The performance of Ci’en Daoist was just like a primary school student who would report any trouble to the teacher, so innocent that it was almost unbearable.
“Alright then, you go ahead and inform them. We’ll wait here. Actually, I was hoping to pay my respects to your master anyway,” Xuan Kong’er volunteered in response.
Shui Miao merely smiled faintly and said, “Ci’en, do whatever you wish. I won’t stand in your way.”
There was a hint of mockery in Shui Miao’s tone.
Ci’en Daoist paused briefly, then nodded and said, “I, I’ll use my mind to contact my master.”
As Ci’en Daoist closed his eyes, Shui Miao and Xuan Kong’er exchanged glances and couldn’t help but shake their heads and smile.
However, immediately afterward, a black hole appeared above the blue flames and instantly sucked away all of them.
“Oh no…”
Shui Miao instinctively felt a jolt in his head, and a black hole also appeared inside his realm planet, instantly pulling the Wheel of Reincarnation away.
Seeing Shui Miao’s face turn shockingly pale, Xuan Kong’er quickly asked, “Brother Shui, tell me quickly, what’s going on?”
“The Wheel of Reincarnation inside my realm has also been taken!” Shui Miao’s face turned deathly pale from extreme shock. This was clearly the work of Hongjun Daoist. He was too terrifying—actually capable of entering someone’s realm planet out of thin air and seizing the Wheel of Reincarnation. With such power, he could destroy me with a mere gesture!
“This…”
Xuan Kong’er was also stunned. He never imagined that Hongjun Daoist would actually take action, and in such an inconceivable manner.
At this moment, both Shui Miao and Xuan Kong’er realized that there’s always someone stronger beyond the sky, someone greater beyond humanity.
Both had thought their strength was impressive, but compared to Hongjun Daoist, they now understood the meaning of being narrow-minded like a frog in a well.
They both turned their gazes toward Ci’en Daoist—the well-behaved student who loved to tattle…
Ci’en Daoist opened his eyes, exhaled deeply, and smiled innocently. “Alright, the trouble is resolved now. My master also asked me to tell you that from now on, you should work diligently and stop meddling in matters you shouldn’t. Once the order of the Three Realms is restored, you will naturally be granted the divine positions you deserve. As for the Wheel of Reincarnation, it has already been taken by my master. He will personally adjust and control it, and then hand it over to the new Celestial Emperor. There’s no need for you to be concerned about it anymore.”
…
Shui Miao and Xuan Kong’er exchanged glances again. This time, neither could manage a smile.
Suddenly, Shui Miao felt as if Ci’en Daoist were the monk Tang, while he and Xuan Kong’er had become the Monkey King.
“Fine, you have the final say…”
Shui Miao suddenly shrugged, inwardly deciding from now on Ci’en Daoist was the real boss who could not be offended.
Xuan Kong’er was also deeply wary of Hongjun Daoist’s power and quickly added, “Brother, whatever needs to be done, you tell us, and Shui Miao and I will follow your arrangements.”
With one move, Hongjun Daoist completely changed their mindset.
This display of power was far more effective than any headband curse.
“Brothers, I’m only here to help you. Actually, I don’t have much ability. As for what to do next, it’s still up to you two to decide,” Ci’en Daoist waved his hands repeatedly. “However, if we encounter any problems we can’t solve in the future, I can use my mind to contact my master for help. But my master told me he can only assist us three times, and I’ve already used one of them…”
…
Shui Miao and Xuan Kong’er looked at each other in silence, feeling a sudden sense of speechlessness.
Shui Miao had just thought he could rely on Ci’en Daoist to get things done, but now he realized that this was merely a trial—analogous to the pilgrimage to the West—for both himself and Xuan Kong’er!
Why, why do powerful people always enjoy playing such tricks?
Shui Miao couldn’t understand how he had become the Monkey King.
He had previously been unrestrained, free to do whatever he wanted. Now, suddenly bound by an invisible chain, he felt an unfamiliar discomfort. Everything he did now required caution. Who knew how restricted he might become in the future! No, this wasn’t the kind of life he wanted. He would continue to explore the mysteries of the Wheel of Reincarnation. Didn’t Ci’en Daoist say that the Wheel was a treasure brought by Hongjun Daoist from his homeland? It had been damaged in the Immortal Realm for so long, and he hadn’t repaired or adjusted it. Today, after Shui Miao had infused it with a large amount of purple fortune energy, Hongjun Daoist immediately took it away. Wasn’t this just a form of forceful confiscation and exploitation? As these thoughts raced through his mind, Shui Miao secretly gathered forging materials and replicated the Wheel of Reincarnation from his memory inside a spatial ring artifact.
