Cihang used great willpower to sort through the memories of his past life and seal them in the deepest part of his sea of consciousness.
He did not intend to forget those memories, but to erase the negative emotions they brought him.
Though the Sanqing had yet to attain the Dao, they were still peak Quasi-Saints.
If he revealed even the slightest abnormality, they would likely notice it.
Moreover, his past life was ultimately just that—his past life. Even though he had become a Quasi-Saint, it could not change the fact that he had been a failure.
He resented Yuanshi and the Two Sages of the West for their schemes, but he resented his own helplessness even more.
If he possessed strength equal to theirs, who would dare scheme against him? Who could scheme against him?
In the primordial world, strength was ultimately supreme.
He would not cultivate anew along a path that had already failed. In this life, he would neither enter the Profound Sect nor worship the Buddha.
He would carve out a path of his own.
As the memories of his past life were sealed away, they remained, yet could no longer sway his emotions, allowing him to face everything rationally.
Cihang's gaze regained its clarity and purity, containing only a pursuit of and obsession with the Dao.
Dong!
The sound of the Dao faded, and a golden bell rang throughout Kunlun, awakening the cultivators who had been listening to the teachings.
"We thank the Three Pure Ones for the grace of imparting the Dao!"
Together with the other cultivators, Cihang kowtowed to the Sanqing seated above.
"Rise.
"We studied under the Dao Ancestor at Zixiao Palace and inherited the Great Dao of the Profound Sect.
"Today, we have preached to you so that the teachings of the Profound Sect may spread throughout the primordial world. You must cultivate diligently in the future and carry on the lineage of the Profound Sect!"
Laozi's voice rose and fell without emotion, yet it was filled with authority, leaving no room for rebuttal.
"We shall heed the Venerable's teachings!"
The crowd bowed again in gratitude.
After speaking, Laozi closed his eyes once more to cultivate quietly, utterly indifferent to everything outside.
Seeing this, Yuanshi understood that Laozi had no intention of accepting disciples. Or rather, none of these cultivators had caught his eye.
Knowing how demanding Laozi's standards for disciples were, he did not press the matter.
"All of you who passed through the grand formation possess exceptional temperament and perseverance.
"When the Dao Ancestor preached at Zixiao Palace, he taught three thousand listeners. Today, I too shall accept several of you as disciples and pass down my Great Dao!"
"We thank the Venerable! We beg the Venerable to show us favor!"
The cultivators kowtowed excitedly, their gazes toward Yuanshi burning with anticipation.
So it had come after all, Cihang thought.
Was Yuanshi good to his disciples? Naturally—but only to those disciples he cared about.
"Guangchengzi, Juliusun, Yuding, Taiyi, Manjusri..."
Listening to those familiar names and watching old acquaintances step forward excitedly to become disciples, Cihang felt an unprecedented calm.
Though Yuanshi had yet to attain the Dao, he was a Sage personally designated by Hongjun. His attainment of the Dao was merely a matter of time.
Naturally, no one would refuse to take Yuanshi as their master. They were all ecstatic at the chance to do so.
"Cihang, are you willing to take me as your master and inherit my Great Dao of Jade Purity?"
Yuanshi's imposing gaze fell upon Cihang.
Yet unlike the others, Cihang was calm and composed, both outwardly and inwardly.
This made everyone regard him more highly.
"Cihang greets the Venerable. Thank you, Venerable, for thinking highly of me, but Cihang's aptitude is ordinary and insufficient to inherit the Venerable's Great Dao!"
The moment Cihang spoke, everyone cried out inwardly and stared at him in astonishment.
What was he doing? Did he know what he was refusing?
Had he gone mad?
This was Venerable Yuanshi, a future Sage.
And he had actually refused?
Even Laozi, who never let anything linger in his heart, opened his eyes and looked at Cihang impassively.
A glint flashed through Tongtian's eyes as well.
Everyone watched Cihang, who had dared refuse Yuanshi.
"Hm? Are you certain?"
Even Yuanshi's expressionless face changed.
The pressure he casually released made it difficult for Cihang even to speak. His body swayed, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.
