Palace of Supreme Purity.
Inside the Alchemy Room, Laozi looked at the suddenly visiting Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian in confusion. "The time for the Three Teachings Exchange Conference does not seem to have arrived yet. What brings you two here?"
Facing the question, Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian exchanged glances. Then, they cupped their hands at the same time. "Elder Brother, we came to congratulate you on taking in such an excellent disciple!"
"Yes, yes. With merely mid-stage Mysterious Immortal Realm cultivation, he actually toyed with dozens of cultivators from our Chan and Jie Sects, as well as dozens of Rogue Cultivators. The younger generation is truly formidable!"
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Laozi raised a brow and subconsciously looked at Xuandu beside him. "Xuandu, what did you do?"
"Nothing, Master!"
Shaking his head, Xuandu hurriedly replied, "This disciple has been cultivating in seclusion all along. Moreover, this disciple has only reached the perfected Celestial Immortal Realm and has not yet attained the Mysterious Immortal Realm."
Upon hearing this, Laozi gazed thoughtfully out the window for a moment before speaking. "In that case, Li Yun must have been the one who did it."
"I did not expect that in such a short time, he would already have reached the second revolution of his technique and attained the Mysterious Immortal Realm."
As soon as those words fell, Xuandu was also somewhat shaken.
After all, he and Li Yun had both been in the Celestial Immortal Realm before, and he had even been somewhat stronger.
Yet only a few hundred years had passed. His own cultivation had merely reached the perfected Celestial Immortal Realm, while the other party had already entered the Mysterious Immortal Realm and was not even at its initial stage. It truly was...
The conversation between master and disciple also left Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian stunned.
After exchanging glances, Yuanshi Tianzun asked, "Elder Brother, do you not have only one Direct Disciple?"
"What is going on here?"
"He is the Direct Disciple? Then that little fellow outside is not?"
At this moment, even Sect Master Tongtian could not remain seated. "Elder Brother, I see that Li Yun possesses outstanding talent, potential, temperament, and wisdom. How could he not be a Direct Disciple?"
Hearing this, Laozi smiled and shook his head. "Li Yun is indeed exceptionally outstanding, but because of his innate foundation, I did not take him as a Direct Disciple."
"However, although he is an Inner Disciple, the treatment he receives is not much different from that of a Direct Disciple."
"He cultivates the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique. While it essentially inherits from my Taiqing Lineage, it does not inherit my own Dao lineage, so it is only natural that he did not become a Direct Disciple."
"Moreover, I do not intend to take in any more disciples. Unless something unexpected happens, my Human Teachings will have only Xuandu and Li Yun. What difference does it make whether he is a Direct Disciple or not?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian fell silent.
Indeed!
The Human Teachings had few members and only two disciples. Whether one was a Direct Disciple truly made little difference.
In contrast, both Chan Teachings and the Interception Sect had taken in many disciples.
Among them, the Chan Teachings had the Twelve Golden Immortals as Direct Disciples, Nanjixianweng and Yun Zhongzi as Inner Disciples, as well as a large number of Registered Disciples.
The Interception Sect had only Duobao, Jin Ling, Gui Ling, and Wudang as Direct Disciples, but beyond them, its Inner Disciples, Outer Disciples, and Registered Disciples were innumerable. Altogether, they even numbered close to ten thousand.
"Xuandu."
At this moment, Laozi seemed to sense something. Looking to the side, he said, "Your junior brother is already on his way back. Go wait at the mountain gate, and once he returns, bring him here to meet your two martial uncles."
"Yes, Master."
With that response, Xuandu did not dare delay. He bowed to the Three Pure Ones, then turned and hurriedly left the Alchemy Room.
At this moment, he was still somewhat shocked. More than that, however, he was curious how Li Yun had managed to improve so much in such a short time.
After Xuandu left, Yuanshi Tianzun opened his mouth, originally intending to ask about Li Yun. However, since Laozi had said he would bring Li Yun to meet them, it would be better to ask then.
Seeing this, Laozi smiled calmly. After finishing the alchemy, he stood and said, "Come. I happen to have some Enlightenment Tea Leaves on hand, so let us have a taste today."
Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian's eyes lit up.
Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
They were excellent things. After drinking them, cultivators had a certain chance of entering a state of enlightenment and improving themselves.
However, their effect on Saints was almost negligible. Still, even the slightest possibility was not something they would pass up.
After all, a single moment of enlightenment could save them tens or even hundreds of kalpas of effort.
Thinking of this, Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian immediately followed after him. "Elder Brother is generous!"
"Elder Brother must be pleased that his disciple performed so well."
"Elder Brother, I happen to have some Three-Light Divine Water. I will boil the water when the time comes."
"I also happen to have an Innate Tea Set. Elder Brother and Third Brother, let us appraise it together!"
"I am finally back."
Near the Taiqing Mountain Gate, Li Yun's figure sped over. At this moment, he also let out a relieved breath.
Although he had deceived those Rogue Cultivators outside earlier, he truly had not dared to relax before reaching home.
Fortunately, nothing had happened along the way.
Moreover, because of the Saint's Trial, the Rogue Cultivators around Kunlun Mountain had all been alarmed. Naturally, no one tried to stop Li Yun.
"Junior Brother Li Yun!"
"Junior Brother Li Yun!"
At this moment, a series of shouts interrupted Li Yun's thoughts.
Following the voices, he saw Xuandu riding a cloud toward him at high speed, arriving at his side with an anxious expression.
"Senior Brother Xuandu, what is wrong?"
Seeing Xuandu staring at him anxiously as though he were some kind of monster, Li Yun scratched his head, somewhat baffled.
"Junior Brother, have you reached the mid-stage Mysterious Immortal Realm?"
Xuandu did not beat around the bush and directly asked what was on his mind.
"Uh..."
Li Yun gave Xuandu a surprised look, puzzled as to how he had seen through him.
He could tell that Xuandu had reached the perfected Celestial Immortal Realm. Logically speaking, even if Xuandu sensed the gap between their auras, at most he should have guessed that Li Yun had entered the Mysterious Immortal Realm. How could he know Li Yun's exact realm so precisely?
Surprised though he was, Li Yun did not conceal it. He nodded. "Yes, I have indeed reached the mid-stage Mysterious Immortal Realm."
"Senior Brother, how did you see through it?"
"It was not me who saw through it."
With a bitter smile, Xuandu's last lingering hope completely died. This junior brother's cultivation talent far surpassed his own. Even with Laozi giving him special guidance, he still could not compare.
However, Xuandu quickly adjusted his mindset. There were only the two of them in the Human Teachings, and he was still the Direct Disciple. He could not bring himself to be jealous of his junior brother.
With that thought, Xuandu immediately said, "Second Martial Uncle and Third Martial Uncle saw through it. They said you performed exceptionally well, so they came to congratulate Master for taking in such a fine disciple."
"Master also knows what happened to you outside. He sent me here to wait for you and bring you to the Palace of Supreme Purity to meet the two martial uncles."
"Come, let us not waste time. Master and the two martial uncles are still waiting for you."
As he spoke, Xuandu did not give Li Yun time to react. He grabbed him and sped toward the Palace of Supreme Purity.
Before you continue