Chapter 40

Duobao and the others had brought this upon themselves, and Tongtian's actions chilled Tai Cang to the bone.

Back then, Sect Master Tongtian had supported Daoist Duobao in suppressing Tai Cang not only because he valued Duobao's talent, but also because Tai Cang was close to the Golden Crow Prince. As a Sage, Tongtian had long known that the Witch and Demon Races were destined to decline. Tai Cang's closeness to the Demon Race might implicate the Jie Sect, so Tongtian had delayed his advancement to prevent the sect from becoming entangled with the Demon Race.

Now that the situation had reversed, even Tongtian, esteemed as a Sage, still needed to seek help from the Demon Race. Thinking of Tai Cang now, did he truly see him as nothing more than a pawn to be dispatched at will?

I refuse!

Tai Cang said resolutely, "This matter has nothing to do with me. Handle the Moon Laurel Tree branch you seek yourselves."

"Farewell, fellow Daoists."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Zhao Gongming and the others hurriedly stopped him. "Tai Cang, this is the Sect Master's decree. How can you defy it?"

"Exactly!" someone else echoed. "You are a member of the Jie Sect. We overlooked your collusion with outsiders in the past, but now that the Sect Master has shown such magnanimity, how dare you act so brazenly!"

"Collusion with outsiders? Magnanimity?"

Tai Cang stopped abruptly and swept his gaze over them coldly. "Please relay this to the Supreme Clarity Sage: Tai Cang is merely an inner disciple. What do the lives and deaths of the direct disciples have to do with me? If you think I am unworthy of being a Jie Sect disciple, then expel me from the sect."

Before his words had faded, Tai Cang suddenly released his pressure. While everyone was struggling to breathe, he used the Golden Crow Transformation Rainbow Technique and flew straight toward the Grand Clarity Palace. He needed to verify the matter concerning the Queen Mother of the West with Laozi, and he also needed to seek guidance on the Supreme Three Flowers Method so that he could attain the Grand Unity sooner. After witnessing Xiao Xi display the power of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Tai Cang had grown even more eager for that realm.

Outside the Grand Clarity Palace, dark clouds pressed overhead. Cang Du's Nine Tribulations cloud was terrifyingly powerful, and even Tai Cang felt his heart tremble.

"Why is the Nine Tribulations so terrifying?"

As he pondered this, Gold Horn and Silver Horn hurried over. "Senior Brother, the Master wishes to see you."

Upon entering the main hall, he saw that Laozi was unusually not in the Alchemy Room. Instead, he sat at the seat of honor, his eyes occasionally drifting toward the side hall. Clearly, he was worried about Cang Du's tribulation.

"Grand Uncle, the Queen Mother of the West..."

Laozi raised a hand to interrupt him. "Let this matter end here. Since you have already benefited from it, do not bring it up again."

"The Queen Mother of the West's current circumstances are indeed related to us Three Pure Ones. Back then, she spared no cost in using a secret art to aid us, and only then did my two brothers and I gain the chance to rise."

So that was it!

Laozi had known about this all along.

He had deliberately guided me to meet the Queen Mother of the West.

A sharp gleam flashed through Tai Cang's eyes as he instantly understood Laozi's intention.

The Three Pure Ones still owed the Queen Mother of the West a debt of gratitude. On the surface, this had been to help him, but in truth, Laozi had been repaying karma.

"I understand."

Tai Cang calmed himself and said solemnly, "I came today to seek Grand Uncle's guidance on the Supreme Three Flowers Method."

"Although I have studied this method before, there are still many things I do not understand. I beg Grand Uncle to clear away my confusion."

With that, he bowed respectfully, his gaze sincere.

Since he had already gained from it, there was no need to mention the past again.

Now that he had fallen out with the Jie Sect, obtaining a Sage's protection was all the more important.

"Good."

Laozi nodded slightly and said meaningfully, "You were able to preserve your Dao heart at a critical moment and did not rashly attempt to break through to the Grand Unity realm. That shows a steady temperament."

"Since that is so, I shall explain the way of the Supreme Three Flowers to you in detail."

With a flick of his sleeve, the secrets of heaven were concealed.

"The Three Flowers are divided into the Three Talents of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. Cultivators of the primordial world take ninth grade as the limit. Yet in the age of chaos, ninth grade was merely the foundation. Only by surpassing that limit could one achieve a true Grand Unity."

"Pangu alone attained the complete twelfth grade. The other supreme Demon Gods possessed at most two Flowers at twelfth grade and one Flower at eleventh grade."

"The Supreme Three Flowers Method allows one's current realm to break through again, directly reaching the ultimate twelfth grade."

