the Weak Water."

"Under Duobao's management, the Jie Sect continued to grow and expand."

"In terms of merit, cultivation, and ability, Duobao is the best choice."

Both the Supreme Sage and the Primordial Heavenly Venerable nodded slightly.

Seeing that the Three Pure Ones were of one mind, Nuwa did not raise any objections.

Upon seeing this, Zhunti looked anxious and turned to his senior brother, Jieyin.

Jieyin glanced at the anxious Zhunti and gestured for him not to worry.

"Senior Brother Tongtian, although Duobao possesses the cultivation of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he still saved countless lives when the Weak Water raged...!"

"However, within the Jie Sect, countless disciples are bloodthirsty by nature and burdened with karmic obstacles. Duobao, as the eldest disciple, bears an inescapable responsibility for this."

"If you can't even manage the disciples of the Jie Sect, how can you be qualified to lead all living beings in the primordial world?"

"you......!"

Tongtian suddenly stood up, his whole body radiating sword intent, as if he were about to unleash a fierce sword strike at any moment.

"Tongtian!" The voice of the Sage Taiqing rang out in the hall, suppressing the sword intent surrounding Tongtian.

"Do not be presumptuous in front of your teacher in Zixiao Palace."

"Hmph!" Tongtian looked at Jieyin, snorted coldly, withdrew his sword intent, and sat cross-legged on the futon.

Hongjun paid no attention to what was happening in the hall; his gaze fell on Yuanshi Tianzun, who had not yet proposed a candidate.

"Yuanshi, do you have a suitable candidate?"

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Hongjun's indifferent expression. He was about to mention his eldest disciple, Guangchengzi, but then he remembered that Xuandu and Duobao had both been rejected. Although Guangchengzi was outstanding, he did not have much of an advantage compared to Xuandu and Duobao.

He pondered for a moment, a golden glint flashing in his eyes.

"Master, I have a disciple who can become the Heavenly Emperor."

......