A Greeting and Borrowing Treasures

Pangu split the heavens and broke the Primordial Chaos, separating the pure from the turbid, and the heavens and earth appeared. The heavens and earth first opened, and all things were vast. First, the Dragon-Phoenix caused chaos in the Great Desolation, then Hongjun preached the Dao for three thousand years.

In the Great Desolation, there was a divine mountain called Mount Kunlun. The Kunlun mountain range stretched for tens of thousands of miles and had three main peaks. On each main peak stood a majestic palace. The palace on the central main peak had three large characters inscribed on its plaque: Taiqing Palace. The divine hall on the left main peak had three large characters inscribed: Yuqing Palace. The divine hall on the right main peak had three large characters inscribed: Shangqing Palace.

At this moment, in a side hall on the edge of Shangqing Palace, a young man with a simple and honest appearance was holding a pen and drawing on a small booklet.

The young man's name was Bai Jin. He was originally an ordinary person who had attained enlightenment as an Azure White Crane. In his previous life, he was a very, very ordinary person. After waking up, he transmigrated to the Great Desolation painlessly and in a very human-like manner. He was initially reluctant, but when he learned that he could become an immortal, an ancestor, and live forever, he was overjoyed. However, when he learned that his master was the renowned Sect Master Tongtian, he was completely stunned. Sect Master Tongtian? The tragic great figure who had no friends and ruined his family? Wasn't his future very bleak?! Most importantly, he was only an outer disciple.

After Bai Jin learned that he was a disciple of Sect Master Tongtian, he knew that his master could not be relied upon. For several years since his transmigration, he had been secretly planning his own salvation. Although the Battle of the Investiture of the Gods was still a long, long way off, Bai Jin already felt a strong sense of crisis.

He put down his pen, and mysterious symbols appeared on the white paper. These were called Rune Script, or they could be called Talismans, the language used for communication between immortals and gods.

Bai Jin looked at the Rune Script and read, "The Great Desolation Self-Salvation Guide, the first and most important step is to please the two Martial Uncles. The First Martial Uncle values goodness as water, so one must appear detached and transcendent in front of him. The Second Martial Uncle values etiquette and virtue, so one must appear orderly and disciplined in front of him."

He clenched his fist and said, "Bai Jin, you can do it!"

He solemnly put away the booklet and walked outside. With a creak, he opened the main hall door and walked out.

After a few steps, he saw a graceful and elegant woman slowly walking down the mountain path.

Bai Jin quickly cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Greetings, Senior Sister Wudang."

Wudang said helplessly, "Junior Brother, why didn't you close the door again?"

Bai Jin straightened up, scratched his head, and said with a simple smile, "Eldest Senior Sister, I believe that a gentleman should not hide anything from others. Besides, everyone on the mountain is family, so it's fine."

Wudang said helplessly, "You! You are a gentleman, but others may not be. Master will accept other disciples in the future, so this is not good." With a wave of her hand, the door closed with a bang.

Bai Jin nodded repeatedly and said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister."

Wudang asked again, "Junior Brother, where are you going?"

Bai Jin said, "To pay my respects to the two Martial Uncles."

Wudang nodded and smiled, "Go ahead!"

"Alright! I'll bring back good news for Eldest Senior Sister."

"Thank you, Junior Brother."

Bai Jin ran down the mountain.

Wudang continued forward and arrived at a scenic spot. A rumbling waterfall poured down, stirring up snowflakes in the cold pool below. A young man with a powerful build was sitting by the waterfall, meditating with his eyes closed.

The young man suddenly opened his eyes, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes. The waterfall was cut off with a roar.

Holy Mother Wudang smiled and said, "Senior Brother Duobao, your sword intent has become even more refined."

Duobao said, "Cultivation is like this. Only by being fierce and diligent can one enter the path of the Great Dao. Junior Sister, you must not slack off either."

Holy Mother Wudang cupped her hands in a salute and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!"

Duobao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is that Bai Jin going out again?"

Holy Mother Wudang said, "He's going to pay his respects to the two Martial Uncles."

Duobao's face turned cold and he said, "Is he a disciple of Master or a disciple of the two Martial Uncles? If he's so eager, why doesn't he become their disciple?"

