The Three Pure Ones Find Their Dao

Bai Jin finally said helplessly, "If you won't go, I'm leaving first!"

"Get lost~"

"If you don't go, the outside world will only spread rumors that, under the Purple Sky Divine Thunder, Uncle-Master Taishang and Uncle-Master Yuanshi were completely unharmed and even had the mood to go out eating and drinking, while you, Master, were seriously injured by the Purple Sky Divine Thunder and couldn't even leave the house."

With a rumble, the gates of Shangqing Palace opened. Tongtian's upright figure appeared before them as he declared proudly, "Lead the way!"

"Yes! Master, this way, please." Bai Jin inwardly relaxed. He had finally persuaded him. Quickly extending a hand in invitation, he led Tongtian toward Shangqing Peak.

Tongtian took the last seat. The three of them stared at the hotpot in the middle, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

As if he had not noticed, Bai Jin smiled at the side and said, "Master, Uncle-Masters, this is a new food I recently developed. It is called hotpot. You only need to put whatever food you want to eat into it and cook it. What would Master and Uncle-Masters like?"

Taishang said, "Anything will do."

"Alright! Then I'll choose according to my own tastes for Master and Uncle-Masters."

Using pristine jade chopsticks, Bai Jin placed the meat and vegetables from the rack into the hotpot. As he did so, he said, "Whenever I'm unhappy, I like eating hotpot. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing a meal of hotpot can't solve. If there is, then have a few more meals."

Taishang revealed a faint smile. "That is quite an interesting saying." He examined the hotpot and nodded. "This is also rather good. One spicy, one mild; one yin, one yang. An interesting method indeed."

He pointed at the flames below. The fire abruptly shrank into a small cluster, yet its temperature increased dramatically. The pot above immediately began bubbling away.

Taishang picked up his chopsticks, took a mushroom, and tasted it. Nodding in satisfaction, he said, "It does have a distinctive flavor."

Yuanshi also picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of meat. After tasting it, he said, "The flavor is unusual, and the method of eating is interesting. The ingredients are rather inferior, and many people share one pot. It cannot grace an elegant hall."

Bai Jin said with a smile, "Uncle-Master, this is not about gracing an elegant hall. What we eat is the feeling of a family reunion."

Yuanshi's tone softened. "Eating this way does indeed make people feel closer."

"Master, Uncle-Masters, please eat more. I prepared all these dishes myself."

Tongtian said approvingly, "You were thoughtful."

After eating for a while, Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian ate and chatted, and the atmosphere gradually eased, losing its former heaviness.

Tongtian put down his jade chopsticks and asked, "Bai Jin, I heard that you already knew we would fail? In order to persuade me to abandon this method of attaining the Dao, you even fought Duobao?"

Bai Jin said in surprise, "Master, you already knew?"

Tongtian said proudly, "As long as I wish to know, I can know."

Bai Jin gave him a thumbs-up. "Master, you're amazing!"

Yuanshi said calmly, "He left a trace of divine sense in Kunlun."

The smug expression on Tongtian's face vanished. He glared at Yuanshi, then asked, "Why did you think we would definitely fail?"

Taishang and Yuanshi also looked at Bai Jin. Beforehand, they too had sensed that this path might not work, but so long as there was even the slightest hope, they had to try. Yet how had Bai Jin known that this path would certainly fail? After all, Nuwa had attained the Dao by taking this very path.

Yuanshi raised an eyebrow. "Could it be that you also have your own insights into the Saint Dao?"

Bai Jin hurriedly put on a miserable expression. "Uncle-Master, please don't flatter your disciple. Something like the Saint Dao is far too lofty. It would scare this disciple to death."

"Then how were you so certain that we would fail?"

"Although this disciple does not know how to attain the Saint Dao, this disciple knows that this path cannot be taken."

"Why?"

Bai Jin thought for a moment, then said seriously, "This disciple once heard that Master and Uncle-Masters are Dao Master Hongjun's direct disciples, while Empress Nuwa, Uncle-Master Jieyin, and Uncle-Master Zhunti are Dao Ancestor Hongjun's nominal disciples."

Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian all nodded. This was no secret in the Primordial World, and it had once been a source of pride for the three of them. That was why, after learning that Empress Nuwa had become a Saint, their hearts had been so violently shaken. After listening to Duobao, they had risked trying it.

"This disciple thought that since Master and Uncle-Masters are Dao Ancestor Hongjun's direct disciples, perhaps you should inherit Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Dao?

"This disciple is dull-witted and can only understand matters from the most superficial level. Unlike Senior Disciple Brother, who can think so far ahead, this disciple cannot figure out what Master and Uncle-Masters' Dao is. But it should not be things like alchemy or artifact refinement. This disciple feared that Master and Uncle-Masters would go astray and damage your Dao foundations, which was why this disciple went to stop you."

Direct disciples inherited their master's will. The Three Pure Ones froze for a moment. One major event after another flashed through their minds, all connected to Dao Ancestor Hongjun. The most important were two matters.

The first was Zixiao Palace's expounding of the Dao, spreading the teachings throughout the Primordial World.

The second was merging with the Dao. From then on, Heaven would never bar all paths, securing a sliver of life for the countless living beings of the Primordial World.

Merging with the Dao was certainly impossible. That left only spreading the teachings throughout the Primordial World. The same thought flashed through the Three Pure Ones' minds at once: enlightenment!

In an instant, a stirring surged from their hearts, and the primordial aura within their souls began to tremble.

Tongtian threw back his head and laughed. "My Dao is complete~"

Yuanshi also said excitedly, "My Dao is complete~"

Taishang rapidly stroked his beard, excitement shining in his eyes.

Bai Jin asked in confusion, "Master, Uncle-Masters, what is wrong? Did something good happen?"

Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian turned to look at Bai Jin. The more they looked, the more endearing he seemed. What a blessed disciple! Although Bai Jin had not pointed out how to attain the Saint Dao, his simple words were like a great hand parting the clouds to reveal the moon. The gates to the Saint Dao were already close at hand.

Tongtian stood up, patted Bai Jin's shoulder, and laughed heartily. "Bai Jin, you are absolutely right. From the very beginning, Master had already pointed out our Dao to us. Direct disciples—so that is what direct disciples are! Hahaha~"

Bai Jin glanced at the three of them in confusion and said with an awkward smile, "Please forgive this disciple's ignorance. This disciple truly does not understand what Master means."

Yuanshi beamed. "Bai Jin, do you know that your single sentence just now directly pointed out our Saint Dao?"

Bai Jin's eyes widened. He swallowed and said incredulously, "The... Saint Dao? No way! What did I say?"

Taishang smiled. "This is what it means to be a person of great fortune. Bai Jin, do you have any request now? Whatever you ask for today shall all be granted."

Bai Jin's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian all nodded, watching Bai Jin with interest. They wondered what sort of ambition this little fellow possessed.

Bai Jin solemnly cupped his hands in a bow. "This disciple asks only that if this disciple ever offends the two Uncle-Masters in the future, please show mercy."

Taishang and Yuanshi both nodded with smiling faces. "Granted!"

If someone encountered such a situation, they would probably demand great divine abilities or magical treasures. But if he truly asked for them, the affection between them would grow weaker. It was better to first obtain an immunity token. As for benefits, with this bond in place, could Master and Uncle-Masters possibly shortchange him? Whatever they gave would surely be the most suitable for him. Bai Jin's little calculations clattered away in his heart.