Shui Miao’s philosophy was one of natural spontaneity, instinctively resisting oppression, control, and constraints.
Xuan Kong’er appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was extremely unhappy.
In fact, Xuan Kong’er disliked being constrained even more than Shui Miao. His inner resistance to this invisible chain was even stronger than Shui Miao’s.
※※※
The three finally managed to break free from the black hole and returned to the Three Realms after great difficulty.
They stopped at a distance from the Southern Heaven Gate. Shui Miao and Xuan Kong’er suddenly noticed that the gate had completely changed—it was now guarded by a group of celestial generals and the Four Heavenly Kings.
Indeed, these Four Heavenly Kings were the Four Demon Generals from the ancient immortal era.
Seeing such a change, Shui Miao couldn’t help but frown. “We’ve only been gone a short while. How come the guards have already been replaced? Could it be Chong Yuanzi’s doing?”
Shui Miao quickly summoned his mind energy and released Wen Chang Di Jun, Tian Yi De Jun, and Shui Tian Yi Sheng Mu.
Xuan Kong’er shook his head. “No, their aura is definitely from the ancient immortals. I think Laozi must have known we uncovered his trickery. He revealed his true strength, gathered the hidden ancient immortals from various places, and took over the heavenly court. What do you think, Brother Ci’en?”
“My master told me that the path ahead wouldn’t be smooth, but he didn’t say anything else,” Ci’en Daoist simply replied. Then, volunteering, he added, “I think they must be reasonable people. I’ll go talk to them and ask to see Senior Brother Tai Shang.”
Ci’en Daoist flew toward the Four Heavenly Kings.
Shui Miao pondered, What could this possibly mean? Could it be that Hongjun Daoist deliberately set up this situation to stall us here while he uses the Wheel of Reincarnation for some special purpose?
Under such circumstances, Shui Miao couldn’t help but become suspicious.
He believed that the motives of powerful beings were rarely simple. They aimed to maintain control over the overall situation rather than allowing everyone to know the truth. The powerful only allowed events to unfold according to their wishes, developing in ways beneficial to them. Therefore, even the words of the powerful couldn’t always be trusted. Moreover, why did the powerful prefer to take disciples who were pure-hearted and had undergone countless lifetimes of reincarnation? From a certain perspective, it was because such people believed in them unconditionally and never doubted them, which was precisely why they were chosen.
Thus, Shui Miao decided in his heart that from now on he would speak less, remain calm, and observe silently, hoping to uncover the truth behind the scenes through Ci’en Daoist.
…
Wen Chang Di Jun and the others, whom Shui Miao had just summoned, had already received a mental transmission from him about what had happened previously.
Now, standing together with Xuan Kong’er, they all felt particularly complex inside.
But what shocked and complicated them even more was the arrival of Hongjun Daoist’s disciple!
From afar, they all watched Ci’en Daoist trying to negotiate with the Four Heavenly Kings. It seemed the progress wasn’t going very smoothly.
Soon enough, Ci’en Daoist returned looking disheveled and defeated.
“They don’t believe me. They even said if we cause any more trouble, they’ll arrest us…” Ci’en Daoist looked at everyone with a gloomy expression, his face full of helplessness as he lowered his head. “I, I can’t do anything anymore…”
“Hmph! Talking to them is just a waste of time. I defeated them once before, and we can do it again now,” Xuan Kong’er coldly laughed and turned to Shui Miao. “Brother, what do you think we should do?”
“Brother, you decide.”
Shui Miao’s tone was somewhat indifferent. He was also curious to see the true power of Laozi. If they really couldn’t handle it, they could always let Ci’en Daoist notify his master, Hongjun Daoist. After all, it was just a matter between master and disciple. Considering the interests of his friends, Shui Miao added to Wen Chang Di Jun and the others, “By the way, Senior Wen Chang, Senior Tian Yi, and Senior Shui Tianyi, it’s probably inconvenient for you to get involved in this matter. Let us handle it.”
At once, Shui Miao stepped forward, shielding the others from any potential harm.
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