Chapter 13

Tai Cang's eyes gleamed as he immediately understood the era he was in. Once the Ten Golden Crows came of age, they would inevitably leave the Sun Star for Tanggu Valley.

That would then set off a series of events: the Ten Golden Crows burning heaven and boiling the seas, Kuafu Chasing the Sun, Houyi Shooting the Suns, and more.

Tai Cang, let us go as well.

Tongtian sighed softly and waved for everyone to set out. At this point, even a Saint was powerless to alter the karma between Tai Cang and the Ten Golden Crows.

Tai Cang suppressed his thoughts and gathered the heavenly treasures scattered across the ground before leaving with Tongtian, Zhao Gongming, and the others.

Since the outcome could not be changed, he would take these treasures as compensation. He knew full well that the Ten Golden Crows were doomed, but since he had already formed ties with the Demon Race, he naturally had to seek the greatest possible benefit before the Demon Race declined.

Kunlun Mountain Peak.

After returning, Tongtian immediately dismissed everyone and went alone to find Laozi, carrying the Sun Moon Essence to treat Duobao.

Junior Brother Tai Cang!

Once Tongtian had left, Zhao Gongming and San Xiao gathered around him. "Now that you have emerged from seclusion, it is time to fulfill our agreement to discuss the Dao."

The four of them looked at him eagerly. Although they had reached peak Golden Immortal and passed the Three Calamities, their comprehension of the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art had not advanced at all.

Of course.

Tai Cang readily agreed. Though he was anxious to condense the Supreme Five Qi, discussing Dao with San Xiao and the others would not delay him for long. More importantly, he and Zhao Gongming's group were close friends who treated one another sincerely.

Wonderful!

Qiongxiao skipped forward and grabbed Tai Cang's arm. "Then let's go now!" With that, she tried to drag him away.

Little Sister, do not be rude!

Zhao Gongming, Yunxiao, and Bixiao rebuked her in unison, though they only said so with their mouths while their feet were already moving after her.

Senior Brothers, please wait!

Wudang, Guiling, and Jinling, the three female immortals, approached gracefully and bowed. "We heard that you are going to discuss the Dao with Junior Brother Tai Cang. May we join as well?"

This...

Zhao Gongming and San Xiao showed hesitation. Though they were on good terms with the three women, this discussion of Dao was truly meant to seek Tai Cang's guidance, so they found it difficult to decide at once.

After exchanging glances, Zhao Gongming looked to Tai Cang. "What does Junior Brother think?"

Then come along.

Tai Cang calmly agreed.

Tai Cang glanced at Wudang and the other two, his brows faintly furrowing, yet he did not refuse.

He had already agreed to discuss the Dao with Zhao Gongming and San Xiao, so adding three more people made little difference. Yet toward Wudang and the others, his demeanor remained detached.

Back when he had argued with Duobao, the three women had not helped Duobao, but neither had they helped him. They had merely watched coldly from the sidelines. Now that they had taken the initiative to show goodwill, Tai Cang felt no stir in his heart.

Excellent.

Zhao Gongming and San Xiao exchanged smiles before turning to Wudang's group. "Then the three Junior Sisters may come with us." They then cupped their hands toward Tai Cang. "Junior Brother Tai Cang, please."

The group headed straight for San Xiao's residence. By coincidence, their Butterfly Valley was not far from Tai Cang's dwelling. Wooden houses were scattered throughout the valley, flowers bloomed in brilliant profusion, and colorful butterflies danced through the air.

What does Junior Brother think of this place? Qiongxiao asked as she leaned closer.

Splendid. Tai Cang nodded. "The spiritual energy is abundant, and the scenery is pleasant. The three Senior Sisters have fine taste."

Qiongxiao beamed at his words, while Yunxiao and Bixiao also revealed pleased expressions. They had carefully arranged Butterfly Valley themselves, so naturally they were delighted to receive Tai Cang's praise.

Zhao Gongming gave a light cough. "Junior Brother, let us begin. We have been stuck at the sixth level of the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art for many years. We hope Junior Brother can guide us."

His expression was earnest. After the events on the Sun Star, everyone had felt their cultivation to be lacking. Since they could not break into the Grand Unity realm, they could only start with the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art.

The Upper Clarity Tongtian Art! Wudang and the other two cried out in surprise, their gazes blazing as they looked at Tai Cang. They had originally come only to befriend him, but now they understood the value of this discussion.

Tai Cang agreed without hesitation. The thousand-year deadline was approaching. Even if he defeated the Golden Crow Prince, he still did not dare underestimate the talented disciples of the Three Teachings. He needed to condense the Supreme Five Qi as soon as possible, complete the system mission, and obtain more max-level permissions.

