Entry Requirements

Dong!

The Jade Void Bell rang, its chime echoing through towering Kunlun. Summoned by its sound, all Chan Sect disciples returned to Jade Void Palace.

The Twelve Golden Immortals, Yellow Dragon True Man, Immortal Elder of the South Pole, Yun Zhongzi, White Crane Disciple, White Deer Disciple, the Four-Alike, Apricot Root Immortal who watched over the Yellow Plum... these were all the members of the Chan Sect.

Daoist Ran Deng, dressed in a Gold Thread Daoist Robe, stood humbly in the hall. His eyes brimmed with reverence and faith toward Yuanshi Tianzun, utterly ignoring the strange looks the Chan Sect disciples gave him.

Yuanshi Tianzun's Dharma form was solemn and majestic. Strands of Sage radiance spread from behind his head, reaching into All Heavens and Myriad Realms and endless space-time.

"Daoist Ran Deng, you were once a Guest of Purple Cloud Palace. By rights, we are of the same generation. Do you truly wish to enter under this seat and become a disciple of my Chan Sect?"

At this, Daoist Ran Deng's expression grew even more respectful. He bowed to Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Please hear this junior out, Sage. In the world of cultivation, attainment comes before age. You are an indestructible being of Chaotic Origin, one who has glimpsed the Heavenly Dao, while this junior is merely an unremarkable Great Luo Golden Immortal."

"Before you, Sage, this junior is no more than an ant. If you do not disdain me, I hope to remain at your side as a Silver-Keeping Disciple guarding your treasure vault. So long as I can hear your teachings, this junior would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!"

It had to be said that Ran Deng, that old schemer, had remarkably thick skin. Yuanshi Tianzun could not possibly accept Daoist Ran Deng as an attendant; if he did, he would offend every Primordial Saint.

Primordial Saints were born bearing the Calamity Fate of heaven and earth and were beloved by heaven and earth. Even a Sage needed proper cause to deal with them, or else he would suffer the backlash of heaven and earth's Calamity Fate.

At that moment, Meng Chen stepped forward and pleaded on Daoist Ran Deng's behalf.

"Teacher, since Daoist Ran Deng is so sincere, our Chan Sect should give him an opportunity. Our Chan Sect upholds the will of the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun Daozu's spirit of enlightening all living beings. If we turn away someone like Daoist Ran Deng, whose Dao heart is so steadfast, at our gates, the Dao Friends of the Primordial Wilderness may think our Chan Sect is cold and unreasonable."

When Daoist Ran Deng saw Meng Chen step forward to speak for him, his heart tightened.

He did not know Meng Chen, but the only person who could freely enter and leave Jade Void Palace and stand at the head of its immortals was Meng Chen.

He had also received information about Meng Chen and knew that Meng Chen differed from the other Chan Sect disciples. Meng Chen was ruthless. Now that a Primordial Saint like himself wished to join the Chan Sect, Meng Chen could not possibly welcome him.

One could tell as much from the way Meng Chen kept calling him Daoist Ran Deng.

He, Ran Deng, was a Primordial Saint and a Great Luo Golden Immortal, yet Meng Chen showed him not the slightest courtesy.

The Chan Sect disciples found Meng Chen's words strange. Why would he speak up for Ran Deng? However, after the battle at Pointing Heaven Peak, they all trusted Meng Chen deeply and knew he would never harm the Chan Sect's interests.

Meng Chen had risked offending Master Tongtian to suppress Daoist Duobao!

Light flickered in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes as though he were considering and weighing the matter. After a moment, he said, "Daoist Ran Deng, you should know that this seat does not accept disciples who come to a master with prior cultivation. If you insist on taking a master, I fear you must give up some things you possess."

Hearing this, Daoist Ran Deng's heart sank. He had never imagined Yuanshi Tianzun would make such a demand. He nearly failed to maintain the smile on his face.

"Please enlighten this junior, Sage. In order to hear the Sage's great Dao, this junior can give up anything."