So the Three Flowers could actually reach the twelfth grade!

Tai Cang's mind shook. If he could master this method, would he not stand shoulder to shoulder with the Chaos Demon Gods?

"I beg Grand Uncle to instruct me in the essentials of cultivation!"

"You must gather the essences of the Three Talents. Heavenly essence lies within the starry domain, earthly essence is hidden in Buzhou, and human essence is contained within the fortunes of races."

A nostalgic look appeared in Laozi's eyes. "Back then, before humanity existed in the primordial world, the three of us only cultivated the Heaven and Earth Flowers to twelfth grade. Even after nurturing them with humanity's fortune for ten thousand years, the Human Flower still stopped at eleventh grade."

"The Witch and Demon Races are on good terms with you, and I can help with humanity's side. But whether you can succeed will depend entirely on your own fortune."

Hearing this, Tai Cang's expression grew increasingly solemn.

Laozi had mentioned that if Tai Cang wished to condense the Supreme Three Flowers, he would still need to make quite a journey.

But this did not trouble Tai Cang. He had never intended to remain in the Kunlun Mountains for long, so he cupped his hands and said, "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Grand Uncle."

"Grand Uncle, I shall take my leave first."

With that, Tai Cang prepared to depart.

He was determined to obtain the Supreme Three Flowers. Before the great war between the Witch and Demon Races erupted, he needed to perfect the Heaven and Earth Flowers as soon as possible. The Human Flower could be cultivated later.

"Wait."

Laozi suddenly called out to stop him. "Before leaving, go to the Upper Clarity Palace first."

"Since you have already made up your mind, some matters should be handled sooner rather than later."

"Not only can the Jie Sect not help you, it may even become an obstacle. It would be better to make a clean break early."

Tai Cang frowned slightly.

Laozi wanted him to completely sever himself from the Jie Sect.

He did have such intentions, but leaving the Jie Sect required Tongtian's approval. It would not be easy.

"Do not worry."

As though he had seen through Tai Cang's thoughts, Laozi smiled faintly. "Duobao and the others are restless and attempted their tribulations rashly before stabilizing their Dao hearts. They now urgently need a Moon Laurel Tree branch."

"But after what happened last time, Tongtian cannot conveniently contact the Demon Race again. Among the Three Sects, only you can retrieve this item."

"A Moon Laurel Tree branch!"

So Laozi wanted him to use curing Duobao and the others as a condition.

A sharp glint flashed through Tai Cang's eyes. He immediately understood and cupped his hands. "I understand!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Grand Uncle. Tai Cang will handle it at once."

With that, he wasted no more time. He turned and left the Grand Clarity Palace, riding the clouds straight toward the Upper Clarity Palace.

Upper Clarity Palace.

Tai Cang returned on his sword. Looking around, he found that the entire Upper Clarity Palace was vastly different from when he had first entered the Jie Sect.

Jie Sect cultivators moved back and forth throughout the area. Although they had restrained themselves somewhat after the earlier incident, the baleful and demonic aura around them had only grown denser.

Clearly, though these people had entered the Sage's school, they cared only about cultivating their magical power and had never truly tempered their states of mind.

Tai Cang hurried onward and soon arrived outside the Upper Clarity Palace. Just as he was about to step inside, two Jie Sect cultivators blocked his way.

"Stop!"

"The Master has ordered that no one may enter the Upper Clarity Palace without permission."

Neither of them carried demonic aura. Instead, they radiated pure Upper Clarity energy, far surpassing the fellow disciples outside.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists."

Tai Cang cupped his hands in salute and said calmly, "Please inform the Supreme Clarity Sage that Tai Cang requests an audience."

"Tai Cang?"

"You are Senior Brother Tai Cang?"

The two were stunned at first, then their faces filled with excitement.

Tai Cang had expected hostility, but instead, the two stared at him with admiration.

Before he could react, one of them said excitedly, "Senior Brother Tai Cang, have you already passed the Nine Tribulations?"

"As expected of the foremost figure of the Cang line, Senior Brother! You broke through the Nine Tribulations so quickly. You must not be far from becoming a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, right?"

"Please wait, Senior Brother. I will report to the Master immediately."

With that, the man hurried inside to report, while the other continued looking at Tai Cang with sincere admiration in his eyes.

"Interesting."

"There are actually people in the Jie Sect who acknowledge me."

Seeing this, Tai Cang came back to his senses. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. "What is your name?"

The man froze, then said excitedly, "Senior Brother, my name is Deng Hua, and the one beside me is my brother, Deng Qiu."