Holy Mother Wudang walked to a bluestone and sat down, saying, "He won't neglect paying his respects to Master either."

Duobao angrily said, "Absurd! We were valued by our esteemed Master and accepted as disciples, so we should cultivate diligently to serve our Master in the future. But look at him, he goes to pay his respects to Master and Martial Uncles every day. How can he have any intention of cultivating? With such a state of mind, he will surely fall into the demonic path sooner or later."

Holy Mother Wudang frowned slightly and said, "Eldest Senior Brother, you are being too harsh."

Duobao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, "Forget it! I don't want to bother with him. He's just an outer disciple anyway. Whatever he wants to do, let him do it. Junior Sister, let's discuss the Dao!"

Holy Mother Wudang nodded and said, "Okay!" A faint Dao rhythm permeated around her.

A streak of green light landed before Taiqing Palace on the central peak. It transformed into Bai Jin's appearance upon landing.

Bai Jin tidied his clothes, cupped his hands in a ninety-degree bow, and said, "Disciple Bai Jin pays his respects to First Martial Uncle!"

A hoarse voice came from within the great hall, "Enter!"

"Thank you, First Martial Uncle!"

The palace gate creaked open, and Bai Jin stepped into the hall. Upon entering, he saw an ancient old Daoist priest seated above.

Bai Jin walked to the futon, knelt on it, and kowtowed three times, saying, "Disciple pays his respects to First Martial Uncle. I wish First Martial Uncle an early attainment of the Saintly Dao."

Taishang said kindly, "How is the Saintly Dao attained?"

Bai Jin said calmly, "Disciple does not know, but I can see it in First Martial Uncle."

Taishang smiled and said, "Tell me."

Bai Jin said solemnly, "The Way of Heaven benefits without harming; the Way of the Sage acts without contention."

Taishang was stunned. He pondered for a moment, then said with a smile, "Very good, you are absolutely right."

Normally, this exchange of greetings would be the end, and Bai Jin should take his leave. However, today, Bai Jin knelt on the futon, fidgeting.

Taishang asked, "Bai Jin, is there anything else?"

Bai Jin quickly said, "Reporting to First Martial Uncle, disciple plans to go down the mountain for a trip. You know that the war between the Wu and Yao tribes is raging outside. I fear that if I go out, I will be captured by the Wu tribe for dinner, so I wish to request a protective treasure."

Taishang said, "It is indeed quite dangerous to go down the mountain now." With a wave of his hand, a Taiji Diagram hanging on the wall flew down and hovered in front of Bai Jin, saying, "I give this to you for protection."

The Taiji Diagram?! Bai Jin excitedly bowed deeply, saying gratefully, "Thank you, First Martial Uncle!"

"Go on, go on!"

Bai Jin stood up, holding the Taiji Diagram, and walked out quickly with a simple, honest smile. It was true that currying favor with his Martial Uncle was the way to save himself.

He exited the palace gates, transformed into a streak of azure light, and shot out. He streaked across the sky above the mountains and landed before Yuqing Palace. Bending at a ninety-degree angle, he bowed and said, "Disciple greets Second Martial Uncle."

"Come in!" a majestic voice boomed, and the palace gates creaked open.

After Bai Jin entered, his expression was serious and unsmiling. He walked to the cushion, knelt, and performed three kowtows with great propriety, saying, "Disciple Bai Jin pays his respects to Martial Uncle. I wish Martial Uncle an early attainment of the Saintly Way."

Primordial Lord of Heaven, seated high on the main seat, nodded slightly and asked, "What is a Saint?"

Bai Jin, unsmiling and solemn, replied, "The Way of Heaven is ordered between the clear and the turbid; the Way of a Sage is to follow Heaven and respond to destiny."

A flicker of satisfaction flashed in Primordial Lord of Heaven's eyes. "Very good! A pity, a pity~"

Bai Jin asked, "What does Martial Uncle regret?"

"That you are merely a White Crane. Your future achievements are destined to be limited."

Bai Jin respectfully replied, "Disciple does not seek to be famous throughout the Great Desolation, nor does he seek the power to destroy heaven and earth. He is content simply to serve by the side of his Master and his two Martial Uncles."