This art has twelve levels, but I have only comprehended nine. Tai Cang said seriously, "I shall now share my insights with you all. I hope they will be of some help."

Tai Cang said no more and immediately began explaining the essence of the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art.

The wooden house fell silent, with only Tai Cang's voice echoing within. As his explanations grew deeper, Zhao Gongming, San Xiao, Wudang, and the other two women all gained insights and sat cross-legged, circulating their cultivation to compare and verify what they had learned.

Before long, Tai Cang had imparted all the key principles of the first nine levels. However, with Wudang's group present, he did not reveal everything and only disclosed the contents of the final three levels.

After all, they were merely casual acquaintances. Holding nothing back would not only bring him no benefit, but might instead arm future enemies. Moreover, Wudang and the other two had leaned more toward Duobao than toward him, Zhao Gongming, and San Xiao back then.

"Break!"

A clear cry rang out as Yunxiao's mana surged around her. The Upper Clarity Tongtian Art broke through to the eighth level. Bixiao and Qiongxiao followed closely behind, advancing in succession. Zhao Gongming and Wudang's group, however, remained unmoved.

The time has come.

Tai Cang's gaze flickered as he rose and cupped his hands. "Three Senior Sisters, the discussion of Dao has ended. This Junior Brother shall take his leave first."

With matters here settled, he needed to return quickly and cultivate the Supreme Five Qi. With what he had obtained from the Sun Star, condensing the Five Qi would not be difficult. Once he succeeded, he would be confident in challenging the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, winning first place in the Three Teachings' discussion of Dao, completing the system mission, and gaining more max-level permissions.

All right.

Yunxiao opened her eyes and gave Tai Cang a complicated look. "Junior Brother Tai Cang, forgive us for not seeing you off. Once Eldest Brother recovers, we will certainly visit you to express our thanks."

It was not that she was arrogant. The three of them truly needed to continue comprehending the art. With Tai Cang's guidance, they wanted to push through in one effort and break through to the ninth level.

I shall await the good news.

Understanding her meaning, Tai Cang smiled faintly, cupped his hands in farewell, then rode the clouds away and returned directly to his residence.

At last, I am back.

After landing and entering the courtyard, Tai Cang waved his hand and set up a barrier, cutting off all outside disturbances. Then he said without hesitation, "System, raise the Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body to max level."

"Ding! One max-level permission consumed. The Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body has reached max level!"

In an instant, agonizing pain swept through his entire body.

The max-level Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body began operating. His blood, meridians, bones, and internal organs all trembled along with it. At first, the soreness and numbness felt like countless ants crawling over him.

Then the sound of bones and sinews breaking suddenly rang out, followed by a wave of heart-rending pain.

"Ugh—ah—"

Tai Cang let out a muffled groan, gritting his teeth as veins bulged across his fists. He forcibly endured the pain of tempering his body. Every breath felt as long as a year, with destruction and rebirth endlessly intertwining within his flesh.

Time passed, though he had no idea how long. Then the sound of shattering bones suddenly stopped.

Tai Cang's body shook as the bone-tempering stage finally ended. He let out a long breath, clearly sensing that the strength of his physical body was now comparable to a postnatal or innate spiritual treasure.

Yet before he could fully relax, the qi and blood within him suddenly churned and boiled.

This is... Tai Cang's pupils contracted, and a trace of shock flashed through his eyes. "Blood-tempering! It has actually entered the third stage directly!"

He did not dare be careless. He immediately sat cross-legged and focused all his attention on observing the changes in his body. According to the Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body's records, the third stage was crucial. It would repeatedly temper all the blood in his body.

After being purified again and again, his blood could even alter his innate foundation and aptitude.

Tai Cang had originally been nothing more than a stubborn stone. Though he had become an innate deity after obtaining the Qi of Creation Merit and Canghuang Qi, he was only at the lowest level.

The cultivation world's innate foundation rankings were: mortal body, innate body, low-grade innate deity, mid-grade innate deity, high-grade innate deity, peak innate deity, innate demon god, and peak innate demon god. The stronger one's innate foundation, the greater one's potential. If Tai Cang had not voluntarily taken Tongtian as his master back then, the Three Pure Ones would never have noticed someone with such a lowly foundation.

As time passed, the Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body continued to operate, and Tai Cang's blood was refined more than ten times.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed beside his ears, as though some kind of shackle had shattered. Tai Cang clearly felt his mana surge more than tenfold, while his innate foundation advanced to that of a mid-grade innate deity.

