The First Chapter

On the peak of Kunlun Mountains!

"Finally arrived!"

"The trial is finally over."

"..."

In front of the Three Pure Ones Hall, dozens of cultivators gathered, their faces unable to hide their elation amidst their discussions.

The Three Pure Ones Sages were publicly accepting disciples. They had endured hardships and passed the trials, and were now about to join the ranks of the Sages, thus shedding their identities as rogue cultivators.

"System, can I really only choose Tongtian?"

At the edge of the crowd, Tai Cang stood alone in a secluded spot, communicating with the System in secret, a hint of resistance in his brows.

He was an outsider from another world.

Not long ago, he had obtained the standard golden finger for transmigrators, but he needed to join the Intercepting Sect to activate the System, which put him in a difficult position.

The Tribulation of Witch and Demon was imminent, followed closely by the Kill Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods.

Having some knowledge of the Primordial World's major events, Tai Cang knew that the Intercepting Sect would be either destroyed or severely injured, with only Saint Mother Wudang surviving. Even its first direct disciple, Daoist Duobao, would eventually betray the sect and become Tathagata. To apprentice under Tongtian would be no different from seeking his own death.

"Ding! Host can only activate this System by apprenticing under Tongtian."

A mechanical voice echoed in his mind. A hint of helplessness flashed in Tai Cang's eyes.

Forget it!

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

Having made up his mind, Tai Cang calmed his emotions and waited for his opportunity.

"Guangchengzi, Taiyi, Yuding, Chijingzi, Cihang, Samantabhadra, Lingbao, Huanglong, Qingxu, Manjushri, Kalishun, Daoxing, do you wish to join my Heavenly Origin Sect?"

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

"We thank our master for his grace!"

The Twelve Golden Immortals were overjoyed and stepped forward one after another to bow, quickly moving behind Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning. If the Sages were not present, they would have surely cheered with delight.

This scene drew envious glances from the crowd.

Those who yearned to join the Heavenly Origin Sect stared intently at Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning, but seeing that the Sage had no further intention, he turned to Tongtian and said, "Third Brother, it's your turn."

"Good."

Sect Master Tongtian stepped forward, facing the myriad of fervent gazes, and announced loudly, "Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Wudang, Yunxiao, Bixiao, Qiongxiao, Guiling, Jinling, you shall be my direct disciples."

"We pay our respects to Master!"

Eight figures stepped forward in response, bowing respectfully.

Tai Cang's pupils constricted.

His name was not on the list!

Seeing that Tongtian was about to conclude his disciple selection, he could no longer hold back. He suddenly stepped out of the ranks, bowed deeply, and said, "I implore the Sage to accept me as a disciple!"

Duobao and the others turned back in astonishment.

The surrounding cultivators either mocked or pitied him—the Sages choose their disciples according to destiny; wouldn't such forceful seeking bring disaster upon oneself?

Tongtian's gaze shifted slightly, and he said calmly, "Our master-disciple karma is shallow. If you join the Intercepting Sect, you can only be an inner disciple."

In the Primordial World, lineage and karma were paramount.

Under Sect Master Tongtian, disciples were divided into three categories: direct disciples, inner disciples, and registered disciples.

Direct disciples received personal guidance from their master and were taught the true essence of the Great Dao.

Inner disciples, though protected by the Sage, could hardly receive personal instruction from him. They could only receive the Intercepting Sect's cultivation resources to study on their own, with their success depending entirely on their own fortune.

"I am willing to be an inner disciple!"

Tai Cang didn't hesitate, immediately bowing and saying, "Tai Cang, pays his respects to Master!"

What if he was an inner disciple?

He had only apprenticed under Tongtian to activate the System.

Since his goal had been achieved, let alone an inner disciple, he could even accept being a registered disciple or a menial disciple.

"Very well."

Tongtian sighed lightly, his gaze sweeping over Tai Cang. "From this day forward, you shall be an inner disciple of my Intercepting Sect."

"Ding! Apprenticeship successful, System activated!"

"Ding! One-click Max Level System enabled, Host receives first Max Level privilege!"

It worked!

A look of joy flashed in Tai Cang's eyes. He bowed to Tongtian again, "Thank you, Master!"

