Chapter 1

Kunlun Mountain Peak!

"Finally, we've arrived!"

"The trial is finally over."

"..."

Before the Three Pure Ones Hall, dozens of cultivators had gathered, unable to hide their wild delight as they talked among themselves.

The Three Pure Ones Sages were openly accepting disciples. Having endured countless hardships to pass the trial, they were about to enter the Saints' sects and cast off their status as wandering cultivators forever.

"System, can I really only choose Tongtian?"

At the edge of the crowd, Tai Cang stood alone in a secluded spot, silently communicating with the system, resistance written across his brow.

He was a visitor from another world.

Not long ago, he had obtained the standard cheat ability of a transmigrator, yet he needed to join the Jie Sect to activate the system. It left him caught between a rock and a hard place.

The Tribulation of Witch and Demon was approaching, with the Kill Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods following close behind.

Tai Cang, who knew the great trends of the primordial world, understood clearly that the Jie Sect would suffer either death or injury, with only Saint Mother Wudang managing to preserve herself. Even Daoist Duobao, the foremost direct disciple, would ultimately betray the sect and enter Buddhism, becoming Tathagata. Taking Tongtian as his master was no different from seeking death.

"Ding! Only by taking Tongtian as his master can the host activate this system."

The mechanical voice echoed in his mind, and helplessness flashed through Tai Cang's eyes.

Forget it!

At worst, he would leave the Jie Sect before the Investiture of the Gods.

Having made up his mind, Tai Cang calmed himself and quietly awaited his opportunity.

"Guangchengzi, Taiyi, Yuding, Chijingzi, Cihang, Samantabhadra, Lingbao, Huanglong, Qingxu, Manjushri, Juliusun, Daoxing, are you willing to join my Chan Sect?"

The majestic voice of Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning suddenly rang out.

"Thank you, Master, for your grace!"

The Twelve Golden Immortals were overjoyed. They stepped forward one after another to bow, then hurried behind Yuan Shi. Had the Saints not been present, they would likely have already cheered in celebration.

The sight filled everyone with envy.

Those who longed to join the Chan Sect stared intently at Yuan Shi, only to see that the Saint had nothing more to say. He turned to Tongtian instead. "Third Brother, it is your turn."

"Good."

Sect Master Tongtian stepped forward and declared to the countless burning gazes, "Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Wudang, Yunxiao, Bixiao, Qiongxiao, Guiling, Jinling—you shall be my direct disciples."

"Greetings, Master!"

Eight figures stepped forward at once and respectfully kowtowed.

Tai Cang's pupils constricted sharply.

His name was not on the list!

Seeing that Tongtian seemed ready to finish accepting disciples, he could no longer hold himself back. He suddenly stepped out from the crowd and bowed deeply. "I beg the Saint to accept me as a disciple!"

Duobao and the others turned back in astonishment.

The watching cultivators either mocked or pitied him—Saints chose disciples according to heaven's will. Was forcing the matter not simply courting disaster?

Tongtian's gaze shifted slightly as he said calmly, "The bond of master and disciple between us is shallow. If you enter the Jie Sect, you may only become an inner disciple."

In the primordial world, the karmic bond of master and disciple was held in the highest regard.

Sect Master Tongtian's disciples were divided into three ranks: direct disciples, inner disciples, and nominal disciples.

Direct disciples could receive their master's personal guidance and be taught the true essence of the Great Dao.

Though inner disciples were protected by the Saint, they found it difficult to receive the Saint's personal instruction. They could only receive teachings from the Jie Sect and comprehend them on their own, with success or failure depending entirely on their own fortune.

"I am willing to enter as an inner disciple!"

Tai Cang did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately bowed. "Tai Cang greets Master!"

What did it matter if he was merely an inner disciple?

He had joined Tongtian's sect solely to activate the system.

Now that he had achieved his goal, he could accept being an inner disciple, a nominal disciple, or even a menial servant.

"So be it."

Tongtian sighed softly, his gaze sweeping across Tai Cang. "From this day onward, you are an inner disciple of my Jie Sect."

"Ding! Apprenticeship successful. System activated!"

"Ding! One-Click Max Level System activated. Host has received first max-level authorization!"

It worked!

Joy flashed through Tai Cang's eyes, and he bowed to Tongtian once more. "Thank you, Master!"