"My brother and I only recently entered the Jie Sect's inner sect. We have always admired Senior Brother Tai Cang."

"Unfortunately, Senior Brother has always been busy, and we never had the chance to meet you. Now that we have, you truly deserve your reputation as the foremost figure of the Three Sects."

Listening to Deng Hua's heartfelt words, Tai Cang could not help but smile bitterly.

He had not expected that there would still be people in the Jie Sect who admired him so much. Even if they were newly initiated disciples, their recognition still surprised him.

At that moment, Deng Qiu hurried out of the Upper Clarity Palace and said happily, "Senior Brother Tai Cang, the Master permits you to enter and see him."

Tai Cang nodded, sweeping his gaze over the two of them. "Deng Hua, Deng Qiu, meeting today can be considered fate. Since you acknowledge me as your senior brother, I will give you one piece of advice—focus on cultivation and do not get involved in the struggles among the direct disciples."

With a thought, he passed the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art and his own insights on it to the two. "Remember, the struggles among the direct disciples have nothing to do with you. Only by cultivating wholeheartedly will you have hope of attaining the Grand Unity, or even striving for the quasi-Sage realm."

After giving his instructions, Tai Cang did not linger. He turned and stepped into the Upper Clarity Palace.

"This is..."

Deng Hua and Deng Qiu stood frozen in place, digesting the profound principles within their minds. They exchanged a glance, then solemnly bowed in the direction Tai Cang had gone, silently resolving to stay far away from the direct disciples' conflicts.

Inside the Upper Clarity Palace, Duobao, San Xiao, Wudang, and the other direct disciples sat cross-legged in meditation. Every one of them was weak and listless. If Tongtian had not protected them with the power of a Sage, they likely would have already failed their tribulations.

"Greetings, Master."

Tai Cang straightened his robes and bowed. Although he had already resolved to leave the Jie Sect, he still maintained the proper courtesy toward the teacher who had once instructed him.

"Rise."

Tongtian looked at Tai Cang with a complicated expression. A Sage could comprehend all things with a single thought, so he naturally understood why Tai Cang had come. "It seems that master and disciple have not seen each other for many years."

"In recent years, you have advanced by leaps and bounds. Not only did you gain your Eldest Uncle's favor and take charge of the Cang line, you also transformed your foundation into that of a supreme innate divine being. Unfortunately, none of this has anything to do with me, your master."

Tai Cang was about to speak, but Tongtian raised a hand to stop him. "But I do not regret it. The bond between master and disciple was always shallow between us. I did not grant you the position of direct disciple back then because I saw that your temperament was too calm and rational. Such a temperament brings peace of mind, but it also lacks some warmth of human feeling."

"You passed the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art and your own insights to Deng Qiu and Deng Hua. It seems you have already made your decision. This art was originally a secret teaching that I alone bestowed upon you."

"Since you have returned from my elder brother's place, you should understand the reason. By precedent, leaving the Jie Sect requires abolishing all your cultivation."

"However, the current situation is special. If you can retrieve a Moon Laurel Tree branch from the Demon Race, I will permit you to leave the Jie Sect. From then on, you will belong only to the Cang line and will have no further ties to my Jie Sect."

"I accept the order."

Tai Cang did not refuse. He cupped his hands toward Tongtian and bowed. "I will definitely bring back the Moon Laurel Tree branch as soon as possible."

"Master, farewell."

With that, Tai Cang turned and left, no longer lingering in the Upper Clarity Palace. This was the last time he would call Tongtian Master. Once this matter was settled, his fate with the Jie Sect would be completely severed.

"Alas..."

Watching Tai Cang's departing figure, Tongtian let out a long sigh. His gaze swept over Duobao, and a trace of gloom passed through his eyes. "Do not disappoint your master, or else..."

Primordial Starry Domain.

Tai Cang sped onward with the Golden Crow Transformation Rainbow Technique, heading straight for the Sun Star. Though his target was the Moon Laurel Tree branch, he knew that he could not obtain it alone. Only by seeking help from the Golden Crow Prince could he succeed.

"Stop!"

When he reached the outskirts of the Sun Star, patrolling great demons stopped Tai Cang. The quasi-Sage Demon God leading them looked angry. "Jie Sect cultivators still dare come to cause trouble in our Demon Race? We already let you leave last time out of respect for Sage Tongtian. Yet you have come again. Do you truly think our Demon Race is easy to bully?"

Zhao Gongming and the others had already come? It seemed they had returned empty-handed.

Tai Cang's eyes flickered as he immediately cupped his hands in salute. "Senior, please hear me out. Though I belong to the Jie Sect, I have absolutely not come to provoke you."