Three days flashed by as Xuanwei buried himself in hard work.
Relying on the Wutu Source Core's affinity with earth, along with the Innate Yi Wood Spirit Qi he had drawn forth to assist him, he had completely cleared and nourished all ten mu of Spirit Fields over the past three days. He had also successfully planted a batch of basic Spirit-Nourishing Grass and Qi Gathering Flower seeds. Looking at the dark, soft earth shrouded in spiritual mist, dotted here and there with tender green shoots, Xuanwei's sense of accomplishment soared.
"With this efficiency, I'd at least have been named a model worker in my previous life!" he said smugly, patting—or rather, mentally patting—his nonexistent belly.
But the moment he thought of going to Yuxu Palace and facing Uncle-Master Yuanshi, who never seemed to look kindly upon him, that tiny bit of pride immediately vanished. In its place came the grim resolve of someone walking to the execution ground.
"System, are you ready? We're going to kick down their door... no, we're going to attend a lecture."
[System operating normally. The body-tempering section (prerequisite) of Chaos Heaven-Opening Art has been loaded and may operate passively, slowly tempering the origin.] [Warning: Yuxu Palace is Primordial Lord of Heaven's Saint's Dojo. Its law suppression is extremely strong, and most active system functions will be restricted. Host, please watch your words and rely on yourself.]
"Fine. When it matters, I still have to rely on myself." Xuanwei sighed and adjusted... well, adjusted his immortal qi form, trying to make it appear more solid and dignified.
At that moment, Daoist Duobao's voice transmission rang out in his consciousness. "Junior Brother Xuanwei, the time has come. Follow me."
Xuanwei did not dare delay and hurriedly flew out of the Medicine Garden valley. Daoist Duobao was already waiting atop the clouds, accompanied by several other Interception Sect disciples whose auras were profound and unfathomable. There were men and women among them, each with the bearing of an immortal and extraordinary spiritual pressure. When they saw Xuanwei, their gazes held curiosity and scrutiny. Clearly, they had all heard of this junior brother whom their master had accepted as an exception—and who had even "debated" with Uncle-Master Yuanshi.
Daoist Duobao offered no further introductions. He merely said, "Let's go," before riding an auspicious cloud toward Kunlun Mountain's main peak, toward Yuxu Palace shrouded in endless Jade Purity Immortal Light.
Along the way, Xuanwei could sense the occasional glances cast his way by his fellow disciples, but he kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart—or did his best to simulate it—and pretended not to notice. He was busy drafting a speech in his mind, pondering how to "elegantly" retort if Uncle-Master Yuanshi brought up his foundations again.
The instant he entered Yuxu Palace's territory, Xuanwei sensed an atmosphere entirely different from Biyou Palace.
Biyou Palace was grand and free-spirited, carrying the vibrant spirit of embracing all rivers. Yuxu Palace, however, was solemn, austere, and impeccably ordered. Every blade of grass, every brick and tile, seemed to adhere to some supreme law, exuding an inviolable majesty. The Jade Pure immortal qi suffusing the air was incomparably pure, yet it carried an invisible repulsive force that made his "shallow-rooted" immortal qi feel uncomfortable all over.
"Tch, this place... must have a ton of rules," Xuanwei muttered inwardly.
The lecture was held in an enormous square before Yuxu Palace. At this moment, auspicious clouds floated everywhere and immortal light shimmered brilliantly. The Chan Sect disciples had already seated themselves in orderly rows. Each was dignified in appearance and exceptional in foundation, wearing expressions of natural superiority. By contrast, although many Interception Sect disciples had also come, their forms varied and their auras were mixed. As they sat there, one could clearly sense an invisible divide and faint rejection.
Following Daoist Duobao and the others, Xuanwei found a place at the edge of the Interception Sect's section and sat down—or floated there. He could distinctly feel countless gazes, especially those from the Chan Sect's side, converging upon him like searchlights. They were filled with curiosity, disdain, and even a trace of... hostility?
What are you looking at? Never seen immortal qi this handsome before? Xuanwei rolled his eyes inwardly, though outwardly he remained calm and detached.
Suddenly, the entire square fell silent.
A vast, boundless, cold Saint's might, as majestic as the Heavenly Dao itself, spread out from the depths of Yuxu Palace and enveloped the entire square. All cultivators, regardless of cultivation level, instinctively held their breath, focused their minds, and bowed in welcome.
