"Ahem…"
Wuliang Xianweng cleared his throat lightly and spoke slowly, "As for seeking refuge, that is easily settled. My Chan Sect is the premier orthodox sect between Heaven and Earth. To be able to destroy the great gate of my dojo is, in itself, a mark of no small talent."
"However, since those wishing to join my sect are as numerous as the stars, we must ultimately look at one's origins."
Zoran thought to himself, As expected.
In any world even tangentially related to the Primeval Mythos, one's origins were almost the primary concern. To put it simply, origins meant your birthright. Are you human or demon? Immortal or monster? This was an era that placed immense value on lineage.
"That is only natural," Zoran smiled.
He released his self-imposed restraints, and a cold, ethereal aura slowly emanated from his body. Po Kong followed suit; she remained silent, but her aura was as magnificent and heavy as a mountain range.
Wuliang Xianweng trembled violently.
"Where... where does your Excellency hail from?" he stammered in disbelief.
Zoran said nothing, merely pointing a finger toward the Heavens.
Wuliang Xianweng seemed to vaguely know the answer, yet he remained uncertain. "And... since when?"
"Born of the Primordial," Zoran said plainly.
"Do you possess a True Form!?" Wuliang Xianweng pressed urgently.
Zoran shook his wide sleeves, his expression subtle. "We are certainly not of the 'furred and horned' or 'moisture-born and egg-hatched' variety."
Upon hearing this, Wuliang Xianweng, standing atop his cloud, could not help but stumble back several steps.
These two... were both Primordial Beings!?
A Primordial Being existed even before the Great God Pangu split the Heavens and the Earth. Zoran was not lying; in their original world, the siblings were born from the source. Although there was no Pangu in their history, in terms of status and hierarchy, the claim was entirely true. With such a background, even being appointed as a Golden Immortal on the spot would not be beneath them.
"Good! Excellent! My Chan Sect is destined for great prosperity!" Wuliang Xianweng's face twisted with a joy so intense it was almost comical.
He spun around on his cloud in excitement. No wonder they hadn't bowed upon meeting; by their origins, these two were beings who were naturally close to the source of the Great Dao.
It took him a long time to compose himself. "I have never heard of such beings before. May I ask the reason why Fellow Daoist seeks the Chan Sect?"
Zoran adjusted his sleeves and said, "I have heard that the War of the Investiture is about to begin. Such a grand gathering of Heaven and Earth is something my sister and I naturally wish to find a proper place for."
Wuliang Xianweng was overjoyed. Zoran's words spoke directly to his heart. He was exactly in the middle of preparing for that very war.
"With you two in the Chan Sect, we shall thrive!" he couldn't help but exclaim.
At that moment, a disciple nearby whispered, "Immortal Sage, the gate..."
Wuliang Xianweng's brow furrowed. He tapped his wooden staff, and the disciple was instantly blown out of the hall.
"No sense of timing!" he snapped. Then, he turned back to Zoran and Po Kong with a beaming smile.
"According to Fellow Daoist, this is your younger sister? Truly... truly..." He rubbed his hands together, his long white eyebrows twitching. After a pause, he continued, "Truly a person of exceptional talent!"
Zoran bowed slightly. "My sister is not fond of speaking. She is naturally mischievous and gluttonous; I hope the Immortal Sage will show her some forbearance."
"It is of no consequence! None at all!" Wuliang Xianweng laughed. His eyes darted around. "Such origins are rare even in this world. Dare I ask if Fellow Daoist has other siblings? It would be wonderful to have them all come to the Chan Sect to converse."
"I do," Zoran glanced at him. "Including us, there are eight siblings in total. I am the eldest brother."
"And where are they now?" Wuliang Xianweng looked around expectantly.
Zoran sighed slowly. "My siblings and I were victims of a scheme several eons ago. We were trapped in a strange land. Even I only managed to escape recently."
"So it is. Truly tragic, truly regrettable," Wuliang Xianweng echoed sympathetically. He raised his hand to call a subordinate. "Crana, prepare a banquet! Fetch the Immortal Dew!"
Crana, dressed in a white robe, hurried to comply.
A short while later, rows of Immortal Dew and divine foods were laid out. Zoran watched Po Kong, who was drinking like a glutton, and nudged his own portion toward her.
The Great Hall fell into a stunned silence.
Wuliang Xianweng watched the divine delicacies vanish into Po Kong's mouth like a passing breeze. He felt both a sting in his wallet and a deep shock. This gluttony... was truly on another level.
"It seems your sister is... a bit simple-minded?" Wuliang Xianweng asked tentatively.
Zoran shook his head. "That is simply her nature. As they say, the eldest brother is like a father; I can only keep her by my side. I hope the Immortal Sage understands."
Hearing this, Wuliang Xianweng feigned generosity and waved a hand, though his voice trembled slightly. "No matter! The Chan Sect has vast resources. It's not as if your sister could eat my entire Jade Void Palace, could she?"
He laughed awkwardly, while Zoran remained silent.
Po Kong actually could.
Her stomach was like a bottomless pit. This gluttony was a manifestation of her craving for power; her "hunger" was the physical need to replenish her original strength. However, even if she wasn't hungry, she would still eat. Each of the eight Demon Sorcerers possessed unique traits, and Po Kong's was that she grew stronger simply by consuming.
Truthfully, her potential for growth was not inferior to Zoran's. In the past, she could maintain her title as the Mountain Demon just by eating insects and dirt. If she were allowed to eat powerful magical artifacts and immortal elixirs... the possibilities were terrifying.
Thinking of this, Zoran looked toward her.
"It seems Fellow Daoist cares for his sister deeply. Such sibling affection is moving," Wuliang Xianweng praised. His hand was under the table, frantically signaling Crana to stop serving food.
His expression remained unchanged, but he shifted the topic. "Since our Master is in seclusion, I manage the Chan Sect's affairs. While I acknowledge your origins, we must still observe the proper protocols."
Zoran replied, "Speak your mind."
Wuliang Xianweng's expression turned serious. "Currently, monsters run rampant in this world. The Chan Sect has established 'Demon-Hunting Squads' to maintain the peace of the common people. Let your trial be to capture a Demon King. How does that sound?"
"Excellent," Zoran nodded.
"Deero," Wuliang Xianweng called another aide. "Are there any Demon Kings left unsubdued?"
The refined-looking Deero bowed. "Yes. On the list for the Hunting Squad, there is a Demon King named Lady Shiji. Perhaps we could set her as the target for the trial?"
He looked toward Zoran as he finished, his heart shaking. An immortal who could prompt the Master to throw such a lavish banquet was surely no ordinary figure.
"That is acceptable. However..." Zoran paused. "I have one request."
"Speak," Wuliang Xianweng said calmly.
"My sister was only recently rescued from the schemes of our enemies. She is currently in a weakened state. I have heard that the Immortal Elixirs of the Jade Void Palace are remarkably potent."
Before he could finish, Wuliang Xianweng agreed readily, "Of course! The Chan Sect has a tradition of distributing elixirs to its disciples." He reached out, and several Immortal Elixirs landed in a row. "Let your sister have a taste of these first."
Po Kong's eyes widened with longing as she stared at the pills. She opened her mouth, and a sudden, powerful suction force erupted.
————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]