Leaving the Mountain

Primordial Lord of Heaven nodded and said with a smile, "It's good that you have such aspirations! You may go down now."

Bai Jin rose and hesitated before speaking, "Second Martial Uncle, I plan to leave the mountain for a while. You know the Wu and Yao clans are fighting fiercely outside, and I fear being captured by the Wu clan for dinner if I go out. Therefore, I wish to request a treasure for defense and attack."

Primordial Lord of Heaven asked doubtfully, "Did Tongtian not bestow upon you a treasure for proving the Dao?"

Bai Jin quickly replied, "Master bestowed upon me four Qing Tian Swords: Qingming, Qingyu, Qingxiao, and Qingyun."

Primordial Lord of Heaven nodded in satisfaction, "These four swords are excellent, ranking among the high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. Even Tongtian doesn't have many higher than these."

Bai Jin said emotionally, "Master's affection is naturally something I am deeply grateful for, but my strength is still weak, and I cannot unleash their full power. Therefore, I wish to ask Martial Uncle to bestow a defensive treasure upon me."

Primordial Lord of Heaven said, "The outside world is indeed chaotic right now, and it is indeed a bit dangerous for you. I shall give you this for protection!" With a wave of his hand, a small banner flew out and hovered before Bai Jin.

Bai Jin's heart skipped a beat, and he had a vague premonition. He quickly asked, "Martial Uncle, what is this?"

Primordial Lord of Heaven proudly declared, "The Pangu Banner, the foremost killing weapon of the Great Desolation!"

Bai Jin's eyes shone with wild joy. He quickly put away the Pangu Banner and bowed deeply, saying excitedly, "Thank you, Second Martial Uncle."

"Go!"

Bai Jin bowed respectfully, retreated from the palace, and left as a clear light.

Inside the palace, Primordial Lord of Heaven smiled and muttered to himself, "This little fellow is much more courteous than Tongtian's other two disciples." Suddenly, a thought struck him. Should he also take in a few disciples? Since the White Crane clan is so well-mannered, why not find a white crane to be a young attendant?!

After a loop, Bai Jin returned to the front of the Shangqing Palace. He casually walked up and knocked on the door, calling out loudly, "Master~ I've come to greet you."

The palace gate boomed open. Inside, a young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes sat in the main seat, with several futons arranged below.

Bai Jin walked to a futon, knelt down, and kowtowed, "Your disciple wishes Master eternal immortal blessings and boundless longevity."

"How do you achieve sainthood?" Sect Master Tongtian opened his eyes and looked at Bai Jin.

Bai Jin muttered to himself, Did Master and my two Martial Uncles conspire? Why are they both asking this question? He immediately straightened his back and said solemnly, "Holding a Three-foot Green Peak, shedding hot blood and passion, reaching the highest heavens, seeking the Dao in the nine layers of the sky."

Sect Master Tongtian suddenly chuckled, "Easier said than done. If you seek the Dao in the nine layers of the sky and the heavens do not answer, what then?"

"If the heavens do not answer, I will slay the heavens. If the earth does not answer, I will shatter the earth. With the sword in hand, I will cut through the heavens and seize the Dao."

"Haha~" Tongtian laughed heartily, pleased, "The one who understands me the most is actually you, my disciple."

"Get up!"

"Alright~" Bai Jin flipped over and sat cross-legged on the futon.

"Such arrogant words should not be spoken outside."

Bai Jin nodded repeatedly and chuckled foolishly, "I was just talking nonsense in front of Master."

Sect Master Tongtian said, "Have you been to see your two Martial Uncles?"

Bai Jin nodded, "Yes, I have!"

Sect Master Tongtian chuckled, "It seems you have become the most sensible one."

Bai Jin quickly put on a fawning smile, "My senior brothers and sisters are all busy cultivating. My aptitude is poor, so I just came to see Master and Martial Uncles to keep them familiar with my face."

"You see things clearly."

Bai Jin's smile froze on his face. Master, even though this is the truth, it hurts when you say it directly!

Sect Master Tongtian waved his hand, "Go! Cultivators should still focus on cultivation."

"Your disciple understands!"

Bai Jin stood up from the futon, a fawning smile on his face, rubbing his hands together. "Master, your disciple plans to go out for some training, perhaps to find some fortuitous encounters. Do you think you could bestow a few defensive magical treasures upon your disciple? The battles between the Wu and Yao clans outside are too chaotic."

Sect Master Tongtian raised an eyebrow and said unhappily, "With the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner on you, where in the Great Desolation can you not go? What else do you want?"

Bai Jin exclaimed in surprise, "Master, you know?" He said guiltily, "Did you eavesdrop on my conversation with my two Martial Uncles?"

Sect Master Tongtian said irritably, "The aura of the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner wrapped around you, how could I not tell?"

Bai Jin relaxed inwardly and chuckled sheepishly, "Master has sharp eyes."

Sect Master Tongtian said irritably, "Get lost!"

"Master, you are my real Master! My two Martial Uncles both bestowed supreme treasures, but you're not giving me anything?" Bai Jin called out quickly.

"Then what do you want?"

Bai Jin said with a smile, "Master, I heard that your Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is the foremost killing formation in the Great Desolation!"

"Scram!" Sect Master Tongtian waved his large hand.

"Ah!" Bai Jin shrieked and was instantly flung out, streaking across the sky before crashing into a lake with a loud splash, sending up a spray of water.

"You brat, the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation absorbs the malevolent energy of the Great Desolation, and you think you can control it?" Sect Master Tongtian muttered unhappily, then suddenly smiled. "If the heavens do not answer, I will slay the heavens. If the earth does not answer, I will shatter the earth. With the sword in hand, I will cut through the heavens and seize the Dao. Haha~ Your abilities are not great, but your tone is quite something."

Splash~ A figure shot out of the pond. Bai Jin hovered in mid-air, shaking his body, and the water droplets splashed off him, falling back into the pond with pat pat pat sounds.

Bai Jin drifted to the edge of the pond and muttered, "My Master is too stingy!" His body suddenly stiffened, and his Primordial Spirit fell into a state of chaos. A bright trajectory streaked through the chaos, dividing the surging chaos. Light energy rose, and turbid energy descended. The trajectory in his mind became clearer and brighter, eventually transforming into an incomparably sharp sword energy that filled his mind.

Boom~ The sword energy exploded, and Bai Jin's eyes snapped open, gasping for breath. Sweat poured down his body, and a realization dawned upon him: that sword was the sword that opened the heavens.

Bai Jin knelt and kowtowed in the direction of the Shangqing Palace, saying solemnly, "Your disciple thanks Master for the grace of imparting the Dao." He bowed three times with bang bang bang sounds before standing up from the ground.

A light chuckle came from the side, "Congratulations, Junior Brother."

Bai Jin turned his head and said with a smile, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for guarding me."

Holy Mother Wudang said, "You're welcome. It's what a Senior Sister should do." She asked curiously, "What did you realize, Junior Brother?"

Bai Jin scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, "Nothing much, just a sword technique bestowed by Master."

Holy Mother Wudang said with a hint of envy, "I didn't expect you to be the most favored by Master."

Bai Jin quickly shook his head and said, "No, no, it's just that my aptitude is too poor, and Master dislikes being embarrassed by me. That's why Master taught me a sword technique. Actually, I envy my Senior Brothers and Sisters; Master doesn't have to worry about them at all."

Holy Mother Wudang chuckled playfully and said, "Why are you so nervous? Are you afraid I'll be jealous of you?! Come, walk with me."

"Okay!" Bai Jin replied.