The illusion shattered, only for another vision to follow. This time, he saw himself fail to transform, his true body reduced to charcoal by heavenly lightning, ten thousand years of cultivation gone to waste. Fear surged over him like a tide.
"No! I have the Three Pure Ones' immortal arts protecting me, and the foundation of the Innate Five Elements. I will succeed!" Yuqing Immortal Light shone brightly, strengthening his steadfast Dao Heart.
The final Inner Demon Tribulation was the most dangerous—he saw himself transformed, only to be captured by a mighty cultivator because of his extraordinary Origin/Foundation and refined into medicine, suffering a fate worse than death. Despair nearly swallowed his consciousness.
At that moment, Shangqing Immortal Qi surged into the sky, carrying the fierce resolve to seize a sliver of life: "The Great Dao has fifty, Heaven unfolds forty-nine, and one escapes! I will seize that single chance of survival!"
The Inner Demon Tribulation broke! The tribulation clouds in the sky suddenly dispersed, raining down seven-colored auspicious light. Golden lotuses sprang from the earth, celestial maidens scattered flowers, and countless wondrous phenomena appeared. Vast innate spiritual energy flooded madly into the pine tree's true body. Cracking sounds came from its trunk as it began to transform.
Its bark peeled away and became skin. Its branches drew together and formed limbs. Its roots shrank and became feet. The main trunk radiated dazzling light, gradually taking human form.
When the light faded, a young man stood in the courtyard. He wore a Daoist robe woven from five-colored pine needles, his face as refined as carved jade and his eyes like stars. A few pine-needle-shaped hairpins could faintly be seen amid his black hair. The qi of the Five Elements circulated around him, resonating with heaven and earth.
He opened his eyes, and a flash of five-colored radiance passed through them. Bowing toward the Three Pure Ones, he said, "This disciple, Chen Song, thanks you, Esteemed Immortals, for your guidance!"
Laozi smiled and nodded. "I am the Supreme Pure One. I see that you and I share the fate of master and disciple. Are you willing to enter my school and cultivate my Supreme Pure One's wondrous teachings?"
What! Laozi wanted to accept him as a disciple? A thigh had been extended right in front of him—was he seriously being asked whether he wanted to cling to it?
Of course he did! Absolutely!
"Master, please accept this disciple's bow!" Chen Song immediately kowtowed, afraid Laozi might change his mind if he was even a moment too slow.
Laozi nodded with a smile. "Good! From this day onward, you are the chief disciple of my Supreme Pure One's lineage."
As he spoke, he reached out and helped Chen Song to his feet. Yuanshi and Tongtian also congratulated him in unison. "Congratulations, Elder Brother, on gaining such an excellent disciple!"
Laozi nodded and introduced them to Chen Song. "This is your Second Martial Uncle, Yuanshi, and your Third Martial Uncle, Tongtian."
"Greetings, Second Martial Uncle. Greetings, Third Martial Uncle!" Chen Song saluted them.
Just then, two streaks of golden light descended into the courtyard. The arrivals were none other than Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti, who hailed from the West.
Chen Song's transformation had happened to be witnessed by the Two from the West, who had come to the eastern primordial world to form Karma—ah, no, to visit relatives.
Just as a lawyer friend once said, when you visit relatives, you might visit long enough to become relatives. And once you become relatives, doesn't that mean you have Karma?
Watching the tremendous scene of the tribulation, Daoist Zhunti sighed. "As expected of the eastern lands. There are so many heavenly treasures here! Judging from this commotion, it should be the transformation tribulation of an innate living being!"
At his side, Jieyin was grinning from ear to ear. "Mm, I see that this child has Karma with our West! He should become a disciple of the West! Let's go!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
The two turned into twin streaks of golden light and, with a whoosh, arrived beside the Thatched Hut.
The moment he landed, Zhunti impatiently spoke. "You who have transformed, I see that you have Karma with our West. Why do you not hurry over and pay respects to your two masters?"
Yet Jieyin said nothing, making Zhunti suspicious. Normally, whenever they encountered heavenly treasures, Senior Brother ran faster than anyone. Why had he fallen silent after arriving here?
Zhunti turned to look at Jieyin, only to see him 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 the ones standing beside Chen Song were none other than the Three Pure Ones.
"Ah? The three of you are here too?" Zhunti awkwardly greeted them.
No one on the Three Pure Ones' side responded. They merely stared coldly at the two men.
"You say that my Elder Brother's chief disciple, my Senior Disciple Nephew, has Karma with your West?" Tongtian asked coldly.
Uh...
What else could the Two from the West say? That the three of them also had Karma with the West?
