Xuanwei felt like a tiny ant caught between two invisible mountains, his immortal qi origin nearly crushed into two dimensions! On one side was Sect Master Tongtian's lazy yet teasing will, as though he were watching a spectacle. On the other was the will of the Jade Pure Primordial Lord of Heaven, who had just arrived, radiating majesty and displeasure as it locked directly onto him!
"Second Brother, what brought you to my place today?" Sect Master Tongtian's voice remained casual, but beneath that laziness was a faint, barely perceptible edge.
"Hmph!" The Primordial Lord of Heaven's will snorted coldly, like shattering ice, causing the temperature throughout the hall to plummet. "Had I not come, how would I have known that such a place of purity hid a damp-born, egg-hatched creature, a furred and horned beast! And merely a wisp of Innate Turbid Qi with shallow foundations and an unknown origin!"
Damp-born! Egg-hatched! Furred and horned! Innate Turbid Qi!
Those words were like icy daggers stabbing viciously into Xuanwei's fragile self-esteem. Though he truly was just a wisp of qi now, he was still the First Strand of Innate Immortal Qi! His origins were pure! How had he become "turbid qi" in this old man's mouth? And of unknown origin? Wasn't his path forced out by the thugs and lunatics of your Primordial World?!
He cursed frantically in his heart, but outwardly... he did not dare make a peep—though he could not have done so even if he wanted to. He could only do his best to curl himself into a ball and pretend to be an innocuous patch of background spirit mist.
"Second Brother exaggerates." Sect Master Tongtian's will remained unruffled. "This is the First Strand of Innate Immortal Qi, with pure origins. How can it be called 'turbid qi'? As for where it came from, it merely entered this place by chance."
"Immortal qi? Silver-tongued sophistry!" The Primordial Lord of Heaven's will carried undisguised contempt. "Even if it is immortal qi, it has been tainted by acquired turbidity. Its foundation is shallow, and its intelligence is muddled! Such origins are unworthy of creation! How could it be fit to enter our Saint's Dojo and defile this pure place? Third Brother, swiftly disperse its consciousness and return it to its original source. Do not lead yourself astray!"
Disperse his consciousness?! Return him to his original source?! Wasn't that just utter annihilation?!
Xuanwei was scared out of his wits—literally—and nearly performed an immortal qi evaporation act on the spot. This Primordial Lord of Heaven was far too ruthless! He was just a little ant that had wandered into someone's backyard. Did this old man really need to bring out the insecticide right away?!
[Emergency mission triggered: Debate the Dao Before the Saints!] [Mission description: Under the pressure of the Jade Pure Primordial Lord of Heaven, explain the value of your existence and your Dao path, striving to gain the recognition and protection of the Supreme Pure Sect Master Tongtian.] [Mission objective: Change the Primordial Lord of Heaven's judgment that the host is "unworthy of creation," or at least make Sect Master Tongtian believe the host is "worth keeping."] [Mission reward: ??? (determined by completion level)] [Failure penalty: High probability of being casually erased by the Primordial Lord of Heaven; low probability of being remade in Sect Master Tongtian's furnace.]
The system notification sounded like a death knell, but it also gave Xuanwei a sliver of hope. Debate the Dao? Explain his value?
As his mind raced, considering whether he should kneel and beg for mercy or argue his case—though he did not think he had much of a case—Sect Master Tongtian's teasing will sounded again. This time, it seemed directed specifically at him.
"Little fellow, did you hear that? My Second Brother places the greatest importance on one's origins. If you believe you are not 'unworthy of creation,' why not tell us what makes you special? Or rather, what are your thoughts on 'origins and destiny'?"
An opportunity! Sect Master Tongtian was giving him a chance to speak! And he clearly wanted to watch him go head-to-head with the Primordial Lord of Heaven!
Xuanwei's heart—his consciousness core—pounded wildly. He knew this was a matter of life and death. Begging would not work; the Primordial Lord of Heaven would not buy that. He had to show his "value," or rather, demonstrate qualities that Sect Master Tongtian would find "interesting" or "useful"!
He took a deep breath of "qi"—though he did not need to—suppressed his fear, and gathered his consciousness. No longer did he cower humbly. Instead, he tried to respond to the two Saintly wills, blazing like resplendent suns, with an attitude that was neither servile nor overbearing—at least on the surface.
