Haotian Breaks Through, Hongjun Takes Disciple!

Within a vast immortal mountain where spiritual energy lingered like mist throughout the year.

A youth in black Daoist robes, with delicate features and a fair complexion, sat cross-legged on a bluestone cliff outside the Jade Capital Mountain palace.

The laws and Dao Rhythm around his body flickered in and out of existence, drawing the surrounding spiritual energy to converge like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, forming a visible Spiritual Energy Vortex.

Not far away, by the White Jade railing, a doll-like girl with a face as round as a powder puff stood on tiptoe, her eyes filled with worry as she watched the youth.

Seeing the old man beside her constantly gazing at the cliff, she could not help but whisper, "Master, will... will Senior Brother succeed in his breakthrough?"

The one addressed as Master was Hongjun. Hearing this, he stroked his long beard and chuckled, "Jade Pool, you should have faith in your Senior Brother."

Before his words had even faded, the Spiritual Energy Vortex above the cliff suddenly contracted violently.

Immediately following, an aura of profound mystery erupted from the youth as its center!

The aura was faint at first, but in an instant, it spread across the entire Jade Capital Mountain, causing the Innate Spiritual Grass in the mountains to sway as if in worship.

The phantom of the youth's Primordial Spirit rose slowly from the top of his head, and at the forehead of the phantom.

A strange Human Flower the size of a palm quietly emerged, its petals unfolding one by one.

When the first grade bloomed, subtle ripples of law radiated through the air; at the second grade, the flow of surrounding spiritual energy suddenly accelerated.

Third grade, fourth grade... until the tenth petal fully unfolded, the Human Flower glowed with a pale golden hue, and Daoist runes could be seen faintly circulating on the petals!

Yet the unfolding did not stop; the eleventh petal quietly broke through the calyx.

A wisp of chaotic gray bloomed within the pale gold, and the runes instantly became a hundred times more complex.

It seemed to be manifesting the laws of chaos from before the creation of the world, and the Spiritual Energy Vortex in the mountains suddenly condensed.

Strands of Chaos Airflow were actually drawn from the cracks in the void, circling around the Human Flower.

When the twelfth petal fully unfolded, the entire Human Flower was a blend of gold and gray, like the first wisp of Dao Rhythm born in chaos.

The center of the flower even shimmered with a faint, primordial light, causing the Innate Spiritual Veins deep within Jade Capital Mountain to tremble. They emitted a low hum, as if echoing this rare talent and vision unique to the Primordial World!

As the flower reached the twelfth grade, the void suddenly rippled, and a tributary of a river shimmering with silver light appeared out of thin air.

It was the River of Time! Countless tiny timelines extended from the river like silver threads.

After circling the youth for a moment, they converged and merged into his Primordial Spirit phantom.

At the same time, a solid wisp of the Primordial Spirit's true essence detached from the River of Time and fused completely with the youth's physical Primordial Spirit.

This was the hallmark of breaking through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm: transcending the River of Time and truly achieving a lifespan equal to the Primordial World itself.

Jade Pool's face lit up with joy, her small hand unconsciously gripping the Gold Hairpin at her waist.

Hongjun's hand, which had been stroking his beard, froze abruptly. A look of shock flashed through his cloudy eyes, which then transformed into an even deeper sense of realization.

Such talent was of the same origin as Pangu, who had split the heavens; no wonder he could not deduce the complete destiny of this boy!

However, this was a good thing. When he had first enlightened Haotian and Jade Pool, he had merely wanted two attendants to manage his dojo and relieve his boredom.

He had not expected Haotian to be such an uncut gem, possessing talent identical to Pangu's. Perhaps... he could pass his mantle to him in the future.

Although, under the guidance of the Jade Disk of Creation, he had already taken the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa as disciples, in terms of closeness, it was naturally Haotian and Jade Pool.

Moreover, Haotian was very diligent; if he were to pass on his mantle, it was only right to pass on more. Thinking of this, Hongjun collected his thoughts.

On the cliff, the youth slowly opened his eyes, a hint of a smile flashing in his light amber pupils as the surrounding Spiritual Energy Vortex gradually dissipated.

He stood up, straightened his robes, and walked quickly to Hongjun, bowing in salute: "Many thanks to Master for your guidance and protection. This disciple has successfully broken through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm."

"This is your own karmic fortune; it has little to do with me," Hongjun waved his hand, then changed the subject.

"However, your talent has given me some pleasant surprises. Haotian, are you willing to take me as your master?"

"This disciple is willing!" Upon hearing this, Haotian kowtowed without hesitation, a surge of warmth filling his heart as his forehead touched the ground.

Having transmigrated to the Primordial World for over ten thousand Yuanhui, if not for Hongjun's enlightenment, preaching, and protection, he might not have been able to grow safely to this day, even with the treasures left behind by his system.

No matter how good a treasure is, without the strength to protect it, it is merely a crime to possess it.

Seeing his agreement, Hongjun said "good" three times in a row.