Forget it. Against Tongtian alone, the two of them could only manage a draw. And with Laozi and Yuanshi added in? Could this matchup even be played? How was anyone supposed to play it?
"Cough, cough. Since the opportunity here has already been claimed by the three of you, my junior brother and I shall not disturb you further. Farewell!" Jieyin grabbed Zhunti and tried to flee.
"Hold it!" Yuanshi spoke.
"Yuanshi, what guidance do you have? This opportunity..." Jieyin's expression changed as he spoke coldly.
"You two first trespassed into the Kunlun Mountain Daoist grounds of us Three Pure Ones, then tried to steal my Elder Brother's chief disciple. Do you think you can simply leave?"
"Uh, this..."
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, silently crying out in alarm. This time, they were after their little treasury!
Usually, they were the ones robbing others. Yet now, someone was extorting them instead.
They had hunted geese every year, only to have their eyes pecked out by geese today!
Jieyin forced a smile. "Yuanshi, my junior brother and I were indeed presumptuous earlier. I hope you will forgive us. What compensation do you think would be appropriate?"
Yuanshi smiled faintly. "It is not difficult. My Senior Disciple Nephew is the transformed form of the Five Needles Pine of Innate Origin, a top-grade Innate Spiritual Root. I imagine your Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree has Karma with my Senior Disciple Nephew. So long as you gift this treasure to him, my two brothers and I will let today's matter rest."
"What! Impossible! This is my natal spiritual treasure. How can I give it to another? Yuanshi, you should name another condition!" The moment Zhunti heard that they were after his spiritual treasure, he immediately flared up.
What a joke. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree was his natal spiritual treasure. If it was taken from him, how was he supposed to survive in the primordial world?
"Daoist Zhunti's true body is a Bodhi tree. Very well, give two Bodhi Seeds to my disciple, and this matter shall be settled." Laozi's emotionless voice rang out.
Hearing that they wanted his Bodhi Seeds as well, Zhunti still wore the expression of someone whose father had just died.
"Stop dawdling. Must I do it myself?" Tongtian rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to strike.
Hearing this, Zhunti hurriedly used his divine ability to take out two Bodhi Seeds and hand them to Chen Song.
Chen Song quickly accepted them and respectfully said, "Thank you, Seniors."
Yuanshi nodded in satisfaction. "Then let this matter end here. You two should leave at once. In the future, I hope you will act with greater caution."
Jieyin, Zhunti: ???????
Jieyin and Zhunti nodded with forced smiles, not daring to say another word. They turned into golden light and hurriedly departed.
After leaving, the two embraced each other and choked back sobs. "Bitter! Our West is bitter!"
Chen Song looked at the Three Pure Ones, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Master and Martial Uncles, for standing up for your disciple." Laozi smiled. "Since you have entered my school, we will naturally protect you."
Sect Master Tongtian laughed heartily. "Wonderful! I have long disliked those two fellows. They spend all day coveting the things of our East. Today, they finally had to bleed a little!"
Lord of the Beginning wore a reserved smile and nodded slightly. He said to Laozi, "Senior Disciple Nephew, these two Bodhi Seeds were borne by Zhunti's true body. They will be of great benefit in helping you stabilize your foundation and comprehend the Dao."
Laozi remained as calm and detached as ever. He spoke gently to Chen Song, "Since they were given to you, they are your Karma. Keep them well. They will be useful in the future."
"Yes, Master."
So this is what it feels like to have a powerful backer? It was simply too—awesome!
"Disciple, your two Martial Uncles and I will soon depart for Purple Firmament Palace to hear the Dao. Will you accompany us to Purple Firmament Palace to hear the Dao Ancestor's Sermon, or remain on Kunlun Mountain to cultivate?" Laozi asked gently.
Chen Song's heart stirred. The sermons at Purple Firmament Palace were one of the great events of the primordial world. To hear the Dao Ancestor's Sermon was the dream of countless cultivators.
Besides, hadn't he transformed precisely so he could go to Purple Firmament Palace and join in the excitement?
"Master, this disciple wishes to accompany you to Purple Firmament Palace!" Chen Song said firmly.
Laozi nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Then let us depart. Along the way, I will teach you the methods of my Supreme Pure One's lineage."
At once, the Three Pure Ones took Chen Song with them and transformed into streaks of light, flying toward Purple Firmament Palace. Along the way, with the Three Pure Ones leading him, Chen Song began considering the accompanying spiritual treasure and divine ability he had gained upon transforming.
"Five-Colored Divine Light? Wasn't this Kong Xuan's thing?"
Before you continue