"This junior, Xuanwei, greets the Jade Pure Saint." He first paid his respects toward the Primordial Lord of Heaven, then shifted the topic. "The Saint says that this junior's origins are shallow and that I am unworthy of creation. This junior cannot fully agree."
"Oh?" A cold note of surprise entered the Primordial Lord of Heaven's will. He seemingly had not expected this ant to dare contradict him.
Sect Master Tongtian's will, meanwhile, brimmed with even greater interest, as though saying, Quick, keep going. Let me see this show.
Xuanwei went all in. Drawing upon the eloquence—bullshitting—skills he had honed as an office drone in his previous life, combining his shallow understanding of Primordial World novels with modern ways of thinking, he began his "performance."
"Please allow this junior to explain. This junior was indeed formed from a wisp of Innate Immortal Qi. In terms of origins, I naturally cannot compare to the Saints or those innate divine beings. Yet all things between heaven and earth were born from chaos and developed within the Primordial World. There has never been any absolute hierarchy between them."
He paused. Sensing that the Primordial Lord of Heaven's pressure had seemingly stalled for an instant, he hurriedly continued.
"The great god Pangu opened heaven and earth, transforming his body into all things. Whether they are innate gods and demons or acquired living beings, all beings of this Primordial World ultimately received the great god Pangu's legacy. If one's origins determine one's destiny, then aside from Pangu's orthodox lineage, would not all other beings be deemed 'unworthy of creation' and deserving of annihilation?"
"Impudence!" The Primordial Lord of Heaven's will suddenly turned sharp, like the wrath of heaven itself!
Xuanwei felt his immortal qi origin convulse violently and nearly shatter beneath that rebuke! Yet he gritted his teeth and endured. He knew that if he backed down now, he would truly be finished!
"This junior would never dare!" he immediately added. "This junior merely believes that the Great Dao has fifty, Heaven evolves forty-nine, and The One That Escapes is one! That One That Escapes is the variable, the chance for all beings to transcend! If all things are determined by one's origins, then where does that One That Escapes come from? When living beings cultivate, defying heaven to contend for their destinies, what exactly are they contending for?"
He had shifted the concept, drawing the Primordial Lord of Heaven's emphasis on "origins" and "destiny" toward "variables" and "the transcendence of all beings." This happened to faintly align with Sect Master Tongtian's doctrine of intercepting a thread of life!
Sure enough, a clear trace of approval came from Sect Master Tongtian's will. "Well said! Continue!"
Encouraged by the "judge," Xuanwei grew bolder. He even adopted some of the roguishness he used to display when arguing—debating—with people in his previous life.
"Furthermore, though this junior's origins may be shallow, I dare say my intelligence is not dim, and my heart in seeking the Dao is exceptionally firm! To find a path to survival, I dared enter a dragon's pool. To resist powerful enemies, I used both wit and courage! Can such a heart and resolve truly be dismissed by the mere two words, 'one's origins'?"
His words were half-classical and half-colloquial, with some modern expressions mixed in. They sounded somewhat awkward, but his meaning was clear: Though his birth was poor, he was clever, brave, and persevering! He could not simply be condemned in one stroke!
"Glib tongue, twisted logic, heretical nonsense!" The Primordial Lord of Heaven's will remained cold, but that intent to kill seemed to have... weakened slightly? Perhaps he simply disdained wasting more words on this ant's "nonsensical ravings." Or perhaps Sect Master Tongtian's attitude made him wary.
"Hahaha!" Sect Master Tongtian suddenly burst into hearty laughter, his voice filled with unrestrained delight and satisfaction. "What a 'the Great Dao has fifty, Heaven evolves forty-nine, and The One That Escapes is one'! What a 'such a heart and resolve cannot be denied by one's origins'! Little fellow, your words greatly please me!"
His laughter stopped, and his tone became solemn and imposing as he addressed the Primordial Lord of Heaven. "Second Brother, this child is fated with me. Moreover, his intelligence is exceptional, his temperament resolute, and he greatly suits the doctrines of my Interception Sect. Today, I shall accept him into my sect as a registered disciple. What do you think?"
A registered disciple?! A Saint's disciple?!
