Apprenticing Under Taiqing

The illusion shattered, and another realm followed. This time, he saw himself fail to transform, his true form struck by heavenly lightning and reduced to charcoal, his ten thousand years of cultivation wasted. Fear surged like a tide.

"No! I have the Three Pure Ones' immortal techniques protecting me, and the foundation of the Five Elements! I will succeed!" Yuqing Immortal Light shone, solidifying his Dao heart.

The final Inner Demon Tribulation was the most perilous—he saw himself, after transforming, captured and refined into medicine by a powerful being due to his extraordinary origin, wishing for death. Despair threatened to consume his spiritual consciousness.

Just then, Shangqing Immortal Qi surged towards the heavens, carrying the sharpness of seizing a sliver of life: "The Great Dao has fifty, Heaven's evolution has forty-nine, and man escapes one! I will grasp that sliver of life!"

The Inner Demon Tribulation was broken! The heavenly tribulation clouds above suddenly dispersed, descending with colorful auspicious light. Golden lotuses sprang from the earth, and celestial maidens scattered flowers, a myriad of phenomena unfolding. Vast innate spiritual energy surged into the pine tree's true form, its trunk cracking as it began to transform.

The bark peeled away, becoming skin; the branches retracted, forming limbs; the roots shrank, becoming feet. The main trunk emitted a brilliant radiance, gradually taking on a human form.

When the light faded, a young man appeared in the courtyard, clad in a Daoist robe woven from five-colored pine needles. His face was like jade, his eyes like stars, and faint pine needle-shaped hairpins could be seen among his black hair. The Five Elements' energy flowed around him, resonating with heaven and earth.

He opened his eyes, a flash of five-colored light disappearing within them. He bowed towards the direction of the Three Pure Ones: "Disciple Chen Song thanks the immortal for the enlightenment!"

Laozi smiled and nodded: "My name is Taiqing. I see a karmic connection between us, a master-disciple fate. Would you be willing to join my sect and cultivate the profound methods of Taiqing?"

What! Laozi wanted to take him as a disciple? The opportunity was right in front of him, asking if he wanted to seize it.

Seize it! Of course, he had to seize it!

"Master, please accept this disciple's bow!" Chen Song prostrated himself, fearing Laozi would change his mind if he was any slower.

Laozi nodded and smiled: "Good! From today onward, you are the eldest disciple of my Taiqing sect."

Saying this, he reached out to help the bowing Chen Song. Yuanshi and Tongtian also congratulated him in unison: "Congratulations, Eldest Brother, on gaining a fine disciple!"

Laozi nodded and, pulling Chen Song along, introduced him, "This is your Second Martial Uncle Yuanshi and your Third Martial Uncle Tongtian."

"Greetings, Second Martial Uncle, Third Martial Uncle!" Chen Song bowed.

Just then, two beams of golden light landed in the courtyard. The arrivals were Jieyin and Zhunti, from the West.

Coincidentally, as Chen Song was transforming, the Western duo, who were visiting the Great Wilderness of the East for karmic connections, or rather, to visit relatives, happened upon the scene.

As a lawyer friend once said, visiting relatives can sometimes lead to more intimate connections. If there's a connection, then isn't that fate?

Looking at the grand spectacle of the tribulation, Daoist Zhunti exclaimed: "As expected of the Eastern lands, so many heavenly materials and earthly treasures! Judging by the commotion, this must be the tribulation of an innate creature transforming!"

Jieyin, standing beside him, had a grin stretching almost to his ears. "Indeed, I see this child has a connection with my West! He should become my Western disciple! Let's go!"

"Precisely, precisely!"

The two transformed into golden light and shot towards the thatched hut.

Upon landing, Zhunti impatiently spoke: "You who are transforming, I see you have a connection with my West. Why do you not hurry and pay respects to your two masters?"

However, Jieyin remained silent, causing Zhunti a moment of doubt. Usually, his senior brother was the first to rush forward upon seeing heavenly treasures. Why was he so quiet here today?

Zhunti turned to look at Jieyin, who was now covering his face with one hand and pointing at the Three Pure Ones and Chen Song with the other.

Only then did Zhunti see that standing with Chen Song were none other than the Three Pure Ones.

"Oh? The three Daoist friends are here too?" Zhunti greeted them awkwardly.

The Three Pure Ones, however, offered no response, merely staring coldly at the two.

"You say my Eldest Brother's eldest disciple, my Senior Disciple Nephew, has a connection with your West?" Tongtian asked coldly.

Oh, this?

What else could the Western duo say? That the three of them also had a connection with the West?