Primordial Lord of Heaven had arrived.
He did not manifest his true form. Only a hazy beam of Jade Purity Immortal Light, containing endless Great Dao laws, hung above the cloud dais over the square. Even so, the intangible pressure was enough to fill any being below Grand Unity Golden Immortal with awe.
"The lecture begins."
Without any needless opening remarks, Primordial Lord of Heaven's cold and majestic Dao voice resounded directly, like the tolling of a great bell, striking the minds of every listener.
What he taught was the foundation of the Jade Pure Immortal Method. He expounded upon the supreme principles of heaven and earth, rules and order, emphasizing foundations, fortune, heavenly mandate, and destiny. Every word contained boundless profundity, stirring resonance within the laws of heaven and earth. Heavenly flowers drifted down while golden lotuses sprang from the earth.
It had to be said that a Saint's lecture truly was extraordinary. Though Xuanwei had little fondness for Primordial Lord of Heaven's ideals, he had to admit that this Jade Pure Great Dao was immensely beneficial for organizing his own power and clarifying his understanding of rules. He focused his mind and did his best to comprehend and absorb the parts useful to him, while silently circulating the body-tempering section of Chaos Heaven-Opening Art and using the pressure of this Jade Pure Dao Rhyme to temper the origin of his immortal qi.
He could feel strands of exceedingly subtle Chaos Qi stirring in the depths of his origin. Like the finest carving blade, they removed impurities from his immortal qi that were not pure enough, making his origin more condensed and transparent. The process was slow, but its effects were real!
[Absorbed Jade Pure Dao Rhyme. Comprehension of Supreme Pure Immortal Method has slightly increased.] [Passively operating the body-tempering section (prerequisite) of Chaos Heaven-Opening Art. Origin purity +0.01%. Foundation potential has slightly increased.]
There's a way! Pressure really is motivation! Xuanwei rejoiced inwardly.
However, the good times did not last.
When Primordial Lord of Heaven reached the passage, "All things are born from existence, and existence is born from nonexistence. Yet foundations are fixed, fortune is bestowed by heaven, and only those with deep foundations and enduring fortune may bear the weight of the Great Dao and grasp the authority of heaven and earth...," his cold Dao voice paused slightly.
In that instant, Xuanwei felt himself locked onto by an invisible force! It was as though the focus of the entire square had converged upon his tiny wisp of immortal qi!
"Hm?" Primordial Lord of Heaven's vast and indifferent consciousness swept over Xuanwei, seemingly carrying a trace of displeasure. "I see among those below a person of shallow foundations and scant fortune who has also come here to listen. Does he not know that virtue unequal to one's station will surely invite disaster? To force one's pursuit of the Great Dao is only to suffer its consequences!"
Here it comes! Just as expected!
Xuanwei's heart skipped a beat. He knew Primordial Lord of Heaven was using this as a pretext to warn him! Every gaze in the square—especially the Chan Sect disciples' mocking, eager-to-watch-a-show stares—shot toward him at once!
Daoist Duobao frowned slightly but said nothing. The other Interception Sect disciples looked indignant, but they did not dare act rashly during a Saint's lecture.
Xuanwei knew he could not play dead. He drew a deep breath and, under that immense Saint's might, tried his best to keep his consciousness steady as he declared—through thought transmission:
"Second Uncle-Master's sacred words are truly enlightening. Yet in this disciple's humble view, the Great Dao is fifty, heaven derives forty-nine, and The One That Escapes remains. This 'one' is the variable, the source of infinite possibility. If all things are determined by foundations, and fortune bestowed by heaven, then what do all living beings struggle for when they cultivate and defy heaven to contend for their fates? Would that not all be futile?"
Once more, he brought out his theories of The One That Escapes and contending with heaven for one's fate.
"Hmph! Clever sophistry!" Primordial Lord of Heaven snorted coldly, and his Saint's might grew heavier. "Foundations and fortune are the cornerstone of the Heavenly Dao and the basis of order! Your so-called 'One That Escapes' is vague and illusory. How could it be mentioned in the same breath as the glorious Heavenly Dao? You shallow-rooted beings seek to shake the order of heaven and earth with your insignificant bodies. You are merely mantises trying to stop a chariot, overestimating yourselves!"