He did not rush to check the System, but retreated behind Tongtian, cupped his hands in greeting to Duobao and the others, and then stood quietly waiting.

With Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning and Laozi, two other Sages, still present, rashly examining the System might lead to unforeseen consequences.

"He actually succeeded?"

The surrounding cultivators were dumbfounded.

Though not a direct disciple, the status of a Sage's disciple was already enough to make everyone envious.

In an instant, the crowd surged, and countless cultivators scrambled to their knees:

"Please take me as your disciple, Sage!"

"I am willing to follow the Sage!"

Tongtian ignored them and turned to Laozi and Yuanshi, saying, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I have finished accepting disciples."

Laozi nodded, and with a wave of his sleeve, he sent dozens of cultivators out of Kunlun. "You have no destiny with my Three Pure Ones. Disperse."

He then said to his two junior brothers, "In a thousand years, we shall hold a Dao discussion assembly. All Three Sects may participate. The champion will receive a reward. What do you say?"

"Good."

"As you command, Brother."

Yuanshi and Tongtian agreed successively. As elders, they both wished to witness the cultivation progress of their disciples.

After Laozi departed, Yuanshi and Tongtian each summoned their disciples:

"Heavenly Origin Sect, return to the palace with me!"

"Intercepting Sect disciples, return to your positions quickly!"

Tai Cang followed the crowd into the Upper Clarity Palace. He saw Tongtian seated on a cloud bed, with Duobao and other direct disciples arrayed before the hall. As an inner disciple, he felt he stood behind Duobao.

"Now that you have joined the Intercepting Sect, you must abide by the sect rules."

Tongtian declared solemnly, "You shall not harm fellow disciples, nor betray your master and ancestors. You shall not bully the weak with your strength, nor create unnecessary bloodshed..."

As Tongtian spoke, Duobao and the others listened with solemn expressions, engraving his teachings in their hearts.

Tai Cang pondered inwardly, finally understanding why the Three Pure Ones had not accepted those cultivators who passed the test. It was because those people were surrounded by auras of malevolence, clearly having committed too many sins. How could such individuals enter the Sage's dharma eye?

In contrast, Tai Cang, despite his shallow foundation, was pure and untainted by the karma of bloodshed. Tongtian's willingness to accept him as a disciple was precisely because of this. Understanding this, Tai Cang felt even more grateful to Tongtian. If not for his master making an exception, with his status as an outer disciple, he should have had to wait for the next batch to formally become a disciple.

"Have you all remembered?" Tongtian stopped lecturing and swept his gaze sternly across everyone.

Duobao and the others quickly responded, "We remember our master's teachings."

Tongtian nodded slightly. "Very good. Today, I shall impart the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art to you all. This is an art I created after attaining enlightenment, and it can directly lead to the Grand Dao of a Quasi-Saint." With a wave of his sleeve, the art was transmitted into everyone's sea of consciousness.

Then, Tongtian looked at Tai Cang. "You may withdraw first." Although he had bestowed the art, he would not guide him as he would a direct disciple. This action both distinguished between direct and indirect disciples and served to encourage Duobao and the others to cherish their status as direct disciples.

Tai Cang understood and respectfully bowed before withdrawing. Being granted the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art was already an unexpected joy. Now, he was more eager to explore the System's mysteries. After leaving the Upper Clarity Palace, he summoned his cloud to find a place to reside.

He arrived at a waterfall behind Kunlun Mountain and, seeing the surrounding green bamboo and the babbling clear spring, Tai Cang was quite satisfied. He channeled his mana and, in a short while, built an elegant bamboo house.

Entering the house, Tai Cang eagerly asked, "System, what are your functions?"

"Ding! This System can assist the host in upgrading their divine abilities and skills to Grand Perfection with a single click. Each time a task is completed, you will receive one opportunity for a full-level upgrade."

Hearing this, Tai Cang was overjoyed. For the same skill, the power of a perfected state and a newly learned one was worlds apart. This golden finger was truly infinitely useful!

Tai Cang's heart stirred, and he immediately said, "System, upgrade the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art to its highest level for me!"

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

"Ah?"

Tai Cang was stunned for a moment, a look of embarrassment appearing on his face.