"Meng Chen, you administer my Teaching's rules. Tell Daoist Ran Deng what he must give up."

Yuanshi Tianzun looked toward Meng Chen.

Yuanshi Tianzun was not suited to make such a demand, but it did not matter if Meng Chen made it. Meng Chen was not a Sage; he was merely a Chan Sect disciple.

Even if someone thought Meng Chen's demands excessive, Yuanshi Tianzun and Divine Lord Meng Zhang could still defend him with, "The junior is ignorant and offended his senior," or, "He is only a child."

Daoist Ran Deng looked at Meng Chen with hopeful eyes. Meng Chen smiled and nodded.

"Daoist Ran Deng truly is one of us. In truth, this requirement is nothing much. Since Teacher does not accept those who come with prior cultivation, wouldn't Daoist Ran Deng be able to join our Chan Sect if he simply gave up all his cultivation?"

At these words, Daoist Ran Deng's face turned deathly pale. He had not expected Meng Chen to make such a harsh demand. The Chan Sect disciples, meanwhile, watched Daoist Ran Deng with great interest, eager to see what choice he would make.

Meng Chen said earnestly:

"Daoist Ran Deng, I am not trying to make things difficult for you. It is simply that the Chan Sect has its rules. Every Chan Sect disciple must inherit Teacher's Daoist arts.

"If I make an exception for you today, what rules will the Chan Sect have left in the future? If any Rogue Cultivator could kneel before our gates for a few years and enter a Sage's great teaching, then joining a Sage's great teaching would be far too easy."

"If Daoist Ran Deng is unwilling to give up his cultivation, you may also leave the Chan Sect and try the Western Church. I hear the Western Church is especially welcoming toward talents like Daoist Ran Deng."

Daoist Ran Deng's heart was filled with mixed emotions. He did not dare harbor any hatred. He was in Jade Void Palace; if he dared develop even the slightest resentment, Yuanshi Tianzun would destroy him.

Yet Meng Chen's final remark—that the Western Church especially welcomed talents like him—made Daoist Ran Deng suspect that Meng Chen had already seen through his origins.

He looked up at Yuanshi Tianzun, hoping to find some sign of softening in his expression. Yet Yuanshi Tianzun looked even more severe than Meng Chen.

Meng Chen's words had indeed struck straight to Yuanshi Tianzun's heart.

Kneeling outside a Sage's sacred ground at the drop of a hat and forcing the Sage to accept one as a disciple was utterly disgusting. The Sage owed no one anything, so why should he have to accept them as disciples?

If Daoist Ran Deng opened this precedent, the Rogue Cultivators kneeling outside Jade Void Palace would number as countless as the sands of the Ganges River. What Rogue Cultivator did not want to become a Sage's Disciple?

"Well, Daoist Ran Deng, have you decided? If you have, I shall immediately go to Biyou Palace and borrow the Hunyuan Golden Dou from Uncle Master Tongtian to help you disperse your Da Luo Dao Fruit. So long as you say you have decided, I will certainly persuade Teacher to let you become my junior brother."

Meng Chen wore an expression of concern that made Daoist Ran Deng want to vomit.

Daoist Ran Deng had always believed himself shameless enough. He had never expected that someone even more shameless existed between heaven and earth. Meng Chen was clearly trying to abolish his cultivation, yet he still acted as though he were doing it for Ran Deng's own good.

How could such a person exist in this world?

Seeing that Daoist Ran Deng could not make up his mind, Guang Chengzi also spoke. "Daoist Ran Deng, if you look down on the Daoist arts of our Jade Void Palace, then turn around and leave. Why put on an act here?"

Among all the Chan Sect disciples, Guang Chengzi was still the most irritating. With those words, he cut off every route of retreat for Daoist Ran Deng.

"This junior is willing! I must trouble Daoist Meng Chen to act and help me erase my Da Luo Dao Fruit."

Daoist Ran Deng shouted, afraid that if his voice were any softer, he would be unable to stop it from trembling.