Forget it. Even against Tongtian alone, the two of them could only fight to a draw. Add Laozi and Yuanshi? Could this matchmaking system even handle it? How could they play?

"Cough, cough, cough. Since this opportunity has already been obtained by the three Daoist friends, my brother and I shall not disturb you further. Farewell!" Jieyin grabbed Zhunti and prepared to flee.

"Wait!" Yuanshi spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, do you have any instructions? This opportunity here..." Jieyin's expression changed, and he spoke coldly.

"You two Daoists first trespassed into my Three Pure Ones' Kunlun Mountain dojo, and now you wish to snatch my Eldest Brother's eldest disciple, and you think you can just leave like this?"

"Uh, this..."

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, inwardly groaning. This time, they were the ones being targeted for their little treasure hoard!

Usually, it was they who robbed others, but now they were being extorted.

They had pecked at geese for years, only to be pecked in the eye by a goose today!

Jieyin forced a smile and said, "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, my brother and I were presumptuous just now. We hope you can forgive us. May I ask what compensation you deem appropriate?"

Yuanshi smiled slightly: "It's not difficult. My Senior Disciple Nephew is the transformed form of a top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, the Five Needles Pine of Innate Origin. I believe your Western Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and my Senior Disciple Nephew are destined to meet. As long as you gift this treasure to my Senior Disciple Nephew, my three brothers will not pursue this matter further."

"What! Impossible! This is my 본명 spiritual treasure, how can I give it to others? Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, please change the condition!" Zhunti's face turned red upon hearing that they were after his spiritual treasure.

It was a joke. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree was his 본명 spiritual treasure. If it were snatched away, how could he continue to exist in the Great Wilderness?

"Fellow Daoist Zhunti's true form is a Bodhi tree. How about this: give me two Bodhi Seeds for my disciple, and this matter will be settled," Laozi's voice, devoid of emotion, rang out.

Hearing that they wanted his Bodhi Seeds again, Zhunti's face contorted as if his own father had died.

"Still dawdling. Do you want me to do it myself?" Tongtian rolled up his sleeves, making as if to attack.

Hearing this, Zhunti quickly used his divine abilities, took out two Bodhi Seeds, and handed them to Chen Song.

Chen Song quickly accepted them and respectfully said, "Thank you both, seniors."

Yuanshi nodded in satisfaction. "Then that's settled. You two, please leave quickly. In the future, act with more caution."

Jieyin and Zhunti: ??????

Jieyin and Zhunti smiled and nodded, not daring to say more. They transformed into golden light and hastily departed.

After leaving, the two embraced and sobbed, "Woe is us! The West suffers!"

Chen Song looked towards the Three Pure Ones, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Master, and all Martial Uncles, for standing up for your disciple." Laozi smiled faintly. "Since you have entered my tutelage, we will naturally protect you."

Sect Master Tongtian burst into hearty laughter. "That was exhilarating! I've long disliked those two fellows, always coveting our Eastern treasures. Today, we've finally made them bleed a little!"

Lord of the Beginning, with a reserved smile, nodded slightly and said to Laozi, "Senior Disciple Nephew, these two Bodhi Seeds were produced by Zhunti's true form. They will be of great benefit to you, Senior Disciple Nephew, in stabilizing your foundation and comprehending the Dao."

Laozi remained as serene and unperturbed as ever, speaking gently to Chen Song. "Since they were given to you, they are your destiny. Keep them well; they will have their use in the future."

"Yes, Master."

Is this what it feels like to have powerful backing? It's just... so~ great!

"Disciple, your two Martial Uncles and I are about to set off for Purple Heaven Palace to listen to the Dao. Do you wish to accompany us to Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Dao Ancestor's sermon, or remain on Kunlun Mountain to cultivate?" Laozi asked kindly.

Chen Song's heart stirred. Listening to the Dao in Purple Heaven Palace was a major event in the Great Wilderness. To be able to hear the Dao Ancestor preach was something countless cultivators dreamed of.

Besides, wasn't the very reason he had taken human form to be able to join the excitement at Purple Heaven Palace?

"Master, your disciple wishes to accompany you to Purple Heaven Palace!" Chen Song stated firmly.

Laozi nodded in satisfaction. "Good. In that case, let us depart. Along the way, I will impart to you my Taiqing methods."

Immediately, the Three Pure Ones, with Chen Song, transformed into streaks of light and headed towards the Purple Firmament Palace. Along the way, with the Three Pure Ones escorting him, Chen Song pondered the accompanying Spiritual Treasures and Divine Abilities he had gained from his transformation.

"Five-Colored Divine Light? Doesn't that belong to Kong Xuan?"