"Thank you for your favor, Venerable, but Cihang believes his aptitude and comprehension are lacking. I would only disgrace your kind intentions!"
Bearing the immense pressure, Cihang firmly refused Yuanshi once again.
"If that is so, then leave!"
With a sweep of Yuanshi's sleeve, boundless mana surged straight toward Cihang.
Cihang's expression changed. The overwhelming pressure nearly suffocated him.
He immediately circulated all his mana and summoned the Glazed Pure Vase, which streaked forth with a divine radiance to protect him.
The Willow Branch also scattered streams of life force, replenishing Cihang's rapidly depleting mana.
He had anticipated that this would offend Yuanshi, but he had not expected Yuanshi to attack at once.
After being master and disciple for hundreds of millions of years, he still had not understood Yuanshi well enough.
Even after bringing forth his spirit treasure, Cihang still found it difficult to withstand that terrifying pressure. The Body Protection Divine Light formed by the Glazed Pure Vase was rapidly fading.
"Senior Brother, why spoil your mood over a mere junior?"
Just as Cihang's defenses shattered, a streak of azure light shot over and sent him directly out of Kunlun.
At the final moment, Cihang saw the Sanqing's indifferent expressions, as well as the mockery and disdain of those who had once been his fellow disciples.
"Very well. Today's preaching ends here. If you are willing, you may remain in Kunlun to cultivate and become outer disciples of Kunlun!"
Because of Cihang, the Sanqing no longer had the mood to continue accepting disciples. They simply made the remaining cultivators outer disciples.
"We thank Master! Thank you, Master, for taking us in and imparting the Dao!"
The crowd bowed again in excitement.
Even as outer disciples, no one would refuse.
Perhaps only Cihang would refuse a future Sage.
"You were rather kind. Do you intend to take him into your school?"
After all the disciples had left, Yuanshi finally looked at Tongtian with displeasure in his voice.
"If there is no affinity, then letting him leave is enough. Why should Senior Brother care about a mere Mystic Immortal?"
Tongtian had no other intentions. He had merely been surprised that Cihang dared refuse Yuanshi, so he had helped him once.
Beyond that, there was truly nothing more.
At this time, although the Sanqing's Daos conflicted, they still maintained their brotherly bond.
"I originally saw that Cihang possessed some aptitude and fortune, and intended to accept him as a disciple. I never expected him to be so ungrateful.
"Since he looks down on my Great Dao of Jade Purity, he is unqualified to listen to my teachings!"
Though Cihang had spoken humbly, Yuanshi still felt that his dignity had been diminished.
He had only intended to accept Cihang because his deductions revealed a master-disciple affinity between them. He had not truly cared much about him otherwise.
"Since he has taken one of your attacks, let this matter end here.
"It is just as well that he did not become your disciple. Though Cihang has some aptitude and fortune, he carries a trace of Karma from a Chaos Demon God. It would be best for us not to become entangled with it!
"Now that Teacher has merged with the Dao, we must focus on attaining the Dao. We must not fall behind the West or Nuwa!"
With a single word, Laozi settled the matter.
Yuanshi and Tongtian did not argue further. They each closed their eyes and contemplated the principles of the Heavenly Dao, hoping to attain the Dao and become Sages as soon as possible.
Puh!
Outside Kunlun Mountain, Cihang appeared out of thin air. Before he could steady himself, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Cihang thanks Venerable Lingbao for coming to my aid!"
Only after a long while did Cihang calm his turbulent breath. He bowed toward Kunlun, then left while dragging his severely injured body away.
Cihang could sense that Yuanshi's earlier attack had not taken his life, but it had damaged his foundation, leaving him no possibility of further cultivation or advancement.
Had Tongtian not intervened at the end, his path of cultivation would have been severed before it had even begun.
Though he was seriously injured now, there was still hope of recovery.
But perhaps this was for the best. As Yuanshi had said, after taking that palm strike, the Karma between them had been completely erased.
As for the humiliation and calamity Yuanshi had brought him, he would remember them. But this was not the time to settle them.
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