Two Pure Ones Shocked, Yuanshi's Ardor

"Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian?"

"They're actually at the Palace of Supreme Purity? And they want to see me?"

Following Xuandu in flight, Li Yun kept his expression calm on the surface, but inwardly his heart sank.

Not for any other reason—he had seized two gourds earlier, which completely went against the intent of the Saint's Trial.

If the Two Saints came to hold him accountable, that would be far from good news.

But as things stood, there was no way to undo this matter. No matter what, he had to steel himself and follow along.

Before long, Li Yun and Xuandu's figures returned to the Palace of Supreme Purity.

Entering inside, they saw the Three Pure Ones seated in the main area, sipping tea. Their moods were extremely stable, and they appeared quite harmonious.

"Now this is true brotherly respect and affection."

"Pity that in the future, the Three Pure Ones will go their separate ways."

"On the surface, it's a conflict between the Chan and Jie Sects, a clash of ideals among the Three Pure Ones, but in reality, all of this is Hongjun's scheme."

Sighing inwardly, Li Yun felt a deep regret.

If the Three Pure Ones had never split apart.

With the combined power of Pangu's Three Pure Ones, even if they absorbed the Hongmeng Purple Qi to attain sainthood, their greatest life-threatening weakness would be placed in the hands of the Heavenly Dao, and even Hongjun after merging with the Dao could still influence them.

But the Three Pure Ones were after all incarnations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit. Though their Pangu merit had been mostly drained, the Pangu Creation Fate on their persons still remained—only diminished in quantity. Fighting alone, they could never be a match for a Dao-Merged Hongjun.

Yet if the Three Pure Ones were united, those three strands of Creation Fate twisted into one rope, even Hongjun after merging with the Dao would have to back off. Then the Three Pure Ones could strut across the Primordial World unchecked, even suppressing Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa in battle.

It was precisely for this reason that Hongjun schemed to split the Three Pure Ones apart.

And even after the split, Hongjun still feared the Three Pure Ones might come to their senses and reunite, so the Investiture of the Gods tribulation was born as a result.

On the surface, it was about the Chan and Jie Sect disciples disrespecting Hongjun's boy Haotian's position as Heavenly Emperor, and the Chan Sect disciples accumulating much killing karma during the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. But in truth, it was a scheme to drive a wedge between Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian.

Even if Laozi sensed something was wrong, by the time he reacted, it was already too late. After the Investiture tribulation, the Jie Teachings were destroyed, Sect Master Tongtian's heart turned to ash, and he went berserk, using the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation to wreck the Primordial World, destroying his own Pangu Fate, and dragging Yuanshi Tianzun and Laozi into the fallout as well.

In the end, the Three Pure Ones had no choice but to swallow the so-called Saint-Slaying Pill under Hongjun's watchful eye, completely severing any possibility of the Three Pure Ones reuniting, and likewise cutting off any chance they had to contend with Hongjun or fight for control of the Primordial World.

"Greetings, Master!"

"Greetings, Two Martial Uncles!"

At this moment, Xuandu tugged at Li Yun's sleeve, then bowed and spoke.

Seeing this, Li Yun quickly snapped back to reality and followed Xuandu in bowing: "Greetings, Master!"

"Greetings, Two Martial Uncles!"

"You're here."

Hearing this, the Three Pure Ones paused in their tea-drinking.

Setting down their cups casually, Laozi's gaze fell on Li Yun as he said: "I hear you interfered with the trials set by your two martial uncles?"

"Yes."

Opening his mouth, Li Yun did not refute it. With a thought, he produced the golden gourd and black gourd he had obtained earlier, offering them forth: "Apologies, Master. Disciple acted on impulse earlier and seized these two items, ruining the plans of the Two Martial Uncles. Disciple is willing to accept punishment!"

Seeing this, Laozi's lips curled upward.

Though he already knew, seeing Li Yun produce these two gourds still made him unable to suppress his delight.

He had already calculated the process earlier. He knew that the Chan and Jie Sects had invested dozens of disciples, mostly at the Mysterious Immortal Realm, with some at the True Immortal Realm, not to mention the many Rogue Cultivators and Demonic Beasts.

But what was the final result?

There were only three gourds in total, yet Li Yun had taken two of them.

And all of this happened despite Li Yun sensing something was off and voluntarily giving up one gourd. If this hadn't been a Saint's Trial, all three gourds would have been taken by Li Yun, and the Chan and Jie Sect disciples, Rogue Cultivators, and Demonic Beasts would have come away empty-handed.

From this, it was clear that among the second-generation disciples, even at similar cultivation levels, neither the Chan nor Jie Sect disciples could match his own.

At this thought, Laozi did not take the gourds. Instead, he turned his head to look at Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian, saying: "Second Brother, Third Brother, what do you think?"

Hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian's mouths twitched.

On the surface, Li Yun was apologizing, and Laozi was calling him to account, but both of them knew full well that this was their Big Brother showing off.

And the worst part was, he had truly succeeded in showing off. This trial was originally meant to test the Chan and Jie Sect disciples—who could have predicted that the one to stand out in the end would be Li Yun of the Human Teachings?

Bringing out these gourds now was nothing short of slapping the faces of the Chan and Jie Sect disciples, yet they couldn't say a word about it, since it was their own disciples who were inferior in skill.

Thinking this, Yuanshi Tianzun immediately spoke: "Heavenly treasures and earthly rarities go to those capable. Since Martial Nephew Li Yun obtained them himself, they naturally belong to you!"

At these words, Sect Master Tongtian also nodded: "Indeed, heavenly spiritual treasures are for those fated to obtain them. For Martial Nephew Li Yun to accomplish such a feat under the watchful eyes of so many, these gourds are rightfully yours!"

Hearing this, Laozi's smile grew even wider. He looked at Li Yun and said: "Why not thank your two martial uncles properly~"

"Yes!"

Acknowledging this, Li Yun breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

He knew that since Yuanshi and Tongtian weren't pursuing the matter, this affair was settled, and these two gourds were now completely his.

Thinking of this, Li Yun immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Second Martial Uncle! Thank you, Third Martial Uncle!"

"Mm." Nodding, Yuanshi Tianzun shifted his tone and said, "Big Brother, this child is actually a seedling of the Emperor's Path, and I feel as though that thing might be inside him?"

As he spoke, Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze burned intensely, looking at Li Yun as if he were a rare treasure.

"Indeed." A slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth, Laozi picked up his teacup and took a sip, then said calmly, "My disciple Li Yun does have talent in this regard, and the Ultimate Emperor Seal has actively resonated with him, so I have already bestowed it upon him."

"However, his cultivation is still very weak now. The Emperor's Path, though powerful, is not suitable for early contact and practice."

"When his future cultivation reaches the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, then I will trouble you, Second Brother, to guide him a little."

What! Active resonance!

His pupils constricted, Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Laozi in disbelief, then fixed his gaze on Li Yun once more, the fervent intensity even stronger.

For a moment, he disregarded Li Yun's status and Laozi's presence, and directly spoke, "Li Yun, would you be willing to take me as your master? I can accept you as a personal disciple, and even make you the young master of the Chan Teachings in the future. What do you think?"