Xuan Yuan's Breakthrough, First Question in Taichu Palace!

Primordial Wilderness knows not years—in a blink, a hundred thousand years!

Taichu slowly opened his eyes within Taichu Palace.

After a hundred thousand years in seclusion, his cultivation had now reached the peak of Golden Immortal of the Origin Middle Stage.

What was even more gratifying was that, under the effect of the "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Skill," his physical body had also reached Golden Immortal of the Origin Initial Stage.

He had even fully refined the final restriction of the Primordial Chaos Measuring Heaven Ruler.

Now, Taichu believed that even if he faced someone a realm above him, he was confident he could stand undefeated.

With a thought, he summoned Xuanyuan out from the Chaos Pearl.

Ten thousand years outside, a million years within the Chaos Pearl.

Now that a hundred thousand years had passed, that meant a thousand million years inside the Chaos Pearl.

"A thousand million years—let's see how Xuanyuan's cultivation has progressed! With so much Great Dao Merit and the ability to cultivate both soul and body, even if he were a pig, he should have taken off by now!"

Taichu moved his mind, and Xuanyuan appeared before him.

"Disciple pays respects to Master!"

Taichu looked closely and saw that Xuanyuan's cultivation had already reached the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal!

Taichu gazed at Xuanyuan and thought, "If I'd known the Chaos Pearl was this sweet, I'd have cultivated inside it myself! I'll have to study it carefully later."

"Master! Master!"

Seeing Taichu staring at him without speaking, Xuanyuan called out twice.

Only then did Taichu snap back to reality.

"Is Master dissatisfied with this disciple?"

"No, not at all. You've done well—truly worthy of being my first disciple. Very good."

"In truth, this disciple's cultivation reached the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal long ago, but I felt that the path of cultivation shouldn't rely solely on shortcuts—actual combat is more important. So I suppressed my cultivation and didn't break through."

"You've done well. I'm very pleased."

Then Taichu sent a sound transmission, summoning White Tiger inside.

As soon as White Tiger entered Taichu Palace, Taichu saw that his cultivation had also reached Great Luo Golden Immortal Middle Stage.

Though only at the middle stage, one glance revealed White Tiger's uniqueness—deep mana, solid foundations. His physical body was also at Great Luo Golden Immortal Initial Stage.

"White Tiger pays respects to Sect Leader!"

"Rise! In just a hundred thousand years, reaching Great Luo Golden Immortal Middle Stage—well done!"

White Tiger grinned foolishly. "May I ask why the Sect Leader summoned me?"

Taichu said two words with ill intent: "Sparring partner."

White Tiger glanced at Xuanyuan, then back at Taichu. "Sect Leader, you can't be serious—you want me to spar with Senior Brother Xuanyuan? He's at Great Luo Golden Immortal Peak!"

"Cough, cough!"

Taichu cleared his throat awkwardly. "White Tiger, on Three Immortals Island, you're the only one who can test Xuanyuan."

White Tiger thought for a moment, scratched his head, and said, "I guess that's true. Fine, I'll be Senior Brother's sparring partner! After all, I'm the one with the higher cultivation!"

"But sparring with a Great Luo Peak cultivator... that's terrifying. I know full well how fearsome the peak is from my own middle stage. But still, hmph!"

White Tiger clasped his fists and looked at Xuanyuan. "I ask Senior Brother to go easy on me!"

Xuanyuan replied, "Thank you, Brother White Tiger!"

The two simultaneously channeled their mana.

With a "Boom!" they exchanged a palm strike.

Xuanyuan stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, while White Tiger was sent flying millions of li—and that was only because Xuanyuan had deliberately restrained his strength; otherwise, White Tiger would have been blasted straight off Three Immortals Island.

"But thinking back, that's not right. I controlled it perfectly—why did he fly so far?"

Xuanyuan stared at his own palms, incredulous.

"Am I really this strong?"

But at that moment, Taichu shook his head and smiled.

What Xuanyuan didn't know was that while he had held back his strength, White Tiger had also held back his—he had used that very force to propel himself away!

When White Tiger returned, he said, "Senior Brother is indeed formidable! Great Luo Golden Immortal Peak is truly impressive. You win—sparring is over, Senior Brother!"

"Over already? I haven't even tested my actual combat ability yet! No, we continue!"

"I'll suppress my cultivation to match yours—that'll make for a better test."

White Tiger steeled himself, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Since that's the case, fine—I'll do as Senior Brother says!"

At the same time, Taichu looked at the two of them. "Both of you, take this seriously. This is a test of your actual combat ability. You can't just have the realm without the battle power—that would disgrace the name of our Dao Protection Sect!"

"Yes!"

Hearing Taichu's words, both of their expressions turned earnest. Instantly, the temperature in the arena dropped a few degrees.

Xuan Yuan also suppressed his cultivation to the Great Luo Golden Immortal Middle Stage.

White Tiger frowned deeply, his expression utterly serious.

Then, the two clashed again in battle.

In an instant, sand and stones flew, heaven and earth changed color. They attacked and defended, exchanging over a thousand moves in a flash.

Since they used no weapons, every strike was flesh against flesh, palm against wind. Thus, they fought for a full millennium.

A thousand years later.

Taichu used his divine power to separate them. "Good, good, both of you are excellent! It seems cultivation within the Chaos Pearl carries no side effects. I see that you two not only have profound cultivation but also rich combat experience. My heart is greatly comforted."

The two stood in the center of the hall, inwardly delighted at Taichu's affirmation.

Though Xuan Yuan was steady in temperament and possessed excellent character, he had taken form relatively late, so he still harbored a bit of a youthful mindset.

Taichu looked at them. "Even by the standards of the Primordial Wilderness, your cultivation levels are top-tier combat power—especially you, Xuan Yuan. But do not grow arrogant because of this! The Great Luo Golden Immortal stage is only your starting point, not your destination. Do you understand?"

The two exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

Then Taichu spoke unhurriedly. "You two are about to walk the Primordial Wilderness. Let me ask you: do you know the meaning of my Dao Protection Sect?"

After saying this, he simply watched them in silence.

Xuan Yuan stepped forward. "Master, our Dao Protection Sect stands for righteousness. The Dao you uphold is to punish evil and uphold justice! You protect the Dao of righteousness."

Taichu shook his head. "No."

White Tiger also stepped forward, looking at Taichu in confusion. "Could it be that the Sect Leader upholds the will of heaven and guards the Heavenly Dao?"

"Not that either."

The two were bewildered.

After a long pause, Taichu spoke slowly. "The Great Dao has fifty paths, heaven evolves forty-nine. Small matters can be changed, but great events cannot be reversed. The Dao Protection Sect I founded protects the myriad races of the Primordial Wilderness from extinction, and ensures the Dao of the Primordial Wilderness remains complete."

Xuan Yuan asked, "Master, do you mean someone will ravage the Primordial Wilderness? Is there someone who can threaten it?"

"I do not know."

White Tiger asked, "Hasn't the Heavenly Dao already emerged? Is there anyone more powerful than the Heavenly Dao?"

"There are men beyond men, and heavens beyond heavens."

"Master, what if the Heavenly Dao itself threatens the Primordial Wilderness?"

Taichu's tone turned icy. "No one may threaten the Primordial Wilderness—not even the Heavenly Dao."

As Taichu finished speaking, a faint rumble of thunder echoed from beyond the nine heavens.