"Good! From this day forward, you are my fifth personal disciple. I will pass on the fruits of the Dao I have attained to you one by one, and when I have time in the future, I will forge a set of origin-aligned spiritual treasures for you."

"This disciple dares not ask for spiritual treasures, I only ask that Master grant one request," Haotian said respectfully first.

Then, his gaze fell on Jade Pool beside him, "I implore Master to take Junior Sister Jade Pool as a disciple as well."

"Senior Brother, you don't have to do this!" Jade Pool hurried forward, her eyes full of emotion, yet fearing she might displease Hongjun, "I... I am fine as an attendant; I cannot make things difficult for Master because of me."

Hongjun laughed, his eyes filled with even greater appreciation: "You truly know how to look after your Junior Sister."

"Very well, I shall take Jade Pool as a named disciple for now, and when the karmic timing is right in the future, I will promote her to a personal disciple."

"This disciple thanks Master!" Haotian and Jade Pool kowtowed together. The former felt a weight lift from his heart, while the latter wept with joy, tears rolling down like pearls from a broken string.

After the two stood up, Hongjun asked again: "Do you have any other requests? If you do, as long as I can manage it, I will certainly help you."

"This disciple wishes to travel through the Primordial World," Haotian thought for a moment before stating his request with a firm tone.

Hongjun was slightly taken aback, then offered words of persuasion: "The Primordial World is not peaceful right now, and the tribulation energy between heaven and earth is gradually increasing."

"The Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan are currently in a tripartite standoff, and war could break out at any moment. If you are not careful, you will be swept into the tribulation. Wouldn't it be safer to stay in Jade Capital Mountain to cultivate?"

"Master's words are most reasonable, but this is an era of great contention."

"If one does not contend, how can one grow stronger? Without experiencing the world, even with high cultivation, it is merely empty talk. This disciple knows his own mind and will never be easily drawn into the conflicts of the three clans."

Listening to his Master's persuasion, Haotian raised his eyes, his expression resolute.

Hongjun gazed at him for a moment, and seeing his mind was made up, he ceased his dissuasion: "Since that is the case, I shall bestow this Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud upon you for self-protection."

"The defense of this treasure is comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure; it can also guard the heart and suppress demonic energy."

"Furthermore, these are my insights on cultivation. Take them and contemplate them."

As his voice fell, a seven-colored Auspicious Cloud flew out from Hongjun's sleeve.

The Auspicious Cloud was wreathed in a faint aura of the Heavenly Dao, and simultaneously, a vast stream of cultivation insights flowed directly into Haotian's Primordial Spirit.

Within it were interpretations of the laws as well as realizations regarding karma and retribution.

Haotian received the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud, his heart filled with both shock and joy.

He recognized this treasure; in the original timeline, the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud was the protective treasure of Venerable Yuanshi, yet now it had fallen into his own hands.

Suppressing the turbulence in his heart, he kowtowed again: "This disciple thanks Master for the treasure!"

"Master, I... may I go with Senior Brother?" Jade Pool spoke timidly, her large eyes filled with anticipation.

Hongjun looked at Haotian, who nodded immediately: "This disciple is willing to take Junior Sister along, and I have the ability to keep her safe."

"Very well." Hongjun nodded in satisfaction: "Go and pack your belongings; I must go to meet a few old friends shortly."

"I have already activated the mountain-protecting formation. If you encounter trouble, crush this token to send a message."

As the words fell, a Jade Token merged into Haotian's body.

Haotian gripped the Jade Token, took Jade Pool's small hand, and turned to leave.

Walking along the bluestone path of Jade Capital Mountain, Jade Pool could not help but ask: "Senior Brother, where in the Primordial Wilderness are we going now? Will we encounter fierce beasts?"

"We shall go to the East Sea first. As for the fierce beasts... with Senior Brother here, do not be afraid."

Haotian patted her head, a flash of nostalgia crossing his eyes.

He suddenly remembered the angry, aggrieved voice of the system when it departed over ten thousand Yuanhui ago.

"Master, Tongtong has been blacklisted by the Great Dao! I only plucked a bit more of the Great Dao's wool and siphoned some Pangu blood in other timelines; why punish only me!"

"Other systems do the same. In the end, the Great Dao just thinks I'm easy to bully. Tongtong can't beat it, so I have to leave."

"But Tongtong has left good things for Master, raising your talent to the twelve-petaled lotus stage."

"I have also left several sealed gifts in Master's Primordial Spirit; there will be surprises every time you break through a major realm!"

"I believe that with these, Master will surely be able to go further. When you become stronger, you must help Tongtong demand an explanation from the Great Dao."

Thinking of the system's words back then, Haotian could not help but smile.

Although the system had left, it had given him the greatest capital to establish himself in the Primordial Wilderness.

Now that he had been accepted as a disciple by Hongjun and could travel with Jade Pool, the path ahead was one he would have to walk step by step on his own.