The Sun Star

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

In the past, Sect Master Tongtian supported Daoist Duobao in suppressing Tai Cang, not only valuing Duobao's talent but also because Tai Cang was friendly with the Golden Crow Prince. As a Sage, Tongtian knew early on that the Witch and Demon races were bound to decline. Tai Cang's closeness to the Demon Race could implicate the Intercepting Sect, so he delayed his promotion to avoid entanglements between the sect and the Demon Race.

Now the situation had reversed. Even though Tongtian was a Sage, he still needed to seek help from the Demon Race. Thinking of Tai Cang now, was he truly just a pawn to be deployed at will?

"I refuse!"

Tai Cang stated resolutely, "This matter has nothing to do with me. You can resolve the matter of the Moon Laurel Tree branch yourselves. Fellow Daoists, I bid you farewell."

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 disobey?"

"Exactly!" another chimed in. "You, as an inner disciple of the Intercepting Sect, colluding with outsiders in the past was one thing. Now that the Sect Master has shown great magnanimity, you dare to be so presumptuous!"

"Colluding with outsiders? Great magnanimity?"

Tai Cang stopped abruptly, scanning everyone with cold eyes. "Please inform the Supreme Clarity Sage that Tai Cang is merely a humble inner disciple. What do the life and death of a personal disciple have to do with me? If you feel I am unworthy to be a disciple of the Intercepting Sect, then expel me!"

Before his words had even fallen, Tai Cang suddenly released his pressure. While everyone was struggling to breathe, he unleashed the Golden Crow Transformation Rainbow Technique and flew straight towards the Grand Clarity Palace. He needed to seek clarification from Laozi regarding the Queen Mother of the West and also consult him on the Supreme Three Flowers Method to achieve Grand Unity as soon as possible. Ever since witnessing Xiao Xi's Grand Unity power, Tai Cang had yearned for that realm even more.

Dark clouds pressed down outside the Grand Clarity Palace. Cang Du's nine tribulations tribulation clouds were terrifying, making even Tai Cang's heart palpitate.

"How can the tribulation of nine tribulations be so terrifying?"

Just as he was wondering, Kinkaku and Silver Horn hurried over. "Senior Brother, Master invites you."

Upon entering the main hall, Tai Cang saw that Laozi was unusually not in the alchemy room. Instead, he was seated in the main position, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the side hall, clearly concerned about Cang Du who was undergoing tribulation.

"Eldest Senior Uncle, Queen Mother of the West..."

Laozi raised a hand to interrupt. "This matter ends here. Since you have already benefited, do not mention it again."

"The Queen Mother of the West's current predicament is indeed related to us Three Pure Ones. Back then, she spared no effort to help us with a secret technique, which allowed us three brothers the chance to rise."

"As expected!"

Laozi knew this matter clearly.

"This is clearly a deliberate arrangement to guide me to see the Queen Mother of the West."

A sharp glint flashed in Tai Cang's eyes as he instantly understood Laozi's intention.

The Three Pure Ones owed the Queen Mother of the West a debt of gratitude that remained unpaid. This matter, on the surface, was helping him, but in reality, it was Laozi repaying karma.

"I understand."

Tai Cang calmed his emotions and said solemnly, "I have come today to ask Eldest Senior Uncle to impart the Supreme Three Flowers Method."

"Although I have studied this method before, there are still many points I do not understand. I implore Eldest Senior Uncle to guide me."

He bowed respectfully, his gaze sincere.

Since he had already benefited, there was no need to dwell on past matters.

Now that he had broken ties with the Intercepting Sect, having the protection of a Sage was even more crucial.

"Good."

Laozi nodded slightly, his words carrying a deep meaning. "You were able to maintain your Dao heart at a critical moment and did not rashly attempt to break through to Grand Unity Immortal, which shows your steady disposition."

"Since that is the case, I will explain the Dao of the Supreme Three Flowers to you."

With a wave of his sleeve, the heavenly secrets were veiled.

"The Three Flowers are divided into the three talents of heaven, earth, and man. For cultivators in the Primordial World, the ninth grade is the limit. However, during the Chaos era, the ninth grade was merely a foundation. Only by exceeding this limit can one achieve true Grand Unity."

"Pangu alone attained the perfection of twelve grades. The other top-tier Chaos Demon Gods had at most two flowers with twelve grades, or one flower with eleven grades."

