Chapter 5

Tongtian took everything in, the disappointment in his eyes deepening.

How could a Sage's eyes be deceived by Duobao's petty schemes?

Tongtian did not oppose fair competition among his disciples, but Duobao's inability to accept defeat made him realize that Duobao was unfit for great responsibility.

In contrast, Tai Cang—

His aptitude and talent surpassed Duobao's in every way. He could even resolve the hidden danger of the Primordial Clarity Divine Thunder, and his wisdom far exceeded Duobao's. If properly cultivated, he might be the more suitable choice.

"All of you, leave."

Tongtian swept his sleeve and said, "The Three Sects Exchange Meeting is approaching. Return and cultivate diligently. Do not stir up any more trouble."

"We obey Master's command!"

Tai Cang and the direct disciples respectfully bowed before leaving the hall.

"Tai Cang."

After a long silence, Laozi suddenly spoke. "Come to the Grand Clarity Palace to see me in five hundred years."

"Eldest Brother?"

Yuan Shi and Tongtian both showed surprise, unable to understand his meaning.

Tai Cang was stunned as well.

He had never had any dealings with Laozi. Why had Laozi invited him now?

He instinctively looked toward Tongtian. As a member of the Jie Sect, he needed his master's approval.

"Since Eldest Brother has invited you, I naturally have no objection."

Tongtian immediately stated his position.

"I accept."

Tai Cang felt somewhat relieved. He bowed to Laozi and said, "In five hundred years, I will certainly pay my respects at your door, Martial Uncle."

Laozi nodded slightly. "Study carefully atop Siguo Cliff."

Tai Cang said no more and turned toward Siguo Cliff.

Along the way, Zhao Gongming and San Xiao seemed as though they wanted to speak, but ultimately did not stop him.

They knew Tai Cang was under punishment and that it was inappropriate to discuss the Dao with him.

"My three sisters."

Watching Tai Cang depart, Zhao Gongming said gravely, "Go back and enter seclusion. Junior Brother Tai Cang has already far surpassed us."

"When he emerges from seclusion, we must make him see us in a new light."

Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao nodded solemnly. "Brother is right."

The four of them then departed separately. Duobao and the other direct disciples also dispersed.

Under the immense pressure Tai Cang had brought them, no one had the leisure for small talk. They all hurried back to their residences to enter seclusion and cultivate.

After the crowd dispersed, only the severely injured Duobao struggled onward. His eyes were bloodshot as he clenched his fists and growled, "Tai Cang, today's humiliation will be repaid a hundredfold someday!"

"Eldest Brother!"

Within the Upper Clarity Palace, Yuan Shi and Tongtian frowned at Laozi and asked in deep voices, "Why did you tell Tai Cang to go to the Grand Clarity Palace?"

Laozi pondered briefly before slowly saying, "I saw in him the possibility of reclaiming Pangu's Destiny."

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches have provoked us time and again, even calling themselves Pangu's True Lineage throughout the primordial world. Now that we have become Sages, it is inconvenient for us to act, but our disciples may act in our stead."

"If Tai Cang can satisfy me, then we can restart the plan we set aside long ago and completely reclaim Pangu's Destiny. At that time, the destiny and strength of the three of us will surely rise to another level!"

"Siguo Cliff!"

Tai Cang arrived there alone.

Looking around, he found that this platform upon Kunlun's sheer cliffs was less than ten li wide. There was only a single cave where one could shelter from wind and rain.

"What a desolate place."

Shaking his head with a soft sigh, Tai Cang stepped into the cave.

After looking around, he headed directly toward the depths of the cave—he would be spending the next five hundred years here, so he had to tidy the place up a little.

Yet when he entered, he discovered that it was spotless. On a stone platform at the deepest point, three blurry objects rested quietly, faintly emanating the aura of the Three Pure Ones.

"This is..."

Tai Cang's pupils contracted.

"The Land of the Three Pure Ones' Manifestation!"

This cave was actually where the Three Pure Ones had been born. The lingering aura indicated that they had cultivated here for many years.

"Could it be..."

Remembering Laozi's final instruction, Tai Cang's heart trembled violently.

"Study carefully!"

"Could this place contain something left behind by the Three Pure Ones?"

His breathing suddenly quickened. If he could obtain the Three Pure Ones' Inheritance here, combined with the One-Click Max Level Privilege he had gained from defeating Duobao, it would be an immense opportunity.

He hurried to the stone platform and released his divine sense to investigate.

Buzz—

The three blurry objects suddenly flew into the air and slowly revolved around him.