He finally remembered that although he had obtained the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art, he hadn't started cultivating it yet.

Without further delay, Tai Cang immediately sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art.

As the skill circulated, his blood and essence surged throughout his body, his internal mana gradually transformed into Upper Clarity Qi, and his cultivation showed clear signs of growth.

"Ding! Upper Clarity Tongtian Art cultivation completed!"

The System's prompt sounded, announcing Tai Cang's successful mastery of this skill.

"Great!"

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

"Ding! Consuming one authorization, the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art has been upgraded to max level!"

In an instant, Tai Cang's body trembled.

With the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art reaching its peak, the Upper Clarity Qi within him became hundreds of times purer, and its circulation became incredibly smooth.

Even more miraculously, the skill began to circulate on its own, continuously improving his cultivation without Tai Cang's control.

"Buzz--"

A clear hum sounded.

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

Under the effect of the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art, his cultivation continued to steadily increase, and he was on the verge of touching the threshold of the middle Golden Immortal stage.

"Breakthrough."

"Although I'm only at the early Golden Immortal stage, my mana intensity is enough to rival a late Golden Immortal."

Opening his eyes and feeling his max-level strength, Tai Cang couldn't help but laugh heartily.

This skill that could cultivate automatically meant he wouldn't have to cultivate arduously like other cultivators in the future, and his strength would still continuously improve.

With that thought, Tai Cang immediately asked, "System, are there any quests I can accept now?"

After experiencing the power of max-level, he was eager to improve his other abilities.

Even ordinary swordsmanship or spells, as long as they reached max-level, their power could rival divine abilities.

"Ding! Quest 1: Obtain first place in the Three Sects' competition. Reward: One max-level authority."

"Ding! Quest 2: Defeat all direct disciples of the Intercepting Sect. Reward: One max-level authority."

"Ding! Quest 3: Defeat all direct disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect. Reward: One max-level authority."

"Ding! Quest 4: Defeat all direct disciples of the Ren Sect. Reward: One max-level authority."

The System had issued four quests.

But these quests were all too difficult for Tai Cang at the moment.

The Three Sects' competition was still a thousand years away.

Defeating the direct disciples of the Three Sects was even more out of reach.

Although he was already a Golden Immortal and could contend with late Golden Immortals, the direct disciples of the Three Sects were basically all at the peak Golden Immortal or even Grand Perfection realm.

Furthermore, Daoist Duobao, Guangchengzi, and others had their own combat skills before they even became disciples, so defeating them would not be easy.

"System, are there any simpler quests?"

Tai Cang asked helplessly.

"Ding! New quest triggered [Repel the Invader]. Reward: One max-level authority upon completion."

Repel the Invader?

What kind of quest was this?

While Tai Cang was confused, a voice suddenly came from outside the bamboo house:

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

Outside the bamboo house, Cihang stood in the air, treading on auspicious clouds.

Cihang! Tai Cang's eyes flickered, and he instantly understood the other party's intention – they must be here to contend for this spiritual land.

Trying to snatch my territory? Tai Cang sneered inwardly and strode out of the bamboo house. The wooden door creaked open, and he cupped his hands towards the sky, "Intercepting Sect's Tai Cang greets Senior Brother."

So it's you. A hint of disdain flashed in Cihang's eyes. A mere inner disciple, worthy of competing with him?

This place has a connection with me. Could Junior Brother perhaps give it up?

Tai Cang scoffed, "Senior Brother is joking. This place should naturally be connected with me."

Presumptuous! Cihang was furious, and his late Golden Immortal pressure erupted. Do not bring ruin upon yourself!

Sensing the other party's cultivation, Tai Cang leaped up, his Golden Immortal mana surging: "What if I refuse? Why don't we spar to decide the victor?"

Cihang formed a hand seal, conjuring lightning, and the Primordial Clarity Divine Thunder danced in his palm.

"Wait!" Tai Cang's eyes burned, "If Senior Brother is defeated, you shall gift me your Primordial Clarity Divine Thunder."

Cihang was stunned, then chuckled, "You don't know the Upper Clarity Divine Thunder? He immediately regretted speaking, and agreed, "As you say!"