Listening to the Dao on Golden Ao Island (Part 1)

"Senior Sister Shen, these are the Island Protection Formation Flag. When placed according to the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) orientation, they can activate a wisp of energy from the Golden Ao Island's grand array to prevent outsiders from interfering."

"This is the East Sea Tide Chart. On the full moon of each month, there will be a high tide in the East China Sea. At that time, you can collect the essence of Taiyin Water Essence from the cliff top. It is an excellent material for refining water-based magic weapons."

The boy then handed over a thick booklet. "This is the <<East Sea Spiritual Item Records>>, personally compiled by Senior Sister Yunxiao. It records 3,600 kinds of rare and precious materials from the East Sea that can be used for alchemy and weapon crafting, along with their places of origin."

Shen Gongbao accepted them one by one, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, thinking that the Interception Sect was truly a warm and welcoming family.

She was preparing to set up her cave dwelling when she heard a clear, melodious cry of a phoenix coming from the sky.

A magnificent blue phoenix pierced through the clouds and landed on the cliff top.

A fairy, dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, with an exquisite face and a cool and aloof temperament, gracefully descended from the back of the blue phoenix.

"Having heard that a new junior brother has settled here, I have come to offer my congratulations." The visitor was none other than Fairy Qiongxiao, one of the Sanxiao.

With a wave of her hand, Qiongxiao laid a shimmering brocade carpet on the stone bed. "This carpet was woven from the essence of the morning glow and the evening mist. Laying it down will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, and it can also calm your mind and spirit, greatly benefiting your cultivation."

She looked around the cave and pointed out, "This place is dimly lit and should be set up as a quiet room, while that side is well-ventilated and sunny, and can be turned into a pill-making room."

Shen Gongbao was flattered and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Qiongxiao smiled faintly, a touch of gentleness softening her usually aloof expression. "Now that you've joined my Interception Sect, you're family. Junior brother, there's no need for such formalities."

She paused, then continued, "Three days from now, I will host a banquet at my Rainbow Cloud Garden to introduce you to my fellow disciples. I would be honored if you would grace me with your presence."

Before leaving, she turned back one last time and reminded her, "By the way, on the first day of each month, Master will give a lecture on the Great Dao at the Jade Pure Palace, and the golden bell will ring at Chenshi (7-9 AM). Junior Sister, please don't miss it."

Watching the departing Fairy Qiongxiao riding her blue phoenix, Shen Gongbao felt a warm glow in his heart.

Three days later, night fell.

Shen Gongbao arrived at Rainbow Cloud Garden as promised, where he saw twenty-four fist-sized pearls floating in the garden, illuminating the entire courtyard as if it were daytime.

Qiongxiao had been waiting there for a while, and upon her arrival, he led her to the table.

"Come, Junior Sister Shen, let me introduce you." Qiongxiao pulled her along, pointing to a female immortal dressed in black palace attire with a cold and elegant demeanor, and said, "This is Shi Ji, who resides in the White Bone Cave. Her Daoist magic of transforming stubborn stones into soldiers is divine."

Shi Ji smiled and raised her cup to Shen Gongbao: "I have long heard that you have come from West Kunlun, Junior Brother. If there is an opportunity in the future, we can discuss the differences and similarities between our two sects' methods."

Seated at the table were more than twenty people, including various demon cultivators, ghost immortals, and Human Race cultivators. Upon seeing this, they all raised their cups and greeted Shen Gongbao warmly. Shen Gongbao returned their greetings one by one, and his sense of identification with the Interception Sect grew stronger.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, everyone was chatting happily.

Suddenly, light footsteps came from outside the garden, accompanied by two equally beautiful figures.

Seeing this, Qiongxiao's smile widened, and she stood up, saying, "You two have finally arrived! We've been waiting for you!"

The woman at the head of the group wore a long purple dress and possessed a gentle, tranquil, and elegant demeanor; she was none other than Yunxiao, the leader of the Sanxiao.

The girl beside her wore a bright green dress and had sparkling eyes; it was Bixiao.

Yunxiao and her younger sister Bixiao arrived late, smiling apologetically at everyone. Their gaze fell on Shen Gongbao, and they took out a smooth, warm jade slip from their sleeves.

"I've heard that Junior Sister is primarily cultivating the Jade Pure Immortal Method. Her hasty switch to cultivating my Supreme Pure Great Dao may cause her some obstacles."

