Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Contest for Power

Tongtian's face flushed red, his eyes filled with astonishment—what was happening? He hurriedly released his grip, allowing Nuwa to take her seat on her own.

Nuwa, too, was startled. What was going on?

As everyone fixed their gaze, they saw that the dark shadow was a Taoist, sharp-toothed and fierce-eyed, exuding a murderous aura. Fuxi spoke: "Kunpeng, what are you trying to do?"

Tongtian realized this must be the demon master Kunpeng: "In the Northern Sea there is a fish, its name is Kun. The Kun is so vast, thousands of miles across; transformed into a bird, its name is Peng. The back of the Peng is also immense, and when it rises in anger, its wings cover the sky like clouds." This was indeed the legendary demon master Kunpeng.

To explain how Fuxi knew Kunpeng, one must recall when Emperor Jun and Taiyi sought to unify the wilderness. Emperor Jun and Taiyi, wielding formidable power, became a major force in the primordial lands, commanding numerous followers—among whom Kunpeng was one.

Kunpeng lost in the power struggle against Emperor Jun and Taiyi, yet remained defiant. Both Fuxi, Nuwa, and Kunpeng had once served Emperor Jun, so Fuxi knew him well.

Kunpeng, hearing Fuxi speak thus, snorted lightly and said nothing.

Just then, a crimson cloud floated in from outside the palace, settling into the sixth seat and transforming into a Taoist clad in a red cloud-embroidered robe—the Ancestor Redcloud. Fuxi sighed and took his place behind Nuwa.

"You are most unreasonable! We wagered that whoever arrived at the Sage's court last would concede defeat. Yet you entered the palace without paying respects to the two young Taoists and barged in alone? You dare disregard the dignity of the Sages, belittling their presence!" Ancestor Redcloud grew ever more indignant as he spoke, glaring at Kunpeng.

"How hateful! How can you speak so?" Kunpeng could no longer sit still. He sprang up and confronted Ancestor Redcloud directly.

At that moment, more people streamed into the palace, drawn by the commotion rather than the Sage's teachings.

Yuan Shi Tianzun, who harbored resentment toward those born of "egg, womb, moisture, and transformation," was roused by the quarrel and addressed Kunpeng: "You, whose origin is 'egg, womb, moisture, and transformation,' what merit or virtue entitles you to such honors?

You neglected to salute the Sage's disciples for the sake of your own cultivation—this is a violation of the Precept of Greed. You wagered in pursuit of the Dao—this is a violation of the Precept of Ignorance. You came to the Sage's court, yet instead of meditating and seeking enlightenment, you quarrel—this is a violation of the Precept of Anger. One who breaks all three precepts of Greed, Anger, and Ignorance—what ability has he to listen to the Sage's teachings?"

Yuan Shi Tianzun then flicked his robe and declared, "Be gone!" His words were sharp and his demeanor stern, inspiring admiration in all present. The crowd collectively flicked their robes, echoing, "Be gone!"

Kunpeng now found himself at a loss, his expression so sour it provoked laughter.

Tongtian, hearing this, shook his head silently, thinking to himself, "My elder brother's eloquence is truly formidable."

Ancestor Redcloud, however, was quietly elated. Now you know the power of crossing me, he thought, a joyful smile unconsciously blooming on his face.

Just then, a Taoist in a tattered robe stepped forward and wept before the Sage's seat atop the dais: "My Dao-brother and I journeyed from the West through countless hardships to reach the Sage's court, seeking to enlighten the beings of the West. Now we cannot approach the Sage's seat—does the Dao show no compassion for the West?"

Another Taoist replied, "Do not lose heart. To be here at all is a blessing for us of the West."

Tongtian, hearing this, was astonished. Are these not the two venerable ones of the West—Receiving and Guiding? He was about to speak and stop Kunpeng from relinquishing his seat when another voice chimed in, "Thank you, Dao-friend Kunpeng, and thank you, Dao-friend Redcloud."

Turning to look, he saw the seats had already changed occupants. He sighed inwardly: "Redcloud lacks the qualifications for the Sage's seat."

Receiving and Guiding now sat on meditation cushions, paying no heed to others, quietly seeking enlightenment.

Tongtian looked over and saw a man holding a small bell suspended in his hand—this must be Eastern Emperor Taiyi. Beside him, a man and a woman—likely Emperor Jun and Xihe.

There were also the King of the East, Queen Mother of the West, Minghe, cloaked in blood-red and exuding murderous intent, the smiling Earth Immortal Zhen Yuanzi with a book in hand, the Lord of Thunder Marsh, the Thunder God, holding a spark of fire, and Burning Lamp, among others.

But at that moment, Tongtian spotted someone he would never forget for the rest of his life. He couldn't help but cry out, "Sister, how are you here?"

Tongtian had grown up without parents; it was his elder sister who had raised him, enduring hardship and toil. The trials they faced were etched deeply into Tongtian's heart.

When Tongtian married, his sister was still single, and he said to her, "Sister, let me find you a match."

But his sister refused him outright, as if she were waiting for someone. Tongtian couldn't understand and pressed her for answers, but she always replied, "When you have a child of your own, I'll marry."

As a young man of the twenty-first century, after marrying, he was in no hurry for children. His work had just stabilized, and there were many things to handle, so the matter slipped his mind. Yet his sister never let it go, clinging to that promise. Tongtian could only resign himself—perhaps his sister's fate had not yet arrived.

So Tongtian stared at the woman's face, recalling his past before crossing worlds. The woman, seeing Tongtian call her "sister" and gaze at her in a daze, asked, "Dao-friend, do we know each other?"

Tongtian snapped out of his reverie, remembering his sister couldn't have crossed worlds. Steeling himself, he replied, "We are not acquainted. May I ask your Dao-name?" Even if he had mistaken her, he wanted a proper introduction.

"I am the Holy Mother Taiyuan, a female cultivator from Mount Kunlun," she replied.

"If you are a cultivator of Mount Kunlun, why have I not seen you before?" At this, the Supreme Lord turned and inquired of Holy Mother Taiyuan.

Yuan Shi Tianzun also leaned over and whispered to Tongtian, "This female cultivator has excellent aptitude, though her fate is a bit thin. But I rather like her."

Tongtian curled his lip at Yuan Shi Tianzun's words and whispered back, "You always manage to profit, don't you?"

Yuan Shi Tianzun simply smiled, saying nothing.

Though Yuan Shi Tianzun had just rebuked Kunpeng like a gentleman, he had found his own Dao. Over countless millions of years, Tongtian could not remain silent like a block of wood, and often chatted with the Supreme Lord and Yuan Shi Tianzun, passing along jokes and cheerful stories from later eras. Thus, the personalities of the Supreme Lord and Yuan Shi Tianzun changed considerably.

"You three Purities existed before my transformation; I was transformed three thousand years ago, yet my consciousness predates yours," replied Holy Mother Taiyuan, who had just heard the Supreme Lord's question. But hearing Yuan Shi Tianzun's words to Tongtian, her cheeks blushed deeply with shyness.

The Supreme Lord nodded in understanding, and Yuan Shi Tianzun was about to ask further about Mount Kunlun when a child's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"This is the Sage's court! You must not make a commotion!" Haotian, the young attendant, puffed his cheeks as he spoke, looking every bit the angry little boy.