Xuanwei felt as if an enormous pie had fallen from the sky and struck him in the face! Though he would only be a registered disciple, he would still be a registered disciple of a Saint! From now on, he would have someone backing him and an official position! He would no longer be that soft persimmon anyone could come along and squeeze!
The Primordial Lord of Heaven's will fell silent for a moment. He was clearly extremely dissatisfied with Sect Master Tongtian's "hasty" decision. Yet he also seemed to know that his Third Brother had already made up his mind, and that further argument would be useless.
"Hmph! Since it is your choice, I shall say no more. But this child's origins are unclear, and anomalies cling to him. If he brings disaster in the future, do not regret it!" After coldly tossing out those words, the immense will of the Primordial Lord of Heaven receded like a tide and vanished in an instant.
Within the hall, only Sect Master Tongtian's amused will remained, along with Xuanwei, who was still caught between bewilderment and wild joy.
"Little fellow, why have you not yet paid respects to your master?" Sect Master Tongtian asked teasingly.
Xuanwei jolted, finally coming to his senses. His immortal qi body immediately assumed the posture of bowing in worship, and with the most respectful and excited will, he cried out:
"This disciple, Xuanwei, pays respects to Master! May Master's sacred lifespan know no bounds!"
"Mhm." Sect Master Tongtian responded, formally acknowledging his identity. "Now that you have entered my sect, you should know the doctrine of my Interception Sect: to intercept a thread of life for all beings. I hope you cultivate diligently and do not disappoint today's... 'twisted logic and heretical nonsense.'"
Xuanwei: "..." Master, was that praise or an insult?
"Your foundation is still shallow, so remain in this hall and cultivate for now. I grant you the introductory volume of the Supreme Pure Immortal Method for your comprehension. If there is anything you do not understand, you may come ask me." A ray of clear light descended into Xuanwei's consciousness. It was precisely the Interception Sect's fundamental cultivation method.
"Thank you, Master!" Xuanwei was overjoyed. This was an orthodox method personally passed down by a Saint! It was far superior to the system techniques and qilin secret arts he had been fumbling through on his own!
"As for that little secret of yours..." Sect Master Tongtian drew out his words, his meaning clear as his will swept across the depths of Xuanwei's consciousness. "Keep it for now. It is rather interesting. But now that you have entered my sect, you must place the Interception Sect first. Do not take a wrong step, or else..."
He did not finish the sentence, but that awe-inspiring Saintly might made Xuanwei understand at once—this great figure might not fuss over trifles, but he still had his bottom line!
"This disciple shall obey Master's teachings!" Xuanwei hurriedly declared his loyalty.
"Mhm, go on. There is a meditation cushion in that corner. You will cultivate there from now on." Sect Master Tongtian seemed somewhat tired, and his will slowly withdrew.
Xuanwei respectfully "retreated" to the meditation cushion in the corner of the hall, which radiated pure qi. Feeling the dense innate Dao Rhyme around him and the Supreme Pure Immortal Method in his hands—his consciousness—he still felt as though he were dreaming.
So he had... become a Saint's disciple? Though the process had been thrilling and dangerous, and Uncle-Master Yuanshi had nearly disposed of him as trash, the result... seemed pretty good?
He happily began studying the Supreme Pure Immortal Method, feeling that his future was bright.
However, just as he settled down and prepared to experience the joy of cultivating with an official position—
[Ding! Detected that the host has formally joined a core force of the Primordial World: the Interception Sect.] [Main mission updated: Change the fate of the Interception Sect!] [Mission description: During the future Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods, reverse the Interception Sect's tragic fate of having ten thousand immortals come to pay homage, only to be ultimately destroyed!] [Mission, first phase: Before the Investiture of the Gods among the Three Sects, raise your strength to the Golden Immortal realm and gain the recognition and support of at least three core disciples of the Interception Sect.] [Mission reward: Unlock subsequent chapters of the Chaos Heaven-Opening Art and special privileges based on completion level.] [Failure penalty: Face the tribulation alongside the Interception Sect, perish in body and Dao, and have your true spirit listed on the Investiture of the Gods.]
Xuanwei: "!!!"
The iron rice bowl had only just been placed in his hands, and now it was telling him the bowl was about to break?! And he, this little shrimp, had to repair it?! Could this blessing... maybe not be so huge?!
Before you continue