"The Supreme Three Flowers Method can allow existing realms to break through again, directly aiming for the ultimate twelve grades."

So the Three Flowers actually have a twelve-grade realm!

Tai Cang's mind was shaken. If he could cultivate this method, wouldn't he be comparable to a Chaos Demon God?

"Please guide me on the cultivation essentials, Eldest Senior Uncle!"

"You need to gather the essence of the three talents: heavenly essence is in the star fields, earthly treasure is in Buzhou, and human essence is within the destiny of the race."

Laozi's eyes held a trace of reminiscence. "In the past, there was no human race in the Primordial World, and we three brothers only cultivated the heavenly and earthly flowers to twelve grades. Even after nurturing the human destiny for ten thousand years, the human flower still stopped at the eleventh grade."

"The Witch and Demon races are friendly with you, and I can assist with the human race. However, whether you succeed depends entirely on your own fortune."

Hearing this, Tai Cang's expression became even more solemn.

Laozi mentioned that if Tai Cang wanted to condense the Supreme Three Flowers, he would still need to go through some arduous journeys.

But this would not be difficult for Tai Cang, as he did not wish to stay in the Kunlun Mountains for long anyway. He cupped his hands and said, "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Eldest Senior Uncle."

"Eldest Senior Uncle, I shall take my leave."

With that, Tai Cang prepared to depart.

The Supreme Three Flowers, he was determined to obtain. While the war between the Witch and Demon races had not yet broken out, he needed to perfect the Heaven and Earth Flowers as soon as possible. The Human Flower could wait.

"Wait a moment."

Laozi suddenly spoke, calling him to a halt. "Before you leave, go to the Upper Clarity Palace first."

"Since you've made up your mind, some matters should be dealt with as soon as possible."

"The Intercepting Sect not only cannot help you but might become an obstacle. It would be better to end it early."

Tai Cang frowned slightly.

Laozi wanted him to completely sever ties with the Intercepting Sect.

Although he had this intention, leaving the Intercepting Sect required Tongtian's approval, which was not easy.

"No need to worry."

Laozi seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled calmly. "Duobao and the others are impatient. They rushed to undergo tribulation without stabilizing their Dao hearts and are now in urgent need of a branch from the Moon Laurel Tree."

"But after the last incident, it's inconvenient for Tongtian to have further contact with the Demon Race. Among the Three Sects, only you can retrieve this item."

A branch from the Moon Laurel Tree!

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

A sharp glint flashed in Tai Cang's eyes. He immediately understood and cupped his hands, saying, "Understood!"

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Uncle, for your guidance. Tai Cang will attend to it now."

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

Upper Clarity Palace.

Tai Cang returned on his sword. Looking around, the entire Upper Clarity Palace was vastly different from when he first joined the Intercepting Sect.

Intercepting Sect cultivators shuttled back and forth within the area. Although they were more restrained due to previous events, the malevolent energy and demonic aura surrounding them had become even more intense.

Clearly, although these people had joined a Sage's sect, they only focused on mana cultivation and had never truly refined their state of mind.

Tai Cang hurried along and soon arrived outside the Upper Clarity Palace. Just as he was about to step inside, he was stopped by two Intercepting Sect cultivators.

"Halt!"

"Our Master has ordered that no one is allowed to enter the Upper Clarity Palace without permission."

The two of them had no demonic aura. Instead, they exuded a pure Upper Clarity aura, far superior to those fellow disciples outside.

"Greetings, two fellow Daoists."

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

"Tai Cang?"

"Are you Senior Brother Tai Cang?"

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

Tai Cang had expected hostility, but instead, the two looked at him with reverence.

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

"Senior Brother is indeed the pride of the Cang Gate. To break through the Nine Tribulations so quickly, you must be not far from becoming a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!"

"Senior Brother, please wait a moment. I will report to Master immediately."

With that, one of them hurried inside to report, while the other still gazed at him with admiration, his expression sincere.

"Interesting."

"There are still people in the Intercepting Sect who recognize me."

Witnessing this scene, Tai Cang recovered his senses, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. "What is your name?"

The person was startled, then excitedly replied, "Senior Brother, my name is Deng Hua, and the one beside me is my brother, Deng Qiu. My brothers and I just joined the inner disciples of the Intercepting Sect and have always admired Senior Brother Tai Cang. It's a pity that Senior Brother is usually busy, and we've never had the chance to meet. Seeing you today, you truly live up to being the leader of the Three Sects."