He did not rush to inspect the system. Instead, he retreated behind Tongtian, cupped his hands toward Duobao and the others in greeting, then stood quietly and waited.

Laozi and Yuan Shi, the other two Saints, were still here. If he rashly studied the system, something unexpected might happen.

"He actually succeeded?"

The watching cultivators were dumbfounded.

Though he was not a direct disciple, the identity of a Saint's disciple alone was enough to make everyone envious.

In an instant, the crowd stirred as countless cultivators scrambled to kneel.

"Please, Saint, accept me as your disciple!"

"I am willing to follow the Saint!"

Tongtian ignored them now. Turning to Laozi and Yuan Shi, he said, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I have finished accepting disciples."

Laozi nodded. With a casual wave of his sleeve, he sent the dozens of cultivators out of Kunlun. "You have no affinity with us Three Pure Ones. Disperse."

He then said to his two junior brothers, "A thousand years from now, we shall hold a Dao Discussion Assembly. All three sects may participate, and the champion shall receive a reward. What do you think?"

"Good."

"We shall follow Eldest Brother's arrangements."

Yuan Shi and Tongtian agreed in turn. As masters, they too wished to witness the cultivation results of their disciples.

After Laozi departed, Yuan Shi and Tongtian each summoned their disciples.

"Chan Sect disciples, return to the palace with me!"

"Jie Sect disciples, take your places at once!"

Tai Cang followed the others into the Upper Clarity Palace. Tongtian sat high upon a cloud bed, while Duobao and the other direct disciples stood before the hall. As an inner disciple, Tai Cang consciously took his place behind Duobao.

"Since you have entered the Jie Sect, you must abide by its rules."

Tongtian announced solemnly, "You must not slaughter fellow disciples, betray your master or destroy your ancestors' teachings, bully the weak with strength, or recklessly create killing karma..."

As Tongtian spoke, Duobao and the others wore grave expressions, engraving his teachings deep in their hearts.

Tai Cang reflected silently and finally understood why the Three Pure Ones had not accepted those cultivators who had passed the trial. Those people were shrouded in baleful aura, clearly burdened by far too many sins. How could such people enter the eyes of Saints?

Tai Cang, in contrast, had a shallow foundation but was clean and unblemished, untouched by the karmic consequences of slaughter. Tongtian had been willing to accept him precisely because of this. Realizing this, Tai Cang felt even more grateful toward Tongtian. Had his master not made an exception, he would have had to wait for the next group to become a disciple.

"Do you remember all of this?" Tongtian stopped speaking and swept his imposing gaze across the crowd.

Duobao and the others hurriedly answered, "We shall remember Master's teachings."

Tongtian nodded slightly. "Very good. Today, I shall impart to you the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art. I created it after attaining the Dao, and it points directly toward the Great Dao of the Quasi-Saint." With a wave of his sleeve, he transmitted the art into everyone's sea of consciousness.

Tongtian then looked at Tai Cang. "You may withdraw for now. Though I have bestowed the art upon you, I will not guide you as I guide my direct disciples." This both displayed the distinction between closeness and distance and encouraged Duobao and the others to cherish their status as direct disciples.

Tai Cang understood. He respectfully bowed and took his leave. Receiving the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art was already an unexpected delight, and he was even more eager now to investigate the mysteries of the system. After leaving the Upper Clarity Palace, he rode a cloud in search of a place to live.

When he reached a waterfall at the back of Kunlun, he found emerald bamboo surrounding the area and clear springs murmuring nearby. Tai Cang was quite satisfied. Channeling his mana, he built an elegant bamboo house in moments.

Upon entering the house, Tai Cang could not wait to ask, "System, what functions do you have?"

"Ding! This system can help the host cultivate techniques and divine abilities to perfection with a single click. Each completed task grants one opportunity to reach max level."

Upon hearing this, Tai Cang was overjoyed. Even for the same technique, the difference in power between perfection and beginner proficiency was like heaven and earth. This cheat ability truly had endless uses!

A thought struck Tai Cang, and he immediately said, "System, raise the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art to its highest level!"

"Ding! Upgrade failed. The host has not yet learned this technique."

"Ah?"

Tai Cang froze for a moment, embarrassment appearing on his face.

Only then did he remember that although he had received the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art, he had not begun cultivating it yet.

