As the golden light flew into Shennong's mind, he discovered it was a small, square seal!
Shennong examined the small seal in his mind, realizing it bore his own likeness: a creature with a bull's head and a human body, with the words "Earth Emperor Seal" inscribed below!
Shennong withdrew his consciousness from his mind and looked at Fuxi opposite him.
Seeing Shennong's puzzled gaze, Fuxi laughed heartily:
"That is your Earth Emperor Seal. When I entered reincarnation, the Holy Father Taishang entrusted me with three small seals, telling me that this item was extremely important to the human race, an indispensable artifact for the Three Emperors of humanity. As you had not yet entered Huoyun Cave, I kept it with me!"
Shennong nodded upon hearing this, then asked:
"The Three Emperors? Who is the last one?"
Fuxi did not answer Shennong's question, but instead said:
"Once you refine your Earth Emperor Seal, you will know!"
With that, Fuxi rose and left the cave!
Fuxi looked at Tingxi, who was worriedly waiting outside the cave, and immediately said:
"Alright, you can go in now!"
Fuxi watched Tingxi enter Huoyun Cave, his eyes curving into crescents as he smiled!
The return of the Earth Emperor had caused a great surge in the human race's fortune. Now, they only needed to await the return of the Human Emperor. Once that happened, the human race's fortune would be so abundant that it could protect humanity from all woes, and he would no longer have to worry about them!
At the same time, on his way back to Kunlun, Taishang suddenly spotted the Twelve Golden Immortals. Taishang frowned. He had originally asked Tongtian to escort them back to Kunlun for punishment, but Tongtian had instead fled back to his Shangqing Palace. Seeing these twelve, Taishang decided to take them back with him.
With this thought, Taishang flashed and appeared in front of the Twelve Golden Immortals!
The Twelve Golden Immortals' expressions changed when they saw Taishang suddenly appear before them. They immediately bowed and saluted:
"Greetings, Eldest Martial Uncle!"
Taishang nodded to them:
"Twelve Golden Immortals, now that the human race has moved westward, you need not wander the Primordial World any longer. You shall return with me."
The Twelve Golden Immortals rejoiced upon hearing this. They had been punished and sent down the mountain to wander. The spiritual energy in the world could not compare to the richness of Kunlun, and their cultivation had slowed considerably. It was far more comfortable to stay in Kunlun!
The group nodded, and Taishang brought them all back to Kunlun!
At the gates of Kunlun Mountain, Taishang and the Twelve Golden Immortals happened to encounter Yuanshi, who was returning from Shennong's tribe. Yuanshi frowned upon seeing the Twelve Golden Immortals.
The Twelve Golden Immortals immediately bowed to Yuanshi:
"Greetings, Master!"
Yuanshi nodded and said expressionlessly:
"It is good that you have returned. The mineral veins I brought back from the Sun Star should be ready for extraction soon. You shall now carry out the punishment I decreed for you."
With that, Yuanshi waved his hand, sealing the cultivation of all twelve Golden Immortals!
"Go to the artifact refining hall in my Yuqing Palace and get tools. You shall begin your thousand-year punishment of mining!"
After speaking, Yuanshi and Taishang headed towards the Taiqing Palace together!
As soon as Yuanshi returned to the bamboo sea atop Taiqing Peak, he called out:
"Duobao, come to Taiqing Peak to see me immediately!"
On Sanqing Peak, Duobao, who was cultivating, heard Yuanshi's summons and immediately headed towards Taiqing Palace!
Upon Duobao's arrival, Yuanshi handed him his Sanbao Ruyi:
"Duobao, Taiyi and Qilin are currently being punished. You have been with us for quite some time. The Twelve Golden Immortals are also being punished. Take my Sanbao Ruyi and supervise them, ensuring they do not slack off!"
Duobao looked at the Sanbao Ruyi in Yuanshi's hand, caught in a dilemma. He could neither accept nor refuse.
If he accepted, would he not incur the resentment of the Twelve Golden Immortals? If he refused, he feared he would not be able to account for himself to his Second Martial Uncle.
