Upon hearing this, Sect Master Tongtian scratched his head foolishly, embarrassment appearing on his face as he said awkwardly, "You forgot, I only just joined the Interception Sect myself."
"Um, Li Er, you're familiar with what goes on in the Interception Sect. How do you think they'll select disciples?"
Li Er was somewhat speechless when he heard that, but he also envied Pan Laosan.
He envied him for receiving Sect Master Tongtian's guidance in the Dao of the Sword, while feeling speechless that he did not know to directly ask Sect Master Tongtian for help.
But judging by his foolish appearance, he was clearly not someone who knew how to adapt.
When encountering a Saint like Sect Master Tongtian, the correct thing to do was to cling to his thigh directly. Yet he did not understand that.
At first, Li Er had thought he was merely being humble. It turned out he really had only just become a disciple.
"The Interception Sect should start by selecting based on temperament, for example..."
Li Er explained the methods of selecting disciples from novels and short dramas in his previous life. He also described how different disciples advanced and the various systems and rules within a sect.
After all, this foolish Pan Laosan did not seem to understand worldly ways. If Li Er did not make things clear to him, he would definitely suffer losses later.
The demons here were unruly. If something truly happened, no one would be able to help them.
Perhaps Li Er had been too nervous after transmigrating here, but now that he had finally relaxed, he told him everything he knew, including some of his own speculations.
He had never considered that Sect Master Tongtian's Interception Sect had only just been founded and had no rules whatsoever.
Sect Master Tongtian listened from the side, his eyes shining brightly. With this method of selecting disciples and managing a sect, he felt certain he could make the Interception Sect bigger and stronger.
Then he could show his second brother, Yuanshi Tianzun, whether his approach of teaching without discrimination could cultivate good disciples.
"Third Brother Pan, remember not to be the first to stick your neck out. We need to keep a low profile," Li Er said worriedly as he looked at Pan Laosan's bright eyes.
This guy had probably started glowing with excitement the moment he heard about Heaven's Pride duels. One look was enough to tell that he was a battle maniac.
After all, the Primordial World in novels fought from beginning to end, never stopping from the creation of heaven and earth until the age of declining Dharma. So Li Er could understand why Pan Laosan's eyes were shining.
His battle-loving bloodline had been awakened. After all, legend had it that Pangu fought three thousand Divine Demons when he created heaven and earth. The Primordial World had inherited Pangu's will, so it was surely a battle-loving place as well.
When Sect Master Tongtian heard him say not to stick his neck out, he inwardly scorned him. You were the one who stuck your neck out, wandering around during the sermon and devouring spiritual qi lotuses everywhere.
If I hadn't acted, you would have fled the entire scene long ago.
"Mm-hmm. Oh, right. I have some cultivation methods here. Study them."
Sect Master Tongtian immediately took out the cultivation methods he had obtained from his eldest and second brothers, along with his own cultivation methods, and gave them all to Li Er. The main point was quantity.
Li Er stared at the pile of jade slips, stunned for a moment.
These were probably all third-rate cultivation methods. Otherwise, how could there be so many?
But Pan Laosan was genuinely good to him, taking everything out and giving it to him. Li Er would remember this friendship.
"Then, thank you, Third Brother Pan."
"Study well. I'll go check out the situation and tell you about it when I return."
"Third Brother Pan, remember to be careful."
Golden Ao Island—before Biyou Palace.
Countless demons watched the events before them in shock.
At that moment, Biyou Palace slowly rose. An immortal realm descended, and a long, dazzling staircase extended from the palace gates, seeming to lead all living beings into an unknown world.
At the end of the staircase stood an ancient stone stele, towering majestically. The two words "Trial of Heart" gleamed brilliantly, revealing endless mysteries.
The plaza expanded along with it, as though heaven and earth had been redrawn. In the distance, a grand arena rose from the ground, overflowing with battle intent.
Not far away, another enormous stele stood tall. The words "Heaven's Pride Ranking" shone with golden light. One glance made it obvious that it was meant to record the achievements of heaven's prides.
Across Golden Ao Island, all kinds of buildings sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, each with its own unique features.
The Treasure Pavilion was towering and magnificent, resplendent in gold and jade, as though it contained endless treasures of the world.
The Alchemy Hall was wreathed in medicinal fragrance, its furnace fires blazing as the light of pills flickered within.
The Mystic Arts Pavilion was ancient and elegant, containing thousands of books and a dazzling array of martial arts manuals.
The Spirit Beast Hall seemed to gather countless spirit beasts, their roars shaking the heavens.
Every great hall attracted the gazes of the demons with its unique charm, making Golden Ao Island even more mysterious and unfathomable. The impression that "a Saint's great sect should be like this" was planted in their hearts.
"Is this the grandeur of a great sect? I wonder how one can join."
"Could the earlier sermon have only been an appetizer? Is this the Interception Sect's true face? I can sense an air of order and law."
"As expected of a Saint who teaches all living beings without discrimination. The words 'Trial of Heart' make me feel like I'm about to break through."
"Heaven's Pride Ranking! Getting onto the ranking represents the Saint's recognition, right? Is that arena the way to prove oneself?"