Listening to Deng Hua's enthusiastic words, Tai Cang couldn't help but let out a wry smile. He hadn't expected that within the Intercepting Sect, there would still be people who admired him so much. Even for newly initiated disciples, this recognition was surprising.

At this moment, Deng Qiu quickly walked out of the Upper Clarity Palace and said joyfully, "Senior Brother Tai Cang, Master has granted you permission to enter and meet him."

Tai Cang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the two. "Deng Hua, Deng Qiu, meeting you today is also fate. Since you recognize me as your Senior Brother, I will give you a piece of advice—focus on your cultivation and do not get involved in the competition for personal disciples."

With a slight movement of his mind, he transmitted the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art along with his own insights to the two. "Remember, the competition for personal disciples has nothing to do with you. Cultivate diligently, and you may have a chance to achieve Grand Unity, or even strive for the Quasi-Saint realm."

After giving his instructions, Tai Cang no longer lingered, turned, and stepped into the Upper Clarity Palace.

This is...

Deng Hua and Deng Qiu stood frozen, digesting the profound and arcane techniques in their minds. The two looked at each other, then respectfully bowed towards the direction Tai Cang had left, solemnly vowing to stay away from the personal disciple disputes.

Inside the Upper Clarity Palace, Duobao, San Xiao, Wudang, and other personal disciples sat cross-legged, recuperating. Each of them had a weak aura. If not for Tongtian protecting them with his Saintly power, they would have likely failed to undergo tribulation.

"Greetings, Master."

Tai Cang adjusted his robes and bowed. Although he had decided to leave the Intercepting Sect, he still maintained the proper etiquette for his former teacher.

"Rise."

Tongtian gazed at him with a complex expression. As a Sage, he could understand all things with a single thought and naturally knew Tai Cang's intentions. "It has been many years since we last met, master and disciple."

"In these years, you have advanced by leaps and bounds. Not only have you gained the favor of Eldest Senior Brother and taken charge of the Cang Gate, but your origins have also transformed into a top-tier innate deity. It is a pity that all of this has nothing to do with me, your master."

Just as Tai Cang was about to speak, Tongtian raised his hand to stop him. "But I do not regret it. The karmic connection between us as master and disciple was thin from the start. The reason I did not grant you the position of personal disciple back then was precisely because I saw that your disposition was too calm and rational. While such a nature makes one worry-free, it also lacks a certain human warmth."

"You have imparted the Upper Clarity Tongtian Art and your own insights to Deng Qiu and Deng Hua. It seems your mind is made up. This technique was originally a secret transmission that I intended to bestow only upon you."

"Since you have returned from your brother's side, you should know the reasons behind it. According to the rules, leaving the Intercepting Sect requires the abolition of all your cultivation."

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

"I accept the order."

Tai Cang did not refuse. He cupped his hands in a salute to Tongtian. "I will certainly bring back the Moon Laurel Tree branch as soon as possible."

"Master, I bid you farewell."

With that, Tai Cang turned and left, no longer lingering in the Upper Clarity Palace. This was the last time he would address Tongtian as Master. Once this matter was resolved, his karmic ties with the Intercepting Sect would be completely severed.

"Sigh..."

Watching Tai Cang's retreating figure, Tongtian let out a long sigh. His gaze swept over Duobao, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes. "Do not disappoint me, otherwise..."

Primordial Star Domain.

Tai Cang cast the Golden Crow Transformation Rainbow Technique and sped towards the Sun Star. Although his target was the Moon Laurel Tree branch, he knew that he could not obtain it by himself. He could only seek the help of the Golden Crow Prince to succeed.

"Halt!"

As he approached the Sun Star, patrolling great demons intercepted Tai Cang. The Quasi-Saint Demon God leading them wore a displeased expression. "How dare a cultivator from the Intercepting Sect come to my Demon Race to cause trouble? We let you leave before out of respect for Sage Tongtian's face. Now you come again, do you truly think my Demon Race can be bullied?"

Zhao Gongming and the others had already been here? It seemed they had returned without success.

Tai Cang's eyes flickered slightly. He immediately bowed respectfully. "Senior, please listen. Although I belong to the Intercepting Sect, this journey is by no means a provocation."