Yuanshi, seeing Duobao's extreme indecision, glared at him:
"What? Do my words no longer carry as much weight as your master's?"
Upon hearing this, Duobao's face contorted into a bitter expression!
"This disciple would not dare!"
With that, Duobao reluctantly took the Sanbao Ruyi from Yuanshi!
Yuanshi nodded with satisfaction. After accepting the Sanbao Ruyi, Duobao headed towards Yuqing Peak!
In Shangqing Palace, Tongtian watched Duobao leave Taiqing Peak and thought to himself, "Since Duobao has gone to supervise the Twelve Golden Immortals' punishment, my eldest brother should not ask me to go as well, right?" With that, Tongtian immediately headed towards Taiqing Peak!
On Taiqing Peak, Taishang saw Tongtian arrive and said in a long, drawn-out voice:
"Third brother, has your Zhuxian Formation been completed?"
Tongtian scratched his head sheepishly:
"Thank you for your concern, Eldest Brother. It has been handled!"
Taishang felt speechless. The Zhuxian Four Swords and the Zhuxian Formation Diagram were still in his Chaos Orb. This boy was shamelessly lying with a straight face!
Taishang, too lazy to expose Tongtian, went back to Taiqing Palace on his own!
After Taishang left, Yuanshi looked at Tongtian and said with annoyance:
"Third brother, you truly dare to speak. Your Zhuxian Four Swords and Zhuxian Formation Diagram are still in Eldest Brother's Chaos Orb, aren't they!"
Hearing this, Tongtian chuckled sheepishly:
"Second Brother, don't talk nonsense. This time I just had an idea, no need for experiments!"
"Oh, and Second Brother, are your disciples going to be uncomfortable with Duobao supervising them?"
Yuanshi snorted coldly:
"If they are uncomfortable, they can endure it. If they are incompetent and arrogant, who gave them the right to be displeased? Duobao has my Sanbao Ruyi. Let's see who dares to cause trouble!"
Tongtian: ...
Yuanshi ignored Tongtian and walked into the depths of the bamboo sea.
Seeing this, Tongtian quickly followed, saying as he walked:
"Second Brother, you should focus on comprehending the Great Dao. I will take care of the silly fellow for a while!"
Hearing Tongtian's voice, Yuanshi replied without turning his head:
"Who told you I can't 'rua' the silly fellow while comprehending the Great Dao?"
"Second Brother! The Great Dao is more important!"
"Get lost!"
"..."
Duobao held Yuanshi's Sanbao Ruyi and looked at Yuqing Peak before him, a bitter expression on his face as he headed towards Yuqing Palace!
Yuanshi had sealed the cultivation of the Twelve Golden Immortals. As they had just retrieved their mining tools from the artifact refining hall and were about to leave, they saw Duobao approaching from the peak.
The Twelve Golden Immortals were all curious about Duobao's arrival. Guangchengzi immediately asked:
"Martial Uncle Duobao! What is this?"
Duobao's face was filled with bitterness upon hearing this, but since Yuanshi had entrusted him with this task, he could only steel himself and proceed.
Duobao raised the Sanbao Ruyi high and said loudly:
"By the decree of Yuqing Yuanshi, I am here to supervise you all!"
Seeing that their master had actually handed over the Sanbao Ruyi to Duobao, the Twelve Golden Immortals dared not disobey!
Duobao noticed a change in their expressions and immediately put away the Sanbao Ruyi, saying gently:
"My junior brothers and sisters, Second Martial Uncle has entrusted this matter to me. I am doing this out of necessity. I hope my junior brothers and sisters will forgive any offense."
Upon hearing Duobao's words, the Twelve Golden Immortals immediately replied:
"Since Martial Uncle Duobao has accepted the mission and bears Master's Sanbao Ruyi, we will naturally obey Martial Uncle's command!"
Duobao could only offer a wry smile. He dared not order them around. Although they were all disciples of the Daoist sect, Duobao knew that these disciples of his Second Martial Uncle harbored some reservations about his Shangqing lineage, even if they did not express it openly.
"My junior brothers and sisters are all disciples of Second Martial Uncle and are far more knowledgeable in these matters than I am. Please proceed as you see fit."