Yunxiao's voice was gentle, like a spring breeze, "Last night I specially transcribed this note, which contains the three key points for transforming from Yuqing to Shangqing, and the method for harmonizing nine kinds of magical power. Perhaps it can clear up your doubts, junior brother."

This is hardly an explanation.

This was absolutely enlightening!

Shen Gongbao probed the jade slip with his divine sense and felt a vast and pure flow of information surge into his mind.

A thorough and insightful explanation, every word a gem!

The key to this was that it directly pointed to the fundamental principles of the Great Dao, saving him a hundred years of arduous effort!

A warm feeling welled up from the bottom of his heart, Shen Gongbao's eyes warmed slightly. He had never felt such pure kindness before.

This Primordial World completely different from the treacherous and deceitful world he had imagined!

She bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Sister!"

Just as Shen Gongbao was deeply shaken and his thoughts were in turmoil, Qiongxiao raised a small white jade pot and said in a clear voice, "Fellow senior brothers and sisters, this is Moon Dew that I have collected over three hundred years of moonlight to brew. I have specially brought it out today to congratulate Junior Sister Shen on joining our Interception Sect!"

With a gentle flick of her wrist, a clear stream of water flew from the spout of the teapot and landed in the wine glasses of everyone present.

"Junior Brother He Shen has joined the sect!"

"Let's do it!"

A demon immortal with a tiger's head and a human body raised his wine cup and laughed heartily.

Everyone raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.

The Moon Dew entered their throats, transforming into an extremely pure spiritual energy that instantly cleansed everyone's immortal bodies and primordial spirits. Many disciples with slightly weaker cultivation levels felt their bottlenecks loosen slightly.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred!

The identity tokens on the waists of all the Disciples of the Sect of Interception present simultaneously emitted a dazzling golden light.

Golden rays shot into the sky, intertwining and converging above the Rainbow Cloud Garden.

Immediately afterwards, the token at Shen Gongbao's waist also burst forth with an unprecedented light.

The three large characters "Shen Gongbao" transformed into a stream of light, flying into the golden scroll, shining brightly at the end, and merging with the thousands of names.

A profound feeling of being connected by blood and sharing the same destiny instantly surged into Shen Gongbao's heart.

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Nine long, melodious chimes Yunxiao from the Jade Pure Palace.

This is a signal that the Great Dao is being revealed to Tongtian!

Inside the cave, Shen Gongbao suddenly opened his eyes, not daring to be negligent in the slightest, and flew towards the direction of the Jade Pure Palace.

Looking around, one could see thousands upon thousands of beams of immortal light converging into a torrent, rising from various mountain peaks, caves, and fairy gardens, surging mightily towards the supreme palace standing in the center of the island.

She merged into the torrent of celestial light and landed with everyone on the Myriad Laws Altar in front of the Jade Pure Palace.

The altar was already packed with over three hundred disciples, all inner disciples of the Interception Sect, each exuding profound aura and flowing Daoist charm.

On the high platform at the very front of them, a plump Daoist priest dressed in a robe of myriad treasures sat cross-legged on a lotus throne. He was none other than Daoist Duobao, the Head Disciple of the Sect of Interception.

Seeing that his disciples had all arrived, Daoist Duobao slowly opened his eyes and spoke in a loud voice, "Today, I will preach to you the Dao that all things possess a spirit."

Between heaven and earth, every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stone contains the essence of the Dao. Even a stubborn rock can become a spirit after absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, and rotten wood can become spiritual after being exposed to wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. This is the ultimate principle of the Dao, and it is also the foundation upon which our Interception Sect!

Upon hearing this, many demon cultivators from plants, trees, mountains, and rocks nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing excitement and recognition.

A peach tree spirit that had achieved cultivation was so excited that it trembled all over, and pink peach petals fell like rain, eliciting a burst of laughter from its fellow disciples.

Daoist Duobao explained the profound yet simple principles, from the birth of the spirit to how to awaken wisdom and how to cultivate oneself, thoroughly elucidating the Great Dao.

Halfway through her speech, her gaze suddenly fell on Shen Gongbao in the front row. Changing the subject, she asked, "Junior Sister Shen, you once listened to the Dao outside the Jade Void Palace in West Kunlun. Do you know how the Yuqing lineage discusses the hierarchy of all things?"

In an instant, all eyes were focused on Shen Gongbao...