The Twelve Demon Generals, under Bai Ze's arrangement, successfully brought the demons of Mount Ziyang back to the Demon Court.
Although the Twelve Demon Generals failed to win over Fuxi and Nuwa during their trip to Mount Ziyang, they continued to subdue other demons in various regions upon their return to the Demon Court.
On Mount Kunlun, the Three Pure Ones also emerged from their seclusion. Li Yi's cultivation had reached the peak of Hunyuan Golden Immortal, touching the threshold of Hunyuan Grand Luo Golden Immortal. With the right timing, he could break through to the Saint realm in one go.
Tongtian, with a face full of excitement, happily said to Li Yi:
"Eldest Brother, my cultivation has also reached the mid-stage of Hunyuan Golden Immortal. After some time, perhaps I will be like you!"
Yuanshi, observing Tongtian's self-satisfied expression, couldn't help but retort:
"Third Brother, do you even know Eldest Brother's realm? You still want to catch up to him?"
Tongtian, unable to probe Li Yi's precise cultivation, evaded Yuanshi's question and asked:
"Second Brother, what about you? What realm have you reached?"
Yuanshi smiled mysteriously and said:
"I'm not telling you?"
Seeing the two about to bicker, Li Yi stepped forward, patted their shoulders, and said:
"Enough! Enough! Our disciples who are coming out of seclusion must have sensed it. They might arrive soon, so let's not argue and be laughed at by the juniors!"
Upon hearing this, Tongtian glanced at Yuanshi, let out a hum, and turned his head away, no longer looking at Yuanshi.
Yuanshi chuckled and shook his head, ignoring Tongtian.
As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, Qi Chen rushed over first, followed closely by Duobao, and Jin Jiao Yin Jiao.
Tongtian, seeing Qi Chen and the others, couldn't help but curl his lips upwards, and chided with a smile:
"This brat!"
Qi Chen, Duobao, and Jin Jiao Yin Jiao arrived before Li Yi and the other two, and said excitedly:
"We welcome Master and Uncle-Master (Three Venerables) out of seclusion!"
Li Yi looked at the four of them and said with a smile:
"Alright, no need for formalities! You've all reached the peak realm, it seems you haven't been negligent during this period!"
The disciples were quite pleased to receive Li Yi's praise and said with a giggle:
"Thank you, Eldest Uncle-Master, for your commendation!"
Li Yi saw that Fusang and Yuegui had also arrived at Taiqing Peak. The three of them stepped forward to pay their respects. Before they could speak, Fusang and Yuegui said:
"Congratulations to the three Daoist friends, it seems you have gained much from this seclusion!"
The three quickly replied humbly:
"Daoist friends are joking, we have gained a little, a little! On the other hand, you two Daoist friends are looking even more radiant!" Li Yi's gaze shifted between Fusang and Yuegui.
Fusang, feeling embarrassed by Li Yi's gaze, coughed to conceal his awkwardness and quickly found a topic to leave.
Tongtian and Yuanshi watched their retreating figures, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"Eldest Brother, why do I feel that the relationship between these two Daoist friends is not simple?"
Li Yi asked with a smile:
"Oh! How is it not simple?"
Tongtian scratched his head and said:
"I don't know, I just feel it's not simple!"
Li Yi then turned to Yuanshi, who also scratched his head and said:
"I can't explain it either!"
Li Yi thought to himself:
*Romantic feelings, it's normal for you two old bachelors not to know!*
Seeing Li Yi fall silent and smile foolishly,
Tongtian waved his hand in front of Li Yi and said:
"Eldest Brother?"
Li Yi snapped back to attention and asked:
"Ah? What is it?"
Tongtian: "Ah! Nothing!"
.......
Yuanshi gazed silently at the horizon. Li Yi and Tongtian approached him, but he didn't notice.
Li Yi waved his hand in front of Yuanshi and asked:
"What's wrong? Missing Taiyi?"
Yuanshi nodded and said:
"Taiyi has been gone for quite some time. I wonder how he is doing!"
Tongtian sighed and added:
"I wonder how their brothers are doing after establishing the Demon Court!"
Li Yi patted Yuanshi's shoulder and said:
"Since you miss him, let's go and see him! It won't take us long with our cultivation anyway!"
Tongtian heard this and chimed in:
"Yes! Second Brother, why don't we go visit the Demon Court?"
Yuanshi shook his head and said:
"Forget it! The Demon Court has just been established, and they must be busy with affairs. Besides, I wouldn't know what to say if I went."
Li Yi, seeing Yuanshi's conflicted desire to go yet not go, like an old father longing for his child to return home, winked at Tongtian behind Yuanshi's back!
Tongtian looked at Li Yi in confusion, not understanding what he meant.
Li Yi, seeing Tongtian's bewildered expression, knew that this boy's mind was too straightforward to be relied upon, so he said:
"Second Brother, look, Third Brother's mountain protection formation has been perfected. Why don't you forge some token spirit treasures for the disciples? Their current identity tokens are just pieces of wood Third Brother picked up casually last time, it's too shabby!"
Yuanshi, upon hearing Li Yi mention artifact refining, shook off his previous melancholy and said:
"Yes! Eldest Brother is right. The disciples will definitely go out in the future, so I will forge their identity tokens into defensive treasures. What do you think, Eldest Brother?"
Li Yi felt that Yuanshi's suggestion made sense and said:
"Let's do as Second Brother suggested!"
As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, Yuanshi immediately returned to Yuqing Peak.
After Yuanshi left, Tongtian, puzzled, asked Li Yi:
"Eldest Brother, what was that?"
Li Yi sighed and explained:
"Second Brother only has Taiyi as a disciple. After Taiyi left, Second Brother inevitably feels a bit lonely. Now that he has just come out of seclusion and sees Chen'er and the others surrounding you, he naturally thinks of the days when Taiyi was by his side."
Tongtian stroked his chin and asked doubtfully:
"Does Second Brother feel that way? Or is Eldest Brother overthinking it?"
Li Yi looked at Tongtian's foolishness and gave up on expecting him to understand, saying:
"You should also take Chen'er and Duobao back. They must have learned quite a bit from what you taught them during our seclusion. Go back and teach your disciples."
Tongtian ignored Li Yi's urging him to leave and was still contemplating Yuanshi's situation, thinking that Li Yi's words were not entirely unreasonable. He then said to Li Yi:
"Why don't I give Duobao or Qi Chen to Second Brother to teach?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yi quickly dismissed Tongtian's idea and said:
"No need. Disciples are chosen by fate; there's no reason to transfer them. Just tell Chen'er and Duobao to visit Yuqing Peak more often. I'll also have Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao go, so Second Brother won't feel so lonely!"
Tongtian nodded and, taking Qi Chen and Duobao with him, returned to Shangqing Peak.
Li Yi turned around and saw Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao still standing there. He asked:
"What's wrong?"
Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao quickly said:
"Nothing! Nothing!"
After speaking, they ran towards the medicinal fields.