Success! Tai Cang's lips curled upward, unable to hide his excitement. The Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body could truly improve one's innate foundation!

This discovery made his heart pound. If I remain in the third stage and make use of its automatic operation to continuously temper my blood, would I not be able to keep improving my innate foundation?

The bold thought made his breathing quicken. If it truly worked, he might even be able to raise his innate foundation to that of a peak innate deity comparable to the great powers of the primordial world, or even to the level of innate demon gods like the Three Pure Ones!

It was worth trying! Tai Cang calmed his emotions and focused again.

The max-level Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body operated on its own. Not only was there no obstruction whatsoever, but its speed even increased by several degrees. It really worked! Tai Cang was ecstatic and immediately ended his cultivation, rising to his feet.

He stretched his limbs inside the wooden house. After confirming that the Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body had become instinctive and was operating without error, he finally burst into laughter. "Hahaha... This art is not only astonishingly powerful, it has also given me a chance to defy fate and change my destiny. I must seize it firmly rather than rush to break through to the next stage."

After a long while, Tai Cang regained his calm. With a wave of his hand, the heavenly treasures he had brought back from the Sun Star filled the room. He separately took out the Sun Moon Essence and the Five Elements spiritual items, then stored the remaining treasures back in his Qiankun Bag.

Looking at the room full of spiritual items, he revealed a satisfied smile. "Supreme Five Qi!"

I will surely achieve this wish!

Having made up his mind, Tai Cang no longer hesitated. He immediately sat cross-legged and circulated the Supreme Five Qi Art, beginning to absorb the Sun Moon Essence between heaven and earth. As the art operated, vast amounts of Sun Moon Essence poured into his body like a tide, nourishing his primordial spirit and sea of consciousness as the mana around him rose at an astonishing rate.

By the time the final trace of Sun Moon Essence was refined, Tai Cang's mana had increased dozens of times. Though he still remained at the peak Golden Immortal realm, the depth of his mana was already comparable to that of an early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivator.

This art truly is wondrous!

The Supreme Five Qi Art truly seizes the creation of heaven and earth!

Tai Cang's eyes gleamed as he eagerly took out all the metal-element spiritual items. Forming hand seals, he caused a vortex to appear in the spiritual aperture between his brows, drawing every metal-element spiritual item into his body.

Driven by the Supreme Five Qi Art, those spiritual items transformed into pure gold qi, continuously tempering the origin gold qi within him.

Thunderous rumbles rang out without end. As metal spiritual qi continued pouring into him, his origin gold qi gradually transformed into Supreme Gold Qi. Tai Cang's aura surged along with it, and when the final trace of gold qi completed its transformation, he suddenly opened his eyes.

My mana has actually increased tenfold!

If I can transform all four remaining qi, would it not increase another fortyfold?

Feeling the surging flood of mana within his body, Tai Cang's breathing became hurried, his eyes filled with blazing excitement. If he completed the transformation of all Five Qi, he would possess fifty times the mana of an ordinary Golden Immortal. Among those of the same realm, he could crush his enemies with mana alone.

Just as Tai Cang was preparing to continue transforming water spiritual qi, an explosive roar suddenly rang out:

Tai Cang, come out and die!

Accompanied by an earth-shaking blast, the barrier protecting the wooden house shattered instantly. The entire house collapsed with a thunderous crash. Amid the rising dust, Daoist Duobao stood in the air, radiating the terrifying pressure of an early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

The sound of air tearing rang out one after another as Zhao Gongming, the San Xiao fairies, Saint Mother Wudang, and other Jie Sect direct disciples hurried over. Seeing the wooden house reduced to ruins, everyone revealed furious expressions.

Senior Brother Duo Bao, what do you mean by this?

If Junior Brother Tai Cang had not defeated the Golden Crow Prince, how could Senior Brother have recovered?

Duobao's expression darkened further upon hearing that. It was precisely this debt of gratitude that he found most unbearable. If Tai Cang had not delayed the timing back then, how could he have forcibly crossed the tribulation and caused his Golden Immortal Dao Fruit to shatter? Even though his injuries had now healed and he had advanced to Grand Unity, his Three Flowers Dao Fruit would remain forever incomplete.

What do you know!

Duobao glared at the group and shouted harshly, "If not for this man's delay, how could I have lost my Golden Immortal Dao Fruit!"

"I have already heard of the matter. He had already succeeded after defeating Lu Ya, yet he insisted on continuing to fight the Golden Crow Prince. Afterward, he even shamelessly fawned over him, delaying his return by more than ten years."