Amid surging spiritual energy, they transformed into three wisps of clear qi and shot directly into Tai Cang's brow.

"It truly is the Three Pure Ones' Inheritance!"

Overjoyed, Tai Cang immediately sat cross-legged and began refining the three inheritances.

A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Tai Cang abruptly opened his eyes. His aura surged wildly, and his cultivation rose directly to the middle stage of the Golden Immortal realm.

But what he cared about even more were the Three Pure Ones' secret arts he had completely mastered:

Grand Clarity Alchemy Technique!

Primordial Clarity Artifact Forging Technique!

Shangqing Sword Art!

From then on, he would be self-sufficient in pills and artifacts, and he had also obtained Tongtian's supreme sword Dao inheritance from before Tongtian became a Sage.

Unlike Laozi and Yuan Shi, who excelled at alchemy and artifact forging, Tongtian was well versed in formations, but his attainments in swordsmanship were the most outstanding.

Although this Shangqing Sword Art was not Tongtian's complete sword Dao inheritance, it still benefited Tai Cang immensely. With the power of One-Click Max Level, he did not need arduous cultivation to comprehend it to the level Tongtian had reached before attaining the Dao.

This period of closed-door reflection had actually brought such an opportunity!

Tai Cang let out a long breath of stale air, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He now understood Tongtian's true intention in sending him here.

All three of the Three Pure Ones knew about the inheritance in this place.

Tongtian appeared to be punishing him, but was actually cultivating him in secret. At the time, Laozi, Yuan Shi, and the Jie Sect disciples had all been present, so Tongtian could not state it openly. Instead, Laozi had given Tai Cang a final hint.

"Excellent!"

"Now I can cultivate wholeheartedly."

A sharp gleam flashed in Tai Cang's eyes as he rose to his feet. Given his current realm, he did not need to enter seclusion for bitter cultivation. The remaining centuries were enough for him to comprehend the Grand Clarity Alchemy Technique, the Primordial Clarity Artifact Forging Technique, and the Shangqing Sword Art.

However, cultivating the Shangqing Sword Art required a sword. Tai Cang had no Lingbao in hand, so he first needed to forge a weapon that suited him.

"First, I'll learn the Primordial Clarity Artifact Forging Technique!"

Having made up his mind, Tai Cang did not hesitate. He left the cave and directly cut branches from the spiritual-root trees on the platform.

Once he had gathered the materials, he began trying out the Primordial Clarity Artifact Forging Technique.

Without a furnace, Tai Cang forged it barehanded. He used true fire to melt the branches into spiritual liquid, then condensed a sword embryo with his mana and repeatedly formed seals to inscribe artifact-forging restrictions.

Boom—

Boom—

Each failure made Tai Cang's grasp of the Primordial Clarity Artifact Forging Technique increasingly proficient.

Several months later, a wooden sword was finally completed.

"A mid-grade magic treasure!"

"Not bad!"

Tai Cang swung the wooden sword, a trace of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.

Though it was somewhat crude and of limited power, it was the first magic treasure he had forged with his own hands.

More importantly, this sword could help him cultivate the Shangqing Sword Art.

With that in mind, Tai Cang waved away the scraps on the ground. After cleaning himself up, he stood upon Siguo Cliff with his sword and began practicing.

He repeatedly performed the moves of the Shangqing Sword Art.

Day after day, year after year, Tai Cang immersed himself in it and forgot everything else.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for mastering the Shangqing Sword Art!

On this day, Tai Cang's sword stance abruptly halted. Upon hearing the System Notification, a slight smile appeared on his lips. I've finally succeeded!

He then drew the sword back into his body and said in a deep voice, "System, use One-Click Max Level on the Shangqing Sword Art!"

Ding! One use of the One-Click Max Level Privilege has been consumed. One-Click Max Level for the Shangqing Sword Art successful!

In an instant, Tai Cang's body trembled.

The profound truths of the Shangqing Sword Art flooded into his mind like a tide. He stood motionless as if in enlightenment, spiritual energy surging around him and sword intent bursting forth.

As time passed, the Shangqing sword intent around Tai Cang grew increasingly sharp, causing Siguo Cliff to tremble.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

Invisible sword qi swirled through the surroundings, covering the cliff walls and ground with sword marks.

The next moment, dark clouds gathered in the heavens, lightning flickering within them as spiritual energy from a thousand li around surged madly toward Siguo Cliff.

"That's the direction of Siguo Cliff!"

"Junior Brother Tai Cang!"

Throughout the Kunlun Mountains, countless cultivators were alarmed by the sudden phenomenon.