Without wasting any more time, Tai Cang immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art.

As the technique operated, his blood and qi surged throughout his body. The mana within him gradually transformed into Upper Clarity qi, and his cultivation showed clear signs of growth.

"Ding! Upper Clarity Tongtian Art cultivation complete!"

The system's notification sounded, announcing that Tai Cang had successfully mastered the technique.

"Excellent!"

Tai Cang smiled and immediately said, "System, raise the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art to max level now."

"Ding! One authorization consumed. Upper Clarity Tongtian Art has been raised to max level!"

In an instant, Tai Cang's body trembled.

After the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art reached its peak, the Upper Clarity qi within him became hundreds of times purer, and the circulation of the technique became incomparably smooth.

Even more miraculously, the technique began to operate on its own, continuously increasing his cultivation without needing Tai Cang's control.

"Buzz—"

A clear hum rang out.

Tai Cang's aura surged explosively, and his cultivation broke through to early Golden Immortal.

Under the effects of the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art, his cultivation continued to rise steadily, on the verge of touching the threshold of middle Golden Immortal.

"I broke through."

"Though I am only an early Golden Immortal, the strength of my mana is enough to rival a late Golden Immortal."

Opening his eyes and sensing the power of the max-level technique, Tai Cang could not help laughing heartily.

This technique could cultivate itself automatically, meaning that unlike other cultivators, he would not need to cultivate bitterly for his strength to keep increasing.

Thinking of this, Tai Cang immediately asked, "System, are there any tasks I can take now?"

Having experienced the power of a max-level technique, he was impatient to improve his other abilities.

Even ordinary sword arts or spells could rival divine abilities once raised to max level.

"Ding! Task One: Take first place in the Three Sects Competition. Reward: one max-level authorization."

"Ding! Task Two: Defeat all Jie Sect direct disciples. Reward: one max-level authorization."

"Ding! Task Three: Defeat all Chan Sect direct disciples. Reward: one max-level authorization."

"Ding! Task Four: Defeat all Human Sect direct disciples. Reward: one max-level authorization."

The system had issued four tasks in a row.

But all of them were far too difficult for the current Tai Cang.

The Three Sects Competition would not take place for another thousand years.

Defeating the direct disciples of all three sects was even more distant.

Although he was already a Golden Immortal and could contend against late Golden Immortals, the direct disciples of the three sects were basically peak Golden Immortals or even at Great Perfection.

Moreover, Duobao, Guangchengzi, and the others already possessed their own combat methods before becoming disciples. Defeating them would be no easy feat.

"System, are there any easier tasks?"

Tai Cang asked helplessly.

"Ding! New task triggered: [Repel the Enemy]. Reward upon completion: one max-level authorization."

Repel the enemy?

What kind of task was that?

As Tai Cang was wondering, a voice suddenly came from outside.

"May I ask which fellow Daoist is cultivating here?"

Outside the bamboo house, Cihang stood in the air atop an auspicious cloud.

Cihang! Tai Cang's gaze flickered, and he instantly saw through the other's intentions—he had come to seize this spiritual land.

Trying to take my territory? Tai Cang sneered inwardly and strode out of the bamboo house. The wooden door creaked as he cupped his hands toward the sky. "Jie Sect's Tai Cang greets Senior Brother."

"So it is you." Contempt flashed through Cihang's eyes. How could a mere inner disciple be worthy of contending with him?

"This place has affinity with me. Junior Brother, would you be willing to yield it?"

Tai Cang scoffed. "Senior Brother jests. This place should naturally have affinity with me."

"Presumptuous!" Cihang flew into a rage, and the pressure of a late Golden Immortal erupted. "Do not bring ruin upon yourself!"

Sensing the other's cultivation, Tai Cang shot into the air as Golden Immortal mana surged around him. "What if I refuse? Why not settle it with a spar?"

Cihang formed a hand seal, gathering thunder as Primordial Clarity Divine Thunder danced in his palm.

"Wait!" Tai Cang's eyes gleamed. "If Senior Brother loses, you must give me the Primordial Clarity Divine Thunder."

Cihang froze, then laughed. "You do not even know the Upper Clarity Divine Thunder?" The words had barely left his mouth before he realized his slip, but he immediately agreed. "Fine!"