"I do not seek to shake order, but to pursue transcendence!" Xuanwei felt even the origin of his immortal qi trembling, yet he still gritted his teeth and persisted. "When Great God Pangu opened heaven, transforming his body into all things, he granted all living beings a thread of vitality. That vitality is hope; it is where the Dao lies! If one's path of cultivation is severed merely because one's foundations are shallow, would that not betray Great God Pangu's original intent in opening heaven and violate the Heavenly Dao's fundamental principle of endless life?"
He directly invoked Great God Pangu and the true intent of the Heavenly Dao, attempting to seize the moral high ground.
"Presumptuous!" Primordial Lord of Heaven seemed to have been truly angered. His Saint's might crashed down like mountains, nearly forcing Xuanwei to the ground. "A mere wisp of turbid qi dares discuss the Heavenly Dao and speculate upon the will of Father God Pangu?! You..."
Just as Xuanwei felt he was about to collapse and was preparing to throw caution to the wind and shout a modern version of "Are kings and nobles born to rule?" a languid, teasing voice suddenly cut in, breaking the tense atmosphere.
"Hehe, Second Brother, why fuss with a junior? Since he believes that thread of vitality exists, let him contend for it himself. If he obtains it, that is his fortune. If he fails, dies, and his Dao vanishes, he will have no one else to blame. The teachings of my Interception Sect have always been to seize that thread of opportunity for all living beings. Why must Second Brother insist on shattering his hope?"
It was Sect Master Tongtian!
Though he had not appeared in person, that familiar consciousness—carrying supreme sharpness and unrestrained defiance—had already descended. Like an invisible sword, it effortlessly sliced an opening through Primordial Lord of Heaven's crushing Saint's might. The pressure on Xuanwei instantly lessened, and he was so moved that he nearly cried.
Master! You came at exactly the right time! You're my lifesaver!
Primordial Lord of Heaven's consciousness fell silent for a moment. He was clearly quite dissatisfied with Sect Master Tongtian's intervention, but as fellow Saints, he could not continue bullying a junior.
"Hmph. Since Third Brother says so, I shall speak no more," Primordial Lord of Heaven said coldly. "However, this child is surrounded by irregularities and possesses a frivolous temperament. If he causes calamity in the future and implicates many others, I hope you will bear the consequences yourself."
With that, the Saint's might enveloping Xuanwei completely dispersed. The Jade Pure Dao voice sounded once again and continued expounding the Great Dao, as though the conflict had never occurred.
Everyone in the square, whether from the Chan Sect or Interception Sect, secretly sighed in relief. Yet their gazes toward Xuanwei had grown even more complicated. This kid had not only dared argue with Saint Yuanshi, but had even drawn Sect Master Tongtian into speaking for him! That was no small amount of face.
Xuanwei slumped in place—or mentally slumped there—feeling as though he had fought a life-and-death battle. Even his immortal qi had dimmed somewhat. He silently bowed toward the void, in the direction of Sect Master Tongtian's consciousness, his heart filled with gratitude.
The crisis had temporarily passed, but he knew that after this disturbance, he had thoroughly caught Uncle-Master Yuanshi's attention. The days ahead would likely be even less peaceful.
He steadied himself and was about to resume listening when, from the corner of his eye, he spotted a young Daoist among the Chan Sect disciples. The man was handsome, but his eyes carried a trace of gloom as he stared at Xuanwei with extreme hostility—and even a hint of killing intent.
Xuanwei's heart tightened. What immortal is this now? I don't think I've offended him.
[Target scan: Chan Sect disciple, member of Yuxu Palace, granddisciple of Daoist Virtue, named 'Lingxiao.' Cultivation: peak True Immortal. Status: extremely hostile toward host. Analysis of cause: likely because Primordial Lord of Heaven once criticized his foundations as acquired pure wind attaining the Dao. He therefore intensely loathes the host's remarks "provoking a Saint and stressing that foundations can change."]
Xuanwei: "..." So he had stirred up a hornet's nest in the hierarchy of foundation-based contempt? He was looked down on within his own group, so he was taking out his anger on an "heretic" like Xuanwei?
He shook his head helplessly, feeling like a tank who attracted aggro wherever he went. Everyone seemed to want to beat him up.
The lecture continued, but Xuanwei's mind had already drifted far away. He faintly sensed that the waters of the Primordial World ran far deeper than he had imagined. And he himself seemed to have unknowingly been drawn into the center of some vortex.
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