Several hundred thousand demons erupted into an uproar. What the Interception Sect had revealed made them desperately want to join it.
For example, the Alchemy Hall.
Streams of pill fragrance spread across the entire plaza. Just smelling it gave them the sensation that they were about to break through. What would happen if they actually consumed the pills?
After a while, the several hundred thousand demons quieted down because they saw the entry requirements—a stone stele had appeared on the steps before Biyou Palace.
The words written on it were unmistakable: Entry requirement: walk the Trial of Heart.
The height one reached on the Trial of Heart determined one's rank as a disciple. Temperament was an important factor in determining how far one could travel on the path of the Dao.
The Interception Sect's method of selecting disciples was simple and crude, yet extremely effective. The simpler something was, the fewer flaws it had, and the harder it was to achieve.
This was the Great Dao's utmost simplicity.
When the changes on Golden Ao Island came to a halt, an immense mass of merit descended from the heavens and split into two.
One portion flew directly toward Sect Master Tongtian in Biyou Palace. The other circled Golden Ao Island continuously, unable to find its target. In the end, it all blessed the Trial of Heart and the Heaven's Pride Ranking, instantly transforming them into two acquired merit supreme treasures and becoming important artifacts for suppressing the Interception Sect's fortune.
Sect Master Tongtian looked at the merit in his hand in shock. He had never imagined that this could earn merit, and it was even merit from enlightenment and instruction.
He noticed that the other portion of merit had not descended upon Li Er, which surprised him somewhat. He had not expected even the power of Great Dao merit to be unable to find his trace.
"He is more than just a thread of life. Could he be Dunyi? But Dunyi is undefinable. He is only at the Golden Core Stage now, so he should be the source of life for my Interception Sect.
"This merit..."
Sect Master Tongtian raised his hand and sent the merit into the Trial of Heart and the Heaven's Pride Ranking.
Although he truly wanted that merit to forge a merit supreme treasure and show it off to his second brother,
he had to use it this way to conceal Li Er's existence. It had to merge with Li Er's merit. Otherwise, if someone came to the Interception Sect later and saw the Trial of Heart, they would discover that the merit was only half of a whole and deduce the existence of another person.
"Still, obtaining two merit supreme treasures to suppress the sect's fortune is a good thing. It's time to join the Interception Sect with Li Er."
Elsewhere on Golden Ao Island, Li Er also sensed the changes on the island.
He stopped studying the knowledge in the jade slips and wanted to go outside to see what exactly had happened.
After all, it was difficult not to be curious about such earth-shaking changes.
Just as he reached the entrance to his cave dwelling, he sensed a dangerous aura. He hurriedly ran back inside to hide, immediately abandoning his curiosity.
"I need to get rid of my curiosity in the future. Otherwise, it's too dangerous.
"I forgot this is the Primordial World. Here, someone dying is no different from breathing."
Li Er immediately set rules for himself: meddle less, be less curious, and first focus on surviving for a hundred years.
"Ugh! Without grasping this world's knowledge and common sense, I simply can't understand the knowledge in these jade slips.
"They're no different from heavenly books. This is the sorrow of being illiterate." Li Er looked at the pile of jade slips before him and nearly wept.
They were clearly cultivation techniques, but he could not understand them.
Novels said that the information in jade slips would imprint directly onto one's soul, allowing one to comprehend it instantly. Why did he have to read them one character at a time?
The only benefit was that after reaching the Golden Core Stage, he had a primordial spirit. He read faster and could remember the characters, but the problem was that he truly had no idea what those characters meant.
"Li Er, what's wrong?"
"Ha! You scared me, Third Brother Pan. Knock next time before coming in," Li Er said unhappily as he looked at the suddenly appearing Sect Master Tongtian.
He really was not used to the cultivation world's habit of appearing and disappearing like a ghost. It was terrifying.
Sect Master Tongtian froze for a moment. Knock? This cave dwelling did not even have a door.
Forget it. He would install a door for him later.
"Ha, I'll be careful next time. Why do you look so troubled?"
"I can't understand the knowledge in the jade slips you gave me. Put simply, I can't read." Li Er admitted it openly without fearing embarrassment. After all, not understanding meant not understanding.
Sect Master Tongtian was speechless.
It was the first time he had seen someone admit to being illiterate with such confidence.
But if he could not read, how did he know all those sect rules?
"Third Brother Pan, do you have a jade slip that can let someone understand writing all at once? Something like a divine consciousness art?" Li Er asked somewhat embarrassedly.
After all, he could tell from Sect Master Tongtian's expression that the other party did not quite believe him.
There was no helping it. Earlier, when discussing sect rules, he had spoken with clear logic and detailed points. No matter how one looked at him, he did not seem illiterate.
"Yes, wait a moment. I'll look for one." Sect Master Tongtian deliberately turned around and opened the storage pouch on his body, taking out a jade slip and imprinting it with a strand of divine sense.
After all, such a thing was very simple for him.
"Here. Oh, right, the Interception Sect has begun recruiting disciples."
"What are the conditions?"
"Walk the Trial of Heart, exactly as you said."
Before you continue