Primordial Era: The Sun Emperor

Taiyi seemed not to hear, his golden eyes fixed straight ahead, his steps unwavering.

Inside the Zixiao Palace, the space is far more expansive than it appears from the outside.

In the center of the hall is a high platform with a futon on it, which is the seat where Hongjun Daozu preaches.

Below the high platform, six futons were neatly arranged in front of them. They seemed ordinary, but they faintly exuded a profound Taoist charm.

Almost everyone believed that there was something mysterious about those six prayer cushions.

Taiyi stepped into the hall, his golden eyes landing on the two prayer mats at the back.

His goal has been clear from the beginning.

It's a given that the Three Pure Ones will occupy the top three spots, Nuwa will be fourth, and the remaining two futons, fifth and sixth, are his targets.

Those two places were originally seized by Kunpeng and Hongyun, and later given to Jieyin and Zhunti.

In other words, there are actually only these two positions that can be contested.

Taiyi used the Golden Crow Transformation Rainbow Technique, openly displaying his supernatural powers in the sage's dojo, and sat on the fifth futon in front of everyone.

He then turned to look at Emperor Ziwei and nodded slightly.

The Purple Emperor understood, and his purple-gold imperial energy circulated throughout his body as he calmly sat down on the sixth futon.

The people inside the hall reacted with varying expressions upon seeing this.

But the sage did not stop them; this was truly alarming.

Immediately, a chaotic battle broke out inside the palace.

They didn't actually fight, but instead used their unique abilities to compete for seats.

It's unclear how the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa managed to snatch those positions from the hands of all the Great Luo Golden Immortals and even the Primordial Golden Immortals, and how they managed to sit on them one by one.

Thus, all six prayer cushions have found their owners.

Some people looked unwilling, and some gritted their teeth in silence, but no one dared to speak up and force them to give up their seats.

This is the sacred site of a sage; who dares to be presumptuous?

The six figures—Sanqing, Nuwa, Taiyi, and Ziwei—sat upright in front, clearly distinct from the thousands of primordial deities behind them.

The hall was completely silent, except for the empty prayer cushion on the high platform, awaiting the arrival of the saint.

Taiyi closed his eyes to rest, his golden pupils slightly closed, but his heart was completely undisturbed.

Just when everyone thought that was the end of it, the riot gradually subsided, and two people with disheveled hair walked out.

It was none other than Jieyin and Zhunti from the West.

The guide's face showed signs of suffering, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes held a mixture of pity and weariness.

Zhunti was thin and wiry, with a resolute face and a pained expression, as if everyone owed him something.

The two stood side by side, their energy intertwined.

These two individuals, possessing the only great fortune in the primordial West, bear the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the West.

Since Rahu, the West has been barren and far less prosperous than the East. The fact that these two were able to cultivate to the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm in such a harsh environment shows their perseverance and innate talent, which no one present dared to underestimate.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance and secretly communicated a few words.

They arrived too late.

The six prayer cushions were already occupied, with the Three Pure Ones firmly in the top three, Nuwa in fourth, and Taiyi and Ziwei in fifth and sixth place respectively.

The two of them, the dignified rulers of the West, didn't even have a seat and could only stand in the crowd at the back. They were even punched several times during the scramble.

The Three Pure Ones are one entity, and neither of them could make them relinquish their position. Even if Nuwa alone relinquished her position, it would be of no use.

Zhunti's heart stirred slightly, and his gaze then fell on the fifth and sixth prayer cushions.

Taiyi, Ziwei.

Only when these two are united can we seize the opportunity if we can persuade them.

Zhunti and Jieyin looked at each other again, a resolute glint flashing in their eyes at the same time.

This dispute over the meditation cushions is about one's roots, one's fortune, and one's future destiny.

These two men bear the weight of the rise and fall of the West on their shoulders; surely they can't even sit on a prayer mat together?

Zhunti took a deep breath, stepped forward, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly to Taiyi, and spoke in a voice that was neither humble nor arrogant:

"Your Majesty, I am Zhunti, and my senior brother Jieyin. We came from the West, but the journey was long and we were a step late."

Your Majesty is the Lord of Heaven, and Fellow Daoist Ziwei is the Emperor Star. The two of you are of immeasurable nobility.

However, my senior brother and I bear the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the West. These positions on the meditation cushions are crucial to the West's destiny. I humbly request Your Majesty and Fellow Daoist Ziwei to grant these seats to my brother and me.

Jieyin stepped forward, his face showing distress, and said in a deep voice, "The West is barren, and seeking the Dao is difficult. My fellow Daoist brother and I have come here not for personal gain, but only for the sake of the sentient beings in the West."

If one could obtain a seat on a meditation cushion and listen to the sage's teachings, countless beings in the West would have a glimmer of hope. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to grant my request.

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Everyone understood the unspoken meaning behind Jieyin and Zhunti's words: they wanted not just one futon, but two.

Taiyi and Ziwei should give up the fifth and sixth prayer cushions.

The three Pure Ones turned their heads in unison, their gazes falling on Jieyin and Zhunti, each with a different expression.

Where did this penniless cultivator come from? Has he gone mad with poverty? Asking someone to give up their seat? He has the nerve to ask that?

Nuwa frowned slightly and glanced at Taiyi.

Fuxi stood behind, his expression slightly changing, and muttered to himself, "These two have quite the appetite."

Emperor Ziwei's expression darkened slightly, and his golden imperial aura circulated around him, but he did not speak. He simply looked at Taiyi.

Thousands of eyes in the hall were focused on Taiyi, eager to see how the Heavenly Emperor would respond.

Taiyi sat on the fifth futon, his golden eyes slightly raised, looking at the two disheveled Western guests in front of him.

His lips curled slightly upwards, a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Abdicate?" Taiyi uttered the word softly, his tone indifferent. Despite being the embodiment of the Great Sun, the temperature in the entire Zixiao Palace seemed to drop several degrees.

When Taiyi stood up, Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed.

They hadn't expected that His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor would be so easy to talk to.

Just as they were about to express their gratitude, Taiyi feigned anger and said, "You're late? I think you've all lost your minds!"

Just now, the two of you were fighting in the crowd and even got punched twice. Did you think I didn't see it?

Or are you saying you didn't get enough of a punch and now want to take one of my own?

"You!!!" Zhunti was furious upon hearing this. He wanted to say something, but he was afraid that Taiyi would actually suppress him.

At that point, it would truly be a case of losing both wife and army.

Jieyin quickly stopped Zhunti, his expression filled with compassion, and said, "Your Majesty, as the Heavenly Emperor, how can you speak so rudely? We brothers have not had an easy time cultivating in the West, and we beg Your Majesty to have mercy on us and grant us alms."

"Heh, the West is barren? Then go find Rahu, why are you coming to me?"

Taiyi sneered, not buying his act.

Jieyin opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by Taiyi who asked directly, "Do you really want it?"

Seeing that Taiyi had relaxed a little, Jieyin was overjoyed, but his expression remained unchanged. He said sadly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

After saying that, he wanted to sit down.

However, he was forced back by the Great Sun Holy Flame on Taiyi's body. "You can have it, but you need to exchange it for something."

"Your Majesty, please speak freely. As long as the two of us possess it, we will have no objections," Jieyin quickly assured him.

Taiyi smiled and nodded, saying, "It's simple. Aren't you all always talking about the West? Then let's trade the West for it!"

"I command you to swear an oath to the Heavenly Way, that if either of you does not perish, the entire Western Regions will forever belong to the Heavenly Court and obey its decrees."