The disciples of the Upper Clarity lineage all looked toward Siguo Cliff, shock appearing in their eyes. Such a change in heaven and earth clearly signaled that Tai Cang was breaking through.

In an instant, the Upper Clarity disciples left their caves one after another, transforming into streaks of light as they raced toward Siguo Cliff. They all wanted to witness what realm Tai Cang would break through to.

"Tai Cang!"

Only Duobao remained where he was. Standing before his cave, he stared fixedly toward Siguo Cliff, jealousy burning in his eyes. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he took a jade talisman from his robes. "Just wait and see!"

"Master has taught me a new technique as well. Once I break through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, I'll make you pay the price on the day of the Three Sects Exchange Meeting." With that, Duobao turned and returned to his cave, activating its barrier and entering seclusion to cultivate.

Meanwhile, the dark clouds above Siguo Cliff continued expanding as violent spiritual energy rapidly spread across several thousand li. Even the disciples of the Chan Sect sensed the disturbance.

Guangchengzi and the other Chan Sect Golden Immortals emerged from seclusion one after another and flew toward Siguo Cliff in curiosity. Even the Three Pure Ones Sages were stirred by this phenomenon.

"This child truly is extraordinary."

"He actually triggered the Three Calamities so quickly."

Sensing the fluctuations coming from Siguo Cliff, Laozi instructed Cang Du beside him, "Cang Du, take a Six-Revolutions Golden Elixir and give it to Tai Cang."

"Yes, Master."

Cang Du respectfully accepted the order, took a jade bottle containing a Six-Revolutions Golden Elixir from the shelf, and left the Grand Clarity Palace.

"Shangqing Sword Qi..."

"This child has gained another insight."

Within the Primordial Clarity Palace, Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning looked toward Siguo Cliff with a complicated expression. Witnessing Tai Cang's talent, he could not help regretting that he had failed to discover this uncut jade before.

"Third Brother, your fortune truly is enviable," Yuan Shi muttered. "But he is still an inner disciple. I still have a chance..." He then closed his eyes and began considering how to take Tai Cang into his own school.

Within the Upper Clarity Palace, Sect Master Tongtian stared toward Siguo Cliff. After a long silence, he withdrew his gaze, a resolute expression appearing on his face.

"What is going on?!"

On Siguo Cliff, Tai Cang woke from his state of enlightenment and stared blankly at the thunderclouds gathering overhead. He had merely cultivated the Shangqing Sword Art to perfection. Why had he drawn a heavenly tribulation?

"Junior Brother Tai Cang!"

Zhao Gongming, San Xiao, and the other Jie Sect direct disciples had already arrived outside Siguo Cliff. Seeing that Tai Cang was still standing there, Zhao Gongming hurriedly shouted, "Prepare to undergo the tribulation at once! These are the cultivator's Three Calamities. Only by passing them can you attain the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit!"

"The Three Calamities? The Golden Immortal Dao Fruit?"

Tai Cang immediately understood. The so-called Three Calamities were Fire Calamity, Water Calamity, and Wind Calamity. After entering the Golden Immortal realm, a cultivator had to pass these three calamities to truly stabilize their Dao foundation. Failure meant both body and soul would be destroyed.

"The Golden Immortal Dao Fruit is called Five Qi Towards Origin!"

"A cultivator must attain this realm to merge their qi and blood with their essence, qi, and spirit. So long as a single breath remained, their physical body would not perish."

"After advancing to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, one must undergo the Nine Trials: pressure from clothing and food, obstruction from elders, entanglement in love, tangle of fame and profit, sudden misfortune, misleading by an incompetent teacher, gossip and rumors, loss of resolve, and wasting time."

"Only after overcoming the nine trials could one attain the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Dao Fruit—Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown."

"At that point, the three flowers would gather together, one's lifespan would match that of heaven, and one would transcend birth, aging, illness, and death. Unless heaven and earth collapsed, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could remain eternal and indestructible."

"Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown was also the necessary path to entering the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm."

"A Grand Unity Golden Immortal must endure Ten Tribulations: One Origin, Two Principles, Three Powers, Four Symbols, Five Elements, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Eight Trigrams, Nine Palaces, and the Immeasurable Tribulation."

"Only after passing the ten tribulations could one attain the Grand Unity Dao Fruit."

"Upon becoming a supreme Grand Unity Golden Immortal, even if heaven and earth were destroyed, I would remain unmoved; even if the primordial world shattered, I would still endure. With but a thought, I could glimpse the River of Destiny and comprehend the past, present, and future."