Without the slightest hesitation, Yuanqing set off directly for Mount Buzhou.
Tens of thousands of years later, he finally arrived at Mount Buzhou. He beheld Mount Buzhou standing like a pillar propping up the sky, piercing straight through the space between heaven and earth.
Yuanqing could not help but exclaim aloud, "It is tall—truly, extraordinarily tall!" Mount Buzhou was formed from the spine and backbone of the Great God Pangu. Being the very center of the Primordial World and a symbol of the cosmos, it filled him with an even deeper admiration for the mighty power of the Great God Pangu.
"What is this fellow Daoist doing here?" Suddenly, a voice rang out from right behind him.
Yuanqing was startled. To be able to appear behind him without him noticing anything at all meant the other party possessed at least the cultivation of a Peak Daluo Golden Immortal.
Yuanqing turned around and replied, "I plan to go up Mount Buzhou to take a look and experience the magnificent scenery of the pillar that props up the sky."
*I am certainly not going to tell you my true purpose,* Yuanqing thought to himself.
Laying eyes on the old man, Yuanqing saw a venerable elder with white hair and a white Daoist robe, possessing a benevolent countenance and an otherworldly demeanor.
"Host, this is Hongjun. You cannot beat him."
Yuanqing thought to himself, *What? What is Hongjun doing at Mount Buzhou? Why isn't he staying put at his Yujing Mountain instead of running all the way here? System, I heard that the Taoist Ancestor Hongjun achieved Dao as the Chaotic Exotic Beast 'Earthworm'. Is that true or false?*
Naturally, Yuanqing could not voice his true thoughts aloud.
Yuanqing said, "For this fellow Daoist to appear behind me without a sound, your cultivation must be at least that of a Peak Daluo Golden Immortal."
The immortal-looking Daoist priest smiled and said, "You have a sharp eye, fellow Daoist—though I am and yet am not. What might your name be, young friend?"
Yuanqing said, "My name is Yuanqing."
The immortal-looking Daoist priest said, "Could this young friend be none other than Yuanqing, the one who fought a great battle against Zulong, the patriarch of the Dragon Clan, and actually survived a direct blow from Zulong without dying? Truly, a hero comes from the youth."
Yuanqing said, "Indeed. May I ask what your name is, fellow Daoist?"
The immortal-looking person said, "Why don't you take a guess at who I am, fellow Daoist?"
Yuanqing said, "Peak Daluo Golden Immortals are few and far between in the Primordial World; they are currently the apex existences. Patriarch Yinyang and Patriarch Qiankun do not frequently go out. You look nothing like the Phoenix Clan leader or the Kylin Clan leader, to say nothing of Patriarch Wuxing. As for Luohou, he is currently in seclusion in the Western Land. Could it be that this fellow Daoist is Hongjun?"
The immortal-looking person said, "You have great discernment, young friend. You guessed who I am right away. That's right, I am Hongjun. How did you know I was Hongjun, fellow Daoist?"
Yuanqing said, "So it is the esteemed Daoist Hongjun in person. Forgive me for failing to recognize you."
With that, he cupped his hands in a formal greeting.
*This fellow Daoist is certainly interesting, and quite powerful to boot,* Hongjun thought.
*I certainly can't tell you I have a System,* Yuanqing thought.
Yuanqing said awkwardly, "I just guessed. I wonder what Daoist Hongjun is doing on Mount Buzhou?"
Hongjun said, "I sensed that a fortuitous encounter was descending into this world here, so I came over to retrieve it. Could it be that you, fellow Daoist, are also here for..."
Yuanqing said, "Indeed, Daoist Hongjun. I sensed that a fortuitous encounter destined for me was descending upon Mount Buzhou, so I came to take a look."
Hongjun said, "You truly have a boundless future ahead, fellow Daoist. With such a fortuitous encounter descending, you will certainly be able to take another step forward."
Hongjun continued, "Well, I will say no more. I have urgent business, fellow Daoist, so I shall take my leave now. Farewell, fellow Daoist! When we meet next time, we shall discuss the Dao together."
Yuanqing said, "Very well, Daoist. Farewell, Daoist Hongjun."
Hongjun turned his head, smiled faintly, and thought to himself, *How very interesting to run into him on Mount Buzhou. It seems this fellow Daoist is no ordinary person!*
Yuanqing thought, *Hongjun is truly terrifying. Cold sweat is soaking my back right now. It seems I should try my best to avoid mingling with such mighty figures in the future. I'll wait until I become a mighty figure myself before talking about that.*