Entry Requirements

Dong!

The Jade Void Bell rang, its sound echoing through the towering Kunlun peaks. Under the bell's summons, all disciples of the Chan Sect returned to the 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, Four-Alike, and Apricot Root Immortal, who guarded the Yellow Plum—these were all the members of the Chan Sect.

Daoist Ran Deng, clad in a Gold Thread Daoist Robe, stood in the hall with a look of utmost humility, his eyes brimming with reverence and faith toward Yuanshi Tianzun, completely ignoring the strange glances the Chan Sect disciples cast his way.

Yuanshi Tianzun's dharma form was solemn and majestic, strands of saintly radiance radiating from behind his head, penetrating All Heavens and Myriad Realms and endless time and space.

"Daoist Ran Deng, you were once a guest of the Purple Cloud Palace. By rights, you and I are of the same generation. Are you truly willing to bow to This Seat and become a disciple of My Teaching, the Chan Sect?"

Hearing this, Daoist Ran Deng's expression grew even more reverent. He made a deep bow to Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Sage, please hear this junior out. In the path of cultivation, precedence is given to attainment, not to age. The Sage is a being of Hunyuan immortality, one who has glimpsed the Heavenly Dao. This junior is merely an unremarkable Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal."

"Before the Sage, this junior is nothing but an ant. If the Sage does not disdain it, this junior wishes to remain by the Sage's side, serving as a Silver-Keeping Disciple to guard the treasury. So long as I may listen to the Sage's teachings, I would face ten thousand deaths without regret!"

One had to admit, that old schemer Ran Deng had a thick skin. Yuanshi Tianzun could never accept Daoist Ran Deng as a disciple—doing so would offend all the Primordial Saints.

Primordial Saints were born bearing the Calamity Fate of heaven and earth, beloved by the cosmos. Even a Sage needed a just cause to deal with them; otherwise, they would face backlash from the world's Calamity Fate.

At that moment, Meng Chen stepped forward to plead for Daoist Ran Deng.

"Teacher, since Daoist Ran Deng is so devout, why not give him a chance in My Teaching? My Teaching follows the will of the Heavenly Dao and the spirit of Hongjun Daozu's mission to enlighten all beings. If we shut out a man of such firm Dao-heart as Daoist Ran Deng, the fellow cultivators of the Primordial Wilderness might think My Teaching is cold and unfeeling."

Daoist Ran Deng's heart tightened when he saw Meng Chen speak up for him.

He didn't know Meng Chen, but he knew that only Meng Chen could freely enter and leave the Jade Void Palace and stand at the head of all the immortals there. He had also received intelligence on Meng Chen, knowing that this man was different from other Chan Sect disciples—he was ruthless. Now that he, a Primordial Saint, sought to join the Chan Sect, Meng Chen would surely resent him.

The way Meng Chen kept calling him "Daoist Ran Deng" made that clear.

Ran Deng was, after all, a Primordial Saint and a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, yet Meng Chen showed him no courtesy at all.

The Chan Sect disciples found it strange that Meng Chen would speak up for Ran Deng. But after the battle at Pointing Heaven Peak, they trusted Meng Chen deeply, knowing he would never harm the Chan Sect's interests.

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

Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes flickered with thought, as if weighing the matter. After a moment, he spoke. "Daoist Ran Deng, you should know that This Seat does not accept those who come with prior training. If you insist on becoming a disciple, you may have to give up certain things."

Hearing this, Daoist Ran Deng's heart sank. He never expected Yuanshi Tianzun to make such a demand. He nearly lost the smile on his face.

"Please, Sage, show me the way. To hear the Sage's great Dao, this junior would give up anything."

"Meng Chen, you are the one who upholds My Teaching's rules. Tell Daoist Ran Deng what he must give up."

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Meng Chen.

Such a demand was unsuitable for Yuanshi Tianzun to make, but Meng Chen could say it freely. Meng Chen was no Sage—he was merely a Chan Sect disciple.

Even if others thought Meng Chen's request too harsh, Yuanshi Tianzun and Meng Zhang Divine Lord could whitewash him with excuses like "the junior is ignorant and offended a senior" or "he's still just a child."

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

"Daoist Ran Deng is truly one of us. In truth, this demand is no big deal. Since Teacher doesn't accept those with prior training, if Daoist Ran Deng gives up all his cultivation, wouldn't that allow him to enter My Teaching?"

At these words, Daoist Ran Deng's face turned pale. He never expected Meng Chen to propose such a harsh condition. The Chan Sect disciples watched Ran Deng with keen interest, eager to see his choice.

Meng Chen spoke earnestly.

"Daoist Ran Deng, I'm not trying to make things hard for you, but My Teaching has its rules. Every Chan Sect disciple must inherit the Teacher's Daoist arts."

"If I make an exception for you today, what rules will My Teaching have left? If any wandering cultivator can kneel at the mountain gate for a few years and join a Sage's teaching, then joining a Sage's teaching would be far too easy."

"If Daoist Ran Deng is unwilling to give up his cultivation, he can leave My Teaching and try the Western Church. I hear the Western Church welcomes talents like Daoist Ran Deng."

Hearing this, Daoist Ran Deng's heart churned with mixed emotions. He dared not harbor hatred—he was in the Jade Void Palace, and the slightest hint of malice would have Yuanshi Tianzun destroy him.

But Meng Chen's last remark, that the Western Church welcomed talents like him, made Daoist Ran Deng suspect that Meng Chen had seen through his origins.

He looked up at Yuanshi Tianzun, hoping to see some sign of leniency. But Yuanshi Tianzun's expression was even more stern than Meng Chen's.

Meng Chen's words had struck a chord with Yuanshi Tianzun.

This tactic of kneeling at a Sage's dojo and forcing them to accept you as a disciple was disgusting. The Sage owed you nothing—why should they take you in?

If they opened this door for Daoist Ran Deng, the wandering cultivators kneeling outside the Jade Void Palace would be as countless as the sands of the Ganges River. What wandering cultivator wouldn't want to become a Sage's Disciple?

"Well, Daoist Ran Deng, have you decided? If you have, I'll go to Biyou Palace right now and borrow the Hunyuan Golden Dou from Uncle-Master Tongtian to help you dissolve your Da Luo Dao Fruit. Just say the word, and I'll persuade Teacher to make you my junior brother."

Meng Chen's face was full of concern, which only made Daoist Ran Deng nauseous.

Daoist Ran Deng had always thought himself shameless enough. He never imagined there was someone even more shameless in the world. Meng Chen was proposing to abolish his cultivation, yet he acted as if he were doing it for Ran Deng's own good.

How could such a person exist?

Seeing Daoist Ran Deng unable to decide, Guang Chengzi spoke up. "Daoist Ran Deng, if you look down on the Daoist arts of the Jade Void Palace, you can turn and leave. Why put on this act?"

Among all the Chan Sect disciples, Guang Chengzi was the most insufferable. His words cut off all of Daoist Ran Deng's retreat.

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

Daoist Ran Deng said loudly, afraid that if his voice were any softer, it would tremble uncontrollably.